Burning Man Plus Size DIY

marzy2It was Tuesday afternoon, and my favorite event at Burning Man.  I was at the Cultural Collaborators Party hosted by Burning Man Project, I am their Social Media Coordinator.  It is very sumptuous (the ice cream made using liquid nitrogen, was the best I had ever had) and I was standing talking to someone and I heard in my ear “Aren’t you Affinity? I read your blog!”.  Well, there are few words that make me happier than hearing that someone is actually reading my blog, and I turned and there stood this fabulous person, Marzy.  We chatted, had our picture taken but never received a copy, so she sent me this “In the City” version of her outfit with a description.

Here is the recreation of the outfit I  was wearing at Burning Man.  My necklace was made by me (a brass escutcheon from an old dresser).  My hat, made by ME, of silk ties, lace, ribbons, etc.  My “corset”  is a Frederick’s of Hollywood thrift store find that started out white, but then I dyed it black and the different panels took on the dye differently.  It turned out gray & brown. The ruffled wifebeater underneath is another creation by me.  What started as a plain white tank top ended up with vintage satin/lace ruffles from a thrift store robe and an antique-ish brass button cluster.  The black crinoline was a $5 thrift store find.  My boots were, yes, another thrift store find, and still covered in playa dust!  After writing all of this down, I realize what fun I have customizing plain old clothes into something fabulous!  May this serve as inspiration to all to not accept the plain boring clothes put on the racks in our size!  Make a leap of faith and go out and turn the ordinary extraordinary!

Marzy

marzy crop hat I have included a close up of her hat so you could see that she has taken elements of various ties to decorate her hat. I have not seen this kind of assemblage before and I love it.

Marzy, what a delight to meet you and you look gorgeous in your photo, thanks for making the effort to say Hello and send the photo! I love DIY so it is all just perfect.

Peace…affinity

Plus Size at Burning Man 2013

Mother and Daughter Both Staff at Burning Man

Molly and Annie
Both Staff at Burning Man

As many of you know, if you have been following along, I go to Burning Man.  And when I meet women they always want to know what women wear, especially if they are plus size. So here are some of my friends, both plus size, and not.

Above are my friends Molly and Annie. Molly is famous for not wearing skirts, so this is a pretty fun photo of her.  Molly’s friend made the tutu, but I do have several places I can send you, Just with Tulle makes custom tutus in a variety of sizes and has add on prices for plus sizes and length. And my fellow blogger at Tutus & Tiny Hats likes Sister’s of the Moon Design, also custom made.

Shoes are very important because the Event is on a lake bed (we call it the Playa) and is very alkaline, and the dust can be hard on your feet. Lots of people wear boots, but the surfaces are uneven so I tend to wear what is comfortable. And of course a hat, to keep you out of the sun…

Selfie of my photographer, Leori Gill

Selfie of my photographer, Leori Gill

I love this selfie of Leori. She is so talented.  She also took the photo of Molly and Annie, and does most of the photography for this blog. And did I mention it was Tutu Tuesday? You get extra points, be you male or female for wearing a tutu on the Tuesday of the Event.

aff_decom_crop smudgeI have no idea why I do not have any photos of me from Burning Man this year but here is one from San Francisco Decompression just a couple of weeks ago.

I am wearing a fit and flare, cotton stretch fabric ASOS Curve Size 22 Dress.  It has a very high waistline so I wear this wide Torrid Size 5 belt to cover that up.

The leggings are a Torrid Size 2, 100% polyester. They do not have any stretch and they seem to have stopped making them.  It is odd that these fit since I cannot wear their Size 3/4. If I were buying these today I would try THESE in a Size 3, and I notice they now have some spandex, which is good.

These are my go to Boots HERE. Two years later Avenue is still making these exact bootsI would love to have taller boots, but I have never found a boot that fit my skinny ankle and wide calf, so I just try to love the ones I’ve got.

pendants 2013And here is a photo of my jewelry from the event. It is made up of gifts and schwag for supporting the artists.

believe SidneyThe B in the photo is part of the art installation from Burning Man by my friends Laura Kimpton and Jeff Schomberg. The photo was taken after a storm and the “I” had fallen over leaving a 60′ tall woman, Truth is Beauty to replace it.

Well that is this episode of Burning Man, plus size, more to come.

Peace…affinity

photo: BELIEVE/Truth is Beauty: Sidney Erthal Photography

Hell Bunny Plus Size Sweaters or How I Learned to Love Spiders!

* Hell Bunny lgest LGSo I have always been kind of prissy about gore and spiders and the macabre (fiction is fine but at the movies I might have to cover my eyes). And then I met this amazing group of people that includes artists, scientists and creatives in general, who love that world. In particular I met Jennybird Alcantara, whose work is sometimes defined as morbidly romantic, and science educator Melissa Alexander, who has a love of all things science and art, and I started seeing the beauty in that world. So when my fellow Ahead of the Curve (see below) blogger, Stina Scott, started blogging about Hell Bunny Plus Sizes and calling her Sugar Skull cardigan spooktacular, and I ran across these amazing Hello Kitty Spider Panties, I could see my point of view had changed, and I had to have them.  AND THEN, I fell in love with this Hell Bunny Spider Cardigan, but be forewarned, I might have bought the last 4X anywhere, after many phone calls!

hell bunny spider sweater LG1This 4X sweater is a tiny bit snug and as you can see does not close easily if left unbuttoned. It feels soft on my body and the design is beautifully crafted. It is a little warm for California but would be perfect for most points East and North. I think it might have looked cute with a white cami for contrast.

FYI: I suspect that the Hell Bunny Dresses would be too small for me in the waist, but if you have a more hourglass shape they might work for you. But I am always thrilled to find a new brand and love their alternative street wear, that encompasses the macabre, retro and a little punk edge.

GLOVES: You can find my discussion about finding gloves HERE.

* Hell Bunny lgest skirt LGSKIRT: This is aASOS Curve skirt, Size 22, that i added a little felt spider appliqué ribbon to, which I may remove.  It came with a belt, which was way too small, and the waist just barely buttons on my 53″ waist.  In order to wear ASOS Curve in the waist, I really need a little stretch since I am barrel shaped, and the widest place on my body is my waist. But I really wear a size 24, which they do not have, so it is really my fault it does not fit.  And by the way, I had to IRON it to get the wrinkles out.  I don’t know about you, but most days I can just spray something and let it hang and get out any wrinkles, but that did not work with this skirt.

You can see my measurements HERE if you want to know how these clothes might fit YOU.

BOOTS: Please see my review of my Torrid Studded Boots HERE.halloween ahead of the curve

Happy Halloween, See my fellow bloggers below in Ahead of the Curve! We are a collective of plus size bloggers coming together to post on the same subject. This month we each have a post on “Halloween” so check them out by clicking on each link.

Trick or Treat Halloween Vintage Pin Up Skirt
Happy Halloween
Halloween Costume Flashback
Halloween: The Fat Girl’s History

I’m a Ballerina!  Plus Size Halloween Costume for the Girly Girl!

Peace…affinity

photo: Leori Gill Photography

Gwynnie Bee – Netflix for Clothes – A Plus Size Review – 4X Plus

Twelve dresses of the 134 - Size 26 - that are available today

Twelve dresses of the 134 – Size 26 – that are available today

I recently signed up for my free one month trial of Gwynnie Bee. Gwynnie Bee is a monthly subscription service for size 10-32 clothing, yes they go to a size 32. Right now, when I go to the “Dresses” they have 134, Size 26 dresses and 61 size 32 dresses. How cool is that?

You get to shop lots of different brands and you get to keep the clothes as long as you like.

You pay a flat monthly subscription fee for access to the entire collection. For three garments out at a time, the monthly fee is $79. The subscription also covers unlimited free shipping and exchanges.  I LOVE this idea and I LOVE that they are focusing on plus size.

They offer a 30 day free trial period: I love this. Read more about it HERE.

How it Works. You sign up for a plan (between 1 and 10 garments out at a time) and they ship you items from your “closet” (a list of items you choose) to wear for as long as you like. It may feel somewhat similar to Netflix, in that it is a set price, but the HUGE difference is that if you have the “3 at a time plan” you have to have chosen 8 garments, and you cannot specify which of those garments you will get. Gwynnie Bee can send ANY item from your “closet”, not the next ones in your “queue”.

The First Box. Gwynnie Bee shipments come in a super well sealed box and include the clothes along with care instructions, etc. The clothes themselves are labelled clearly so you don’t accidentally wash a dry clean only item and so you can easily find the outfit again on their website. (although you only need to clean it if you want to wear it again, they will clean it when they get it back). The clothes look great and are clean and pressed.

It took my first box 4 days to arrive, but in reading other reviews the timeframe may be shorter or longer than that, and once you have them in rotation it would not be an issue, but Amazon 2 day delivery has spoiled me.  They have VERY responsive customer service, I asked some questions and within several hours I had my answers.

Should You Get It – Should I Get It?  I think if you’re a person who shops regularly, Gwynnie Bee could be AMAZING for you. The most expensive plan is $159 a month but with 10 items out at a time, you could wear something different every time you go out. I can see if I did not like an item I would just return it immediately. And, they have made it REALLY easy to return the items with pre-paid bags. I wanted to try it because I wanted to try several brands of clothing to see how they fit. I am always reluctant to buy something if I do not know anything about fit.

A lot of us will get the smaller package – the 3 items out at a time plan for $79.  I think it is a great deal if you like wearing a variety of clothes, and for many of us, over a year we might spend about that amount, and the variety is endless.

Plus Size. It is SO exciting to have access to such a range of plus sizes and brands.  In my first box I tried Mynt 1792, which goes up to a size 4X, An ASOS Curve sequin pencil skirt that I did not think would work, so I never would have bought it, and a Style & Co 3X shift dress that I would not expect to work but looks okay  (reviews to come).

This sort of rental service has existed for a long time in smaller sizes, I am thrilled that we now have all these choices. AND, it you like some variety, it can be fun. Give it a try, you will be glad you did!

A tip for increasing to odds of getting the item you want: 
If you subscribe to three pieces of clothing, they require that you have 8 or 10 pieces of clothing that you have requested (your wish list) before they will send you any pieces of clothing. If you keep your wish list to the required minimum (as opposed to 20 items on your wish list at any time), your odds of receiving what you actually want increase. BUT, it will slow down the process of them sending you something because you have given them fewer options to chose from. A conundrum.

May 2014 Update: I gave up my subscription because I am not working anymore I did not need this variety of clothes. The clothes are occasionally delayed, but if you keep more items in “your closet” they have more options of what to send you. Have Fun!

October 1, 2014 Update: They no longer offer the free one month trial.

Peace…affinity

Plus size 4X Gloves That Fit ME! for Halloween Costumes or Everyday

spider armwamerI bought spider undies (and yes, today they still have the 4X) and had thought I might build a costume around them with tights and a little cami or tank with some decoration added to it,  and I wanted some gloves to wear with it. I wear gloves a lot and I think gloves add a lot to a costume or dressing up, and are an inexpensive way to fill a costume out.  Especially if I am wearing something sleeveless people always mention it when I wear long gloves. It just fills in that gap.  The widest part of my wrist is 7 1/4″ and the widest part below my elbow is 11 1/4″, not the biggest arms ever for a 4X so use my advice with caution.

So here are some spidery/boney/starry and checkered gloves that have worked for me and I think would arrive before Halloween if you ordered them today.

armwamers4x PUNK GOTH EMO SKELETON BONES/PLAID/STARS/SPIDER WEB FINGERLESS GLOVES ARMWARMERS
Ordered 9/28 – delivered from China 10/7. These cost $10.49 shipped, they fit perfectly and might stretch another 1 and 1/2 inch or 2 inches, they come in a variety of designs and they are not toooooo warm. They are a poly knit of some type, like a light decorated sock might feel.

work gloves spider
New GOTHIC 80s Metal Black White Spider Web Mens Black Work Gloves Goth PUNK
Ordered on 9/28 – Arrived 10/2  Would fit a larger hand than mine. These feel like real work gloves, they are heavy and have a rubber sole on the inside.  The decoration is some kind of liquid plastic that would come off after awhile if you worked in them, but I think will last pretty well for street wear. I ended up buying a spider sweater so I think I am going to make these fingerless and wear them, unless it is hot in San Francisco that day (which it sometimes is in October).

woven spider glove 4xFine Webs Black Fingerless Gloves, arm warmers, New with tags, Costume, Claire’s
I bought these first.  They will not be hot and I knew they would fit, because almost all fishnet gloves fit me. These are truly One Size Fits All, they would stretch forever. I paid $6.55 shipped.   These are much more generous than most fishnet gloves, which is what I often wear, but they will not wear very well.  These are from Claire’s originally so you might watch for this sort of thing at those stores. If I decide to wear them I will add a spider decoration, which is now sold out.

I could see myself wearing all three of these sets of gloves on different occasions since they are different lengths, so I am going to keep them.  But usually if I have decided I am not going to wear something I would carry it with me to give to someone I come across that admires my gloves or is unhappy they have not done anything to dress up.

Here are a couple more that I considered, but did not order so I cannot speak to delivery times or fitability, or the nature of the fabric, but I liked them.

High Elastic Antislip Spider Web Wristbands Elbow Guard Protective Gear Sport
These also come in red/orange and look like they are made of finer material, but they might or might not fit.

Spiderweb web arm warmer stockings black white pattern black widow opaque nylon
I liked these too, and they look way too big for the mannequin, so they MIGHT work.

More Halloween news to come, watch this space, and do not forget to check my Size 4X Plus Size Costume Post which I have been updating.

Update 10/15/2013:

opera glovesThis just in, these Opera Length Gloves fit plus size Plus… I have been looking for a pair, they are on my list.

Peace…affinity

Plus Size Hello Kitty Halloween Panties

hello kitty spider pantiesI am not going to model these fabulous Hello Kitty Spider Panties, but I will tell you that I will be wearing these Torrid Size 4X for Halloween, because what do you know, they fit. They are true to size, I am a true 4X, but they are snugish on me, so I do not think they would fit anyone larger. How cute are these?  I am telling you now, just in case you have to have a pair… I am so amused I can hardly stand it.

More Halloween news to come, watch this space, and do not forget to check my Size 4X Plus Size Costume Post which I have been updating.

Peace…affinity

Update: One of my readers says: I have them also in Size 3 and they are too small on me.  I wear a pant size 22/24 , should of gotten the 4.