Like I mentioned in the last Five Take post, us Five Takers (Gina, Becky, Claire, Nicole, and I) were going to start doing the weekly series again once we had settled into the new year. Five Take is where us five take a theme or clothing item and show our own “take” on the theme. The first theme of the new year is BOOTS! Let’s not take my capital letters as excitement about boots because boots and I have a love-hate relationship that typically ends in disappointment. Major disappointment.
At 5’4″ with Shrek-like calves, I have not been able to find a single pair of tall boots that fit me appropriately. I’ve tried every style I can think of: ones with stretchy inserts, laced up backs, zip closures, wide width, extra wide width. These calves were not meant to be enclosed by boots, apparently. I own one pair of boots that may have popped up on here last year (although I can’t for the life of me find the post), so I thought I would try those again even though I knew they were too tight on me, and as I pulled and pulled to try and shimmy them up my calf, I asked why? Why am I torturing my body in the name of boots?! So farewell to you boots, at least for now.
Since I gave up on wearing boots, I went for the next best thing: booties. Booties are much easier to find, and my calves definitely appreciated it. This outfit happened from a series of trying on different items together. I kind of love going to get dressed thinking you are going to wear one thing, and then seven options down you’re wearing something you hadn’t expected at all. Love it.
I’ve worn this dress before here, and as top here and skirt here, but I haven’t worn it since winter last year and honestly had forgotten that I had it in my closet. The dress has gotten shorter since I first bought it, so since it’s so easily manipulated I decided to make it into a tube dress which gave me an extra inch or so. These tights are my fist pair from Making It Big. They are soooo comfortable but a little sheer. I know most people swear by We Love Colors, but their tights don’t fit me well around the thighs. This brand is definitely much less restricting and offers more sizes.
Lola decided to photobomb my pictures, sorry about that! I had originally tried to find some cropped options to wear with the dress, but once my red Eloquii blazer was on, it just felt right. I love a mixture of sweet and feminine with crisp and slightly edgy. The booties helped me take this look away from sugary sweet which lace often leads to.
I added on some sparkly jewelry, and mixed some gold with dark silver. I typically keep my metals to one color on an outfit, but let’s be honest, people are only going to see the sparkly parts of these pieces.
I also got the chance to style my hair in the way I had imagined with my new hair color. I think this picture better shows how the highlights come from underneath, but I wish it were a little more dramatic.
INC dress at Macy’s (2010), Eloquii blazer, Making It Big tights, Torrid booties, Aldo necklace, Forever21 ring
With my family gone for the weekend, I was all dressed up with no where to go. I just went out and got dinner then came back and watched Jane By Design and then a couple crappy but enjoyable ABC Family original movies (party animal, eh?), but I’m still really happy with the outfit, and I think I will wear a variation of this for my birthday or to the group dinner for the Fat Studies Conference.
How do you wear boots or booties? Do you like to dress them up or wear them casually?
Don’t forget to check out Claire, Becky, Gina, and Nicole‘s boots posts!
I love that dress so much! And that jacket is cool. In fact the whole outfit looks brilliant on you! Definitely a favourite for me.
That dress is just beautiful, I love the almost art deco feel in the pattern of the lace. I think the boots give it a rocky edge which is nice. Lovely! xx
I want this whole outfit! Looking fab <3
OMG! This outfit is fantastic. I particularly love the dress. It’s perfect! =D
That dress is gorgeous! You look stunning in it!
I love that outfit! I especially love how the girliness of the dress is kinda tamed down with the red blazer (do I make any sense? lol). You look really gorgeous.
I have massive calves too. 🙁 The only site where I was able to find boots was http://www.widewidths.com They go up to 21 inches if I remember correctly.
Love this on you – and HELLO Hourglass xx
Love the outfit!
After a long search for the perfect bootie I found a pair that I swear I could wear to bed lol! I pretty much put them with anything but because it’s gotten so cold up here in Montreal they can’t be worn as much 😛
Great outfit! Im loving the red blazer from Eloquii.
I too have big calves & struggle with finding a pair of boots that fit. Booties have been a lifesaver for me. I like wearing my booties with a just above the knee dress or skirt with dark tights. I think the combo lengthen my legs and make them look sexy!
The red blazer with the lace dress looks fantastic, and I feel you on the boot thing. I have one pair, and the heel is broken. I may never find another pair to fit.
You LOOK AHMAzINGGGGGGGGGG
http://www.style4curves.blogspot.com
I love that dress so much, and the dark tights & dark shoe is a look I adore. Gorgeous!
You look amazing! The dress and the shoes are indeed very pretty : ).
I love that red jacket! The last time you wore it, I check out Eloquii for the first time and OMG… 3 orders later, I’m in total love with them. lol Thanks for sharing hun and you look fab as always!~
You look a-MAY-zing! I love the look of a light dress with dark tights, and I never would have thought to pair a red blazer! The perfect red blazer, no less. I’ll have to look into Eloquii.. 😉
http://diyfatshion.blogspot.com/
You look fantastic, and I love this dress and that blazer is to die for!
xoxo
Stiletto
Stiletto Siren: A Life & Style Blog With Curves
http://stilettosiren.com
This dress looks amazing on you! I have similar problems with boots, so I often go w/booties as well. I don’t understand why brands can’t make boots with different sized circumferences, so annoying.
Gorgeous! I love the outfit and that dress, I need one!
Anyone else see that adorable dog?!!! JUST ME?! =D
I also have a love/hate relationship with boots but I found the perfect pair this year and just wanted to share with you. Most large calf boots still don’t fit me but I ordered this pair from Avenue and love them: http://www.avenue.com/clothing/Tammy-Tall-Lace-Back-Boot.aspx?PfId=250582&DeptId=19963&ProductTypeId=1 They are flats which I don’t necessarily love but they are super comfy, practical, affordable and they fit my calf!
That outfit is FAB-U!! Love the look!! And what a great idea! Let me know if it ever becomes Take Six – I’m in!!
I loooove boots! I have several pairs but since I have gained weight and have obtained widened feet, I can’t get them on. Boohoo! I’ve always had big calves, even when I was skinnier. I have looked for wide width boots and found that since I measured my calves at 18 inches. The market is very limited on this size. Well I guess I will wait another year and hope to loose the weight and inches needed. But Rebecca, I love your style and attitude! You are comfortable with yourself and you are beautiful. I love your outfit you put together. I love that you went out, even to get a meal and come home. I love your blog and the eliqui site for us girls who don’t fit the mold. I will be keeping up with you now I know your site from facebook. You go Girl! Fashion maven.
this is such a lovely outift on you and well done for being able to rewear the dress in so many ways – also I’m in love with your ring. x
Sometimes INC really hits the mark. That dress is perfection, love the pop of color in the blazer. TERRIFIC!
XX-
sabrina
http://www.samplesize16.com
Lovin’ this outfit. I’ve commented on the dress before (in person!), but I love it with the blazer, tights and booties. I’m sort of iffy on booties in general because when I see them on celebrities they are wearing little flowered mini sundresses and bare legs and then these, what seem to me, heavy, clod-hopper-looking boots.
I love the boots with tights so much better as it flows more and doesn’t chop up the look. And since I also have an issue with large calves and trying to find boots to fit, I will have to give booties more thought – but I will still probably only wear them with jeans or long skirts (like I used to wear my “granny boots” back in the early 90s).
If you ever decide to give that dress away – let me know….
PS you always inspire me to wear shorter skirts/dresses but I’ve not been that brave yet. ,
Black tights are a miracle invention of fashion. They finish off an outfit with flair. Especially going monochromatic. Black dress, black tights, a colorful blazer such as Rebecca has on and to touch it off, a pair of black booties or boots. I think we plus size women can wear shorter skirts and dresses, it is just knowing where to place the hemline without appearing to show our thighs. On a little older women like me, I want to sophisticated without appearing like I’m trying to relive my 20’s. Rebecca’s white dress is a great length. A little higher heel on the booties would add a longer line to her figure. Anytime we can look taller, it sure helps. Maybe a one and a half inch heel would not sacrifice fashion for comfort.
I adore this entire outfit, but the jacket has me especially smitten. The colour is gorgeous, so rich and lovely.
Seems like the jacket is a hit Rebecca! Everyone wants it! The color red says “Hello world, I’m here and I’m kickin butt and taking names!” It is a sexy color on anyone, just watch the hue. I hate orangie reds.
I fall in love with every look you post with this dress. Yes, I love it that much!
Booties haven’t really been my thing, but yours are cute. I wanted a similar style from Evans mid-2011 but they ran out of my size.
I hope you can find your pair of dream boots one day! A friend of mine had similar issues… have you tried the lace up boots from Avenue? They seem to bring a similar/the same style back each year. I think those were finally a pair that worked for her, with 22″ calves and small-ish feet.
I love love LOVE this outfit! That dress is beautiful and you are so pretty 🙂
I appreciate your post, it is interesting and compelling. I stumbled upon my way here through Google, I’ll come back another time 🙂
This is a really great outfit, I love the lace and the jacket. And you look really pretty in it.^^
Rebecca, I believe this is your best outfit. Everyone loves it. You look so beautiful in it.
Wow! Smashing! Very sexy 😉 Im all for plus sizers dressing sexy more often 🙂 (should take my own advice).
Your are very beautiful, and you make your outfit look spectacular