Glossybox.ca January 2013

My last Glossybox post wasn't that timely, so here I am, not 10 minutes after opening my box, and I am penning a post. And testing the Too-Faced Lip Injection Extreme lip plumper. That's the only one I will be able to give some kind of feedback on...

So, without further ado... the box:

January 2013 Glossybox

Casual Conundrum: Solutions

Dang sweater... nicely hung up on my booty in all the shots...

So yeah, the whole week was sort of a moving week, so Tuesday was another forced casual day.

I have a great friend, who, when she culls her closet, I get first dibs on them. I don't know how it works out as well as it does, because her style and my style are like 2 parallel lines (even in infinity, they would never intersect), and our body types are very different (she's Amazon, and I have a lot of midget-genes in my pool) but I get a LOT of great stuff from her. This sweater is one of them. As soon as I pulled it out of the bag, I knew I was going to like it. I could just tell from the feel of the material. Not to mention, I really love the color. I also really dig the collar, and the fact that it is meant to just be done up at the neck. Its very different from everything I own, so I am happy to add it to my closet. And that was Tuesday's outfit.

To get back to the casual conundrum, there are a few things I do when dressing comfortably that I feel raise the bar.

First is always have your hair did. For me, it actually works both ways. Call me crazy, but if my hair is looking like crap, I don't bother dressing nicely either. I guess it just feels pointless to me. Here's a basic rule of thumb. If you just let your hair air dry after coming out of the shower... its not done. Unless you are somehow blessed with very straight hair. Oddly enough, my sister can do that... but she's one of the chosen few. Odds are, you need to do something to it.

Star Struck

     Gentle readers, why this is a trend I do not know. Perhaps I don't get it because I am on the other side of 30 and my Friday nights are comprised of going out for pho and watching my husband play "Jet Set Radio." However, it is here and I thought I would chat about it. I have been seeing space print clothes everywhere! Top shop, Asos and the like all have us seeing stars. If you would like to jump on this trend, have no fear. We have your hook ups. If you want to wear it loud and proud, we have the shirt, compliments of Asos and the dress, from Domino Dollhouse. If you want to add a hint of it to your everyday wardrobe, we have the items in the middle for your consideration. If you are taking an Astronomy class, sit up close to the prof and wear with pride for extra credit. 

     Starting from the left and working to the right:

1) Wrap Top in Galaxy Print from Asos Curve

2) Leggings in Galatic Storm from Leggings Superstore

3) Pencil Skirt in Galaxy Print from Domino Dollhouse

4) Babydoll Dress in Galaxy Print

     

PS: Do you like my 90's era clip art? I thought you might!

Louis Vuitton for Less!

How often does this happen? How often does something straight off the runway (in this case Louis Vuitton S/S 2013) and is available online, at pretty well 99.99% cheaper and in plus? Very rarely! So rarely in fact that I had to blog about it! It is from Asos Curve, a European online clothing store that has a plum plus size selection. Seeing that this skirt is all of $31.87 and the shipping is affordable, I will have to give this lovely little garment a new home! How exciting! Happy shopping!

The Casual Conundrum

No shoes... photo shoot almost didn't happen

Here's a shocking confession. I don't think that everyone looks good in everything. I am not that inclusive. While I do believe that you should wear whatever makes you feel good, I don't think that means that you should expect everyone to like it.

I personally think that the combination of wooly socks with sandals is an affront to nature.

I believe that gym clothes (sweat pants, shirts, sneakers/runners/trainers) should only be worn to the gym. Ever.

Ever.

And I feel like its harder for curvy girls to look as good in casual clothes as *skinnybitches do.

I mean, there are things that I see on Pinterest (like the sloppy topknot, or lumberjack shirts) that somehow manage to look so... fashiony (?) on the skinnybitches, that I just know would make me look like I just rolled out of a ditch. Among so many other things that plague us curvy girls, its just so UNFAIR! Yes, I'm whining... deal.

Why am I going on about this? Well, my office was moving locations this week, and that meant that (GASP) there was a high likelihood that manual labour would be required. Now, I am no princess, I've hauled wood, and grouted tile and all that, but I also know you gotta dress for the occasion. But I wanted to have posts for y'all as well. How was I going to do that? It's hard to look "fashiony" and yet still be prepared to get dirty and haul boxes.



So, that's the inspiration for today's post.
While I had to wear something comfortable, that I was comfortable in, I wanted to NOT look likea poster girl for People of Walmart. Really not that much to ask right? Sometimes for the curvy girl, it is.

Anyway, here was my solution. A black cowl-neck tunic top, made of (wait for it) a sweatshirt-LIKE material, with a kangaroo pouch in the front. This is my go-to piece when I want comfort, but want to look like I made a LITTLE bit of an effort.

Hubby was the photographer on this shoot... with the flux at the office, couldn't do a shoot there with my regular camera or photographer

I was wearing my trusty old moto boots from ShoeDazzle that day. And they looked great with it.

Top: Mossimo for Target from probably 2 years ago now (similar here from Lane Bryant and here from Old Navy)

Jeans: Torrid (here)

Awesomesocks: dunno. Unlike the socks that disappear from your dryer, these ones were just there one day...

*skinnybitch: its a term I use to identify bitches that I think are skinny. If, as a skinnybitch, you are offended by that term, cry me a river... skinnybitch

My Spring Style

     Ah, Spring! It is so close, yet so far away. Very far away! I have decided to cast of the shackles of fat oppression and wear whatever I damn well please. I am in my early 30's and I want to make the most of  living out my sartorial dreams before I am labeled "mutton dressed as lamb." This Spring, I am going to be stepping into a tea length tulle skirt from Etsy. I know that it is a detour from my usual warm weather staple: the maxi, but hey! YOLO. Gross, I cannot believe I just typed that. But, it is true. The only downside to wearing a shorter skirt is that I will have to shave my legs. Boo!

Work it!

One of my dear friends is starting a new job where for the first time she has to dress professionally. The good thing is that there are plenty of tasty choices out there for the discerning working woman. I found a few great pieces made just for the fuller figure. If you are on the working gear hunt, I would check out Talbots, for they have 75% wool pants, blazers and skirts.

Lemon: The Juiciest Hue for Spring

How beautiful is lemon yellow? It is joyful and radiant. I just love it. Moreover, it looks fantastic on pretty well everyone. Each piece above is under $200.00 CDN. How sweet is that!

Spring Trend: Stripes!

Trend: Graphic Shift Dress

And now for something completely different

Well, maybe not completely different, but this is not a post about fashion. This post is fashion-adjacent.

I guess this might fall under our "Lifestyle" umbrella.

I've found that I've accumulated a fair amount of stuff over the years, related to my affinity for things that make me feel better about how I look. Jewelry, make-up, accessories, nail polish... all this stuff adds up, and you need a place for it. I always enjoy seeing how other people organise their stuff, so today, I share with you how I have organised mine.

On the slim chance that there are some negative people out there who might read this (negative people on the internet? Why I never...) I will begin with a small disclaimer: this collection of things is over a decade old (with recent additions, of course) and all (and I do mean all) of the jewelry is costume. If you think I sound guilty, its because I am. Sometimes a little voice pops up in my head and says "why do you need stuff to be happy?" and then I tell that little voice to shut the &*$# up.

So, on to the fun bit!

Glossybox.ca December 2012

Let me just open with "better later than never"... although, perhaps not with this post. So, its mid-January, and I just posting the Glossybox December. I will say that I have some good reasons though.
First, I didn't receive it until I got back from my Califormia vacation, and then I had some sh!t to take care of, being that I had been gone for almost 2 weeks. But, I am now ready to share pics, and initial reactions. Unlike my last Glossybox post, I haven't even had a chance to try these things yet.

Here goes:

Come on Spring!

Doesn't this color scream "Spring" at you?

Wishful thinking, I know. But this past Friday was so nice and mild, that I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to post an OOTD using this dress. Sadly, I was struck down with a bug, and I didn't wear it to work on Friday, but on the plus-side, my Sunday Night Scramble (you know, where the start of the week is looming, and you need to prepare for it) was lessened in severity because I already had an outfit all planned out!

On the negative side... its freezing today. And rainy... hence the lovely frizz on my ends. Ah well, warts and all.

The green of this dress is so springy, and it keeps me optimistic. One day, flowers will bloom, and the grass will be a lovely green carpet beneath my feet. Speaking of feet... whattaya think of these bad boys? I've wanted a pair of cheetah/leopard (can't really tell the difference) for so long, and now they are mine!! And for dirt cheap too... now I can move on to my obsession with a pair of bright yellow shoes.

Dress: Target 

Shoes: Target (on sale...hurry!)

Necklace: before I started keeping track

Bracelet: gift

I'm A Mint Paddy...

If there is one thing that I am liking from Spring "trans", (retail speak for transition collection from Winter to Spring) is mint is everywhere. And not just for surgical scrubs! It is on blouses, bags, shoes, slacks and denim. Seeing that coloured denim and I are unsure of each other, I have decided on a mint pencil skirt and matching belt. Seeing that I am Irish and wearing mint....I am a mint paddy!

      I found the skirt in the clearance section of JC Penney. I know! Clearance and lower end department stores! What is going on! I secretly love JC Penney. They have a collaboration with Mango (cute Euro chain with great clothes) and Sephora. However, the Mango collection only goes up to a size 14, and I am not there right now. 

     So, I happily shop in the plus department. I also found the polka dot top in the clearance section, too. The belt is from a dress I bought at JC Penney of all places. I love this sweater. It is from Banana Republic and is of cozy Merino Wool. For ages, I thought I was allergic to all wools. Turns out it is just cheap wool that causes reactions! What a gift! 

     My fuchsia quilted bag is Kate Spade from Nordstrom. The shoes are Cole Haan nude flats and are also compliments of Nordstrom while the earrings are J Crew. The next time you find yourself running for the border, make sure you pop into JC Penney. You will be amazed at the great stuff you will find! Moreover, take a peek at Nordy's! They have a great plus section and their shoe floor is killer!

Aaaaaand we're back

Sort of, a little bit, kinda see through...

For now anyway...

My, the holidays are such a timesuck, amiright?

Well, they are over now, and its back to work time, and back to OOTD time! I really only dress for work and social occasions. I know there are some bloggers out there that are so dedicated that they will gussy up just for a post, but that ain't me babe, no no no that ain't me. One day I may post an off-day OOTD, and it will likely feature my zebra-print fleece onsie PJs. Comfort, thy name is fleece!

Anyway, one of the looks that has a spot forever in my heart, is black lace over a nude underlay. Surely you've seen those dresses. They are lovely. I don't know what it is about them, maybe the ever unfulfilled suggestion that you might be seeing what's underneath the lace, I don't know, but I like the look. I have yet to find a piece that I like on me that is black lace, so this is my closest comparison.

Its a very loose knit sweater, with a touch of sparkle in the thread. That's why I am wearing minimal jewelry today, since I don't want to overdose on the sparkle.

I am nothing if not the picture of discipline and restraint...

I have worn it with a black tank underneath, but like I said, there's nothing like the tantalizing suggestion of skin. Which on screen, sounds so lascivious, but I really don't mean it that way. You know what I mean, right?

Don't judge me.