You may want to rethink all that black if you plan to be in Alabama in July.

Oh, don't I know it.

I love Plasticland and ModCloth, but they're far more trendy than basic.

I have found excellent stuff on sale at J.Jill. TravelSmith also has some great basics (I just avoid the frumpperific stuff) that I've been grateful for in hot weather. Plus, quite a few of their dresses and skirts are reversible with a neutral side and one with a bit more color.

Ooh! Those are the kind of thing I'm looking for, annaramma--thanks. (Although ModCloths clothes are a bit small--I'm 5'11" and somewhat...um...curvaceous. Sucks, because they have some great stuff.)

I like browsing through Bad Joan sometimes, although I've never bought anything through them. They seem kind of hit-or-miss, plus I don't know what their sizing is like, but you could try it. If you sign up to be a member (totally painless), the stuff is pretty cheap-ish.

Oh elizard, I'm in the same "curvaceous" boat as you! I've had excellent luck finding dresses and skirts that fit with J.Jill and ordered some cute stuff from alight.com. Good luck!

BodenUSA has some cute stuff. They have a lot of jersey dresses that remind me of the one you linked to.

Athleta has some cool jersey stuff as well. I love the look of their pull on skirts and dresses.

I hate shopping online because the clothes never fit like I imagine / like they fit the model. I hate spending the money on something that I end up sending back anyway, especially when so many online stores forget that the USPS ships to Alaska and require UPS 2nd Day Shipping for everything. And even when I fall in love with something online, I'm very very hesitant to order it.

But then I dislike shopping in Real Life stores because I get overwhelmed and frustrated pretty quickly. Only way I've found to get around that is frequent trips of short duration without a specific goal in mind. It's much more enjoyable to spend 15 minutes in a store and maybe try one thing on without pressuring myself that I have to find THE pair of pants that don't make my hips look huge. Which means I still haven't found the perfect pair of slacks, but I do have some great tops and awesome skirts that came from it.

These are all great suggestions; thank you all so much.

rhapsodie, I hear ya, but I don't know of any stores here that I'd like and it's a bit of a challenge to get out for long enough, especially when I don't know where I'm going. I'm hoping that online shopping will be easier and less exhausting, especially since the post office is close by, so returning things won't be as much of a chore. Plus there's a wider selection available. I understand about the shipping issue, though--Galiano Island was pretty much the back of beyond, mail-wise, and could be a huge PIA if I had to sign for something (PO Boxes only, though the island mail carrier was a prince of a man, and would drop packages off on my porch on his way home if they weren't registered).

I get basics from Old Navy online (there is almost certainly an Old Navy there, of course, but the online stuff seems to have a better selection.) That's the only online shopping I do, though.

I like Sierra Trading Post and Zappos, but the bulk of my clothes come from thrift stores. Plus I'm male. So, yeah, not specifically too helpful.

This comes at the perfect time for me (I'm heading to a wedding in Ireland in June, and want some new, decent, affordable things to wear). Bookmarking like mad.

(Just to be clear, a good friend's getting married, not me.)

eShakti, hands down my favorite online store. All sizes and you can customize sleeves, collar, etc. Not too expensive either!

So this turned into a rant about plus sized clothing... sorry.

I'm not just curvy, I'm full on plus size, so I think that changes what I look at in clothing stores. I think most of my work stuff comes from Lane Bryant, and a good chunk of my non-work stuff from Torrid. Since, you know, options are limited...

In the summer I tend to go a lot more gothabilly style-wise, it's way more comfy in the heat. I like a lot of the Stop Staring dresses, and their 3x is about a woman's 18. Bonus is they're cut for a very hourglass figure compared to most stuff, so I don't have to alter them to take in the waist. http://www.daddyos.com/ has the best prices for their stuff, from what I've seen. Lots of black and red combos, which is my favorite color mix.

zaftique.com often has CRAZY sales. Like, dresses for under $20 crazy. (for plus sized that is way cheap) So does onestopplus.com. sizeappeal.com is just plain cheap, but their selection is more limited. They have some cute stuff, and it's very "young" in feel but some of it is a bit wild or revealing for me, for day to day wear.

I don't generally have one go-to place... it's hard when you're not a standard size. I usually go to places and find one or two things I like in the whole store. I tend to be very plain with my clothes. I like tailored stuff, solid colors, things like that. I hate froufrou details- ruffles, runching, fabric rosettes, etc. I'm heavy, and I really think a lot of that adds more weight.

Even my gothiest goth clothes are very plain in cut and style, with all the design being from color, embroidery or cutouts, not ruffles or whatever. Like, plain black shirt from target, plain black skirt, wildass corset.

Plus, my figure type is very hourglass, so I like things that are fitted at the waist. Baggy stuff makes me look pregnant. Most plus clothing assumes I don't even have a waist. (and that I am 50, and that I require an elastic waist on everything, and that I'm five foot nine, and that I like rhinestones to an unhealthy degree, and that my fashion idol is Omar the Tentmaker...)

Dunno if it'd be to your taste, but, since you mention it, a dear friend of mine sells 'plus-size vintage couture.' Here's her Etsy store.

Also, heehee, Omar the Tentmaker.

Thank you thank you thank you! These are fantastic. Yep, your sites too, box. Thanks for ignoring the girlzone opening and weighing in.

And oh, do I hear you, kellydamnit. It's as though once you pass size 11 in clothing you're supposed to develop an interest in floral muumuus and sparkly ruffled tents. Just because we're big doesn't mean we don't have a sense of style, for chrissakes. Thankfully size 11 shoes are getting a bit easier to find. /ranty rant rant