Contrary to popular belief, I do like Lane Bryant. In fact, I like them so much that I make sure to run over the store and the company with a fine eye, to make sure that I don’t do them a disservice. Remember - your dollars are important, spend them wisely and everything else will fall into place!

I spent roughly $83 yesterday, and felt satisfied with my purchases. I picked up a pink cami for $13, and a nice kimono (I mean, it’s nice - whenever my camera gets off the slow boat from Siberia, I just might be able to take pictures for once) for $15. The rest of the purchase went to a nice pair of black slacks, done in the Chelsea style. “Chelsea” in this case, only needs to mean one thing: relaxed wide leg pants. I snagged one of the five remaining on the rack, and grinned like a fiend.

When one outfit morphs into six

This blog is me pretty much cracking open my head and pouring all my juicy fashion tips and secrets out to you — and this tip is no exception! I tend to divide many items into categories. Variations are like side topics in that book you saved your nickels and dimes to get from Borders that make you smile, but aren’t the reason why you bought the book. Outfit, in this case would then be the main event — you don’t generally go to Vegas to eat, but you do go to gamble - eating is the side, gambling is the main event.

I’m sure eating and gambling (if you’re going to Vegas) are both important. In this manner, variations — and the outfits that love them — are part of every fashionista’s balanced breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

For this outfit, the variations can be anything from a contrast-colored skirt or pair of slacks, to a solid career-style blouse (of any color, really) to go with the nice black shadow-herringbone pants. Top it off with a jacket and maybe a string of pearls, and it’s all up from here, ladies!

Creating a central outfit — with variations to go around it — makes me think of flowers. You’ve got this lovely outfit in the center, and all the variations that go with it are the petals. Are your petals open?

What outfits do you use as a ‘base’ for your wardrobe? I’m sure I’m not the only one out there that shops like this. Considering that fashion is cyclical, building outfits and variations saves you time and money — leaving you to stay luxuriously deluxe year round!

Tags: outfits, plus size fashion, outfit construction, staying stylish