Tag Archives: affinity plus size clothing

The Plus Size 4X Cartoon Skirt is Everywhere

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cartoon skirt leori

I just had to have this Cartoon Circle Skirt from New Look.  The one they are selling now is a little different print and if you Google “plus size cartoon skirt” you get a range of choices. This is a U.K. Size 28, which is about at U.S. Size 26. The material is quite thick, perhaps more appropriate for fall, and as you can see, it is short, partially because I really am a size U.S. 28 and I take up some of the material, so it is even shorter than usual.  But I am amused by it and happy to have it, and I am sure I will wear it. I think it would look better with boots.

new look cartoon skater skirt PMBelt: Torrid 5x, elastic, way too large, I had to cut it and make smaller with a seam in the back. That is the first time I can remember that happening with Torrid.

Peace…affinity

D.I.Y. Embellished Plus Size Military Jacket

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yours clothing jacketsYou may remember a few weeks ago I posted this Military Jacket that Yours Clothing, a plus size store in the U.K. was generous enough to send me. The details I wrote at the time are at the bottom of the page. But I could not help but think of it as a canvas for embellishment. The buttons and pendants are Burning Man related and are mostly gifts from various artists for a contribution to their work, whether monetary or social media work, or a gift at Burning Man, like the pendant from  artist JennyBird Alcantara,  since Burning Man is a Gift Economy.

Mural: American Steel Studios, Oakland CA

Mural: American Steel Studios, Oakland CA

Of course you can use anything, including glam brooches or patches or hand made buttons or vintage buttons or use old items from around your house or jewelry box or your Mom’s or Aunt’s jewelry box, or make your own buttons.  I think it’s more fun if it speaks to who you are.

Assembly Notes: It gets heavy and awkward.  When I went through all my drawers I had way more than I could use.  And it works best if you can anchor the items, i.e. secure at the top and bottom.  Many of my pendants are made to wear as necklaces and move more than I would like on the jacket.  I think it looks best if the larger pieces are at the top, and I put two large pieces on an arm.  But that is just my point of view.

assemblage jacketThis was my inspiration for the asymmetry, and I may fill in some spots or add to the other lapel, I will know more after I wear it more.  I had not done much crafting for several years until I retired recently and I had forgotten to pay attention to wearability.

I wrote this about the Yours Clothing “band jacket” in my prior post:

It is a UK Size 30-32 that fits my US size 26-28 body. The arms are a good fit for me as are the shoulders, so it is very comfortable and you know that is important to me.  And it is 100% cotton, which means that in the cool San Francisco Bay area I will be able to wear it most evenings since the temperatures stay in the 60°s here.  I have always been a pacifist so I think more of it as a “band jacket” but regardless, it is everywhere this season, and now it comes in our size.  There are epaulets on the shoulders, with buttons and similar details in the back.

Peace…affinity

photo of my embellished jacket: Great Scott Photography

A Plus Size Dress from “My Baby Jo” at Rehearsal for Jerk Church

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Jennifer Raiser's photo of her feature on Jerk Church in the SF Chronicle

Jennifer Raiser’s photo of her feature on Jerk Church in the SF Chronicle

A few weeks ago I was hanging out in a backyard in Oakland, my brand new neighborhood.  It was hot, I was in the shade, and there was a rehearsal for Jerk Church, a creative musical learning community for musicians and non-musicians alike that gather each Sunday to break bread, share a cup and a song. I was there to hang out with my good friend Jennifer Raiser whom you have met here and here and here and here before.  Jennifer was writing this fabulous piece about Jerk Church that you can and should read right HERE.  The Church started as a group of friends just hanging out together, and have turned into performers who were going to perform that very evening, and they have a Hymnal so you can sing along if you like.

ChurchInTheYardThese men and women were dressed mainly in “Sunday Go to Meetin’ ” clothes, retro dress for the most part, either vintage or new, one of my favorite looks, and the men also looked like they could have stepped out of a backyard party that my grandmother might have given.  There were pies, and cakes, and little sandwiches and deviled eggs, my favorite, and beer and cold drinks.

kaitlin braidinglizards braidThen I turned and there was Kaitlan Hutchinson, braiding her friend Lizard’s hair in a fishtail braid (the tattoo on Lizard’s back is a Tibetan prayer).  Kaitlan was wearing a fabulous teal dress, beautifully made, and of course I had to know more about it.   The dress is a Size 1X Haute Milan Dress in Lake from My Baby Jo in Los Angeles and the material had a wonderful hand to it.  I love the crisscross in the front and the beautiful way the waist is tailored so the skirt flows into semi-pleats. I love it, and it is such a treat to just be out and about and see someone wearing something so beautiful and accessible.  And of course the hat was an extra bonus.

kaitlin better

Peace…affinity

Valentine’s Weekend in the Beth Ditto Heart Sweater

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IMG_2689Sometimes you must wonder, what is it that makes Burning Man Project and Burning Man so important to me, and what do I do for them?  Well, they make my life richer, fuller and more fun.  Currently for Burning Man Project I am a volunteer and the Social Media Coordinator, that means that I take photos, interact on Facebook and Tweet for them and update events, etc. on their website.

IMG_0380On Valentine’s Day, February 14th, 2013, Burning Man Project joined Glide in San Francisco by helping serve dinner to over 700 guests on this happiest of hearts day! Not only did we help serve the meal, but leading up to it, we crafted the LOVEliest valentines to give to Glide dinner guests.  The outfit above is what I wore to help make Valentine Card.

Sweater: Beth Ditto ebay UK Size 26-28  (This Evans Line no longer exists)
Dress: Asos Curve (US Size 22) bubble Skater Dress, this has become my go-to dress for cropped sweaters and tights. It is comfy and fun.
Belt: gifted with another belt that I purchased on FatToo
Leggings: One Stop Plus Size 3X (I wear a size 26-28 generally). I cannot really recommend metallic leggings.  No matter what size you get they bunch at the knee and the ankle immediately and I think the bunching looks worse than in other colors.
Boots: Torrid, Size 10, for more information click here.

IMAG0142Then on Sunday we went out to our friend Katy Boynton‘s studio to celebrate Heartfullness, and of course I had to wear my valentine outfit again.

Shoes: Torrid Size 10, I wish they had had 10 pair, I would have bought them all, they were $10 in the store Thanksgiving weekend.

414007_463963000301742_1484447488_oAnd this is what Heartfullness looked like at Burning Man.

IMG_2711And there is Heartfullness necklace, I love mine.  In this photo you can almost see the silver metallic thread running throughout the hearts in the sweater.

And here is a moment with Heartfullness at Burning Man:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp8rJPdYpik?rel=0&w=640&h=360]

Peace…affinity