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"Oh, when I look back now / That summer seemed to last forever / And if I had the choice / Yeah, I'd always wanna be there / Those were the best days of my life." ~ Summer of 69, Bryan Adams
I started 2017 with blue hair and a mission to keep the momentum from 2016 up. And 2017 did not disappoint!
I kicked off the year with a Lane Bryant collaboration with the IG Wives to introduce their new Allie pant in a body diverse social media campaign. I was also featured by Avenue in their Blogger's Closet section for February. AND... BodyPositivity.com named me one of the 11 Bloggers Inspiring The Body Positive Movement.
Meanwhile, I started my second year with Gwynnie Bee where my work as a First Fit Model and Reviewer continued. Customers continue to love my reviews and I am humbled at how I have inspired women to try new styles and wear better fitting clothing.
I was also featured in Society Plus's 7 Days of Midi Love campaign in February and I was so happy to be able to have the opportunity to style their midi skirt my way and stay true to myself and my style. It's so important to show diversity, not only in bodies, but in style, too.
In February, I also launched my second lookbook sponsored by Igigi, featuring bloggers and influencers spanning sizes 14 to 32, including two big and tall males as well as petite and tall women. The Lookbook Project will continue in 2018 because I think it's a great visual way to show diversity in not only bodies but race, gender and style.
My hair became mermaid green in time for my travels to Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Jose in late April/early May, where I did some amazing things like a closet sale at The Plus Bus, a tour of Making It Big's headquarters, attending a book signing for Jessamyn Stanley, attending the Torrid Pool Party, getting fitted for bras at Curvy Couture, speaking for the first time at Curvy Girl Lingerie about fashion above a size 24 and shooting a body diverse fashion campaign for SWAK Designs where I got to channel my inner Super Heroine.
I also visited designers Melissa Masse and Jill Alexander, who have become dear friends of mine over the years. I finally got to meet celebrity stylist Malia Anderson! And let's not forget, I wore a two-piece bathing suit on the beach for the first time in decades.
My hair became mermaid green in time for my travels to Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Jose in late April/early May, where I did some amazing things like a closet sale at The Plus Bus, a tour of Making It Big's headquarters, attending a book signing for Jessamyn Stanley, attending the Torrid Pool Party, getting fitted for bras at Curvy Couture, speaking for the first time at Curvy Girl Lingerie about fashion above a size 24 and shooting a body diverse fashion campaign for SWAK Designs where I got to channel my inner Super Heroine.
I also visited designers Melissa Masse and Jill Alexander, who have become dear friends of mine over the years. I finally got to meet celebrity stylist Malia Anderson! And let's not forget, I wore a two-piece bathing suit on the beach for the first time in decades.
The LA portion of my trip was so special because I got to experience it with my friend and little sis Alysse of the blog Ready to Stare. We created a bond that will last a lifetime. It's amazing to me how you make friends with people along your journey who add so much color and happiness to your life. She inspires me on so many levels including not being afraid to truly be me with no apologies.
We ate black ice cream, went to see the Elote Man for some deliciousness, stayed in a hella cool Air BnB, dealt with LA traffic and ate authentic Mexican food at 11pm at night. And... took some amazing pictures along the way.
We ate black ice cream, went to see the Elote Man for some deliciousness, stayed in a hella cool Air BnB, dealt with LA traffic and ate authentic Mexican food at 11pm at night. And... took some amazing pictures along the way.
At this point, the mermaid hair and I were gearing up for summer, which was all about events and my first Facebook Live with Dia & Co! I was nervous but their followers really loved me and it has motivated me to do more Live sessions in 2018. Full Figured Fashion Week was amazing as usual and in July, I headed to Atlanta to attend the TCF Style Expo for the first time.
At FFF Week, I met a woman who will forever change my life. Melina Alarcon, the Mexican designer behind Generose, is one of the best people I have ever met. She showed her collection at FFF Week and we connected shortly thereafter where she invited me to go to the TCF Style Expo with her. Since then, that relationship has not only blossomed into a partnership where she is using me as her size 28 fit model but also a friendship. I would not have gone to Altanta if it weren't for her. Everything happens for a reason. Stay tuned to the blog for more on this new partnership of mine and how it is going to evolve in 2018.
After TCF, I celebrated my 47th birthday with an all girls staycation that involved my first trip to a spa and an awesome feminist-geared tour at the MET. At this point, my hair was pink and it mirrored my mood... happy, fun and girly.
I went to Torrid's after party, Additionelle's store event where I met Jordyn Woods and I also co-hosted an event with All67 at the Gregory Hotel. NYFW and Curvy Con was a whirlwind that left me so empowered and happy.
During this time, I also shot my first non-fashion campaign with Big Fig Mattress. This was major for me! I also loved that I got to shoot with my blogger brother Kavah King of Gentlemen's Curb, which helped me feel more at ease on set.
The latter part of the year had me visiting Chicago where I spoke in my first breakout session at the Dream Big Curvy Girl Beauty and Fashion Conference. It was the first time I spoke about my mental health and how I built my confidence which enables me to live my best life. Mental health is such a taboo topic to speak about and I feel like it should be talked about more. That's one of my goals moving forward into 2018.
I met so many incredible women in Chicago and I just love that city where I now consider it my second home. I cried A LOT during my time there but it was tears of joy and empathy. Women came up to me, telling me how I inspire them to live their best lives and the crowd's reaction after my session was something I will never forget. As I looked at the line of women waiting to meet me after and seeing all of them in tears and just embracing me in tight hugs, my spirit was so full. I've been asked to speak in 2018 so hope to see you in Chicago!
After Chicago, things started to wind down a little. I did a great collab with 4 other bloggers and influencers over a size 24 where we all wore the same size 28 jeans from Avenue and shared our experiences as the same size but different body shapes and measurements.
I also celebrated along with my blogger sister and dear friend Darlene of Suits, Heels and Curves at her baby shower in early November. Work at Gwynnie Bee was gearing up for holiday and was keeping me busy. I attended the The Business of Curves event at FIT where I got the courage to ask the panel about fashion over a size 24.
I also got to hang out with singer/songwriter Mary Lambert where we shopped at the #PlusPop pop-up shop at the Gregory Hotel in early December. Connecting with Alexis of plus BKLYN this year and visiting her store is one of the major highlights of my year. I ended the year with a trip to Mexico City to do some fitting for Generose's Spring 2018 line and finding out that I am a 2018 Lifestyled Honors recipient. So I will see you Atlanta in April!
I'm ending the year with blue/pink ombre hair and a full heart. My spirit is overflowing with humility, gratefulness and love. 2017 was simply amazing and I can't wait to see what 2018 has in store for me, including what hair colors I will do next. Stay tuned and thanks for rocking with me this year!!! Love y'all!
What were the highlights of 2017 for you? What are your goals in 2018? What are you looking forward to? Comment below and let's chat!
After TCF, I celebrated my 47th birthday with an all girls staycation that involved my first trip to a spa and an awesome feminist-geared tour at the MET. At this point, my hair was pink and it mirrored my mood... happy, fun and girly.
The pink hair and I then had a blast during New York Fashion Week and Curvy Con the following month. My dream of attending the Project Runway finale runway show came true and I loved how I got to see so many of my blogger sisters at Curvy Con.
During this time, I also shot my first non-fashion campaign with Big Fig Mattress. This was major for me! I also loved that I got to shoot with my blogger brother Kavah King of Gentlemen's Curb, which helped me feel more at ease on set.
The latter part of the year had me visiting Chicago where I spoke in my first breakout session at the Dream Big Curvy Girl Beauty and Fashion Conference. It was the first time I spoke about my mental health and how I built my confidence which enables me to live my best life. Mental health is such a taboo topic to speak about and I feel like it should be talked about more. That's one of my goals moving forward into 2018.
After Chicago, things started to wind down a little. I did a great collab with 4 other bloggers and influencers over a size 24 where we all wore the same size 28 jeans from Avenue and shared our experiences as the same size but different body shapes and measurements.
I also celebrated along with my blogger sister and dear friend Darlene of Suits, Heels and Curves at her baby shower in early November. Work at Gwynnie Bee was gearing up for holiday and was keeping me busy. I attended the The Business of Curves event at FIT where I got the courage to ask the panel about fashion over a size 24.
I also got to hang out with singer/songwriter Mary Lambert where we shopped at the #PlusPop pop-up shop at the Gregory Hotel in early December. Connecting with Alexis of plus BKLYN this year and visiting her store is one of the major highlights of my year. I ended the year with a trip to Mexico City to do some fitting for Generose's Spring 2018 line and finding out that I am a 2018 Lifestyled Honors recipient. So I will see you Atlanta in April!
I'm ending the year with blue/pink ombre hair and a full heart. My spirit is overflowing with humility, gratefulness and love. 2017 was simply amazing and I can't wait to see what 2018 has in store for me, including what hair colors I will do next. Stay tuned and thanks for rocking with me this year!!! Love y'all!
What were the highlights of 2017 for you? What are your goals in 2018? What are you looking forward to? Comment below and let's chat!
"Who says I can't be free from all the things that I used to be? Rewrite my history, who says I can't be free."
I look at this picture often because it serves as a reminder of who I used to be and who I don't want to be anymore.
I didn't love myself fully and covered up my body with layers, shrugs and long tops. I wore baggy pants, including jeans! I wore two sizes larger than my true size so I was grabbing those 30/32's out of habit and not even caring how baggy my clothes were.
So the red floral top seen above is something I would wear now but I would get it in a smaller size and belt it. Perhaps wear a cami or bra underneath. My, how times have changed!
Ten years later, sometimes I am so shocked at my own transformation. When many talk of their transformation, it involves weight loss. However, I haven't lost any substantial weight aside from maybe 25 pounds or so. And that only came off because I stopped drinking soda and eating take-out on a daily basis because my health depended on those changes.
But for the most part, I'm still fat with large upper arms, lumpy thighs, 23" calves and 68" hips. And I'm happy...
Dress: SWAK Designs |
I know that it's hard for some to understand how I can be fat and happy but I am proof that it is possible. A lot of it has to do with how you feel about yourself and how you let what others say/think affect how you feel about yourself. It's not rocket science and some have made a lot of money speaking to people about this but I'm going to give you my perspective for free.
The diet industry makes millions off of making people feel bad about themselves and convincing them that happiness and weight loss go hand in hand. I'm not saying weight loss is bad. I'm saying dieting is bad. They are two different things. You can lose weight by changing your eating habits for the better because you want to be healthier. However, going on a diet and not a lifestyle change is entirely different. Also, your reasons for going down that path mean a lot as well.
If you're looking for happiness to come when you lose weight, it will... BUT it will be shortlived if you never worked on truly loving yourself unconditionally... unless you work on yourself and how you feel about yourself. You will never be satisfied and will be forever obsessed with keeping that weight off.
And you don't have to lose weight to work on yourself on the inside. You can start to heal and love yourself at any size and that healing is imperative to being the best person you can be, AT ANY SIZE.
Dress: City Chic via Gwynnie Bee |
Jacket and Jeans: Eloquii, Sneakers: PUMA |
It's your body and you do what you see fit with it and if it's weight loss, I am not judging you. I'm only speaking of the Why's and encouraging you to look within yourself and be honest with yourself.
Life is lived fully when you are present and enjoying the now. If you don't, you will miss out on time you can't get back. Missed opportunities can mean missed moments of happiness. This I learned the hard way.
Swimsuit and cover-up: Lane Bryant |
Is it tough for me to shop as a size 26/28? Hell yes! But will I lose weight to be a smaller size just so I can have more clothing available to me? Um, hell no!
Why should I lose weight to cater to an industry that makes money off of making us feel like we have to fit a certain ideal to look stylish or beautiful? I think everyone is worthy of accessible fashion because we all need clothes. Last time I checked, it's illegal to walk around naked on the streets of New York.
And why should I wait to dress fabulously and feel good about myself? I don't want to sit around waiting until I'm a certain weight to dress fly.
I have my workarounds and have done my research. There's great brands for me to shop like Universal Standard, Gwynnie Bee, Avenue, Lane Bryant, Premme, Eloquii, eShakti and indie designers like Christian Omeshun, Ashley Nell Tipton and 2 B Continued Denim. I'm also finding new brands every day like Curve Girl and Curvy Sense, that offer above a size 24. Hell, ASOS even offers up to a 28 now and Ashley Stewart offers up to a size 34/36 in some styles.
It's a challenge to shop but it is possible. It just means that while I can't shop at Forever 21, Boohoo, Missguided or NY & Company, I can access designer pieces and get customized clothing made for me. I shop on a budget so I usually treat myself to one core piece a season that will last me for years. I also want to learn how to sew. To me, those are more positive steps for me to take than stressing myself to diet to be able to shop in more stores. I'm trying to love myself more and more daily and not succumb to what others say I should be.
I am enough.
Dress: Sexy Plus Clothing, Shoes: Catherines |
Am I glorifying obesity? No. I am glorifying self love and self care. Who made the rule that you can't love yourself over a certain size? Who says beauty only comes in size THIN? I would love to know who came up with all these restrictions on who I should be and how I should feel. Self means ME. So I should be able to make my own decision on how I (ME) feel about MYSELF.
Actually, once I started dressing more stylish and wearing my actual size, I felt better about myself. And this led me to want to take better care of myself. This led me to stop drinking soda and walking more. This led me to traveling more and being more positive towards life. If anything, having access to clothing in my size is not keeping me fat... it's actually helping me heal and love myself more, which in turn is motivating me to be healthier and be the best person I can be.
And that is subjective according to who you are and where you are in life. We all can't be the same size or fit this cookie cutter version of who we should be at our height and age. That's impossible.
My transformation began with the first step of getting a pixie hair cut, which made me see a glimmer of beauty that made me yearn to see more. You can read more here. So I peeled the layers off, literally and figuratively. I don't wear shrugs anymore. I don't wear long tops anymore to cover my thighs. I actually wear my size now. These things took time but it was worth it.
One of the best things you can do for yourself is invest in YOU. Building any kind of relationship takes time and the one you have with yourself is the most important one. So wherever you're at in your journey, I hope you will reflect, be honest with yourself and truly work on you. Work on seeing your beauty and worth. Believe in yourself and know that you can do anything you set your mind to. Happiness lies within you -- you just have to allow yourself to feel it.
It amazes me at times how, for instance, I can wear sleeveless styles and while I used to think the world was staring, in reality, no one is. And that one person who does have something to say, is not worth me giving that person time and energy to affect me. I used to make that one person seem like a million and let it limit me from truly feeling free. And I refuse to go back to that place. So I keep rewriting history and living my life one day at a time.
Where are you at in your journey of loving yourself? Comment below and let me know. Or feel free to email me at marcyc19@gmail.com if you don't want to disclose it publicly.
Jacket: Drew via Gwynnie Bee, Dress: Addition Elle via Gwynnie Bee, Boots: Lane Bryant |
"We are like a snowflake, all different in our own beautiful way." ~ Unknown
The holiday season is always tough for me because I miss my dad and brother. However, fashion is one of those things that cheers me up, puts a pep in my step and lets me have fun. I love being extra and making a statement -- have been since I was a kid. So the holidays give me a chance to wear outrageous things and basically act like a fool, as my mama would say. I mean, who else would wear sequins to the supermarket? LOL
Gwynnie Bee has been a blessing to me in so many ways. As a woman who wears a size 26/28, fit for me is always a challenge and I end up wearing stuff from a range of sizes. Sometimes it's a 20 or sometimes it's a 30. With GB, I can try things on and return if it doesn't fit or I can keep it if I love it.
Bell sleeves and of course, the Nicole Miller (far right in black) |
I also love that I don't have to buy things and add more stuff to my already overflowing closet. So in reality, I look like I have an endless amount of clothing when I really don't. That means being able to change it up often, try styles I never wore before and look fabulous.
This is why I always tell people that joining the Gwynnie Bee service is an investment, especially if you don't have the time to shop or just don't have the money like that. First off, you get 30 days free to try the service. If you like it, you pay one monthly fee, get to read fit reviews (like from yours truly) and try different brands, including high end designers like Nicole Miller, which goes up to a 5X.
Let's not even discuss that right now because that is for a future post where I will be channeling my inner Elaine from Seinfeld -- "The Nicole Millers have arrived!" Let's just say, those dresses have made my life right now.
Lately at First Fit shoots, I have been seeing lots of velvet and bell sleeves, which I am so here for. Yesssss!
More bell sleeves AND this dress is not only floral but velvet too! |
So I wanted to share with all of you my top 5 holiday dresses from Gwynnie Bee that I will be wearing this season, just because -- it's not like I have a ton of holiday parties to attend but I am Latina and we are known for going extra, even if it's just sitting on my Titi's sofa, chillin'.
My top 5 Favorite Holiday Dresses from Gwynnie Bee
Brand: Kaktus
Sizes Available: L to 5X
Heart rating: 5 (read my review here)
Size worn: 4X
I love the drama of bell sleeves and I am obsessed with this shade of burgundy. I would pair this dress with some navy pumps and a pink floral velvet jacket that has navy in the print.
Brand: Park & Pearce
Sizes Available: L to 5X
Heart rating: 5 (read my review here)
Size worn: 4X
You can never go wrong with a classic red dress. This is the best foundation for a statement-looking holiday look. Pair it with fur, a velvet blazer, even sequins. You could wear boots with this, pumps, even flats. The possibilities are endless. The great thing about this dress is that you can wear it all year round, dress it up or down.
Brand: Amanda Uprichard
Sizes Available: L to 5X
Heart rating: 5 (read my review here)
Size worn: 4X
This dress is so comfy, soft and stretchy. I love the color so much! I would wear a pink fur jacket with this dress and perhaps a print shoe. I love the floral velvet booties I have been seeing lately. And I would make sure to have a clutch that makes a statement, like my #fabulous clutch. I also think a wine color would look fabulous against this shade of grey, maybe a fur stole.
Brand: Loveappella
Sizes Available: L to 5X
Heart rating: 4 (read my review here)
Size worn: 5X
I think this floral velvet vibe is so pretty and luxe looking. I would wear a black crushed velvet moto jacket with this, add some pearls and go.
Brand: Alexia Admor
Sizes Available: L to 5X
Heart rating: 5 (read my review here)
Size worn: 4X
You can't go wrong with a neutral tone during the holidays AND this feels like a suede fabric so it looks expensive. I would pair this with a fur stole or leather moto with a fur collar, some dangling earrings that are blinged out and some leopard print pumps. Love!
I would love to know what you're wearing this holiday season and what you think of these 5 dresses. And if you join Gwynnie Bee, I would love to know how your first free 30 days went and if you decided to keep the service. Just click here to sign up.
**This post also contains some affiliate links and I'll earn a small commission if you shop through them. This is one of the ways I can continue to bring you inspiring content. Thank you!
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