Today I went for a slightly bonkers combo of loved pieces, but I think it works, how about you?
Here I am mixing a white dress of my own design with a cut off sequined top, topping it off with a feathered head dress, coral earrings and leopard scarf. (I`m realizing that I don`t really do dressed down, or - this is MY dressed down :) )
This outfit feels relaxed and day appropirate with the clashing colours and prints, and yet brings a bit of pizzaz, just the thing I need to enjoy this lovely friday.
I loved this top from H&M, but the shape drowned my waist, so I chopped it off! What was I supposed to do, put it back and feel like shit because it didn`t fit me? No more of that I say!
The white dress was a fashion break through for me, wearing white at my size, hips and all? Bloody well YES!
I feel so much better when I have the guts to wear what I want, and as far as I am concerned it`s not really about size - it`s all about knowing my shape and working it.
I made the dress from the fabric of two A-line dresses that I found at Vera Moda, and what I did was keep the top part of one dress, sew the two skirts together and top it off with a black belt (with fabric from a cushion cover), creating an empire line that flows over my hips.
If the dress doesn`t fit it`s not me that needs changing -it`s the dress!
Can I get an AMEN! LOL
How`s this for romance! I love ruffles, pretty much anywhere ;D
A feathered head dress is never wrong in my book :) I got this one and the scarf at H&M.
Here`s this slightly knackered fashion lover wishing you all a fab weekend with lots of fun and special moments with your loved ones.
Yes Femme Fatale's, it's about that time. The time of year when "skinny bitches" (sorry, there's just no other way to express it...) from everywhere get to show off their year round pursuit of perfection. That's right, for 9 months out of the year, their regiment consists of hitting the gym everyday, for a minimum of 2 hours, low or no-carbing it, and a diet of general starvation... all in the name of "Bikini season" or what the rest of us have come to know simply as...Summer. And while the majority of us try desperately to hide our bodies as best we can during this time period, the "size 0 - 6 range" usually go out of their way to find the skimpiest, skinniest, itsy bitsy, teeny weeny bikinis they can find, in an effort to flaunt what god gave them (...or better yet, what they've had altered, nipped, tucked, sucked, purged, lazered and bronzed). And while "standard" sized women frolick on the beach in their sexy, care free bathing suits, many of us plus-sized ladies are left to scour the dregs of the 3 styles of Miraclesuit that retailers are offering that season (or sometimes the same reproduced/ongoing styles from 1989...BLEH).
But alas, "times are-a changin'"...and with a surge in plus-sized fashion interest, retailers are FINALLY answering the demand for more fashion forward, sexy bathing suit options with everything from vibrant tribal prints to jewel embellishments down to cutting edged designs and materials, while still keeping in mind the support and control that we full-figured ladies so desperately need. My favorite swimwear collection of the season is surprisingly Newport News' Shape FX® Collection, which is not only moderately priced but is also "designed to flatten, tighten, lift, enhance & sculpt" without sacrificing style and promoting sexy. Here are a few of my favorites from the Shape FX® collection along with a few other "HOTATATACHACHACHA" finds...
(Women's Metallic Cross-Front Swimsuits, $49.50 available at OldNavy.com; Jean Paul Gaultier for Target One Piece Monokini Swimsuit - Metallic Gold, $34.99 available at Target.com)
("Barbados" Plunge V Plus Swimsuit - Black (and Gold), $148.00 available at MonifC.com (please note that this item is currently out of stock); "St. Tropez" Fringe Plus Size Swimsuit - Fuschia Pink (and Black), $135.00 available at MonifC.com)
(Shape fx® Sculpting & bust-enhancing corset-style maillot, $39 - 49.00 available at Newport-News.com; Shapefx® Bust-enhancing plunge-neck suit, $59 - 64.00 available at Newport-News.com)
(Shape fx® All-over control shirred one-shoulder suit, $49 - 54.00 available at Newport-News.com; Profile by Gottex Plus Size Swimsuit, Tribal One Piece, $128.00 available at Macys.com)
Remember ladies, when choosing the right swimsuit for you, figure out what part of your body you'd like to accentuate most and which body part you'd like to draw attention away from. Keep in mind that deep v-neck/plunging/halter neckline styles will focus more attention on your bust, while corset styles will accentuate an hourglass waistline, and ombre style swim suits (darker on bottom and lighter just under the bustline) will camouflage any extra poundage on the tummy/waist area. Remember though that the absolute WORST "fashion faux paux" that you can make in a swimsuit is LACKING CONFIDENCE because it is a fact that discomfort spreads. And why should you lack confidence anywho? Afterall, It is a fact that our body types are what inspired men to carve stone! Therefore, it is imperative that the suit you choose is not only comfortable for you, but also makes you feel like the Femme Fatale that you are...:)
Until Next time F5's and Skorch Dolls...
Stay D'lish
<3
P.S. This summer anthem NEVER DIES!! Had to throw it back for all of the 80's babies! :)
Last weekend I enjoyed the sights of the pretty city of Stavanger, Norway where my sweetheart friend lives. True to form I defied the weather gods that kept the rain and snow pouring down -- this is as sensible as I get clothes wise my friends! Ain`t nothing wrong with a less than sensible attitude, no?
Speaking of form -not function- I thought I should point out my lovely little cropped jacket that I was rocking with a blue leopard printed dress, leopard scarf, fringed bag and belted booties on that rather chilly day.
Until a week ago that jacket was my previously mentioned wintercoat that I embellished with sequins last year! With the promise of spring came the urge to crop the jacket (saving money was of course the sensible reasoning behind giving the coat a second life as a jacket instead of bying a new one) (which might have backfired completely had I screwed it up and been in need of a new jacket all togheter) (but back to living in the moment and not worrying about the sensibility of it all) (..and to be fair, saving money didn`t occur to me at that cutting moment, feeling sassy in a cropped jacket, however, did!)
I love my newly cropped jacket, and have gladly suffered the bouts of laughter coming from my friends and family, who have reminded me that spring in Norway is less than warm and reliable (thanks guys, that`s real helpful to my freezing `tush! )
All I can say to you sensible souls out there who don`t get to experience the thrill of that "shit - what am I doing!?!"-moment mid spontaneous jacket-cropping while realizing that the reported spring was just that, is this:
WOOL-PANTIES y'all! (Work it, wooork it :)) )
Here are the before and afters of the coat come jacket:
Reworked winter coat
Cropped early spring jacket
Have fun with your fashion my fellow fashionistas, otherwise, what`s the point?
I wasn’t always the fatshionista I am today. While I have always been confident and for the most part comfortable with my always curvy body, when I was a teenager shopping and getting dressed was sometimes a traumatic experience. Shopping online was unheard of for me when I was in high school and it wasnt until around my senior year that Torrid opened up in Boise, or that any of the retailers started carrying plus sized lines that weren’t hideous. I would look at my smaller peers and drool over their cute put together and almost effortless looks and would do my best working with what I had to stay in fashion. It wasnt always successful and caused me to have a bit of an identity crisis sometimes. I went through this really odd (odd for me) punk rock phase my junior year and I think in large part that was because I could actually fit into a lot o the clothes at Hot Topic even if they weren’t really my personal style. I ended up looking a lot more like Kelly Osbourne (who I adore now, but her style choices weren’t that great in 2002) and a lot less like the stars I was really seeing my personal style radiating in.
Some recent copies of Seventeen Magazine have randomly appeared at the office, which is kind off interesting since I’m the youngest person here at age 24… but anyhoo I was perusing them and Nina Dobrev was on the cover for April. I know who Nina is, hell I have been a Degrassi fan since the late 80’s, and I have almost teenage kids now so I still see my fair share of it. Plus that Vampire Diaries show isn’t too bad. Seems like Nina has pretty much got the world at her fingertips lately and who wouldn’t expect that,shes simply gorgeous, a good little actress and seems to be pretty down to earth and girl next doorish. She reminds me of a much more fashion forward Katie Holmes back when she was Joey on Dawson’s Creek. Damn ok I really need to quit ageing myself here!
Anyhoo I did some searching around for Nina Dobrev magazine shoots and I came across a couple pages she had in Self Magazine and I really liked the looks. They were springy, young and hip for a junior crowd but could still probably be done by a young adult too. I decided to translate these looks using only plus sized pieces and there were quite a lot of options. I also kept all pieces under $50 so it was a more affordable look. Lucky plus sized teens of today with retailers actually providing you fashionably clothes!!!
Here is Nina’s Look
And here is the plus sized translation
One of the best parts about this look is that all of the pieces are really staples any curvy girl should have. The black boyfriend blazer is from Target and while it is not part of their plus line I have tried it on my size 22 self and its a great fit. The black skinnies from ASOS Curve are from what I hear, an amazing fit, great quality with stretch and reinforced seams and on my personal must have list! The Lexi Dolman Grey Knit Top from Alloy takes this look to a younger level and keeps it casual but still trendy. While Nina’s is sporting a stiletto, I thought that since we are translating this look for a teen a wedge was more functional so I paired the look with Millie Cage Wedges from Forever21. To top off this look I also added Metal Mesh Bangles also from Forever21 and the Baggage Claim Tote that we saw last week in Olive’s look from Modcloth. This outfit is hip, chic and fun with a class all its own.
Since April's Birthstone is diamond and since we can't put together an outfit that is clear, I am doing White for this outfit. Let me know what you think!
Send me pics of your own Birthstone Outfit to: unique_idfashions@yahoo.com with "Birthstone Outfit" in the subject box.
Attention SKORCH Blog readers! In addition to our SKORCH 'Advice Bloggers' for Fashion and Beauty advice we are happy to announce that we have recently added Frances from Corpluent to dish out the Relationship Advice to all of you!
Submit your 'Relationship Questions' to Frances at: RelationshipAdviceBlog@skorchmagazine.com Check out France's blog at: Corpulent
Don't forget to submit your Beauty and Fashion questions to Nik & Tiffany!
Submit your 'Beauty Questions' to Nik at: BeautyAdviceBlog@skorchmagazine.com Check out Nik's blog at: Mezzo Fashinisto
and also...
Submit your 'Fashion Questions' to Tiffany: FashionAdviceBlog@skorchmagazine.com Check out Tiffany's blog at: Maize's Method
All the questions that you have about Fashion, Beauty and Relationships send their way! They will do their absolute best to help you out with your dilemmas!
If your questions are picked we will have your answers up every Friday! Hope you guys are as excited as I am!
Since I was too busy lovin it up yesterday to post this I guess we could call this an Outfit Of Yesterday but that doesn’t have a cute little acronym, so it’s just not happening. Anyways, yesterday my wonderful partner Nightrider and I spent a lovely Valentine’s Day together. We spent a majority of the day lazing around, cuddling on the couch, watching reruns of Tabatha’s Salon Takeover and finally around 6pm got cleaned up and dressed up for our night out on the town. We planned a dinner at a local fondue restaurant, one of the more fancy shmancy eateries in Boise. Since we were going someplace nice I decided to pull out my best little black dress that I have only worn one other time but absolutely LOVE! This great black satin bubble hem dress came from Torrid and is a size 18. It fits like a glove and luckily enough fits very tightly and structured in the bust so I was able to go sans bra for the evening (I hate a strapless bra so this is a WIN!) I paired it with black and white plaid size 8 peep-toe pumps that were from Torrid as well. I do have to tell you that these are the most comfortable heels I have ever owned. I took this simple but classic look and added a pearl necklace and earring set that I got as a gift from my mother before she got married last year. Since it was a bit cold out, for the time in the car I wore a simple black cardigan and added on two sparkling rhinestone pendants that came with another Torrid dress I own. This cardigan looked nice but did tone down the whole look. It served it’s function though keeping me warm enough outside but it came right off once we got to the restaurant. Nightrider had reserved us a private table in what the restaurant referred to as “Lover’s Lane” and we had a great night with a four course fondue meal that left me feeling as fancy as I looked. Overall a great Valentine’s date with a great look!
Ahh shape wear, it's that love/hate relationship. That's the type of relationship I have with my Spanx High Power Panty. Spanx gets me through those evenings when I slip into a slinky figure hugging dress and thanks to it, I recieve so many compliments on my hour glass figure. It's when I have to excuse myself to go to the little girls room that Spanx and I have it out. The double gusset is just not my friend when I have to tinkle, it just doesn't feel "right." Oh lord, and let me not forget how I had to wrestle to get them on and adjust until they were perfect, so to pull them all the way down to potty just makes me cringe. Some nights, if I'm lucky enough, I'll "hold it" until I get home for the night, depends on how my bladder is feeling and how many Effen Black Cherry and Cranberries I was able to down that evening. None the less, I love the way my Spanx and other shape wear items help put my curves back where they belong.
Shape wear has been around since the early 1800's. Unlike the girdles of generation's past, shape wear now comes in stretchy high tech fabrics that can wick away moisture and lift or minimize depending on what you need. So it might be just the thing to wear under a dress for that special occasion or to assist with the inevitable after-Thanksgiving bloating and lumpiness. Celebs such as Britney Spears, Beyonce (who I've read wears 2 pairs of Spanx during her shows) and Eva Longoria Parker count on shape wear to give them a flawless red carpet look. I'm sure all of us with round, soft ample belly's roll our eyes at the tv when we hear of these skinny minnies complaining of cellulite and tummy bulges. (See the video below from Good Morning America on celebs and shape wear)
Yes, I realize that I am fat, voluptuous, curvaceous or whatever word you chose to describe your current body type; I don't try to hide the fact that I am a big girl either. I proudly embrace my body and encourage other girls to do the same, no matter what size or shape they are. BUT, with that said, I am a supporter of shape wear. I wear shape wear pieces to make my clothing fit better, not to drop a size or two to fit into a smaller size. I like wearing shape wear under certain garments because it shapes my figure. It’s not so much about looking thinner, as it is about selecting the right foundation undergarment to enhance you where you need it. My Spanx and the appropriate bras are always in my model bag, so I'm used to purchasing shape wear pieces and control top tights or pantyhose.
I read through Tiffany's discussion topic on shapewear last week (oddly enough this was something that I had been working on but seeing as how we have varying opinions I felt that I was safe to put it up). Most of you feel that shape wear is uncomfortable or that you're not trying to hide or conceal your bumps and rolls. I agree, most shape wear is uncomfortable. Choosing the correct size is going to be crucial, as well as choosing the right piece for whatever you need troublesome area you need help with. I agree that you shouldn't have to hide or conceal yourself for anyone, eh, but at the same time, I feel that the right shape wear will make or break an outfit.
Notice how you can still definitely tell that she is a large woman, her shape is just enhanced. Some people prefer this look, some prefer the be a free spirit and say the before look is what they feel comfortable with.
Shapewear.com has a pretty solid guide on how to select shape wear that is right for you.
Satin and Lace Waist Cincher from Evans is a priority on my list of purchases for next week. I think it's feminine and flirty. It will definitely give me that feeling that I am wearing something sexy underneath my clothing. Of course I will have to get the coordinating bra to match. Once I nab it, I will give you guys a review of how I like it.
I want to know, what is your experience with shapewear? Do you have any pieces that you absolutely swear by? Or do you prefer to go without?
I am excited to announce that SKORCH BLOG will be adding two new 'Advice Bloggers' to the SKORCH BLOG Team.
Submit your 'Beauty Questions' to Nik at: BeautyAdviceBlog@skorchmagazine.com Check out Nik's blog at: Mezzo Fashinisto
and also...
Submit your 'Fashion Questions' to Tiffany: FashionAdviceBlog@skorchmagazine.com Check out Tiffany's blog at: Maize's Method
All the questions that you have about anything Fashion & Beauty feel free to send their way! They will do their absolute best to help you out with your dilemmas! If your questions are picked we will have your answers up every Friday!
Start sending in your questions today. Our first Advice post will be this Friday! Hope you guys are as excited as I am!
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