The season of gluttony has arrived but thankfully, winter’s voluminous clothes give your turkey-baby room to kick. We took three super-sized looks to Yonge-Dundas Square to see what Torontonians thought.
The cape
Say no to standard peacoats and puffas and hell yes to a statement-making cape. The super-bright colour stands out from the rest of the dull winter gear.
Sentaler cape $680, sentaler.com. Judith & Charles pants ($265), Holt Renfrew, holtrenfrew.com. Call It Spring booties ($65).
“It’s modern and different.” —Billy Ray, 48, oil and gas
“It looks too square, and doesn’t conform to her body. Women have boobs—you gotta show ’em!” —Christina, 34, human resources
“I like how it drapes nicely. It’s not too big, but still cozy and comfy.” —Trish, 54, retired
The dress
Oversized frocks make this summer’s maxis look positively mini. Swaddle yourself in a few yards of woolly fabric this fall— you’ll be cute and comfortable for once.
Maison Martin Margiela dress ($179 at store or $146 on eBay), necklace and bracelets ($18 each), H&M, hm.com/ca. Call It Spring booties ($80), callitspring.com.
“I’m very impressed. I like the way it curves out, but I like loose clothing.” —Debbie, 60, street promoter
“Booo! She’s a beautiful lady, she should be in something different. She looks like a 55-year-old lady.” —Timothy, 32, basement reconstruction
“Too plain. It looks like a grey potato sack.” —Rodney, 32, mason
The pants
It’s Hammer time. Relive the ’90s with a pair of harem pants big enough for two.
P.A.M. pants ($106), Jonathan + Olivia, 49 Ossington Ave., 416-849-5956. A.L.C. blouse ($325), Holt Renfrew. Call It Spring shoes ($60).
“I already have enough volume down there—I don’t think I want to create any more.” —Kathryn, 25, policy analyst
“They’re bigger than she is!” —Keltie, 19, student
“They’re stylish. It’s the old-fashioned look!” —Sam, 64, self-employed
Why big clothes are a stellar way to stand out
Oh, hell, no.
That was my first thought when my editor asked me to test drive the volume trend. I didn’t want to appear schlubby when sporting some of the more massive fall pieces on my curvy frame. Instead, I recruited my friend Lindsay to swathe herself in the miles of fabric featured here.
But when Lindsay emerged at the shoot in an oversized grey dress, her body slid between the ripples and billows of fabric like fish in a stream, and it was strangely…sexy. The flowing frock, nipped in at the waist and wrist, and the pants, generous yet tapered just so at the waist and ankles, looked elegant, surprisingly flattering, and even alluring. You wouldn’t think it would attract attention, but there were onlookers aplenty.
That’s the thing about going big—people can’t help but notice you. Wearing this trend takes resolve and strength—you need enough confidence to not be overwhelmed by the clothes. That kind of power is impressive.
It started with peplums and maxi dresses, leading the way for extreme silhouettes like those found in H&M’s fast-selling collection of Maison Martin Margiela garments, which would have been unsellable even a year ago. I may not have been ready for a new shape, but many women certainly are.
And, during a time of ever-escalating bold trends, like mixing prints and neon shades, extreme shape is one of the last ways to stand out. These days, you have to take up a lot of room to be seen.
