"The Bigger Picture" - Plus Size Fashion in Toronto with The Grid TO

Hey Guys!

So The Grid TO (a city-wide free weekly news mag - just in case you're not from here...) has been working on a story about plus size fashion in Toronto for the past couple of months, and they got in touch with me to see if I could share some thoughts and loan some pieces from my store, Your Big Sister's Closet. Of course I agreed! They also invited me to participate in a fashion photo shoot featuring some of the city's most stylish plus size women. And of course I agreed to that too! You can check out the article here, and see some of the candids I took behind the scenes below. It was a lot of fun and I got to meet so many beautiful, amazing women. Thanks everyone! If you happen to get a paper copy - you'll see we're actually the cover story! I was so shocked to see my own face staring back up at me when I went to go grab it!

My best blogger buddy Alison from Round Raglan Road

Dress available at Your Big Sister's Closet

Both these dresses available at Your Big Sister's Closet

Here is my own picture that was on the cover of this week's The Grid TO! So exciting!!! I am dressed in Your Big Sister's Closet from head to toe (big surprise!) ;)

Review: Beautiful Gown from IGIGI by Yuliya Raquel‏

A while back, I got sent this beautiful gown from IGIGI by Yuliya Raquel‏. I've been so busy these past few months that I didn't get a chance to review it right away, but I thought I would share it with you all now!

The fabric of this dress is SO luxurious! The lace is a lovely, heavy-weight stretchy fabric, and the velvet feels amazing. I absolutely adore this burgundy colour (which I think works especially well on fair-skinned brunettes - hey, that's me!). I felt like old-hollywood all night long wearing this totally glamourous dress! I often chose IGIGI for formal events that I'm attending because I feel that the style and quality are exceptional and the dresses are cut with plus size women in mind (but avoid the usual dowdiness of plus size formal wear). You should definitely check them out if you have a formal event coming up!

Dress - c/o IGIGI by Yuliya Raquel/Coat - ATTITUDE Jay Manuel via Sears Canada/Earrings - Can't Remember!

Addition Elle Flagship Grand Opening

Hey All!

So on Wednesday, I got to attend the grand opening of Addition Elle's new flagship store at Queen and Yonge. It was really great to catch up with a lot of friends I haven't seen in a while! I've been so busy lately and it was great to finally have a chance to just relax and mingle a bit. We were invited to have a look around to see the changes Addition Elle has made, both in terms of their fashion and their in-store experience. I have to say that I'm very impressed. This seems like a completely different Addition Elle than the one I remember from a couple of years ago when I first started blogging. They have some great stylish pieces this season, and from what I've been hearing from the brand's execs, Fall '13 is going to be even more impressive. They were serving hors d'oeuvres and champagne, and Ashley Graham was there to chat with customers. Here are a few shots I took at the event =D

I picked up the sheer lattice-shoulder top, but in black instead of mint :D

Flaws of Couture bloggers Sasha and Garcia with Addition Elle's social media maven Jennifer Patterson

The always-lovely Sarah St. Fleur of Queen Sized Flava

I love what I wore! Dress and Jewellery - Addition Elle/Shoes - Enzo Angiolini

GabiFresh and I

Lots of lovely blogging ladies (L to R - Me, Fat in the City, GabiFresh, Rawrmanifesto, Franceta Johnson, Big Hips Red Lips, Killer Kurves, and Friends in My Closet... Missing from the yearbook photo [aka behind the cameras] Round Raglan Road and Geek with Style)

Blogger Dinner Party with Addition Elle in Toronto

Hey Guys!

So this past Tuesday, I was invited to celebrate with Addition Elle at a blogger dinner party commemorating the grand opening of their new flagship store at Queen and Yonge in Toronto. I wanted to wear an outfit from Addition Elle to the dinner, and I picked out this gorgeous coral lace bodycon dress and some great accessories. I also picked out my very first pair of designer shoes! I tried a bunch of different shoes that I really liked from Vince Camuto, Sam Edelman, and David Dixon, but I ended up falling hard for this pair by Ivanka Trump that came home with me :D

Dress, Jewellery, and Belt - Addition Elle/Shoes - Ivanka Trump from Town Shoes

I got a chance to meet/reconnect with some of my favourite blogger idols - L to R, Nadia Aboulhosn, Gabi Gregg from GabiFresh, and Marie Denee from The Curvy Fashionista

The stunning supermodel and star of many of Addition Elle's ad campaigns Ashley Graham, left, and fellow Canadian blogger in from Montreal, Sarah St. Fleur from Queen Sized Flava. Ashley announced that she is coming out with her very own lingerie line to be sold in Addition Elle this coming November. Very exciting!

All of the lovely bloggers and ladies of Addition Elle...

Sasha from Flaws of Couture and Ashley Graham

Check out all the fab outfits! Definitely some very fashionable ladies...

Many thanks for Addition Elle for the lovely dinner with some of my favourite fellow bloggers!