OOTD: Last Days of Summer

Morning!

   My summer in NY has come to an end and I must say I'm sad. However, work calls and since I've got student loans to pay to the sticks I go! I've had a great summer - caught up with most of my family and friends (most.. not all and I feel bad!) There really is nothing like a New York summer, and I did my best to take full advantage of it. I spent my last days at home making sure I was about and about, I took a few pics, enjoy.

      At the AOL Blogger's Event- you can read about that great event over here at Living Fly On A Dime.

Fashion to Figure was kind enough to send over this beautiful sleeveless ruffle top - so I put it together with my skinny jeans and snakeprint purple pumps.

Here's my glam shot from that night, fun times! (take a look at other blogger's photos here)

I had an "Absolutely Brooklyn" night with my girlfriends to celebrate a very special birthday. How else better to spend my last days of summer than with my friends, dancing at First Saturday's at Brooklyn Museum and topping it off with a Brooklyn BBQ!

 Maxi Dress: Ashley Stewart (I wish you could see the shoes!)

Make the best of the last days of summer!

~Luvin' My Curves

Simply Me Project: Yolanda

Morning!

  Today is the 1st installment of the "Simply Me Project"  (I had to pack on Friday, sorry!). I'm really excited for this project; it's like a 'show & tell' for self-confidence. I can talk about the super hot fall collections but if you don't see yourself in them or feel that you have to change in order to wear them, then what's the point?  I believe that by seeing other curvy ladies be honest about their past insecurities and then see them show it off and tell how they got over it is a great way to maybe take one step closer. Up first is Ms. Yolanda from Diva in Deep Thought, see what she has to say below:

What's the most "daring" thing you've done style-wise?  

My most daring thing was dressing how I wanted and not how my mom’s-voice-in-my-head was telling me to dress. For the longest time, I played it safe and was miserable because I wasn’t being true to myself. I finally one day started dressing like I liked, and then I started becoming the diva I am today.

 Everyone should have the right to bare arms!

What's a fear or insecurity about your body that you've gotten over? 

My arms. They are all fatty and bumpy and it’s the first place I gain weight.  

How did you overcome it? 

Heat!!! It was too hot one day to wear sleeves… and I figured… if it bothered anyone… they could get the heck over it. I next want to overcome mixing patterns. I have overcome mini-skirts, tube/sleeveless tops, leggings, skinny jeans, wearing stripes, and bright eye popping color. I have always wanted to help plus size teens with self esteem… because kids are cruel and sometimes it helps hearing that there is nothing wrong with you…

Jeggings!

I think ALOT of ladies can relate to not wanting to show off their arms, myself included. I hated going sleeveless and during my high school years would sometimes ruin a great dress with a button-down shirt over it. (smh) I hated my arms; and in fits of self-depreciation would call them wings, (yeah I was mean to myself, I've come a long way). I didn't realize that I had overcome it  until my mom saw me, gasped and pointed it out to me one day when I came home from college. From that day on, I figured what's done is done and it's been me and bare arms every since.

Thank You Yolanda for sharing!

How do you feel about your arms? Have you had any fears about showing them? If so, how did you overcome it? If not, what do you think holds you back?

Remember: If you'd like to participate in the Simply Me Project just answer the 2 questions above or take a look here.

~Luvin' My Curves

On the Scene: My Playtex Bra Makeover

Morning!

Earlier this summer, Playtex asked me to participate in their Playtex Makeover Challenge. Since my surgery I've become a sort of bra snob because I NEED the support... in the past it's been hard to find mainstream bras that could not only hold the 'girls' in but also hold them up. So when Playtex asked me to particpate in their Makeover Challenge I jumped at the chance to try again - the chance at saving money on my bras was a no-brainer. (I can spend upwards of $130 on one!)

An ill-fitting bra can ruin an outfit - the same way bad breath can ruin "that" moment. A great fitting bra is essential; even more so than those heels that you've been waiting to buy on payday. I do my best to get fitted either every 6 months or at the very latest once a year but shamefully have not made the time to do so recently. So it was no surprise to find that I was the wrong band size! Lifestyle changes, including weight gain or loss, change in workout routine can all affect a woman's bra size.

Check out my video:

*In the video I said  TWICE that I walked in thinking I was a 46 DD.. sorry I meant DDD. My bad! * 

The bras that I tried on had a great fit, but what I loved most were the straps! No digging, my shoulders can breathe! If you're a fully endowed lady- these are definitely worth a try and now that you can find them at local retailers such as JCPenny and Macy's why wouldn't you?

How vigilant are you about knowing your bra size? Do you agree that an ill-fitting bra can throw off your outfit? How much do you spend on your bras?

~Luvin' My Curves

Luvin' Her Look: BBM

Morning!

Today's Luvin' Her Look feature is from my lovely fellow blogger from  Big Beautyful Mess!

What I absolutely love about her look is that she creatively and tastefully dresses for both play and work. It's a thin line between what's appropriate for work and what may be considered "too much". For me, BBM's style encourages me to keep letting my own personal style shine through in the workplace.

I was psyched when she said she would be a Luvin' Her Look feature, when asked how she defines her style, she replied:

this is a tough question for me. my style really depends on my mood, the season, and the inspirations i get around me. a lot of the outfits that you'll see in my blog are office wear incorporated with a little flirt and fun. on the weekends though, you'll find me wearing just a v-neck and a jean skirt. my husband calls my closet and i, a "beautyful mess" (hence, my blog name) so i think its safe to say that my style is a mess ... but a beautyful one (at least i hope so). ;-)

What does being proud and plus size means to you?

being a BIG filipina girl means you're a minority. i was always the biggest amongst my cousins which made me feel insecure at times but i was blessed enough to have a curves-loving mom. she taught me that size doesn't matter and you better make sure that your carry it well. she taught me that a mixture of humility and confidence is the best accessory and that's what being a proud and plus-size girl means to me. 

I especially appreciate her answer because she defies the bias  that women of other another ethnicities may not have the same size issues as others. I adore her style and hope you do too!

Are you Luvin' Her Look?

~Luvin' My Curves

Monif C's New Pre-Fall Collection

Morning!

I LOVE this time of year; this is when fall previews drop and when my budget drastically changes. This is when a mysterious "Gotta Have It" category is created and I start purchasing new items that are perfect for fall, I justify it by saying that I am gearing up for my birthday but we all know the real reason.

         Monif C's new pre-fall collection is definitely going to be a part of my fall Gotta Have It list!

"Naomi" High Shoulder Dress & "Raquel" Jumpsuit both $198

 Fluvia Lacerda is rocking the mess out of these new pieces and I love the accessories from Fennimas (need to purchase something quick!)

"Ivana" ruffle dress $198

My favorite? The Marilyn Ruched Convertible Dress... now "Marilyn" and I are friends from waaay back - I have a decent number of Monif's convertible dresses and one "Nellie" so the combination of the two is making me swoon!

"Marilyn" Ruched Convertible Dress $215

Take a look at the behind the scenes video courtesy of Plus Model Magazine.

Make sure to check it out and tell me what's on your hit list!

~Luvin' My Curves

Toula Fall Preview

Earlier this week I had the chance to check out samples from the TOULA Fall line - TOULA is one of the brands that will be a part of Sak's high-end floor. Check it out...

Toula Debuts Fall 2010 Collaboration With Saks Fifth Avenue

(New York, NY) Women’s apparel manufacturer Toula will debut Fall 2010 at retailer
Saks Fifth Avenue with an exclusive collection sold through their New York flagship store on Fifth Avenue.

“We’re excited to expand our reach through this partnership and reach a much larger,

cosmopolitan audience,” explained Steven Wang, co-owner of the label. “Toula has been available for decades at smaller boutiques, but this distinctive line sold at Saks will reach an entirely new market.”

Saks’ line will be available in plus sizes (14-24), a niche Toula has perfected through years of experience in outfitting plus size women. Forgiving wool and rayon fiber blends lend themselves to curvier women’s shapes and can even be blocked up or down a size to accommodate body fluctuations. The pieces enhance a woman’s natural silhouette with flattering cuts and elegant, understated detailing. The wrinkle-resistant fabrics are ideal for the traveling professional woman with refined taste. The collection is comprised of separates that can be combined to create complete looks and priced at $1200 to $1600 for an ensemble.

Toula has designed and produced versatile and timeless women’s knitwear since 1986.
Each collection provides ideal ingredients for a distinct and unforgettable look. With the wardrobe building concept in mind Toula offers women value that allows the silhouettes to be worn season after season. Toula knits are sewn with the richest fabrics that are tasteful and accentuate the positive features of any figure.

What began as a one-room factory in the home of owners Eddie and Ming Wang has
grown into a successful family business, now run by their son Steven Wang. Toula has
stayed true to its original mission of creating practical and sophisticated clothing. With the majority of fashion designers not making clothes for everyday people, Toula focuses on mature, professional women and has prospered as a result.

My take: I liked the quality of the Toula line, crisp lines and great quality fabrics. I became partial to some of the jackets as I can imagine integrating them into my wardrobe. However, Saks is too rich for my blood but I'm still excited to go to Saks to see the other high-end lines that are now being offered. 

~Luvin' My Curves

Single in the City: Does he really need that much attention?

Good Morning, 

"I need attention and u seem to occupied"

                                                              - actual text

 Another installment of my successful summer dating series (dripping sarcasm) - for all intensive purposes we'll call him "Ole' Dude". I put myself out there online, and after some email exchange we decided to take it to the phone and eventually meet in person, he is older than me but that was the least of my concerns.

I knew he was going to be interesting just from the phone conversations, he talked ALOT about himself and how different he was from most men. (Red Flag, if you have to constantly differentiate yourself from other men) He appeared needy, calling me and if I didn't answer would send a text message. If  we spoke later he would say "I know you were out, but I just wanted to talk to you." (Red Flag: If I'm with YOU would you want me to constantly look at my phone? Respect the fact that that rule goes for others too) Still, we seemed to have some things in common and I figured I'd stop being sooo judgemental and just go out with the guy. We decided to meet at High Line Park, a spot that I've wanted to check out this summer - we took our time and walked around talking and just enjoying the sights.

Ok, nice.. he was winning some cool points even though I was still on guard. When the walk was over we walked over to a cute sushi spot and he actually took my hand and blessed the meal - OK!! As the conversation went on, that's when the sirens that I had about him before started blaring...

  "You have two Daddy's now" - WOAH... what is with this "call me Daddy stuff?"

 "Women like you need a man like me in their life. Big girls need a man like me."

SIGH... I started to eat my sushi with the quickness - I just knew it wasn't going to work. All I could think about was "was he really believing the words coming out of his mouth?" The sad part is that I really think he was. As we walked towards the train station, he started hinting at my plans for later on that night - he knew of my plans to chill with my girls but he wanted to know what I was doing after. "Why don't you come over tonight and lay in my arms, I need some attention, I want some affection" I tastefully replied that that was not an option  and that I hoped he had a good evening.

the best part of the date... High Line and sushi

The next day he called but I was on my way to enjoying the beach  - when I got back I had 7 missed calls from him and 3 messages, each one more sarcastic and needy sounding than the one before it. How do you even attempt to call back after that, but before I could even think here was call #6 from him.

"I was calling because I was in your area and I wanted to stop by"

"I was out."

"Well I was around and you were nowhere to be found - you need to make it up to me".

One thing about me, I'm a snarky mofo but I held my tongue, told him to enjoy his weekend and hung up. I had no plans on speaking to him again, so when I woke up on Monday and saw that text message from him all I could was mumble "Loser" to myself and go back to sleep. 

What do think of Ole' Dude? Needy, crazy or what?

Up Next in this series: Computer Love or is it just Lust?

~Luvin' My Curves

Full Figured Fashion Week(end)™ Hits L.A!!!

Time to pull the Hollywood stunna's on ... FFFWeek is heading to L.A this fall. I for one am excited, a visit to the West Coast has been long overdue :)


Full Figured Fashion Week(end)™ Brings the Best of Plus-Size Fashion to Los Angeles Fashionistas--October 28th-30th, 2010

New York, NY. Gwen DeVoe worked for decades to get full-figured fashion, models and designers respect and attention in the fashion industry. This past June she landed major international coverage for the second annual Full Figured Fashion Week™--from a front-page piece in The New York Times to dispatches on dozens of fatshion blogs and magazines that cover fashion trends for women size 14 and up. Today, DeVoe announced the fall launch of Full Figured Fashion Week(end)™ Los Angeles from October 28th-30th, 2010.

While Full Figured Fashion Week™ has been a NYC-based production, shoppers, designers and models in the plus-industry have been asking for an L.A. show for years. “Most people don’t think 'fatshionista' when they think of Los Angeles--they think of women dieting themselves into size zero dresses,” says DeVoe, “but there is a growing and vocal plus-size community in L.A.. When we sought to expand Full Figured Fashion Week™ into other markets, L.A. was my first choice.”

Full Figured Fashion Week(end)™ L.A. will bring a fashion-filled three-day weekend brimming with information, inspiration and great clothes to aspiring plus-size models, designers and consumers. An exciting line-up of panels and events will be capped off with a full-scale fashion showcase hosted by Full Figured Fashion Week™ creator and executive director, Gwen DeVoe. The search for designers and models has already started--but there are still opportunities for plus-size designers and models. Says DeVoe: "We're looking for new faces and new looks that will really wow the crowd. This a celebration of curvy bodies, so we're looking for designers who know how to show them off best. We want designs that will accentuate, not hide, our plus-sized selves."

A full schedule of designers and events will be available on September 1st. Until then, DeVoe has her hands full answering requests from press, retailers, models and designers from all over the world. “The success of Full Figured Fashion Week™ really made people take notice,” says DeVoe, “When the Times piece hit, my phone started ringing and it hasn't stopped since.” The story of the plus-size clothing industry isn’t going away. Just last week it was announced that Saks Fifth Avenue would start selling clothes in sizes up to a size 18. It’s rumored that Chanel and Dolce and Gabbana might start selling clothes that fall into the plus-size range. “Of course it’s great news,” says DeVoe, “and it’s not happening because the fashion industry is suddenly feeling bad about the limited options for full-figured consumers. They realize that there’s money to be made. Collectively we have serious spending power.”


For press inquiries about Full Figured Fashion Week(end)™ L.A., please contact Rachel Pink at: press@fffweek.com. For a recap of this year’s Full Figured Fashion Week™ press coverage, please visit:
http://tinyurl.com/fffwpress For more information about sponsorship opportunities, please email: sponsors@fffweek.com A full schedule of events will be available shortly at: http://www.fffweek.com


What are you thoughts on Full Figured Fashion Week(end)™ L.A.? Stay tuned and make sure you're there!