Caftan Crazy

Hi Lovies,

Warmer temps are finally upon us here in NYC and has gotten me in the mood to start building my spring/summer wardrobe. I shop from a variety of different brands, both high end and low end during this time of the year. Since the season is so short I lean more to the brands that offer trendy fast fashion pieces that are budget friendly. Of course I'll splurge here and there on those pieces that I just have to have but otherwise I try to be a little more smart about how I spend my coin. As of late I have found myself loving the brand Deb Shops. They are an online shopping destination for the curvy and confident babes of today. This is definitely a brand where you find up to date, on trend items that won't break the bank. Now their stuff might not work for everyone but I was able to find a ton of pieces that work for my everyday style. One of them was this gorgeous Leopard Print Caftan Maxi Dress. You guys already know how obsessed I am with anything leopard print and this dress stole my heart. I was pleasantly surprised at how great the quality was of this dress, not to mention how comfortable it is as well. The caftan design made the dress so elegant and while the v-neck neckline added some sexiness to it. Since leopard print is such a neutral color, you can literally pair it with anything. I of course decided to go with a pop of color with my pink shoes and bag that completed the look.

Dress c/o Deb Shops//Shoes//Bag c/o Brahmin

Plus Size Styling with Talbot's

Hi Lovies,

To me there's nothing better than a "One Stop Shop", especially when it comes to clothing. I love being able to go to one site and find all my fashion needs. Talbot's is definitely one of those sites where I can accomplish this. This brand has been around since before I was born and has a great reputation for great quality clothing. Their mission is to give women the confidence to express their best selves in all aspects of their lives every day. Which is exactly what you can achieve with the Talbot's brand. They make you're life easier by providing such a variety of styles, from career wear, to casual weekend style and even something formal. Not to mention they also carry the majority of their pieces in straight, petite, plus sizes and petite plus which is rare for a brand. They designed their Plus Size Collection with a deep understanding of the woman's figure, keeping in mind both plus sizes and spectrum of plus size shapes. This definitely shows all throughout their collection.

Jacket//Top//Jeans//Sneakers//Bag

Stepping into Spring with Lane Bryant

Hi Lovies,

We have officially entered Spring and I am currently dealing with a snowstorm here in NYC. Like I've said in a previous post, I am not letting this stop me from getting into the Spring mood. Especially with all my favorite brands blessing us with such fabulous seasonal fashions right now. One of the brands that is killing the Spring fashion game right now is Lane Bryant. I was in one of their stores over the weekend and my eyes were dancing all over the place. I was in awe at all the gorgeous things I was seeing. It's very rare for me to go in a store and find so many pieces that I love but there's a first time for everything. This inspired me showcase three looks that will have you giddy for warmer temps, whether you're looking for something for a special occasion, a fun weekend look or brunch with your girls. These looks will definitely have you all types of Spring ready.

Simply Be USA Relaunch

Hi Lovies,

If you've been following my blog for a while then you know that Simply Be is one of the Plus Size brands that I love. I am always able to find not only trendy pieces but also unique and different ones as well. If you didn't know, Simply Be is a UK size inclusive brand that believes that we are not all one size fits all. They also support that Curve is not a trend or hot topic. It's not an add on or an afterthought. It's at the heart of everything they do and it's why they exist. I absolutely support this and  would love it if all other Plus Size brands would follow suit. 

As if Simply Be couldn't get any better, today it is turning its focus on the U.S. market with a relaunch supported by a global re-branding program, a strategic digital strategy, a dedicated New York-based team, exclusive collections designed specifically for its American consumer and U.S.-specific campaigns featuring prominent curve models Natalie Nootenboom and Sarina Nowak. After six years in the U.S. market, Simply Be is moving away from a catalog model in favor of becoming a digital pure-play by the end of 2018, in line with the spending habits of its millennial, Gen Y and Gen Z consumers, and is adopting a new look for visual marketing communications that will make all campaign images, videos and Instagram posts shoppable. Richard Clark, International Director at N Brown Group, the parent company of Simply Be: “We saw in our sales data the huge market opportunity for Simply Be in the U.S. that required new design and marketing approaches that can better engage with our consumer in a language she responds to and through territory-specific content created for her that will inspire her to look and feel her best."

Getting my Spring On

Hi Lovies,

If you live on the east coast, then you know mother nature isn't letting go of winter just yet. With 2 Nor'easter that have hit NYC within the last 2 weeks and one on it's way tomorrow, it's kinda hard to think about Spring. Well not for me, I have mentally checked out of winter and is in full spring mode. One of the trends that I've been loving but reluctant to try is the white bootie trend. Wearing white isn't something you have to wear before Labor Day anymore. Fashion has proven that it's basically a year round color. Now the only thing that was holding me back was the fact that I am a gal with an ample foot size and didn't want the shoes to look like white boats on my feet. Luckily enough I found these cute pair from Target that were pretty flattering on. I definitely see myself rocking these well into the spring and summer.

Jacket//Dress//Shoes//Bag

Astra Signature

Hi Lovies,

Nothing makes me more happier than seeing my friends or family succeed in life, no matter what it is. Whether it be something small or big, it kinda makes you feel like their accomplishments are also yours. I especially love when I see my fellow bloggers have their dreams come to fruition and are launching their own clothing lines. The plus size customer is definitely a tough crowd to please. But when you are that customer and know the struggle then you have a better idea of how you want to go about creating a line. My girl Crystal of the blog Sometimes Glam is a perfect example of this. She recently launched her own plus size clothing line called Astra Signature and I couldn't be more excited for her. I've been a fan of Crystal for quite some time and just adored her style, she was definitely one of the blogger than gave me such inspiration. Now we are good friends and I'm so proud of her accomplishments with her brand.

Vest//Top//Jeans//Boots//Bag

 

Issa Look

Hi Lovies,

When putting together an outfit, I like to factor in a few things. Obviously where I am wearing the outfit to is important, that's pretty much the premise of the look. Fabrics and textures is another factor as well as color and prints. But one thing I want is my look to always reflect my signature style. Leopard print is one of my signature prints, I mean just look at my blog theme! I feel more people need to embrace leopard as a neutral color. You'd be surprise how much it goes with and how easily it can take a outfit to the next level. This Leopard Print Moto Jacket basically has my heart, not only because of the print but because its a moto jacket. I try not to play favorites with my motos but this one has definitely made it to my favorites list quickly. I can pair this with so much, whether I'm doing something simple and want a pop of print or if I want to get creative and do some print mixing, I can If you're looking for a statement jacket this is the one you need in your life. 

Jacket//Top//Skirt//Shoes

Corporate Chic

Hi Lovies,

When shopping for clothes, I have to take into consideration that I will be able to use whatever I buy both for work and play. You know I pride myself in finding pieces that can do double duty. As much as I would love to just buy things all willy nilly, I can't because I still have a full time job I have to dress for. While my jobs dress code isn't super strict, I can pretty much wear what I want, there are times I do have to dress the part. If you follow my blogger bestie Darlene of Suits, Heels and Curves, her blog was all about how dressing for the corporate professional doesn't have to be boring. Back in the days, we have very limited options in the career wear area, especially for the plus size woman. But that has definitely changed, we actually can find stylish and trendy pieces to wear in the work place. 

Coat//Top//Dress//Shoes//Bag

Oh Yeah!

Hi Lovies,

I don't know if you've noticed but this girl has definitely been loving to wear jeans as of late. You could thank this cold weather we been having and me just being too lazy to want to put on tights in the morning for work. While I am a lover of denim, I usually prefer it in anything besides jeans. But they have grown on me like a fungus and when you find the right ones that fit you great, you just want to wear them all the time. My new favorites are the Skinny Pin-up Jeans from the Rebel Wilson x Angels collection. I adore this jean, such a great comfortable true to size fit and they come in a bunch of different version as well. These crop ankle light wash distressed pair with embellishments are literally everything. Perfect jean to easily dress up or down, they were definitely the star of the show.

Jacket//Top//Jeans//Shoes//Bag

The Shearling

Hi Lovies,

When it comes to coats, I am not lacking in that department. But with living in NYC and how cold it gets here, I tend to end up wearing the same warm coat for weeks at a time. This can get boring very quick, which in turn puts me in a fashion rut. It wasn't until I received a box from Dia & Co that all that changed. If you haven't heard of  Dia & Co, it's an online personal styling service for the plus size woman (14-32). You first take an online survey that has a series of questions about your style, personal preference, sizing, price ranges and what you're looking to add to your wardrobe. After you're done filling out the survey, a personal stylist will give you a call to get more in depth about your style. Once your stylist has all the info she needs, you will receive an email letting you know that your personally styled box is on it's way to you. Your box should contain at least 5 items of clothing. When you've had a chance to go through your box, if there's anything that doesn't work, Dia & Co provides a mailing envelope for you to send the items back for free. There is a $20 styling fee, if you decide to buy anything from your box, the fee will be credited towards your purchase. If you keep the whole box, you get 20% off the entire thing. How cool is that?!

Coat//Sweater//Jeans//Boots//Bag//Sunnies