Get BBQ Ready With Us

Can you believe that the month of July is just around the corner?! Actually it’s right down the street, Friday marks July 1st! I CANNOT! I mean, where does the time go? With the month of July upon us, that also means that summer BBQs, outdoor family get-togethers, and other like events have begun. The question that often arises is: What should I wear?

Sometimes attending a casual outdoor event can be tricky. We want to look cute, but we also want to be comfortable and practical. Let’s take for instance a Summer BBQ. Picture this: You’re invited to an outdoor cook out. The afternoon will be filled with your favorite foods plus great company. The weather is most agreeable, the forecast predicts sunshine all day and there is no sign of rain for the entire weekend.

Today’s post is especially for you! I’ve teamed up with fellow plus size Babes Dionna of Made Me Pretty and Ivory Jinelle to offer you three options to slay comfortably at a Summer Barbecue! 
Check out each of their looks in detail on their blogs ;)

Rompers are an easy option for summertime events. They can be dressed up by means of accessories, or worn completely casually. There are many straight size and plus size options in-store and online. I opted to wear a black & white color palette- simple yet classic. 

I kept my accessories to a minimal, and added a white shirt tied at the waist for a touch of edge and additional coverage.

Of course wearing white to a Barbeque can be a bit of a risk, but what can I say, I’m a risk-taker! LOL!!! I'm loving the color palettes served up by Ivory and Dionna, aren't we gorgeous!?

Until next time Babes!!
XO

Hat:Shiraleah | Romper:Juicy | Watch: c/o JORD Wood Watches| White shirt: Borrowed from my husband 
Peep toe booties: Marshalls| Lucite bangles: Nordstrom Rack| Sunnies: Nordstrom

Blushing

Hey style loving babes! How are you? I’m doing well!!! Today’s style story features this blushed plus size romper from Forever 21’s plus size line. Confession: I recently spent a large chunk of time in a wonderfully stocked plus department/area by the retailer, and I must admit- I was equally shocked and delighted with the variety of styles on hand!

As a result, for several posts I plan to feature items from my mini impromptu shopping haul- just for you! Because I care! LOL! But seriously, what woman doesn’t love a god deal?! This blushing beauty is under twenty-five bucks in-store and online. Oh, and I’m loving the color up against my melanin. Rompers have been trending for a while now; Perfect for date night or Girls Night Out. I wore it out with my husband of 16 years (we recently celebrated our sweet sixteen anniversary) and let me tell you- it was a hit!

With Spring is on the horizon, now is a good time to take inventory and restock your personal wardrobe. My style habit for a number was to seasonally reassess what stays, what goes, nd what gaps I noticed. Now that I live in a predominantly warm climate, I find myself doing this bi-monthly versus seasonally. In the beginning, it took a period of time for me to understand/determine what items I really needed and would wear in my new climate. For instance, back east 50 sweaters made perfect sense, here- not so much. I found that if I even had the opportunity to wear a sweater, it was only once or twice a year, so I downsized my sweater inventory significantly.

Currently I’m in the process of adding more onesies, in the form of rompers and jumpsuits =) I’m also rethinking my shirt selections and skirt needs. Although I could hardly refer to my wardrobe as minimal, I am experiencing a sense of satisfaction with its current inventory and the reduction measures that have been taken.

This fun blush number is super versatile, I could easily see adding layers in the form of a long sleeveless vest, transitioning it to cooler temperatures with tights, or dressing it up even further with statement pieces. I love how it’s made, YES plus size women can rock rompers too! 

Until next time Beauties,
XO

Necklace: Ross Dress for Less| Romper: Forever 21+, size 0X| Shoes: Enzo Angiolini| Clutch: Lord & Taylor

Gray Areas

Fabulous news: I teamed up with SWAK Designs for today’s blog post!!! Check out how their fantastic cardigan can be styled in not one, not two, but yes ----->THREE ways!!!
Stop the press… Isn’t it gorgeous?! When I tried it on after having it freshly pressed, I thought to myself: ‘Where have you been all of my life?!’ To be honest, "The Parker" EXCEEDED my expectations. Its soft texture, glorious flow, added with the fact that it is just short of duster length scores 4 gold stars in my book. SWAK has a variety of styles for the curvy consumer, yes plus size clothing options that are wonderfully affordable for the working class woman. Let’s review each look, starting with my personal favorite first: RED, WHITE, AND GRAY

The Parker Cardigan is the shining star and clearly steals all the thunder.  I snagged the idea of trying out this color combo from an outfit that ‘Dorothy’ of The Golden Girls wore. Do you watch that show?! I have it on DVD, so even when it’s not on Hallmark/Lifetime on cable, I can always pop in a DVD and get my GG fix! Oops, I digress…moving on... This look is great for a night out with your guy or with the gals! I believe accessories make the 'fit', so I added a wool fedora, aviators, and a faux fur collar. Notice that I’m wearing white in the winter! I’ve said time and time again that white is easily worn year round. Granted, I live in a mild climate. It does not snow in the winter, which definitely allows for greater flexibility, which may not be possible in extremely cold climates. However, imagine layering this cardigan with a ankle length coat, and swapping out the sandals for pointy toe booties. Do you see what I see? The possibilities are endless!

Hat: D&Y| Aviators:Fashion District| Faux fur collar: Old (worn here)| Top: Dress to Kill (worn here)| White denim: NYDJs (worn here, here, and here)| Sandals: Tildon

Now let's move on to what I like to call, MODERN GLAMOUR

This look targets monochrome for the win. If you’re unsure about which colors to pair with what, monochrome is a safe bet for simple slayage. This look features multiple shades of gray, which work hand in hand to generate cohesiveness. I want to keep it 100% with my readers, so I’ll let you in on something: This look was actually my least favorite. Why? It reminded me of the extra pounds that have recently joined me and have since become unwanted house guests. I keep offering them options for departure, however they love me so much that they just do not want to leave. I can appreciate their admiration. Nonetheless, they must go! To be completely clear:  Yes, I love my body. I embrace being plus size. However, I prefer to stay within a certain size range so that I can fit ALL items in my wardrobe. Buying a new wardrobe in a different size is not an acceptable option. 
Moving forward, a cardigan is a great way to add coverage and additional volume to body con dresses and skirts (see more plus size cardigan options here). I am definitely in the market for long cardigans in multiple colors!

Sunnies: Nordstrom| Dress:Komarov (also worn here)| Fur collar: Chinchilla (thrifted)| Suede clutch: Vintage| Shoes: Anne Klein (worn here)

Last, but certainly not least, take a look at THE STATE OF GRAY

A look perfect for daily wear: Think running errands, casual day at the office, or even a lunch date. I paired My Parker* with a classic pinstripe button-up, gray denim, and black open toe booties.

 Sunnies: Fashion District| Pinstripe shirt: Jones New York| Statement necklace: Nordstrom| Gray denim: NYDJs| Booties: Chinese Laundry (worn here)| Clutch & gloves: Old

Now that I've chatted non-stop, I’d love to hear from YOU! Which is your favorite look and why?
Until next time Style Lovers,
XO

*The Parker Cardigan worn and referenced above was gifted by SWAK Designs.

Wardrobe Shuffle: Vintage Lace

Hey there! (Slowly creeps into the room as if it hasn’t been eons since my last post) Today’s post highlights what I like to think of as a wardrobe shuffle. I’ve mentioned before that I intentionally purchase pieces that I know will have longevity. In this instance, I am not solely referring to the quality of an item (although quality does rank #1 in my book) but also in that I know that I will have the desire to wear the item again and again.

This takes a bit of forethought for me at the actual time of purchase, and yet even still, sometimes a piece serves its purpose after a year or so. For the pieces that remain with me year after year, I enjoy exploring new ways to wear them. Flashback: My personality used to be quite rigid. As an example, I could not bear the thought of mixing and matching my clothes. I thoroughly enjoyed wearing items in the same exact way, each and every single time. WELP, all I can say at this point is: I’ve changed! Thanks to Pinterest (check out myboards here), I constantly have ample ideas of how to shuffle pieces around in my wardrobe. We'll take today’s post as one example:

Flashback: I originally wore this dress under a skirt in a post blogged last year (here). At the time, I couldn’t fathom wearing this dress solo, as I don’t particularly care for the cut of it on my body (but I do heart every other aspect of it). I even thought about having it altered…. Yet I digress.. What makes this dress unique to me aside from its age (circa 1970s), is that the lace is cotton! It actually came with a cotton lining, but that was unfortunately too snug for my ample curves, LOL!

One day while perusing Pinterest (as I often do during down time, like in-between emails, and while sitting in relentless LA traffic) I saw a picture of a look worn by Jessica Alba. I immediately thought of my lacey treasure filed away at the back of my wardrobe. I already had all of the pieces needed to recreate this look, my way- so I decided to have at it! 

I wore it on vacation several weeks back, my husband loved it so much that he uses one of these pictures as backdrop on his mobile ;) Join me on Pinterest and let’s be inspired together!

XO

Denim jacket: Michael Kors (worn here)| Statement Necklace: Nordstrom| Lace dress: Vintage (worn here)| Belt:Thrifted| Cork sandals:Market (worn here)

30PlusStyle: The Swimsuit Edition

I cannot believe that this moment has finally arrived, after months of planning! The #30PlusStyle Collaboration has returned, and this go round we aim to initiate a tidal wave! Let me welcome you to: "The Swimsuit Edition"!!!

First: Today's post features the very first #30PlusStyle Guest Blogger: Marie Denee from TheCurvyFashionista.com ! 
Welcome aboard Marie Denee!!!

This post takes on special meaning for me personally. I hope to inspire women who may feel like I did for many years about my non-flawless body: inadequate and un-beautiful. For the majority of my adult life, I wore a very basic black one piece swimsuit, along with a pair of black swimming trunks designated for men.  It did not occur to me that there could possibly be a different swimsuit, one vibrant in color, not to mention a two piece, that could actually flatter and or define my pear-shaped body. Sadly I was accustomed to hiding inside that black one piece swimsuit and my pair of men's swimming trunks. I sometimes wished that I could disappear whenever I had to make an appearance at an ocean, hot spring, or swimming pool. 

When I relocated to the west coast, I felt like a woman basking in resilience.  My feelings of inadequacy seemed  to be replaced with feelings of confidence and I felt less concerned about how people viewed me. I even began to develop a love for being near water. It is relaxing, even joyous, to lay out on a beach or poolside, soaking up the sun's rays.

True story: While I was on location taking pictures for this post, there was a real deal, LIVE, swimsuit photo shoot taking place with professional swimsuit models! The young women were quite small in size. May I even say, tiny? I began to feel my old negative feelings resurging: shame and inadequacy. Just who did I think I was? Why was I taking pictures? What will people think of me for wearing this swimsuit? Almost just in time, the most amazing thing occurred: One of the models called out to me, and she said: "I just have to say, you look amazing." Another then said: "I just love your suit, where is it from?" As a result of those kind words, my insecurities melted away. I remembered that we are indeed, all beautiful. Yes, women are beautiful in every shape and size. And even more remarkably, I realized the power that women have to inspire, and encourage another. 

For today's post I decided to provide you with my review of the ever popular Forever 21+ 'Bombshell Bikini', available online and in stores. 

Notice that I am wearing the swimsuit in four different ways (alternating a floral print and a solid print) to demonstrate the adaptability that is possible. Do you feel uncomfortable wearing a bikini or a #fatkini? Try wearing a sheer cover-up or even a loose fitting crop top as I demonstrated above. 

In my opinion, the halter bikini top can leave something to be desired for those of us who are beyond a B/C-cup. However, it is versatile, and can also be worn as a tube style (try tying the halter portion underneath your bosom creating a sort of underwire effect for added support). The best part about the 
Forever 21+ 'Bombshell Bikini'? It costs less than $30.00 USD!

I hope that you've enjoyed this post, and that you leave feeling inspired and beautiful ;) 
Please do share, what is your swimsuit of choice?
Xx

P.S. 
--> Don't forget to check out all the #30PlusStyle beauties and our Special Guest Blogger:
www.thecurvyfashionista.com
www.mode-plus.com
www.pumpsandstudz.blogspot.com
www.thejenesaisquoi.blogspot.com
www.grownandcurvywoman.com
www.prettypluspep.blogspot.com

Whiteout

I'll start with a story: When we lived in Michigan (which is starting to feel like something I once dreamed), practically every winter we'd make a drive to Chicago. Generally temperatures would be fiercely cold, and inevitably there'd be snow. One year in particular stands out, as we experienced a full whiteout on the way back home. For those who may be unfamiliar, a whiteout occurs when blowing snow obstructs your view. Literally we could not see past the front bumper on our car! That was the scariest driver ever, and there were many accidents. We slowly drove out of it (at about 10 mph) and eventually made it home safely.

Why the story? For some reason, today's look reminded me of that scary drive home. Fittingly I titled this post: Whiteout :)

For soaring summer temperatures, linen is totally ideal. This linen shirtdress is a favorite, I especially like this style in white.

The only thing that drives me batty about linen, is that it wrinkles like crazy; Next time I'll be sure to take pictures at the start of my day, versus mid-way through it!

What I'm wearing:

Linen shirtdress: Liz Claiborne

Tote: Coach

Studded sandals: Calvin Klein (worn here)

Have a great day lovlies!

Sea of Florals

This week is a short one, yet I can hardly believe that it is Wednesday already! Can we say two more days until FRIDAY?! 

This silk floral number is a goodie from my stash, I simply never tire of the spring-like floral print.  So much so that I have began to wear it all year around. I'm thankful for the mild climate here! This floral print has lovely hues of pink, purple, and bursts of gold- irresistible!

It's effortless to wear, and although it is silk, it doesn't wrinkle excessively.

I'm particularly fond of the waist panel detail and runching on the bodice. Wait, who am I  kidding? The floral print sold this number! LOL! 

I'm a girly girl in every way and I love every feminine detail being served in this dress :)

This time around I wore it with a lilac leather handbag and neutral snakeskin pumps. 

Dress: Suzi Chin for Maggy Boutique

Handbag: Coach

Snakeskin pumps: Nine West

30PlusStyle: Perfect in Pastels

The #30PlusStyle collaboration returns TODAY, and everyone is decked in Pastels! 

I must admit, I had quite a bit of difficulty deciding what to wear for this post! When I felt fed up, I started shopping around, but I couldn't find anything that felt like "me". 

As in times past, I headed back to my closet for a final look. And wouldn't you know- I spotted this vintage number that I bought a couple of years ago, but have never worn! I absolutely adore the ruching and button detail on the bodice. 

Nothing designed today is truly "new" IMO, as this maxi dress gives evidence of pastels and ruching of times long past. Once again my mission was accomplished utilizing a vintage piece! Am I officially vintage obsessed or a vintage lover?!

Oh, you may have noticed that I have been MIA for a few days. I had several major dental issues arise, and as a result I was out of commission. Fortunately, I mustered up the courage needed to get them addressed, and now I am on the road to recovery. =) 

A lesson learned from an older gal to the younger ones: Don't let fear keep you away from the Dentist!

Fedora/straw hat: Ralph Lauren

Dress: Vintage

Beaded handbag: Vintage

Rose gold pumps: Flounce, Nordstrom's

Check out all of the #30PlusStyle beauties, "Perfect in Pastels":

www.mode-plus.com

www.pumpsandstudz.blogspot.com

www.grownandcurvywoman.com

www.thejenesaisquoi.blogspot.com

www.prettypluspep.blogspot.com