Plus+:Style Inspiration for Everyone – Review

Plus+:Style Inspiration for Everyone - Review

Product: Plus+: Style Inspiration for Everyone, Edited by Bethany Rutter, forward by Nicholette Mason

Price: $8.26 for Kindle version, $8.69 paperback

Where to Buy: Amazon

Print Length: 224 pages

Publication Date: February 5, 2019

Language: English

Amazon Customer Rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars

My Rating: 4.8 out of 5

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Product: Plus +: Style Inspiration for Everyone – Overview

Plus + is a picture book, if you will, of plus size models, their styles, tastes, and inspirations, as well as their Instagram/Twitter handles, so you can follow them and their style trends. Each page has a colorful and inspiring photo of each model wearing one of her favorite outfits. The forward by Nicholette Mason details her journey as a plus size woman in the fashion world (or let’s say, on the outside, looking into the fashion world) She tells the same story as I’ve heard countless times of how poor body image and the lack of fashion choices stymied her growth as a person. This was until she came into her own and worked with the fashion industry as a blogger, influencer, creative editor, and then to a creator of fashion lines for major plus size manufacturers and being renowned internationally.

Beautiful Models, Inspiring Style

As each model relates her style, several themes surface: Comfort, individualism, and flouting fashion rules. These women all love their bodies as they are, and love wearing clothing that brings out their inner fashionista (or fatshionista, as the book describes). Many of them talk about how their styles are fluid and ever-changing, sometimes from one day to the next. It was pretty refreshing to see the points of view of over 50 women of varying ages, races, sizes, gender identity, and lifestyles, telling about their styles and inspirations and historical influences. The book reinforced the ideas that we should be comfortable in what we wear, that we should love our clothing, and that we should not be told how to wear it.

Also, one of the themes of this book is to promote inclusion in the fashion industry. After all, the average woman is a size 18, so it is about time that we see fashions designed with size 18 as a median, and not the outer edges of the size chart. If the average is size 18, then it would stand to reason that there would be a large share of 24s and 28s on the outer fringes, and I think those women, myself included, should be listened to when it comes to plus size fashion.

A Go-To Style Book

I enjoyed reading and looking at the pictures in this book. The styles are definitely edgy, but not so outrageous as to be un-relatable. I found that I coveted a lot of the outfits. I was particularly glad to see women who weren’t so concerned with funkie and weirdly constructed footwear; many preferred comfortable shoes, which made this book totally relatable. I was also happy to see bigger ladies, as I am a 4x and am happy to see my bigger size normalized instead of being an outlyer.

My Critique

Many of you know by now that I’m not really concerned with name brand clothing manufacturers and designers. I’m reminded of an ad on TV where the woman says she got a pair of Louis Vuitton shoes, gently used for $100, which would have cost her $900 new. This!. This is the reason I don’t like brand labels. I’m lucky to spend $100 on my spring clothing for this year, let alone $900 on ANYTHING. $100 has to buy me 2 or hopefully 3 pairs of shoes (and shoes is one thing I won’t buy second hand, but that’s a subject for another day……)

Anyway, that said, I felt there was a lot of fashion designer name-dropping in the forward that I just couldn’t relate to. However, this challenges me to Google those designers and find out what their deal is. Who knows? They could be really great designers with reasonable clothing for sale. I shouldn’t pass judgment until I know more about them.

My Kindle Issue

The other issue I had with the book was that it baffled my poor old Kindle Fire. Sometimes the pages wouldn’t turn, and it would lock up, a problem I’ve never had before. That, too could be my own issue, because I got my Kindle Fire in 2012, one of the first versions of the tablet. I should take my own advice and upgrade when I get the chance.

Plus +:Style Inspiration for Everyone - Review

Bethany Rutter

About the Editor

Bethany Rutter is a social editor at Navabi, a women’s plus size fashion brand. On the side, she a writer, editor and podcaster. She has beautiful pictures of her outfits on her blog. She has a unique look with the sultry dark hair and dark lipstick, and her makeup is impeccable. At first glance, I would not have guessed she is a plus size woman. She is lovely in every way, and from what I’ve read, I would consider her a plus size style guru, and I would definitely listen to what she has to say.

Plus +:Style Inspiration for Everyone - Review

Nicolette Mason

About the Forward Author

Nicholette Mason is a brand strategist, creative consultant, contributing fashion writer and lifestyle blogger. She graduated from Parsons School of Design and has been a consultant for major brand names, such as Target, Dove, and Barbie, on their inclusion initiatives. (Seeing improvements in body image promotions from all three brands makes me want to listen to her!) In 2017, Nicholette launched her body-positive plus-size fashion destination Premme, with her business partner Gabi Gregg. Nicholette is also a beauty, with a compelling style that makes me want to ask for more.

The Kindle Version (Kindle Fire)

I wanted to make a plug for the Kindle version of Plus +. It of course is a tiny bit less expensive, and saves on paper. Also, all the Instagram links work, so you don’t have to type in the addresses when you want to check out the plus size models featured in the book. Included is the easy, read-it-now download, and everything else you get with a Prime membership. I recommend this as the best method of reading Plus +.

A Great Book

I would be happy to recommend Plus + to my readers who are creating their plus size capsule wardrobe. The models, their stories, and their outfits are truly inspiring and leave me motivated to wear whatever the hell I want! Please give this book a read, and give me your opinions below. And thanks for reading!

Brought to you by Wealthy Affiliate.

 

RhondaLeigh
Plus+:Style Inspiration for Everyone
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8 Comments

  1. Lynne Huysamen

    Oh geez I am so with you on the brand labels – I will not ever buy brand names. Simply because I just cannot see how spending $100’s on a name is going to benefit me other burning a hole in my pocket when I can get something just as good for $10. 

    I buy things that look good on me, not things that are from a certain shop or a certain brand. This sounds like a great book, but I totally agree with you that name dropping is not going to appeal to me either. 

    • admin

      Hi Lynn, and thanks for the comment.  Ya, I really can’t see myself throwing down good cash on a label.  Here’s my joking philosophy:  When I win the lottery, I’m going to buy whatever I want…at Walmart.  Hahahaha I’m not kidding!  Anyway so glad you read my post and thanks again for the comment!  RhondaLeigh

  2. Alex

    Hi Nicolette. Thanks to you for writing this great article and review about Plus: Style Inspiration for Everyone. I love this review. I think my mom needs to see this, she’s a fashionanta too. I’m definitely going to send her this post. Thanks for sharing. I’ll be looking forward to new posts from you. 

    • admin

      Thanks for much for your comment, and for forwarding my post to your mom.  I think she would really like the book too.  These ladies really seem to have it together!  Thank you for reading, and yes, keep an eye on my blog!  I add more stuff every week!  RhondaLeigh

  3. I am not moved by a name brand because it can leave you with no money to spend and a bunch of expensive things. If it looks great and has a good quality though it may not be name brand I still purchase it because we should be penny conscious. Thanks so much for sharing.

    • RhondaLeigh

      Hi Norman, thank you so much for reading and commenting. I’m with you on the brand name issue. Yes, it’s good to get good quality items for your wardrobe, but there are plenty of items out there without the fancy designer label that work perfectly well. And my budget and my wardrobe can’t deal with a single expensive item. I have to make my budget stretch to buy as many items as I can. Thank you again for reading and commenting! RhondaLeigh

  4. I am not influenced by brand names at all. This is a very insigtful review into plus size models and fashions. It is good to know you can get good quality items without having to pay designer label prices. This is valuable info to assit others to stay within their budgets while being able to purchase quality items.

    • RhondaLeigh

      Thank you for reading and commenting on my post, Joseph. Yes, I was never influenced by brand, and now that I’m doing all of this research, I’m even less so. A brand does not have to be part of your identity, and the world won’t freak out if you have no-name clothing on. I stress in my other posts that you should dress for what’s right for YOU. If you can’t afford brand names, you should not feel bad about yourself or take it to heart. There is great clothing out there that will make you feel like a million bucks without you pending a million bucks! Thanks again for stopping by! RhondaLeigh

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