Don’t wait for the perfect occasion, wear it NOW!!!

I love to dress up.  I love all things that sparkle.  The holiday season is the perfect time for both of those.  I was recently invited to a casual Christmas party.  Casual smasual!  I was dressing up!!!  Glam and glitz on the Nikki menu, for sure.  Was I overdressed for the party?  YES.  Did I care?  Not one lick.  Did people notice me and comment?  Yes.  But, because of my size, people usually notice me.  If they are going to look, I might as well have the package wrapped in something worth looking at.  ;-)  I had been waiting for an excuse to wear this Igigi dress and I couldn’t find a better one than “the time to wear it is now”.  This dress was an eBay find for around $40.  Have no idea how much it was originally, but knowing Igigi it was a lot more.  It is a size 30/32 floor length silver dress with a little bit of rhinestone detail at the neckline.  The silver sparkle/bows shoes are from Marshalls.  

December Ahead of the Curve: 2013

Banner created by Elizabeth Tamny: http://www.elizabethtamny.com 

We are a collective of plus size bloggers coming together to post on the same subject. This month we are sharing our take on “Holiday Glitz and Glam” so check them out by clicking on each link:

AffatshionistA 

Sydney's Closet Plus Size 30 Glitz

Fatshion Peepshow

The Valerie Gallery

My Vintage Glam

The Fat Girl

The Fat Girl Glams It Up

It’s Melicious

Glam It Up

Plump Up the Frock

Regency Style: A Jane Austen Costume Event

Fearlessly Just Me

Fearless Fashion: Holidays = Glitz and Glam FABULOUSNESS

Lis Finds Bliss

Holiday Looks

Harper Valley Vlog

Holiday Party Looks!

Fat Girls Can

Fat girls can’t wear prints? Yes, they can.  I am fat.  I don’t believe wearing a huge floral print is going to make me look any smaller or bigger than I am.  Yes, some colors and cuts might be more flattering on a particular body, but I am going to wear and do what makes me happy!  I am going to wear prints.  I am going to be a pinup girl.  I am going to leave my house and spread my fabulousness around for the world to enjoy!  

I recently had the pleasure of working with Keke.  She owns Peepshow Studios in Waco, TX.  She specializes in vintage pinup and old Hollywood glamour photography.  She works with women of all shapes/sizes and makes them feel so beautiful and special while doing it!  For my photo shoots, I wore prints. 

Dresses:  Leopard print dress from SWAK’s Curvy Kitten line in a size 4 (this particular dress runs a little big) and Torrid’s Playing Card dress in a size 5.  

Banner created by Elizabeth Tamny: http://www.elizabethtamny.com

We are a collective of plus size bloggers coming together to post on the same subject. This month we each have written a post responding to the oft heard point of view “Big Girls Can’t Wear Prints?” so check them out by clicking on each link:

Affatshionista: SWAK Red Cherry Dress Size 5X - Review

The Fat Girl: Black, White, and Red All Over.

Happy Valley Vlog: Big Gals Can Wear Prints

Fatshion Peepshow: Push Th' Little Daisies...Fat Girl Flower Power.

The Valerie Gallery: Perfect prints, right?

Plump Up the Frock: Prints? Absolutely.

Fearlessly Just Me: My Life In Prints...A Big Girl's Perspective

Lis Finds Bliss: Print En Kimono

It’s Melicious: Falltivest

Halloween Costume Flashback

Anyone who knows me knows Halloween is my favorite holiday.  I love everything about it…the ghouls, the goblins, the candy….but mostly the dressing up.  It is so much fun to be someone else for a few hours.  Halloween is like getting a break from your real life and all the stresses that go along with it.  Every year I have grand plans to construct some elaborate costume.  Do I do it?  No.  My vision has an unlimited budget and mad construction skills.  In reality, I have $5 and a glue gun.  That’s not cutting it!  Not to say I haven’t made or put together costumes, because I have.  I have also purchased costumes.  The purchased costumes usually involved some form of alterations.  When you are a chubbster, it is hard to find anything off the rack that fits well.  Most “plus size” costumes are still too minus for me. 


Here are a few of my costumes from the past.  For reference, the purchased costumes are most likely the largest size available, probably a 3/4.  

 

I purchased this costume from OneStopPlus.  It was too small in the waist/hip area.  I opened up the sides and put in button holes.  I was able to weave ribbon through the button holes to give myself some coverage and breathing room. 

The beer girl costume was also purchased from OneStopPlus.  It was too tight.  I was able to take the seams apart and loosen it up some.  The beer purse is the best part of this costume!  

My spider costume was mostly things I already owned.  I made the jacket from a pattern, Halloween material, and feather boas purchased from Jo-ann Fabric and Craft. 

My Pink Lady costume also involved things from my regular wardrobe.  I made the pink jacket from vinyl and a pattern.  

Last year I was a leopard.  Purchased the main part of my costume and then made a tutu to go with it.  

For 2013, I purchased the Leg Avenue Monster costume from Torrid.  I also purchased some white fur to make some long gloves and leg warmer type things.  I have yet to make this actual part of my costume, that’s why there isn’t a pic of me modeling it yet.  When I do, I will be sure to blog about it!  

We are a collective of plus size bloggers coming together to post on the same subject. This month we each have a post on “Halloween” so check them out by clicking on each link.

Hell Bunny Plus Size Sweaters or How I Learned to Love Spiders!

Trick or Treat Halloween Vintage Pin Up Skirt

Happy Halloween

Halloween: The Fat Girl's History

I'm a Ballerina! Plus Size Halloween Costume for the Girly Girl!

White Trash Couture?

I come from a long line of white trash.  I don’t think that’s a bad thing.  It makes me interesting!  What says white trash more than cut off denim, an altered tee, and cheap beer? 

This month’s blog collective topic is denim.  A few years ago I was on the hunt for a short denim skirt in my size.  I looked everywhere….hunted high and low.  I couldn’t find anything.  I was totally discouraged and about to give up when I stumbled upon a long denim skirt at Catherines.  The fit was great, but the length was not.  I decided to buy it and hack off the bottom.  Voila, my short denim skirt.

Paired with my denim skirt is an “I’m Fat Let’s Party” tee that I recently purchased from Serbi T-Shirts.   I bought the 5X.  I didn't like the fit of the shirt as is and have always wanted to alter a tee.  My Pinterest search began for altered tees.  There are so many cute ways to alter one.  I chose a relatively easy alteration, because I didn't want to mess up this awesome shirt.  I cut the neckline, the hemline, and the sleeves.  On the back, I cut 4 horizontal slashes.  When I tried it on, I realized you really couldn't see the last slash, so I attached the bottom two together.  I wanted to cute up the shirt, thus the polka dot bows I made out of a small piece of material.  It was less than $1 of material from Hobby Lobby. 

Completing the outfit are a few of my wardrobe staples:  black leggings (Fashion Bug), a black tank (Old Navy), and Pabst Blue Ribbon (my local convenience store).  ;-)

We are a collective of plus size bloggers coming together to post on the same subject. This month we each have a post on denim, so check out our individual blogs by clicking on each link.

Review - Size 24 ASOS Curve Pinafore Denim Dress

Denim With Edge

Denim and Lace

Definitely Denim

Chambray Blue: Some Colorful History

The Destruction Zone

I really wish I was organized and had a cute creative space.  I just don't.  And this is the way I create, in chaos.  I want to be one of those cute women with glitter in a vintage bowl and ribbon wrapped around old clothes pins and flowers pinned to something equally cute and on and on and on....
Pinterest and Martha Steward are evil.  I blame it all on them.
I am never going to be one of those women.  My shit is going to be thrown together in a shoe box.  A shoe box that is held together with duct tape.
Here are some photos of my creative space. I would show you the closet in this room, but that will only make me look like a hoarder.

You scream, I scream, we all scream for ICE CREAM!!!

This month’s blog hop topic is “Pretty In Pink”.  I love pink, so was I was very excited about this topic….until I started looking in my closet.  As much as I live for pink, I am severely lacking in pink clothes.  I have a pink leather jacket and pink converse.  That’s it!  I suck.  :-(

Who needs an excuse to go shopping??  I DO!  So, I looked around the internet for pink items.  I found the ice cream dress from Pocket Rocket’s blog.  She was one of three bloggers chosen to design a dress for SimplyBe.  The dress is still available on their site and goes to size 28.  I am not really a 28 (more of a 32/34), but took a chance it would fit.  It did!  Such a great pink color with yellow ice cream cones. 

What better way to highlight an ice cream dress than the place that makes “the best ice cream in the country”?  I live close to Brenham, TX, the home of Blue Bell ice cream.  If you haven’t tried their ice cream, you should!  I actually had some right after my photo shoot for this blog. I had peppermint.  It is usually only available around the holidays, but available year round near the motherland.

I paired the dress with white leggings (Walmart, size 26/28), a ribbon flower barrette made by my sister, and orange/yellow/pink Doc Martens flats.  

(Updated with an actual pic of the dress based on my lovely sister's critique of my blog and the fact that she couldn't see the pattern.  I made it real big because she needs bifocals and refuses to get them.  Love ya sis!)

Ahead of the Curve Blog Hop

We are a collective of plus size bloggers coming together to post on the same subject now and then, so you can experience different points of view on the same subject. Check out everyone's "Pretty In Pink" post by clicking on each link.

Like, Totally 80s Fashion - Plus Size
I Believe In Pink Because Happy Girls Are The Prettiest Girls
Pretty in Pink
Pretty in Pink
Pretty in Pink
Pretty in Pink
In a Pink Haze + A 1930s Houndstooth Skirt

Cupcake Headband

I was cruising around Domino Dollhouse's (http://www.dominodollhouse.com/) website yesterday and found the donut and my little pony headbands.  I love them.  I want to make something similar.  I already came close with the cupcake headband I made last December.  I had a fat girl slumber party and I made cupcake headbands for all of us to wear.  The question I kept getting was, "Why would you wear a cupcake on your head?".  Why wouldn't I?  DD thinks outside of the box.  I have my moments where I do too and I like to think the cupcake headband proves it!

Friday OOTD

If you haven't heard about FatToo, you really need to check it out.  My whole outfit, minus the undergarments and shoes, is from the FatToo groups.  FatToo is a plus size resale group on Facebook.  Not only can you find awesome deals, but you can also meet some very interesting people.  Kinda weird to think I have grown close to women I have never met, but I have.  

Anyhoo, my dog bone dress is from Domino Dollhouse, in size 4x.  LOVE this dress.  It is so fun and the mint color is fab.  I have on a pleather bow belt from Torrid (size 4) and Fashion Bug leggings in a 4x. These leggings are the main reason I am sad FB is no longer in business. They are the best leggings for my shape and height.  My black and white headband is from the Candie's brand of accessories.  

Yes, I am always going to take self portraits in my bedroom.  It is what I do and they crack me up!  

Here are a few links:

FatToo

Domino Dollhouse

Leggings: Ahead of the Curve Blog Hop

I was recently "forced" to create a blog.  There are a group of women I met through a wonderful plus size resale group on Facebook called FatToo.  We are doing a monthly blog hop.  We get one topic and are free to run with it.  This month's topic was "legging like things".  I was a little late to the game, so I was originally a guest blogger.  Here was my blog post:

I love leggings.  They can totally change an outfit style wise, but do so much more!  Have a problem with chub rub or don’t want to shave your legs?  Put them on under a dress.  Have a top that is too long to be a top and too short to be a dress?  Put on some leggings. 

I never mix patterns.  Decided to try something new and this is what I came up with, coming to you from a self-portrait in my bedroom.  ;-)

For reference, I am a size 28/30 on top and a 34 on bottom. 

Asos polka dot swing dress in a size 24 (What?  A 24??!)

Zaftique zebra leggings in size 5z  

Lane Bryant belt, size 22/24

Iron Fist flats

Pick Your Plum polka dot hair bow

Ahead of the Curve Blog Hop

We are a collective of plus size bloggers coming together to post on the same subject now and then, so you can experience different points of view on the same subject. This month we each have a post on "Legging Like Things" so check out our individual posts by clicking on each link.

Affatshionista

Plump Up the Frock

Stina's FATshion Peepshow

it's melicious

BBW GENERATION

The Valerie Gallery

Lis Finds Bliss