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?

Happy National Corduroy Day!

Today is National Corduroy Day! I was so happy to find out that corduroy gets its own day! I think that corduroy has been underappreciated for some time.  It is so nice to see that this season, corduroy is taking a break from navy and tan, and moving into some bold colors and styles! Here are a few that I'm loving right now!

Corduroy leggings Baby Phat $39.90 www.macys.com

 www.landsend.com $49.99

www.plussizethis.com

www.nordstroms.com

Don't be afraid to pair your cords with other pops of color, and textures! Try some with the faux/fur trend, silk, or some cozy cashmere! Whatever you decided to wear it with, wear it proudly! Celebrate your figure! Happy Corduroy Day!