Rainbow

Hi Lovies!

Wow, it's been over a month since I posted on the blog, shame on me!! last month was pretty crazy with a bunch of things but I am back and bringing some color to the blog. While summer here in NYC can be brutal, I really thrive during this time. Summer is truly my favorite time of the year and that goes for the fashion as well. Target has been one of my go tos for stylish and trendy clothes for the season. My current favorite is the Who What Wear collection. Since they came out with this collaboration over a year ago, I have bought quite a few pieces. They stay current and bring such fashion forward pieces every season. Perfect example is this gorgeous Striped Off the Shoulder Midi Dress. I literally squealed when I saw it and immediately added it to my cart. It is truly stunning with all the beautiful bright colors along with the feminine asymmetrical ruffle and shoulder tie. The midi length is very flattering and fabric is super lightweight which is perfect for the summer heat. If you're looking to add some color to your wardrobe and want to make a statement, then this is the dress for you!

Dress/Shoes/Bag/Belt/Sunnies

Shoes of Prey

Hi Lovies

As a woman, when it comes to shoes I truly struggle with them. I'm not the typical girl that goes crazy for shoes. Not because I don't like them but because how difficult it is for me to find good shoes for my feet. For as long as I can remember I had a big foot, wearing a size 10 made it a challenge. Then after I had my son and gained a bunch of baby weight my foot also became wide so that also added to my trails and tribulations of shoe hunting. So you can imagine my excitement when the brand Shoes of Prey reached out and wanted to collab with me. They are an amazing shoe company that makes shoes in sizes US 2-15 (including half size) in narrow to extra wide widths in most styles. What I loved most about this company was that I was able to create my own shoe from start to finish. The style of shoe I chose to create was the Jasmin Heel. I loved the style of this shoe and it was something I didn't have in my collection. I had so much fun creating this shoe from the colors, the type of genuine leather, heel style/height, and toe type. Best of all they came in wide width so I knew they would fit great. One of the coolest feature about customizing my own shoe was that I was able to inscribe something on the foot bed, how cool is that?! It's was such a sweet little touch that really made it personalize just for me. Of course I chose to put my blog name but you can choose to put a small quote, a loved ones name or anything that means the most to you. Now don't be alarmed, this customization service isn't going to break the bank. I was pleasantly surprised that with quality of the shoes, the quick delivery and all the customization that I did, my shoe came out to $180. That's a pretty great price to pay for a good quality shoe and you get to customize it to your liking! With that said, I am already plotting to get another pair!

Dress//Shoes//Bag//Sunnies

Summer Staples

Hi Lovies,

Now that the unofficial start of summer is upon us, I can really get into the swing of things. Even thought the weather here in NYC is still very bipolar, I have my wardrobe summer ready. One of the brands that have helped me out with that is Talbots. Their summer plus size collection is chock full of some of my favorites, like pastels, prints and fun colors. Since I do work a 9 to 5 job, I am always trying to get double duty out of my wardrobe. Looking for pieces I can add to my closest that are versatile for both work and play. Go to items for me are blazers and jeans, they are great because I can wear them to work and instantly turned them into a casual look for the weekend. I have become obsessed with their Stripe Lightweight Blazer. I love the preppy pink and white stripes which is super trendy and chic. Not to mention the linen fabric that is going to keep me cool and comfortable through the day. Great for day and night, this blazer is definitely a must have for the season.

Blazer//Top//Jeans//Shoes//Bag

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