FFFWeek Day 5, Part 2 - The Indie Designers' Showcase

I'm FINALLY resuming my coverage of Full Figured Fashion Week! Things have gotten so busy over the summer, and I've been meaning to post about the runway shows forever... Things have settled down a bit so I'm getting around to it at last!

It was really great to be in New York for this event. I am always so totally blown away by my fellow attendees' fashion, and this year was no different! It's also so wonderful to be amongst a community of like-minded and like-bodied women, even if it's only for a week!!!

I wore a fitted Adriana Papell dress with my Michael Kors purse, my pointy nude Marc Fischer pumps, and a chunky gold vintage necklace. I got my make up done at the Sephora at 7th and 34th, and my hair done at the Drybar on East 34th. Sonsi gave us an absolutely amazing FFFWeek Survival Kit at the beginning of the week, and in it (amongst lots of other super-awesome and useful goodies) was a gift card for Drybar, so I wanted to make sure I got my blowout in before my week in NYC was up! It was such a lovely experience and I was very happy with the results!

Dress - Adrianna Papell via Bloomingdales/Purse - Michael Kors via Holt Renfew/Bracelets - Addition Elle/Necklace - Vintage

On the Red Carpet with FFFWeek Founder, Gwen DeVoe

Monique from Curves and Chaos, looking adorable!

Me, Monique, and Olivia from Wait Until the Sunset

The lovely Gaelle from The Curvy and Curly Closet

Taking my seat for the show!

Here are some of my favourite looks from the runway. Many, many thanks to Estrella from Estrella Fashion Report for the photos - I couldn't get clear shots from where we were sitting, and hers are amazing!

AMIIEE

Nakimuli

Huudaverti

OnOz 

Rue 114

Sean Anthony Designs

Youtheary Khmer

So which designer is your favourite?

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!!!

Full Figured Fashion Week Day 3 - Just My Size Breakfast, Sonsi Be-YOU-tiful Blogger Party and the Indie Designers' Showcase

Hey Guys!

So after a fun night out on the town at the networking event, we all headed back to our beds for a few hours before the next day of events! The morning of day three brought the Just My Size Breakfast, where we met with the execs from Just My Size and reconnected with a few members of the plus size community.

Top - H&M+ (only available in select US stores, sorry ladies..)/Belt - ASOS Curve/Jeans - New Look Inspire Line/Necklace - New Look/Shoes - Wal-mart G21 Line/Sunglasses - Vintage clothing sale in York, UK/Bracelet - GreenFlea NYC/Purse - Courtesy of Penningtons

Model Rosie Mercado and Sarah from Queen Sized Flava

Gaelle from Les Pitreries De Vanoue chatting with a rep from Just My Size

Dani from Danimezza being her fine, photographing self!

Chatting over our bagels!

Gaelle with Marie Denee

Next up was the Sonsi Be-YOU-tiful blogger party, where we were treated to make-up touch ups, manicures, prize giveaways, lovely hors d'oeuvres, and great company. We got to meet some of the fantastic people behind Sonsi, SWAK designs, Catherine's, and Pretty Pear Bride.

Beck from Manfattan and Kellie from Fatshion Insider

Some new designs from SWAK

Once I had been all dolled up by the fantastic make-up artist, I had to dash out of there to try to find the perfect outfit for the Indie Designers' Showcase! I usually work well under pressure, but NYC was totally stressing me out! My first two stops were Macy's and Bloomingdale's. Both stores seemed pretty "fished out." A likely result of all the other fine ladies of FFFWeek and their shopping prowess!!! So off to Monif C I went! As soon as I got there, I was thinking, why didn't I come here in the first place??? It was awesome to check out her showroom and chat with other lovely ladies (also FFFWeek attendees) who were shopping. It was a very supportive, happy shopping environment, and I'm glad I remembered that Monif has a showroom in NYC, otherwise I would likely still be fruitlessly searching for a dress! I explained my situation and the manager helped me find the perfect dress. I actually left the showroom wearing the dress because I was in such a rush!

I am totally happy with how my outfit turned out. What do you guys think? I decided to wear this dress as a strapless, but there are over 40 different ways you can tie it to give it a different look. I think next time I'll try cap sleeves!

Doesn't Peter look dapper? We got his suit custom made from Studio Suits. The jacket was a little big when it came, and we had to get it taken in, so go for the slim fit option if you're ordering (we went with regular)

Dress - Monif C/Clutch - H&M/Bracelet - GreenFlea NYC/Shoes - Rainbow/Necklace and Earrings- New Look

Me with a fantastic new and up-and-coming designer who you should definitely check out, Ashley Nell Tipton

Another of my favourite designers - Marina Zelner, founder of Queen Grace Collection

Me, Jess from Too MANY Sequins, Rikke from Sticky Sweet Danish, Ashley from Ashley Nell Tipton Designs, and Tanja from Miss Cherry Lipz

Sarah from Queen Sized Flava and I 

Me and designer Anslee Connell, designer of the line Savannah Red

Me with new bestie Nadia Aboulhosn... we look so co-ordinated!

Our table at Ancora, where we had dinner together after the runway show - L to R - Rebecca from The Plus Side of Me, Nicole from A Well Rounded Venture, Jess from Too MANY Sequins, Olivia from Wait Until the Sunset, her fiancee Ben, Jen (designer of the newly launched Cult of California line), and me! Peter's taking the picture...

 And of course this post wouldn't be complete without me showing you a few of my favourites from the runway. I wasn't able to get any good shots myself because I only have a dinky little point and click digital camera (which will likely be remedied very soon), so much love goes out to fellow Full Figured Fashion Front member Danimezza, who gets the credit for these fantastic shots.

Lavender's Jungle

Ashley Nell Tipton

Youtheary Khmer

17 Sundays

Make sure you stay tuned tomorrow for my review of the Boutiques'/Retailers' Runway Show and Awards Ceremony! (Teaser - I was dressed for it by a designer who has also dressed Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Selena Gomez, Paris Hilton, and many others!!! Eeep!)