Upscale

Quality labels give you natural authority, so stroll down the hall toward your corner office in a blue and white jacquard paisley jacket by Linda Allard for Ellen Tracy ($738), worn with navy crêpe pants ($338), available at Toni Plus (Bayview Village, 416-512-0341; Sherway Gardens, 416-622-0784). Close the deal in Basler’s commanding black silk jacket, embroidered with a chinoiserie of petals ($605) from The Answer (2715 Yonge St., 416-483-5663). Wear it with Gerry Weber’s blush pink blouse with tiny rectangular buttons ($150) or Due per Due’s silk chiffon cami with tuxedo pleating ($140) from the same store. Then stun the competition at the office party in a simple, hip-skimming skirt made of four bands of black satin ($670) from Marina Rinaldi (Hazelton Lanes, 87 Avenue Rd., 416-969-9677), perfect with an ivory viscose top featuring criss-cross ruffles cascading from a V-neck ($240). If nothing seems to fit, the Bay’s Above Average boutique (176 Yonge St., 416-861-6391) boasts plus-size clothes from designer labels such as Nine West, Jones New York and Tommy Hilfiger, along with more moderately priced items.

Accessible

The clothes, not the price tags, get the gasps at Commesse (412 Roncesvalles Ave., 416-533-2258), where the eclectic gear includes a green sleeveless cotton T with rough-cut edges ($69). In sparkly tweed, a bolero jacket ($79) hangs alongside a black Lycra wrap dress ($85) and a funky black, pink and white tweed blazer with elasticized short sleeves ($75). Unabashedly bold and trendy, Voluptuous (Vaughan Mills, 1 Bass Pro Mills Dr., 905-660-9881; plus three other locations) offers younger women a white, knee-length sweater that belts below the rib cage ($85), wide-legged jeans with pink rhinestoned pockets ($69.99) and iridescent sashes in rainbow colours ($25). The classic looks at Laura Plus (Yorkdale Shopping Centre, 3401 Dufferin St., 416-787-0702; plus two other locations) include an understated faux leather jacket with a mandarin collar and zippered pockets ($59.99); and a deep green blouse with muted red and yellow stripes, and a radically asymmetrical hem ($79.99). The plus-size standby, Addition-Elle (132 Yonge St., 416-364-4973; plus two other locations) features a hit-and-miss selection of sportswear, jeans, suits and dresses, but there is the odd gem: the classiest piece recently was a sleeveless, black chiffon shift, given lift and balance by three tiers of ruffles near the knee-length hem ($129.99).

Sweet Nothings

Make the most of your hourglass figure at Tryst, where bra sizes run up to 52J, and the staff will help you lace yourself, Scarlett O’Hara style, into a Grenier corset in black, white or (what else?) scarlet ($108). Secrets From Your Sister carries bras up to size 44JJ; try Panache’s Tango line in see-through black lace ($92). And Linea Intima will not only fit you for a bra, but steer you toward Patricia Fieldwalker’s pure silk chemises, forgivingly cut on the bias in such shades as hot pink ($170–$225).