Fuzzy Wuzzy

Sunnies: HERE| Sweater: c/o HERE| OTK boots: Similar HERE & HERE

photography by LETA

It's official, sweater season is upon us Babes. As you may know, I'm totally partial to summer. I LOVE summer! However, even I know when it's time to concede. Instead of resistance, I choose acceptance. One thing that I appreciate about cooler weather is sweaters, sweaters, and sweaters. Oh! And coats, and scarves, and gloves, and boots... What I don't like about cooler weather is any sensation of feeling cold - but that is clearly a topic for another day! 
Today's look is similar to my last one (HERE), the focal point is a sweater styled as a dress. I sized up for this sweater so that the fit would be oversized on my frame, and the length what I desired as a dress. When it arrived in the mail, I was taken in by how incredibly soft it is!!! It is sooooo soft! This is the type of sweater that you want to snuggle up in all day/every day. I love this blush hue, on its next go round, I see myself pairing it with red 😉 Because in my head, red matches everything...
Until next time,
Xx

LOVING: Girl With Curves x Lane Bryant

Sunnies: HERE| Sweater, worn as a dress: HERE

Handbag: Vintage, thrifted| Leopard sandals: Old, similar HERE & HERE

Photos by A. ROBINSON PHOTOGRAPHY

I was elated when I first heard about the #GWCxLB design collaboration last month!!! My anticipation continued to grow each week as Tanesha Awasthi/Girl With Curves and Lane Bryant shared glimpses from the collection. Girl With Curves x Lane Bryant launched in stores across the country and online on Sunday, September 9th. Due to a FANTASTICALLY POSITIVE response, a number of pieces from the collection sold out online almost immediately👀 I hurriedly headed to a Lane Bryant store location near me the very next day so that I could experience the collection in-person + try on every single item that was available in my size 😁 (shared on my IG Stories). BABES there were a number of style WINNERS (take this ONE for starters, which appeals to my vintage love), but this mustard belted wrap hem sweater was clearly made for ME!!! It completely swept me off my feet! I absolutely love the design of it, the way it flatters my curves, and how perfect it is for FALL❤ Note: I am wearing a size 14/16. All of the items that I tried on in-store were a size 14. I would say the line is true to size, which may be helpful to know when ordering online.

Babes, Tanesha's collection takes the curvy frame from day to night with ease, class, and S T Y L E! CONGRATULATIONS to her & the Lane Bryant team for a job wonderfully executed 👏👏👏
Now it's your turn! Please share your favorite pieces from the #GWCxLB collection!
Until next time,
Xx

Bold Blooms

Earrings: ZARA| Kimono: c/o HERE| Purse: Coach, old

A lesson that I have learned repeatedly over the years: 

NEVER SAY NEVER.. especially when it comes to fashion 😁
There are a number of style features that I don't LOVE on my clothing, included among them are kimono sleeves, elastic waists on dresses, and maxi length skirts. However, the dress that I am wearing in today's post incorporates all of the aforementioned and yet--- I LOVE IT! Somehow all the features come together superbly, plus the color and print is absolutely standout on its own accord. I snagged this dress via a recent Gwynnie Bee shipment, I'm happy to say it is a definite keeper 😉 Check out a free trial offer HERE.
Until next time,
Xx

June Bug

Earrings: HERE| Dress: c/o HERE & HERE| Straw bag: ZARA

Chapter 6 of 12 has begun Babes, can you believe we're halfway through 2018 already?! Time waits for no one!

I'm currently sitting on the veranda of my cliffside casita watching the clouds dance over the mountains 😍 I'm on vacation!!! I wrapped up the end of May and kicked off the beginning of June in another country. See more of what I'm up to in my Instagram stories😊

About this look: I've been infatuated with all things tassel embellished for let's see...um, at least two years now. When I spotted this maxi dress not only decked in a soft stripe pattern (perfect for summer), but also trimmed in fabulous tassels- well, as they say- the rest is history. 

I'd love to stay and chat, but I really must get back to enjoying my trip! There's a hummingbird playing to my right, three horses frolicking ahead over the mountain, and I have a spa appointment in less than an hour😍

Until next time, 

Xx

For the Grey of It

Sunnies: Old | Romper: c/o HERE| Straw bag: MARSHALLS| Gingham sandals: c/o HERE

PSA: I plan to LIVE in shorts all summer long! Is it summer yet?👀

If there's one thing that I came to appreciate more fully after I started blogging my personal style: MY LEGS! 

When I was down south last month one of my cousins told me my legs were juicy, I readily agreed with her 😁
Yes, my legs have come to be one of my favorite physical attributes, it's only right that I create space for them to shine! 

Until next time,
Xx

Free Flowing

Sunnies: HERE| Earrings: HERE| Halter top: Old| Pants: c/o YOURS Clothing| Slides: Dolce Vita, sold out

I was reminded of my adoration for palazzo pants a few months ago when I spotted a fantastic pair in lemon print online (blogged HERE). Shortly thereafter I came across  another pair in basic black, I knew that I needed to add them to my collection pronto. When they arrived in the mail I initially thought I might have to have the length altered. Imagine my surprise and elation when I tried them on - the fit AND the length was a perfect match for my body 😍 Despite their dark hue, the pants are wonderfully light weight. I was cool and comfortable (and feeling very cute 😉) on a day where temperatures soared up to 85 degrees.
For their grand debut out, I paired them with a knit, mustard colored halter top, along with tropical print fabric slides. Next time around I'm already planning to pair them with a black OTS bodysuit... Thank you to YOURS Clothing for another delightful find ❤
My one style wish: That these pants were designed with pockets. 
Until next time Babes,
Xx

Forget Me Knot

Earrings: Genie Mack| Chambray top: Old, Men's Nordstrom-thrifted| Skirt: c/o HERE| Pink metallic sandals: HERE

I'm a fan of over-sized shirts, dusters, and layering pieces. Sometimes the best place to look for over-sized tops is an entirely different department than you normally shop in. For instance, let's take this chambray shirt as an example (previously styled HERE). To pair it with this ankara skirt, I styled it knotted at the waist. I scored it at a thrift shop, in the men's section. It's originally from Nordstrom's line for men. I really like the sizing on it, it's perfect for tying in a knot and when worn buttoned up it fits like a slim cut tunic. I also like the two pockets on the front of it. All in all it's totally not bad for less than $5.00! 
Yes, thinking outside the box also includes shopping in other departments 😉
Wondering about this beautiful skirt?! It's from Grass-fields (check out another piece from them HERE), they aim to fill a need in the market for well-made clothing inspired by African heritage. I've been swooning over their bold, eye catching designs this year, and felt excited to have the opportunity to feature another one of their designs here on the blog!
Which reminds me, I still need to have a few pieces made from the ankara fabric that I brought back from our trip to Kenya last year! 
Until next time,
Xx

Orangeburst

Sunnies: c/o HERE| Blouse: c/o HERE| Wood watch: c/o HERE| White denim: NYDJs, similar HERE| Purse: c/o HERE| Sandals:Old

Hey Babes!!! Here we are at the start of yet another week- let's make it a GREAT one!
Today's post is short & sweet 😀 After all, it's a Monday, we're all trying to catch up from the weekend... Plus, don't the pictures speak for themselves?! LOL! 
ORANGE is having a moment again (remember this LOOK), just about everywhere that I've shopped over the past few months seems to have a number of citrus inspired pieces available. 
I love the vibrant starburst hue of this blouse, and how the designer effortlessly added in embroidery w/o it looking odd in the least. Some embroidered clothing looks weird to me... like the embroidery doesn't really go with or compliment the item/design, but was rather just thrown on it for the sake of a trend😔 
This top is different, I like how it is made and styled  + the fiery color. It will be added to my repeat offender list for rotation this summer! 
For its first run out into the real world, I styled it with slim cut white denim jeans, strappy thong sandals, and a matching novelty bag for good measure. 
Until next time,
XO

The New Normal

Sunnies: HERE| Dress: c/o HERE| Handbag: HERE or try THIS| Shoes: Aldo, old

When the weather cannot make up it's mind on whether it is spring, fall, or better yet winter, I love to dive into my sweater dress stash (I store mine in a large decorative wicker basket from Pier 1 and roll them up to save space and alleviate wrinkling). Like seriously from day to day, it feels like we go from spring to winter! In fact, for a number of days it was actually warmer (as in HOT) on the east coast than it was here in SoCal!! 
{{Insert confused face emoji}}
Sweater dresses work really well for me when it comes to fluctuating temperatures - I always want to feel warm! I DO NOT LIKE TO FEEL COLD- EVER! By rotating my collection of sweater dress, I can skip the need to add on layers (unless temperatures drop under 50), I feel perfectly warm w/o a coat, and if temperatures happen to head up unexpectedly (a likely possibility nowadays) I can easily roll up my sleeves- and boom- I'm all set!! This particular body con dress by Calvin Klein has a couple of added style bonuses: cold shoulders + straps dipped in white 😊 You know how I feel about black & white color duos! 💖
I instantly decided that this dress would make an excellent addition to my sweater dress collection. Have you noticed that sweater dress options have evolved over the years? Now you can get them in practically every cut, print/color, and apparently they even sport cold shoulders! I love the variety currently on the market- really- you can get whatever you want AND in an array of sizes 💃Over to you: Are you Team Sweater Dresses or naw?!
Until next time, 
XO

Picnic in Style with ASOS

Sunnies: HERE| Dress: c/o HERE,plus size + misses,HERE | Wood bead necklace: TJMAXX
Wood watch: c/o HERE| Straw Bag: Vintage picnic basket| Shoes: Similar HERE

I was so excited when the team at ASOS reached out to me to select a few of my summer favorites from their CURVE line!!! I’ll be the first to admit- initially- I almost lost my mind- THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT OPTIONS! 😍 Finally, I simmered down, contained my excitement, and selected my top picks… 
Next I resumed a session with the waiting game. I boiled over in anticipation for my new ASOS Curve pieces, I felt like I was a child who knew that a special outing was planned for me but I didn’t know on what day it would be-LOL!!!! To put the icing on the cake, the team had me feeling like a total MVP when my selections arrived in-person by human courier versus a traditional courier like USPS, UPS, FedEX, etc.,.
Now let’s dive into my 1st selection: A vibrant print tent dress - simply perfect for an afternoon picnic!
Let's face it, scorching summer days are on the way, ready or not. Staying cool outdoors in what feels like a perpetual sauna can be a challenge to say the least. We want to be comfortable, cool, and cute 😁😁😁 An easy breezy tent dress is just what the doctor ordered! This dress is 100% cotton, flows like a dream, plus packs a killer print! Note: The curve sizing is generous, if you'd like a closer fit by all means size down.
I styled it with an equally standout wooden necklace, natural colored sandals, and a straw bag. My straw bag is actually a vintage picnic basket that I scored as a home décor piece years ago. Having fun with fashion means thinking outside of the box! Rather than spend $100+ on acquiring a new straw purse this size/shape, I opted to make the best of what I already had 😏 I’m ready for a picnic Babes, who's with me?!
Until next time,
XO