I really am trying to lose the weight (with "look like the author I'm trying to become" as part of my motivation--someday I really AM going to sell a book, dammit, and I want to look hot in my author photo!)

Not to get all What Not To Wear on you, but I gotta say you have total hot potential already, whether or not the weight goes away. What kind of cuts and styles are you thinking about? Different stores and labels have different design strengths, so somebody else's shop of awfulness may turn out to be your Best Store Evah!, or vice versa.

Stumbling around websites, I am having more fun thinking about shopping than I have in years. Like, I think I'm going to need to replace my winter coat after this season, so I'm poking around on the Nordstrom's website.

I like this, though I'm not sure it'd look good on someone as broad-shouldered and buxom as I am: [link]

And I like the cut of this one, though I'd for sure get it in black or mahogany rather than ivory: [link]

And this is my favorite, in black rather than camel: [link]

Shopping for the Susan I want to be is kinda fun! So next I head over to special occasion dresses and try to find things that are neither prom or Mother of the Bride. You know, just in case the Susan I Want to Be is ever nominated for a writing award given out at a fancy banquet. Hey, it could happen.

And I'm like, "Lose the 50 pounds, and I could look hot in this": [link]

And I like this, but even in ideal shape I think I'd be a bit mutton dressed as lamb in it: [link]

But this could work: [link]

But then I go over to the Day Dresses section and am baffled by what Nordstrom has labeled as "Wear to Work." 90% of it would look ridiculous at any job I've ever had. Clothes confuse me.

Susan, H&M has lovely stuff for really reasonable prices, and their Modern Classic stuff goes up to size 16.

Except I just realized I don't think you have H&M in Seattle. Um.

I like this, though I'm not sure it'd look good on someone as broad-shouldered and buxom as I am

Those coats are beautiful, but if you're busty, it's best to go with V shapes rather than that button-up-the-neck look. If you have wide shoulders, just avoid huge lapels on the V.

My favorite thing about that last tie dress is that it has sleeves. So hard to find as a rule.

But then I go over to the Day Dresses section and am baffled by what Nordstrom has labeled as "Wear to Work." 90% of it would look ridiculous at any job I've ever had. Clothes confuse me.

Yeah, I dress up more than most of my officemates and much of what is labeled "work" clothes would look ridiculous here.

ETA: Also, IIRC, you have cool coloring, which means that color would probably be gorgeous on you.

Oooh, clothes talk! Can I take this opportunity to chime in with a bitch about how over I am with every single fucking shirt or top that's not a turtleneck being cut to need a cami or tanktop underneath?

Susan, those coats are gorgeous, but would make you look kinda boxy.

Places for you to try shopping: Target, Ross, T.J. Maxx, and Burlington Coat Factory. All of those can be hit or miss, and you will absolutely need to try things on, but a lot of good items can be found there.

Thrift stores are, of course, my #1 recommendation. But I know that not everyone wants to spend that much time searching for wardrobe stuff.

Also, have you looked at the Newport News website? Lots of useful stuff, and a quick bit of googling will always get you a discount code for them.

What kind of cuts and styles are you thinking about? Different stores and labels have different design strengths, so somebody else's shop of awfulness may turn out to be your Best Store Evah!, or vice versa.

Well, I feel like my best colors are dark and/or jewel tones. Black, navy, forest green, royal blue, teal, burgundy, true red, that sort of thing. Color Me Beautiful told me I was a Winter when I was twelve, and I don't think it led me wrong. But the past 5-10 years, I've been wearing my blacks and blues and greens to look inconspicuous, and I'd like to wear them as bold, strong colors instead, you know? Brighter fabrics, better cuts, the occasional eye-catching accessory, etc.

As for cut, I guess I'm looking for mature and womanly without being frou-frou. Soft lines and frilly things AFAIC match neither my appearance nor my personality, and they CERTAINLY don't match my writing persona! So I guess more of a tailored look, though that can be plain and fade into the background if you're not careful. And no matter what I want to look like, I have to work with the linebacker shoulders and big breasts, which limits what clothes fit at all, much less fit and look flattering.

I just need to mention that my car got rear-ended on the way home tonight. Rain, dusk, merging onto highway. You know the drill. It wasn't very hard; my bumper looks unscathed, and I feel fine, although I'm unbelievably rattled. (Am having a big glass of wine while The Boy, prince among men, makes me grilled cheese and tomato soup.)

Unfortunately, I bumped the car in front of me, though even less hard than I was hit (someone here can calculate the physics involved). But the poor girl driving had recently (I think she said in the past 2-3 months) had neck surgery, so she was really worried about whether her neck was okay. Which I totally understand.

Cop came, was nice, called paramedics for neck!surgery girl (one paramedic knocked on my window and asked if I needed evaluation, and I said no....then I saw how HOT he was and wanted to call him back, but I didn't), took all our info, and when he told me I could leave, I asked him -- in all seriousness -- "Do I get a ticket?"

Because I had never been clear on whether the middle car in a threesome of rear-ending (heh) is at fault for hitting the front car. Like, should I have left more distance in front of me, or something? But apparently no, the guy who hit me is at fault for all of it.

And fortunately he has insurance.

I think my wee sturdy car is just fine, and I think I'll be sore tomorrow but not injured. But it still makes me very glad that I got hit by someone with insurance.

ION, Susan, re: clothes, are you interested in brick-and-mortar stores only? Because silhouettes.com is a good store for sizes 12 and up if you want to shop online.

Ooh, Newport News is a good idea.

Glad you're OK, Teppy!