Poll | 03/26/2009 12:00 am

Which designer's fashions do you feel best understand the needs of real women?

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Remember their Platinum line?

By C jay on 03/26/2009 10:57 pm

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Yeah Gals,have you forgotten about H & M , TJX , Marshalls for great designer clothes at killer prices.You can dress very CHIC if you know your style and have a little spare time to shop…give it a try.

By Patricia McFadden on 03/26/2009 10:52 pm

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You are not kidding! I went to TJX with a friend one day and nearly dropped my teeth when I saw 3 high-end designer items "on the rack" and they were not ‘fakes.’ In fact, one being minute at best, I tired to find 2 of so I could have my seamstress sew them together to fit me. It didn’t work, but I found some spring poplin jackets along the same ‘line’ and grabbed them for daughters, and DILs - ;-))

By C jay on 03/26/2009 10:59 pm

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I don’t think Designers design for the average woman………no money to be made there.

Most Designers design their clothes for Wealthy Clientele

By Dona Howlett on 03/27/2009 12:26 am

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I agree Dona. When I mentioned my designers they were my ‘fantasy’ ideals…never being able to afford them except in an occasional high-end resale shop. I rarely go ‘out’ and shop. I shop on line for absolutely everything. After years of buying from the same sources I know what I order will always fit. QM (mom) and I have been in a shopping frenzy for a couple months in preparation for our cruise in April. In that environment we always dress ‘up.’ I don’t remember where I read it, but somewhere someone commented that if you wanted to be noticed as stylish, always dress one step up from what would be the norm and you will always be well dressed for any occasion. Oh shoot! I still have shoes and purses to match my outfits, wear or carry gloves, and am not afraid of hats, fashionable scarves, and tasteful jewelry. I think I am showing my age. CA

By C A Rose on 03/27/2009 3:16 am

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C A Rose,

Where are you going on your cruise………I love cruising. Love to dress up every night for dinner.

I have a ton of dress up clothes. I’ve been on 6 Cruises………loved all of them but one.

By Dona Howlett on 03/27/2009 5:38 am

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Dona, We are doing a seven-day MEX RIV cruise out of LA. I think this is 16 cruises between the two of us, and like you we loved all but one of them. We have done this cruise several times. It only stops in Cabo, Mazatlan, and Puerto Villarta, but we are going on a ship we have never seen before…that makes it an adventure. We planned it last June and picked a short one because 2010 will be QM’s 80th B-Day and we are planning on taking a 14-15 day cruise to celebrate. She isn’t sure she will be healthy enough to do anymore after that point, and wants to hit as many new ports as possible. We are leaning towards a Miami to San Diego Trans-Canal trip which will make our flight home very short. We both are like you…love cruising and love dressing up for dinner. We are so silly. We buy new evening gowns every year…as if we might be seen by someone in the same dress twice! LOL, CA

By C A Rose on 03/28/2009 12:43 am

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I love Dana Buchman. I inherited several pieces from a friend and just love them.

By Bella Mia on 03/27/2009 11:54 am

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Well I am gonna go out on a line here but I love the clothes by Clinton Kelly. Everything I have gotten online from his colletion has fit like a dream. Nothing overly flashy and I can mix and match to no end. So I get many outfits out of a few pieces. Reading all the posts let me know how out of the circle I am when it comes to clothes and designers. Then again I am just in a point in my life where I can buy for myself and not for all the kids.

By DJ Dirr on 03/27/2009 1:20 pm

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I’m sure I am out of touch as well. I also have 3 teens so you all know where my clothing budget goes. I do like J. Jill, Chico’s, Talbot’s, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor brands they seem to be sensible for work and have pants that fit real women who have crazy multi tasking lives and are not 6’0 foot tall and a size 2. I don’t have to wear suits all the time any more so I can mix and match jackets, pants and blouses. I also love TJ Maxx and consignment shopping but those stores you have to take some time to look and don’t always find what you are looking for.

By g c on 03/27/2009 3:40 pm

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Fashion designers are successful when they portray how much women are a mystery, the fact that a woman could wear a Dior one minute then suddenly feel completely in her own skin in a Kenzo piece, then turn to find that the dress she had been created for and vice versa was a piece by a designer that has not even had a show yet, is what the industry is all about. A woman is a work in progress and that is what makes the designers artists by constantly evolving with her…

By Wafaa El Jusmani on 03/27/2009 9:23 pm

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Eileen Fisher makes quality clothing. It’s not my taste, but I can’t fault anyone for loving her things, so well made, really simple and classic.

I like Ellen Tracy, Mizrahi for Target (cheap and fabulous, particularly the accessories) and Versace…obviously, I’m a flashier dresser. Really though, it’s about some basic suits, slacks and skirts paired with more trendy blouses, shoes and accesories. I bought a Chanel bag years ago that was terribly expensive…but it’s lasted so it was totally worth it.

By Pat M on 03/27/2009 11:05 pm

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OK, I chose none of these designers. I am a 41 year old Black Woman. I have a full figure, dips and curves. None of these designers are for me or made for me or for my pocket book!

I love their stuff but do they really design for the "real" woman?

By Renee B on 03/27/2009 11:14 pm

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Renee, Since I have found new dips and curves as I have aged (way older than you), I have seen some lines coming out by Hispanic designers who take into the account the physical attributes and pocketbook of ladies with the physicality they find attractive. I suffer brain fade as I try to think of the Hispanic performer who is hostess for the Miss Universe Contest….OH! It’s Daisy Fuentes and I think she has a line at K-Mart. We also have Kohl’s stores here that have several top name designers doing ready-to-wear at very reasonable prices and speak to the issues of ‘real’ women with curves. I also order from a catalogues named ‘Venus’ out of Jacksonville, FL, and ‘Boston Proper’, Boca Raton, FL, that have a wide variety of figure flattering cuts and styles. I just love ordering slacks or jeans named their ‘Goddess Cut.’ I only shop the sales and outlet catalogues from those two places and just bought some very well made dress slacks ($29.99 ea) with a fuller hip and leg and the waist band isn’t cut so low that wearing them feels like indecent exposure. The Off-White ones are even fully lined! I hope that helps. CA

By C A Rose on 03/29/2009 12:44 am

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Chico’s — I get most of my clothes there. I don’t know who their designer is, but I find their clothing stylish, flattering and affordable. I especially like the fact that most of their tops have sleeves, which is much better for older women — I won’t allow my arms out in public anymore. Yet, they’re not dowdy, by any means. And they have a variety of styles to suit any occasion.

By Babette dYveine on 03/28/2009 7:52 am