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Showing posts with label Catherines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Catherines. Show all posts
"We need to focus on bringing our best, not worrying about what anyone else is bringing." ~ Blanca Rodriguez, POSE, Season 1: Mother of The Year episode
I have something to admit.
Jumpsuits still scare me and everytime I wear one, I feel invincible because I know the work it took to get myself into it.
I don't like being exposed in the front. I'm someone who is still working on tucking my shirt in and not worrying about my belly outline and camel toe. But I am getting there. One day at a time.
The journey to self love and acceptance is one you commit to for the rest of your life. And sometimes it's not easy. But once you start on that journey, let me tell you, the wins become the majority of your life and you are better equipped to handle those bad days.
I don't call the bad days a loss.
I call them lessons, reminders and just a step on this journey of mine. Every day I venture out of my house, looking my best and striving to be the best person I can be, is a win in my book, regardless if the day ends up being horrible. I'm feeling confident and not worrying about what anyone else is doing or saying.
So I decided it had been too long since I had worn a jumpsuit and since I have been really pushing myself out of my comfort zone lately, I decided it was time.
This Modern Striped Jumpsuit from Catherines really stood to me and I was surprised at myself! I usually shy away from black because it reminds me of my younger years when all I heard from my mom was to wear black because it was "slimming".
But I love stripes; I love a great culotte and while jumpsuits scare me, I have always coveted them from afar. This one is so chic with a detachable tie belt and has a wide leg with a slightly stretchy crepe fabric.
Now that it's officially summer, that means battling with different temperatures as you come and go. Hot outside and freezing inside. So I always carry a jacket with me that I can tuck in my handbag or tie around my waist when outside and feeling hot.
This Eyelet Denim Jacket from Catherines was perfect. I love me some denim and white is a nice color to rock in the summer. I'm not a huge fan of white as it gets dirty easily but this one caught my eye because of the eyelet detail.
The best part of both of these pieces are that they instantly become closet staples that you can create multiple outfits from. I am all about making my closet work for me and not the other way around.
I can wear this jumpsuit in the Spring and Fall, too! I can replace the tie belt with a wide leather one in a bold color like red or yellow. I can wear knee high boots with this jumpsuit and an obi belt, paired with a moto jacket. I can even mix prints and add some small polka dots in the form of shoes or a jacket.
The white jacket can be worn over a print dress or a graphic tee and jeans (I am not against mixing different shades of denim). For me to find a jacket that fits well in the upper arms AND is comfy while looking so cute is major.
On this day, I was reminded how far I have come in my journey and that I shouldn't be afraid to wear a jumpsuit. I always need a reminder every now and then. Getting out of your comfort zone and having those fearless moments are so important to your journey and for me, it reminds me that I have to stop worrying about what others think and just be fearlessly just me.
Are you a fan of jumpsuits or do you shy away from them? Please let me know below in a comment or on social media @fearlesslyjustme on Instagram and here on Facebook! Let's chat!
You can shop my look below and if you get this jumpsuit, please tag me on social media so I can see how you styled it. It's currently on sale for $39.99, people!!!!
I love shopping at Catherines because they are one of the few brands who not only offers up to a size 5X but also has physical stores that you can visit to try on clothing.
My Look
Eyelet Denim Jacket (wearing size 3X)
**This blog post was sponsored by Catherines but all opinions and statements are my own.
"Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. Celebrate it every day." ~ Author Unknown
Fashion is personal. So personal.
This rings true especially for plus size women as it's harder for us to find clothing we love that fits well. Now if you're above a size 24, it's even more challenging to find cute stuff.
I believe we are all worthy of having access to clothing that fits us in our size and style. This is why I believe it’s important for customers to see bodies like theirs reflected in the models shown online, in store ads and in campaigns. Showing a diverse set of bodies not only shows a more accurate fit of the garment on different shapes and sizes but also empowers women to try new styles and shop more.
But there is still more work to be done and I personally feel like instead of griping and complaining, I should use my pen and voice to do something positive. We, as customers, have the power to let brands know what we want. Believe me, they are listening.
So this is why I have decided to create a new size inclusive series aptly titled #IAmFearlessly Me. I want all of us, no matter what size you are, to be fearless in who you are because we are all beautiful and worthy of being seen.
It seems appropriate to kick off this series with Catherines, a retailer who offers up to a size 5X. They're a great brand to shop for extended sizes and petites, offering quality basics, stylish (and cute!) dresses and tops, as well as amazing denim.
I have made no secret of my love for their Right Fit jean, which is the only jean I can wear without a belt. I recently did a dressing room video that you can see on my IGTV channel on Instagram where I loved almost everything I tried on.
Some may view Catherines as a matronly brand but honestly, it's all in how you style your items. I saw some major gems in store and honestly, their fit is much better in my experience than most plus size brands.
Catherines recently debuted a skinny jean, which piqued my curiosity so I thought that would be a great item to feature in this series. I mean, who doesn't love a skinny jean, especially if the fit is right?
I asked my fellow blogger sister ShaKera of The Real Sample Size to join me and show how the jean fits both of us.
Here's our sizes and body shapes for reference:
ShaKera is a size 20/22 and carries most of her weight on top. She has thinner legs and ankles. She's 5'6".
I'm a size 26/28 and depending on the brand, I wear either size in jeans. I have a cross between a pear and hourglass shape with a defined waist. I carry most of my weight in my hips and my calves are fuller, measuring 23" around. I'm 5'6".
We're both wearing Catherines' skinny leg jean, styled our way. ShaKera is wearing a size 22 in the jean and I'm wearing a size 26 petite, as I have short legs and a long torso.
I like to mix prints so I paired my jeans with this cute Printed Timeless Tunic Tank with Cutout. It was lightweight and fit so well. I added the Printed Effortless Linen Buttonfront Top that has this pretty white pineapple print. I opted to wear it open but will wear this tied in a knot in the front or closed with a belt. The styling options are endless.
When mixing prints, you have to choose colors that coordinate well. For me, the base color is pink with these two tops.
The jeans fit nicely, like a second skin. And I was shocked that it fit well in the calves as they are a slim fit. The only con for me was that the rise was a bit low for my taste. Since I have a long torso, I like a higher rise in my bottoms.
ShaKera was pleasantly surprised that the jeans fit her calves and ankles well. She usually has the opposite problem than I have, where the calves and ankle area are too big on her since she has thinner legs. This shows that Catherines paid attention to the cut of that area as they sized up in the pattern to allow more room as the jeans got larger but not too much so that the stretch can accommodate calves of different widths.
The true test was sitting down while wearing these jeans and seeing how comfy they were. And they passed! We were able to sit with no issue and be comfortable. Yes!
Now back to the main reason for this collab. I want to know... how do you feel seeing bodies like ours?
Would you like to see bodies like ours on retailer websites as models. Would you like to see bodies like ours featured in campaigns?
Please let me know below in a comment or on social media @fearlesslyjustme on Instagram and here on Facebook.
Who would you like to see me collab with next in this series? And what brand? Let me know!
You can shop our looks below:
ShaKera
Roman Terrace Buttonfront Tunic Top (wearing size 2X)
Skinny Leg Jean (wearing size 22)
My Look
Printed Effortless Linen Buttonfront Top (wearing size 3X)
Skinny Leg Jean (wearing size 26W in petite)
Good Soles Sparkling Sandal (wearing size 9W)
**This blog post was sponsored by Catherines but all opinions and statements are my own.
"I'm sorry that people are so jealous of me. But I can't help it that I'm popular." ~ Gretchen Wieners, Mean Girls
Last week was a real eye opener for me that made me reflect on my feelings about the fashion industry and my place in it.
I got invited to cover The Femmy Awards and Gala, taking place at Cipriani 42nd St. This event was sponsored by The Underfashion Club, a non-profit fashion industry group dedicated to "all facets of the intimate apparel industry: foundations, daywear, sleepwear, robes, and loungewear".
As someone who is considered media via my job at PLUS Model Magazine, I will admit I get some amazing opportunities to attend events like the Femmy Awards.
So I decided to put on a red dress (from Catherines) that had been sitting in my closet for the last 6 weeks. I was sick with bronchitis for about 5 weeks so my 2019 actually started on 1/25. Wearing red is always something that gives me some extra uumph, which was needed for this night.
See, this was not a plus size event. The theme of this year's awards and gala was body positivity and plus supermodel Emme was hosting (YES!), BUT this was an event where there would be media and some heavy hitters from the Intimate Apparel industry. Folks from Kohl's, Dillard's and other major brands were in attendance.
They were also having a design contest featuring six Fashion Institute of Technology students studying intimate apparel. For the first time, students’ designs were on exhibit via mannequins from size 7 to size 2X, in keeping with the theme of “Body Positivity.” The three top finalists won $5,000 and an all-expense paid trip to Paris.
I was basically walking into a huge event, not knowing a soul and possibly being the biggest girl in the room. Of course, in Fearlessly Just Me fashion, I did just that.
People stared and looked but not for the reasons I was used to. It was because I was wearing red in a sea of black and because people wondered who I was. I mean, I'm a gorgeous big girl wearing a body con red dress with short hair. And I'm walking up in there, like I own the place, lol.
The Intimates Apparel industry is a tight-knit community too, I learned later that evening. And they accepted me with open arms, actually intrigued by the plus size industry and how they can bridge that gap between mainstream/straight size and plus sizes.
Words cannot explain how included I felt and it had nothing to do with seeing someone else who looked like me. It had to do with being seen as more than a plus size woman. They saw me as someone who was their equal, someone in the media who came to the table confident, humble, professional and engaging.
My size was actually an asset in this situation as they now had access to someone who was visibly plus, looked fabulous and proved that plus size women can be stylish too and know their stuff. People came up to me, introduced themselves, asked where my dress was from and just wanted to know about ME.
I left that evening with a clutch full of business cards, including a few requests to be interviewed or featured on their website. As I walked out of Cipriani and to my waiting Uber, I skipped and danced a little, with a smile on my face.
I feel like we are now experiencing a shift in the industry where plus sizes are becoming mainstream. If you're a size 20 and under, you have become mainstream as almost all plus size brands and companies who expand on sizing, always offer up to a size 20. Those who offer above a size 24 are considered radical and really pushing boundaries in an industry where many brands think women above a size 20 don't shop or buy stylish clothing.
Why should my size speak for how I should dress? Why should there be an immediate asumption that separates how women view style and fashion according to their size?
As a size 26/28, I should not feel like I am outsized and not accepted by my own community and industry. But I do.
I just want to be around women who get me. But I also want to be around people who are looking past my size and seeing who I am as a person and what I bring to this industry as I have a seat at the table.
The use of the words "curvy" and "curve" have become the norm. And I feel like women like me have become lost in the shuffle.
I can't shop everywhere I want and while the fashion industry is changing, when I am vocal about my struggles with shopping, women smaller than me try to challenge that by saying they experience the same issue. NO.
I feel like I have to remind them that their situation is totally different than mine. If you're under a size 20, you can shop in mainstream stores like The Gap, NY & Company and countless others. I recognize that smaller women have their own fit issues but they have more options than I do when it comes to fashion.
Most plus size brands stop at a size 3X and 24. So while I get excited when a brand expands their sizing into plus sizes, I can't help but feel a little deflated when I see they are still not carrying my size.
As someone who is considered media via my job at PLUS Model Magazine, I will admit I get some amazing opportunities to attend events like the Femmy Awards.
So I decided to put on a red dress (from Catherines) that had been sitting in my closet for the last 6 weeks. I was sick with bronchitis for about 5 weeks so my 2019 actually started on 1/25. Wearing red is always something that gives me some extra uumph, which was needed for this night.
See, this was not a plus size event. The theme of this year's awards and gala was body positivity and plus supermodel Emme was hosting (YES!), BUT this was an event where there would be media and some heavy hitters from the Intimate Apparel industry. Folks from Kohl's, Dillard's and other major brands were in attendance.
They were also having a design contest featuring six Fashion Institute of Technology students studying intimate apparel. For the first time, students’ designs were on exhibit via mannequins from size 7 to size 2X, in keeping with the theme of “Body Positivity.” The three top finalists won $5,000 and an all-expense paid trip to Paris.
 |
| Me with the gorgeous Emme |
 |
| Emme hosting the Femmy Awards 2019 |
I was basically walking into a huge event, not knowing a soul and possibly being the biggest girl in the room. Of course, in Fearlessly Just Me fashion, I did just that.
People stared and looked but not for the reasons I was used to. It was because I was wearing red in a sea of black and because people wondered who I was. I mean, I'm a gorgeous big girl wearing a body con red dress with short hair. And I'm walking up in there, like I own the place, lol.
The Intimates Apparel industry is a tight-knit community too, I learned later that evening. And they accepted me with open arms, actually intrigued by the plus size industry and how they can bridge that gap between mainstream/straight size and plus sizes.
Words cannot explain how included I felt and it had nothing to do with seeing someone else who looked like me. It had to do with being seen as more than a plus size woman. They saw me as someone who was their equal, someone in the media who came to the table confident, humble, professional and engaging.
My size was actually an asset in this situation as they now had access to someone who was visibly plus, looked fabulous and proved that plus size women can be stylish too and know their stuff. People came up to me, introduced themselves, asked where my dress was from and just wanted to know about ME.
I left that evening with a clutch full of business cards, including a few requests to be interviewed or featured on their website. As I walked out of Cipriani and to my waiting Uber, I skipped and danced a little, with a smile on my face.
I feel like we are now experiencing a shift in the industry where plus sizes are becoming mainstream. If you're a size 20 and under, you have become mainstream as almost all plus size brands and companies who expand on sizing, always offer up to a size 20. Those who offer above a size 24 are considered radical and really pushing boundaries in an industry where many brands think women above a size 20 don't shop or buy stylish clothing.
Why should my size speak for how I should dress? Why should there be an immediate asumption that separates how women view style and fashion according to their size?
As a size 26/28, I should not feel like I am outsized and not accepted by my own community and industry. But I do.
 |
| TCF Style Expo 2018 - Size 24+ panel |
I just want to be around women who get me. But I also want to be around people who are looking past my size and seeing who I am as a person and what I bring to this industry as I have a seat at the table.
The use of the words "curvy" and "curve" have become the norm. And I feel like women like me have become lost in the shuffle.
I can't shop everywhere I want and while the fashion industry is changing, when I am vocal about my struggles with shopping, women smaller than me try to challenge that by saying they experience the same issue. NO.
I feel like I have to remind them that their situation is totally different than mine. If you're under a size 20, you can shop in mainstream stores like The Gap, NY & Company and countless others. I recognize that smaller women have their own fit issues but they have more options than I do when it comes to fashion.
Most plus size brands stop at a size 3X and 24. So while I get excited when a brand expands their sizing into plus sizes, I can't help but feel a little deflated when I see they are still not carrying my size.
Having empathy for other bodies is a part of being body positive. Admitting your own privilege instead of playing the victim is a sign of growth and truly being someone who believes that all bodies are beautiful.
The Femmy Awards taught me some valuable lessons. It showed me that you don't have to be around people who look like you, to fit in. At the end of the day, I am more than a plus size woman and have much more to offer as a human being.
It also showed me that there are people out there who want to be educated more on the state of plus size fashion and that as a visibly plus size woman who does not have access to all plus size fashion, I have a strong voice that can help with that.
While I may encounter the "You can't sit with us" mentality at times, I want to focus more on where I do sit and use that opportunity to educate, engage and network. Not being able to sit at every table doesn't limit my worth in this world or stop the work I am doing.
I'm more focused on inpiring the next generation of designers to embrace designing for ALL sizes and not just a range that excludes women who want to dress just like their thinner sisters.
As I chatted with the six design student finalists from F.I.T., I had hope for the fashion industry in becoming more inclusive. They all spoke so passionately about wanting to design for plus sizes with many of them even offering to create a dress for me! I never thought I'd feel or experience this in my lifetime but I am!
I'm excited to see what the generation of fashion holds for ALL women, especially those of us that are excluded at times from the plus size range AND the conversation.
You can find my Catherines red dress here and it's on sale for $40, up to size 5X including petites. (I'm wearing a size 3X petite)
You can follow those amazing F.I.T. fashion design students below on Instagram - hit them up if you need some custom lingerie or dresses:
Aura Alvarez: @aurahalvarez
Breanna Childers: @bre_childers
Laurel Yau: @yauleru
Dorshelle Guillaume: @dorshelleguillaume
Jessica Trusio: @jesstrusio
Sierra White: @intimatelysierra
Let's support and educate the next generation of fashion.
Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. ~ Lao Tzu
Winter is coming. And I'm not ready.
I suffer from osteoarthritis so my joints tend to get inflamed in extreme weather, hot or cold. But more so in the winter time. I experience joint pain, swelling and stiffness on almost a daily basis. So it's key for me to keep moving even though I just want to crawl back into bed and suffer in silence.
Taking that first step out of the house is always the hardest.
Once I am moving, the pain lessens and I feel better. Stretching is also key and a must for me. I don't have a gym membership because I fully admit I am still working on not being self-conscious in a gym. But I don't let that stop me from getting my exercise in because movement is a form of self care for me. So I choose to walk.
That is what #FearlesslyMoving is all about to me.
My legs and feet have already taken me to incredible places in my life already so why not keep walking?
Walking is free and I live in New York City where you can walk anywhere and see something interesting. Never a dull moment in the city, let me tell you.
To help motivate me to take that first painful step, I make sure what I am wearing is cute and comfy. I'm not a coat person since I grew up near the beach and have a thick skin when it comes to cold weather. I get hot very quick and don't like to feel weighted down by clothes.
Coats are bulky and I don't want to look like the kid from A Christmas Story. But this year, I took a chance and am happy I did. Because at the end of the day, fashion is a form of self care for me as well.
I saw this magical pink coat over at Catherines and was in love. It's lined in faux fur including the detachable hood, has adjustable side belts and cute gold tassle thingys at the ends of the hood straps. And hello, IT'S PINK!!!!!
It has pockets and is a nice low hip length where it provides coverage in my booty area. The sleeves have a ribbed knit cuff that makes it stay in place so that no cold air sneaks in up my sleeves, which I hate. I usually think puffer coats are the devil because I don't want to look larger but I took a chance on this because sometimes we have to get out of our heads and take a chance.
And WOW! I looked in the mirror and loved how it looked on me. I always size up one size when buying coats in case I need extra room for a sweater or am wearing something bulky underneath. So I ordered a 4X in this coat which equals a size 30/32 on Catherines' size chart. I'm glad I sized up because it fit perfectly and zipped up with no issue. If you are my size (26/28) and want extra room to wear layers underneath, I would get the 5X, to be honest, as coats typically do not offer stretch. For the record, my measurements are 57"-51"-68".
On this day of walking and exploring, I decided to wear a cozy sweater, my absolute favorite jeans in the world and some comfy booties, all from Catherines.
I love a great doggy sweater and this one had a doggy wearing a leopard print bow and dark pink cat eye glasses so I had to have it. I'm wearing a size 3X in the sweater.
The jeans are Catherines' Right Fit Jeans in Curvy, which have been my go-to for years. I usually have to wear a belt with my jeans since my waist is smaller than my hips. These jeans are the ONLY jeans I wear without a belt. They have side elastic panels in the waist that prevent gaps. They are AMAZING.
I'm 5'6 but have short legs so if I buy regular length, I have to roll them up. If I want a cropped length, I get petite. I like that Catherines offers me those length options and also gives me size room to go up or down to get the fit right. In these jeans, I'm wearing a size 24. Yup, you read right!!!! A size 24. If I want a boyfriend slouchy look, I size up to a 26 regular and roll them up.
I also have large 23" calves and these jeans fit them nicely with no tightness. My upper arms measure 21" around and the sweater fits well in that respect as well.
The boots are a true wide width where I felt like I had wiggle room AND they are super comfy. So I can wear double socks with no issue. I walked around all day in them and my feet did not hurt. I love how brown looks against pink and it ties in with the leopard bow on my sweater.
I don't usually post pics of me sitting down because I used to think it was unflattering. But now? I know it's all in my head and if I feel good about something, who cares what others think? I don't anymore.
I also don't wear makeup when I am out walking around because I just want to be comfortable and natural. So yes, your eyes are not deceiving you. I am not wearing any makeup. Just some Vaseline lip therapy on my lips.
So I will be wearing this pink coat and booties all winter long and living my best walking life. The booties also come in black so I have to have them.
There's so many great things to do in NYC during this time and I will be sharing some of my adventures as a plus size person in some future blog posts coming up. So be sure to check back here to see me #FearlesslyMoving and having fun while doing it.
Shop my look from Catherines via the links below:
Photography by the amazing Karizza.
You can find her on Instagram here and visit her website here. I love to work with photographers who are body positive so expect more magic with myself and her in the future. I highly recommend her.
*This post is sponsored by Catherines but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
"There's no how-to road map to style. It's about self-expression and, above all, attitude" ~ Iris Apfel
Even though I love me some dresses, on my every day adventures to the supermarket (lol) and other exciting places (the post office is so lit on Mondays), I'm more of a streetwear girl who likes to layer.
I live in a place that has four seasons and brutal winters. But I hate wearing a coat or anything that feels bulky. So layering is my jam in the colder months.
I am so keeping it real with y'all right now. I know you see fashion bloggers walking the streets like they are stepping out of an issue of Vogue and they're just running errands while drinking a latte. No sir, not me. I have to be comfortable and while I am not opposed to wearing a ball gown and some sequins to the supermarket, I need to be practical.
I have become quite a pro at layering and I love it. I tend to be hot one minute and then cold the next. So the freedom to remove or add layers to my look is a godsend.
This was me on a recent cold winter day where it was about 40 degrees. I've dealt with -10 days so this is nothing to me.
One of my favorite layering pieces is a vest. This faux suede one is comfortable and fits well. I scored it at Catherines about two years ago and it is a staple in my closet that I wear every fall and winter since then.
If you see a vest like this on sale in a color you love (black is always a great choice since it goes well with everything), scoop it up! You will not be disappointed.
Another great layering piece for winter, in my opinion, is a long sleeve medium weight basic top. I love this Roaman's Thermal Shawl Tunic from fullbeauty because the thermal fabric is perfect for brisk days and the collar gives it a chic touch. Also, you can't go wrong with a neutral color top.
I paired the vest and top with these Woman Within Premium Denim Skinny Ankle Jeans that I blogged about previously here. And of course, I am a sucker for leopard print so when I saw these Comfortview leopard high top sneakers at fullbeauty, I had to have them.
It's a challenge for me to find wide width sneakers that fit me well, especially high tops. These are comfy and fit perfectly (and they are available in a WW).
So this is a look I would rock daily and feel good in. I just put on some big hoop earrings, add a fun clutch, a red lip and be on my way.
At the end of the day, you have to own your style. This is what I have learned later in life. I don't get caught up in what everyone else is wearing. I wear what I love and feel good in.
Whether I'm wearing a layered look in the colder months, rocking a bold printed dress or just wearing a graphic tee with jeans and sneakers, fashion is such an amazing way for me to express who I am and keep my confident attitude present.
Shop my look below:
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