tunics (but not mumus)

We are leaving for vacation in England at the end of this month, and I need some new clothes.  Actually, we will mostly be wearing coats, because it is going to be chilly and rainy.  But if I go into a restaurant or something, which will probably happen since we need to eat, I don't want the old frumpy clothes I get away with wearing as a stay-at-home mom on underneath.  :)

I usually shop online. Sometimes I have to send stuff back and order a different size or style or color, but the overall convenience has been worth it for me, and saves me from having to actually enter clothing stores and talk to salespeople.  (Although I have recently discovered that I like Talbots Woman. Very serene there, and the saleswomen are helpful but not rabid.)

I have some animosity towards the people who design plus-size apparel, because it does seem they think we big girls like ugly fabric.  I can only assume that the reasoning behind this is that we obviously have no taste, because if we did, we wouldn't let ourselves become overweight.  

Who knows.  

I picture boardrooms full of executives saying, "Gosh, we have all these bolts of this hideous fabric that we accidentally ordered, what shall we do?" And then someone says, "Hey, that's no problem! We'll just start a plus-size line of rectangular- and tent-shaped pieces and use it all up."

Anyway, some companies seem to get it and do make cuter stuff for us, and I ordered a couple tunics online last night. I kind of resisted the idea of "tunics" for awhile because it seemed one step short of "mumus," but it turns out I actually really like tunics.  That extra length is helpful. (Tunics fall to lower hip rather than high hip or mid hip.) 

Here is one I found at Eddie Bauer.  If I like it, I might also order it in the green or yellow.  The patterns were kind of cute, for a change.

Lands End has a couple new ones this season, too, that are typical Lands-End-plain, but that's okay with me, because honestly, I would dress like Hester Prynne (minus the "A") if I could get away with it.  This one will be good with jeans. I got it in this green color.

Here's another one that's your basic cotton knit, but the pintucking in front makes it kind of sweet, I think.

I got this one from Eddie Bauer, too. It's the same cut as the swirly one above, but in a solid. I will not look like this little slip of a girl, but that's okay.

If none of these work out, I've got my eye on a couple lovely ones over at J. Jill. They're a bit pricier, so I didn't order any, but I have them bookmarked.  This linen one comes in some really pretty colors.

And I thought this one was kind of pretty, too.

Do any of you traditionally built suziebeezieland women have any favorite clothes items or places to shop? :)