Even though we’re in the middle of a hot summer, fashion has already moved on to fall and winter looks. I was just breezing through some photos of upcoming fall fashion trends, one of which is “peplum.”  I’d heard this word before, but had no idea exactly what it was…so of course I investigated!

Turns out peplum is a “short overskirt or ruffle attached at the waistline of a jacket, blouse, or dress.”

Not my favorite look, just because my hips don’t need any more ruffles or overskirts attached to them for emphasis.  But for women who are bigger on top, a peplum jacket can help balance everything out.

Mustard (the color, not the condiment) is another fall fashion look that’s hitting the runways.  Get your summer tans now…mustard is a color that works best on darker skin (too pale and it will wash you out). If you’re feeling  the mustard thing, check out something like this wrinkle-resistant plus-size shirt.  Comfortable and easy-wearing, plus it comes in a variety of colors.

If you don’t think mustard is your color, you can still work it in to your wardrobe with shoes. Shoes are great way to wear colors you like but that don’t necessarily work well with your skin tone. These cute peep-toes in mustard are both stylish looking and come in one of fall’s hottest shades!

With summer on its way it’s time to forego the tights and break out the skirts you can wear on their own…just throw on a pair of sandals and go!

When you’re choosing a skirt, it’s important to note which kinds look best on your body. Do you prefer loose and long and flowing? Short and smooth?  Which lengths are flattering and which make you look shorter or stouter?

A long skirt like this is great for average-height or taller women. It works in the winter or fall with tall boots, but in spring and summer, some great strappy sandals are ideal.

Another idea for women of all heights is this knee-length skirt. In gray or white this can be a mix-and-match piece, but a ton of other colors add some fun, too. This plus-size skirt works with either flat or heeled sandals or wedges.

And this piece, called a riding skirt, is slightly shorter than the previous two. It’s loose-fitting with an elastic-back waist. A skirt of this length should work for women of most heights, and looks great with heeled sandals.

Barbeques, State Fairs, Music Festivals… Oh My! In continuation with my summery themed posts, I’d like to talk about staying cool and looking awesome in the summertime.

Warm weather can be a tricky thing to navigate. My hair gets frizzy, my face shines brighter than the sun, and finding comfortable clothing that I feel good in can seem impossible!  Now, as much as I talk about being confident in ourselves and just wearing what feels right, it can be hard without the cover of gorgeous wintery layers. It’s ok to need the safety net of a flesh-covering shirt, but you can look good and keep cool while you do it!

My favorite summer staple of ALL TIME are a good pair of cotton/spandex legging. Or several. I wear them all summer long with a pair of cute flats and usually a skirt over it (but I’m on the ‘leggings ARE pants’ side of the eternal argument…)

I love the zipper detail at the ankle of these leggings ($29). Leggings like this breathe well in warm weather, but can keep you covered if you’re not a big fan of exposing your legs. And on top of it, they will look cute with virtually ANYTHING that you pair them with!

But, if you’re a fan of feeling the breeze on your legs, I suggest grabbing this seasons hottest item, the maxi skirt. These ankle length skirts are flowy, romantic and oh so chic. They’re absolutely perfect for a date night or a music festival. Pair it with a simple t-shirt and a great pair of heels!

This super chic border print maxi skirt ($49) can be dressed up with heels and a button up blouse, or dressed down with a bright solid t-shirt and sandals. Perfect for a day of listening to music outdoors!

And my last summertime essential (for now), is the lovely and loose-fitting Kurta.

Seriously. HOW CUTE IS THIS TOP!? The Border-Print Kurta ($49) would look perfect with those leggings we talked about earlier. I love it’s effortless style and the belted waist gives the top the perfect amount of structure.

Summer weather doesn’t mean you have to hide behind bland t-shirts and flip flops. Throw on a flowy skirt or top, pair it with something more fitted for balance and get ready to have an amazing time!

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ABOUT THE BLOGGER

Amalia Nicholson is a plus-size blogger, fashion enthusiast and advocate of beauty at every size. She currently resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota where runs her personal style blog, Double Vision.

Looking for an item of clothing that provides a little bit more coverage than shorts this summer? One great idea: lightweight plus size pants.

These Capri pants fit the bill. Comfy rayon and an elastic waist make them easy to wear, while still looking put-together and classy at the same time.

Seersucker is an awesome summer fabric. These pants, while they’re full-length, will be just as comfortable as capris because of the lightweight seersucker. There are, however, seersucker Capri options, too.

And, of course, it wouldn’t be summer without linen. These linen Capris are classic for everyday wear, summer weekends, and trips to the beach.

What’s your favorite summer pant?

You can’t wear sandals all the time, even in summer (although I try!). Sometimes your outfit requires actual shoes. One of the hottest trends for 2011 is booties—low boots that work with almost everything. And the great thing is, you can wear these in every season, too.

Something like this patent-leather trimmed suede boot is one example. The blue version would pop, and the black version would go with everything.

A simpler option is the classic shoe bootie, which would look fantastic with trousers or a short skirt and tights.

And for a casual look with jeans, khakis or leggings, these low-heeled laceup booties are a must have.

What’s your favorite bootie look?

With four weddings to attend this year, I’m on the hunt for cute wedding shoes to go with the cute dresses I’ve picked out. I’m going to one in May, one in September and one in October (in Florida), so fancy sandals are going to be my shoe of choice. I’ve been checking out my options.

I like t-strap slides a lot: slipons, low heel (for comfort), but still strappy and sexy.

But then I also like slingback heels. These are delicate and feminine and fun.

And who doesn’t love shiny patent leather?

Shoes are one of those things that can really make or break an outfit and set a mood. But we all know how badly shoes can affect your fun when you feel your feet start to hurt. That’s the other good thing about sandals...just slip them off to let your feet cool down a bit, and then hop back up for more fun.

Spring and summer fashion in 2011 is going to be marked by a couple of trends, and one is lace. This pretty, delicate embellishment is showing up on sleeves, hems and necklines after designers began incorporating it into the season’s hottest looks.

Here's an example of a lace-trimmed blouse that would look hot with a pair of jeans or tighter-fitting pants.

This plus-size tunic features lace insets in the sleeves and neck--another fun way to work lace into your wardrobe.

And finally, to add a hint of lace that peeks out from underneath a shirt, this cami, in print or black, is a great idea!

I CANNOT WAIT until I can wear summer shoes again! And I’m thinking about all the pairs I want to add to my wardrobe: sandals, thongs, peep-toe wedges…

On the sandal front, I’m thinking something like these starfish sandals in white. I love the silver starfish embellishment, and these are perfect for the beach.

As for thongs (or as I call them, flip-flops, to distinguish from the other kind of thong), I like something a little more exciting than a plain color basic. I like the brown version of these flower thongs because they have the shape and comfortable style, but with the flower.

And finally, peep-toe wedges (not super-high platform wedges, though). I like the comfortable lower-heeled wedges like these—and the snakeskin pattern is a really fun addition.

Well, if it ever gets warm enough, you may be able to turn in your coats for some beautiful cascade cardigans!

This one is retro and floral and flattering, easy to wear over a t-shirt or other fitted shirt. It will carry you well into summer, too, if you need a cardigan for those days at work when the office is chilly.

Another idea is this striped version, which layers over just about any outfit, and because it’s black and white, it goes with just about every outfit, too.

And once you’ve got the cardigans, you can pair them with a yoke skirt like this one. It’s made of comfortable jersey material that works well for work or for hanging out around town.

Jersey is actually a great all around option for lots of different clothes. Most people think of it for t-shirts, but here it is in a cardigan. And here are some flattering (and very comfy) jersey knit pants.

For more great new spring looks, click here.

Now that warm spring weather is on its way, it’s time to resurrect the peasant style! This loose-fitting, fun and stylish look doesn’t work so well when you can’t be outside in the sunshine or need to wear a coat, but it’s great for spring and summer.

This peasant tunic is great to pair with jeans or leggings. It’s simple and comfortable while still being trendy, and comes in several feminine prints.

Another peasant tunic in a different style is this one. It has a self-tie belt to give it some shape, but looks equally great with jeans or leggings.

And if you really want to rock the peasant look, this plus size maxi dress is a good way to pull it off. Throw on some sandals and hip jewelry and you are ready to go. The pullover styling, loose sleeves and scoop neck make it extra comfortable.

Go get your peasant on!