See Ya 2017

It is my last post of 2017, and I must say that I am looking forward to 2018. This year has been one of extreme growth through learning some hard truths. I have learned that there are times you are not going to be able to do it all, and in no way should you beat yourself up. Do not feel ashamed with the fact that you are feeling uncomfortable. Surround yourself with those that bring you peace, not strife, and above all else take care of yourself.

I am bringing in 2018 in style with this super cute dress from Shop Currently. If you have not heard of them, they are a Miami based brand specializing in plus size dresses. They believe in high quality fabrics that fit all bodies. When it comes to the holidays, I am all about items that are shiny or have texture, and lovers, the Diana silver pleated dress has both. Based on their size chart, I would need a size 20, but I was actually able to wear a size 18 which is my go to size for dresses. My biggest concern when it comes to dresses are my arms and back, and this dress has ample room for a great fit. With winter dressing, I prefer having some room so that I can layer, and with the fit of this dress allows for such. I love that the dress hit me above the knee so I can show off my over the knee boots that I bought last season. 

You can shop this dress and more on Shop Currently's site or at Amazon. Enjoy some shopping in the new year because their dresses are currently on sale! I could not end the year without celebrating some of the wins this year. Each and every day is another day to get to the life you want, and I made sure that I celebrate the wins and learn from the losses. 

THINGS THAT I'M PROUD OF (in no particular order)

Hitting 10K on Instagram. With all the changes to the way posts are seen on Instagram, influencers were really feeling it the most not being as visible as they once were. I will say that even though it was hard work, reaching that milestone was major, and I thank all my old and new followers for liking and commenting on every post. 

Supporting several plus size events. I went to Phat Girl Fresh's Lifestyled 2017, Full Figured Fashion Week, The Curvy Fashionista's TCF Expo, NYFW, and the Curvy Con. Not only was it great seeing my blogger boo's, but I met new bloggers and learned a lot in terms of working on my brand. It wasn't just all work, I got to laugh it up and spend quality time with a group of women I admire. 

Having fun with fashion. Even though I love shopping, hitting style ruts will happen (as of late, all you will see me in are jeans and sweaters, but it is the winter so I guess I get a pass...lol), but this year, I have mitigated the ruts by just wearing what comes naturally to me. The best outfits are those that you don't fuss over. Here are some of your and my favorites from 2017.

Let me know if there is more that you would like to see from the blog? Perhaps more day to day looks? More fitting room chronicles? Less fashion and more lifestyle? I'm game if you are. 

Happy New Year Lovers!!!!!

Women Are Stronger

Tracee Ellis Ross is someone that I always admired. From the first time I saw her curls on Girlfriends I was hooked. She is funny, smart, and one hell of an actress. She lives her life for herself and is definitely someone that knows what she wants. As successful as she is, she is still asked why are you single, and where are your babies. A woman with a Golden Globe, impeccable style and can drop some rhymes is at times reduced to the where is your happy ending (ie husband and kids). I have been down that route, asked what's going on with my dating life, do I even want children, and where is marriage on my list of things to do. As a woman, who you are attached to overshadows at times the other things that make you you. Watching Tracee's speech (if you haven't seen it, I linked it below) reminded me that no matter your accomplishments we as a society still hold on to the measure of success for a woman is through marriage & children. No matter what people say or how they view you, I am strong, and you will not reduce me to just this one dimensional view of what a woman should be. 

I felt it was fitting for this post to wear her suit from her collaboration from JCP. I went with the Bliss Robe and Cuffed Trouser pants. When I saw this set in the promotional pictures, I had to have it, especially in red (the set also comes in blue). Red is such a power color. When I wear red I feel different. I feel like I can just do anything and everything. It's bold, sexy, and just powerful all rolled up into one. Since the set is oversized, I went with a 1X in the robe and pants. Now these pants are definitely for my tall gals, so please be mindful when trying on. I wore them high up on my waist with heels. 

When I was thinking about what should I pair the suit with, I was at a lost. This set has been a hit with so many bloggers, I wanted to wear something that was definitely a Jami look. When I saw this tee from Simply Be, it was just the right accent piece for my look. Simply Be has a lot of great tee's and this was one of the few that I picked up from them. Women Are Stronger, and this tee reaffirms that when I feel like I can't do something. 

For my accessories, I wanted to keep it cute with a lucite clutch with sequins. This season, I have been looking for pieces that play well with what I have in my closet, but give them a little added oomph. This clutch is definitely something that ties my look together. Especially with it being the Holiday season, this is good for the sequin lovers like myself, and for those that are not ready to fully indulge in head to toe sequins.

 

With the pants being long, heels were definitely needed. I have been crushing as of late on ladies rocking suits with white heels or booties, so I went ahead and took the plunge and got me a pair for myself. The Halogen Anita bootie is super comfortable and comes in a range of colors. If you want a white bootie, or just a great looking bootie that you walk around town in, look no further, 

This post is one of my favorites so far. Writing this really put a lot of perspective back into my life. At times we as women are judged based on our accomplishments on this "life check list" that at times we are living for other people's acceptance or approval. Watching Tracee's speech got me thinking about my life and what I want from it. I will not allow allow someone to dictate what my success should look like nor will I let them put me in a box. I'm grateful for where I am today, and what the future has in store for me. I'm stronger each and every day, and when I start doubting myself, I'm going to look at my shirt and read this post to snap me back to reality. 

Muah lovers!!!

Cozy

I can't believe it's December!!! The year is about to come to a close, and I am just in awe how fast the year went. I took a mini break to just relax, watch Netflix, and to do some shopping. The deals online the past two weeks have been insane! I found some great sweaters, cute skirts, and comfy boots that I just had to share. 

RRR Curvy

 

This season has been about the power of a great sweater. The statement sweater is definitely an item that you can not ignore. All the different versions really have me spending all my coins. The sweaters have not only been fun, but they are warm and soft. This off the shoulder from Rachel Rachel Roy was all that I could want. It keeps me warm, it's soft to the touch, and with it being off the shoulder, it's different from my other black sweaters in my closet. It is slightly oversized so I went with a 1X and it fit like a dream. My favorite part of the sweater is the extra long sleeves. I've always been the type to use my sleeves as a way to keep my hands warm (and drive my mom nuts in the process).

Brocade skirts were definitely all over the runway this season. I always liked a good skirt, so when I saw this mini brocade skirt, I fell in love. Can't go wrong with an animal print. Especially when it's in a fun metallic. It has a paperbag waist (which makes it stretchy), which makes it easy to get in and out of. It's fun and flirty, but having pockets just ups the ante. For the past year I have been living in midi skirts, but I must say, I'm falling for mini skirts. Since brocade is a rather stiff material, when it comes to sizing I tend to size up (this is a size 18) just to ensure I have room. 

 

When you are all about warm and cozy life, finding a pair of boots that keep my feet warm in these colder months is vital. I saw these boots online, and thought they were super cute. When I got a chance to try them on in the store, I bought them immediately. It's one things for them to be cute, but the fact that they are lined with shearling made them a must have. I have been looking for a new pair of boots since it was time to retire my sparkly Uggs, but I didn't find anything worth looking at until I saw these Urban Hiker boots from Coach. They are a bit pricey, but there are some F&F sales going on, so you can get these on sale. 

This look is definitely cozy, and very versatile. I can wear this with flats for work, booties for a night out, or even a fun sneaker while hanging with my Day 1's. Just cause the temps are dropping doesn't mean you can't give em something fun. What piece from this look speaks to you? Let me know in the comments!

Sweater Weather

Universal Standard is a plus size contemporary brand focused on providing you great quality items that are mainstays in your wardrobe. There are pieces in every person's wardrobe that are mainstays, and Universal Standard is all about providing great quality pieces that will never go out of style. If you want clothing straight from the runways, you won't find that here. What you will find are great dresses, button ups, pants, and even coats that are pure classics. 

Universal Standard is a fairly new brand, but they are making their presence known. The brand just finished a 12 city tour focused on looking for their next model, as well as hosting a pop up shop. Hosting pop up shops in different cities is a great way to see and try on items in person. The brand is online, but I know for me when I am interested in a new brand having the opportunity to feel and try on the clothes really makes the difference. No two brands fit the same so having the option to try is always an added bonus. 

I was given an opportunity to try one of their pieces from their upcoming collaboration collection with Danielle Brooks (acclaimed actress from Orange Is The New Black). The USxDB collection features three pieces in collaboration with the actress. I went with the Dani Sweater Dress in Aubergine. Since the temps are dropping, I wanted to get a piece from the collection that would be extremely versatile despite the changes in weather. This sweater dress was a no brainer. What I love most about the dress, is that you can switch up the collar. I am wearing it like a cowl neck sweater dress since it was chilly today, but you can also wear it as a hoodie (like I did below), or completely off the shoulder. 

I decided on Aubergine since I need some more color in my winter wardrobe. I gravitate heavily towards blacks and greys in the winter, and this was my chance to break the cycle. The dress is made of wool and cashmere so on this chilly day here in NYC, I was warm. It's the perfect length for me to wear as is, or with a great pair of leggings. From reading reviews from other blogger boo's that attended their pop up shops their sizing was true to size, so I went with a M which is a 18/20. I won't lie, I was extremely impressed with the quality of the dress. There are a lot of brands that are contemporary but the quality is not there. This is not the case. The quality is impeccable, and yes the price tag is up there, but there are some things I am willing to spend a little more on if I know it will stand the test the time. This dress is definitely an item that is worth it. 

The collection will be available online tomorrow so definitely check it out!

Rebel In Blue

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of meeting Rebel Wilson when she and Dia hosted a soiree displaying pieces from her new collection. Then in September I got to see the pieces come down the runway at Curvy Con. Today, I'm sharing the one piece that I had to have- a suede moto. Now yes, I have tons of moto's. I have a pretty vast collection of them, but this one was different- why? Because it was real suede. In plus size, the options have exponentially increased, but when it comes to specialty fabrics like silk, leather, and suede there is far and few between. I love suede, so when I find pieces that come in my size I check them out. Now when it comes to jackets, 90% of the time we are given black. Don't get me wrong, black is a staple. It's part of my DNA as a New Yorker to wear all black and own it, but as much as I appreciate black, anytime I can find an item in a bold hue, I add it to my collection. 

The Rebel WIlson x Angels moto in Surf the Web is a versatile piece that you can wear with so many things. Granted it's cobalt blue, but it goes with so many colors that this for me is a neutral. It's currently on sale, so I suggest you check it out before it sells out. I bought this in a 3X because as the temps drops, I like to layer and I want to make sure that I have room in the arms so that I can wear all the great chunky knits that are out this season. Being a busty gal, with a wide back, having adequate room in my jacket is majorly important. If you love the moto, but not a fan of blue, it now comes in green and black both suede.

Lately, I just have been enjoying wear fun pieces whether its day or night. While I was packing away my summer clothes, I found these sequin pants that I bought from Eloquii a while back and never wore them. I'm big on "saving" items for a special time, but why wait- if I love it, I'm going to wear it, even it's just a Tuesday and nothing is going on. I thought this would be great to wear with the moto, because it's a fancy update to my athleisure looks. Wearing a deeper shade of navy with the cobalt creates a dimension in my look that looks like I made a lot of effort, but trust me, it is easy. These pants are no longer on the site, but Eloquii created a newer version that is more of a skinny pull on pant. 

Well you know I'm all about comfy, cozy, and cute, so I wore my Girl With Curves tee that I received at Curvy Con. When it comes to tee shirts, they must be soft and fit well. This tee is great, and going strong. Once again, I'm rocking my favorite blue sandals. I must say that these were one of the best shoe purchases I made. I found these on sale, and they have held up for two years without missing a beat. 

So lovers are you going to bring out your inner rebel?