Coco & Creme: Top Plus-Size Fashion Designers

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!!!

Check out this article from cocoandcreme.com  about some FABULOUS Plus-Size designers. Although the article entitled “Top Plus-Size Fashion Designers” does list several fantastic designers, I am shocked to see they neglected to add Yuliya Raquel of Igigi.com. I have rocked several of her designs personally. I have to say they are comfortable, sexy, and very flattering. I’m not the only one. Others who have worn her wears include Jill Scott and Nikki Blonsky.

However out of the designers listed one my personal favorites is Tennille White! This sista’s designs have been gracing Chicago streets for a while and after seeing her gorgeous frocks on BET’s “Rip the Runway 2011″ I was begging for more. Also featured is Monif C. She is definitely a veteran on the plus-size fashion scene and her swimwear this season is simply gorgeous. I mean, stop-and-stare gorgeous. So I hope you all with check out all the designers sites, (I definitely did!) and pick up a few items for yourself.

Happy Shopping,

G

Related articles

• OH YES HONEY!!! TO MY PLUS SIZE SISTAS WHO LOVE TO LOOK GOOD!! @monifcplussizes (faithseekersredcarpet.com)
• Plus Size News Roundup 6/6/11 (fatchic.net)
• FASHION NEWS: Plus-Size For Vogue Italia (rubysview.com)
• Tennille WhiteTalks Spring Fashion for 2011 (clara54.wordpress.com)
• Tennille White Debuts Her Spring 2011 Plus-Size Collection on BET’s Rip the Runway (pasazz.net)

Plus Size Fashion Myths Debunked

Today the Thread, an entity of Yahoo! Shine , had Ashley Falcon (author of Marie Claire‘s Big Girl in a Skinny World column) address issues dealing with myths related to plus size fashions. Mostly she debunked all the plus size fashion “don’ts” we’ve heard all of our lives. Well I’m afraid to say I’ve never listened to any of that hubbub about wearing only solid colors and muumuus. It just isn’t my style. So in celebration of  fully embracing our lumps, bumps, and curves I urge you to try some of her tips. Just to add to what Ms. Falcon said, I have a set of definite Do’s that I consider at all times and hope you will too.

DO wear color. (Black isn’t the only thing that can look slimming.)

DO wear jeans. (Proper fit is essential.)

DO wear shape-wear…I personally love having extra support.  It will give you cleaner lines under your clothes. And if you get it in the correct size and support level (they range from light to extra firm support) you will feel confident!

DO what makes you feel comfortable. If it’s hot, go sleeveless. If you’re at the beach don’t smother yourself in clothes, find the most flattering swimsuit you can. Hint: Wearing more clothes doesn’t conceal your size it just makes you HOT! And not in the good way. ;~)

So, I hope all you plus size fashionista hopefuls out there will check out the video.

Happy Wednesday!

Hugs and Kisses,

G

Related articles

• City Chic First Plus Size Brand to be Featured in Melbourne Fashion Week (prweb.com)
• Plus-Size Fashion Rant – Day 11. (cmonfatso.wordpress.com)
• Plus Size Diva Sherrie Keys to Launch Clothing Label (pasazz.net)
• Nordstrom Anniversary Sale for the Plus Size Fashion Forward (thecurvyfashionista.mariedenee.com)

Coco & Creme Article: Big Girls, Confidence and Shame…What do you think?

Today I stumbled upon the following article on cocoandcreme.com. I found it interesting and thought you would too. Here is a snippet from the article. Check out the entire article here → Big Girls, Confidence and Shame (Full Article)

Check it out.

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Big Girls, Confidence and Shame

by  Chelsey Wilkins

This past spring break, a couple of friends and I decided to spend a week where the weather is warm and the streets are buzzing, a place called South Beach Miami.

As someone who has always battled with her weight, my preparation for my vacation became extensive. I was in the gym everyday for hours trying to create a body to compete with the beauty queens, video models, and the other perfect beings I envisioned would be laid out on the sand. After weeks of workouts and dieting, I felt great. I was genuinely proud of my transformation. Yet, I still wasn’t sure if I was beach ready.

When I touched down in Miami, I was enthralled. I was ready for the wild and reckless adventures that would define my Spring Break.

First destination, the beach!

My excitement quickly turned into uncertainty, was the world ready for my “beach body”? With immense hesitation, I reached for the only one-piece bathing suit I packed, and quickly covered myself with my sheer floral print sarong. It was then that I felt ready and confident to reveal myself to other spring-breakers.

As I walked along the beach, my visions became reality. The women were perfect. There were skinny girls, models, and beautiful women in their bikinis. Thank God I brought my cover-up. As I continued to walk further along the beach, the images changed. There were big girls in bathing suits.

I must admit, at first I was shocked. Many of these women walked around as if they owned the world in their two-piece bathing suits, unafraid to let it all hang out. Bumps, lumps, and curves were exposed. Wow, they have no shame…

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Above everything else Chelsey says in the article, I am mostly interested in the questions that she raises.

“Are these women really confident or is it something else? Is their confidence really a lack of shame in their current size? Better yet, is it ok to be ashamed of certain attributes, or should we be proud of it all?”

Personally after reading the entire article I’m not sure were I stand on the issue, but I was hoping that you all would give me some feedback.

What do you think? 

Related articles

• Pretty & Plus Size: 15 Stylish & Flattering Bathing Suit Looks For Summer (khmx.radio.com)

R.I.P Mia Amber Davis… This month’s Featured Fashionista

Mia Amber Davis: model, entertainer, motivator.

If you’re like me and are a plus-size Fashion Junkie you have seen Mia Amber Davis don fabulous frocks across several well known fashion sites, magazines and have been featured on different shows. At the time I had no idea who she was but I thought she was stunningly beautiful when I would see her sporting clothes for Monif C. and Ashley Stewart, to name a few, I wanted to be like her. I want(ed) to look like her. She was a gorgeous woman and multi-talented. On top of being a plus-size model, Mrs. Davis was a producer for Divorce Court in Los Angeles, Creative Editor-at-Large for Plus Magazine,  and a blogger. Not only that, but she too was a HUGE advocate for health at every size and size acceptance. According to her friends she was a dynamic woman, and it showed in her presence. Her love for the people she represented was to vast that anyone who needed her advice and help could receive it.

No, I never had the opportunity to meet her but now knowing all I do about her I wish I would have had the chance.

She was an advocate. She was a model. She was an actress. She was a wife. She was an editor. She was beautiful inside and out… And for all of this Mia Amber Davis is this month’s Featured Fashionista. Rest in peace. You will be missed.

Note: Mrs. Davis passed away on May 10, 2011. Mia Amber Davis, 36 passed shortly after having knee surgery in Los Angeles, CA. She is survived by her husband Mike Yard.

Related articles

• R.I.P.: Actress And Plus Sized Model Mia Amber Davis Dead At 36 (bossip.com)
• Family: Mia Amber Davis Died From Blood Clot (eonline.com)
• Mia Amber Davis Dies at 36 (theroot.com)
• ‘Road Trip’ Actress Mia Amber Davis Dies at 36 (entertainment.blogs.foxnews.com)
• R.I.P. Mia Amber (sassncurlz.com)

Fall 2011 OSP Collection: Sultrous Garden

Ladies,

I know what you’re thinking: it’s too early to even think about the fall; after all it’s only May…BUT I was snooping around the internet today and stumbled upon this…OSP’s (OneStopPlus.com) Fall 2011 Collection!

:~D <– Excited FACE!

Now, I vowed not to go shopping crazy since I’m in a transitional phase with my weight but these gorgeous frocks (Purple Trench Coat Dress!!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!) seriously had me considering emptying my bank account. Check it out below. I’d love to hear what you think of this coming season’s fashions from OSP. I was/am a HUGE fan of the OPS Spring Show. (Video posted below.) It felt light, airy, fresh, flowing and full of tranquility. In direct contrast the OSP’s Fall 2011 Collection is rich, dark, entrancing, and sultry…very city chic. (BTW, Sultrous Garden is the prefect title for this collection.) I hate to say this but it felt very Twilight-y. (For all you Twi-hards out there you’ll get the reference.) Although this writer isn’t sure the over all collection will appeal to the average consumer, I think any fashion minded plus-size woman would gladly strut her stuff in any of these pieces. Where the collection’s unveiling lacks variety in model size and shape, which is definitely problematic when it comes to plus size clothing, it does make up with a certain “je ne sais quoi.” With its sophisticated mystery and pulsating bass driven music this collection’s preview delivers in a very real way the idea that the viewer can, only  if she wears any of the pieces in the collection, also be a voluptuous sultry kitten on the prowl.

“Meow…”

Spring Preview video: (Collection is on onestopplus.com)

Related Articles

• Lizzie Miller Appointed OneStopPlus.com Brand Ambassador (pasazz.net)
• Kiyonna Launches 2011 Plus Size Swimwear Collection Today! (pasazz.net)