Plus Size Denim, Addition Elle and #jeansdujour!

Hey Everyone!
So I was recently contacted by Addition Elle to see if I'd like to work with them on a project. It's called #jeansdujour and it's all about denim. You all know how much I love jeans, so of course I said yes! Denim is such an important wardrobe staple, it can be dressed up or down, and there are so many different colours and styles. Addition Elle will be launching some amazing designer denim collections in the Fall, so you'll be able to get designer brands of denim, like Pashu by Parasuco, Second Denim Yoga Jeans, Levi's, Love & Legend, Buffalo David Bitton, Foxy Jeans, Apple Bottoms, Angels Denim, Silver, DKNY Jeans, Suko Jeans, and Makers of True Originals, in their stores and online. This is a very exciting development, and I hope you'll follow along for my coverage of the launch and the different brands over the next few months. I can't wait to try out all these jeans!

For my first #jeansdujour post, I thought I would give you guys a little walk down memory lane, and show you how jeans came into popularity and how they have become an important part of North American and global pop culture. I'll give you a brief look at denim in fashion history so you can see the different eras and styles, and where we've come from. It's always fun to incorporate a little nostalgia into your looks as well, so I hope this post will give you some fashion inspiration!

In the 1930s, Western films were popularized and this facilitated the emergence of denim into mainstream fashion and pop culture. The cowboy figure was a symbol of North American culture, one which people began drawing all kinds of inspiration from, a phenomenon which continues to today.

In the 40s, not much denim was made as a result of the war, but some American soldiers would wear denim while they were off duty, which led to the internation popularization of jeans.

In the 1950s, the American rebel figure emerged. James Dean appeared in a pair of Lee jeans in the 1955 movie Rebel Without a Cause and fashion has never been the same. This was the beginning of the widespread popularization of denim. Here's the iconic picture that started it all:

In the 1960s, more women began to wear jeans and trousers, the bohemian/hippie style was born in the latter half of the decade, as well as the mod fashion we know and love which developed during the first half of the 60s.

The first half of the 60s...

The second half of the 60s...

In the 1970s a new cut of jean became popular - the bellbottom.

In the 1980s, there was a  designer denim boom, with brands like Calvin Klein and Guess? launching multi-million dollar ad campaigns with supermodels like Claudia Schiffer. The rises tended to be high, and the washes light to medium. Designers started branching out and using denim fabric to make jackets, shirts, skirts, and dresses. Denim became a very important part of North American culture.

In the 1990s the grunge style became popular, and teenagers everywhere started cutting up their jeans for a more raggedy look. Plaid was everywhere.

This style was reflected in the extremely popular TV show Beverley Hills 90210, which aired from 1990 to 2000. This show served as fashion inspiration for many teens in its time.

After 2000, really "anything goes" (embellishments, whiskering, a variety of washes, rises, styles, etc.) and designers feel free to work with denim in a variety of different ways. Everyone from pop stars to royalty feel comfortable wearing jeans in the public eye, and they become a "casual friday" staple in offices all over North America. Celebrities begin their own denim lines (Nelly with Apple Bottoms, Victoria Beckham, and P. Diddy with Sean John, amongst others).

Denim has come a long way over the past 80 years, and we continally revisit some of the awesome styles. There are so many different and beautiful ways to wear denim, and I hope we continue to find new and unique ways to design and wear denim!

Make sure you check out Addition Elle for the most up to date plus size denim fashion. Their new designer collections and in-house brands are really amazing! Also check out my Pinterest board for denim styling inspiration!

Check out my Pinterest board here

BIG Deal Toronto!!!

Hey Guys!

I'm still totally reeling from planning BIG Deal Toronto! I know I haven't been writing very many posts lately, but I was so busy with figuring out all the details for the event. Now that it's done, I have a lot of blog writing to catch up on!

The event went really well (if I do say so myself!) and I have SO many people to thank for it. I am still so amazed by how many amazing and beautiful women came out. If you couldn't make it this time, I'm sure I'll be planning another awesome event soon. ;-)

Some lovely shoppers

Our fantastic raffle table, designed by Gillian MacDonald, full of amazing prizes from very generous sponsors!

Our grand prize, from Addition Elle, a $250 gift card, won by Stephanie Agosta! Congrats Stephanie!

Palm Beach Jewellery Prizes, won by Veronica Hurtado, Catherine Ward, and Tiina Veer!

A prize pack from Blo, won by Jennifer French! Congrats!

Yoga/Zumba Zone Plus Eight Week Sessions won by Heather Sanderson and Stephanie Agosta (lucky girl!) and five individual passes won by Sam Mooney, "smellycat," Alison Little, Marney, and Heather Sanderson

Vegan Handbag from Urban Expressions won by Aeryn Lynne 

Statement Jewellery from Lavishy won by Shari Misner

Gift Card to Fashion to Figure won by Shari Misner

Crocs won by Veronica Hurtado

Crema Gift Card won by Sam Mooney

Lane Bryant Genius Fit Jeans won by Alison Little

Yoga for Round Bodies Series won by Alison Little, single class passes won by Karen Burns, Shari Misner, Heather Sanderson, and "gakubi"

$50 Gift Card to Gussied Up Plus won by Aeryn Lynne

eShakti Gift Card won by Gillian MacDonald

Penningtons Gift Cards won by Catherine Ward, Monique Siqouin, "gakubi", Karen Burns, and Nora Langan. Congrats Ladies!!!

Check out the racks of beautiful clothes the bloggers brought in!

Brownies, purses, and friends - what more could a girl ask for?

Sarah from Queen Sized Flava (all the way from Montreal!) eyeing the accessory table

Happy shopper =D

Our Boudoir Inspired Change Screen

Bags!

Wrap Station

Lovely Bloggers Courtney from The Glitter Thread and Karyn from Killer Kurves

Sarah from Queen Sized Flava

Peter and his little sis Sharon hard at work at the cash and wrap station =D

My Mammy buying up everyone's beautiful stuff. She found some great pieces!

Our first winner of the day, Veronica Hurtado, picking up her PalmBeach Jewellery bracelet and earrings

Sarah drawing our next winner...

And there she is! She won a beautiful vegan handbag from Urban Expressions

Alison from Round Raglan Road - she was a big winner and took home a yoga package from Yoga for Round Bodies, a single class from Yoga Zone Plus and a pair of Genius Fit Jeans from Lane Bryant!

Aeryn from Geek With Style won the $50 gift card from Gussied Up Plus. Congrats!

My sister Gill keeping track of who won what... thanks Gill!

Reagan from Sodapop Sweetheart drawing for our final prize of the day, for the grand prize of a $250 gift card from Addition Elle... Congrats to our winner, Stephanie Agosta!

All in all, it was an absolutely fantastic day that I won't soon forget! I have so many people to thank, including all the bloggers who participated, especially the fantastic Dayna Barron, who created the amazing graphic designs for our event! The designs were so perfect for the feel of the event, and made it look so polished and professional. Thank you so much!!! I also have to thank my sister Gill for all the beautiful decor, including the stunning raffle table, and for driving me all around the city to pick things up in the days leading up to the event. Everything looked so pretty! I want to thank my sister-in-law Sharon for all her help. So many thanks to my partner (in crime and love, hehehe) Peter. You are always there for me in every way imaginable. I don't know where I'd be without you. :')

Our amazing prize table would not have been possible without the generous sponsorship of a number of brands. Many thanks to Addition Elle, Penningtons, eShakti, Gussied Up Plus, Blo Blow Dry Bar, Lavishy Jewelry, Crocs, Fashion to Figure, Yoga for Round Bodies, Lane Bryant, Crema Coffee, Urban Expressions, YogaZonePlus, ZumbaZonePlus, and PalmBeach Jewelry.

I hope you can all make it out to my next event! This one was so much fun, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Many congrats to all those of you who won prizes! I will be emailing you shortly to arrange getting them to you.