In This Case, Conservative Can Be Cool

Dear Fashion Police: I just moved to Los Angeles from the Midwest and I need your help. I recently graduated from law school and will be job hunting at local law firms in the next month or so. I am 25 and a plus-size girl and, not being familiar with the area, I was wondering if you could recommend any decent (translation: cool, not old and frumpy) plus-size shops in Los Angeles.

--IN NEED OF STYLE

Dear Need: We’re assuming you’re not going to wear funky clothes on your interviews. Your best bet is going to be a skirt suit or suit separates. No pants on initial interviews. Now, we didn’t say boring, mainstream, dowdy suits, so don’t get all huffy. There are plenty of jackets with interesting details. You should be able to find those items at Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Robinsons-May, Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom. They’ll offer the most extensive selections.

Now for the fun stuff. At Lane Bryant you’ll find interesting casual wear. You can also try the Elisabeth line by Liz Claiborne (available at most Macy’s and Robinsons-May stores) and Talbots Woman, available by catalog (call [877] TALBOTS). Great Changes in North Hollywood carries very cool clothes for plus sizes. This fall they’re expecting burnout velvet jackets and dresses, dip-dye bias-cut skirts, chenille sweaters, bootleg pants and straight skirts with leg-showing slits. They’re at 12516 Riverside Drive and are open Tuesday through Saturday ([818] 769-4626).

While you’re in the Valley you should also visit Leslie, Too!, offering chic large sizes in everything from sportswear to dressy (12260 1/2 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, [818] 752-7895). And in the fall, Max Azria of BCBG will debut his plus-size line, BCBG Max Azria Woman, at select Bloomingdale’s stores.

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