Fall is my favorite season. The brisk wind, the leaves changing colors, the cool weather and its prelude to winter. it's that season that you know you must enjoy before it goes all in the crapper and winter arrives. Ugh.

I live in New York where we get 4 seasons and I live near the beach so winters are brutal. You get off the train and literally feel like the wind has slapped the crap out of you. You walk up a block and it takes you 20 minutes because you're fighting with the wind and trying to breathe. Sure, snow is pretty but trust me, that cuteness wears off very quickly.

So I try to enjoy Fall to the fullest. I'm not hot and sweaty. I can rock jackets, sweaters and boots. My hair looks great because there's no humidity. Fan-freaking-tastic!!!!

Photobombed by a duck, lol

I had an audience while taking pics, lol

I've loved camo since I was a kid. I don't know why but it just called to me. But back then, camo was more masculine and I like a feminine touch to my looks. But that didn't stop me from wearing camo tees I scored at the Army surplus store tied with a knot to the side over my cargo pants and Doc Martens. Add some huge hoop earrings, a cat eye and some red lipstick and off I went. That was my signature look in college and to say I stood out among the sea of students, is an understatement.

So imagine my excitement when I found out camo was back as a fashion trend and was being paired with sequins, used in dresses and being femmed up in jackets and tops. I was Snoopy dancing for days!

And of course, Lane Bryant fed my fashion wants by offering a few camo pieces. There was a jacket I had my eye on but it sold out fast. But I did manage to score a pleated midi dress and a tee that was so dope that it is one of my favorites this fall. It says "Lipstick Diamonds Champagne" on the front and has a nice v-neck. (The tee has since sold out as well)

I wore the tee during New York Fashion Week last month and learned that red goes well when paired with camo. My red jacket and red shoes are from Lane Bryant as well. I had no idea! See, this is why it is so important to mix different colors and play around with pieces to create different looks.

Me with celebrity stylist Susan Moses, who I am blessed to know

• Red ponte knit moto jacket from Lane Bryant - click here (I need the blue one in my life!)
• Lipstick tee from Lane Bryant - SOLD OUT :-(
• Right Fit jeans (Curvy fit) in black from Catherines - click here
• Faux Suede Ballet Flat in Venetian Red from Lane Bryant - click here (these are so comfy that I am going to get a pair in black too)

• Pleated camo dress - click here
• Jacket is sold out  similar here from Fashion to Figure, which I also have in a 3x and LOVE!
• Extra Wide Calf Harness Riding Boot - click here

"Dress like you're embracing life, not hiding from it." ~ Peter Morrissey

I continue to learn more about myself as I get older. After my brother died last year, I have been in therapy and while I initially went to help with the grief, it has turned out to be this incredible thing where I am learning more about myself and making changes that have helped me be more comfortable in who I am. This rings true when it comes to my style.

I lost my way for a bit because my confidence wasn't at a high point where I felt comfortable enough to truly be me when it comes to fashion. And now with getting older, I am also trying to stay true to my style while dressing for my age. I know some people will say that I should dress how I want but at 45 years old, I'm not a kid anymore and I feel I have to set an example for my nieces, my goddaughter and my younger family members.

So no more F**K you graphic tees or brass knuckles as a fashion accessory. I still rock with my handcuff print handbag that I have had for about 15 years but I think I can get away with that, lol. And I will always love my graphic tees, sneakers and tulle skirts. But as I have gotten older, I have wanted to still keep my style but add some class, maturity and femininity to it while keeping my edge. I also realized that I didn't wear a lot of things because of how critical I was of my body and showing parts of it. At this point of my life, I want to live limitlessly where my fear doesn't stop me from trying new styles.

I don't really like body con dresses or dresses above the knee. I don't know why but I have not felt comfortable in them. When I was a teen and in my 20's, I wore body con dresses and above-the-knee skirts and dresses. But somewhere in my 30's, my confidence took a hit and so did my style. I wore a lot of black and dark colors. B-O-R-R-R-I-N-G! And I am so NOT boring.

So a few months ago, when I attended an event for fullbeauty's Fall 2015 Preview. Designer and TV personality Cherie Christmas was there, wearing this beautiful blue print wrap dress from her new collection with the brand, I was in love! And at first thought, I assumed I could not pull it off. She begged to differ and told me she would make sure I had it when it became available.

Me with Cherie Christmas -- My entire look is from Simply Be except the shoes (from Lane Bryant) and Audrey Hepburn necklace (a gift)

When I think of my pre-teen days in middle school, my memories are of denim. Like Stefano Gabbana, I remember being 12 in my Levi's.

However, the difference here is that I was a plus size kid and had to "borrow" my dad's Levi's. As a child growing up in the 80's, I was thankful for the men's department because for me, the only designer brand that offered my size 36/38 bottom some jeans in the women's department was Gloria Vanderbilt. God bless that woman.

While I loved my colored Gloria Vanderbilt jeans (She was before her time with colored denim), it wasn't quite the same as wearing regular wash denim. When I put on those Levi's, I felt normal. I felt like everyone else. I felt like I didn't have to try hard to fit in fashion-wise because I was wearing what the thinner kids were wearing.

1985 - when acid wash denim was hot (and now it's back!) - I'm on the right

My, how times have changed but still don't feel THAT different.

A few decades later, plus size denim has evolved and there are more options. But now at a size 26, my options are still limited. And let's not even talk about the fact that I have a small waist in comparison to my bust and hips AND I have large upper calves and smaller ankles. So skinny jeans for me are no-go, even in plus sizes. Retailers seem to think all calves are one straight size. But I digress.

However, denim has played such a big part of my life because it is my go-to everyday piece. I love how I can take a pair of jeans and wear it effortlessly from day to night with a switch of shoes and an addition of a jacket or different top. Add some accessories and a hot clutch and BAM, there you go! So I refuse to give up on finding the perfect fitting pair of jeans for me. But it feels like there is still more changes to be made when it comes to offering fashion to women above a size 24.

I have made no secret for my love for Catherines. I've been a brand ambassador for them twice this year and I never endorse a brand unless I truly love the fit and quality of their clothing. They are one of two places I have been able to get denim off the rack, that fits well. And they offer up to a size 34 and 6X. Yes! So when they reached out to me to be a part of their #denimdebut campaign and gifted me some jeans, I jumped at the chance.

I opted to choose a pair of medium wash jeans from their new True Stretch line to try something new and get out of my fashion box. I usually wear dark denim because I am not comfortable showing off my lumpy thighs. But I realized I was making my lumps more visible than they actually are. We see things differently than how the world sees them, when we focus too much on the negative. This is something I am working on one day at a time.

When I get dressed, I think of what my mom would say. I don't ask for her opinion anymore, to be honest. Because as she got older, she grew more self-conscious of her own body and that somehow lends itself to her opinions. So there are times she won't agree with what I wear because of her own body issues. However, we still go by our mantra wherever we go. While we may not agree on our fashion choices, we do strive to show up and show out no matter what.

So I guess my everyday style is about doing just that. You only live once, right? Might as well make a statement and show the world who you are with style.

What is your everyday style? What do you love to wear?

"Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman." ~~ Coco Chanel

This summer has been brutal and I've been having my up and down days. Grief is no joke and add a busy schedule to that and being sick... and well, I've been having a bit of writer's/blogger's block lately. So when I got word that Catherines chose me to be one of their four style ambassadors for August, it was just the thing to get me back into the swing of things.


I love a pop of color and love to make a statement wherever I go with what I am wearing. I also like to keep it classy and stylish. Red is such a great color for that, especially in a print (y'all know how much of a print girl I am). It's a color that is definitely classy. Not to mention, it's alluring, vibrant, bold and fun. Yep, that's me in a nutshell. LOL!

So when this Catherines opportunity presented itself, I seized the opportunity to rock a red print and paint the town red my way!

Side by Side - Model vs Me

What do you think of my look? Would you wear it? What would you pair this top with? Please leave me a comment below and let me know!