A Trip to Whole Foods

Hey Everyone!

A Whole Foods just opened up near where I live and I thought I would go and check it out and this is what I wore there. What a beautiful store! I'd love to do all of my groceries there, but man, is it pricey! It has a really nice shopping environment and a great selection of stuff. I bought a bar of rose scented bulk soap and the cashier was so nice! She was a curvier girl too, and she complimented me on my dress! I gave her my card, so if you're reading, comment and say hello! Your compliment made my day! I don't really have much else to add. Make sure you guys buy your tickets for the Big Beautiful Wellness Anniversary Party so you can see me walk on the runway on Saturday! 

Dress, Earrings, and Shoes - Thrifted/Belt - Forever 21+/Necklace - ASOS/Purse - Costa Blanca Accessories

SexyPlus Clothing and Big Beautiful Wellness' Annual Party

Hey Everyone,

Stefanie, the owner of the store SexyPlus Clothing in Toronto, invited me to model on the runway in Big Beautiful Wellness' Annual Party, which they sponsor. I am very excited about this opportunity, but I am also SO totally nervous to be walking in a fashion show... Everyone will be looking at me... Agh! I think it will be fun, just as long as I don't die from stage fright!

So I was invited down to SexyPlus Clothing to the model fitting so that they could see me in a bunch of different outfits and pick which ones I will walk in.

This is my own outfit that I wore to the fitting. Outside of SexyPlus Clothing. Top, Bracelets, Earrings, and Jeans - Forever 21+/Shoes - Target/Purse - Costa Blanca Accessories/Necklace - Penningtons

Some artwork and pictures behind the cash desk

Me at the front of the store

Browsing!

These are a few of the outfits that didn't get picked. You'll just have to come to the fashion show to see what did make the cut!!!

It was a very unusual experience to let someone else style me. It was hard to give over that much control! But I think they did a great job and I am very pleased with what they ended up picking out for me to wear. It seems like a really great store with very comfortable fitting rooms, excellent customer service, and a pretty wide selection of stuff to meet a variety of different customers' needs. They also have quite a nice selection of lingerie. 

I will be wearing four different outfits in the show, and all of them are fabulous. If you are located within striking distance of Toronto, you should definitely come and check out the show and the party. I would love to see you all there and have you cheer me on! I'll need it! SO nervous. 

This year's event will take place at the Holiday Inn Yorkdale, and you can access the Facebook event page here. Big Beautiful Wellness is a wonderful organization that promotes body positivity and spiritual, psychological, and physical health, and all members of the Toronto plus size community should try to make it out to support them. I hope I see a lot of you there! You can check out SexyPlus Clothing's website here, and their Facebook page here.

And here is a poster with more information about the event!

Outfit of the Day - For a Day (of browsing) at the Mall

Hey Everyone,

Have you entered to win the Torrid wellies yet? They're a size 10, and they're beautiful! Sorry if they not your size... I'm sure I'll have another giveaway shortly that won't exclude you non-10s!

The other day I had nothing (that I wanted) to do and so I decided to head down to the mall to do some browsing. Sometimes being a PhD student can be frustrating because you feel like you've been in school forever (because you have) and you have to live like a student for far longer than it is appropriate (or even comfortable) to do so. When I see my friends from high school, undergrad, and even my masters program getting married, starting families, buying cars or houses, and living lifestyles that looks so comfortable, I am reminded of what a sacrifice it actually is to do a PhD. It sort of feels like everything is on hold until I graduate. I've got (probably at most) 2 years left until I finish, and I guess that's not so long. But it's like the modern day equivalent of living like a hermit or ascetic.I absolutely love what I'm studying, and I know it will be worth it in the end.

Fashion blogging definitely isn't easing my materialistic desires either. I constantly see other bloggers buying things that I'd been drooling over for ages and I turn green with envy! I simply can't afford to constantly buy my favourite pieces from each of the plus size lines. Do I lust after Christian Louboutin heels and Miu Miu bags? Of course. Sadly, I'm just not in a position right now where I can rush to my nearest Holt Renfrew (Saks for you US folks, and Harrods for those from the UK) and rescue them from their shelf so they can claim their rightful space in my closet.

That's why you see a lot of my thrifting finds on here. I comb through racks and racks of rather dreadful stuff in hopes of uncovering a hidden gem. Most times, I find a couple of really beautiful pieces, but there are also many times where I'll walk out empty handed. I recognize that sometimes it's annoying to see a piece on here that's not available to you guys since I thrifted it, but I hope you'll bear with me! I am thinking of sharing my wishlist with you guys once a month. It will be a compilation of items that I would buy, given the chance, so you can see all my favourite new items in plus fashion. What do you think?

Anyway, sorry for that long spiel. So I kind of got tired of the thrift store and wanted to spend a day at the mall, even if I was only going in to browse. Peter took these pictures of me while we were at Square One in Mississauga. They're opening an Express and an ENORMOUS Zara soon. Seriously. It's the biggest retail space in a shopping mall I think I've ever seen (except department stores, obviously). And you know what else I just found out? Zara offers select items in up to an XXL. This makes me very happy, but also very sad because I'm not likely to be able to buy anything just yet... So bitter-sweet... Anyway, their grand opening is tomorrow, and I think I might just have to head back to the mall so I can check it out.

Dress and Earrings - Thrifted (big surprise, eh?)/Shoes - Target/Purse - Costa Blanca Accessories (aka CBX)/Necklace - Laura

Lane Bryant's New T3 Technology Denim

Hey Guys,

Lane Bryant recently rolled out a new denim collection called T3 (the 3 Ts stand for Tighter Tummy Technology) and they kindly sent me a pair to review! I was super psyched to receive them, since Lane Bryant announced their release at their blogger conference during Full Figured Fashion Week, (which I wrote posts about here, here, here, and here).

I was amazed to find out that the waistband was elastic. You would never be able to tell just from looking at them! On the inside in the front, there is a stretchy black fabric to tame your wobbly bits (should you wish them to appear tamed). A lot of thought and effort has gone into the design of the jeans (trust me, I met the designer and he explained everything), and if you're like me and you have trouble with gaping at the back of the waist, you won't have that in these.

They are a lovely, dark wash, denim, and they are very comfortable. I am about 5'4", and the length of the jeans would be perfect for heels, but I would need to hem them if I wanted to wear flats. They have a nice stretch to them and they keep their shape really well in between washes. The rise of the jean is very high. I guess this helps keep the waist from gaping and with tummy-taming, and rise is totally an issue of preference. I kind of like the high rise because I don't already have a pair of high rise jeans, and it's kind of a fun style to wear with a tucked in blouse and a big belt.

Overall, I think the jeans are great, and they have quickly become a wardrobe staple. I would love to have pairs in different washes (or even black) and also in a lower-cut waist. I hope Lane Bryant continues working on stuff like this. T3 is fantastic. I think Lane Bryant will be sending me a couple of items from their new Cacique Body line (lotions, fragrances, etc) in the next month or so, so keep checking back for a review of that! Also - great news - Lane Bryant will begin shipping internationally in September, so you can get a pair of T3 even if you're not based out of the US!

Here are a couple of pictures of me wearing my Lane Bryant T3 jeans over the past couple of weeks. What do you think?

Jeans - Courtesy of Lane Bryant/Shoes - American Eagle from Payless/Purse - Costa Blanca/Camisole - Forever 21+/Crochet Vest - Dots/Necklace - Dollarama

Jeans - Courtesy of Lane Bryant/Top - Old Navy/Shoes - Target/Earrings and Purse - Thrifted

OOTDs: Showing a Friend Around Town

Everyone,

My friend Jen came over from Ireland (a couple of weeks ago, now, actually), and I'm finally getting around to posting the pictures of what I wore while I was showing her around town. On day one of her trip, we went to the Toronto Islands and visited Kensington Market and Chinatown. On day two, we took a bus tour of Toronto and went to Casa Loma, and on day three we headed down to Niagara Falls. I hope she had fun! I know I had fun showing her all of the sights!

I got this shot of the Toronto skyline as we made our way back into town on the ferry from the Toronto Islands. It was such a perfect day to go to the islands. The dreamiest sort of weather - warm, but with a lovely cool breeze coming in from the lake.

The next day, we went to Casa Loma, a castle located in Toronto that was built at the turn of the century by Sir Henry Pellatt, a very wealthy Torontonian with a monopoly on electricity. The provincial government decided that it was not fair to let one man have this sort of a monopoly, so they fixed that and started offering Hydro power to Toronto. This development, as well as a number of other poor investments on Pellatt's part, lead to his rapid financial demise, and he had to sell everything he owned for a fraction of its worth in order to avoid bankruptcy so that he could keep his royal title (I'm not sure if the British monarchy will still strip you of your title if you file for Chapter 11, but it's definitely interesting). He ended up living in a small apartment above the garage in his former chauffeur's home. 

It's just as beautiful inside, with stunning furnishings and an amazing ballroom and library. The opulence is astounding, especially considering Pellatt's modest accommodations after his financial ruination. Jen wore this dress that I'd been eyeing for awhile on Dorothy Perkins' website and I recognized it right away. I think I have an internet window shopping addiction problem! Still absolutely love the dress. It has a lovely bow in the back as well.

I also really liked what my sister Gill (right) had on, and it was sort of weird that we ended up in the same colours! So I decided to force her to allow me to put her picture up here too ;D She told me where she got the dress, but I can't, for the life of me, remember... Was it H&M? If you're reading Gill, can you comment with where you got it from? 

Top - ASOS Curve/Shorts - Dots/Bracelets - Forever 21/Belt - Thrifted/Purse - Costa Blanca/Necklace - Charming Charlie/Shoes - Target/Sunglasses - Gifted from Kmart

Casa Loma is a really beautiful sight, and the picture doesn't even do it justice. If you're ever in Toronto, make sure to check it out. My eldest sister got married there. So beautiful. 

The next day, we went to Niagara Falls. We did a walk along the falls, got some Linner (that's a combination of lunch and dinner) and decided to get on the Maid of the Mist. Hilarious! We all got absolutely soaked, so it was a good thing that we brought sturdier ponchos than the ones we were given by the Maid of the Mist people. My mascara was running like nobody's business. It was amazing how close to the falls you get though. Pretty incredible. We also got on the Niagara Skywheel, which is like a very high tech ferris wheel. You get your own completely enclosed pod, sort of like the London Eye, but with much smaller pods. The view is awesome. This is the (comfy) outfit I wore for our day (including a lot of walking) at Niagara Falls:

Sorry for all the nublies in this shot. I have to go over this top with my nubly shaver!

That's the Falls in the background. Top and Necklace- Forever 21/Tights - Torrid/Shoes - Target via Redress NYC/Belt - Redress NYC/Purse - Thrifted/Sunglasses - Courtesy of Kmart

And just to show you guys how seriously I take myself, and also that I can rock anything, even a translucent blue poncho layered on top of a bright yellow rubber poncho while soaking wet, I've decided to share this picture that my sister took just after I got off the Maid of the Mist. Enjoy! Rockin' a poncho.

Six Take: A Tale of Six Cities (Toronto)

Hey everyone!

Sorry it's been so long since my last post! I've been working on this epic six-take featuring city-inspired style. Since I am from Toronto, and it's such a diverse city (both in population and in terms of its architecture and things to do, I couldn't just take pictures of one place and outfit, so I took inspiration from a number of different locations across Toronto. I've been putting together the outfits and shooting them for over a week! I hope you like it!

Toronto is situated on Lake Ontario, one of the 5 great lakes. The lake is a big part of Toronto culture and recreation, with residents and visitors flocking towards it on hot days. There are loads of beautiful yachts docked along the shore, as boating is a favourite pass-time of Torontonians. I interpreted Toronto's love of the lake with this nautical look.

Hat, Purse, Earrings, Necklace, and some of the Bracelets - Thrifted/Shoes - Penneys (Ireland)/Skirt and Camisole- Ricki's/Tunic - Forever 21+

Another really amazing part of the city is Kensington Market. It's crazy colourful community with lots to see and do. Since it is a market community, there are loads of vendors selling everything from fresh fruit to linens, meat and fish, chocolate, baked goods, and clothing. It is a very socially conscious neighbourhood, so you find a lot of vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian, organic, and fair trade options there. There is a street in the community that consists mostly of eco-friendly fashions (more organic and fair trade, and of course, vintage), and I absolutely love getting lost in it on a Sunday afternoon. I interpreted this neighbourhood in my outfit as sort of nouveau-hippie/bohemian chic. 

This car is a project called the "Community Car Reclamation Project." It's an old car that has been totally gutted and has been reclaimed as a street garden. It's permanently "parked" in a municipal parking spot, but the city would never dare to try to remove it because of its significance to the community (not to mention the logistical difficulties of such an undertaking).

Earrings, Purse, and Skirt - Thrifted/Necklace - Dollarama/Top - Dots/Scarf - Costa Blanca/Shoes - Target/Sunglasses - gifted from Kmart/Hat - Domino Dollhouse

Another important part of Toronto that I wanted to highlight (probably because I am there so much) is the University of Toronto. It's my Alma Mater, so I couldn't resist! Many of the buildings on campus have been around since the 1800s, and it's one of the best preserved parts of early Toronto as there were a couple of massive fires around the turn of the century here. It's a beautiful place for a walk, especially on a hot day, since there are loads of shady trees to sit under. These pictures were taken in front of Hart House, which functions sort of like a student centre for U of T students. I interpreted U of T style as sort of preppy - the summer scholar...

Jacket - Thrifted/Shoes - Dorothy Perkins/Purse - a gift from my Dad (tag says Esprit)/Shorts - Dots/Camisole - Forever 21+/Bracelet - Dollarama/Necklace - Gifted from Charming Charlie

St. Lawrence Market is another really fun part of Toronto. The building that houses the market used to be Toronto's city hall (way back when Toronto was still called York). It also functioned as a jail for much of the late 1800s. Today, it is where Torontonians go to get their produce at the Saturday farmer's market and all of their spices, seasonings, meat and fish during the week. On Sundays, it even hosts antique vendors. I interpreted this Toronto site by wearing a fruit themed outfit. I kind of feel like I'm channelling Carmen Miranda a bit here!

Scarf and Clutch - Thrifted/Shorts - Dots/Top - Forever 21/Shoes - Target/Sunglasses - ASOS/Earrings - Etsy store called Bonjour Button

And the last area of Toronto of which I did a style interpretation is the Distillery District. The buildings in this district are some of the best-preserved examples of Victorian-era industrial architecture in the world, and as a result, have been the backdrop for quite a few films set in this era, including Cinderella Man and Chicago. The plant in this area was owned by William Gooderham and James Worts and produced rye-whiskey. In the 1920s, after the decline of the (short lived here in Canada) prohibition, the company was purchased by Harry C. Hatch and was renamed Hiram Walker (who still make Canadian Club). The rye-whiskey was produced at this site until 1990, after which it was converted into "the distillery district" which is now home to loads of trendy restaurants and boutiques, a excellent theatre, and functions as the backdrop to many important art exhibits (including Nuit Blanche). I interpreted this area of Toronto into my style by trying to emulate the style of the roaring twenties, just after the distillery was purchased by Harry Hatch and prohibition had ended.

Dress - Penningtons - Shoes - Redress NYC via Target/Purse - Gifted from Jessica at Chic in Every City (she's awesome) by Simply Be/Hat - Thrifted/Necklace - Garage Sale

So, lovelies, what do you think of my city and my style?

Make sure to visit all the other wonderful bloggers participating in this take of six cities!

Jessica - Too Many Sequins - Australia

Sarah - Queen Sized Flava - Montreal, Canada

Rikke - Sticky Sweet Danish - Copenhagen, Denmark

Yoli - Diva in Deep Thought - Baltimore, USA

Jessica - Chic in Every City - Philadelphia, USA