Showing off plus-size style
Over the past few years, on my frequent jaunts to Montreal, I’ve encountered a bold and beautiful lady who’s become part of that fashionable city’s style landscape for me.
Sarah St-Fleur, 27, is considered quite the “It” girl in Montreal style circles for her unparalleled panache. St-Fleur, who’s adopted the moniker “XXL,” has an unquestionably regal air about her, aptly dubbing her 2 1⁄2- year-old blog QueenSizedFlava.com.
She’s actually a banker who simply has a penchant for strutting her stuff and empowering women — plus-size and otherwise.
Besides posting pictures of herself in chic getups, she also philosophizes online about the attitude you need to embrace if you really want to shine. “I could not care less about those preconceived notions that people have about how I should dress, how I should talk, or how I should act because I was wired this way,” she wrote in a recent post.
“I had to learn the hard way that pleasing everybody is an impossible task. Therefore, as long as the person watching in the mirror is happy, then that’s all that matters.”
Born in Montreal, St-Fleur says New York is like a second home to her. She’s been going to the Big Apple since she was little, and spends most of her summer vacations there.
Maybe some of that classic American boldness rubbed off on her, because she has a style that’s as in-your-face and unapologetic as I’ve ever seen. “If you’re going to wear, it, you better own it!” she laughs.
She does most of her shopping in New York state, often going to the Champlain Centre in Plattsburgh for a quick fix, since it’s only an hour from Montreal.
She also favours Macy’s in Manhattan, and shops online for deals. Leopard prints, vivid colours and prints are all part of her style trademark for one simple reason: “I love to stand out from the crowd,” she says.
Of Haitian descent, St-Fleur says fashion has always been a part of her life because in her culture, “any excuse is a good excuse to dress up.”
She remembers, as a little girl, watching as her mother got ready for work.
“Every morning, she would make it seem like she was attending an upscale event with her clothes and her makeup,” recounts St-Fleur. “I remember telling myself that I was going to be just like that when I grew up. To this day, my mother prides herself on how long she takes to get ready for a party and how good she looks when she is done.”
These days, St-Fleur’s moods are what dictate how she dresses, and all her ensembles are inspired. I was in Montreal recently, at the Addition Elle store on Saint Catherine St.
I recently launched a line of my Edit clothing at the plus-size chain, and St-Fleur dropped by to say hi, decked out in a show-stopping black-and-white outfit that paid tribute to one of the season’s hottest graphic trends.
Her jacket, which she’d purchased at Addition Elle for $99, was teamed with a $10 Old Navy turtleneck and a pair of funky jeans from Forever 21that she got for $29. Her shiny Doc Martens cost $150, while her fun accessories, including a faux tie from Rue 21 and a cameo ring from Walmart, cost $20 and $10 respectively.
Q: What is a fashion faux pas in your stylebook? A: A lack of self-esteem — regardless of how pretty you may look on the outside, if you don’t feel the same inside then your sense of style will never shine. Q: Heels or flats? A: I wear a size 11 wide, so it’s hard for me to find gorgeous heels and it’s also why I often wear flats. But if Louboutin made size 11 wide, I would be in heels 24/7. I have a killer walk in heels! Q: What is your style when you are at home? A: To be honest, when I’m alone I can’t be bothered with clothes. As much as I love fashion, there’s nothing like the freedom of being naked. Q: Ever second-guess an outfit? A: I don’t like second-guessing myself for anything I do. But life has shown me that humility is the best policy. So I will sometimes second-guess my outfit if I’m heading to a church, a business meeting, or anything that requires a more “standard” look. Q: Best fashion advice? A: Wear something that makes you feel seven feet tall. In another words, people should wear things that make them feel good about themselves. Jeanne Beker is a contributing editor to the Star and host of Fashion Television Channel. Email jeanne@ctv.ca, follow on Twitter @jeanne_beker and watch her on CTV, E! and Fashion Television Channel.