Stylish Curves Guest Post: For My Sister Tanisha

From me: I will have some guest bloggers taking over GFS from time to time as I put the finishing touches on my upcoming wedding celebration. I promise to not turn this into a wedding blog...we don't need another one! Thank you Alissa from Stylish Curves!

As a plus size curvy girl I know first hand how hard, frustrating, and annoying it is to have a fab event like a wedding to go to and can’t seem to find the right dress that makes you look chic and sexy. The kind of dress that has every woman asking, “Girl where did you get that?”and every man gawking at how fly your curves are looking.

My blogging buddy Reiko is getting married and her curvy sister needs to know what are the hot spots for a girl with a little meat on her bones to shop at and find that heart breaker dress. Of course, I wanted to help a fellow curvy girl out. Times are truly changing and the plus size curvy girl has a number of places to shop and find a fabulous dress for a fabulous and memorable event like a wedding.

Below are a few of my favorite spots to shop at when I’m looking for a great dress under $200

My first stop is always to ASOS. Their Curve line is fantastic. The styles are always on trend and they go up to a size 24 plus. I also love them because many of their straight size designs also come in plus. Recently they just added a new collection called ASOS Curve Salon which offers fierce and fancy dresses.

1.ASOS Puff Sleeve One Shoulder Dress

2.ASOS 2 in 1 floral applique

3.ASOS One Shoulder Cocktail Dress
4. ASOS Lace overlay dress

Another one of my favorite spots for young, fun, and fancy dresses is the major affordable chain retail store Fashion to Figure. Fashion to Figure carry’s on trend looks for less than $50. I have found some very sexy chic dresses at Fashion to Figure.

1. Knit Dress with Chiffon Overlay

2. Sateen One Shoulder Dress

3. One Shoulder Pucker Dress

Next up is City Chic an Austrlian favorite of mine that is new to the US. City Chic makes a number of party dresses and glamour gowns for the plus size curvy girl. There clothes really represent their name. Tons of chic pieces for a city girl.

1. Jessica Bow Dress
2. LBD Puff Sleeve Dress

3. Red Rose Kiki Dress

Another favorite retailer that is curvy girl friendly goes by the name Eshakti. Eshakti makes wonderful dresses in a bevy of colors and styles. The great thing about Eshakti is that they do customization for an affordable price. You can have a dress shortened, lengthened, and you can have sleeves taken off or added on. Another added plus to Eshakti is that they go from size 0-26W. Isn’t that fantastic? When will the rest of the apparel brands catch on.

1. Black & White Bodice Dress

2.Sequin waist keyhole gown

3. Strapless Rosette Trim Dress

4. Inverse Pleat Dress
5. Rosette Trim tulle dress

Lastly, if I am in a rush to find that perfect dress and don’t have time to order online. I hit up my local department stores like Nordstrom or Macy’s and reach for a Donna Morgan dress. Donna Morgan is an inclusive line that makes dresses for both straight and plus. She has dressed plus size women like Queen Latifah and Amber Riley from Glee. Her dresses are sophisticated yet feminine. You can’t go wrong.

1. Bodice Jersey Sheath Dress

2. Donna Morgan Strapless Chiffon Dress

Hopefully I gave you some good insight on brands that cater to the curvy girl and what they have to offer. Even if you don’t like any of the dresses I picked, it's still worth a shot to poke around these sites to see all the other pretty sexy chic dresses they have. Times have changed and the girl with a little meat on her bones now has options.

Thanks Reiko for allowing me and trusting me to help your sister find a dress. Congrats on the new hubby.



Thank you again Alissa and my sister found her dress from Nordstrom after all! Just know that it's tight on the hips and flattering...I wouldn't have it any other way!

A Blogger Helped Me Get Dressed

I wore this outfit atleast a month ago but just forgot to post them.

If I recall, the  morning went something like this.

Woke up at 6am.

Hit the snooze button approximately 3 times.

Browsed a few blogs on my phone at about 6:30am.

Came across Kyla's outfist post at about 6:40am.

Said to myself, "Thanks Kyla, I think I can pull that off without having to iron."

Hopped out of bed.

Threw on my maxi dress and found my trusty gray t shirt.

Grabbed my Forever 21 Goddess necklace.

Hopped in the car.

And made it to work probably ten minutes late.

Or something like that.

Forever 21 Tee

Old Maxi dress

Mother-in-law's Vintage handbag

Telepathy

I wish you could read minds.

If you only knew what I was thinking today.

If you have my phone number, call me.

I'll tell you.

But be prepared for the truth...uncensored.

That is all.

Zara Scarf as Headwrap

Jessica Simpson Heels

DIY Raven Leopard Bag

Target skirt/shirt

F21 Necklace

(This is Lee-Lonn. I went to see him perform. You'll hear more about him in the future. We worked on the coolest project EVER! Can't wait to share more. It has everything to do with this!)

Innocent Until Proven Guilty

(I copped these vintage sunglasses while in Dallas! #swoon)

Here is the only physical evidence that Juanette (SFAM Partner in Crime) and I were ever together this weekend.

I went to Dallas for my family reunion and stayed w Juanette for laughs and more laughs..

Anything else you heard about this weekend is a rumor.

(We are working on new items to add to SFAM...promise)

Parking Tickets Suck

You should know that while these pictures were being taken, the City of Houston's Parking Department was slapping a fat freaking ticket on my car.

Ihadnoidea.org

Iampissed.com

Grrr.edu

Itsalwayssomething.org

Ifitsnotonethingitsanother.net

Ishouldhavestayedhome.com

Vintage Dress gifted by my girl Juanette

DIY Raven Leopard Bag

Steve Madden Wedges

Earrings: Xpozher Accessories Boutique in Houston

Style Bloggers Go To Home Depot Too!

I had to take a day off from chasing butterflies and sashaying among the lillies to take my outfit pics. I wish I lived the life a real style blogger. You know...the one that attends all of the cool fashion shows and just so happens to get photographed by The Sartorialist as they cross street to eat scones and tea.

But this style blogger...she has to go Home Depot to get her thrills.

I'm in the process of reorganizing the whole house and couldn't put off going to my own personal hell  Home Depot any longer. As I died on the inside shopped for exciting fashionable things like wood glue, fertilizer and a garbage disposal, I decided why not show you real life.

Today my real life took me to Home Depot and this is how I dress to go on such an adventure. Not true. I didn't just go to Home Depot in this...I went to Lowe's too.

I take the whole DIY blogger title seriously!

I promise you this is NOT the same black dress from the previous post. I promise.

And while I'm in full disclosure mode...that clutch I'm rocking...it's really a pillowcase!

SWEAR!

 Maxi Dress: Marshall's

Scarf: Zara

Clutch...It's really a pillowcase!

Shoes: Target

The Talk

You would think after a little unintentional break from blogging that I would come back with a banger outfit or something really hardcore to share...not really.

My outfit isn't even worthy of pictures which is why I decided to Jedi mind trick you with my favorite mural backdrops.

Did it work?

Did you overlook the fact that I just have on a black maxi dress and a hat (to conceal my wet hair)?

I do heart the back of the dress. Kinda ZEXY in an "oh, this is just a quick dress to throw on to go pick out wedding bands and drink adult beverages" kinda way.

No?

*shrugs*

In other news, I'm getting married next month and out of the blue my mom arranges a dinner to chat with the fiance'.

I have no idea what she is going to talk about.

She's always full of tricks...that lady.

He thinks she is going to ask if he knows Jesus Christ (he does).

I eased his mind. I know my mom.

She's going to ask him to teach her how to Dougie.

He won't.

Because he can't.

Then she's gonna say, "Oh. Well...do you like Nicki Minaj? That girl is smart. You know she's going on tour with Britney Spears."

He's going to look confused.

And then she's going to then tell him about Nicki Minaj's life story...you know...because she saw a special on MTV about it.

He will look confused.

And she'll laugh.

Then say, "Ok, well my show is about to come on at 8, so let's wrap this up."

That's all.

That's how my mom rolls.

 Maxi dress: Marshall's

Jessica Simpson Leopard flats (love)

Urban Outfitters Fedora

Straw bag: Charming Charlies (old)

*Umm...I really did have that conversation about Nicki Minaj with mother a few weeks ago. (rolls eyes)

The Art of Living and Learning

This will be a quick post before I'm off to work on an awesome styling project.

If you're my twitter friend then you know what it's all about. I'll be able to do an official post about it once the dust has settled.

It's officially the end of a school year for me and the beginning of the unknown. (Remember this post)

But oddly, it's the most exciting for me.

I have a feeling that this is the year of changes for me and I can't be happier about it.

In other random news: Here are a few things that as an educator, I feel obligated to share with any parents out there.

Please take the time to do the following because it's now a lost art:

1. Teach your child how to count change.

2. Teach your child how to tell time on an analog clock. (I taught middle school and very few knew the time if it wasn't on their cell phones/computers...that irks my soul!)

3. Take your child to the library. A real library and teach the art of looking for a book. (NOT GOOGLE!)

4. Teach your child how to properly address a letter! OH MY GOD! I witnessed a 10th grader not have a clue how to format an envelope! WHAT!?!?

5. Teach your child how to use a dictionary!

6. Teach your child how to FILE in alphabetical order. PLEASE! Something so basic to us, is foreign to them. I had a high school kid NOT know that you are supposed to file by last name first. WHAT?!?

(I thrifted this Polo Shirt, It was a XXL. I just cut the neck out to make it a slouchy top. It's thin and light and I LOVE IT!

I say this out of love because as a teacher, alot of this is not required to teach anymore but that doesn't mean the parents shouldn't.

PS...Happy Birthday Ashley of Mocha Mommies! I had a blast at dinner last night. And Hi to Keisha, who I found out reads my blog but was too shy to say hi! HI GIRL! Now you see, I really am a hot southern mess too!

This wasn't a quick post whatsoever, was it? Hmpph.

Here Comes the Summer!

It's the end of the school year this week but also the beginning of some interesting new things for me this summer.

Target Top

Zara Skirt

American Apparel Bag

Cynthia Vincent for Target Wedges