Meeting up with Karyn Johnson and Taking a Trip to Gussied Up

Hey Everyone,

A little while ago, I got the chance to meet up with Karyn Johnson, gorgeous Canadian plus size model and winner of the wellies giveaway! I brought her wellies over to her, and they fit nicely and looked lovely on. Pink is her favourite colour, so it was perfect! She is SO nice, and I am glad I got to meet her because we hit it off immediately and I feel like I have a new curvy friend now! We decided to go down to check out a plus size clothing store that is near her place called Gussied Up. It's an awesome store! I really love the atmosphere there. I almost passed by it when we were walking because I thought it was a straight size store, and I was thinking, wow, that place looks nice! I was so pleased when I realized that was actually where we were going. It is a very chic boutique, and its nice to finally have a store available to us that offers such a nice environment, just like a straight size store. I was able to meet with the store owner, Victoria, and she was really nice too! Her store has been open just over 6 months, and it's really lovely.

 

After we met with Victoria, and I was able to browse around in her lovely store, the three of us decided to go to the wine bar next door to have a glass (or two... okay, three) of wine. I had a really great evening with these two ladies and I can't wait to see them both again!

If you are ever in Toronto, you should totally take the time to check out Gussied Up. It's a lovely store with great pieces (very young and trendy, and all high-quality), and its really affordable too. I know I will be headed back very soon. Thanks Karyn and Victoria! I had a great evening with you ladies!

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

150 Followers! Give-away time!!!

Hey everyone!

I just hit 150 followers on GFC and Bloglovin', so as promised, I am having a fantabulous give-away! The people at Torrid, who have fantastic stuff (especially wide calf boots - they're like, the only place I shop for boots!) sent me these boot-iful wellies, and I've decided to give them away to one lucky winner to celebrate this milestone!

About the boots: They are brand new and came to me directly from Torrid. Torrid will be releasing these wellies later this month, so they're not even available in stores yet. They are a lovely berry colour. They are a US size 10 (UK 7, I think), and the calf circumference around the outside of the boot is 18", so they would fit well for someone with calves that measure 17.5" or less.

To Enter:

-Follow through google friend connect or bloglovin' and comment below with your email address.
-For extra entries:
*Follow @curvycdn and @torridfashion on twitter and/or fan Curvy Canadian and Torrid on facebook and comment here that you have done so. (1 extra entry each for FB and twitter)
*Tweet the following: "Just entered to win a pair of boot-iful wide calf wellies with @curvycdn and @torrid fashion! Enter here to win!: http://bit.ly/op7eel"
*Click the FB "like" button below this post and comment here letting me know that you've done so.
-Contest is open to entrants worldwide.
-The winner will be chosen on September 14, 2010 at 11:59pm using random.org. Good luck!