As I’ve said before…Mad Men fashion–and Joan Holloway’s specific style–is great for the plussize curvy girl. The ladylike hemlines and curve-hugging silhouettes give curvy girls so much to work with…and what better way to brighten up a Monday than with some sassy 60s inspired office wear? To kick off my new Mad Men Monday series, I’m sporting a deep purple, scoop neck, knee-length dress with pleating details at the bust and waist. Adding a cardigan and belting it accentuates the nipped-in waist that exemplifies the iconic style. If you are looking to recreate this style, choose dresses in dark, rich jewel tones and cardigans that come with sparkly accents.
What do you think about Mad Men Monday?? For more tips, read my Mad Men Guide to Dressing for Curvy Girls post. 🙂
I’ve always been intrigued with the Steampunk subculture…Have you heard of it?? I love the mix of steam-powered imaginative gadgetry, Victorian/cowboy style fashion, retro-futuristic elements. When I heard that Steampunk Chicago was having their annual Carnivale Delirium event, I knew I had to jump at the chance to explore the scene! This was a cabaret/circus themed event…and it lived up to the hype with musical, acrobatic, vaudeville-esque, and magic acts taking the stage. But for me, the best part of the night was the crowd watching! Here’s a peak behind the curtain of the Steampunk culture…
Now, you may be wondering why I am writing about Steampunk on a plus-size fashion blog? Well, because the Victorian era was very curve-friendly, and I’m dying to incorporate more elements of it into my wardrobe. I mean, who doesn’t love a good bustle??? And can we talk about CORSETS??? *Swoon.
In my next post, I’ll show you the outfit that I chose to wear to my first foray into Steampunk culture..and I’ll share some Victorian/Steampunk inspired finds that you can add to your own wardrobe. 🙂
How can one dress turn my plussize apple shape into a sultry hourglass??? Well, Kiyonna figured it out, and this magical garment is called the Valentina Illusion Dress! The secret is in the colorful center with contrasting black lace panels that nip in at the sides and have ruching across the middle…creating the optical illusion of a full, luscious, curvy hourglass figure.
If you know me, you know that I don’t do things half way…and I simply adore a good theme party!! So…I was thrilled when two of my awesome friends got married last month, with an Art Deco theme. Art Deco is all about glamour, metallics, and linear symmetry…and it shows up in everything from the art, architecture, jewelry, cars, and of course, the fashion of the time. When I was looking for the perfect dress, I was inspired by images like these…
Glamorous, long dresses…defined by intricate draping, beading and distinctive linear patterns and pleats were the haute couture of the day. I searched and searched for the perfect dress….and I found it at Macy’s from a label called Betsy and Adam!
I thought a floor-length gold lamé gown with a super low v-neck and a side slit might be a little over-the-top, and then I was like…who cares? I look FAB-U-LOUS!
I actually lasted about 3 hours in these heels before changing into flats…and that’s pretty amazing, right??
It was a great night, and I felt beautiful and glamorous…What more can a girl ask for?? 🙂
When my friend, Stephanie Sack of vive la femme was selected as a featured business for the October issue of Crain’s Chicago Business Magazine, I was thrilled for her! (Read the article here) Then…I found out she had recommended ME to be the model for the cover shoot! I was absolutely stunned and flattered and nervous! TWO curvy girls on the cover of Crain’s Magazine?? My brain could hardly process it all.
As the day of the shoot drew near, I got more and more nervous…what was I going to wear??? I had to pick out an outfit that was suitably conservative, feminine, simple…and yet fantastic enough for a queen-size Queen. lol.
I finally settled on an amazing full-skirted Comfy USA shirt dress that I bought at vive la femme earlier this year. Piles of pearls, a black belt, and black pumps were the perfect accessories. 🙂 So without further ado, here I am…representing the “Queen Consumer” on the cover of Crain’s Chicago Business Magazine!

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| The amazingly talented and adorable photographer for the shoot was John R. Boehm. |

This issue was the small business issue, and three Chicago businesses were featured. Dr. Chet Steinmetz is the man behind the lenses at Visual Effects. Stephanie Sack is the empress of the known universe, of course. And David Zimmer owns several Fleet Feet stores in the Chicagoland area. Here’s some behind the scenes snaps of from the cover shoot. 🙂 Can you tell Stephanie and I are NOT shy??
And here’s a fun video of the shoot produced by Stephen J. Serio and Jeff Hartvigsen…Thanks to everyone for a fun, awesome morning!
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