Simple Summer BBQ Style

Last night, I went to a fantastic backyard BBQ. I had a blast, but it was a little bittersweet, since it was hosted by my good friends who are moving to Utah at the end of the month. So…it was a goodbye summer and goodbye friends party. 🙁 

For this outfit, I wasn’t trying to be super fashionable. I just wanted to be cool, comfortable and cute while outside around a campfire. Since I’m always partial to dresses, I dragged this groovy-patterned sundress out of the back of my closet and paired it with a brown shrug and some simple gold sandals. It was quite a breezy night though, and I had a few near-flashing incidents. lol.
What’s your simple summer BBQ style? 

Dress: Ross (it was crazy cheap!!!)
Shrug: Lane Bryant
Sandals: Can’t remember…
TigersEye Earrings: Forever 21
Necklace: Vintage (it was my Grandma’s from the 60s!)

A Fashion Experiment in the Botanic Gardens

On Sunday, I spent the most beautiful, incredible days at the Chicago Botanic Gardens! It was one of those rare, perfectly temperate, sunny, golden days that only show up as summer comes to a close. *sigh (Can you believe this summer is over already???)

For a stroll through the gardens, I wanted to wear this Forever 21 + coral strapless dress. Sadly, I haven’t worn it nearly enough this summer, because all of the tops I tried with it looked frumpy. I wanted something fresh and bold to match the coral of the dress. Finally, I decided to do a fashion experiment. I got a bright blue scarf out of my closet, and used safety pins to attach it to the dress in a way that covered up my bra straps and arms. I love the colors together, but I’m still not sure the scarf looked right….What do you think? Does it work or not?

I love the Gardens…and can’t wait to go back! Doesn’t it look like a fairyland in this last picture???

“Cupcakes, Curves, and Cleavage” – I’m SO there!

As you can see, I love cupcakes
so much, that I painted a picture
of one! Love love love!

I have been hoping and waiting for an announcement of a plus-size friendly event in Chicago for Fashion’s Night Out….and my wish was granted! Thanks to Nikeya Young over at the Examiner, I just found out that Chicago’s plus-size boutique, vive la femme will be hosting an event called “Cupcakes, Curves, and Cleavage.” (BTW, this event name should be the title of my first book!!! lol)

Here are the deets:

vive la femme, Isabella Fine Lingerie, and Vaudezilla present an evening of “Cupcakes, Curves, and Cleavage” exclusively for plus-size women. All shoppers will receive 20% off their purchases at vive la femme that evening.

WHEN: Thursday, September 8th, 5pm to 8pm.
WHERE: vive la femme, 2048 North Damen • Chicago, IL 60647
RSVPs to vivelafemme@hotmail.com or 773.772.7429 are encouraged

Did I mention that cupcakes will be served??? I’m SO there!

And…I’ll be covering the event here on my blog, so if you can’t make it, check back next week!

Hope you’re all having a great day!
xoxo

40s on a Friday Night

The Forties are one of my all-time favorite eras…the clothes are feminine and flattering (especially to plus-size, curvy women!), the hairstyles are gorgeous, and who doesn’t love red lipstick?

I rocked the 40s theme last night when I went to see a Babes with Blades theater production called The Double. It was a great production, with fast, witty dialogue; fun innuendos; great forties costumes; and gender-bending twists that definitely added to the plot tension…and there were sword fights! It was awesome…if you’re in Chicago, you should try to go see it!

In the spirit of the evening, I wore a tiered ruffle blue and white polka dot dress with a sweetheart-esque neckline, white bolero/shrug, red heels and earrings, and (of course) red lipstick!

Here you can actually tell the at the dress is blue!

Smitten by Lola…

Dress: Forever 21+
Shrug: Anne Taylor Loft
Heels: Me Too
Lipstick: Smitten by Lola

Plus Size Fashion Tip: Tiered ruffles and layers are your friend! They camouflage any problem areas (like my dreaded stomach roll!) and help the clothes move with you instead of clinging in unflattering ways. Some ladies stay away from ruffles and such because they think it adds bulk or draws attention, but it does just the opposite! Next time you go shopping, look for the tiered ruffles or fabric and try it on…I think you’ll be surprised at the effect!

Nordstrom’s Plus Size Marketing FAIL

What’s wrong with this picture????
I mean, come ON Nordstrom….not only does this not make me want to BUY this dress, it kind of makes me thow up in my mouth a little bit… I mean, look at her ARMS!

Marketing FAIL.

Now, to be fair…many of the plus size models on their site are gorgeous women with curves, but everynow and then, one of these horrific pictures will come up. I’m sure the shoot was for “straight-sized” clothing and they just used it for the plus version too…but bleck. It totally turns me off. It’d be interesting to see how many of these plus size dresses they sell compared to the ones that are modeled by actual plus size women….

What do you think?