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

In Full Swing

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FROM MY FRIENDS AT IN FULL SWING, THEIR GIFT TO YOU THIS HOLIDAY SEASON:    TAKE 25% OFF ANY ONE ITEM IN THE STORE THROUGH 12/31/12*

Our guest Jenny in some fabulous new arrivals.

jenny red 524_2117312900_nComfy Modal Pant, Sympli Pant , Naturaline Podelesk

jenny brown 524_619431209_n Sole Dior Copper Jacket, Diane Kennedy, Bamboo Skirt

jenny red bow 98524_1151259680_nEileen Fisher, Lantern Dress

Want to know when your favorite lines arrive in their store?

Like them on Facebook and be the first to know.

*Limit one per customer. Not good on prior purchases/special orders.

Burning Man Gets Dressed Up!

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BRAF_1100 I promised you a better look at the fashion at the Black Rock Arts Foundation ARTumnal where I won the “Affinity Award”.  So here is a series of photos where you can see the variety of fashion that you might find at this kind of gala event.  This photo is of my friends and we are celebrating my receiving the Award. Have you ever seen a broader definition of fashion?  I love San Francisco and my friends and community.

I wish you could see my friend April’s fabulous dress below, and my friend Steve always looks dashing.

artumnal april aff 9153_oegg afff artumnal 9_798047702_n

BRAF_0604This dress is from Fashion Bug (now defunct) and is a Size 4X, and it was less than $50.

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art finerybraf jennifer and rachel More friends.

braf leaves   And how is this for a Fall Ensemble?

art post fashion show

And there was even a fashion show.

art postI thought you might like to see the venue, the Bently Reserve, which used to be the Federal Reserve.

Hope you enjoyed the event, it was a highlight in my life.

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

The “Affinity Award” They Named it After Me!

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art award harley affI got one of the biggest surprises and honors of my life at the ARTumnal Gathering Saturday night.  I was asked to come on stage and then Harley DuBois, Founding Member of Burning Man and the Burning Man Project said they had decided to start an award to be given to the person that year most embodies their mission.  The Award is to be the “Affinity Award” and I was the first recipient.

I was so amazed and overwhelmed I did not even cry like I usually do in a situation like that, but to be honest I have never been in a situation like that.  I am sure you all know I love Burning Man and the Black Rock Arts Foundation and the new Burning Man Project.  I love what they bring to the world, I love the COMMUNITY and I love the art and culture.  To express that in shorthand I have chosen the vision statement from the Burning Man Project:

The Burning Man Project will bring experiences to people in grand, awe-inspiring and joyful ways that lift the human spirit, address social problems and inspire a sense of culture, community and cultural engagement.

Why does the organization think I embody that point of view?  I can only guess, but what I know is that everyday I am grateful for the amazing, creative and loving people that Burning Man has brought to my life.  They have breadth and depth and some of my favorites are brilliant.  I love the art.  For four years I was the blogger for the Black Rock Arts Foundation and they have brought amazing art to the community.  Before that I was the logistics coordinator for Burning Man’s staff training and prior to that for 3 years I was the Wedding Coordinator for couples who were actually having a legal wedding at Burning Man.  Currently I am doing documentation for the Burning Man Project.  I love the variety of jobs I have been able to do as a volunteer in the past 12 years.

2012 artumnal just after I won affinity award2012 group affinity awardThanks for letting me express my gratitude for this amazing honor.

Ciao Bellas…affinity

photo: George Post

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