Holiday Wishlist

Hey Everyone!

Did you tell Santa what you want yet? No? Friendly hints given by leaving a few choice items up on your computer screen always help him figure it out! I had one friend who would cut out pictures of engagement rings from magazines and leave them on her boyfriend's pillow. My method is a little more subtle, I think...

Here are some things I would love for Santa to bring for me!!!

"Samantha Sequin Party Dress" by Monif C. 

Hips and Curves Red Lace Chemise (lovely for the holidays)

Eshakti Ruffled Cotton Poplin Dress

Queen Grace Collection - Victoria Dress

Eliza Parker Nantucket Dress in Navy

Ashley Stewart Short Sleeve Ribbed Sweater Dress (HOT)

Ashley Stewart Ruffle Sleeve Blouse - Also in Purple and Black

Ashley Stewart Wide Width Brown and Orange Ballet Flats

Dorothy Perkins Tall Stone Taped Dolly Coat

Dorothy Perkins Camel Belted Ponte Dress (If Santa doesn't bring this one, I'm just going to have to pick it up for myself! Comes in purple too!)

Dorothy Perkins Black/Cream Gold Button Dress

Dorothy Perkins Black/White Oversized Dalmation Clutch (I've been wanting an oversized envelope clutch FOREVER)

Dorothy Perkins Taupe Bird Print Jersey Shirt

Dorothy Perkins - Black Dandelion Print Tunic

Dorothy Perkins Champagne Sequin Skirt (Perfect for NYE!!!)

Marks and Spencer's Slash Neck Animal Print Panelled Jersey Dress

Alloy's Aria Crochet Dress in Black (also available in Ivory)

Alloy's Cut Out Tunic in Navy (also available in gray)

City Chic's Vinyl Spliced Jacket (on sale for $30 today only - as day one of their 12 days of Christmas sale, all jackets are $30 today... most are down from around $100-110)

So many updates, so little time! 4 Outfits of the Days...!

Hey everyone,

You know how time can just get away from you sometimes? Well that's totally what's going on with me at the moment! I have several outfit posts in the works, along with coverage of some amazing events (I attended a meet and greet at Addition Elle Square One, met and chatted with Jay Manuel, met Karyn Johnson, amazing Canadian plus size model and winner of the wellies giveaway, visited Gussied Up and met with its owner Victoria, went to The Clothing Show in Toronto, and received several new items that I am really excited to tell you about... So much to tell you, where to begin?!

I think this post is just going to focus on some outfits I've worn to teach class in. I can't take pictures outside anymore because it's still dark outside in the morning when I am leaving to go in. :( That's one way you can tell that Winter is rapidly descending upon us.

The first outfit I think I actually wore out for dinner with my in-laws last weekend. It's pretty simple, but I like the small details. I got the print top from a thrift store, and it's a size small. It just goes to show that you needn't always look at the size on the tag to see if something fits. When I'm thrifting, I typically just pull stuff of the rack that stands out to me, and then I eyeball it to see if I think it will fit my body. A size small is different in the 80s and early 90s (when really oversized tops were totally cool) than a size small now. Just use your judgment. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable!

Top - Thrifted/Cami - Forever 21+/Jeans - Swapped at Big, Fat Toronto/Shoes - Dorothy Perkins/Hair Bow - Ardene/Necklace - Was attached to a top I got at Forever 21/Earrings - A gift from my sister/Purse - CBX

This next outfit is one I actually did wear to teach in. It's nothing special, really, but I definitely think career wear is important. And it's not totally boring... The hat adds a bit of uniqueness.

Cardigan and Necklace - Courtesy of Penningtons/ Top - Ricki's/Skirt - Giant Tiger/Purse - CBX/Hat - Thrifted

I also wore this one to teach in, but it was a Friday, so that explains the jeans. I wanted to do something a little different with my hair so I did a big bun right at the front of my head. What do you guys think?

Top and Bracelet- Forever 21+/Jeans - Swapped at Big Fat Toronto/Shoes - Dorothy Perkins/Necklace - Courtesy of Penningtons/Purse - CBX

This is yet another teaching outfit. I was talking about feminism, and since a large part of our current understanding about feminism comes from French cultural theorist, I thought I would pay homage to them by wearing something a bit inspired by French style.

Jacket and Skirt - Thrifted/Tights - Legs Beautiful/Shoes - Redress NYC (originally from Target)/Purse - CBX/Necklace - Courtesy of Penningtons/Earrings - Courtesy of Pixics/Hat - Le Beau Chapeau

Make sure you keep checking this page for coverage of all of the events I've gone to and the products I've worked with. There is a giveaway coming up very soon! So which outfit was your favourite?

Another day at the mall... Browsing again!

Hey Everyone!

So I checked out the Zara in Square One that I was telling you about in the last post. Unfortunately, it was a disappointing experience. Since it was their opening weekend, the store was very busy, and it was virtually impossible to find someone to help me find stuff. Once I did, they weren't very helpful. I explained that I was a blogger interested in trying to find some of the items that they stock that go up to XXL. The employees were not able to identify these garments, and said that if I had the item number, they could look it up in the computer to see if they stock it. It would be great if they could just have a little section of the items that offer extended sizes so that it would be easier for the plus size customer to shop. The shop attendants didn't seem very interested in serving me, although I suppose, in their defence, since it was the opening weekend, it was rather busy. I realized that if I was going to find some or even just one of these elusive garments I was going to have to hunt it down myself. I broke out my handy iPhone and went on Zara's website and filtered down to XXL in the shop by size section. My search for dresses returned four results. Out of the four dresses I looked for, I found only one of the styles (shocking for such a large store), and their largest size was a large. Urgh! It was a frustrating experience to say the least, and if Zara doesn't want my business (or yours), then that's fine. I won't be back unless they make some significant changes. Zara has recently begun offering online shopping for US customers (hopefully they'll extend this courtesy to Canada soon), and perhaps the online shopping experience will be better. I'd love to hear from any of you who have purchased something from them online. I'm not sure I feel comfortable shopping with a retailer who only offers their plus sizes online, though. What, am I not good enough to shop in your store? Can't have the fatties ruining your image, right? What if a skinny shopper sees them?! The horror! If a store is able to produce these garments in these sizes, then they should also extend the same privileges to those who would buy them that they offer to their straight size customers - to actually see, touch, and try on their potential purchases. Sorry if this is rant-y. I was just really excited by the idea that a retailer was actually going to include us for once. Nope... Oh well... Here's the outfit I wore to the mall...

Necklace and Cardigan - Courtesy of Penningtons (I love the elbow patches on it!)/Top - New Look/Jeans - Forever 21+/Shoes - Dorothy Perkins/Bag and Scarf - Thrifted/Earrings - Hand-me-downs from my mom

   

Six Take: Film and Television - Mad Men!

Hey Guys,

It's time for my September six-take post! This month, my fellow bloggers and I decided to interpret the style from each of our favourite fashionable films and television shows. Come on, you knew I was going to pick Mad Men. I absolutely adore the style from Mad Men. The women are so beautiful, and each has their own unique and individual style. While January Jones' character Betty Draper is my favourite, donning indulgent, beautifully full dresses with fitted bodices atop amazingly pouffy petticoats, Christina Hendricks' character Joan Holloway also has amazing style and such voluptuous curves! Her fitted dresses and combination of pencil skirts and colourful blouses give her an enviable style - no wonder she ended up working at Hermes after leaving Stirling Cooper! Elizabeth Moss' character Peggy Olson also has a few outfits that are nice (but, unfortunately, just as many that are awful - I don't think the writers meant for her to be especially fashionable). Even many of the secondary characters, such as Pete's wife Trudy, are the epitome of late 50s and early 60s style, looking absolutely stunning and historically accurate to boot. Janie Bryant, the show's costume designer, is doing a remarkable job ensuring that the women look wonderful and that their style is representative of the era.

Elizabeth Moss as Peggy Olson

Hat and Purse - Thrifted/Dress - Courtesy of Penningtons/Shoes - Penney's (Ireland)/Necklace - Laura/Bangles - Forever 21

 

 

 

 

January Jones as Betty Draper

Dress - Thrifted (I also lopped off the sleeves and added the white trim - it made a world of difference!)/Earrings and Necklace - Thrifted/Shoes - Payless/Bangles - Forever 21/Belt - Taken off a top I got from Dots

Christina Hendricks as Joan Holloway

You guys might remember this picture from awhile back, but I felt like it was very Joan Holloway-esque, and thus, re-post worthy. Top - Thrifted/Skirt and Necklace - Forever 21+/Tights - Hue brand from The Bay/Shoes - Dorothy Perkins/Ring - given to my by my mom

Same with this one... It was taken at Lola and Gigi when I visited and showcased their store. This dress is an Anna Scholz

I absolutely adore 1950s and 1960s fashion! So what do you guys think? Do you watch the show? Did I capture Mad Men's style?

Make sure you visit the other lovely six take bloggers to see interpretations of their favourite television series and films!

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