How To Make Fashion Work For You

I don't know about you but as we usher in a new season, I always feel like updating my look. I know shopping can be an emotional experience when you don't feel like you have many options. But I am here to day to tell you that you do.

People have always commented on my clothing and accessories, I attribute it to my love of statement pieces and a good sense of what woks for my body. Many of our plus size sisters are guilty of either cloaking their bodies in ill-fitting fashion to hide what they don't like or squeezing themselves into unflattering pieces not meant for the plus size body.


Her version:
 

 

  My version:

Take note of the colors that you see in rotation and trends that are deemed fashionable. As a plus-size diva, I always think of how the trends will translate for my body type. For instance, when the nautical look exploded all I could think was "horizontal stripes are NOT for me" but color blocking is! I figured I could use the nautical colors and create my own spin.

The next time you browse through a magazine or stroll through a store take a minute to think how you can make it work for you!

 Stay Gorgeous!

Two Leading Ladies: One Dress!

Hello Gorgeous,

Let's dive right in! Of course, you've seen all over the plus-size blogging sphere that Eloquii was making a come back!!! I'm still puzzled as to why they left in the first place but that's neither here nor there. If you haven't checked them out I urge you! Encourage! Plead!!! O.k O.k, you get the point but I love their dresses. The first sneak peak of the line was seen on The Curvy Fashionista's website.  Now, out of all the pieces this one dress had me at first glance.

picture seen on tomandlorenzo.com

The first Leading Lady I saw adorning this dress was Marie DeNee, whose one the best plus-size bloggers around. Meeting her is certainly on the my blogging bucket list. She wore this little number at the 7th Annual,Essence Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon, pictured with my role model, media mogul, god-mother (in my head)...The Oprah Winfrey!

As seen on thecurvyfashionista.com

 

The next leading lady is Melissa McCarthy. I've loved her since the Gilmore Girls. Melissa is certainly taking over the Hollywood scene, with her larger than life personality and owning her curves. I saw her tonight while watching E! She and her husband  and other A-listers were attending Cinemacon 2014, "The Big Picture" Presentation. So, as I watched I kept thinking Hey! I've seen that dress before?!? Then it dawned on me that the new improved Eloquii was back in the spotlight. With a small alteration to add a little length to the hemline. Mz. McCarthy had made this dress her own!

 

 

These two beautiful ladies are a "B.I.G Deal" in our book and we wanted to share their gorgeousness with you.

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers to the weekend,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XOXO ; )



Plus Size and Healthy?

 

 

Hello Gorgeous,

So, I got a question for you ladies. Is the concept of  being "Plus Size" and Healthy an oxymoron?

What I've come to learn over the years is that slim waists don't necessitate health. And being overweight doesn't mean your unhealthy. There are plenty of women who are smaller than I that are experiencing  health problems that "were" foreign to me....until now!

Recently, I had my little scare with my health. I was sitting at a local coffee shop, picking the brain of fellow motivational speaker and BAM...the room was spinning or rather it felt like I was spinning. The room grew dark and next thing you know I was being whist away by ambulance to the hospital. What I found out is that at the tender age of 31, I would now join the statistics of being African American with high blood pressure.

Ladies our bodies are always telling us what's going on but we often ignore the signs. I'd been feeling off for sometime but my body was gently telling me that...hey...Hey hEy..heY..HEYYY!!! something's wrong. Well, I ignored until I got a not so gentle push that caused me to think I might just die today. I've said a million times to myself that either I was going to get healthy voluntarily or involuntarily. Well, last Wednesday I had my wake up call and I've been listening and heading ever since.

 So, join me as you will, to make a lifestyle change in your health before it's too late. As my doctor warned me, "you're lucky Kesha, because most people don't get a warning sign before they experience a stroke or heart attack It's called the silent killer for a reason"!!! Let's get moving and eating better!!!

I'll leave you with this video of a beautiful  Plus Size Princess, whose getting her health in order and showing us that we can be Plus Size and Healthy!!!

Redefining Labels,


K.Roy

I’m just pretty. (period)

I’m not pretty for a BIG girl…I’m just pretty.

The first time I received a compliment about my beauty from someone besides my mom, it was bitter sweet. On the one hand I was excited that a man found me attractive (side note: we were 9 years old ), on the other hand he began a thought process that has followed me into adult hood. He said, “you are really pretty for a big girl!” I didn’t even really know to be offended. I was so fragile and insecure that it was enough for me in that moment.  

As the years went by, I had no idea how much that initial “compliment” affected me.  I found myself measuring my beauty on a different scale than thin women. Somehow my beauty wasn’t equivalent to a thin woman. I convinced myself that beauty had a weight and I had surpassed it.

Fast forward 21 years ---I think I figured it out. Beauty is not a weight. Beauty is not a color. Beauty is a superpower that we are all born with but we are not all aware of. Those who are fortunate enough to tap into their beauty, can attest to the giddy feeling of catching a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and it causing your heart to smile. 

So the next time someone "compliments" you with a qualifier. Be sure to correct them and let it be known that you are pretty--period!

 

Let your inner fashion diva shine!

Hello Gorgeous,


It's been awhile since we've talked and I can't begin to tell you how excited I am!!! Natasha and I are bringing Because I'm Gorgeous back, BIGGER and  BETTER than ever! But we'll tell you more about what we've been up to April 15th!!! So, look forward to the "Grand Reveal" of our new blog.

So, on this beautiful Monday I want to talk about letting your inner "Fashion Diva Shine"!

Have you ever found your entire closet on the floor and strung across your bed? All because you were looking for that perfect outfit! Looking for something new! But what if ...that something that  you were really looking for wasn't found in the closet but rather on the inside. Your ensemble is merely a reflection of innerself...in my humble opinion.

 

Last week I stumbled across this little wonder, Miss Mayhem and she is a diva in every sense of the word. This little girl finds a trend and recreates these couture pieces out of what's in reach: magazine pages, construction, tape , colored pencils etc. So, it was only logical that I  dedicated this Monday post to this little lady, that let's her little light shine!!!

 

 

 

My Caption: Yasss Honey!!!

 



 (Picture from fashionbymayhem.com)

 

Do you feel it? Are you Inspired? Do you see the fashion sunshine peaking through?

 

Not yet, then let me give you these quick little tips that will have you shining so bright you'll need shades ; )

 





 

 

First........

 

You have to BELIEVE there is a light in you that is burning soOo bright, it needs to be released in some form of expression and why not fashion! What is this light you ask? It's SELF LOVE! It starts and end here!

 

Second.........

 

Find what FIT and FLATTERS!!! When you shop make sure you know what fits* your body. The key to that is trying different styles, patterns and designers. Let me say that being 6ft tall has come with its challenges, such as, finding appropriate lengths. I encourage you to befriend a seamstress. It's worth the invest and its not expensive for basic alterations.

 

 

Third................

 

COMPLEMENT yourself FIRST! Don't wait for others to affirm what you should already know and feel about you. Look in that mirror and say: " I look Good" , "Don't hurt'em gurl", "_______insert your name____, you look beautiful!"   Be kind to yourself ; )

 

I'm against :Verbal-Self Abuse!!!

 

Fourth...................

 

Smile! Yep, it's just that simple! Well, put some lip gloss, tinted moisturizer and a little mascara too!