Bombshell Beauty Series of eBooks is Complete

Thanks to everyone who has read, and shared with their friends, my series of eBooks. I really appreciate your support, as I toe my way into something new.  The final novella in the series was published this week; along with Bombshell Blogroll (#1) and Redirect (#2), Permalink is available for $0.99 your Nook and Kindle.  Click here for links to purchase!

 



If you've read the books, I'd love to hear what you think - rate and review on either Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com.  The books are also lendable, so feel free to lend them to your friends and family!

Plus Size Style - Everyday Bombshell

This post contains affiliate links for Gwynnie Bee.

Land's End has never, really, been on my radar. To be honest, I usually get Land's End confused with L.L. Bean.  To me, they both fall under that outdoorsy Eddie-Bauer umbrella of clothes that are not quite stylish.  (If you're a fan of these stores, don't yell at me...I'm about to admit I was wrong, ok?)

So when I was choosing items for my Gwynnie Bee Closet (that's what they call the online queue for the items you want them to send you), I was shocked to click on this cute dress and then find out it was from Land's End:

Image from GwynnieBee.com

 

I loved this fit and flare dress in the chevron print.  LOVED it. It fit perfectly and was so flattering. The waist line was just above my own natural waist, without being an empire-style (which I am really not into right now). I  wore the dress twice, once casually and once a little dressier for work.

 

 

Casual Look - with a flower headband

 

Dressier look with a floral pin

 

 

I gave some serious thought to buying this dress through the Gwynnie Bee purchase option (you can buy items that you have at home with you at a discounted price), but thought I should probably not be so impulsive when a ton of other cute items are on their way to me.

 

Try Gwynnie Bee for free with their 30-day trial by clicking here. 

 



Plus Size Style- Everyday Bombshell

This post contains 2 affiliate links for Gwynnie Bee.

I received my first package from Gwynnie Bee last Monday- and it was as thrilling as I'd hoped upon receipt.  I was thinking about making a video of myself opening up each package from here on out and sharing my initial impressions of what I receive.  Is that something you would be interested in seeing? If so, let me know in the comments. 

Anyway, back to the first package. I received two dresses and a blazer-which you will see in subsequent posts. But the first thing I opened, and the first thing I wore, was this Vicky Tiel Jersey Wrap Dress:

Image from GwynnieBee.com

 

I'd never heard of Vicky Tiel before, so I did a little research (i.e. typed her name in Google) and found out that she designs for the Home Shopping Network. I'm a QVC fan, myself, so no wonder she was unfamiliar.

 

 

The print on this dress is incredibly vibrant - as you can see in the close-up shot with my necklace. When I first unwrapped the dress, my first thought was, "Whoa, that's a print!" It's a little too primary for my taste (although I realize green and black are not technically primary colors - you get the gist of what I'm saying).   I wanted to ground the print a little, which is why I chose a heavy black neclase and black wedge sandals.

 

This dress is one of the very few true wrap dresses I've ever worn, and I felt like it was legitamately scaled to a plus size body because the hole for the wrap was higher on the torso than they sometimes can be. This made for a really flattering placement of the sash. 

 

I loved the flutter sleeves, which surprised me. I hate those trendy 'cold-shoulder' sleeves that are inexplicably all over plus size clothes right now but these flutters were very feminine.  I also liked the high-low hem on the skirt. It wasn't obnoxious, just a nice touch. 

 

Take advantage of a free 30-day trial of Gwynnie Bee by clicking here. 

 





Battle of the Body Shapers

For every body, there is a shaper on the market that can lift, separate and smooth whatever it is you have going on. I notoriously (and vocally) dislike most shapers, especially Spanx. My issues with Spanx are the cost (too high) the comfort (too low) and the results they produce on my body (not enough to justify the cost or the comfort issues).  So I've been testing three body shaping alternatives to Spanx over the past month.

I prefer shaping camis because they allow me to wear my own bra (as opposed to smushing my cleavage down) and because they allow for easy access when using the restroom. Because I am not coordinated enough to deal with that little slit in full body suits.  You know what I'm talking about.

Let me say a few things before I get into the reviews. One, the opinions below reflect how these shapers worked on my body. Your body is different and you might have a different experience with them. If so, let me know in the comments so other readers can see a different perspective. For reference, I'm 6"1' and wear a size 18/20 (or 2X) at most retailers.

Two,  I'm not an avid body shaper wearer. I have lumps and rolls, but prefer to mask them with the cut of my clothes - not body shapers. So I'm no expert.  I don't expect a body shaper to make my size 18 frame suddenly look like a 14. I do expect them to smooth over my rolls while allowing me to breathe comfortably for 8 hours with minimal sweating. Too much to ask?  We shall see!

The Contender: Torsette Camisole from Full Beauty*
Cost: $34.99
Size: 1X (per sizing chart online waist: 34-37.5"  hips: 42.5-46")
Construction: 92% Nylon, 8% Spandex

*This product was provided to me for review by Full Beauty

Pros

• Light, breathable material was soft on the skin and didn't make me feel like a stuffed sausage.
• Long length makes this a good option for taller women, like myself - although I don't think it would be a problem for petite ladies, either.
• Did a great job smoothing back fat.



Cons

• Created armpit fat on me because the garment was very short from shoulder to bust.
• No banded bottom, so the garment rolled up.
• Very light smoothing over the torso, so my stomach roll was still in full effect.

Verdict: This is a good option for summer when you're looking for light smoothing that won't make you sweaty. If back fat is a main concern, this is a terrific option. I would wear this with pants or a skirt, rather than a dress, to minimize issues with it rolling up.

The Contender: Smooth Vixen Body Briefer by Rhonda Shear Intimates*
Cost: $25
Size: 1X (per sizing chart online: waist 37-39", hips 46-48")
Construction: 92% Nylon, 7% Spandex, 1% Cotton

*This product was provided to me for review by Rhonda Shear Intimates

Pros

• Provides medium slimming through tummy and rear end
• Handled back fat well
• Good option for petite women

Cons

• Scratchy fabric.
• Was tiny...very, very tiny despite the fact that the measurements  on the website's size chart were actually larger than the Comfort Choice measurements.
• Too short for my torso.
• The legs were even tighter and tinier than the rest of the garment.

The Verdict: Admittedly, it's hard to get a really accurate read on this body shaper because it was too small for me. The size chart is a major issue for this garment because it's wildly inaccurate. This might be a good option for a petite woman, but I recommend sizing up.

 

The Contender: Maidenform Dream Torsette from Avenue

Cost: $34.99

Size: 2XL (per sizing chart online: dress size 18/20, 45-50" waist)

Construction: 80% Nylon, 20% Elastene

 

I bought this one myself

 

Pros:

• Seams along the sides provide good support in torso
• Banded bottom keeps garment from rolling up
• Soft fabric
• Medium to strong slimming
• Very wide straps

Cons:

• Seams are visible under very tight or shear fabrics
• Sizing chart is somewhat confusing
• Very wide straps

The Verdict: For me, this shaper was the all-around best. I think it would work for a variety of shapes and heights.  The wide straps can be a pro or a con, depending on what type of bra and clothing you're wearing with this garment.  I ordered a size 2X knowing very well that I wear a size 18/20 in Avenue's clothes - but for someone who is less familiar, the chart could be more clear.

 

There you go - a few alternatives to Spanx. What do you think about body shapers? Do you wear them? Love them/loathe them? What's your go-to style and brand?

 



Plus Size Style- Everyday Bombshell

I got my hair cut (again)! Shorter and shorter it goes, though I think this is the limit. Not much left to do than a Beyoncé-style pixie cut which...ain't happenin'.  For as much as I love having long hair - and I'm sure I will again - this shorter, kicky style feels fresh and fun.  Dan's not quite on the same page (he's a classic "I like long hair" kind of guy) but I know he likes the fact that I feel spunkier.

Not sure why I don't look happier in this shot...

I sure feel happy today!

I know this necklace doesn't 'match' my outfit, but

I think it 'goes.' I especially like having a

pop of color up near my face.

These shoes make the outfit for me - too bad they're

a 6" wedge that will probably only make it to lunch time.

Unless I break an ankle, in which case they won't make

that long!

Have owned this bracelet for over a  year and have never worn it.

I bought it at Camp Fireside's gift shop while visiting

friends there over the 4th in 2012. Random!

 

The Outfit:



Gray and raspberry dress- gift from LucieLu
Necklace - Patina
Purple belt - came with a dress from Old Navy
Leather bracelet - Camp Fireside
Floral wedges - Free Press by way of Nordstrom Rack

New Partnership with Gwynnie Bee

Links within this post are affiliate links.

I'm excited to announce a new partnership that I'm launching with Gwynnie Bee.  If you're unfamiliar with the company, the closest analogy I can come up with is that Gwynnie Bee is like the Netflix of plus size clothing. It's the ultimate plus size clothing exchange - a veritable revolving closet door that lets you try on new styles, or colors, or designers without having to make the commitment of a purchase.

I first started hearing about Gwynnie Bee from some of my favorite, most-trusted bloggers like Kimberly, Tina, Reah and Amanda. The fact that these women were raving about the service got my attention.  So I looked into subscribing...and then didn't.

My logic at the time was this: Why would I spend money to rent clothes instead of buying them?  I don't part with  my clothing dollars thoughtlessly, and I couldn't wrap my mind around spending money...to not own something. (Forget about the fact that I'm an avid Netflix subscriber...I wasn't drawing the parallel at the time!)

Fast forward a few months and here's where I am:

• Bored out of my mind with my closet
• Disappointed by the last few clothing purchases I've made - both online and in-store
• Wanting to expand the designers that I wear, but unsure about sizing and quality in lines I'm not familiar with

That's when Gwynnie Bee made sense to me. I want to experiment more - both with trends and my core style. I want to become familiar with plus size designers that are new-to-me so I can support the community with future purchases outside of my go-to retailers.  I want to infuse what's in my closet with the life of a few new items - without shelling out a ton of money on trendy or seasonal pieces.

If you're right there with me, give the free 30-day trial with Gwynnie Bee a try.  See how it goes and share your experience with me.

If you're not ready yet, I get it (see previous comment about not signing up right away, either).  Gwynnie Bee is providing me with a free membership for the next few months so I can tell you about my experience with the service. I'll be honest with you about what I like and what I think needs to be improved.   If absolutely nothing else, I hope you'll enjoy seeing the new outfits I put together with my clothes and what arrives from Gwynnie Bee!

Casting Call- Twin Cities Plus Size Models

Happy Monday, Bombshells! Hope you had a great weekend and are geared up for the week ahead.  If you're a plus size woman who currently is a model, or would like to dip your toes into plus size modeling, I've got a great opportunity for you.

Luxe Bridal's plus size wedding gowns will be featured in the Twin Cities Bridal Show's runway show. This is a pretty big deal because for the past few years, the runway show refused to include plus size wedding gowns in their lineup. They've finally seen the light and are creating a more inclusive, exciting experience for the Twin Cities brides who attend the show.

I was there last year, as a live model for Luxe. This was an innovative way that the boutique's owner,  Shayna Clute, came up with for creating a lot of buzz about her boutique while also providing something special for the plus size brides who were visiting the bridal fair.

Getting glammed up by Laura Westrem Artistry

Modeling on a mini-runway in the Luxe booth.

 

Like I said, I had a really fun time and met some terrific people at the show.  And it was also really gratifying to see the plus size brides - many of whom had that look on their face that said, "My excitement over wedding planning is diminishing because I don't see any dresses that will fit me" - light up when they came across the Luxe booth. 

 

If you're interested, here's the information you'll need for the Twin Cities Bridal Show casting call:

 

New Twin Cities Bridal Show - Show Fashion Show at the RiverCentre - St. Paul, MN on September 22, 2013 and March 2, 2014 and We are looking for 10 female plus size models size 12-24 height 5'7" to 5'9".  Opportunity gives access to photographs and video.  Pay for the Twin Cities Bridal Show is $100.  The casting call will be on Wednesday August 14, 2013 from 6:00PM to 8:00PM at the Hilton Minneapolis Airport, 3800 American Boulevard East, Bloomington, MN  55425.  To RSVP for the casting call, please contact Bruce Vassar one of The Wedding Guys at bruce@theweddingguys.com

And check out Luxe Bridal's blog for lots of helpful information on wedding planning and plus size wedding fashions.