I See London, I see France....Helpful Options for Shapewear

It is almost time to show off your New Year's sparkles (if you do plan on braving the crowds) and to make sure that you have the best support and polished look possible, I've suggested the following options for shapewear:

For the body hugging dress-

www.lanebryant.com $88.00

www.lanebryant.com $54.50

www.fashionbug.com $24.50

Streamline Middle

www.hipsandcurves.com $149.00

www.lanebryant.com

Multi-Way/Strapless Bra

www.lanebryant.com $24.50

www.examiner.com

V-Neck Dress

www.lanebryant.com $44.00

www.audradella.com

Have a very Supported, Safe, and Happy New Year!





Be on Trend and Comfortable....Fashion Forward Pajamas for a New Year's Night In!

Hi All,
Imagine, turning a New Year's Eve party on its head by staying in! But, just because you decide to stay in, doesn't mean you can't stay on trend. In fact, you may even be more fashion forward than your peers who brave the elements as they wait in that never ending line for the bar.

Enter Spring 2011 Pajama Trend!

With Spring comes a the comfy appeal of the pajama trend! Shed some light on your bedroom attire, and have it do double duty! Be both chic and comfy! Check out the following options below:

www.hipsandcurves.com $39.95

www.onestopplus.com

www.macys.com

www.ladyzona.com

Trade in your slippers for stilettos and you are set! Be proud of the skin you're in!

A Bold New Take on the Suit....Body Suit, that is!

http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/video-gaga/jennifer-lopez-owns-britney-beyonce-looks-t-h-175811967.html

The bodysuit. Sexy. Sleek. Pretty...and even a little naughty.

For years, these babies have been reserved for the bedroom (else elsewhere in the house), or under a dress or blouse to accentuate, contain or hold stuff in place.

There has been a trend, however, recently to wear a bodysuit as the main dish, the way we would wear jeans, jazzy slacks or a cute dress. We've seen Britney and Beyonce both rock the one-piece lacy wonder. And now, Jennifer Lopez (Don't make me say "JLo") is pouring her curves into them, as seen above.

Like, tight jeans, spandex, and the color red, bodysuits aren't for everyone. It takes a bold soul and major bod to rock a bodysuit effectively.

So, if you've made decision to wear aa bodysuit, here is a checklist of things you should know before you leave your apartment:

1) Always carry a jacket. You can use it to frame your suit or to make a bold entrance when you take your coat off. 
2) Check appropriateness. A bodysuit is okay for the club, but not dinner with the mayor.
3) Accessorize.
4)  Handle stares with aplomb. Women and men will stare. Not always for taudry reasons or because you appear to be a vamp waiting to steal their man, but because your choice is bold. Live in that for a while. Put your chin up and be confident. 

Friday Night Fashion....It's Sequin Season!

Yahooo! The sequins are HERE! Get ready for all your holiday parties and revelry by adding a little extra sparkle to any occasion! Check out a few of my favs below:

Dresses

 DKNY $128 www.lanebryant.com

Calvin Klein $198 www.nordstrom.com

$178.50 www.monifc.com

Tops

Baby Phat $54 www.macys.com

Calvin Klein $159.50 www.macys.com

$49.00 www.eloquii.com

Skirts

$90 www.igigi.com

Ralph Lauren $179.00 www.macys.com

Now get out there! It's your time to shine!



Behind the Curve: Your Attention Please...This is a Curvy Service Announcement

I love fashion. I love the innovative fashion trends, the creative designs and the forward-thinking (and sometimes backward-thinking, which is equally fabulous) designers.

I wait for fall fashion week, every year, the same way a teenage girl on her first date waits for her first kiss. I look for the Land's End and J. Crew fall catalogues, the way a child on Christmas Eve waits for the stroke of midnight, Santa and all of that.

My love affair with fashion is unconditional and pure. I feel that fashion allows me to express who I am and what I feel.  It allows us to embellish and accent the living, breathing works of art that we already are.  I will give fashion trends--even the ones that don't always agree with my curves, a chance. Because, you see, I love fashion and fashion loves me.

Which is why what follows will be very difficult to write. But, it has to be done. Somebody has to say something, but nobody has found the courage to do so, yet.

I hate the skinny jean fashion trend and will no longer be wearing them.

There, I said it.

My reasons for doing so are many. The most obvious reason is I am not skinny, and I don't want to be. Wearing a jean that celebrates "skinny" is fine for the size twos and fours with the hips of my five year old cousin.  They're fine for the hipster, the heroin chick set, for those whose hips are the size of my waist, or neck, for that matter.  But for women--women with curves and hips, there is no place in skinny jeans for us.

We are the curvy, the sexy, the voluptuous, the lovely. And those of us, like us, can't apologize for that. Which is exactly what pouring all of our curves into skinny jeans does. Writes a perpetual apology letter for what we have and what we are.

I cannot continue to apologize for something that I am proud of.  I am proud of my figure, and who I am.  I will not hide in the bondage of the skinny jean anymore.  Show me the curvy jean, and let my shape and spirit soar!

Ahead of the Curve...Sweet Caroline hosts the Kennedy Center Honors

Sweet Caroline, the muse that inspired Neil Diamond's timeless song, "Sweet Caroline" when she was just a youngster in the White House. How fitting then, was it that Kennedy hosted the show as a part of a living memorial to her father, John F. Kennedy. "She took the stage to pay tribute to Diamond, calling him "a Brooklyn lad with a gift of melody who grew into a solitary man, 'reaching out, touching me.'" This reference to his song Sweet Caroline drew laughs from an audience packed with celebrities and politicians." (www.cbc.ca)
I was so happy to see Caroline Kennedy hosting the Kennedy Center Honors in all her glory! I found it inspiring to see a hostess that celebrated her shape, this is a trend that needs to see some more face time! Well done Kennedy Center!

Elizabeth Taylor...A Celebration of Glamour and Gumption

The glorious Elizabeth Taylor! This sparkling diamond was known for her violet eyes, sense of style, and zest for life! She aided many and loved fiercely.  Everything she did, she did it with  passion! In honor of the auctioning of her stylish clothes, I have put together a few outfits from her amazing life!

www.igigi.com $225.00

www.pinupgirlclothing.com $70.00

www.monifc.com $171.00

www.monifc.com $176.25

Elizabeth Taylor was a woman who never apologized.  She was strong, confident, and bold. Most importantly, she embraced herself! She was a woman of glamour and of guts! Channel her, as you strut your stuff this week! 

Work What Your Mama Gave Ya....Taking On the Skinny Jean

Hi all.  I have been battling my love/hate relationship with the skinny jean for quite some time, as they have become a fashion staple.  I love the ease of the skinny jean! They are so comfortable and quick! They look so sexy with a high heeled boot, flats, or booties.  Booty...that is where my dilemma comes in.  I have one, a curvy one in fact, which I am very happy about. But, the battle of the booty and the skinny jean can be quite obvious at times.  I like wearing clothes that emphasize my shape, but I want to make sure that it's emphasizing, in a good way. I know that the boot cut jean is the curvy girls best friend, but if you do feel the need to wear a skinny (I do not care for the name at all) jean, keep the following things in mind.  Make sure to go with a dark wash, make sure that the skinny jean has a high enough rise, and the it is form fitting enough to keep everything looking streamline, but not so  tight that you look like you're from the 80s.  Here are a few of my favorites:

www.nydj.com Not Your Daughter's Jeans $98.00

www.macys.com Baby Phat $49.00

www.macys.com Michael Kors $79.50

For the Holidays, Backward is Better

Well, 'Tis the season for merriment and wonder. The holidays are a magical time of year. I mean, when else is a night nestled on the couch next to the fireplace, with a cup of eggnog and sugar cookies (Really, who can eat just one?) listening to Nat King Cole, as attractive an option as a fabulous night on the town? I can't think of another time of the year. We wait for the holidays, from beach season until this time of the year and wallow in all things Christmas and New Year's, until the season is over. We relish the holiday season. We savor it.

While we look forward to those magical nights as described above with the eggnog and the fireplace and the buttery voice of Nat, we also like to get out to a holiday party or two. And what's the fun of going out to a holiday party, if we can't be the most fabulously dressed thing in the spot?And, why not bring a little of Nat's decade with us, with some swank attire.  So, here are a few ideas for retro holiday dresses I cooked up:

                          www.pinupgirlclothing.com                                          

                  www.pinupgirlclothing.com Erin Wiggle Dress $96.00

           www.pinupgirlclothing.com Niagra Dress $120.00

For some more retro glam, check out the websites below! Give those curves some holiday cheer! 

 http://www.pinupgirlclothing.com/

http://www.poshgirlvintage.com/

http://www.stopstaringclothing.com/sunshop/vintage-clothing-styles-20-1.html  

Ahead of the Curve...Barefoot Tess carries up to size 15 shoes!

I was so happy to find this website and see that it carries up to size 15 shoes! I, myself, have a challenging time trying to find shoes, but I can only imagine how difficult it would be to find shoes, in sizes larger than myself.  Enter Barefoot Tess! I love their slogan, "Because style doesn't stop at size 10!" That is brilliant and SO true! Tess created her website as a resource to women everywhere who have the fashion sense to create a fantastic outfit, but were being "tripped up"  by their limited footwear options.   Barefoot Tess carries up to size 15 shoes, in many different shapes and styles. They also carry wide calf, and wide fit under their "Special Sizes" tab. They carry a nice variety of popular brands (Nine West, Jeffrey Campbell, and Hunter, among others) and have a good price point range.  If you have been searching for fashionable shoes, your quest is over!
Check out www.barefootess.com. 

Jeffrey Campbell $119.00 up to size 14

Corso Como $199.00 up to size 13

Hunter Boot $129.00 up to size 15

Finally! Eloquii by The Limited

So, The Limited has finally gotten the message.  We like your clothes...but, we need you to work with us! It does seem that they finally listed! Hooray! Eloquii by The Limited, is the full figured version of The Limited, carrying sizes 14-24, as well as jewelry, accessories, and purses.  There is also a feature that you can select your body shape, if you click on the shop my style, and it gives you 5 different body types to choose from (diamond, emerald, tear drop, infinity, and heart)  you click on the body type and then it asks you a series of questions. Based on your answers, it provides suggestions of clothes that will work best with your body type.  I thought this was a nice feature.

Here are a few ideas for right now

Go to www.eloquii.com

On your mark, get set, SHOP! Black Friday 2011

Today, retail stores opened up at the crack of dawn (some stayed open all night) to let in millions of frantic shoppers. Newspapers were swollen with doorbuster sales ads. Financial prognosticators were on television all day predicting how much money consumers were going to spend today. Shoppers were kicked, trampled, pushed and even pepper sprayed.

This can only mean one thing: it's Black Friday.

We know that financial and commerce types coined the phrase Black Friday to mark the day that retail stores actually began operating at a profit or in the "black" for the first time in a given fiscal year. But, for those of us who love fashion know that being in the black, so to speak, is fabulous seven days a week and 365 days a year.

Black is a necessary, basic building block for every wardrobe. It's sassy. It's jazzy. It's flirty. It's slimming. It's classy. Black is so universal that given the chance, it could probably do your taxes. It's all things to all people.

So in honor of Black Friday, Here are a few black pieces I recommend for your wardrobe:

Get all Audrey Hepburn with these black dresses from Land's End

www.landsend.com  $109.50 for each

These black slacks from Macy's take curves and makes them artwork www.macys.com

Jones New York Collection                  

These black pumps from Endless are fabulous...times two.








Chinese Laundry Hailie Pump $44.90

Ivanka Trump Amoro Pump $120.00




So get in the black this season.

Marvelous Marilyn!

Marilyn. Monroe.

“The body is meant to be seen, not all covered up.”  
 ― Marilyn Monroe

“I'm very definitely a woman and I enjoy it. ”
― Marilyn Monroe

Is there anybody sexier than Marilyn Monroe?

In our culture, nobody has come close to making a bigger impact on all things sexy than Marilyn. Justin Timberlake may have brought sexy "back" (did he really, now?) ScarJo may be sexy now, but Marilyn Monroe is the original S-E-X-Y. I mean who else could make a president tongue tied with a mere birthday wish, a playwright loose his mind, and a legendary baseball player loose games, but Marilyn?

And with that kind of palpable sexiness, not only does everyone want to be her, but everyone tends to study and debate every aspect of her life. Over the years, we have debated everything from Marilyn's favorite food, to her favorite dress, to what she ate when she was depressed.

 Next week, the Movie "My Week with Marilyn," about the final week of the actress, sex goddess, and fashion icon, is set to be released in theaters. The movie's release will surely keep us debating all things Marilyn, for the foreseeable future. However, one thing that should not be debated is Marilyn's dress size next week. It has been established that Marilyn was an American size 12.

That's right. a size 12. By today's standards, she would be considered thick, curvy, or even plus-sized.

For decades, Marilyn has and continues to captivate men and women with her sex appeal, her curves, her allure.

So, that begs the question, how did we move from a culture that appreciates a woman of Marilyn's size and figure, to what we consider beautiful today? Women who starve themselves and are emaciated?

How did we get here?