Show Me Your Closet

One year ago today, on May 30, 2012, I decided to start this blog.  It has been a roller-coaster ride!   My intent was to share my love of fashion for women my size and to also showcase fashion finds on a budget! Our direction continues to improve as we include more content, and we continue to learn and grow as we blog-a-long!    I started out with 7 viewers/readers/clicks (I'm still learning how that works)! And have progressed to a viewership/readership/clicks of up to 141 on a good article! It is great to know that so many readers do stop by to see what I am talking about and it is always good to know that someone out there on the Intraweb reads my blog!  I am learning as I go, tweaking here and there to become what I want this blog to be. Another thing I have learned is that posting photos from other websites can be tricky.  Going back to some of my past postings, have missing photographs, not a good thing!  I am working on preventing that from happening with my futur

   How do you like our new look so far curvy divas ? I like it as well.  It's a cleaner and more modern format that will allow me to add more content.  I do apologize however because some of the links are not yet working so if you click on certain links, they lead nowhere!   Please be patient as I continue to tweak the format of our new look. In the meantime, I will continue to post new articles as often as possible.  Sometimes there will be downtime in between postings, if it will be longer than usual, I will let you know!   Thank you for your readership!

I couldn't wait to share this with you curvy divas !  Remember the forever staple in the regular-sized closet, the Bikini. Then the Tankini was created and has fast become a favorite for some of us.   Now there's a new type of bathsuit on the scene, hello Fatkini!  You might have already heard about the Fatkini?   It is a 2-piece swimsuit, a bikini for curvy girls!  Created from the collaboration between Gabi Gregg, Plus-size blogger and Swimsuits For All, a swimsuit retailer!   It has become so popular, they've sold out!!! Wow!   It looks like a fun suit to wear, and the design is definitely very much geared to hit our assets in the right places!  Would you wear it?  I think I just might! I'm not sure I'm liking the name "Fatkini", are you?   However, owning our bodies and what we love about ourselves is always a good thing, so the name stands! (as if!) To read more about the Fatkini, go to the link below! http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-livi

In other words curvy divas , whenever you buy something new, you must, MUST toss one item out!  Purge it, get rid of it, by any means necessary!  Why should you do that?  You can't bear to part with that blouse you got several years ago, even though the zipper doesn't work, and that's why you haven't worn it in so many years! Because you're going to get it fixed and then you can start wearing it again....you say to yourself with vision of years past when you used to rock that particular blouse.....! Um, no, no, NO!  This is tough love divas.  You see, the weather is warmer now, we are feeling energized, with the urges to go out and buy something new to finally go with that top, or bottom, or shoes, or purse that we have.  Or to just add ANYTHING new to your wardrobe!  To do all of this, we cannot have a closet (or drawer) filled with overflowing clothes! Now repeat after me... ."I buy one item, I toss one out" ....!   Good diva! ~applause~ photo

Nothing says Summer is here like fun pairs of sandals & heels curvy divas!   Especially a great pair of turquoise-colored ones such as the ones below!   I love the warm weather, and I adore the color Turquoise because it reminds me of the Ocean!  These are great to wear with anything for a great casual look. I wore it with knee length shorts and a jersey tee recently. If you haven't yet, it is time to begin thinking about what you will be wearing in these beautiful summery months!  I usually wear sandals, flip flops and wedges! These kitten heels are recent additions to my wardrobe! You can dress it up, or down! I finally have a pair in sunny YELLOW!  These are a gift from one of my BFFs who decided that my birthday was the perfect time to give me six pairs of shoes!!  I wore these with a maxi black skirt and white shirt, topped with a grey tee-vest!    Strappy Sandals are adorable in wedge-style heels!  Aren

I missed out on giving you the heads up on the "call for Models" curvy divas , my bad! That event happened in March!  I came across more details for you to take note of regarding this year's Full Figured Fashion Week . Over at the main fashion site for this event, Tanysha Rodriguez has put together some great ideas of what you can wear if you plan on attending! Of her suggestions, my favorite looks were the black and white outfits!  I can see me rocking any of those.  But that is depending on what even I would be attending wouldn't it?! http://fffweek.com/2013/fffweek-2013-fashion-check-list-part-two I love the striped shoes, and that Peplum dress is just oh so right!  The full fashion event will be another great one!  You can go to the link above to read more.

I came across this blogsite some time ago when I was perusing the Intraweb some time ago, According Jerri .  I decided that I would save it to showcase it here.   I absolutely love the clothing that were featured in this particular article that caught my eye!  They were from the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week showcased in Johannesburg South Africa .  The floral pattern and the colors were simply beautiful! I could imagine myself in the short sets going out with my daughter, to the Mall or movies. I could see myself wearing the Peplum dress to work! I could see my daughter in this gorgeous dress! You can do more c urvy divas . You can go to the link below and peruse at your leisure some of the designs and colors from the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week 2012 in Africa! According To Jerri: Kiki Clothing | Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Africa 2012 Then this got me searching for more information about Fashion week in Africa, it will happen again this year. More on this at

I've got one word to say to you curvy divas .  "Stripes"!   Yes, stripes...are in for the upcoming fashionable seasons of spring and summer.  Every store I visit I see stripes, magazines I peruse....stripes, online...even more stripes!!  The oddest thing is, I have always worn stripes. I own a few clothing items with stripe patterns. Lately however, I seem to be fixated with black and white stripes!  It is a great combination after all don't you think?! Recently, whowhatwear.com featured an array of Bold Stripes on their fashion site, take a look below and follow the link here to read all about it ! Curvy divas , don't be afraid of stripes. They can be quite flattering for our figure. Just be sure to choose the style and look that is good for you!

I was reading Rachel Zoe's  thezoereport.com, about Paige Adams-Geller's new denim capsule collection (found at net-a-porter.com for $239)   and immediately fell in lust with them!  I don't know about you  curvy divas , but I wondered out loud (to myself as there is no one else around right now),  "As a girl of size, how would these look on me?"  Paige Denim Edgemont Stretch Denim Skinny Jeans You know what I mean?!  There are some things that look really great on a curvy girl, and some I would never be caught in the rain in!   Hmmm, I own a pair of cobalt blue skinny jeans that I never thought I would wear, I have and love them., but I just don't know if I could pull these stripes off?!!!  Could you? I say if you can go for it!  Heck, why not, that is what fashion is all about!! You wear the clothing, they don't wear you! Also listed on  Rachel's site ...I love that she lists a more  price-conscious alternative  which is from  Forever21 !  

Accessories can enhance or detract from a person's outfit.  It can be your signature go-to look because you love to wear it so much or it can be just a way to have fun with fashion!  I like that we have choices. I also like that these days with fashion, your individuality shines through with the way you put yourself together!  For some of us, we have a hard time knowing what to wear, how to wear a certain look or even we probably wouldn't dare to wear something because we think we might not look good in "that"! I hear ya curvy divas . Some days, a girl just have a hard time going through her closet, however, when it comes to accessories, this is where the fun begins!  For me personally, sometimes I build my outfit "around" what my accessory choice of the day is! Yes, I do and usually it turns out to be a success! Purewow.com featured some accessories recently .   The title of their article was, "Stack the Deck - A Grownup Arm Party" !  They

As the really hot summer weather is coming up soon curvy divas , your minds will drift off to vacation-time and seeing the ocean might be in your travel plans!  I love going to the beach. I sit on the sand, play with my daughter and run into the sea, a lot!  I also like walking on the sand where the waves will roll around my feet...hmmm, I can just imagine it now! One of the things that I dislike about the beach however, is getting sand in my hair...yes, I know that's a given and I tolerate it if and when it happens.  I also don't like having dry salt water for too long on my skin because of the dryness & itch that ensues! I was reading The Zoe Report on thezoereport.com and what perfect timing, Rachel featured some products that would be great to use for those Beach days!  She features a Bumble & Bumble Surf Creme Rinse Conditioner and Foam Wash Shampoo .  They are made with body-enhancing minerals and skin softening sea botanicals, sea fennel & kelp. $

Being environmentally conscious is something I am learning to do and it is fast becoming a favorite topic of mine curvy divas . I believe that as time changes we are all learning to not just be aware of our environment but to act to protect it as well! We have to change our attitudes and behavior in our lifestyle so as to consciously help ourselves. Last month H&M along with Vogue put together a panel of fashionably conscious people participated in a live discussion held at The New School for Design at Parson's, about "How can we create a more sustainable fashion future".   Once again I turned to one of my favorite online fashion source, Refinery29  where writer Glynnis Mapp shared more about this outstanding event!  The panel discussed ways we as consumers could practice sustainability in fashion, and also how the government could be involved. There was suggestion of a "by the pound incentive program for consumers..." and where "points" could

Are you on Pinterest?  If so, come on over to my board for Curvy Divas !   I do really adore women of size who are confident and love themselves!  My pinterest board is about that! I pin photos of women who love fashion, and aren't afraid to be the confident divas in what they wear!  I pin style-looks that I would love to wear, and am inspired to want more for us curvy divas! The images below are from some of the other women with curves who blog!  What I love about each of them is they are not afraid to use color, nor do they look like everybody else!  This is a lesson in that you have to choose the style that will work best for you and one in which you will be comfortable in! Remember to be fashionably curvy, you have to be you! Image from:  http://jerilinn.tumblr.com Image from: Black Girls Killing It!  http://blackandkillingit.com Image from: Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day -  http://lovelyandbrown.tumblr.com   

We talk about it a lot curvy divas , our bodies! We look at ourselves in the mirror and sometimes we don't like what we see.  It's OK not to like you all of the time.  That should be your cue however, to do something about the part of you that you don't love!  Whether you want to tone up, or down, eat better, do more of what you love, go outside your door and enjoy life more (not just through your computer, or getting the nerve to begin any new kind of journey you have always dreamed of!  Life isn't only about what clothes you wear, or how the clothes you wear looks on you! While all that is well and good, loving yourself is more important! So in taking a page from my personal blog where I try to motivate and inspire (most of the times anyway)!lol!  Here's a reminder to you curvy divas , and especially to me, that we have to love ourselves more!  Sometimes it seems our life isn't giving us what we want, go ahead and change your course, switch things around

I love wearing nail polish on my fingers and toes. I went an entire week without self-pampering...one of my guilty pleasures before the start of my work week! My daughter, Amanda decided she would treat me to some pampering and painted my fingers and toes for me! She started out with my feet, dabbing a really pretty coral-orange color from the Sinful Colors professional line called Summer Peach , on my toes. What a gorgeous color which so reminds me of warm summer days! She then used one of the prettiest pink I've seen in a while, Bikini, also from the Sinful Color brand! (sidenote - Bikini was her birthday treat to me recently)! A Top Coat and then Glitter nail color were applied....Glitter is her favorite! If you do nothing else this Spring and Summer curvy divas , add new nail colors to your wardrobe!

You have heard this word before curvy divas , "Fashionistas"?  When it comes to anything to do with fashion and being fashionable, I am sure you have!  Do you know who coined the word and how it came about?  Well, first of all I didn't even realized that there was a story to the word, much less it being "coined" by any one particular person!  I just thought it was one of those words that came about and became popular because of its usage and in reference to anything fashion! According to Elle.com's Culture News, in an article by Rebecca Moss , the word Fashionistas was first created by Stephen Fried. In 1993, Fried, a young Journalist was writing a book about the Model Gia Carangi, who died very young, (sidenote-have you seen the [autobiography] movie of the same name, Gia? - I did and it is one to watch)!  Stephen met with people in the Industry and wanted a word that would represent who and what they were.  Because models and the Industry weren't p