"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!) ;)

Modelling for/Review of SexyPlus Clothing Toronto

Hey Guys!

Last weekend, I got to go and hang out with Stefanie from SexyPlus Clothing on Yonge Street in Toronto. Stefanie invited me to do some modelling for her, and I shyly, yet happily, agreed. I was supposed to do some runway modelling for her back in early December, but the event ended up being cancelled, so I was glad I finally got the opportunity to work with her! The shoot was a lot of fun, and I got to try on about 5-6 different outfits. Stefanie also wanted me to do a review of one of her pieces, so I'll show you some of the outfits I modelled and the dress I ended up picking out for my review.

The store itself is really lovely. It has a very warm, inviting atmosphere, which partially has to do with the layout and design of the store, but mostly is because of the lovely service provided by Stefanie and one of her shop associates who was there, Michaela. While I was modelling and changing outfits, I got to see them both work with a number of customers, and they each made the women who entered the store feel immediately at ease, which is so important, especially in a store dedicated to dressing plus size women, who can often have trouble with self-esteem and confidence (not that this is exclusive to plus size women, but it's certainly a pervasive issue in the community). A couple of beautiful women came in and tried on corsets. They sheepishly allowed themselves to be assisted by Stefanie and Michaela, but by the time they were finished being laced-up, their faces resembled a renewed, or perhaps newly-found, confidence that they didn't seem to have when entering. It just goes to show how important clothes are in terms of affecting one's own self-perception. These women, first ill at ease, were now proudly walking out of the changeroom into the store, where several people could admire both their beauty and their new confidence. What an inspiring scene!

The actual changerooms themselves are very comfortable. There is a hook for your purse (it's actually labelled) a hook for your coat (again, labelled) and a long closet style bar where you can hang all your garments up comfortably without having to worry about things getting all tangled together or falling off. The changeroom is large enough for a plus size person to very comfortably dress and undress, and there is (what I like to call) a husband chair just outside with a big ol' pile of manly magazines (with stuff about cars, and motorcycles, and pumping iron, etc... lol). They also have girl magazines in case you bring a straight size friend with you for their opinion. Sometimes I find change rooms are way too hot. Stores use the hottest type of lightbulb available, and by the time you're on outfit 3 or 4, you're sweating up a storm and you're ready to go home. I found the temperature in Stef's store (and her dressing rooms particularly) to be just perfect. I was totally comfortable the whole time. Stefanie has set the store up in such a way that you can be sure you will have a comfortable, relaxing, enjoyable, and successful shopping trip.

Now to the actual looks Stef chose for me to model!

The perfect outfit for a tropical getaway...

Love this dress...!

This was my favourite dress of the day, a stunning a luxurious Joseph Ribkoff number. It would be perfect for FFFWeek!

Left to Right: Myself, Stefanie, and Michaela

Another beautiful Ribkoff piece...

And from behind...

Stef cracking me up during the shoot...

And look how cute my Peter looks!!! So handsome. <3 Love that jacket on him!

After awhile of modelling, I got to pick out my piece that I was going to review. I chose this beautiful, full skirted, faux-double breasted dress by Chic Star. The quality of the fabric is really beautiful, and the workmanship is excellent too. The design is stunning. The dress is remniscent of the Ribkoff one I love so much, but it's a bit more casual, which means I can be sure I'll get more wear out of it. It's a lovely dress that's very comfortable and that I know I will wear again and again. What do you ladies think? =D

Dress - Chic Star Design, courtesy of SexyPlus Clothing/Turban - Domino Dollhouse/Gloves - Urban Behaviour/Belt - Forever 21+/Shoes - CBX

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!