Clothing for the work place...is your attire appropriate?

Having a professional wardrobe can be tricky for a plus woman, right? WRONG! All stores that cater to plus size women offer pieces that are suitable, yet stylish for the work place. In this addition of the Big Girl Blog, I will offer tips and tricks on how to add affordable yet stylish pieces to your professional wardrobe. Or, if you have a few basic pieces in your closet already, you may be able to use this post to maximise what you already have! As always, feedback and questions are welcome!

The key to having a great professional wardrobe is to have several pieces that can be mixed and matched....a few basic bottoms with stylish tops, a few accessories, and shoes....you can literally turn one item into several different looks.


(the look below can be found at Lane Bryant and Ashley Stewart)
For example....take these basic black pants:

Pair with this top:  

add a simple pair of black pumps, wedges, or stylish flats, with simple accessories, and you have the perfect work outfit.

Now, take those same pants, and pair with something like this, which can be found at Lane Bryant...

also pair with simple black shoes, and simple accessories, and you  have another great look for the office.

                                                                 
Does your office do casual Friday?  If so, the main thing to remember is that this does not give you license to go to work in your PJ's, sweats, or anything of the like. Also, stay away from the skinny jean, leggings, and short anything...lol. Because you're in a professional environment, you should dress as such..even on casual Friday. With that said, something like this would be perfect: (the shirt and trouser jeans can be found at old navy, the shoes at target)

or, for the girl who  prefers a bit of  height...this would be a great alternative...

                                                                    
                                                    
again, pair with simple accessories, and your good to go!

In short, the moral of the story is...working in an office, or professional environment does not give you licence to be frumpy or sloppy. With these helpful hints, there is no longer any excuse!

As always, thank you for taking the time to read my blog. Now, go forth and keep it classy!
                                                        
                                                             

My Review of Swimdress with White Side Bow

Originally submitted at OneStopPlus

Chic - pure and simple. Our plus size black swimdress is accented with a pretty bow at the top left. Plus size swimwear. Machine wash. Imported.

• Bandeau-style black swimdress with contrast white band and bow at the top of the bodice
• Removable/adjustable white strap, soft mo...

Swimdress with White Side Bow

sexy and comfortable!

By Brenda from Fayetteville, NC on 6/14/2012

 

5out of 5

Waist: Feels true to size

Cup Fit: Feels true to size

Pros: Attractive Design, Slimming, Good Fit, High Quality, Comfortable, Flattering

Best Uses: Swimming, Tanning, Beach, Boating

Describe Yourself: Classic, Stylish

Was this a gift?: No

I purchases this for the cruise I just took. And while I bought 2 other suites with me, I lived in this one. I love that the straps are removable, and I wore it strapless every time. The lining has great support, and smooths out all of my bumps and bulges.It also gave me great breast support, even with out the straps (but at a C cup, I'm a bit small as plus sized girls go)...and Bonus! No tan lines! I got in blue, and the color is exactly as pictured. All in all, I highly recommend this suite.

(legalese)

Hair...what does yours say about you?

Hair styling is very much a personal choice...whether you choose to keep it long, or short...chemically processed, or natural...it makes a statement about you, and your personal style. In this particular blog, I will give no specific do's or don'ts...but I will highlight some things that I have seen that are just wrong! With that said, this will probably be a fairly short post...but as always, questions and comments are more than welcome!

Multi colored hair...as in rainbow bright...why? No, seriously, why? Unless it is Halloween, there is no need for any person to walk around with the rainbow in their hair. It looks unprofessional for any job, and it sends the message that you don't really care about your appearance...which if you spent the time and money to do it, we know that couldn't be further from the truth! I'm all for the unconventional colored rinses (on DARK hair), and/or highlights...I have my own hair rinsed with red or plum(depending on how I feel when I get to the salon), but I have dark hair. So unless I'm in the sun, or really good light, you can't really tell. So basically, my question is, why would anyone want to walk around looking like this?

Hair Weaves...I have zero problems with weaves. However, I do have a problem with poorly done/kept weaves.  If you have kinky hair, but your weave is silky straight...and you didn't think to relax your hair before getting said weave, this is a problem. If you can see your tracks, because your natural hair was not blended properly, this is a problem. And lastly, if you can not afford to maintain your weave (i,e getting the tracks tightened, having it properly washed/styled, etc), then PLEASE don't get one to begin with! The last thing you want is to be walking around looking like this:

                                                   

The "natural look"...this will mainly apply to my African American readers...if you are going to do it, do it right! Make sure your hair is healthy, and you're using the right products for your hair. For tips and tricks, check out my girl Mznaturallife at https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/MzNaturalLife.

As always, thank you for taking the time to read the Big Girl Blog! Now go forth, and keep it classy!

So, I'm back from vacation...

and I have to say, I am NOT happy about it! lol... I had an amazing week, sunning and funning in the Caribbean. There was lots of great food, and cocktails, and I couldn't have asked for better company. We took a cruise (Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas) to Jamaica, Cozumel, and Labadee. There were beautiful sunny days, amazing beaches, and gorgeous night skies...with the moon and stars in all their glory! But now that I'm back to life and reality, it's time to blog about what I wore on vacation! Now, I will admit that I was terrible about having myself photographed everyday, but I did manage to get some decent pics. I will also admit that there were some hits and misses...I know what I think they are, and I'm interested to see what you all think. As always, feed back and questions are welcomed!

This was my "formal" look. The dress came from avenue.com, the shoes and Jewelry from payless.com, and the clutch from lanebryant.com.

                                    
          This is my swim suit cover, which I purchased from oldnavy.com. I love it! Very Comfy...

             This was my "smart casual" ensemble. The outfit came from onestopplus.com, the shoes from Oldnavy.com.

               I could not wait to wear this dress! I purchased this from Catos....and if your wondering what the big deal was with this look, scroll down a bit further, and check out the back!

           Ok, so it was pretty cloudy, and foggy when this picture was taken...but I loved this look too. Over all, it was super comfy, yet stylish....the whole look, from head to toe, can be found at oldnavy.com

            This was my absolute favorite outfit of the entire vacation. You can't really tell in the pictures, but the bottoms are "cargo" crops, in a dark olive green. I paired this look with the red ankle wrap sandals, which I featured in my summer events blog. I felt sassy and sexy in this look, and received several compliments....the best one, was that I "looked like a ray of sunshine"...lol.  The entire look, from head to toe, can also be found at oldnavy.com

As always, thank you for taking the time to check out my blog. Now, go forth, and keep it classy!

Summer Events-Do I have the appropriate attire?

During the summer season, you may find that you're invited to events where the way you are dressed is important. This could be anything from a wedding to a company pick-nick. As your preparing for an event, stop and ask your self, do I have the right outfit for this?
This edition of the Big Girl Blog will focus on do's and don'ts for summer events, and provide suggestions on what may be appropriate. And, as always, questions and suggestions are welcomed!!

1. Weddings: Summer weddings can either be casual or formal. Regardless of the type of wedding, there is one important rule to remember...NEVER EVER WEAR WHITE TO A WEDDING! Unless you are the one getting married, that is the ultimate don't. Why? Because etiquette dictates that the only woman that should be in any shade of white at a wedding is the bride.

Now, with that out of the way, lets tackle casual weddings first. Casual does not mean it's ok to go in khakis, and a button down. And I would hate to think that any woman would wear jeans to a wedding. So, the perfect compromise for something casual might be a pair of Linen pants, with a nice top, or a simple sun dress. See below for examples: The pants and dress can be found at www.onestopplus.com, and the top can be found at www.catherines.com

                                                    
For formal or black tie weddings, you'll need something that is classy and elegant. And, as far as I am concerned, formal doesn't necessarily mean you have to wear a dress. Pant suits are fine, as long as they are feminine. Also, this is an occasion where you want to keep the cleavage to a minimum, and the miniskirts hidden.  Lastly, you want to make sure your ensemble is age appropriate. Below, you'll find a dress that may work for someone who is a bit younger, and a pant suit for someone who is a bit more mature...both options come from onestopplus.com

Lastly, when preparing your outfit for either wedding scenario, there are two things to remember:
 1. It is the brides day, so she should be the ONLY one wearing any shade of white.
 2. unless you are part of the bridal party, do not wear any shade of the wedding colors (if the colors are black and white, I say this doesn't really apply, as long as you don't wear white).  If you are unsure as to what the colors are, the invitation is usually a good indication.

Corporate Summer Parties: This can run the gamete from formal to a BBQ. In either case, you want to make sure your attire is appropriate for the occasion. This means, little cleavage, no mini skirts, and y'all already know how I feel about short shorts...lol.  So with that said...

 If it is a formal, or black tie event, the same rules for formal weddings apply. Keep it classy, and age appropriate.

If it's a more casual affair, the same rules for the casual wedding would also apply. Again, keep it classy and age appropriate.

If it's a day time BBQ, or family day, this more than likely would be a very casual setting...so it would be perfectly fine to wear a nice pair of jeans, capris, or bermudas. I would keep away from T-shirts, unless they are company provided for the event. And again, age appropriate is a must! Any woman of any age could consider something like this: (the entire look can be found at oldnavy.com)

Now, I understand the ankle wrap is not for everyone...so for those who prefer not to, or who simply shouldn't wear them, consider something like this:

As always, thank you for reading my blog! Now, go forth and keep it classy!
                                                                         
                                                                      


                                                                     

                                                        

Accessories...The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Accessories...should be the least of your worries, right? WRONG! Accessories can take an outfit from trendy to tragic if not used wisely. This edition of Big Girl Etiquette will cover everything from earrings to shoes, highlighting do's, don'ts.

Lets start with my favorite thing...Shoes! I am a firm believer that the type of shoes anyone wears is a personal choice. So I will give no specifics on what to, or not to wear. However, I will make the following suggestions:

A. Like everything else, wear YOUR size- If you have a wide foot, buy a wide shoe. And if a standard wide is not wide enough, many designers are designing with the double wide foot in  mind. You can find double wide sizes at onestopplus.com, shoebuy.com, and zappos.com, to name a few. Even with a hot shoe...if your feet look like stuffed sausages in them, it's not a good look. So, despite how much you may love a pair of shoes, if they don't flatter your feet, they are not for you.

B. Strappy Sandals- like every other woman, I love a good strappy sandal. However, it is important to make sure they don't cut into your feet. This, too, can make your feet look like stuffed sausages, or like they're being strangled.  If this is an issue, try going into a wide shoe. If the fit still isn't right, then walk away....Again, not a good look!

C. Heels- One of my biggest pet peeves is seeing a woman in a pair of heels that she doesn't know how to walk in. If you know that you have issues walking in skinny heeled stilettos, don't wear them! If the heel on said shoe looks like it's going to break with every step you take, because it's bowing under the pressure of your weight, then it's time to retire said shoe! Anyone who knows me personally, knows that I love my heels! However, you will not find one pair of skinny heeled stilettos in my closet. Why? Because I can't walk in them, with out sounding like a heard of cattle! So, for those of you that are not afraid of a little height, go for shoes with a thicker stiletto heel, or a wedge. They're easier to walk in, and can still be very stylish and sexy!

On a side note, if the rubber taps on the end of your heels a worn out, get them fixed! You can bring your shoes to any shoe repair facility, and it shouldn't cost more than about $10.00.

Now, lets move on to leg wear...

A. Patterned Tights- they are not for everyone, but there's also no reason to be afraid. There are ways to wear patterned tights that are stylish, without making you feel like a 5 year old...lol. Basically, if this is a trend you're willing to try, keep this in mind: DON'T wear tights with multi colored patterns, hearts, polka dots, etc. DO wear solid color (black, brown, etc) with the same color pattern. Plaid, lace, and side (patterns down the side of the leg only) are fairly popular styles.  The key is to wear them with outfits or dresses that have no other patterns for the tights to compete with...thus making them your statement piece.  Also, if you're in a patterned tight, stay away from patterned shoes. The last thing you want is for your feet and legs to appear to be at war with each other!

B. Fishnets- like patterned tights, fish nets are not for everyone. My only rule of thumb here, is fishnets with big holes are an absolute don't...unless you'd like to look like a stripper. Standard fishnets look good on just about anyone. Keep the patterns in your outfit to a minimum, and the shoes simple!

C. Panty hose- even though they are a staple in any woman's wardrobe, it is very easy to create a fashion faux pas: Don't ever, and I mean ever, wear white panty hose. Unless your a nurse that has to wear a traditional nursing uniform, there's simply no need. Don't ever wear panty hose with open toed shoes (yes, that would include the sandal toe panty hose).  And please, PLEASE,  don't ever wear black panty hose with a colored shoe...i,e red, blue, pink....one word, tacky!

Since we're working up the body, let's talk belts...

The wide belt has become a trend, again. While I love this look, it is not for me....and it may not be for you either...lol. There are those who are guilty of pairing the wide belt with literally everything you wear....to this I say, please stop! And be mindful out how it makes you look. Personally, I find that the wide belt makes my stomach look that much bigger...and trust me, I need zero help in that department. Also, be careful with the types of tops and/or dresses they're paired with. Wearing a wide belt with a simple button down, or a column (straight cut) dress is a definite no no for a big girl....particularly if you have a larger stomach. This will only enhance those extra curves that most of us like to hide. So, my suggestion is to wear wide belts with A-line silhouettes. This will allow for cinching of the waste, while still adding a bit of camouflage to problem areas. Also, make sure you're wearing a good bra, or foundation garment with this look. If the girls are not at full solute, adding a big belt around your waste will only draw attention to the fact that the girls are sagging. This, too, is not a good look.

Now for necklaces and earrings....

Ladies, if you have a short neck, please leave the chokers at home. If your earrings are as big as your head, these too, should be left at home. Thank you, and that's all...

And lastly, Handbags...

they, like shoes, are a personal choice. The only don't I have is the cross body satchel. For big girls, the cross body is a definite no no.The strap will cut right across your body, and high light those challenging areas. Regarding hand bags, the main thing to remember is that your bag should compliment your shoes. Staying in the same color pallet is always a good way to go, however it's not absolutely necessary. Make sure the colors of your shoes and bag are not in competition with each other, and you'll have no worries. Basically, a brown bag with black shoes is bad. A Silver bag with black shoes is good!


In closing, I just want to say thank you to my girls: Maile, Shelley, Dalene, Jennifer, Danielle, Amy and Michele (who inspired me to start this from a conversation). Your ideas have given me thoughts for future blogs, and I love the conversations that have occurred because of the blog. You all are amazing!

I also want to thank those of you who have been following the Big Girl Etiquette Blog. And, I can not stress enough, if you have ideas, PLEASE SHARE THEM! If you have feedback on what can be done better, SHARE THAT TOO! When I say feedback is welcomed, I sincerely mean that. No, really...I do!

As always, thank you for checking out the Big Girl Blog. Now, go forth, and keep it classy!