Big Hips, Red Lips

Fookin' Ridiculous

2012-02-22T16:31:00.000-08:00

Like many others I'm obsessed with anything velvet right now. The look, the feel, just everything about it gets my juices following (figuratively, of course). When one of my dearest friends opened up shop and featured a selection of velvet skirts I nearly wet myself.

Chubby Cartwheels is an independent online clothing store owned by Shawma Farmer. Shawna is a totally fierce and unstoppable fatty with a talent for stitching together some pretty freakin' amazing pieces. I can personally vouch for how perfect and amazing her creations are. Shawna is such a creative genius, coming up with some of the most unique (have you seen her selection of rings???) and neat pieces you will ever see! She literally carries some of the coolest stuff in her shop so I highly suggest you go check it out now. Like right this minute. Go!

I feel particularly good about this outfit mainly because the winter blues have forced me indoors for the past week or so. More importantly, I've finally found an excuse to wear my ridiculous oversized spike hoop earrings without feeing like its overkill. I guess having patience does pay off from time to time!

Top - Old Navy

Skirt - Chubby Cartwheels

Jacket - Walmart

Belt - ASOS

Earrings - Voluptuous

Shoes - Walmart

Ring - Ebay

Buttons - Various places

Panty hose - Can't remember

Luna's Erotic Birthday Weekend

2012-02-16T14:39:00.000-08:00

First and foremost, I hope everyone experienced tons of self love this Valentine's day. I spend the day cuddling with my cat, putting off cleaning, napping and daydreaming of a boy I'm swooning over. There should never be any limit to the love and care you give to yourself. Remember that every day of the year is a possibility to give yourself love and pleasure.

"The Toronto Erotic Arts and Crafts Fair is a one-of-a-kind sexy fair that brings together artists and crafters just in time for Valentine's Day. Knitters, crafters, zinesters, card makers, and artists of all types will be creating erotic objects for this one day celebration of DIY sex and romantic culture."

The 6th Annual Erotic Arts & Crafts festival took place this weekend + my dear friend Luna's 25th birthday. As per usual, we took the opportunity to dress up and enjoy another amazing weekend in Toronto. Every single booth at the exhibit was amazing and every crafter I met was so so sweet! I picked up a few pins (predictable, right?) and two drawings. We later headed to Disgraceland to eat and play 90s board games. I cannot even express how much fun I had and the amount of love I experienced over the weekend.

erotic treats!

Saucy Nudles drawings by the lovely Sam

dinner and surgery and Disgraceland!

I came decked out in heart stickers and dressed up in my tightest red dress. I felt like a red hot walking valentine. Courtney and Luna wore their handmade Lana Del Rey inspired flower head bands. We really were sugar, spice and everything nice!

Cardigan - Thrifted

Dress - Evans

Belt - ASOS

Fishnets - Ebay

Socks - Sockdreams

Boots - Lane Bryant

Pins - Erotic Arts & Crafts Show

Heart Stickers - Dollarama

Fingerless Gloves - Aldo

Big, Fat Spa Day

2012-02-08T13:35:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday my fellow fashion bloggers (Courtney and Luna) and I were treated to a day full of pampering, delicious food and amazing company at The Manor Hair Lounge in Toronto. I'm usually pretty anxious about trying out new stylists but I could not be more happy with not only my brand new cut but the service and staff!

Before shots of the ladies (minus Courtney) and the lovely staff from the salon!

I've had a love/hate relationship with my hair lately and so many doubts about fining a new stylist. Finding someone who appreciates my emotional relationship with my hair is nearly impossible but after visiting the Manor Hair Lounge I do not need to look any further. They were so courteous, the salon itself was so classy and elegant and I am so incredibly pleased with my cut. I really love to feel at ease when I'm getting anything done to my hair and I was certainly relaxed enough to enjoy the process.

chopping it all off and bracing myself for an anxiety attack!

getting pampered!

and after!

Ok, so maybe I didn't have an anxiety attack but I have been known to squeeze out a few tears after going for such a drastic change. My family members were really shocked to hear me speak nothing but praise and positive words about my cut. It was even approved by my date later on that night!

Luna, Courtney, Myself and my brand new stylist Vanessa!

If you're local to Toronto I really suggest checking out The Manor Hair Lounge. I promise that you will not be disappointed and you can personally hold me to that! Make sure to like them on facebook or follow them on twitter!

Dreamy Valentines

2012-01-31T12:36:00.000-08:00

Babydoll with Red Heart Molded Cups / "Gash" Lipstick / Red & White Polka Dot Dress / Padded Push Up Bra / "A Million Kisses" Lip Tint / Red Belted Dress

I'm not big on Valentines but I can't help but feel a bit inspired by all the pretty shades of red everywhere. Even though I don't have a sweetheart to share my special day with I am certainly going to dream of owning just about all the Valentines goodies out there! I spent all of the last night (and the last few days) browsing the interweb and drooling over all the pretty options out there. Lingerie, loads of red dresses, red lipstick and of course chocolate covered strawberries are all this girl needs for V-Day!

Queen For a Day

2012-01-24T10:40:00.000-08:00

Gosh, it feels like just about forever since the last time I made an update. I just haven't had the time nor the motivation to take outfit pictures even though I've been killing it lately! I wasn't actually going to post this outfit because I was a bit unsure if I really liked it but I couldn't dream of leaving this blog update-less for another week!

I'm sure many of you have been taking advantage of the amazing 70% off sale that ASOS is having. I was so pleased to see that a few of my most desired items made it up and I couldn't help but take advantage. I nabbed this incredible dogtooth pencil skirt (which is actually a proper pencil skirt!) after having such lust for it for months. I also purchase my official winter coat in this luxurious and attention grabbing blue! I couldn't be happier with these pieces and I've had no shortage of compliments while wearing them (especially on my coat!).

I always feel inspired to dress my very best when I see my favourite lady Courtney of The Glitter Thread (if you haven't followed her yet, go now!!). It had been so long since we last saw each other so I was quite excited to enjoy a meal and spend the afternoon (mostly window) shopping. I had some luck at a local thrift store called Black Market and managed to pick up a very adorable cardigan (pictured below) and a few pins! We were even treated to the most relaxing and much needed hand massages at Lush! What a treat, right?

Coat - ASOS

Top - City Chic

Skirt - ASOS

Tights - We Love Colours

Necklace - Etsy

Ring - Etsy (ravenevejewelry)

Walk On the Wild Side

2012-01-17T12:40:00.000-08:00

Playing dress up is my favourite thing in the world and thats exactly what I needed to do after I received this skirt from City Chic. I purchased it during the crazy cheap 60% off sale + a 30% off code. For $15 it really was one of the best deals I've come across in a very long time. I was a bit concerned that the black wouldn't be dark enough but it looks that much better in person! I have so many different ways I want to wear this skirt now!

Top - City Chic

Skirt - City Chic

Tights - Addition Elle

Earrings - Forever21

Shoes - Payless Shoe Store

Hi, How Are You?

2012-01-10T11:09:00.000-08:00

I had the loveliest dinner with my very good friend Sadia on Saturday. She had been itching to try my mother's cooking and my mother has been dying to cook for her! It was really nice to have her over, introduce her to new Portuguese food and relax while watching Never Say Never together.

I'll stop boring everyone with my dinner stories and get on to my outfit. I'm actually super duper excited to make this post! My Daniel Johnston shirt and cheetah print loafers are probably two of my favourite things in my wardrobe right now. You would think I'd wear them more but I'm trying to be fair to the rest of my clothing. I just feel really proud and happy to be wearing my appreciation for Daniel Johnston so openly.

Daniel Johnston's music isn't for everyone but I find his words and melodies to be really haunting and interesting. A lot of my fascination comes from his life and how sad and tragic it is. Its nearly impossible not to feel the eeriness in his voice while still resonating with his lyrics at the same time. I constantly have his songs stuck in my head and if I could suggest anything to start with it would be this song.

Anywho, I was decked out in a lot of my fangrrrl interests so I'll refrain from making this post solely about my obsessions outside of fashion. I hope everyone had a lovely weekend!

Jacket - Walmart

Shirt - Ebay

Pins - Etsy + Pork Magazine

Skirt - c/o Penningtons

Tights - We Love Colours

Shoes - Forever 21

Dear Old Friend

2012-01-05T09:51:00.000-08:00

I like to plan my outfits mentally before I go out to save my room from the disaster that comes from rummaging and throwing around all of my clothing. However, when I received a huge package from my dear friend Kyla I couldn't resist wearing one of the pieces she sent me! It didn't take me long to narrow down my options to this pussybow dress from ASOS. I knew it was going to be the perfect sweetheart approach I wanted to visit a friend/crush of mine.

I was a bit strapped for time and I don't have that many shots of the outfit so these webcam shots will have to do.

Mixing purple and mustard is my absolute favourite colour combination (yes, more than red and blue!) these days. I just love the way the colours look against each other. I'm surprised I didn't find some way to add a hint of cheetah print to this outfit but adding my adorable Animal pin really helped tie it all together for me. At least I know my outfit served its purpose of being too cute to boot!

Cardigan - Gift (via Winners)

Dress - Gift (via ASOS)

Tights - We Love Colours

Pin - Pork Magazine

Ring - Gift from Kyla

Boots - Lane Bryant

The Nutcracker Ballet

2012-01-03T13:00:00.000-08:00

On December 28th I lived out my dream of seeing The Nutcracker ballet on stage. Getting the opportunity to finally be in a theatre with the ballet being performed only a few feet before me was surreal. As a young girl I fantasized constantly about being Clara, meeting the Nutcracker and getting to dance with him while the Pas de Deux played so effortlessly in the background. It has taken me twenty four very long years to finally have the opportunity to see my dreams come true. I was and still am absolutely over the moon, to say the very least.

My outfit was so important to me that night. I wanted to feel as beautiful as the Nutcracker had made me feel so many times before. I know that might come off as incredibly cheesy but my love for The Nutcracker runs very deep. My eyes instantly lit up when I saw this gorgeous peplum dress (originally from Torrid) being sold on the fatsxchange livejournal community. Fortunately it showed up in record breaking speed, in absolutely perfect condition! I'm actually a bit shocked that the seller didn't want it anymore. This dress is so perfect, the colour is just astounding, and it fits me like a glove. Without a doubt, it has become my favourite dress in my closet. I'm trying very hard to find excuses to wear it again and again! I put on my loveliest pair of flower tights and my go-to pair of heels to pull the entire thing together. It was far too icey to risk wearing any other shoes and knowing how much of a clutz I am, I decided not to risk it.

Seeing the Nutcracker was such a perfect way to wrap up 2011 and I truly do hope it becomes a tradition in my life.

Dress - Torrid (via fatxchange)

Pantyhose - Addition Elle

Heels - Payless Shoe Store

Earrings - Aldo

Ring - H&M

So long, 2011!

2012-01-01T13:50:00.000-08:00

Well ladies and gents, 2011 is now a thing of the past! While everyone was out celebrating with their friends and family, I was watching a Roseanne marathon in my room while cuddling with my cat. I had every intention to go to a friend's party but my monthly visitor decided to show up while I was getting ready. The only thing I felt like doing was slipping into my newest dress from Chic Star and snapping some photos.

To be totally honest, I'm not one for big parties. I really love being around good company and putting on my very best dress, though. I had been eying this dress for ages since it popped up on Chic Star. It really isn't like anything I own at all. I was kind of worried I'd hate it on me but I'm totally, completely in love. Unfortunately its already ripped a bit and I'm definitely going to alter it a bit but thats to be expected when ordering from a place like Chic Star. Anyhow, I really do hope that everyone had a great time ringing in the new year! I'm off to eat more snickerdoodles and nurse my cramps.

SimplyBe Giveaway Winner!!

2012-01-01T08:39:00.000-08:00

Anerio!!!

Congratulations! I hope you enjoy your clothing from SimplyBe!!!

Festive Forever

2011-12-29T16:05:00.000-08:00

Even though Christmas has come and gone I still feel festive this week and my wardrobe has been my mimicking my emotions. I'm incredibly sad to see the holiday pass (even if I don't celebrate it) but I'll be keeping a bit of Christmas with me in my outfits.

Aside from mourning the passing of Christmas 2011, I've been enjoying the snow and end of season sales. I know that I keep going on and on about my socks but I cannot talk them up enough. Sockdreams if having a 20% off sale on their entire stock. I seriously suggest taking advantage of this sale (code: Goodbye2011) while its still on!

Cardigan - Vintage

Top - Old Navy

Skirt - Forever21

Socks - Sock Dreams

Ring - Aldo

Necklace - Deer Heart

Shoes - Walmart

Brand New Name: Big Hips, Red Lips

2011-12-27T12:18:00.000-08:00

Ok, I've done this before and I swore up and down that it would be the very last but I swear this is the final change! I've been thinking for awhile that Garters & Stockings wasn't really a great representation of what my blog was about. It would be perfect if this was a lingerie blog but its about fashion and my love for lipstick. The name really appeals to me cause, well, I love red lipstick and I have some big hips! I have a fancy new domain so if you're still coming from gartersandstockings.blogspot.com you should be redirected. I'll be tweaking and changing a few things around (especially the header!) in the next few days so bear with me!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T16:31:00.000-08:00

Christmas isn't a big deal at my house and that is solely do to the fact that my parents don't take the holiday. I've never actually had a Christmas tree or woken up thinking Santa was going to spoil me with presents. This time of year is always extremely gloomy for me but my mother was adamant on getting all of us together for a "family dinner". I took it upon myself to get a bit dressed up and enjoy what I can of this day. I'm always in better spirits when I know mashed potatoes, gravy and turkey are being served for dinner! Anywho, I snapped a few really cheesy shots of me playing with my ponytail and I thought I'd quickly make a post to wish everyone a very, merry Christmas! I hope everyone is having an amazing day with their loved ones!

Combat Baby

2011-12-22T10:41:00.000-08:00

I'm trying to not let SAD kick my butt but this week has been so slow, boring and dull. I've spent a lot of my time watching Christmas movies, sleeping and cleaning my room. I haven't properly put an outfit together in God knows how long so having an opportunity to get a little creative was pretty exciting for me. All I had on my agenda was a trip to the post office so I put on my best casual outfit.

very blurry detail shots. my mom was in charge of taking these, sorry!

I feel like all I want to wear these days are my knee high socks. I am probably the biggest baby when it comes to cold feet. The thought of having to endure chilled + potentially wet feet gives me the heebie jeebies so keeping my feet toasty warm is at the top of my agenda. Sockdreams makes the most perfect fat calf friendly knee highs ever and I highly suggest them for anyone looking to add a few pairs to their sock door.

Cardigan - Brettisagirl

Top - Homemade

Skirt - H&M

Socks - Sockdreams

Boots - Lane Bryant

Necklace - Etsy

Panty Hose - Gifted

Coat - Gift from Sadia

CONTEST CLOSED

2011-12-20T09:43:00.000-08:00

~~Baby, it might be cold outside but that doesn't mean~~ ~~you can't enjoy these pieces that SimplyBe has kindly put up for a giveway! Each piece was personally picked out b~~y ~~yours truly and I'm so excited to present this contest to my followers!!~~ ~~One lucky winner will win both pieces (UK26/US22) and a little surprise from me! Contest~~ ~~will close on~~ ~~December 31st 2011~~ ~~and the winner will be announced on~~ ~~Januar~~~~y 1st 2012~~!

~~What:~~

~~Cut Out Jersey Top~~ ~~UK26~~

~~Lace Pencil Skirt~~ ~~UK26~~

~~How:~~

~~Must be following me (on either blogpost,~~ ~~twitter~~ or ~~tumblr~~)

~~Must be following~~ ~~SimplyBe~~ ~~on twitter~~

~~Reply to this post with~~ ~~your email and name to enter!~~

~~Follow + tweet me (gimme those clothes @LaGrandeFilleTW)~~ ~~on twitter for an extra entr~~y!

~~This contest is~~ ~~open to~~ ~~Canadian~~ ~~and~~ US ~~residents onl~~y!

All The Shoes

2011-12-18T12:40:00.000-08:00

1. White Gitter / 2. Metallic Midnight / 3. Xanadu Platform Wedge / 4. Jemma Platform Boot / 5. Juliet Platform / 6. Lita Platform Boot in Black / 7. Shazzam Platform / 8. Rosewell Ankle Boot / 9. Cara Platform Boot / 10. Sali Platform / 11. Coraline Platform Wedge

If my closet is lacking one thing its shoes. I've only recently started to expand but I get a little cautious about fit and how likely I am to wear them. Having an ankle that never healed properly + heels are a recipe for disaster when you're as clumsy as me. Anywho, I've been daydreaming about wearing the crap out of the above shoes and getting my imaginary money's worth out of them. I actually kind of think I'd be able to pull it off with at least 7 of the listed pairs but I'm far too broke/indecisive to make any permanent decisions. This girl is going to dream until her heart can't take it anymore, though!

Dressed in (Mostly) Black

2011-12-15T10:53:00.000-08:00

I haven't properly updated this thing in ages and that has a lot to do with my lack of outfit posts. I've been so bad about timing things lately!

A few weeks ago Maxey Day came back down to Toronto for a short visit. I had been planning a big, fancy sushi filled dinner for the ladies who attended Big, Fat Toronto. Seeing Maxey was so lovely but way too short! We dinned in style and spend the entire night chatting away. It felt so nice to sit down with some of the sweetest, funniest ladies I know!

If you haven't already guessed, my blog post name is dedicated to the late, great Johnny Cash. I found an Etsy seller who makes just about the coolest silhouette necklaces of some of my favourite icons. I will defintely be heading back to their shop for Morrissey and Jimi Hendrix! I wanted to play up my longline bra and wear my brand new glasses from Clearly Contacts (which I'm still totally unsure about!). I certainly felt a little Johnny Cash inspired that night!

Cardigan - Winners

Longline Bra - Lane Bryant

Skirt - Penningtons

Tights - Dots

Boots - Lane Bryant

Necklace - Fable and Fury

Earrings - Forever 21

SAD + Retail Therapy + Music

2011-12-11T09:32:00.000-08:00

This time of year is real hard on my soul because I suffer from SAD. The last few days have been tough but relaxing in the bath while listening to Ella Fitzgerald and daydreaming about the day my new dresses arrive has kept my heart afloat. I also picked up some goodies at Lush which makes bath time even more fun. Now I simply must get back to not cleaning and organizing my room and make myself a coffee. I hope everyone is having a lovely Sunday!

Sale, Sale, Sale!

2011-12-04T18:05:00.000-08:00

I'm cleaning out my closet @ Little Shop of Big !

Gussied up for Gussied Up!

2011-11-28T13:49:00.000-08:00

This past Tuesday Gussied Up held a meet and greet with America's Next Top Model winner Whitney Thompson. I was kind of indifferent about meeting her but I knew I wanted to take the opportunity to mingle and check out Gussied Up for the first time. It was so dark, gloomy and a incredibly chaotic downtown but it was well worth the trek.

The lovely and incredibly sweet Mélanie Dubuc sent me this houndsooth skirt (2x) after I pretty much drooled over myself when I first laid eyes upon it. It's so comfortable and just about the perfect length for me. Its stretchy but somehow form fitting as well. Gosh, I'm over the moon about this skirt! I can see myself wearing this skirt once a week, pairing it with different colours and seeing just how many different outfits I can come up with. I've already worn this outfit twice!

Mélanie Dubuc has an online shop with a lot of great, affordable pieces. This skirt does run a bit big so I'd suggest ordering a size down if you like your skirts to fit a bit snug. However, if you happen to live in Quebec she has two different store locations!

With Courtney and Whitney / Posing with lovely Karen, Karyn and Courtney

My dear friend Courtney (http://theglitterthread.blogspot.com/) and I enjoyed some delicious sushi before heading over to Gussied Up. We were treated to delicious sweets, great conversation and an intimate viewing of the clothing. Unfortunately I wasn't able to walk away with anything because everything was well over my budget. Meeting Whitney was such a lovely experience and I must say she is even prettier in person! The evening felt like a dream come true and even though I spent a good hour soaking wet, in the freezing cold, waiting for a bus to get me home it was all worth it. I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat.. with a warmer coat of course.

Thanks to Courtney and Karyn for the photos!

Top - Rainbow

Skirt - c/o Melanie Dubuc

Jacket/Shoes - Walmart

Snood - Etsy

Knee High Socks - Sock Dreams

Pins - Various Etsy shops

Lane Bryant Field Trip

2011-11-24T17:27:00.000-08:00

Its hard to collect my thoughts for this post because there is just so much to say but I'll stick to the basics + photos. Karen of Curvy Canadian collaborated with Lane Bryant for a Buffalo blogger trip. It feels like it took place a million moons ago but its been a mere two weeks but I miss it so much already.

We shopped til we just about dropped and dined at Olive Garden. It was my very first time there and I have to say, I want to go back for the breadsticks alone! The staff at Lane Bryant were so accommodating, kind and I really appreciated just sitting and talking to them for a few hours. It felt like home, even though I was sitting inside of a store in another country. I nabbed the cheetah print longline bra and a pair of comfy combat boots that I'm now planning most of my outfits around! I also checked out Rainbow, Dots, Torrid (my very first time purchasing from them!), Target and so much more!

With all that being said one of my very favourite things about the trip was getting to know each blogger a bit more. We all really clicked and I felt really comfortable with every single girl there. Not to mention we probably annoyed the crap out of everyone by constantly belting out commercial tunes everywhere we went!

bestie4lyfe - Sadia and me posing in between shopping!

Me and the Kare(y)ns in front of Lane Bryant

So much shopping! Remind me next time to pack proper shoes.

Waiting to go home

Flaws of Couture

Not So Starving
'Round Raglan Road
Rawr Manifesto
Curvy Canadian
Killer Kurves

I almost feel compelled to just sit here and talk about every amazing detail and post every single photo but that's a bit redundant. Instead I've linked to all the bloggers who attended the trip with me so you can follow + read their experience! Also if you don't already know Lane Bryant is having a killer black friday sale of 50% off their entire store. Don't miss out cause now they ship to Canada too!

Hips & Curves Review

2011-11-22T09:40:00.000-08:00

About a month or so ago I received a package courtesy of Hips & Curves to review. I've had the chance to wear a few of the pieces multiple times so I could properly give my opinion on each item. I received the lace longline bra, 5 way convertible bra, purple lace boyshorts, shaper skirt with garters, and garter chemise with powernet sides. I'll start by saying that I was really, really pleased when I received the package. As expected, everything looked better in person. Unfortunately a lot of their products do run small and I had to exchange the longline bra and 5 way convertible bra in larger sizes.

Lace Longline Bra

I'm one of the many who are currently obsessed with longline bras. They make the perfect risqué top and with so many options popping up everywhere its easy to continue the trend. I was really happy to see Hips & Curves offer their own version of the long line bra and as expected, it delivered. The lace longline bra is so classic with the slightest hint of skin and such an overwhelming feel of vintage. I knew instantly that I needed it to be mine. As I've never had experience with longline bras before I didn't really know what to expect in terms of sizing so I went one size up. It fit but far too snug for me to be comfortable in it for a full day. If you're going to buy this bra, I really suggest going two sizes up from your original size or really observing your chest to see where you are the widest. I have loads of back fat so I needed more room this time around. The thing I really love about this bra is how elegant it looks. I mean, its a bra and technically wearing your bra as a shirt isn't really considered "elegant" but this bra just is. This bra does not offer any lift whatsoever but that is to be expected with a full coverage cup and no underwear. It is, however, quite comfortable and ideal for a long night. I really have no complaints when it comes to this bra and I'd suggest purchasing it if you're looking for the perfect, versatile longline bra.

5 Way Convertible Bra

Ok, I'll admit that I haven't actually worn this bra in 5 different ways and I'm not even sure what else to do with it aside from take the straps off. What I do know is that this bra is fantastic. Usually I don't expect much from convertible bras but I was incredibly pleased with the support, lift and comfort I got while wearing it. I did have to go a size up because there is very little stretch in the band so be aware of that if you do intend to buy it. I'm actually wearing the bra in the picture above and as you can tell it does give me a fair amount of lift. So, in short I really love this bra. If you're looking for a convertible bra I really suggest trying out Hips and Curves version.

11" inch Shaper Skirt with Garters

I'd first like to mention that I wasn't drawn to this skirt for its smoothing or shaping purposes. A lot of people already know where I stand on garments designed to "minimize" or "hide" specific areas of the body but I won't get into that here. I fell in love with this garter for the lace trim and length. I've only ever had one garter before (also from Hips and Curves) and it really inspired me to try out others. I haven't actually had the chance to wear this out for a full night but I did notice its a small fit but it does have a fair amount of stretch to it. I wouldn't suggest this garter for anyone larger than a 24 on the bottom. With that being said I still really do love this garter belt. Its made really well and looks even better in person. I can't wait to wear it for a full night but I haven't found the perfect occasion yet. Check out this garter belt because it's definitely worth your time!

Garter Chemise with Power Net Sides

I had every intention of actually taking photos of me in this but I never got around to it. Unfortunately its a bit too tight so I can't actually put it on by myself (sob) but that won't stop me from putting it on for a special occasion. What's not to love about this chemise? Its so sexy, kind of vampy and encompasses everything I've ever dreamed of being. This also comes in a full black version but my obsession with everything red sold me on this version. I can't say much about how it actually looks on the body as I haven't had much experience with that yet but its incredibly sturdy and well made. Like I mentioned above its a bit tight on me and I received the largest size available. I wouldn't suggest this for someone above a size 22. With that being said I'm still really fond of this piece.

Cheeky Lace Boy Leg

First and foremost, I have a confession to make. I am a panties junkie. I can never help myself when it comes to buying underwear and full lace underwear is my kryptonite. I think I have lace panties in just about every colour but that wasn't going to stop me from adding one more pair. I knew instantly that I needed this pair so I was beyond ecstatic when Hips and Curves included their royal purple pair in my package. Since I have so many pairs of undies laying around I haven't actually worn these out yet but I couldn't wait to try them on. Not only did they fit perfectly (3x) but they are so comfortable and well, my butt looks pretty dang cute in these. In fact, I'm pretty sure every butt would look good in these. They are just so cute and sexy and I need them in very berry to complete my collection. Even if you don't have an incredibly addictive, potentially toxic obsession with panties you need these in your home! Just go to the website now and pick up a pair because they're only $6, super stretchy and perfect!

In conclusion, I'm just really pleased with everything I was sent. I really want to thank Hips and Curves for not only sending me this package to review but for also offering an amazing selection of plus size lingerie. I'm certain I'll be going back soon for more!

Rust

2011-11-16T09:44:00.000-08:00

Sadia and I recently traded a ton of clothes and I grabbed her "rust" tights from We Love Colours. I was itching to work them into an outfit but its not a colour I've had much experience with. I played it a bit safe in terms of colour experimenting but I'm glad I did.

If you're in the market for rust coloured tights I do not suggest getting the pair that We Love Colours sells. Even though I've photoshopped the colours a bit in these photos they are still more orange than rust. When I think of rust its a brownish red with a hint of orange. Off the body the colour looks decent enough but once they're on the body its such a bright, odd shade of orange. I probably won't be wearing these tights again anytime soon unless I can find the perfect outfit for it. They worked out well with my all black + pop of colour thing I was going for but I think I'll pack these away for a bit. At least I accomplished the look I was going for!

Longline Bra - Hips & Curves

Skirt - H&M

Jacket/Shoes - Walmart

Scarf - Penningtons

Tights - We Love Colours

Pee Wee Pins - Etsy

Pocahontas Pin - Unknown

Dig it, babe.

2011-11-09T11:43:00.000-08:00

I took advantage of the warmer weather we've been having these past few days for my lunch date with Sadia (of rawrmanifesto). Toronto weather has been so perfect this past week and nothing puts me in a better mood than sunny skies and chilly weather.

If you follow my tumblr you'll remember me gushing over this dress from angryyoungandpoor.com and thankfully I managed to grab the last one in stock. Its a bit snug but I was determined to make it work. I think squeezing yourself into your dream dress falls under the category of fat girl swag, right? Right?

Jacket/Shoes - Walmart
Dress - Angry, young and poor
Tights - We Love Colours
Pins - Etsy
Ring - Aldo
Earrings - Unknown

Candles, Chocolate and Doctor Who

2011-11-02T12:19:00.000-07:00

I've been feeling incredibly inspired with the change of seasons. I tend to think more about how uncomfortable and hot I am in the summer so thinking about how to creatively put together an outfit is nearly impossible. Layers are so fun to work with and I'm enjoying all of the fall/winter trends I keep running into.

This isn't a dress I'd normally wear but after receiving it as a gift I felt even more inclined to find another use for it. Without a doubt, red and blue together is one of my absolute favourite colour combinations. After nabbing this $2 belt from Icing I knew what needed to be done. There is just something so alluring and perfect about blue and red together. Call me a groupie, call me over the top, call me whatever you will but I am just completely addicted to this colour combo!
I tossed on my favourite knitted beret from Big It Up to complete the perfect cozy outfit to shop for candles, chocolate and to watch Doctor Who in. Also, if I haven't said it before I'll say it now. We Love Colours tights are just amazing and they had yet to rip on me. I'm going to make sure I stock up on just about every colour this winter!

Dress - ASOS

Belt - Icing by Claire's

Tights - We Love Colours

Beret - Big It Up

Shoes - Walmart

Happy Hallowe'en

2011-10-31T16:51:00.000-07:00

Just a quick message to say happy Hallowe'en. I hope everyone has a spookatcular day! I can't wait to see everyone's costume and if you haven't already guessed, I went as a dominatrix!

Please Mr. Postman

2011-10-26T11:00:00.000-07:00

The coughing and sniffling has returned but I wanted to share my outfit from last night. I waited days for a much anticipated package to arrive and it finally showed up yesterday -- hence the blog post name. I nearly missed the dang thing while getting ready but thankfully I saw the truck before it left. Isn't it weird that whenever you decide to walk away the exact thing you were waiting for shows up?

Its been so cold and rainy here so I'm not surprised that I feel sick all over again. However, I am enjoying layers, tights and heavy clothing. This outfit wasn't really enough to keep me warm through the downpour of constant rain and chilly wind but I had been wanting to put this outfit together since I purchased each item. The yellow skirt is the exact same material, make and brand as my blue skirt but it fits so much smaller. I purchased this in a 3x but it fits almost exactly, if not tighter than my 1x from Forever21. I'm still really confused by this but its cute nonetheless. I couldn't get a proper photo of my shoes either but they're the cutest, cheapest and widest pair of oxfords I have ever come across. I found them at Walmart for $3! Can you believe that? They fit much better than any other oxfords I've ever owned! Digging through clearance is always worth it!

Cardigan - Winners

Shirt/Skirt - Forever21

Tights - We Love Colours

Shoes - Walmart

Earrings - Aldo

Can I keep you?

2011-10-23T16:06:00.000-07:00

Its Sunday afternoon and instead of being at my cousin's baby shower I'm sitting in my room watching Casper and blogging. I had a few last minute things to pick up for my Halloween costume and I'm so very excited to put it all together. I'm not looking to break the bank on an outfit I'm only going to wear one day of the year so I'm making something from pieces I already own. Its actually kind of fun to put it all together myself.

I've had this blouse stashed away in my closet since the Pennington's event a few months back. Its a really great, light weight pussybow top but I'm a bit disappointed with the result after one wash. I found some loose threads and the bits to tie the bow looked really saggy and worn. I guess I can't really complain because I did get this top for free but it is disappointing. Its still very cute and comfortable though, I'll give it that much.

My cat decided to hang out with me while I took these photos which I think is just about the cutest thing in the world. I just had to keep her around for a few shots cause well, look how cute and adorable she is! Anyways, I'm wasting precious Casper watching time!

Blouse - Penningtons

Shorts - New Look

Tights - Addition Elle

Boots - Urban Behaviour

Jacket - Walmart

I Never Said I Miss You

2011-10-20T12:36:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting here in a Winnie the Pooh robe trying to distract myself from how cold I am. Its 12 degrees in Toronto, the sun is barely out and its been raining constantly since the weekend. I'm always a bit bummed out in this weather but I'm trying to make the best of it. Unfortunately, I'm still stocked up on summer clothing with very few actual warm pieces to throw on when the weather is this dreadfully cold. Like always, I have to make it work and I'm slowly adding thicker, warmer clothing to my wardrobe.

Thankfully I found the jacket of my dreams this past Sunday when I was shopping with Stina. If you happen to have a Walmart near you (which, lets not kid ourselves, who doesn't?) I suggest you go check out their stock of jackets. I nabbed this beautiful jacket for $30 which is a major steal. I've been searching high and low for the perfect moto jacket and even considered dishing out $100 but Walmart's alternative is just as good, if not better.

I'm probably going to be investing most of my spare money on boots this winter. One of my biggest pet peeves about the cold weather is having cold feet, that's just one feeling I cannot deal with. For some odd reason my boots turned out black in these photos but they're actually a dark brown. I've had these for years but I've had bad luck every time I wear them. I fractured and sprained my ankle on two separate occasions in these boots so you can probably imagine how cautious I am when it comes to walking in these. They're just too cute and cozy to put away forever, though. Disregard the mess, by the way. I was in such a rush to leave my house and it ended up looking pretty unkept by the time I was ready to snap a few shots.

Jacket - Walmart

Top - Penningtons

Belt - ASOS

Skirt - H&M

Tights - We Love Colours

Boots - Urban Outfitters

I see a lot of people posting music and I've been meaning to do that for awhile. I spent a lot of time listening to this song last fall and I can foresee myself listening to it even more this year. Its just one of those songs that makes me feel good and nostalgic at the same time.

Lovers' Name - Goldenwest

Brand New Ghoulfriend

2011-10-17T17:43:00.000-07:00

Remember a few months ago when I featured this really babely fashion blogger No Futvre? Remember when I spent half of the post talking about how much I adored her style and how cool I thought she was? Well, my dreams came true last night when I had the chance to eat McDonalds, shop and check out Halloween goodies at Walmart with her.

If you don't know of Stina I suggest you stop reading this post right now and go check out her blog. I really mean it! Her style is untouchable and I'm happy to report that she's pretty amazing company as well. I'm still on cloud 9 after hanging out with her but I'll spare everyone from too much gushing. I just have to say that it was pretty cute that we both unknowingly wore the exact same lipstick. Twinsiez!

We ran out of sunlight before any of us could get proper outfit photos but we ended up taking a mock shoot inside of the McDonalds bathroom. I guess these, as well as the Walmart photos, are going to have to do. I wanted to look witchy, I felt witchy and I was witchy. Fall has that effect on me. I have nothing else I want to say because all I want to do is fill this post with photos so that is exactly what I'm going to do. Enjoy!

Long Line Bra - Hips & Curves

Cardigan - Stiches

Mini Skirt - H&M

Lace Broom Skirt - Forever 21

Belt - Icing by Claire's

Shoes - Aldo

Weekend Wishlist

2011-10-16T10:24:00.000-07:00

1. Black Leather Brogue Boots / 2. Suedette Leopard Wedges / 3. Pencil Skirt in Flock Spot / 4. Green Wrap Jersey Dress / 5. Green Wrap-Front Dress / 6. Lyrca/Nylon Tights in Red / 7. The Muppets Collection by OPI

Fall is in full swing here in Canada and all I keep thinking about is how to spruce up my wardrobe.

Blackest Black

2011-10-14T08:37:00.000-07:00

I've been under the weather for the past week and I haven't had the energy to really pull together any sort of outfit. I woke up on Thursday morning feeling a lot better than I had since last Wednesday and I immediately knew I needed to go outside. I'm not the type of person that likes staying home for too long so I needed to find any excuse to leave. Thankfully my friend asked me to go out with her and I grabbed at the chance. I'm still not feeling the greatest so I didn't really bother to put as much effort into my outfit and I didn't feel compelled to take as many outfit photos but these will do. I purchased some black lipstick this summer and I've been trying to find the perfect opportunity to wear it. I was completely unsure of how to wear it, in fact I think I still need to play around with makeup and technique. The lipstick doesn't actually stick to my lips as well as other colours I've purchased. I'm going to continue to play around and figure out the perfect way to use this colour. I really did end up liking it on me and its such a dramatic look that I can't playing it up. For anyone wondering this is Manic Panic's black lipstick. I would suggest buying this as a way to get acquainted with the colour until you move up to a more expensive, better quality brand. It isn't long lasting at all and it came off immediately after eating but it was really expensive ($8 on ebay) so I'm not complaining.

In between coughing, sneezing and a swollen lip I've been over the moon about my brand new tattoo. Anyone who has ever discussed tattoos with me knows just how long I've wanted the Cowardly Lion tattooed on my wrist. He is described as a cowardly, scared creature who, in spite of all that, still performs courageous acts in the face of fear. He dream of having courage but failed to realize that he had it all along. When I look down at this tattoo I'm reminded of the small and not so small moments of fear I have overcome and that I still have the courage to get through.

Shirt - Penningtons

Skirt - H&M

Bracelet/Earrings - Forever 21

Tights - We Love Colours

Shoes - Aldo

Shop til you drop

2011-10-05T18:25:00.000-07:00

Why on earth did it take me so long to realize how amazing coloured panty hose are? I mean, really though? I used to swear up and down that I would never, ever wear them because I couldn't possibly see they would look good on me but I admit that I'm wrong. Very, very wrong. This autumn I intend to stock up on every colour of the rainbow and wear each colour proudly. Coloured tights are such a great way of adding some spunk to your outfit while remaining cozy and warm. It looks like I have a new obsession but I am not fighting it.

Sometime last week (remind me to start posting my outfit photos sooner, please!) I decided I was going to browse Addition Elle's new Michel Studio line. I was taken by a few of their items and I couldn't resist purchasing the leather panel skirt. Addition Elle was kind enough to hook me up with a gift card so I took advantage and nabbed two things I had been eying. Now, I know realistically I won't be buying $80 skirts on the regular but sometimes you just have to have that specific piece in your wardrobe. I'm really, really impressed with how warm and cozy this skirt is. I'm also really impressed that Addition Elle seems to be including younger generation friendly attire in their selection of clothing. I remember the days where I'd walk into Addition Elle and I'd find stuff that I could see my grandmother wearing but it seems like they're really dead set on including stuff us younger kids can appreciate too. I hit up a few other stores when I was there and ended up making a small haul video out of it. I'm still new to this vlogging thing but I really enjoy making and editing videos. I might try to make more videos in the coming months and definitely continue the haul/OoTD video trend.

After making this video I did notice a rip in my leather panel skirt but I've been assured that I purchased a defected item. I will, at this point, believe that that's the case but I'll keep everyone updated on whether or not this happens again. I wouldn't want to sit here and talk up an item that failed me for such an expensive price. Either way, I still think its a great piece and definitely something I never thought I'd see Addition Elle put out. I'm really excited to pull an outfit together with both of my Addition Elle pieces.

I'd also quickly like to express my love for my new earrings from The Clothing Show. I purchased those beautiful babies for a mere $5 but I seriously cannot remember the name of the booth I nabbed them from. I'm really upset about that too because I had a great time talking with the owners. Either way, they're beautiful and I'm in love.

Shirt - Old Navy

Skirt - Penningtons

Tights - Addition Elle

Shoes - Ebay

Earrings - The Clothing Show

Garters and RawrManifesto

2011-09-30T18:29:00.000-07:00

This is going to be another one of those photo filled posts. Sadia of Rawr Manifesto and I got together for a much needed meetup and seeing as she's also a fashion blogger we left with tons of photos from our far too short date night. Being a fashion blogger definitely has its perks but there isn't anything quite as rewarding as meeting fellow like-minded individuals who then become great friends. I've only known Sadia for a short while but we've been pretty good friends since our first encounter way back in June.

Do you ever dream up the perfect outfit and hope for the day you can successfully pull it together? I certainly have and thankfully I finally had all of the pieces to complete the ensemble. Thankfully I had the perfect occasion to wear it to and one of my favourite people to wear it for.

I posted awhile back that I had been eying a cheetah print pencil skirt from Domino Dollhouse. I was lucky enough to find it for a bit cheaper on Chic Star so I went with them. It felt like it took forever for it to finally get here but the day it arrived I felt like a kid on Christmas morning (or what I'd assume it feels like seeing as I don't celebrate Christmas). The colours are a bit lighter than I had expected and the fabric isn't what I had imagined at all. My only regret is not purchasing a size down because it is a bit too large for my liking. There isn't any stretch to this skirt at all but its definitely cut just a bit big and well, I like my pencil skirts to fit snug. Last week I stumbled on this biker vest and I just knew I had to have it. How often do you come across such a well made and basically perfect item for $34.00? Throw those two pieces together and you have the start of something good.

I dressed a bit too warm for the weather so I didn't get to enjoy my vest for the full day but it was surprisingly comfortable and light weight. If you're in the market for a vest similar to this one I suggest checking out Forever 21.

We spent the day shopping, eating, talking and just generally being hot fatties in one of the last hot days of the month. Sadia introduced me to Marble Slab Creamery and I introduced her to Toko restaurant. It was hard to accept that our day was going to wrap up but I had a really good time just hanging out. It was the perfect way to put an end to September.

Vest/Bracelets/Earrings- Forever 21

Top - Jacob

Skirt - Chic Star

Tights - We Love Colours

Shoes - Aldo

The Clothing Show

2011-09-28T12:42:00.000-07:00

Things have been a bit crazy this past week and I have a ton of things to update about. I was incredibly lucky to win a wristband to see Jay Manuel premiere his new line Attitude at Sears last Tuesday (Karen of Curvy Canadian also attended!) and I will be blogging with my review later on this week. For now I bring you an update about my first ever experience going to The Clothing Show in Toronto. I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I never even knew The Clothing Show existed before this year but I'm glad Karen (can you tell we hang out a lot? haha) brought it to my attention. I went in with little to no expectations but I was so pleased to see what was waiting for us inside.

For those who don't know The Clothing show is Canada's largest vintage and independent designer show. Here's a description right from their website!

For over 33 years The Clothing Show has been serving up a delicious mix of unmistakably inventive local “must have” lines of apparel & accessories. Catch runway shows throughout the weekend, featuring local designers. Shop from more than 300 booths from the Local Canadian Designer, Streetwear, Vintage and Sample Sales Sections and find a vast selection to suit anyone's fancy. Whatever your delight, The Clothing Show is the one stop, full weekend shopping experience for everyone!

I had originally gone with my heart set on watching the fashion shows. Karen spoke so highly of Ashaki Charles and I knew I was going to enjoy discovering new Canadian plus size designers. The exhibit isn't exclusive to plus size retail but it certainly does include and promote the existing and upcoming local talent. I've already made a mental note to save up a ton of cash for next year's show. I overheard someone say that The Clothing Show is where they purchase a lot of their best pieces and now I know exactly what they mean. I saw so many unique, creative and well crafted items. It broke my heart just a little bit to walk away from all the things I couldn't afford.

Hello Kitty! and the hat that Karen fell pretty hard over

Do you ever walk into a mall or store and just get overwhelmed with everything that you want to buy? Realistically you can't really afford it but you're suddenly dreaming of the many different ways you could go about affording the gloriously beautiful things you're witnessing? Thats exactly how I felt when I walked into the venue on Saturday. My mind couldn't exactly process just how much I wanted to snag up everything and keep it close to my heart forever and always. I think my favourite part about getting to attend this event was realizing that maybe Toronto did have a lot of what I was looking for as a fashion junkie. Though not everything I loved was offered in my size I could see the change before my eyes. I met a few lovely ladies who were incredibly eager to hear Karen and I talk about our roles in the plus size community and are willing to take suggestions from us for their clothing rental store (Rent Frock Repeat). We also met Mélanie Dubuc, an independent Quebec designer who has her very own chic plus size line. She was so sweet and even more excited to know that we were plus size fashion designers. Mélanie Dubuc's designs also appeared on the runway where she showcased a few pieces I intend to get my hands on as soon as possible. I fell madly in love with her houndsooth skirt and my heart has been taken since!

Unfortunately I left my handy dandy camera at home so I wasn't able to take proper outfit photos but Karen was kind enough to take a few on her iPhone for me. A lot of the pictures didn't really catch the detail of the lace on the dress but I managed to find a few that turned out well. I've been iffy about this dress since the moment I received it. I'm not entirely sold on strapless dresses only because I haven't really found the perfect strapless bra to go along with them. I'm really thankful that I didn't sell this dress when I had the chance to months ago because I'm really realizing how lovely it is. I still need to hunt down the perfect accessories to go along with it but keeping my trench on the entire day helped give it an extra kick.

Dress - Asos

Trench - Walmart

Tights - We Love Colours

Ring - Aldo

Bag - Private Seller

Shoes - Payless Shoe Store

Addition Elle Styling Event

2011-09-23T12:22:00.000-07:00

About a month ago Addition Elle held a blogger styling event and I was lucky enough to be invited to attend. I was over the moon about getting to be part of such an incredible experience but I was a bit nervous at the same time. In a short week, the day arrived and I headed to Addition Elle event with fellow fashion blogger Karen (of Curvy Canadian). We were the first bloggers to arrive and we were instantly treated with the upmost respect and grace. In a few short minutes other bloggers began to arrive and I could begin to feel just how important and momentous this day would be for me.

I had the pleasure of meeting other amazing, talented fashion bloggers as well as the kind and extremely sweet people behind Addition Elle and the event. I wish I could just go on and on about how much fun I had and how much I did not want the event to be over but I'll try to refrain from making this post too long. I'll just sum up by saying that everyone left an extremely good impression on me and I will always cherish the memories from this day.

With all the being said, I did go to the event for a reason. We were set up with a model and asked to create two different looks for her to wear. I felt a bit nervous that I wasn't going to pull off two different looks in time but after browsing and changing up outfits a few times I came up with two ensembles I'm really proud of. I felt like I wanted to create something that represented my style but still allowing others to feel like they could wear it too. I love taking something basic and giving it a bit of an edge or pairing it with something unlikely. So, after a month of impatiently waiting for the chance to share my looks with you I'm so glad to finally premiere them. Addition Elle now has them as well as the other gorgeous outfits put together by my fellow fashion bloggers here. Please make sure to vote for your favourite outfits and be entered for a chance to win $150 to shop at Addition Elle (which also includes their brand new Michel Studio Line). I have to say I'm really quite impressed with what they've come out with but I'll get into that in a later post.

click here for to vote for the blogger styling contest!

I have a ton of photos to share from this event and its so hard to narrow it down to just a few so I'll just spam this post and accept that it'l be the longest one I'll probably ever do in my blog's history! Of course, I'll have the ones that didn't make the cut on my flickr.

The lovely Isabelle of La Vie C'est YeYe and Robyn of Fashionista 514

It was a pleasure meeting Sasha and Garcia of Flaws of Couture

I cannot say enough just how wonderful it was to see everyone (Sasha and Garcia of Flaws of Couture , Karen of Curvy Canadian, Isabelle of La Vie C'est YeYe and Robyn of Fashionista 514, Alison of 'Round Raglan Road , Kendall Donaldson, Kristania of Monochrome Chic and Sunny D of thatshardcore) and how excited to finally write this post. The styling contest ends on October 11th so please make sure to go over, vote and enter for your chance to win $150 (Canadian residents only). You can vote everyday too!

Belt - Asos

Top - H&M

Skirt - Dorothy Perkins

Necklace/Shoes/Ring - Aldo

Autumn Blues

2011-09-18T11:03:00.000-07:00

It isn't quite autumn yet but its beginning to feel a lot like it in Toronto. The last few days have been so chilly that even a pair of tights and a cardigan isn't enough to leave the house with. I'm a bit sad to see the summer leave and I will most certainly miss the extended days and sunlight but I'm over the heat. If I could somehow mix cold weather with long, summer days I'd be over the moon about the weather.

I put this outfit together for an important meeting with Addition Elle a few weeks ago. My dear friend gave me this dress for my birthday and I was dying to wear it. I've wanted a dress just like this one for awhile now after being inspired by an episode of Secret Diary of a Call Girl. I don't quite have all of the items I need to complete the look but I really couldn't be bothered to wait. I just adore how flowey and comfortable this dress is. Can we just talk about this rich blue colour as well? How beautiful, right? I'm so excited that I actually own this, even if I might have to wait awhile until I pull off the outfit I'm thinking of.

Dress - Gift (from Asos)

Belt/Tights - Penningtons

Cardigan - Stitches

Pins - Thrifted

Earrings - Aldo

Shoes - Payless Shoe Store

Customer Appreciation Party at Addition Elle SQUARE ONE

2011-09-15T12:15:00.000-07:00

Customer Appreciation Party, Saturday, September 17th, 2011 AT THE SQUARE ONE LOCATION! 20% off the entire store (cannot be combined with any other coupons or discounts). 8am start with an EARLY BIRD breakfast, and the first 20 customers receive a gift card!

This is an event you DO NOT want to miss! Addition Elle is bringing you their new MICHEL Studio collection and you've got the opportunity to check it out, try them on and get 20% OFF! Not only that, but you'll be able to get style advice from Flaws of Couture, Garters and Stockings (thats me!) and Curvy Canadian who are all in store from 2 o'clock that afternoon!

Why you've GOT to come:

*Gift Bag giveaways from different companies and ALL bags have an MP3 Player in them!

*Raffles throughout the day! Restaurant, personal training, makeover etc.

*Fashion Bloggers are in at 2PM to promote and give styling advice to customers

*Food and beverage served throughout the day

***20% off the entire store! (Cannot be combined with any other coupon or discount).

It is very clear that this is a MUST GO TO event! Come out and have some fun with us at Addition Elle. There is a lot in store and some AMAZING pieces from the MICHEL STUDIO line that we know you all will die for!

Cant wait to see you all there!

Business As Usual

2011-09-12T16:33:00.000-07:00

I've been really bad with keeping this up to date for the past 2 weeks or so but I'm trying my darndest to ensure it stays updated regularly. I was all excited to briefly talk about the new set of frames that I own but they gave out on me after two days of use. That's the last time I buy a cheap pair of plastic frames from ebay and put my prescription lenses into them. Thankfully I already found a nicer, sturdier pair and I'm just waiting for it to arrive. I really hope it lasts for me this time around.

I've been going through a bit of a dry spell with my wardrobe lately so I'm really grateful that I was invited to Pennington's Style to Surprise event. I was able to get a few pieces that are really going to be worn quite often this fall and I'm so excited for the weather to finally cool. One of my absolute favourite pieces that I picked up from Penningtons was was the pencil skirt pictured above. I'm a real sucker for high waisted anything and I'm so pleased with the quality and cut of this skirt. I know its going to last me awhile and thats exactly how you want to feel when you buy anything.

I'm not going to spend a lot of time talking about this outfit because guess what? I made my very first video outfit of the day!!! It was a bit rushed and I was seriously so hot when I made it but I'm so happy that I actually have the recording equipment in order to do anything. So, without further adieu here is my very first (and certainly not my last) video OoTD!

Cardigan - Gift

Shirt - Voluptuous

Skirt - Penningtons

Rings - H&M (I think)

Bracelet - Borrowed from my sis

Lipstick - Rebel by Mac

Part of Growing Up

2011-09-06T18:26:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile or at least it feels like it! These last few days have been pretty hectic. My younger sister moved away to college and there was a ton of things going on for me outside of the internet. I've missed blogging though and truth be told, its hard to stay away for long. Unfortunately, I took these photos so long (at least 2 weeks) that I hardly remember what I was doing that day. I'll just assume I was hanging out with a friend or something along those lines.

I'm really not that experienced when it comes to styling hair, in fact I'd call myself pretty terrible when it comes down to it. I tend to sit in front of the computer, watch youtube videos of hair tutorials and wish that I had the patience to do something like that. The most I've done with my hair lately are pin-curls and luckily for me, its the simplest process I could ask for. This is the result after a day or two but I think it looks pretty good! What do you think? I'm kind of digging this look on me. As far as the outfit goes, well I assume I was just channelling a sexy secretary look or at least my best attempt at some sort of alternative version of that. All I know is that I'm probably going to end up wearing this outfit any excuse I have because it incorporates everything I seem to be obsessed with when it comes to fashion. Who says you need to constantly do something new? Sometimes sticking with what you know works the very best.

Top - H&M

Skirt - Asos

Earrings - Aldo

Bracelet - Gift

Shoes - Walmart

Styled to Surprise by Penningtons

2011-09-01T12:02:00.000-07:00

This past Thursday was Penningtons "Style To Surprise" event, in which they premiered their new Fall/Winter 2011 collection. I was among the lucky bloggers who were invited to shop their new line and get treated to a night of luxury and well, a virtual surprise waiting for us in the change rooms.

Garcia & Sashagai of Flaws of Couture, Karen of Curvy Canadian, Adrienne of Big Girls Bigger Dreams, Sadia of Rawr Manifesto in front of our limo

Penningtons was kind enough to offer the fashion bloggers in attendance a very reasonable amount of shopping money to explore their new line. Now, seeing as I swore out Penningtons years ago and deemed it pointless to even venture inside of the store, I was a bit reluctant and frankly, worried that I wouldn't find anything to my liking. I kept telling myself that if all else failed, I'd stock up on cardigans and accessories. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I not only found decent basics but a fair amount of clothing that I'd actually go out of my way to own. By no means am I saying that Penningtons has reworked their collection so well that I'd shop there on a regular basis but I can see that they're taking a step in the right direction. I was also extremely pleased to know that they were willing to hear my suggestions on what to do with their stock of clothing in order to bring younger customers in. Am I hopeful? Very much so. Call me what you will but I truthfully think Penningtons is willing to listen and take a step in the right direction.

Karen, Alison, Fran, Sadia and I posing after a long day of shopping

Sadia and I relaxing after a few hours of shopping and mingling.

Now for my favourite part -- what I wore. I'm sure some of you will remember this outfit from a few months back when I did mini-photoshoot with a friend. I wasn't sold on it then, maybe because I was too overwhelmed with how many alterations needed to be made but I gave this dress another shot. I threw it on Sunday night as a potential outfit for the Addition Elle event I went to but deemed it too fancy for the night. A few tucks and folds turned this dress into the perfect choice for browsing Penningtons' new line and hanging out with fellow fashion bloggers. I'm actually really pleased that I decided to give this dress another chance because well, I'm suddenly quite in love with it. Now that its beginning to get colder outside I can definitely see myself wearing it more often. I did brave it out with heels for awhile but my feet eventually grew too tired and I switched to flats. As per usual, I kept it pretty simple with few accessories and threw on lipstick for the final touch.

All in all, the night was actually quite enjoyable and I really didn't want it to end. It was so fun getting to see some old friends and to meet other fellow fashion bloggers. I'm really grateful for events like this existing merely for the fact that its an excuse to hang out with people who appreciate the same things I do. As per usual, there was a ton of pictures taken that night but some of my favourites were shot by the staff photographer that night. Unfortunately, not all of the photos I wanted to see made the cut but here but here are a few of my personal favourites.

Dress/Belt - Chicstar

Heels - Walmart

Flats - Payless Shoe Store

Clutch/Ring - Aldo

Its My Party & I'll Dress Up if I Want to

2011-08-30T13:02:00.000-07:00

First and foremost, I am so sorry for the lack of updates here. I feel like its been forever and a day since the last time I really sat down with an update. However, I have a ton of content to update with for the next few weeks!

On August 18th I turned 24 years old and I spent months thinking about the best way I wanted to celebrate being one year older. I'm not really one to go out clubbing or anything that a lot of my friends have done in the past. I'm a low key kind of girl who just enjoys getting dressed up and enjoying the company of friends. So, I decided on a dress to impress birthday dinner at one of my favourite restaurants in Toronto. If anyone is local and enjoys japanese food, I highly suggest checking out Toko. Their food is seriously worth the price and traveling time it takes me to get there. I'd go every week if I could!

A few months ago I purchased a dress from Chicstar that I had been eying since I first discovered the site. Buying this piece didn't really make sense at the time seeing as I couldn't possibly think of where I'd wear such a distinct dress but once I settled on birthday plans, I knew the perfect use for my chiffon pencil dress.

I set out to create an old hollywood feel with the dress but unfortunately pincurling my hair didn't exactly work in my favour. However, I decided to pin my bangs and hair back which really ended up working in my favour. There is so much detail and the top of the dress is really what caught my attention in the first place so I didn't want to take away from that. I put a pair of heels on and enjoyed the night over delicious food, lots of laughing and a few alcoholic beverages. I couldn't have asked for a better birthday!

Dress - Chicstar

Earrings - Aldo Accessories

Let's All Go to the Beach!

2011-08-22T12:49:00.000-07:00

I have been so blessed and lucky to have the chance to hang out at the beach quite a bit this summer. It's always been my dream to spend an entire summer swimming and enjoying the sun. I don't know if I'll get much of a chance to enjoy the water again this summer so I thought I'd compile my favourite photos from each beach I've gone to and reminisce a bit about my time spent there.

"Big, Fat Beach Day @ Hanlans Nude Beach"

Soon after Big, Fat Toronto wrapped up, I really felt a nagging desire to plan something again. I wanted to see all the fabulous and amazing people I met again and I thought, why not put together a beach day? The turnout was intimate and friendly and the location (Hanlan's nude beach) was perfect for a body positive beach day.

Hanlan's Nude Beach

I headed to the nude beach again after falling completely in love with the atmosphere. Its not everyday that you can walk around totally naked with a bunch of strangers. It's hard to put the experience into words but it felt liberating and so freeing to have the option to wear clothing or not. I swam in the buff and strolled around topless for hours!

Nickel Beach in Port Colborne

I cannot even express just how wonderful going to Nickel Beach was. The sand was so soft, hard and warm. We could pull up with the car directly onto the beach, it wasn't overly crowded and the water was a nice luke warm temperature. It felt amazing pulling up to the beach to see the sun bouncing off of the water. Thankfully, I had my camera in hand and took a few videos which I compiled together for a short video. I wanted it to look dreamy because well, that's how it felt. It was a total dream to get to spend the day at such a beautiful, quiet, relaxing location with amazing ladies.

All in all, my summer has been amazing and I cannot believe its almost over. If I could do it all over again, I would. I've met amazing people, experienced wonderful things and I will have precious, unforgettable memories to take with me for the rest of my life.
Purple Bathing Suit / High Waisted Bikini Bottoms - Lands EndBikini Top - Etsy (Sorry, I can't remember the name!)Lavender Sunglasses - DollarstoreCateye Sunglasses - Ebay

Crop It!

2011-08-15T15:34:00.000-07:00

This past Tuesday I met up with fellow fashion blogger Karen (of Curvy Canadian). It had been a long time since I saw her last (she came out to Big, Fat Toronto) and we had some major catching up to do. Obviously, I wanted to impress Karen. Its not everyday you get to hang out with a fellow fashion blogger so I thought I'd use this opportunity to wear my very first crop top.

I had purchased a black mini the day before and I was itching to use it. Even though August is almost over, getting a mini skirt in black was my number one priority this summer. I have to take advantage of the time I have left and wear this skirt in every way possible. I'm not too keen on wearing mini skirts with tights and I can't fathom tucking it away just yet. So, thankfully my meet up with Karen gave me the perfect opportunity. I nabbed this top at Big, Fat Toronto and wanted to turn it into a crop top. The design is really interesting but probably the busiest I'd ever do. Oddly enough, this shirt used to be Karen's and I didn't even know that until she told me when we saw each other.

Karen and I chatted away, visited Addition Elle and after all that was done, we had an impromptu photoshoot near my place. The weather was a bit gloomy and that morning it poured like crazy but that did not stop us from enjoying the sun that was peaking through. Her boyfriend snapped a few shots of us "casually strolling" down the street and they just had to be turned into a GIF.

click for full effect!

I really did have a great time with Karen and I can't wait to see her again this Sunday for an event we're both doing. There's something really lovely about having a group of fashion bloggers who also feel strongly about the size acceptance movement. Karen was such a pleasure to be around and, of course, she looked absolutely precious. I nearly cancelled our date but I couldn't not see her after she told me she had gotten dressed up for me. I had a small moment of insecurity while walking around the mall showing my midriff but being in her company really helped remind me that there simply wasn't anything to worry about.

Shirt - Big, Fat Toronto

Skirt - H&M

Rings - H&M/Kiosk @ Eaton Centre

Pins - Thrifted

Sunglasses - Ebay

Weekend Wishlist: Domino Dollhouse

2011-08-14T10:52:00.000-07:00

First and foremost, I've changed the header again. What does everyone think? I like it a lot better than before. It looks cleaner, more organized and I'm digging the font a lot more than the one I used before. I guess having sporadic moments of inspiration while I'm bored really do pay off. I think I'll keep it!

I don't know about everyone else but I tend to spend a lot of my free time (especially on the weekend) browsing online stores and making an internal wish list of things I'd buy if I had the money. I've done it with Dorothy Perkins plenty of times but this morning I actually spent the time browsing every section of Domino Dollhouse. Now, I've never owned a piece of clothing from their store. I've wanted to, trust me, and I nearly made a purchase of some skirts months ago but it never ended up going through for some reason. I'm really digging their collection and as someone who enjoys the rockabilly/pin-up look, I love that they offer items that could really improve my wardrobe. So, after browsing their website for a good hour and making that internal wishlist again, I thought I'd give another weekend wishlist featuring Domino Dollhouse a try.

Click to make image larger

1. Rick-Rack Rita Dress - I saw this dress a few weeks ago on shopruche.com for $74.99. I won't lie, I instantly fell in love but I cringed at the price. I can't justify spending that much money on a dress unless I know I'm going to be wearing it every single week until I've worn it out. However, I couldn't get it out of my mind. I was pleasantly surprised to see Domino Dollhouse had the very same dress and it was $10 cheaper! I can see myself wearing this dress so many different ways and it kills me that I don't own it yet. It's so simple but so easy to wear in numerous ways. Play it up with accessories, heels or keep it casual with maybe just a hair flower, simple makeup and wedges. I want this dress so very, very bad!

2. Purrrrrfect Pencil Skirt - This skirt kills me, just completely kills me (in all the right ways, of course)! I get real passionate about skirts and I've just begun to understand the beauty behind cheetah print so naturally I died a bit when I saw this beauty. I want to play the role of a punk rock vixen in this skirt, crop top and leather jacket. I'd load on my red lipstick, apply some winged eyeliner to play up the look and ideally spend the night at some outdoor concert somewhere. A girl can dream until she pulls together the money (hopefully before it sells out) to make her dreams come true!

3. Sally Sparrow Dress - Now, I wasn't really sold on this dress at first. I stared at it for a bit, questioned whether I enjoyed the two birds perched just below the shoulder and really began to see potential in this dress. I love red, that's no secret but I'm not huge on dramatic prints. So, after staring a bit longer I kind of grew to like the birds and hey, even if I started to really dislike them I could always throw on a cardigan and enjoy the simplicity of this gorgeous red dress. Its a win/win situation.

4. Make Me Over Button - I really dig pins and I really dig glamour, combine them and you've won me over. Case and point, this button.

5. Retro Red Lipstick Brooch - This is one of those items that just popped out at me right now. I think it goes without saying that I'd wear it pretty much everyday, in every way and I'd get my money's worth and then some.

6. Bow Earrings in Red - All I can say is they're red and they're big and they're going to be mine!

7. Hearty Ring - I saw the owner Tracy wearing these rings in a picture that was floating around tumblr and I instantly found myself saying "Where can I get those? I NEED them!". Then it dawned on me that if I was going to find it anywhere, my best bet would probably be on her website and so I quickly pulled up Domino Dollhouse and voila, found 'em! I want all 3 colours so I can wear them in every way possible because I just adore these rings so darn much!

If I had all the money in all the world, I would have already owned this pieces but that's just not the reality of the situation. So, I'll admire from a far and hope to God they do not sell out before I buy them!

First Date

2011-08-10T12:41:00.000-07:00

I've worn this outfit too many times to count on one hand. To say its one of my favourites would be pointless because its definitely obvious at this point. When I want to wow someone or feel my best, this is my go-to outfit. I, however, never seem to get proper photos of myself in my favourite ensemble. I'm always too busy or not in the mood to snap a few shots before I head out wearing this outfit. Fortunately, I could snap a few shots (sans shoes -- I hadn't decided whether I wanted comfort or fashion at that point) before I went out on a first date.

A few weeks ago I plucked a fake flower from the top of a pen that no longer worked. I never wanted to dispose of it because I felt the flower was too pretty to let go of. Thankfully I kept it around long enough to realize it would work perfectly as an accessory for my hair. Sometimes not being able to let go of something can work out in my favour, especially when I've been in the market for a white flower hair accessory for awhile.

Top - H&M

Skirt - Asos

Earrings - Aldo

Flower - Taken from the top of a pen

I've Got the Blues

2011-08-08T14:09:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I run out of ideas and ways to stretch my wardrobe. So, when all else fails I grab two articles of clothing I've worn before and throw them together. In this case, my "just throw anything on" idea worked in my favour and I managed to pull something together that I generally felt pretty good in.

Shirt - Asos

Skirt - Forever21

Headscarf - Asos

Shoes - Etsy

Sunglasses - Ebay

Oh Baby!

2011-08-05T12:15:00.000-07:00

Every once in awhile I'll try to do something completely different from my usual style. I've purposely made myself buy things that I found cute but couldn't possibly think of a way to wear to test my comfort with my own personal style.

I felt like today was a good day to test my limits -- or much rather just grab whatever and go with it. I wanted to wear something different and finally put to use some of those items that have been stashed away in my closet forever. Since I've been feeling a lot more confident with my use of colour, I thought I'd do a baby/pastel colour palette.

I decided to keep accessorizing to a minimum. Even if I am trying something totally new, I wanted to keep an element of my own personal style. I'm not one to go over the top with accessories. I like to add and play with colour, using lipstick or blush as a way to play up or down my look. I grabbed the first bright pink colour that I found in my makeup box and thankfully, it helped tie the entire look together for me. I feel pretty darned good about heading out to sip on an iced coffee, run some errands and enjoy the rest of my day.

Cardigan - Dynamite

Undershirt - Winners

Skirt - Dorothy Perkins

Belt - Walmart

Necklace - Dollarama

Shoes - Etsy

OoTD - Au Revoir

2011-07-27T14:14:00.000-07:00

In my most private dreams, I'm at waitress at a small café in France. I've picked up the language perfectly and I have a vintage inspired apartment all my own. I've lived there for years and I've grown accustomed to the culture but most importantly, the fashion. In reality, I'm a Canadian born fat girl with an incredibly large fascination for French culture. It's probably the main reason why I've made it a hobby to pick up anything that strikes me as remotely French inspired.

So, its obvious that my point with this outfit was creating something that appeared French. Even though I ditched "La Grande Fille" I still hold the language and culture very dear to my heart. At this point I'll do anything I can in order to feel like I've taken a bit of dream lifestyle with me.

Cardigan - Gift

Shirt - Winners

Skirt - Forever21

Shoes - Payless Shoe Store

Just Go With It

2011-07-26T13:18:00.000-07:00

So, if you've visited my blog at all within the past few minutes you'll notice a huge change. I've felt for awhile now that La Grande Fille doesn't really represent me anymore. I was a totally different person when I started this blog, with a totally different attitude and a completely different style. Like many of us, we grow into new things and leave our old interests behind. Ditching my old name was hard but I feel like this is the best thing for me and my blog. In addition, I've decided to ditch some of the very routine ways I'd go about posting. I'm sure you'll notice a few subtle changes in the days to come!

Anyhow, I've had these outfit pictures stored in my flickr for a few days now. I really haven't found much inspiration in my closet lately but I'm still doing my very best not to buy much else these days. I think I'm doing a pretty good job of staying on task but I won't lie and say its the easiest thing I've done.

Top - H&M

Skirt - Can't Remember

Belt - Asos

Shoes - Aldo

2011-07-26T11:35:00.001-07:00

I swear I haven't disappeared, I'm just doing some behind the scenes work! I'll be back completely with a new name and logo!

The Little Blue Dress

2011-07-14T12:12:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Gazel (of Bonjour Gazel) put together a large clothing sale on her blog. She was kind enough to give me a glance before it premiered and I had the pleasure of nabbing a few items. If any of you follow Gazel, you probably already know what an amazing wardrobe this young lady has. I was a bit ecstatic to see some of my favourite pieces up for sale but I only ended up grabbing two of them.

I can only describe this piece as the perfect little blue dress. It may not be ideal for the summer time (due to too much wind, heavy fabric and long sleeves) but that sure as hell didn't stop me from finding an excuse to wear it the very first day it got here. I popped on my brand new yellow belt to break it up and voila, I had an outfit! I'm so inspired to find the perfect pair of shoes for this outfit too, maybe a pair of gold flats or yellow wedges. There are just so many different ways I want to wear this dress and I cannot wait to do so!

Dress - Via Bonjour Gazel

Belt - Asos

Earrings - Alo

Shoes - Payless Shoe Store

Asos Obsession

2011-07-14T08:48:00.000-07:00

For anyone who has ordered online, you know the risk you take when you purchase anything. It can be a size too small or big, your items might get lost in the mail, the fabric might be irritating but you take the risk anyway because of the convenience and discount price. Asos was never my first choice when shopping online for a multitude of reasons. They weren't exactly the most reliable of sources and their prices were always far too expensive for me to even consider purchasing. Most of all, their selection of clothing was far too mediocre to really pay full price for. So, I'm sure you can imagine how odd this next sentence might be for me to type out. I'm falling in love with Asos. I never thought I'd utter, let alone type those words out anytime soon but along the way, Asos has made a vast improvement.

Anyone who has glanced at Asos within the past month or so has probably noticed a distinct change in their selection of plus size clothing. Patterns, collars, vibrant colours and many other recent trends are consistently appearing in their Curve selection. Aside from the obvious expensive price tag, I'm really impressed by what Asos seems adamant on doing; offering the latest trends to the plus size women of the world. Is it true? Is Asos stepping up their game? I think the answer is a resounding Yes.

OoTD - The Apple Playsuit

2011-07-13T12:59:00.000-07:00

I've spent the last few months keeping tabs on this playsuit from Asos. I instantly fell in love with the print, colour and cut. It's definitely no secret that I love wearing anything high waisted, too! This playsuit (or romper to some) seemed to have my name written all over it and I couldn't have been more ecstatic to see it was marked down for Asos' summer sale.

If any of you watched my Asos Haul video you would have seen me mention that I wasn't too keen on the fabric. For some reason Asos tends to make a good portion of their stock with the same silk fabric which doesn't work well in the summer time. It has absolutely no breath which tends to work in reverse if you're wearing it to avoid feeling too hot. However, I'm still 100% in love with this playsuit and I cannot wait to wear it more this summer. I'll just have to pull it out on a slightly cooler day.

Playsuit - Asos

White Bangle - Local Shop

Earrings - Aldo

Shoes - Forever21

OoTD - The Fairest of Them All

2011-07-12T13:40:00.000-07:00

I meant to post this outfit days ago but I've been too busy to sit down and make a post. We've been having extremely hot weather in Toronto for the past week or so and I've taken to my no sleeves rule quite religiously. I'm going to admit that this was my very first time wearing a sleeveless dress in public since, well I cannot even remember when. Though it felt a little scary, I didn't have an ounce of regret when I felt the heat hit my body.

When I was a little girl everyone would tease me by calling me Snow White because my skin is white as snow and my lips are bright red. I used to resent the very mention of Snow White but I really grew to love and embrace the resemblance. I think Ms. White would be quite pleased with my tribute to her, even if I could (and will) go the extra mile.

Dress - Voluptuous

Belt - Urban Outfitters

Shoes - Payless Shoe Store

Headscarf - Asos

OoTD - The Summer Colours

2011-07-08T14:06:00.000-07:00

I felt incredibly uninspired last night, even if all I needed to get dressed up for was a walk to the corner store. Sometimes I feel like I really don't have many clothes at all but then I remember I've just gotten into the habit of wearing it once and stashing it away until months down the line.

Like I stated before, this isn't a habit I want to keep. I'd like to be able to look through my wardrobe and feel like I made a smart decision with my purchases. I spend a lot of time looking for deals and getting the most for my money so I might as well continue the trend at home. So, I pulled out two items I've worn plenty of times and paired them together. Sometimes I forget that I'm still really new to this whole fashion thing. I really never thought I'd be the type to care for clothing but ever since I realized how much I could get from expressing myself through fashion, I've never looked back.

Shirt - Fats Community

Skirt - i_dressup on ebay

Earrings - Aldo Accesories

Shoes - Payless Shoe Store

Asos Haul Video! (07.05.2011)

2011-07-05T13:43:00.000-07:00

Asos Haul Video from Sarah Anne on Vimeo.

I realized after I made this video that the belt is listed as super skinny. Oops!

OoTD - The Birthday Party

2011-07-01T11:39:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I spotted Jennifer Lilly's designs on Etsy. I was instantly captivated by her simplistic and sweet designs. I found myself bookmarking each dress and picturing myself wearing them this summer. It was an incredibly hard task to simply pick one piece but I settled on this handmade cotton lace dress. When I first received it in the mail I was ecstatic to finally have my dress. I was incredibly shocked with just how quick she completed and shipped out my dress. I can honestly say I've never been more pleased with an Etsy designer before. Not only did she make custom, adorable clothing that I could afford but I wouldn't have to wait over a month to be able to wear it.

I wanted to save this dress for something appropriate. I had a vision of me basking in the sun somewhere with a picnic basket in hand, complete with white cat-eye glasses. Being the impatient person that I am, I simply couldn't wait any longer to wear this dress and I decided to put on my best sweet face for an 11 year old's Justin Bieber themed birthday party. I'll admit that the fabric is a bit heavy and I was concerned about getting too hot but I felt incredibly comfortable in this dress. I ran, painted nails, kept 12 girls from tearing apart a Justin Bieber pinata and I never once felt I was too hot. If you're looking for the perfect vintage inspired summer dress, I highly suggest checking out what Jennifer Lilly has to offer you. I promise that you won't regret your purchase.

Dress: Jennifer Lilly via Etsy

Belt: Can't remember

Earrings: Aldo

Shoes: Modcloth

OoTD - The Lace Top

2011-06-30T09:37:00.000-07:00

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit unsure if I was really confident enough to walk out in something so exposing. I've admired see-through lace tops for so long but I wasn't quite sure if I could pull it off. When I put this outfit together and finally saw it in the flesh, I felt a bit silly for having any doubts to begin with. Here's a tip about clothing and fashion. You don't need a certain body type to pull it off. You don't need to be a size 6 to look good in form fitting clothing. All you really need is the confidence to wear whatever it is you love and appreciate it on your own.

Top: Forever 21

Skirt: Asos

Earrings: Can't remember

Woven Sandals: Forever 21 (not pictured)

Such Moonshiners Discount Code!

2011-06-27T10:28:00.000-07:00

I've teamed up with Neely of Such Moonshiners to bring my followers an exclusive discount code valid until July 3rd.

Neely has a knack for finding some of my dream pieces in plus size options and the best part? She doesn't overprice. It can be pretty scary buying previously worn clothing online but Neely's items are alway in wonderful condition. Take advantage of the special 20% discount code exclusively for my followers!

Code: GRAND20

Such Moonshiners

OoTD - The Rushed

2011-06-20T15:50:00.000-07:00

I was speaking to a friend the other day about how I tend to only wear my clothing once after purchasing it. I remember when I was younger how silly that idea seemed to me and I swore to myself that I'd never be that person. Needless to say, I was a bit disappointed in myself when I realized thats exactly the kind of person I'd become. After I completed a long, tasking project, I threw on an old dress I purchased from Asos and quickly tossed on some accessories.

Dress - Asos

Necklace - Souvenir shop

Headband - Urban Behaviour

Belt - Fats Community

Shoes - Etsy

Sunday Picnic

2011-06-18T16:48:00.001-07:00

Untitled by bigfashion featuring a flower necklace

Dorothy Perkins blue dress
£30 - dorothyperkins.com

River Island espadrille wedge sandals
$52 - asos.com

Dorothy Perkins clutch handbag
£25 - dorothyperkins.com

Soundgirl Clothing flower necklace
$15 - modcloth.com

Long earrings
$12 - modcloth.com

MAC Powder Blush
$20 - nordstrom.com

Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick - True Red : Target
$6.49 - target.com

OoTD - The Hotel Shoot

2011-06-18T11:07:00.000-07:00

I had the absolute pleasure of doing my very first hotel photoshoot last night. I'm starting a very new, exciting job and I'm going to be getting extremely creative with it. I wanted to start off with a very elegant, simple shoot and I was pleased to find the perfect dress stashed away in my closet.

I remember the day I purchased this black dress like it was yesterday. I was on the Atkins diet, about 30lbs down and it was my inspiration dress. You know, that dress you buy as inspiration to continue dropping pounds? I tried it on and it amplified my "problem areas". It made me feel uncomfortable but I swore to myself I'd reach a day when I felt beautiful in it. I'm glad to say that day has come. Nothing much has changed about my body since that day, in fact I think I'm heavier than I was then. However, one very important thing has changed about me and thats my mindset. I've stopped worrying if my belly is visible, whether or not I could hide my back fat or the best possible way to stand to reduce the appearance of my extra weight. I've embraced who I am and emphasize every inch of my beautiful body. I don't love myself regardless of my fat. I love every inch of myself, including my fat and suddenly wearing my skin tight, little black dress isn't so terrifying anymore.

Dress - Urban Behaviour

Necklace - Dollarama

Earrings - Aldo

Shoes - Payless Shoe Store

Summer Green

2011-06-16T17:02:00.001-07:00

Summer Green by bigfashion featuring vintage jewelry

Black and White Spot Dress
evans.co.uk

Platform shoes
$110 - modcloth.com

Buckle handbag
$65 - modcloth.com

Vintage jewelry
$15 - modcloth.com

Dorothy Perkins gold tone earrings
£6.50 - dorothyperkins.com

Big, Fat Beach Day

2011-06-16T12:22:00.000-07:00

Its hard to believe that Big, Fat Toronto has come and gone and the post-swap blues are definitely still lingering. However, that was only just the very beginning of Big, Fat events to hit the GTA. On July 9th @ 1pm, meet us at Toronto Island for a day filled with sun, floppy hats, bathing suits and laughing. So, bring some snacks, sunscreen and your sexy self and join us for some beach fun!

For more information and to rsvp, check us out on facebook!

OoTD - The Altered Dress

2011-06-15T13:34:00.000-07:00

When I first received this dress I wasn't too keen on the way it hit me. I wasn't quite sure exactly what it was that I didn't like until I realized I wasn't feeling the sleeves. So, I took my handy dandy scissors and chopped them off. Fortunately, it worked out perfectly and turned the dress into exactly what I wanted. Lately, the thought of altering my clothing has been pretty exciting to me. I'm eager to learn how to sew and make my own clothing but for now chopping off sleeves and collars will have to do. Its sort of my ultimate dream to one day own my own Etsy shop.

I just had some errands to run today so I wasn't keen on getting too dolled up but I took the opportunity to finally pull together an outfit I had been wanting to try. I really love the mix of patterns and the retro feel of this outfit. I happened to pick up the perfect pair of sandals from Forever 21 this weekend which really helped tie the entire outfit together, in my opinion.

Dress - Gift from Yammering Muse

Belt - Stitches

Bandana - Thrifted

Earrings - Aldo

Shoes - Forever 21

Dorothy Perkins Obsessed

2011-06-13T21:19:00.001-07:00

Dorothy Perkins Obsessed by bigfashion featuring leaf earrings

Dorothy Perkins linen skirt
23 GBP - dorothyperkins.com

Dorothy perkin
15 GBP - dorothyperkins.com

Dorothy Perkins tan shoes
35 GBP - dorothyperkins.com

Dorothy Perkins crossbody handbag
10 GBP - dorothyperkins.com

Dorothy Perkins leaf earrings
6.50 GBP - dorothyperkins.com

Dorothy Perkins white jewelry
3.75 GBP - dorothyperkins.com

OoTD - The Shopping Day

2011-06-12T11:09:00.000-07:00

I didn't bother to take proper photos of this outfit because honestly, I've worn it a couple hundred times and I'm sure I've done an OoTD of it before. I'm sure it goes without saying that this happens to be one of my very favourite outfits to put together. I feel incredibly sexy and confident whenever I throw on my red pencil skirt from Asos and blue collared top from H&M. I ended up wearing my black high heeled oxfords but I quickly regretted that decision when I was walking through the mall after a few hours. I ended up purchasing a pair of black sandals, even though I tried desperately to find a pair in white that was available in my size.

OoTD - The Plump it up!

2011-06-09T11:40:00.000-07:00

Last night I had the absolute pleasure of going to Plump it Up presented by Granny Boots. I had no idea what the dress code was going to be like but I took the opportunity to get my colour blocking on (sort of).

I'll try not to rant too much about how amazing the performances were last night and keep this about my outfit. Plump it Up was such a deliciously delightful, seductively sinful and whimsically wonderful event. I honestly never wanted it to end!

I've admired colour blocking from afar but I didn't really have the proper articles of clothing to pull it off. I received this Lane Bryant blouse in the mail on Monday and I knew instantly what I wanted to do. Originally, I had planned on using my loose fitting skirt but it just didn't feel right for the event. I wanted a prominent belly and noticeable thighs. Thankfully, I had just washed my blue bodycon skirt from Forever21 the night before and voila, I had myself an outfit. I popped up some buttons -- which happen to be my new favourite accessory -- to give myself some edge.

Shirt - Lane Bryant via Fats Community

Skirt - Forever 21

Shoes - Payless Shoe Store

"Don't Leave the House Today" Button - cowboygoods via Etsy

"I'll Just Pretend to Care" Button - mstalker402 via Etsy

Earrings - Aldo

Big, Fat Toronto

2011-06-07T12:59:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, Maxey and I spent the past few months planning a swap in Toronto and it took place this weekend. Words cannot even express just how wonderful and amazing it was. I woke up that morning to find it was pouring and the weather was just abysmal but that didn't stop people from coming out.

People began showing up promptly at 1pm and it wasn't long before the swapping began. The turnout was amazing and the attendees were all extremely sweet and sociable. Though I didn't get a chance to socialize as much during the actual swap, a few ladies stayed behind to chat. I think one of my very favourite things about the swap was how comfortable the atmosphere was. Sometimes it can be a bit awkward walking into a room full of people you don't know but every single person who came out was welcoming and chatty.

I managed to pick up a few cute pieces including cardigans and a adorable quilt that will be used for a photoshoot. My only regret about the swap itself was not finding the time to browse through the clothing but I'm glad that everyone who came out walked away with some decent clothing.

Those who stuck around for the evening portion were treated to a performance by burlesque dancer Kenicke Street. She did an extremely cool and rad performance to Lady Gaga's song Teeth. I'm definitely inspired to take some burlesque courses now! If you're in Toronto and happen to have the opportunity to watch her perform, I highly suggest it. Her act was great and she's genuinely someone I enjoyed watching perform.

I've had post-swap blues since Sunday morning but I am extremely pleased with the days events. Every single person I met on Saturday influenced my mood in a positive way. As someone who has never planned an event before, things were stressful for Maxey and I leading up to the event. Things went wrong, the weather wasn't very pleasant the day of but we still made it out ok. I really do not think I would have had such an amazing time if it weren't for the lovely ladies and gents I met. I cannot even express my gratitude to everyone who came out and made Big, Fat Toronto what it was and I am definitely going to continue the trend with Maxey come winter. To check out more images from the event, go to my flickr page.

OoTD - The Romper

2011-06-02T14:52:00.000-07:00

Rompers are in this season and I've been admiring them from a far for months now. I took the plunge and bought my very first romped from Asos a couple of weeks ago but I was a bit concerned if I'd like it on me. I was delightfully pleased with the fast delivery and quality of the romper. I have to admit, Asos is stepping up their game and quickly becoming one of my favourite online shops. If they start slashing down their prices I really don't think I'll be shopping anywhere else this summer.

What I love most about this particular piece is how it shows off my figure without being too tight. Usually I feel sexier in something that hugs my shape but this particular romper does exactly what I want to, while remaining loose and comfortable. The print on this is a bit busier than I'm used to but who says you can't go out of your comfort zone? As someone who has a long torso, its a tad uncomfortable around my butt but I'm still definitely keen on wearing more rompers this summer. They're comfortable, fashionable and easy to move in. Expect to see me in more rompers this summer! :)

Rompers - Asos

Shoes - Aldo

Ring - Street sale in Ottawa

Downtown Promotion

2011-06-01T13:58:00.000-07:00

With Big, Fat Toronto literally only days away, Maxey and I have been working hard to get the word out. We hit the town Monday evening to put our very first flyers out.

Above is Maxey and I in front of our first posted flyer (B&W version designed by yours truly). I can't even explain how wonderful it was to put up our flyers around town. It doesn't actually feel real just yet and its hard to believe the BFT is just around the corner. Maxey and I originally started with the idea of small, minuscule idea of a quiet picnic between fashion bloggers but now its taken off into a large body positive event. I cannot wait to see who shows up!

We obviously took the opportunity to get some shots in of our outfits in front of this really adorable wall. If there's one thing I love about Toronto its the graffiti walls all around the city. You just cannot find this in my neck of the woods. I purchased the blouse above on Asos about 2 or so weeks ago on a whim. I've been itching to add more prints into my wardrobe and this caught my eye immediately. I didn't have a chance to get detail shots but the design has waves and birds all over it. Its pretty and light fabric, which makes for a great summer top. Unfortunately, the weather did not play nice with my hair nor did my (much too large) belt work in my favour.

Top/Skirt: Asos

Belt: Chic Star

Shoes: Aldo

OoTD - The Flyers

2011-05-28T13:59:00.000-07:00

I really don't make a point of using my webcam to take OoTDs but I didn't really have the patience to take proper photos, upload them and go about the usual process. I'm heading out to get some flyers printed for Big, Fat Toronto. I'm really excited that its next weekend but I still cannot believe that its almost here! I hope to see some of you at the swap and discussion. :)

Dress - Winners

Cardigan - Gifted

Boots - Walmart

Pins - Thrifted + Etsy

Belt - Fats Community

OoTD - The Date with Maxey

2011-05-27T17:15:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know, I'm planning a swap + fat positive discussion with fellow fashion blogger Maxey Day on the 4th of June. She flew into Toronto this week and we met for the very time yesterday. We dinned, thrifted and strolled around Toronto for a few hours and I had an amazing time. I seriously cannot wait for Big, Fat Toronto and I can't believe its only a week away! Make sure to come by on the 4th of June if you're in or around Toronto!

I wanted to look cute for my first "date" with Maxey. I'll admit, its a bit nerve-wrecking meeting up with a fellow fashion blogger but Maxey was just so sweet that it felt like we were old friends anyhow. I opted for my brand new shorts from New Look -- which happen to be my favourite pair of shorts ever -- and an old H&M top that I picked up on clearance.

Top - H&M

Shorts - New Look

Belt - Walmart

Shoes - Can't remember

OoTD - The Victoria Day

2011-05-24T13:28:00.000-07:00

Due to the terrible weather and lack of quality photos, I only really have this picture to post of my outfit from Victoria Day. I took advantage of the cool breeze and wore my bomber again before I tuck it away for good this summer.

Bomber - Asos

Shirt - H&M

Skirt - Asos

Buttons - Etsy

OoTD - The Bomber

2011-05-23T11:33:00.000-07:00

The weather has been really temperamental in Toronto lately. Just when I think we're going to have summer weather for good, I wake up the very next day to find its cold and raining. Fortunately, its given me the chance to wear my bomber a few more times before the weather gets too hot.

I originally bought this dress without an idea in the world how I'd wear it and the bomber never felt right the first few times I put it on. Sometimes all you really need is to put two unlikely pieces together to fall in love with an outfit. In this case, I took something relatively cute and gave it a bit of an edge. I completed the look but throwing on my red cat eye glasses and slipping into my thigh high winter boots.

Bomber - Asos Curve

Dress - Voluptuous

Boots - Payless Shoe Store

Chic Star Review & "The False Contender" Photoshoot

2011-05-20T10:40:00.000-07:00

About a month or so ago I purchased this dress from Chic Star. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I fell for the colour, the cut and more importantly, the fact that it was available in my size. I bought it on a whim and impatiently awaited its arrival. After a few weeks, I received an empty package from Chic Star and I was devastated, to say the least. Somehow the package had gotten damaged in the mail and the dress was nowhere to be found. Fortunately for me, the dress turned up a week or so later in perfect condition.

At first glance, I was a bit disappointed with the shape of the dress. The dress is cut with no shape and the fabric feels a bit tough. To be honest, it looked and felt a bit like costume fabric. I put on with high hopes anyway but I was a bit disappointed to find it was too large around my bust and gave me little to no shape. While I do adore this dress and really appreciate the way it makes me feel, I'm a bit disappointed with how many alterations I will need to make to it. Maybe I should have ordered a size down or its really just not meant to be very form fitting but I definitely expected something a bit different.

Even though I was disappointed with my first purchase, I still have high hopes for Chic Star. Would I order from them again? Definitely. The site offers me a wide selection of plus size pinup clothing with an extremely reasonable price. Do I think I didn't take into consideration the sizing and cut of the dress when placing my order? Yes. I will be the first to admit that I bought on a whim and I didn't ask myself the usual questions when I make an online purchase. A dress like this will always be hit or miss and I probably should have expected that it would need a few alterations.

I really do appreciate what Chic Star is about. Its a community based fashion website that allows the users to pick and choose the content that make it onto their site. Its extremely interactive and even gives you the chance to have your design on the website! I'm also a big fan of the rewards you receive simply for uploading a photo of yourself wearing their clothing. I am excited to order more from Chic Star, I'm excited to see what other articles of clothing make it on to the website and I couldn't be more pleased to know they offer my style in my size!

In conclusion, I really do like Chic Star and give them a 3.5/5. The site is great, with a wide selection and reasonable priced clothing.