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Grown and Curvy Woman
Where Style Has No Age Or Size

Happy Birthday To Me!

Happy Monday all!

Today is my 42nd birthday and I’m happy that while it’s still very cold outside, the sun is shining bright on my special day.  To celebrate my 42nd year of life, I treated myself to something I’ve been wanting for years…A TRIP TO PARIS! I can’t tell you how excited I am about my upcoming trip! I think I’ll probably faint when I get to the top of the Eiffel Tower (from either excitement or from my fear of heights! LOL)! Trust me I will be taking a gazillion pictures and will post them when I get back.

Have a wonderful day!

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Coat: Talbots Woman (here)
Jeans: Lane Bryant (old)
Shirt: Old Navy (old)
Necklace Shoplately (here)
Shoes: Nine West (old)
Bag: Longchamp (gifted)

Stylish Layers

Happy Hump Day all!

As Old Man Winter continues his strangle hold on the majority of the US (we’re getting hit with our NINTH snowstorm tonight!), keeping warm is my top priority. While it’s important to me, I can’t abandon being stylish!  I think the key to staying warm but stylish is finding coordinating layers to wear.  Try wearing a  turtleneck under your favorite sleeveless or 3/4 length sleeve dress and top it off with a leather jacket.  Take a  full skirt and wear it over one of your dresses (I did that here) .  One of my favorite things to wear is a button up cardigan under a blazer with a statement necklace. Not only am I super warm (got tow layers on!), I’m still stylish!

To my East Coast people, stay warm and be careful out there!

Have a wonderful day!

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Coat: London Fog (via Macys last year)
Jacket: Old Navy
Turtleneck: Gap
Skirt: Simply Be (here)
Booties: Bandalino
Bag: Philip Lim for Target

Skirting the Issue

Happy Monday all!

Someone asked me recently if I ever wear pants. I replied “of course I do”. She responded “oh, because all I’ve seen you wear is skirts!”. Now I could look at that exchange in two ways: 1) she  REALLY must be paying attention to what I’m wearing or 2) I do wear skirts all the time. I have to admit, the latter is the truth.  Why? Wearing skirts allows me to get in touch with my long dormant girly side.  For the majority of my adult life, I didn’t care how I looked and being in direct care social work gave me the perfect excuse to justify my bland uniform (jeans or cords and a sweater). I would convince myself that it wasn’t practical to wear skirts especially if I had to chase or restrain a client.  I really believed  if I wore one I would be inviting unwanted attention and comments. So to avoid any possible negativity, I rarely wore a skirt. Back in those days, the only thing I wanted to do was hide and not be noticed.

When I finally decided to accept my body,  I went out and bought my first  pencil skirt. I was no longer going to be in “hiding” and vowed to wear skirts whenever I felt like it. I learned quickly that I preferred skirts over pants, something the old me would’ve run from.  Now don’t get me wrong,  pants have their place (you wont see me shoveling snow in a skirt!)  but skirts have my heart!

Have a wonderful day!

Casual Friday: Creating Options

TGIF all!

A few weeks a go, I was feeling really frustrated by the lack of stylish clothing for plus size women.  As an avid Pinterest follower, I’m constantly wishing the clothes I see on other women were available in my size.  Now don’t get me wrong, plus size fashion has improved dramatically BUT more change is needed.  I would love to see Tibi like full skirts and Peter Pilitto inspired printed dresses for us. Big girls like nice clothes too!

In the middle of my mini tantrum, I decided to take matters in my own hands and contact my blogger buddy Taja of Curvy Urbane (who is a seamstress) to make the clothes that I want.  Since I’m crushing on full skirts, I wanted her to make me a printed one. I met with Taja and we went over the contract and she told me how many yards of fabric I would need.  Armed with that info, I went to Mood Fabrics (yes I watch Project Runway!) with my nephew who helped me pick out this lovely cotton voile fabric.  Taja’s prices for labor are affordable and within reason (she charged me $25 for labor, which included taking my measurements, fittings, ironing and alterations).  Combined with the price of the fabric, the custom skirt cost less than most skirts I own.  I was so pleased with how it turned out, I dropped off new fabric today for another custom skirt! So if you’re in the Philadelphia area and are looking for a good seamstress, definitely give Taja a call.  I promise you wont be disappointed!

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I HATE SNOW!!! LOL

Shirt: Old Navy
Skirt: Custom by Curvy Urbane
Booties: Ivanka Trump
Necklace: Bauble Bar

V Day Look Book

Happy Saturday everyone!

I hope youre having a wonderful weekend so far! About a week ago, a reader requested I do a Valentine’s Day look book. Honestly a look book wasn’t on my radar but she inspired me to do one, so here it is!

V Day Dinner with the Girls:

Some of my best V Day memories are with my girls.  A girl’s night out celebrating calls for a sparkly skirt and colorful heels.  Your fab outfit will have heads turning all night long!

P.S. This is my V Day outfit!

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Sweater: Old Navy (old)
Skirt: Target (here)
Bracelet: Gap Outlet (old)
Shoes: Nine West (old)

V Day Dinner with your Sweetheart

If you and your sweetie are heading out for V Day, a curve loving dress is the way to go! Dress it up with a statement necklace and add a fun clutch to complete the look.  Trust me, your sweetie wont be able to take his/her eyes off you!

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Dress: c/o Simply Be (here)
Necklace: Shoplately (here)
Bracelet: Lord & Taylor (old)
Shoes: Ivanka Trump (here)
Clutch: Old Navy (old)

V Day Dinner at Home

Having V Day dinner  at home for many people is a better option than sitting in a crowded restaurant.  Being comfortable doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style! Try a trend (like mixing prints) to elevate your casual look. And remember…romance can happen anywhere!

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Pants: Lane Bryant (got them on clearance)
Sweater: Old Navy (old)
Shoes: Old Navy (got them on clearance)