Full Figured Fashion Week Day 4 - The Retailers' and Boutiques' Runway Show and Awards Show Finale

Hey Guys,

Day four was the last day of Full Figured Fashion Week, and I was a bit sad since it always means having to say bye to all the fabulous new friends you've made. The only comfort was the fantastic dress lent to me by Jovani, a designer who has dressed all sorts of fabulous celebrities from Paris Hilton to Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood, even Selena Gomez. I was super excited when I found out they would be dressing me for this event!!! 

The morning of the finale, I went to go get my hair done, but the curls proceeded to fall right out and they didn't make an appearance at the event, d'oh. My hair is just too heavy, and it clearly won't hold a curl, but that doesn't stop me from trying! I wanted to go with a vintage deep pin curl look, but by the time the event rolled around, only the ends were just curled under, lol. After that, I went to grab some jewels at one of the many shops in the 6th Avenue/36th Street area. Man, I wish we had cool stores like that in Toronto! After picking up my bling, I went to meet Jess at the hotel and we got ready together!

She looked totally stellar, and once we were ready to go, we hoped in a taxi down to the Broad Street Ballroom for the Runway Finale and Awards Show. 

We got to walk the red carpet and socialize with lots of the designers who showed their clothes the night before, as well as some other fashionable ladies in the industry. 

The red carpet...

Beck, Meaghan, and Monique

Sarah looking fabulous!!!

Fashion Front members Ty and Caitlin hard at work, tweeting all about FFFWeek

Reconnecting with Full Figured Fashion Week's model of the year, Ashley Graham

Me with Madeleine Figueroa Jones, Editor in Chief of Plus Model Mag

I love this pic of me and Olivia from Wait Until the Sunset - she is such a fun, positive, outgoing, person! And she's the one that got engaged on the white cruise! <3

Two babes I've been wanting to meet for a looooong time - Nicole from A Well Rounded Venture, and Rebecca from The Plus Side of Me

A few members of the Fashion Front

Rikke and I 

The fashions featured at this show were all from boutiques and retailers, instead of individual designers. Here are a few of my favourite looks from the evening. Once again, thank you so much to Danimezza for these beautiful shots!

Evans

Sonsi

By Monif C. 

The Monif C. Espana Ruffle Swimsuit (also available in red)

Evie Foster

Mynt 1792

Lane Bryant/Cacique

After the show and awards, Ashley Graham invited me and Peter out for dinner with her, her hubby Justin, and Marcy Guevara from HelloStyle Channel and the Marie Claire column "Big Girl in a Skinny World." We ended up sipping wine, chatting, and nibbling on pizza out on a patio of a restaurant along Stone Street. I had a really fantastic time hanging out with them! Ashley's husband Justin is also really cool. Very charming and dapper!

Aww... So cute!!! A really lovely couple. 

Ashley let me hold her Alexander McQueen for a little while... I didn't want to give it back!!!

Toni + Spring Media Preview

Hey Guys,

About a week ago, I was invited to attend a Spring preview event for Canadian plus size retailer Toni +. With locations in Toronto, Calgary, and Edmonton, Toni + caters to the plus size woman looking for more high-end, designer items, and with labels such as Not Your Daughter's Jeans, David Meister, Donna Ricco, Lafayette 148 New York, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Marina Rinaldi, SULU and Yoek, they are doing a great job. I got to meet with Toni Tiraborelli, the owner and founder of Toni +, as well as Albert La Penna, Toni's right hand man and the company's VP.

The event was held in the morning at the Toni + store located in The Bay Queen Street on the fourth floor, and I was the first to arrive, so I got extra time with Toni to chat about all of the Spring fashions coming in and just to talk shop in general. I suggested the she start carrying the Greek brand MAT Fashion, which I totally love. She said she was going on a buying trip very soon and she would look into it, and I really hope it happens because I love MAT Fashion! We also talked a bit about her beginning to carry more youthful items in her stores, and how the younger generation is now emerging and growing in the workforce, and need high-quality and fashionable career and business casual wear. Her new in-house brand, Toni T, is meant to serve as a sort of cornerstone to this initiative.

We were treated to a lovely breakfast complete with pastries, fruit, and coffee, and got to see much of the Spring collection modelled. I also got to meet some fantastic people from all sorts of other Toronto media outlets. It was a great event, and I was very pleased to meet the faces behind the Toni + brand.

The models show us the first outfits.

Toni, Centre, chats with Melissa (left) and Karyn (right) from Killer Kurves, about plus size fashion

Lynn Spence from Cityline Toronto chats with and photographs one of the models in preparation for her segment on plus size style on Friday. Make sure you tune in!

And a couple of pictures of what I had on... Shirt - Evans via The Bay Square One, Skirt - LeatherCult.com, Tights and Bracelets - Forever 21+, Boots - Dots, Purse - Dots, Neckace - Laura, Earrings - Vintage Alfred Sung.

Also, make sure you check out CityLine this Friday, January 27th, and  you can watch a vido of Toni + being featured on Breakfast Television here.

Happy Shopping Ladies!