@beandog
Oh, I don't think it's catty. Most women have an interest in clothing, and we naturally critique what we see according to our own tastes. I could say all of the dresses were equally lovely, but who's buying that, lol?
I agree with you...larger women who wear big/loose clothing end up with a tent effect. Mrs. Pence's voluminous skirt just made her look wider. She might have been better off with some good shapewear and a more moderate line to the dress.
Off and on through my 70 years, I've thought about such things.
RE dressing larger women.
I finally came to the conclusion . . . there's no hiding large girth. One can slightly minimize the looks of it--but not by a great deal.
In past years and areas, there have been tendencies of some large women to wear large tent sorts of styles in very very bright printed flower patterns. That will sure splash one's eyes with plenty of color.
I finally decided that--given that there's no hiding their 'whaleness,' more power to them to wear whatever color, pattern and shaped dress THEY enjoyed. And hang everyone else's opinions--which were likely to be negative, REGARDLESS of what sort of 'tent' they wore, anyway.