Just Fab: Countess Handbag Review

Countess from Just Fab 

Around November of last year I heard about Just Fab. I know most of you already know about it but if you don't it is a monthly subscription service and stylist create a boutique for you and you can shop what is in your boutique or anything on the site. If you decide to skip that month you aren't charged but if you don't skip and don't pick anything out you will be charged on your credit card but you will have a credit on your account so be forewarned that you will have to keep an eye on your account etc.

Anyways I found a cute bag back in November from Just Fab called the Countess

Adorable bow!

It is a satchel bag with a removable shoulder strap, it has two small bows on the front along with some contrast piping. I couldn't resist the bag. Seeing as I bought the beige color I decided to hold off using the bag until the spring time. Well it is spring now, and I wanted to mention the bag because it is terribly cute and I think a pretty good deal. The bag is made from PU and I can already tell the problem with the bag is going to be the black piping on the edges of the material. That type of piping tends to peel off. That being said the bag is so unique to what I could find out in my local stores and if you are like me and you have a lot of handbags having a few that aren't made the best should be just fine.

You can see where some of the pipping is coming off (this is the backside of the bag)

If you want a bag from Just Fab to be your everyday bag in my opinion the Countess won't hold up, I can't speak to the rest of the collection but I imagine that all of the bags are about the same quality. If you are like me and own ALOT of bags and rotating them often you shouldn't get too much wear from using a short period of time. I think the styles offered at Just Fab are worth the price. I have skipped every month since my first one, the next time I want a unique bag I will check out Just Fab before I hit my local mall though. 

Have you bought a bag from Just Fab? How was the quality?

Here is a link to Just Fab.com if you want some more information 

XOXO,

Katie 

*Merchandise was bought with my own money and all of these opinions are my own. 

Best of Spring Lipsticks!

As I am sure you are all aware bright lips are the biggest trend right now for spring. Over the past six or so months I have gotten really into lipsticks so I thought I would share my favorite bright/spring time ones.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain, from Top to Bottom is Rimmel London Moisture Renew, Maybelline Vivids, Maybelline Color Whisper, Revlon Lip Butter and Revlon Lip Butter

Firstly I love the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Cherish 015. I had been using Honey and wasn't all that impressed with it, it isn't quite the right tone for me, the other day I took Cherish out of my collection and opened it for the first time. It is the perfect color for spring I think.

Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lipstick in Coral Shimmer 120.This one isn't that bright but it can be built up to a brighter color. I really like the lipsticks I have tried from Rimmel and they are so inexpensive which is a bonus. 

L-R Rimmel London Moisture Renew Coral Shimmer, Maybelline Vivids Pink Pop, Maybelline Color Whisper Oh La Lilac,  Revlon Lip Butter Sweet Tart,Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stain Charish

Revlon Lip Butter in Sweet Tart 090. This is another one that you can build up to be really bright or more subtle if you choose.

Maybelline Color Whisper in Oh La Lilac 90. This is the only color I have in the lilac family and I love it. This color isn't the brightest (it isn't neon) but the tone of the lipstick is bright and can be built up for a bolder pay off.

Last is my favorite and the brightest of the bunch. Maybelline Vivids in Pink Pop 860. This is a great color if you like the Barbie pink tones. Best of all if you want something that only takes one swipe to get the color you want this does it. I have worn this as a bold statement and I have worn it really sheered out. Since I am still experimenting with bold lips I prefer to wear this lipstick sheer and with gloss on top.

L-R Revlon Lip Butter Sweet Tart, Maybelline Color Whispher Oh La Lilac, Maybelline Vivids Pink Pop, Rimmel London Moisture Renew Coral Shimmer, on the bottom is Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stain Charish

Oh La Lilac and Pink Pop are my two favorites right now!

What are your favorite lipsticks for spring? 

XOXO

Katie

*Everything mentioned above was bought by me and these are all my own opinions. 

March Ipsy Review

So this is my 5^th Ipsy Bag and the nautical theme bag is by far the cutest one I have received. Seriously I LOVE it. The contents are a mixed result for me though.

LA Fresh Towelettes- I was very excited to receive this because I just ran out of my current makeup remover towels and I have yet to find my go to brand. Unfortunately this brand isn't it for me either. The wipes work fine but the sheets are a little thin so they were starting to break apart before I was done using them. They also stung my eyes a little.

Juice Beauty Hydrating Mist- I have never used a mist like this before so I was interested in trying it. The size of the bottle is what has me the most excited, the spray itself is alright. I feel like the way it sprays out isn't quite right so I tend to blend out the product on my face. This would be nice if you find yourself with a very dry face since it is quick to use.

Yaby Eye shadows  These are my least favorite thing from the bag. I got seashell which is a cream color with shimmer and azalea petal which looks like a nice brownish-purple in the pan but no color shows up on my skin.

Glam RX magnetic palette- I was the most excited to receive this since I have been wanting a Z-palette but they are so much money to invest and I wasn't sure how it would work out. This is a great chance to try the concept and buy a larger palette if I like the whole de-potting my eye shadows  The size of the palette is a bit small but great if you have mini eye shadows like Yaby or last month’s Coast Scents. I am looking forward to trying to de-pot some of my single eye shadows and put them in my Glam RX.

Overall I liked the bag. Not quite as exciting as other months but the cute nautical themed bag and the Glam RX magnetic palette made up for that! 

For more info about Ipsy go here! http://www.ipsy.com/

Are you part of a monthly subscription service? 

XOXO Katie 

*I pay for the monthly subscription myself, this is my honest opinion of the bag. 

Jasmine Eyeshadow Palette's

I LOVE Disney, I always have and I always will. I dropped the ball with the Cinderella collection and was only able to get the Midnight Hour Eyeshadow Palette from Sephora. For the Jasmine collection I jumped at the chance to buy the two eyeshadow palette's.

This is the outside cardboard packaging for both palette's

I bought the Magic Carpet Ride Eyeshadow Palette ($30 from Sephora) and the Storylook Palette Vol. 2 ($55 from Sephora).

Storylook Palette Vol. 2

Magic Carpet Ride Eyeshadow Palette

I think the interior packaging for both of these sets are so cute, I will have these out on display. 

Here is a look at the colors inside the Storylook palette

                                      

                                                    Here is a look at the colors in the Magic Carpet Ride Palette 

                                                     

Both palettes have lots of shimmer. I haven't had a chance to play too much with these. I decided to swatch the Magic Carpet Ride Eyeshadow Palette to see what the color pay off is like. I was surprised how the colors look, this will be great for the spring! 

I am hoping to get a lot of use from these eyeshadows but lets be honest I bought these for the novelty not the actual wear of the shadows. If the eyeshadows look great then that is a bonus in my opinion. 

For the complete collection go to Sephora's site or to your local Sephora. 

What do you think of the Disney collections from Sephora?

XOXO Katie 

*I bought these products with my own money and all of the opinions are my own! 

Fresh Brewed Beauty by Laura Geller

As many of you probably know Ulta is doing their 21 days of beauty. I love a good deal and they have a lot of other items at good prices as well that aren’t part of their daily specials. I couldn't resist Laura Geller’s Fresh Brewed Beauty set for $39. It comes with Balance-n-Brighten in the shade medium, Baked Impressions Blush in Mauve Mocha Latte, Baked Highlighter in French Vanilla with a two sided sponge brush, Baked Impressions Eye Palette in Espresso Yourself and Color Drench Lip Gloss in Café au Lait. Plus the packaging looks just like a bag of coffee beans which is so stinking cute. 

Looks just like a bag of coffee beans!! So cute. 

I have a few of LG’s products and I have always been impressed and I knew that $39 for this kit was an amazing deal plus I LOVE coffee so how could this kit be wrong. Let me tell you I did my whole face in this set the next day after I got it and was so impressed with the look, it is such a natural look which is something I never thought I would like. Usually when people create natural or no makeup type looks I am not that interested. This is a gorgeous look that really works for my coloring. 

The Blush and Eye shadow have coffee bean impressions on them. So cute. 

I already own Balance-n-Brighten in Medium which is a shade too dark so I have to use this powder foundation lightly.

Mauve Mocha latte- wears on the skin like a soft mauve. 

The Baked Impression Blush in Mauve Mocha Latte is gorgeous, this shade for me is the perfect blushing shade that looks really natural and can be built up. I sometimes like a bolder blush look it makes  me look more awake. This is a matte blush shade which I don’t have many of so this is a great one for any collection. 

The shades read like a soft cream, medium brown and a soft dark espresso brown

The Baked Impressions Eye Palette in Espresso Yourself is three neutral brown and cream shades. The three shades are matte and make a great everyday look or would be great to pair with shimmer colors as well to make a more dynamic eye color. I see this palette being great for travel because it will help create any look you may need.

The Baked Highlighter in French Vanilla with the brush was the big reason why I wanted this set. I had heard about her highlighters before as a great multi-tasker. I am so glad to have gotten it in the set because it is exactly what I wanted. It gives a very subtle highlight. I have a few highlighters and they are all very shimmery which is great but not for everyday. The sponge applicator is something I have never seen before and I think what makes this highlighter system very unique. Since this powder is baked it looks creamy on the face which I think is flattering

The color here looks much pinker then it does in person.

The Color Drench Lip Gloss in Café au Lait is a deeper nude lip shade which like the rest of the kit is great for work and everyday wear. The color also lasted pretty well on my lips, it leaves marks on cups but it almost seemed to stain my lips so even after drinking some coffee I had the gloss color left on my lips. Which was a pleasant surprise and I will likely wear this on its own or layered with other glosses for varied looks.

L-R highlighter, blush, the three eye shadow shades and the lip gloss is beneath the powder swatches

Overall this kit creates a beautiful everyday or work day look. I would encourage anyone to give this one a closer look because the deal is amazing and the products create such a beautiful look that is one that I haven’t seen before. If you haven’t tried Laura Geller cosmetics I think this would be a great way to see the range of her products and how they work. If you are like me and don’t have a lot of matte shades in your collection this will be a nice way to add them in.

This kit is also on LG’s site for $60 but you can choose your foundation shade so that is also a place to consider buying this if you don’t think the medium shade is right for you. I decided just to buy if from Ulta since I know that the medium shade is use-able for me and if I get color over the summer it should be a better match for me. I also will use the darker veins in the foundation as a contour.

Ulta.com is out of this collection but I bought this kit on Tuesday and my store had 10+ sets left. I would suggest calling your local Ulta to see if they still have it. 

Please let me know if you have this kit or what you think about it! 

XOXO Katie 

*This kit was bought with my own money and this is my honest opinion of the kit. 

January Ipsy Review

This month’s theme is “A True Star Will Always Shine” the super star items are a Soho makeup brush which I got the concealer brush, Josie Maran Argan Oil, Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter, Big Sexy Hair hair spray, and Nailtini Nail Lacquer in Bloody Mary.

Soho Makeup Brush, I was hoping to get the crease brush so I was a little disappointed to get the concealer one instead. However I have been on the hunt for a concealer brush that will work under my eyes. So far this one is doing the trick. The packaging claims that the handle is ergonomic and this feature really makes a difference in how comfortable it is to hold. Soho brushes can be bought at Walgreens.

Josie Maran Argan Oil (.17oz) I love this stuff so I was excited to see it would be included in this month’s bag. I was beginning to get low on my current bottle which happens to be the same size. I use a small dot to mix in my eye cream, and if I want to boost up my body lotion. You can put this on your face as a moisturizer which I have done a few times but not on a regular basis. Adding a few drops to a bath or foot bath really makes a difference too.

Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter (2.5 oz) smells amazing. I have a huge influx of lotion right now and to me this smells more summer like so I am going to save this until the warmer months come. The formula is really nice and you don’t need a lot to feel moisturized.

Big Sexy Hair, hair spray (1.5 0z) is a great size for me since I never use hair spray. It is something good to have on hand in case I experiment with an up do or curl my hair.  I am familiar with the brand and I am happy that it is a nicer brand of hair spray then I would have ever bought myself.

Nailtini Nail Laquer in Bloody Mary (.5 oz) is a orange red which isn’t my favorite tone but I do love having more red nail options. I tend to like the more berry toned reds so for me this may be for my toe nails or once it is the summer. I love Nailtini and I am glad to see more of it in another box (previously received a glitter top coat in November’s bag).

I am very pleased with the bag this month, they are essentials that most people will need I am most excited about the argan oil and the Pacifica lotion. I am already looking forward to next month’s bag!

If you want more information about Ipsy please visit there site here.  

*This bag was purchased by me and all of my opinions are my own. 

Getting Physical

It’s a new year and at this point some of your resolutions may have already been forgotten. So hopefully what I have to say will help invigorate your own goals. For me I want to get more fit. I know what you are thinking “Oh great another person wanting to lose weight” for me it is not about weight but how I feel. When I was working on my bachelor’s degree I worked out at least an hour every day. Since graduating life has gotten in the way and all of the weight I previously lost has come back and then some. At my lowest weight I was still very curvy and wearing a size 18, now I am a size 24. I just don’t feel comfortable in my own body. I have decided to stop letting my life go by and start working out again. So right before the holidays I went shopping for some new active wear. The best way to feel motivated about something that will be hard is to get new clothes (at least that is how I feel). All I had before were comfy yoga pants that I wear around the house so true workout pants were needed. Somehow JCPenny entered my mind so I went to their site JCP.com and OMG I am so glad I did.

I did some research on where to buy some workout clothes but the things I liked were out of my price range or in my price range but nothing I really wanted. When I check out JCP’s site I was so impressed. Usually plus size workout wear isn’t plentiful in stores or super ugly. So I was thrilled with all of the options I found on the site but what was even better I went to my local store and found almost as many options. Even the pieces I loved online were in the store. The pieces are very cute and it seems like half of the collection is on sale. Seriously I hadn’t been to JCP in years and now I am a little obsessed! It is taking all of my restraint not to buy the whole line.

I can’t wait to explore the rest of their clothing.

What are your opinions on JCP?

Do you have any suggestions of where to get great active wear? 

What I am wearing: 

Photo 1: ruched shirt, deep violet find it here

             double band pants, charcoal find it here

Photo 2: striped mesh sweatshirt, mint find it here

               loose fitting pants, black find it here
Photo 3: Dr.Scholls walking shoes find it here

All of the items mentioned above were purchased by me. 

Surprising Finds...Year End Review

               This year has been a great year for finding new clothing stores. I was in a rut for a few years with only picking up clothing from a few different stores. This year through reading other blogs I found some great finds at surprising stores.

Sears

                I read about their UK Style by French Connection line last fall and thought I would check it out and I was quite impressed with what I found. I ended up buying a few pieces from their other lines though. If you haven’t considered Sears for clothing before it might be worth a try. The Kardashian Kurves line is out now with a few cute pieces, hopefully they will be offering more clothing though.

JCPenny

                I just went to JCP a few weeks ago because I was looking at their website and I found a great selection for workout wear. Many of the pieces could be worn as casual clothing around town. The selection is very impressive and the price points are even better. Something I hate is when there is a great selection online but nothing in store. My one visit to a local store brought amazing results. The pieces I loved online were available in store. I love to try clothing on before buying it, now that I know how the workout clothing fits I will feel confident to buy the collection online. I didn’t look too much at the other clothing in the plus size department since I was just looking for active wear at the time. What I saw in passing was pretty cute though.

             Both of these stores have done a great job redefining their clothing departments especially their plus size lines. I love finding new stores that are easily available because it can be harder to find good plus size clothing in stores. I am looking forward to shopping both of these stores next year!

If any of you have a store that I should check out let me know! What are your thoughts on Sears and JCPenny? 

November Ipsy Review

               So I don’t know about you but I am new to the concept of the monthly subscription boxes. I don’t know how I missed such a huge trend in beauty! I looked at a few different programs and I decided after watching some You Tube videos to choose Ipsy (previously MyGlam). It is $10 a month and they send you a makeup bag and 5 products to try.

                I just received my first bag (the November collection). After watching so many videos on previous bags I wasn’t sure how I would feel about what I would receive. I have to say I am really happy with this bag. The cosmetic bag is a chocolate brown satin bag with a gold zipper. The size of the bag is perfect for inside a purse or to use as an impromptu clutch.

             Inside was an eye liner from Starlet Cosmetics in Chocolate. Right off the bat I don’t think I will like it. It is a pencil you have to sharpen. I usually find them not soft enough. My initial reaction is that it isn't as bad as I first thought; I probably wouldn't buy it though.

            The next item is Bare Minerals Moxie lip gloss in Dare Devil which is a deep berry. The gloss goes on very sheer but you can build to a darker color if you want. For me one swipe is a great wash of color. This was my first time using the Moxie gloss I have used Buxom in the past and have loved it. Another win for BE

             Next is my favorite product from the bag. Nailtini Nail lacquer in Millionaire. Which is rose gold small sparkle with gold long sparkles and teal long sparkles mixed together. You mostly see the gold. I have never heard of the brand but I love the concept and it is full size and is worth $13. Just this product makes the Ipsy bag so worth it.

            Meet Matt(e) eyeshadow by The Balm. It is a cute one color sample in Matt Batali. It is a deep brown that will be great in the out corner. I have never used any makeup from The Balm so I am excited to try the shadow. The color can be found in a collection called Meet Matt(e) which looks really good especially if you need to add more matte colors to your collection.

             The last item is an eyebrow gel by Chella. With the bag you could have gotten the eyebrow gel or mascara from Benefit (which I wish I would have gotten). My eyebrows are blond and fairly sparce. So I don’t have a great need for a gel. I am curious about this line they have a system to help grown your eye brows called Brow Full- Fillment Eyebrow Treatment for $90. So if any of you have tried this or have any other great eyebrow things let me know

            I was a little unsure about how I would like the products sent to me but overall I am super pleased with everything! I am looking forward to next month!

What do you guys think of monthly beauty subscriptions? Any advice for my blonde eyebrows? I have tried some pencils but I don’t the color looks natural with my red hair. 

Please visit Ipsy for more information about how they work and about the products I mentioned above. 

Where to Find Fashion Inspiration

 As a teen I felt alone in finding clothing to fit my body but now with so many amazing blogs, stores, and magazines for plus size women there is inspiration everywhere.

I love to search blogs and online stores for ideas of what is really popular right now. Sometimes seeing an interesting outfit or an aspiration look gets me excited and looking in my closet for a way to recreate the looks, or just out of a rut of wearing the same thing everyday. 

My go to inspiration is also makeup and jewelry. Looking at your own collection or seeing what someone else has worn can begin to shape a whole new look for yourself. I have recently rediscovered my love for my makeup. I found a great blog Beauty Broadcast and You Tube channel by Emily, she has gotten back into drugstore makeup and has good advice about which brand and products are good. As a college student I have a very limited budget so I have been able to buy a few more things then I probably would have at a place like Sephora. Going on sites like Bauble Bar are fun to see trends in jewelry (plus they have great prices).

I also have found Pinterest a great source of inspiration not just for clothing, trends and styling things but also for decorating, recipes, and the holidays. Pinterest is so much fun. Now instead of having to save pages or make lists in word it can all go on different boards on Pinterest. I think it is so much fun to see what friends have pinned but also look things up by category. LOVE it , what did we do before Pinterest?

Looking through magazines is still one of my favorite things to do. All types of magazines give me inspiration, beauty and fashion are my favorites though. Home magazines are my next favorite, Country Living makes me so happy.

So where do you find your fashion inspiration? I would love to hear where you always check. 

Jewelry Storage and Display DIY

So I had this really old cork board that I used as a jewelry holder for a few months but as you can see I didn’t even peel off all the old stickers (probably 10 years old). This  was just a quick fix for all of my long necklaces and a way to keep my stuff from getting tangeled.

Then I went on Pinterest (what did we ever do before it), and I  found this idea from Two Twenty One to take fabric and use brass pins to cover any pin board. SO love this idea. After searching other ideas I figured that this was the best idea and most likely to work out for me. So I went to my local dollar store to get the brass pins which this project took most of the container (I believe it was a 200 count container). I bought a fabric that I liked this one is sky blue with white daisies on it. I ironed the fabric and cut it to size leaving about a 2 inch boarder then I took the pins all the way around (it hurt my fingers after a while). I then took regular push pins and organized them in a way that made sense for my jewelry. I think this is a good craft idea for non crafters (like me) this project maybe took me a few hours and would be a nice project to do while watching TV or getting a friend to come over and help you out. Then you could also have fun trying on the jewelry and coming up with different combinations.

I think the final product is great and I am not horrified to have to look at it and keeping my bracelets and necklaces out like this makes it easy to find and keeps me out of “jewelry ruts”. I would love to hear your jewelry storage/display ideas or what your results are if you tried this. 

Since first taking these pics I have added more jewelry and you can see there is still plenty of room to add more. 

e.l.f. Eye Palette Review

I have recently discovered e.l.f. (eyes lips face) cosmetics. I bought the Little Black Beauty Book Python Edition in warm from Target for $6.00 (according to Targets website you can still pick out the palette in store but not online) this palette is not available on eyeslipsface.com but they do have other sets that seem very similar.

I wasn't sure what to expect since I had never purchased anything from this line but I was drawn to the colors since they are mostly neutrals with a few pops of color. I couldn't bring myself to spend around $50 for other neutral eye pallets on the market so this e.l.f. $6 price tag is perfect. If you already have a lot of makeup you don’t need to feel guilty adding more to your collection, if you are just starting out with makeup the colors are a great base collection and will provide a lot of opportunity to play.

While some of the colors aren't the most pigmented and there is a little fallout when applying I am really impressed with this pallet and e.l.f. There is a great amount of dark colors for the outer V of the eye and the crease. The bright colors such as coral, peach, and turquoise show up really well and are so fun to play with. If you are like me I don’t want a large pot of eye color because I like to play so much so the small size of the eye shadows are really great also you don’t need to feel bad if you don’t like the color or it is not that pigmented. There are also a lot of similar colors which I don't mind since they do show up different enough and can add more depth to an eye look. 

A few tips to make this pallet really work for you: use an eye shadow primer first, tap excess product off of your brush before applying it, and gently tap the shadow especially really dark colors.

Since getting this pallet I have been trying to find out what else is good by this brand. If you have any suggestions of other great e.l.f. items I should try please let me know. 

Picture courtesy of Target.com, This is the Little Black Beauty Book Python Edition: Warm $6

Plus Size Styling

      Sorry for not updating in forever. I had a big move in the end of May and summer classes that have just ended. I hate it when blogs aren't updated on a regular basis, so I am going to try and keep this thing going. Classes just ended I have about 3 weeks off until fall semester starts. One of my class projects really has me feeling inspired now.

      Our final project was to style our own photo shoot. Previously I took a class where I worked as a team to style 2 different shoots, but all on my own was a new experience. I found a great location in my hometown, I cute little garden that's inside a park. When I was a kid and they first started the garden it was really small, now it has developed into this gorgeous garden with lots of cute benches, trees, and flowers. Anyways so once I found my location I decided my theme for my photo shoot would be what I imagine wearing to a proper garden party. Think skirts, dresses and lots of floral prints.
      I begged my sister to be my model (not really she said yes right away), dug through my closet and all my jewelry and I came up with what I think are some great looks. The original concept for this project was to take vintage and modern and mix them together. That is why skirts and dresses came to my mind because I feel like we dress so casually now. So on a sunny Sunday morning my sister and I rose early to head to the garden before the park got really busy. We had to traipse back and forth to my car and restroom a lot for my sister to change.
      I think the project turned out well. and I am now excited to keep pursuing styling. I am hoping once a month to create a styling photo shoot.

Tanesha Featured in June's Glamour

Tanesha in her coral blazer! 

http://girlwithcurves.tumblr.com/post/22584173851/glamour-feature-june-2012-issue

Glamour asked Tanesha what her favorite blazer was, she told them it is a pastel coral. Everyone needs a blazer, but black can be boring. You really don’t want to be boring in the spring and summer. Choosing a colored blazer doesn’t have to be just for the spring and summer so it doesn’t have to be too trendy.

If the idea of wearing head to toe color is too much for you, just add a pop of color. An unexpected way to do this would be with a blazer. Wearing neutrals is how most people dress and the way to get the most out of your wardrobe. Having a few pieces that are fun colors such as a blazer or a t-shirt is how to stay fresh and stay on trend without leaving your comfort zone. If you buy one piece that is in the seasons hottest color which right now it is in the coral/tangerine family. Might as well buy a piece that can be worn many different ways such as a blazer. Which can be worn to work, casually on the weekend and dressed up for date night. 

I love the idea of a coral blazer, thanks for the inspiration Tanesha. 

Congrats to Tanesha for being featured in Glamour Magazine. Love it!! See more about Tanesha in Glamour here. 

How To Find The Perfect Special Occasion Dress

Tanesha Awasthi in a midi dress 

http://girlwithcurves.tumblr.com/post/22379363459/pretty-midi

Dressing for a special occasion can be very intimidating especially if you are not comfortable with your size to begin with. 

Take some advice from Tanesha and find something that fits you well. The navy midi length dress she is wearing is flattering for many reasons. The silhouette is perfect for any curvy girl, fitting the most closely at the smallest part of the body which is typically under the bust. Having a belt or other detailing at the smallest point will bring attention there instead of other areas that you may want to camouflage.  Finding a dress with interest by the face is a great way to bring attention up. Choosing a darker color can help you feel confident, but you don’t always need to choose black. Navy is a nice alternative to black also choosing a print is great. 

The length is nice to because ending the dress around the knee area is faltering and most likely comfortable to wear. Most importantly find a dress that makes you feel good and confident. On you special day you don’t want to be fidgeting with what you are wearing or unsure. Find the right dress for you and own it! Finding this dress may take time but finding inspiration online before you head out the stores may help. 

Take a look at Tanesha's blog for ideas on dresses you may like, she has a lot of good ones that you may like as well. 

Dressing For The Ever Changing Springtime Weather

More about this spring time look from Tanesha Awasthi 

I know I have the summer on my mind but it is still spring time where I live. Half way through the day the temperature changes by about ten degrees. This time of year dressing for any weather is necessary. Light layers are the way to go. Take a basic top (that would be look fine on its own) on top of that pair a light weight cardigan. To add more excitement to the look add a printed scarf.

If you run out for lunch during your break you can peel off your cardigan and the scarf if need be. In the morning when it’s cold having the scarf tied around my neck would be great but by the end of the day having it tied might not be necessary or if the weather really turned warm tying it to your bag might even be a better option. A cardigan that zips or buttons is wonderful option because if the wind picks up or the air conditioning is blasting you can cover up more or vice versa. 

Tanesha has taken a cute top and put a light weight cardigan and topped the layering off with a brightly printed scarf. When layering and working with prints it is always best to keep the bottoms simple. Tanesha is wearing a basic pair of jeans and sandals. I think if you take this inspiration you can easily turn this look into your own and make it appropriate for the different occasions you may need to layer in. 

Visit Tanesha's blog at http://girlwithcurves.tumblr.com/

Hot Trend: The Maxi Dress

Image care of Tenesa Awasthi from 

http://girlwithcurves.tumblr.com/post/22252427360/curvy-girl-maxi-dress-guide

The maxi dress is still a hot trend, so for this season Tanesha found maxi dresses for any occasion you might have coming up. What makes the maxi dress such a popular selection to other dresses is the ease they project. There is also something a little glamourous about a maxi dress even it is just simple solid colored cotton.

The selections that Tanesha found are a maxi for a wedding. This selection is a gorgeous turquoise with a high-low hemline.  This choice would be perfect for a beach wedding or any other casual wedding for the summer.

The date night maxi dress is a one shoulder with an elastic band around the waist. The dress also has a very cute print. This maxi dress is just the right amount of sexy for a date night but still easy to not seem fussy or high maintenance.

Wearing a maxi to the office can be a very hard thing to find. Finding a maxi dress that has a three-quarter length sleeve makes this trend work appropriate. Adding a colored blazer or sweater would make the look more professional and help cope with the air-conditioned offices.

The casual maxi dress would probably be the easiest to find. Select a maxi dress that is flattering an in a fun color. I love that this dress found by Tanesha has a little bit of a cap sleeve making less poolside and more out to lunch or to a movie.

The last event that a maxi dress would work is for the prom. This dress features a high-low hemline and an embellished waistband. If you are going to where killer shoes why not let people see them?

The weather is getting warmer and slipping into an easy dress like the maxi sounds like the best outfit. 

See Tanesha's blog here. 

Weekend Basic Is Anything But Boring

See more about Tanesha at  http://girlwithcurves.tumblr.com/post/22119216612/weekend-basics   

 Weekend casual dressing is one of my favorite looks to create. Especially jeggings and leggings they are so comfy but still look fashionable (as long as worn the right way). What makes the outfit that Tanesha created for a casual weekend look is all in the accessories.

  The basic part of the outfit is a sleeveless top and jeggings. Adding a printed long scarf creates a much stronger impact then a necklace ever could. A bold bangle will be a great way to add jewelry to your look and also to add coverage to the arm. Bold rings are another way to add something unexpected to a basic outfit. Bold rings just don’t need to be saved for the evening anymore.

  The big question is what kind of shoe? A flat sandal and a simple bag finish up the look. Creating a basic look can sometimes look sloppy or too simple. By taking this as a starting point I think many great looks could be made. If you feel like any outfit looks to boring always adding bold accessories is the way to pop any outfit.  

Visit Tanesha's blog for more inspiration http://girlwithcurves.tumblr.com/

Interview Time

I had a chance to ask Tanesha from Girl With Curves to ask her a few questions about fashion, her personal style, curvy fashion, and her influences. I love knowing more about other people who love fashion and how they create their own looks. If you want to look at her blog I highly recommend it. I love Tanesha's style and  I think you will too!! 

What made you want to start your blog?

I needed a creative outlet outside my full-time job in the Tech field.

What is your favorite piece in your closet right now?

A coral-tone blazer.

What is your favorite trend for right now?

Bold color.

What is the best tip you can give someone who is curvy and wants update their wardrobe?

Start building your wardrobe with versatile pieces like great jeans, a peep toe pump, flats and a blazer.  From there, add in your own style accessories.

What is your favorite type of clothing to shop for?

Blazers.

What is your favorite accessory?

Rings.

How do you come up with the looks from your blog?

I wear what I like :)

What is the most commonly used clothing item/accessory in your blog?

Blazers!

Do you focus your look around one item or the whole when you create an outfit?

I often start with the shoes and work my way up.

Which designer would you choose to make your dream outfit? Why?

Michael Kors- he knows how to make sexy clothing, without being overt and tacky.  He keeps it classy.

What is your favorite store to shop at? 

Forever 21, hands-down.

Have you ever gotten caught up in a sale and bought something you regretted or a trend that you

followed and didn’t work?

Yes!  I bought an LV bag from a consignment shop ended-up never wearing it, so I sold it on eBay!

How would you define your style?

Classic with a twist.

What is your favorite fashion decade? 

The 50's and 60's

Who are your style icons? 

Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, Olivia Palermo

What movie has your favorite fashion?

Definitely Breakfast at Tiffany's!

Do you think living in the bay area it is harder for curvier women then other parts of the country? 

I think women in the UK have the best selection of Plus Size clothing, compared to women in the US.

What is your favorite season style wise? 

Spring!

Who is your favorite designer or your favorite brand? 

I love Michael Kors and Max Azria

Thank You so much Tanesha for answering my questions, please check out her blog at girlwithcurves.tumblr.com

Curvy Girls Swim Suit Guide

http://girlwithcurves.tumblr.com/post/21321115299/curvy-girl-swimsuit-guide

Summer is approaching and many of you might have already gone on a trip for the spring and noticed your swimsuit from last year (or much older then that) not longer looks great. Playing up trends with your swimsuit is a great way to enjoy wearing the suit and give you confidence poolside. My favorite trends can be found at http://girlwithcurves.tumblr.com/post/21321115299/curvy-girl-swimsuit-guide

Tanesha found some flattering swimsuits for curvy girls. Wearing a swimsuit that fits well and flatters your shape is the best way to feel confident in your swimsuit. Patterns are a big trend in swimsuits but you don't have to just wear a dated floral now animal prints are found in swimsuits. If you love to rock animal prints in your regular clothes why not add it to your swimsuit. I am so loving the idea of leopard print at the beach.

Another amazing look that will fatter everyone is detailing in your swimsuit, like ruching and ruffles. Ruching is an amazing way to disguise a less then muscular midsection and such a great way to add interest to your swimsuit. With ruffles they will bring attention upwards around your neckline detracting from other areas of the body you may not want people focusing on.

Whatever swimsuit you choose know you look great and enjoy the nice weather!
To find out more about the swimsuits pictured above go to:
http://girlwithcurves.tumblr.com/post/21321115299/curvy-girl-swimsuit-guide