VOL•UP•2 • A Plus Size Fashion Magazine

Screen Shot 2013-02-28 at 9.08.57 AMThis morning I woke up to a note from Velvet d’amour, the first super size fashion model and now the publisher of VOL•UP•2, a French Fashion Magazine, asking that I share their magazine if I liked it (no compensation involved).  This is what they have to say about it:

Created by supermodel Velvet d’Amour, the first supersize-plus model to infiltrate the elite world of Parisian couture,encourages readers to revel in their every “imperfection” and celebrate their bodies in their glorious entirety. Born out of Ms. d’Amour’s work to expand society’s limited notion of beauty by building awareness about women of every size and shape, the magazine is a visual celebration of full-figured beauty, combined with a self-affirming message of inspiration.

I loved looking at it, it provides an editorial look at plus sizes, which I love and is worth it just for the beauty and all that voluptuousness. AND, I will support it by buying it online each month because if we want plus size clothing to flourish then we have to support the accoutrements that will make plus size clothing legitimate, like fashion magazines.

Peace…affinity

Size 24+ Fashion Bloggers on The Plus Size of Me

Screen Shot 2013-02-28 at 8.46.38 AMYesterday I was included in a post about Size 24+ Fashion Bloggers on The Plus Side of Me.  Since I love her blog, I was especially pleased to be included and I am thrilled to have other bloggers in my size range to follow.  You will see some of them on my “Blogs I Love” list when I update it. Thanks to the Plus Side of Me, YAY!

Peace…affinity

Beth Ditto Inspired Necklace

Beth Ditto NecklaceOMG!  As many of you know Beth Ditto is my fashion hero as well as my fatshion hero.  She wears whatever she wants and it all looks fabulous and she does not appear to care about the rules.  But I must admit that I was surprised to see a Beth Ditto inspired necklace.  I am curious if the necklace has her blessing, or can anyone call something “inspired by…”?

The necklace, in my opinion, does not seem to reflect her big, outrageous style, and is only 18 inches long, which would barely be large enough for my neck, and I would kind of assume hers, but I thought you might be amused to see it, I was.

If you are a Beth Ditto fan, as I am, do look at this post of her big, outrageous style, it is a wonderful deconstruction of her style and how you might achieve it.  The examples are not plus size, and certainly not super plus size, but the concepts are all there, and I am hoping it will make me braver.

Peace…affinity 

Shannon’s Nail Art

shannons nailsLast week I went to lunch with my beloved friend Laura and her niece Shannon, who is a freshman in high school.  I only see Shannon once in awhile but it is always fun. Well at this lunch, Shannon and I discovered a mutual love of Tim Gunn, and then I noticed her nails and I just loved them. This was the first time she had had them done with designs and I loved her choices. I asked her if the nail artist had used decals, and she said, “oh no, they used these little tiny brushes and just drew the designs on.”  How cool is that? Thanks Shannon for letting me share them.

Peace…affinity

Marsha Coupé

Marsha Coupé

Marsha Coupé

Someone I did not know friended me on Facebook this morning and I do not usually accept a friend request unless I recognize the person, but on a whim I accepted the request and there was Marsha Coupé.  The first post I saw from her was this photo, pretty fun!  Then I looked around and guess what, she has a blog, the Lover’s Kitchen.  Welcome Marsha.

I will be posting various friend’s blogs here in the new few weeks to share their wisdom, fun and lives with you.

Peace…affinity 

Plus Size Art Deco at Sydney’s Closet

Sydney's Closet

Sydney’s Closet

Did you know you can wear an art deco dress just like Michelle Obama and Halle Berry? Sydney’s Closet carries this fabulous dress up to a size 22, and it is on sale.

Michelle Obama Wearing Naeem Khan

Michelle Obama Wearing Naeem Khan

Halle Berry Wearing Marchesa

Halle Berry Wearing Marchesa

Michelle and Halle looked amazing, and isn’t it nice to know you can too!

Update Fabruary 25, 2013: I have been coveting this Sydney’s Closet deco dress for months, but even when it came in a size 24, I knew it was way too small for me.  When I buy a dress at Sydney’s Closet it works best if I buy from their Signature Collection, and I buy a size 30 and have it taken in. Since I am 64 and carry a lot of weight in my torso and most of the dresses I like are made for teenagers I have to find a way to make it work.  But I just could not find a way to make this work as much as I love it.

Peace…affinity

Torrid Sizes 1X – 4X Bathing Suits

Chelsea Vest

Chelsea Vest

I had not planned on posting about bathing suits this time of year, but I saw two fabulous photos on FatToo Anonymous which is a chat room for members of the FatToo groups on Facebook and I just had to share them.  Doesn’t she look fabulous! This is what Chelsea said about her Torrid bikini. She is wearing a size 1 on the top and size 2 bottom:

My first bikini EVER! I fell in love and even cried cause I am cry baby LOL. I just never thought I would be able to wear one of these EVER but I felt like a million!

And then a few minutes later there was Brianna Smith Leonard trying on this Size 4X. It looks like it might run a little on the small side because she usually wears a size 3X but they did not have one to try on. She just looks precious. If you want to read more from Brianna she has a blog, just click here.

Briana Smith Leonard

Briana Smith Leonard

I know it is a little early, but I love these choices and am so pleased to be able to post about the real world. Thanks Chelsea and Briana for letting me share your photos.

Stina Scott

Stina Scott

Update February 25, 2013: Christina Scott was kind enough to send me her photo in her Torrid one-piece cherry fabric suit, which I love.  I think she looks awesome.  This is what she said about how it fits.

This is the Torrid cherry suit in a size 3. I normally would take a 4. I like my suits tight and this just fits me. I’m a 22/24 top and 26 bottom.
Stina

Well it becomes obvious that Torrid is the place to buy a bathing suit this year, whether it is a one piece, two piece or bikini. When I bought this suit over 10 years ago (pre Torrid) it was so boring I HAD to put rhinestones (which you can barely see in this photo) on it before I could even wear it.

Thanks again for sharing your photos with me and my blog, you have no idea how happy it makes me.

Update March 2, 2013: Still getting mixed reviews about sizing of Torrid suits this year but I just read this on Facebook;

If anyone plans on getting one of the one piece bathing suits from Torrid, make sure you size up!! I had to go a size up and honestly I could have done two sizes up if they would have had it in store!

Peace…affinity