Category Archives: Ahead of the Curve

Affatshionista Thrifts

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ASOS Curve U.S. Size 22 (fit me at 26/28) Purchased on FatToo Grand for $30 including shipping

ASOS Curve U.S. Size 22 (fits me at 26/28) – Similar
Purchased on FatToo Grand for $30 including shipping

When our blogging collective Ahead of the Curve decided on the subject of Plus Size Thrifting I was concerned because I had just written a post a few weeks ago about thrifting, and here was the subject coming up again. But, since my husband and I just retired a couple of years ago, and I still want to be able to spend money on clothes, I set out to find a bargain I liked enough to blog about.

Alberto Makali Size 4X Pleated Shirt from Ebay $30 including shipping (Although a 3X because of the pleating, I thought it might fit)

Alberto Makali Size 3X Pleated Shirt from Ebay $30 including shipping
(Although a 3X, because of the pleating, I thought it might fit, and it did!)

After the dress, I wanted something to dress it up, so I found this Alberto Makali pleated Shirt on ebay.

To compare my measurements to yours, click HERE.

Charm Bracelet (DIY, charms were made by my jewelry class) Pendant (A gift from Jennybird Alcantara)

Charm Bracelet (DIY, charms were made by my jewelry class taught by Patrik Kuzek)
Pendant (A gift from Jennybird Alcantara)

But then I wanted to find something I already had in my jewelry box. So it seemed like a “Do It Yourself” bracelet, and a gifted pendant that I had never worn would be great choices. And even the elastic belt was a gift that arrived in the package with the dress, although I had not purchased it.

I had a lot of fun with this challenge. Click HERE for some thrifting tips from the Curvy Fashionista.

When I was researching thrifting I came across this lovely quote.

“Second-hand stuff leaves you more open to whatever your own personal style is rather than feeling dictated to by shops.” Sophie Ellis Bextor

ahead of the curve banner

Don’t stop now! Click HERE to check out all the chic, smart ways other bloggers from AHEAD OF THE CURVE interpreted this month’s theme, Plus Size Thrifting.

Let thrifting be the guilty pleasure you don’t really have to feel guilty about.

Peace…affinity

photos: Leori Gill Photography

Beth Ditto Prom Dress Goes to a Garden Party

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Ditto prom LGWhaddya know, another Beth Ditto post. When I realized that the theme for our Ahead of the Curve Blogging Collective’s, May post was Garden Party I knew just what I wanted to wear. I have had this dress for about a year, it is the Beth Ditto Stain Glass Prom Dress from her 2009 Evans collection, and of course I bought it on ebay. I fell in love with it and looked for it for a long time before I found it. It has never seemed very “promish” to me since it is a floral, cotton sundress, but I expect to wear it a lot in the near future. I may try it with a belt. I love that it has pockets.

beth ditto prom dress jewelryAfter I saw this photo of Beth in this dress I decided I had to have a statement necklace, and of course I had to make it myself?

signature necklace LGBut of course I got carried away, and I made it a little larger than was necessary, but what fun I had. I call it assemblage. I started with four inexpensive clear rhinestone brooches and just kept adding glass buttons and beads from Etsy, and from my stash of old jewelry from my mother-in-law and my mom, onto the heavy chain I had in my jewelry box. The earrings are from the 80s. I think I paid $6 for them on Etsy also.

ditto sweaterThis is the end of my Beth Ditto stash, time to look for more. I would love to have this sweater, also from the 2009 collection, but I have never seen it on ebay. Maybe they did not make very many. I am sure someone has one in a closet somewhere, and they never wear it, and it is just sitting there waiting for them to sell it to me.

ahead of the curve bannerDon’t stop here! Click HERE to check out all the chic, smart ways other bloggers from AHEAD OF THE CURVE interpreted this month’s theme, Garden Party.

Peace…affinity

Spinning the Color Wheel at Evans Plus Size

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The Remaining 'CUT' Collection Pink Cami Green Cami

The Remaining ‘CUT’ Collection Evans U.S. Size 28
Pink Cami – From my Closet
ASOS Curve Green Cami U. S. Size 22 (A little big for me)

When I saw that Evans had a line, “CUT”, designed as part of a competition by students from a couple of Universities that were known for their strong print and knitwear design divisions, I was thrilled and I knew I had to have a piece.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLcOtJeHe4I&w=560&h=315]

Then the skirt went on sale. And our Ahead of the Curve topic was Miss Matched. So I started mixing and matching camis to wear with the skirt, dark green? does it need orange? or red? is mint green too blue?, trying things on and then trying them on a different way.

evans jumpsuitIt happens that Evans accidentally sent me the jumpsuit also, so I thought you might like to see it too. It runs a little long as jumpsuits often do. This would need to be shortened.

To compare my measurements to yours, click HERE.

J. Crew Necklace

J. Crew Necklace (Similar)

I went through my jewelry, How much could I wear, and stay in the color family? And then I went to an event and my friend, Jennifer Raiser, was wearing a green and hot pink necklace I could borrow, what are the odds of that?

And then shoes, well shoes were kind of a bust. I don’t have any forest green shoes or hot pink shoes, so white sandals it is.

I thought you might also like to see some of my other Miss Matched outfits, HERE and HERE.

ffffinalDon’t stop here! Click HERE to check out all the chic, smart ways other bloggers from AHEAD OF THE CURVE interpreted this month’s theme.

Plus Size 24+ Blog Roll

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The Plus Side of Me included Affatshionista on a list of 20 Plus Size Fashion Bloggers at Sizes US 24+ a few months ago. I was thrilled to see her list and to be included. I had been looking for these blogs, and there was now a plethora of new ones to gobble up. I find the list very useful and often refer to it.

To bring in the new year, I used it to update my Blog Roll. In addition, I added some of the Ahead of the Curve Bloggers, that are part of the blogging collective I participate in, and some other bloggers, mainly from the US. I chose bloggers that provided information about US Size 24+ clothes, mostly clothes you can purchase but some with DIY approaches, and that were more clothing oriented rather than lifestyle or beauty oriented. I hope you will find it useful.

So check out my new list on the upper right side of my blog:   Blogs I Love  – 24+

Happy New Year!

ModCloth, A New Plus Size Retailer, Size 4X Review

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Cherie - Stina - Affinity

Cherie                                                       Stina                                                         Affinity

modclothA new retailer to me, Modcloth was having a great sale, and I had a $15 discount so I was able to buy this dress for less than $20 shipped. It is a burnout fabric. I noticed that 3 of us from our blogging collective, Ahead of the Curve, were buying it so I thought it would be fun if we did a collage, since Cherie lives in Cincinnati, Stina in Toronto and I live in California. They have this dress in turquoise, but not on sale, sorry.

We are all wearing a Size 4X (their largest size), but for me it is way too large in the arms and bust (underarms  27 – 31 stretched, waist 25 stretched 28.5), a 5X could absolutely wear this (although it is sold out, sorry), but is fairly short in the waist for me (not unusual for me). The dress brand is Mood and if I bought this brand again I would size down to a 3X.

ModCloth, carries lots of different brands so I expect that the sizing will vary a lot. If you are interested in trying it HERE is a link for $15 savings, and I get $15 for referring you.

To compare my measurements to yours, to see if these clothes might fit, click HERE.

Peace…affinity

SWAK Red Cherry Dress Size 5X – Review

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swak 2 cherryI have always liked Sealed With A Kiss (SWAK), in fact their one size fits all leggings are my favorite since they hug my skinny ankle. Our blogging collective, Ahead of the Curve’s theme this month is Big Girls Can’t Wear Prints? (See below) So when I saw SWAK’s Red Cherry Dress at Gwynnie Bee, I just had to try it. I ordered the 5X, just assuming it would fit, well it was too big in the bust and back. I am going to try another dress in the 4X and we will see if that is a better fit.

As you may know from this review, I have a trial membership to Gwynnie Bee, and if you are interested in trying it FREE for 30 Day please read more HERE (full disclosure) if you sign up I do get a free month free.

Dress: SWAK, Red Cherry Dress, Size 5X (too big) (On Sale)

To compare my measurements to yours, to see if these clothes might fit, click HERE.

ffffinalAhead of the Curve is a collective of plus size bloggers coming together to post on the same subject. This month we each have written a post responding to the oft heard point of view “Big Girls Can’t Wear Prints?” so check them out by clicking on each link:

Push Th’ Little Daisies…Fat Girl Flower Power
Perfect prints, right?
Fat Girls Can
Black, White, and Red All Over
Falltivest
Prints? Absolutely.
My Life In Prints…A Big Girl’s Perspective
Print En Kimono
Big Gals Can Wear Prints

Photo: Leori Gill
Banner: Elizabeth Tamny

Review – ASOS Curve Pinafore Denim Dress

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asos denimI know you have been reading a lot about ASOS Curve on my blog lately. They are not sending me clothes (I wish they were) but I am just finding so much fun interesting clothing, AND ASOS Curve has just recently gone from carrying a U.S. size 20 to a generously sized U.S. 24.  I wear a Size 26 -28, or even a Size 30 in a tight fitting jean.  I am way larger in the waist than the average size 26-28 because I am apple shaped and I am 64.  So being able to wear a Size 24, with a fitted waist feels like a gift.  One of the things I love is that ASOS Curve defines the shape of the clothing, “fit and flare” or “body con”.

This pinafore also comes in a tartan plaid, with a collar, precious.

ASOS Curve Denim Pinafore: U.S. Size 24
Torrid Twist Tee from FatToo Grand: Size 4X
Bob’s Belts: Black Stretch Belt Size 3X (50-52) I have been wearing these belts for years with my work dress pants.
Sock Dreams: I found these Pink, Over the Knee Socks, by searching for plus size, Over the Thigh, but I wear them as knee highs. Sock Dreams is the best I have found for a variety of socks, BUT, read descriptions carefully, many of the plus sized items do not fit my 18″ calf.
Avenue Elsa Boot: Size 9.5W

ahead of the curve sept 2013We are a collective of plus size bloggers coming together to post on the same subject. This month we each have a post on “Denim” so check them out by clicking on each link.

Denim With Edge
White Trash Couture?
Denim and Lace
Definitely Denim
Chambray Blue: Some Colorful History

Peace…affinity

Photo: Leori Gill

Like, Totally 80’s Fashion – Plus size

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prettyinpink2 leoriThe theme for our blogging collective, Ahead of the Curve, for August is Pretty in Pink. So imagine my surprise when I went through my wardrobe and didn’t really have any pink.  I think of myself as a pink and purple kind of girl.  That left recreating one of Andi’s outfits from the movie Pretty in Pink, one of my favorite ever chick flicks. My usual dress is a little reminiscent of the 1980 anyway, you know, quirky!  Here is my inspiration:
pretty in pink duo

Yours Clothing Black Blazer: Size UK Size 30-32 US size 26-28  D.I.Y. Embellished Jacket
Ulla Popken White Shirt: Size 24
Footless Floral Leggings: Torrid Size 2
Boots: Avenue Size 9.5 wide
Hat: Seams to Fit Plus Size Consignment Store, Oakland CA
Scarf: Pashima, retirement gift

photo: Leori Gill

Peace…affinity

AHOC wordle4

We are a collective of plus size bloggers coming together to post on the same subject. This month we each have a post on “Pretty in Pink” so check out our individual posts by clicking on each link.