Casual Friday/Easy DIY

TGIF everyone!

I absolutely love this maxi dress as a skirt.   Since I first wore  this dress as a skirt a year ago (here)  it has become one of my favorite Summer pieces. I will probably never wear the dress because the top doesn’t  cover the girls  but that’s okay because I’m definitely getting my moneys worth!    I’ve rescued a  few of my ill-fitting  dresses from the donate pile  and made them into skirts ( here and here).  All you have to do is fold the top part of your dress and tuck it into the bottom half  to create your skirt. Add a belt to secure your skirt so it wont slide down and to cover where you tucked the top portion in.  This easy DIY is a  great way  to recycle old dresses and to get more wear out of your clothes!

Have a great weekend and HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

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Skirt: Avenue
Blazer: Ashley Stewart
Shirt: Ann Taylor Loft
Necklace: Forever 21
Bracelet: Lord & Taylor
Sandals: Steve Madden
Belt: Old Navy

Weekend Edition: One More Time

Happy Monday everybody!

Lately I’ve been feeling  that the blog was becoming one note with all of my work outfits  so I decided  include  more of my casual  outfits  because I do have a life outside of work (I swear I do! lol). On Saturday I had plans to run errands and go to a street festival. Instead of wearing  my usual t-shirt and jeans combo I paired my trusty Old Navy maxi skirt,  striped H&M top and denim jacket together.  I was going to wear red flats but chose my polka dot Keds because I knew they would be more kind to my flat feet (yup, I have flat feet).  I finished off my outfit with my new Coach crossbody for a pop of color.   I was very pleased with myself and  I  loved my outfit so much that I wore it again Sunday!  See I do recycle!

Have a wonderful day!

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My love for polka dots knows no bounds!

Jacket: Old Navy (got it for 20% off in store)

Skirt: Old Navy

Shirt: H&M

Sneakers: Keds

Purse: Coach

Its About You Too!

Happy Monday all!

I want to apologize for not having an outfit post today. After waking up to a  snow storm, taking my pics was the last thing I wanted to do.  My frustration  with the weather keeps a  semi-permanent scowl on my face. Basically I need Spring to start  NOW!

Last year I wrote a post called It’s About You   which discussed me wanting  my blog to be a platform for women of all ages and sizes to feel good about themselves.   Since then I’ve received many comments and emails saying just that.  I’m so honored that  through my journey (which continues) other women have started down the path to self acceptance.  While my purpose hasn’t changed  it is very  important for me to check in with you, my WONDERFUL readers to see what you would like featured.  I see my blog as a collaborative effort because without you  there would be no Grown and Curvy Woman!  Let me know in the comment section your suggestions and  I’ll do my best to make it happen! 

Have a wonderful day!

Spring Trends Part II: Florals

This week we are taking on the floral trend which  in my opinion will always be around.  I’m kind of a newbie when it comes to wearing florals because for so many years I hated it.  Growing up all saw offered to plus size  women were ugly, garish  floral print  clothes .  I was completely turned off by florals until I came upon this awesome  Simply Be maxi dress (worn as a skirt for my post today!) a year ago .  This dress has single-handedly changed my perception of floral print forever.  I learned that I could wear a beautiful vibrant print  without feeling  like a huge flower.    

Would you dare to wear florals? If so, how would you wear it?

Please check out these other fab bloggers and their take on florals!

Girls of Plenty

Real Girl Runway

Heart, Print and Style

CurvyCEO

Society of Curves

Have a wonderful weekend!

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Dress: Simply Be

Shirt: Old Navy

Belt: dont remember! tee hee

Necklace: Nordstrom Rack

Spring Transitions

Happy Hump Day all!

This time of year is always tricky for me with DST and the transition of Winter into Spring. Lemme tell ya, DST has been kicking my butt! The time change has thrown off my sleep schedule so much I’ve been dragging myself out the bed in the morning. Last night I was finally able to get a full night of sleep so I hope this is a sign my body has adjusted to the time change. We’ll see!

Now that Spring is a mere week away I so badly want to ditch my down coat and multiple layers but the lingering cold weather won’t allow it. So until the weather warms, my Winter clothes will be sticking around. My outfit today is a combination of both seasons . Representing Winter we have my opaque tights, suede flats and spotted long sleeve cardigan. In the Spring corner we have my yellow pencil skirt, floral necklace and pink belt. The outfit works because I get to feel “Springy” while keeping warm against the late Winter chill.

How do you adjust to Spring transitions?

Have a wonderful day!

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Skirt: Eloquii

Cardigan: Old Navy

Necklace: Forever 21

Belt: Target

Flats: Truth or Dare by Madonna (via Macys)

Spring Trends for Under $45: The Work Edition

Happy Monday everyone!

Since everyone liked my previous Spring Trends post I decided to do another one focusing on workwear. I realize when I do these posts I neglect to include shoes, so this time I added styles that are under $45. These pieces are interchangable with one another to get maximum usage out of the clothes. Also these pieces can easily be incorporated into your current Spring/Summer wardrobe.

What additions will you be making to your Spring/Summer wardrobe?

Have a wonderful day!

Untitled #38

Spring Trends Part I: Black & White

Happy Monday everyone!

Over the weekend I agreed to participate in Nel’s (Girls of Plenty) challenge for  plus size bloggers to interpret the Spring 2013 trends. Nel was inspired to start the challenge after reading an article from Bethany Rutter of  Arched Eyebrow (read the article here).  Each week during the month we will feature our take on various trends like florals, leather and emerald.   I’m  very excited to see how other plus size women will interpret the  trends.   The challenge is a great opportunity for us to showcase our individual style. The other bloggers participating in the challenge are Deb from Real Girl Runway, Vivi from Heart, Print and Style, the Curvy Ceo and Society of Curves.  Check them out during the challenge to see their weekly take on the Spring trends.

Today’s challenge wasnt  too hard because what woman doesn’t have black and white in her closet?!  I decided to mix black and white prints together for my take on the trend.  For some reason I really like the pairing of polka dots and stripes together.  This is as far as I’ll probably go with the mixing print trend.  I’m not very good at putting different prints together so I’ll just stick to what I know! :)

How would you interpret this trend?  If you’re game I would love for you to join me in this challenge!  If you would like to participate email your pics to girlsofplenty@gmail.com and you will be featured right along with us!

Have a great day!

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Jacket: Kohls

Skirt: Old Navy

Tank: Target

Flats: Truth or Dare by Madonna

Necklace: Lord and Taylor

Bracelet: Gap Outlet

Casual Friday/ Goodbye Eloquii & Wild Berry

TGIF everyone!

Yesterday I was saddened to find out that Eloquii (The Limited’s plus size brand) was phasing out at the end of the summer. When I first heard about The Limited’s venture into the plus size market a year ago I was very excited. Their clothes in my opinion were well made and fit into all aspects of my life, especially work. Plus size women have different styles and want variety in our clothing to fit our personal tastes. To assume all plus size women dress the same is absurd. Eloquii provided another option for quality and stylish plus size clothing. In the end, I really hope another company buys the brand and continues Eloquii. It would be a shame to lose another plus size retailer, further shrinking our already limited clothing options.

Here are some of my favorite Eloquii outfits:

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My outfit today is inspired by a comment made by Nicole from A Well Rounded Venture on Monday’s post. Her comment ” I keep hearing people say leopard is a neutral-it must be true!” got me thinking about other colors I could wear my blouse with. I usually wear leopard print with colors like brown, black or burgundy to be safe. I wanted to switch it up, so after rummaging through my closet I decided to wear it with my purple pencil skirt and magenta blazer. I was very happy with this departure from my typical leopard print outfit. I really liked the print with berry colors. Nicole’s comment helped me to break out of wearing only dark colors with leopard print and remix my wardrobe! Thanks Nicole!

Have a wonderful weekend!

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Skirt: Sejour (Nordstrom)

Blouse: Old Navy

Blazer: Kohls

Shoes: Truth or Dare by Madonna (via Macys)

Perfectly Pleated…Again

Happy Hump Day all!

What can I say, I absolutely love this skirt! Unfortunately I haven’t worn it in a while because of the brutal cold but today the weather was in the upper 50′s so I whipped it out! I paired it with my green peplum top, dark green faux leather jacket and leopard print kitten heels to keep in season.  Now that the weather is slowly improving, this skirt will get a lot of wear.

What clothes are you excited to wear once the weather gets warmer?

P.S. The bag was my other birthday gift to myself  ;)

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Jacket: Kohls

Shirt: ASOS Curve

Belt: ASOS Curve

Skirt: Eloquii

Shoes: Nine West

Necklace: Gap Outlet

Bag: Louis Vuitton

41 and Feeling Fine!

Happy Sunday all!

Today is my 41st birthday and I’m feeling fine! I’m extremely grateful to see another year of life.  This year I plan to visit Paris, continue a healthy lifestyle and apply for a doctorate in social work  (finally!).  So far my forties are becoming the best years of my adult life!

Here’s a pic of what I wore to dinner with my friend Andrea. It was a casual dinner but I didn’t feel like wearing jeans today so I opted for my black & white striped pencil skirt  and red peplum top.

Have a wonderful night!

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Skirt: Old Navy

Shirt: ASOS Curve

Bracelet: NY & Co