Category Archives: Categories

Fractured Friday v01/11/12

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My friend Catherine Gacad ask me to be a guest blogger on her “Money Monday” series because my husband and I retired early.  I worked in the financial industy for 35 years in addition to my husband, Tom Mingle, being a strong influence on my spending habits.  It is pretty basic advice. but I wanted to include it in case you were interested. Thanks for the invitation Catherine, I look forward to posting about other financial subjects.

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amberMy friend Amber Clisura, a blogger, a designer and one of my fashion heroes, is writing a “tutorial” on How to Dress for the Edwardian Ball.  I thought you might enjoy reading her piece about a very unusual event.

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The Four Seasons by Frederic Aranda – Christine Suppes wearing Chanel couture

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From Sex + Design          (With Levi Ripley)

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From Sex + Design  Can you believe this is a PENCIL drawing? Incredible!

More by artist Diego Fazio

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floating by Fat Girl Posing from Flickr

fat girl floating

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Happiness arises as a result of different causes and conditions. If you harm someone out of anger, you may feel some superficial satisfaction, but deep down you know it was wrong. Your confidence will be undermined. However, if you have an altruistic attitude, you’ll feel comfortable and confident in the presence of others.  Dali Lama

Peace…affinity

Joe Zee’s 2013 Fashion Trends – Where Can I Find Them in Plus Sizes?

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Joe-Zee-Elle-Magazine I am a big fan of Joe Zee. He is the the Creative Director of Elle Magazine and hosts “All on the Line”, a fashion series on the Sundance Channel. I feel like he has his finger on the pulse of what works and what is next so when I saw that ABC did an interview with him I wanted to share the highlights.  I thought you might like to see the suggestions in some plus sizes.

TREND #1: LACE

Torrid Nude And Black Lace Splice Tank Dress – On sale now $39

Torrid Red And Black Lace Tube Top – On sale now $32.98

Lace was huge on the runways for spring.  Valentino, Giambattista Valli, Bottega Veneta and Burberry were some of the best examples. It is definitely a return to delicate, feminine dressing.  I love the idea of lace detailing on skirts, pants and coats. Lace tops are great to pair with a structured blazer to offset the sweetness. A super easy way to integrate the lace trend into spring is a lace tight!  Joe Zee

TREND #2:  JAILHOUSE STRIPES

IMG_1803Graphic prints like stripes and checkerboard were huge on the spring runways. Most notable were the Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton shows, both designed by Marc Jacobs. Strong prints were sent down the runway in all silhouettes, from gowns to minis to suit sets.  The best way to integrate this into your spring wardrobe is piece by piece. A strong jacket or blazer pairs well with a dark jean or cropped pant where as a skirt or pant goes well with a classic button down or a super soft t-shirt in black or white.  You can keep your whole outfit graphic and on trend without turning into an optical illusion!  Joe Zee

Old Stripes are New Again

TREND #3:  90′s GRUNGE

IMG_2539“90’s grunge is rough and girly with a great mix of patterns and proportions. It’s about a balance of texture and toughness.”

I am about to add rhinestones going the other direction on this DIY Size 4X top, and you cannot really tell that the shoulders have lace on them. This is a top I found in my drawer and decided to use for studding…affinity

For spring, layer a great knit over a delicate dress and add a great boot. Mixing prints like floral and plaid with a solid in between is also a great way to step into this trend!  Joe Zee

In Joe Zee’s Own Words: Four Wardrobe Must-Haves

1) A black leather moto jacket.  This is an Elle wardrobe staple for all seasons.  Leather adds great texture and toughness to almost all pieces of a woman’s wardrobe. Cool with jeans, pencil skirts or over dresses. We saw spring-weight leather at many shows this past season – always a great investment piece. Joe Zee

Simply Be Leather Look Biker Jacket – $105 

Michael Kors Biker Jacket – $399 – only in 1X

Inc. Non-leather Jacket – $99.50 (plus 15% off code) size to 3X – I find this brand runs large. If I needed a jacket, this is what I would try and I am a 4X…affinity

IZOD Leather Moto Jacket – $129

Very difficult to find this late in the season most of the plus size biker jackets I looked at were sold out…affinity

2) Skinny dark jeans (slim cut).  Denim finds its way onto every runway season and it’s why it’s on our trend list each season. Dark denim is seasonless and a necessary addition for spring. Pair it with a blazer or leather and add accessories to go from day to night. Joe Zee

Torrid currently has 67 versions of skinny jeans

3) A blouse or skirt with ruffle detail.  Ruffles and romantic details were huge this spring! Tone it down with a ruffle detail on a blouse for a bit of romance without being overwhelming.  Joe Zee

Torrid has a wide selection of items with ruffles

I had a more difficult time finding just ruffle detail on the edge of a collar or just down one side of the skirt.  Maybe those are not yet in plus sizes…affinity

4) A structured blazer.  Another major trend this past spring was suiting. We love the idea of breaking up a suit to still keep it cool! Pair it with jeans and a t-shirt to keep the ease. Joe Zee

ASOS Curve Blazers – Size 22 = about a size 26 US

Blazers are everywhere this year, Avenue, Lane Bryant, Jessica London, etc. I have tons from my many years of working in the corporate world so I will not be buying any…affinity

PEACE…affinity

First Fractured Fridays

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I am going to try posting some items that are not fashion driven, but are a  variety of things that I have seen during the week that I find interesting and maybe some plus sizes clothing sales both local and national.  I have stolen the idea from Tutus and Tiny Hats. This is our first little start.  Let me know what you think and if we like it I will continue, or I may decide that my time is better spent just bringing you curvy fashion news.

2012.12.03_hot_couture_1Hot Couture at the Crucible – January 11 & 12 – A Fusion of Fashion and Fire

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13 Fashion Trends to Ditch in 2013

I had to read this because I am always just a step behind the curve.  I am loving studs and spikes all of a sudden and neon will always be on my list.

Speaking of neon, here is a link from Jenny Strauss of some neon jewelry.

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For Sale:
Heidi Guttman has 150+ pieces of clothing including shoes, purses, swimsuits. Mostly +/- size 26, shoes size 10.5/11W, bras +/-44DD. In the Oakland Hills. Prices are mostly less than $10 for the clothes except for some new designer stuff. Her email is ocean.earth.heaven@gmail.com
Feel free to contact her directly if you are interested.

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46418_10151261475394926_1825776280_nDaisy Baloon Dress by Osaka Takashimaya

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OMG!

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marilyn paperdolls 4_nMy friend Marilyn Wann was interviewed on CNN, Big Deal: You Can Be Fat and Fit,  this week and someone made her hero paper dolls.  This is a must read if you are interested in fat and health.

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harajuku

100 Coolest Harajuku Looks of 2012 — Straight from Tokyo

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The ultimate source of a happy life is warm-heartedness. This means extending to others the kind of concern we have for ourselves. On a simple level we find that if we have a compassionate heart we naturally have more friends. And scientists today are discovering that while anger and hatred eat into our immune system, warm-heartedness and compassion are good for our health….Dali Lama

Peace…affinity

D.I.Y. Plus Size 26 Santa – Mrs. Claus Costume

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PhotoNicolo_aff santa copy with hatFor the past 6 or 7 years my husband has been Santa at a Volunteer Appreciation Party, so we have more than our share of photos together dressed in Santa costumes, but this is the first year I have had a fatshion blog to share my D.I.Y. costume on.

It is VERY simple:

Hat: Fedora from e4Hats, a lot of their hats run large so I start with them when I am looking for a hat.  It is just a $20 red fedora and I added white marabou around the brim.  I lost it at the party so I will be replacing it.

Cami: Plain red cami from Avenue, Size 26 – 28, I added white marabou around the bodice.

Skirt:  Plain red skirt I purchased on Ebay years ago with a large black waist band, handmade.  But if I were looking for one today I would try Jessica London, Avenue and One Stop Shop.  They all carry Sizes 24+ and are not too expensive.

Leggings:  Leg Avenue Size 3-4X, but the last time I tried that size they were too small.  If I were going to buy them today I would buy them from We Love Color, in this striped tight I am right at top of their size range, but their plain colors go to 375 lbs. (We Love Color no longer makes this striped tight)

Gloves: I buy almost any brand for as little as $5 of fingerless, fishnet gloves.  They have always fit.

Boots:  Last year’s Avenue lace up boot, Size 9.5 W, I wear them often, and the bows were in with my wrapping paper box and I tied them to my laces.

I am thinking of adding white marabou to the bottom of the skirt, what do you think?

My hat disappeared at the party (I rarely lose anything but it is gone, so it is time for a new one).  I purchased this one, which is a little pricey but I loved how fancy and light it was since my head gets too warm inside buildings sometimes.  But it is too big, and I have a big head, so I will be returning it this week.

Screen Shot 2012-12-29 at 9.11.20 AMHope you had a happy holiday,              Ciao Bellas…affinity

photo: Nicolo Sertorio

Update December 2013: I ended up keeping the hat and using it with my Mrs. Claus costume.  I think the new look makes the argument that almost anything will work, even a “go to church on Sunday, hat” it you add your personal touch. santa hat

Plus Size Yoek Review – Alphabet Top – Fashion Failure

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I have always loved to read and thus have always loved words, letters and fonts. Even my Affatshionista logo is made up of words.  So when I saw Skorch Magazine’s post by Bellas Styles that she had purchased an Alphabet Skirt from Yoek in the Netherlands, I had to have one.  I am not much of a pencil skirt girl, I like my skirts short and fluffy or pleated so I opted to an Alphabet “Tunic”.  And I cannot even tell you how much I loved that the letters in the print were in curvy lines, so fun.  I hope it is long enough to wear with tights.

I love that Yoek’s Plus Size is a size US 28-30, and the description of the item says This shirt has a flare fit.

So the top has arrived and it is just not very becoming.  In general I do not wear flowy clothing and it is 95% Polyester and 5% Elastic.  I am going to return it since it cost $113 Euros, which is about $150.  I do love the print but it is unlikely I will order from Yoek again.  Do you think it might have looked better if I had ordered a smaller size?

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Ciao Bellas…affinity

Torrid Plus Size Tights – Leggings

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IMG_2475These are some Size 2X 100% polyester tights I bought from Torrid this summer. The stretch comes from the fact that they are woven. They have a different sizing scheme since I wear a 4X in Tops and 5X in dresses and a 28 or 30 in pants at Torrid.

IMG_2467I love them.  I had been looking for something a little abstract in a plus size without much luck.  I find them difficult to wear unless I am wearing all black so that is a little limiting, and the lace skirt and top from Torrid were probably a little too “lacey” for the abstract cotton looking leggings. Still looking for the perfect outfit.

The bracelets came as a set from Torrid also.  I love bangles and they are often too small for me so this really makes me appreciate Torrid.

Ciao Bellas…affinity

A Plus Size DIY Kind of Evening

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So I went with my friends to a fabulous party recently.  I had a fun time, there was great entertainment and some creative girls with a typewriter and a sewing machine who would write you a story if asked, and then sew fabric trimmings around it to dress it up, how creative is that?  I wore a couple of new pieces I had just made.  First I made this little cybergoddess.  Sometimes I just wake up wanting to do a particular thing, perhaps inspired by something else I have seen.  Mostly she is made of vintage computer, doll and clock parts and an upcycled chain.  I wanted her to be quite large so she has a 3 inch wide base of a newly poured jewelry finding from a vintage mold, and she makes me smile.

IMG_2509I also made a hat with vacuum tubes from radios and televisions that I lit up with some LED lights , everyone tried it on as you will see.  The first shot is in the dark so you can see how it looked without the flash.  I used a little hat base and then attached it to a headband (thanks for that idea Janet, it was great).  The batteries and LED lights are inside the hat in a little styrofoam to create some stability.jenn sydney per din hat

peralta junction aff 19657_1456910492_oIMG_2517IMG_2530IMG_2511     peralta dinner 7873_2136133866_nperalta dinner JR melissa drea gab 4548_n

The top is a Jones of New York Size 3X that I bought at Macys, and I am not wowed by how it looks or fits, but I love how small the sequins are and that they do not scratch my skin.  The skirt is a older Torrid 5X.  I had a great time with my friends and I am having fun creating little unusual items.

peralta junction dinner Growden 657_1927782800_operalta junction _1110002332_oI thought you might also like to see the venue since it was someone’s home/workspace.

peralta junction dinner 4657_458712068_o   Ciao Bellas…affinity

Fashion Failure – Beth Ditto Heart Dress

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 “If you don’t have an occasional failure, you are not taking enough fashion risk”  – Suzanne at Says Who.

You may remember that I am very attached to Beth Ditto’s clothing line from 2009 and 2010.  I bought this dress from the Beth Ditto Collection on Ebay from someone in the U.K. for $136.  This U.K. Ebay seller did not usually mail to the U.S. but I asked nicely because I was desperately in love with the heart infused signature dress and I was very grateful when the U.K. seller went to the trouble of changing their Ebay listing so that they were then allowed to go to the trouble of mailing it to me in the U.S.  MANY U.K. sellers are not willing to do that, I am sure it is a lot of extra trouble.

I bought the dress because it was a size 22UK – size 20US and I had just purchased a similar (or so I thought) dress, or tunic, as they might say, in purple in a size 24UK which is a size 22US, which turned out just a little large and I had to have it taken in.  Thus it seemed like the UK size 22 should be fine and would be worth all the bother.

When the dress came there were shouts of joy (you have to take your joy where you find it, I always say) and then I put it on and oops, it was way too small.  I could get it on, but it was not wearable.  I sold it on FatToo for less than half the price, and the next buyer had the same luck.  But never fear, I will have this dress. I check Ebay every day for a larger size and I continue to love it.  Yes, there will be more Beth Ditto clothing tales to come.                   Ciao Bellas…affinity

VooDoo Doll Costume – D.I.Y.

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So last night we went to a Voodoo Luau Birthday Party.  We had a great time, my friend was turning 39 and had a new deck with a view of the city.  So of course I had to make a new costume.

Top: Torrid – 4X with a heart pin cushion from ebay with stick pins in it, and a few stitches I added of lavender yarn
Skirt: (sorry no photo, it must be in someone else’s camera) 3X Jaclyn Smith from Kmart
Gloves: Amazon – Lace Gloves – Good fit and I love that they were already laced with ribbon.  I like these gloves even better and they look like you could actually adjust the size if you were larger, and they are less expensive.

Ciao Bellas…affinity