Penney's has been in the news pretty heavily for the past two years for various things. New CEO, new way of pricing. New CEO is now the former CEO and they're bringing back sales and coupons. Then there's this Martha Stewart thing, which basically appears to be--of all things--wrapping paper. I'm not kidding, my local Penney's is constructing this big section that's all about gift wrap by Martha.
Despite all the other stuff going on with Penney's, I've been impressed with their plus sized offerings as of late. The selection has dropped at least 30%, but what is there seems better curated. Yes, there's still too much polyester and sublimation prints (didn't those go out of style in 2010?), but there is some pretty solid stuff to be found.
I'm really impressed with the styling of the jcp line, a private label being carried in all stores. The line is centered around basics that are mostly casual fares, with a few being okay for a professional work environment. The detailing is really nice and the fabrics are on point, with some silk-blend popovers and cotton sweaters. The only downside I've found with the brand is that the color selection is very limited and the sizing can be off. For example, I can try on a pair of skinny jeans in green and they're too small. I can try the same style of jeans in the same size that might be in the cobalt blue and they fit perfectly.
Here are some of the preppiest picks of the line (and the entire line is the epitome of preppy casual wear):
JCP_prep 


The stand outs to me in this collection are the green bermuda shorts. Not only do they come in the basic khaki/black/navy, but also this amazing green and pink. Pink and green, how much more preppy can you get? I also love the two popovers on the top line of the tops. They're a silk blend and are really soft. They're sheer, but honestly, most shirts seem so sheer these days. The orange lattice shirt is in the same silk blend but it's pretty opaque. The orange shirt is perfect for summer if you work in a professional office environment:

SummerOrange 

Orange and blue just look so good together. I added the white skirt to give the outfit a fresher feel, but if you have a navy blue suit or separates for work, by all means wear those. I added these adorable Lilly Pulitzer wedges that just scream summer, a Longchamp tote, and sailor-inspired jewelry. As far as makeup goes, I'd pick a coral blush, like Benefit's Coralista. I'd also take a bit of a matte bronzer and dust where the sun hits my face. For eyes I'd do a copper or bronze eye and navy eyeliner. Keep lips simple with a balm (I'm a huge fan of the Fresh balms). For hair I'd just do a high, swingy ponytail.

Gold metallic shoes are good addition to your wardrobe. They're neutral enough to wear with just about any outfit, and can easily replace any black or nude shoe if you're bored of those. I like these sort of snakeskin print pumps, and these peep toes are very elegant. For flats, I think these skimmers with a scalloped trim are just darling, and these perforated smoking loafers are a breezy pick.
Again, I really think the jcp line is on top as far as casual wear goes.