Color is the New Black

by Ta'Nashea McLeod

 I'm loving this playful and colorful layered necklace and earring set by Farrah Estrella Jewelry.

Command attention in this light blue easy-to-wear plus size faux wrap, short sleeve ring dress by Avenue.

I recently revamped my closet with a few colorful additions. In the past if you were to take a tour of my closet, you would have been met by a sea of black. So needless to say this color overhaul was badly needed.

I’ve always considered myself a fashionista despite my failure to abide by a few of the age old fashion rules. You know the ones don’t mix patterns, never wear white after Labor Day, and don't even think about combining your metals. Well it’s a new day in fashion and those rules are old news.  

The one rule I’ve heard most over the years is "wear black because it’s slimming." I will admit as I got older and curvier I fell victim to this way of thinking. I’ve now come to the knowledge that it’s not necessarily the color of the garment, but more importantly the fit that determines how flattering it looks. Thanks to Avenue Fashion for Women Sizes 14 & Up I got the color fix I needed. Color is the new black!!!!

Create your own love story with this sleeveless, romantic ruffles, and ultra-feminine fuchsia dress by Avenue.

Add white hot style to your wardrobe with this one button plus size blazer by Avenue and nude heels by Steve Madden.

Get a cool, edgy look with this hot pink, princess seamed, mixed zip and button hardware blend cropped chino jacket by Avenue.

Don't for get to break the rules with an unexpected splash of color. I was comfortable and chic in these mustard colored open toe flats also by Avenue. 

My side pocket front tie dress, belt, sunglasses, and clutch are all part of my many thrift store finds!

Shop these looks and countless more at: http://www.avenue.com/

How do you feel about wearing color? Please share your thoughts, with us!

About the Author:

Ta'Nashea McLeod, a plus model based out of Tampa Florida, is also a fashion & lifestyle blogger, spokesperson, and president/founder of the Curvy Fashion Exchange. As a professional plus size model experienced in commercial, print, fit, and runway modeling, Ta'Nashea has participated in countless fashion show events and featured in numerous magazines. Ta’Nashea definitely has a passion for helping society view full-figure fashion in a positive light.  

Style369.com’s London Style

by Ta'Nashea McLeod

All eyes are on London with the 2012 Olympics starting in a few days and there has been a lot of talk surrounding fashion. Everything from what the athletes will be wearing to London’s very own street style.  

Style369.com has taken away the guess work and made it easy for you to get the inimitable, enviable look of a London fashionista.

Style369.com celebrates all that is fabulous with “London Style” a feature on their products that represent London’s open-minded, cutting edge approach to curvy fashion.


To read more follow link below!
http://www.examiner.com/article/style369-com-s-london-style?cid=db_articles

Photos Courtesy of http://www.style369.com/

Take 5! (Bras that is)

by Liz Black

Personally, thanks to being *ahem* well-endowed, I am always thinking about bras. Before I was properly measured I was wearing a 38/40DDD… well, turns out I’m actually a 38GG/H! While finding the proper bra size was an enormous step in the right direction (clothes look & fit better, my posture is better, shoulder/back/sides/neck don’t hurt as much) I knew that I was going to have to drop some cash on building a better bra wardrobe. Worried that I was going to go bankrupt buying bras I tried to hammer it down to the exact 5 bra styles I thought would benefit me most and be the most versatile.

First up, a smoothing t-shirt bra. Completely versatile, a t-shirt bra can be worn under tissue-thin cotton t-shirts (without worry of show-through), as well as under tank tops, sweaters, button-downs, etc. The smooth, molded cups guarantee that you won’t have any extra lumps and bumps under your shirts, giving you a streamlined silhouette. I would encourage you to purchase one in a “nude” shade so it is virtually invisible under white tops. While “nude” is subjective, try to find one that’s as close as possible to your skin tone. But believe me, a white bra under a white top will show!

Next, you’ve got to get your hands on a supportive strapless bra. Nothing ruins an outfit more than chunky bra straps sticking out of a strapless top or dress! A strapless bra is exactly what you need for summer’s skimpiest styles; whether you’re wearing a spaghetti-strapped tank top, an edgy asymmetrical one-shouldered top, or a completely strap-free top, you’re going to need a perfect strapless bra!

While summer is the perfect time to get in shape, you shouldn’t even think of stepping into a gym without wearing a sports bra! Breasts can bounce up to 5.5 inches (in all directions) when you’re working out, which will increase the chance of sagging, pain and overall discomfort. But when you’ve got the right sports bra on, bust bouncing is a thing of the past!

Now, these last two put the fun in functional. If you’ve got a little extra money in your bra budget, pick up a sexy little number & a t-back bra. It’s important to have a sexy bra in your lingerie drawer, whether you want to wear it on date night, girl’s night out, or as a boost of confidence to have on under your clothes. Knowing that you have on a racy lace or wild animal print bra will bring out your inner sex kitten!

A t-back bra is a fantastic new style that sometimes gets looked over. If you’re wearing a tank top, racerback top, or any type of sporty style, the t-back (also sometimes known as a racerback) bra is your new best friend. If you prefer the support of straps & don’t want to go strapless (although if you’re wearing the right size bra all the support should be coming from the band, not the straps), then a t-back bra is right for you!

If you don’t know where to begin, I always start (and end) my lingerie search with Bare Necessities & Bare Plus (their plus-size website). Being that I can fit into products on both sites I’m always looking through both to find the exact style I want! Take my bra advice & bra shopping will be a breeze! (Just make sure you go get properly measured first!)

About the Author:

Photos courtesy of  http://www.barenecessities.com/

Liz Black is the fashion copywriter and editor for BareNecessities.com and Bareplus.com. Bare Necessities has one of the largest selections of intimate apparel online carrying over 180 well-known brands of bras, panties, shapewear, hosiery, swimwear, men’s underwear and more.

Chat with them at:
www.facebook.com/barenecessities  
www.facebook.com/BarePlus
http://gplus.to/barenecessities
@BareNecessities
@BarePlus 

Evie Foster: Kiss my Curves

The Australian born Designer premiered her plus-sized clothing line at this years Full Figured Fashion Week in New York City. Evie's collection was seductive yet comfortable, there was an effortlessly elegant quality to her designs that the media and attendees responded to.


To read more follow link below!
Evie Foster: Kiss my Curves

Shanda Freeman, of MTV Fame and Wife of Fatman Scoop, Will Launch Collection at Maryland Fashion Week

Shanda Freeman, wife of Fatman Scoop and of costar of MTV’s “Man and Wife”, is launching her contemporary apparel collection for women at Maryland Fashion Week, August 12, 2012.



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – Jul 20, 2012 – Shanda Freeman will debut her first Fall/Winter 2012 collection at Maryland Fashion Week. The six-piece, contemporary women’s apparel collection, aptly called “Gemini“, is set to debut on August 12, 2012. The “Gemini” collection offers femininity, elegance and versatility.

For fashion lovers that cannot wait, pre-orders will be available for purchase at: www.Curvysta.com  on Monday, 8/13/2012.

The new collection, illustrates Shanda’s own signature style and are from her personal, custom pieces, created to fit her own curves. The “Gemini” dress is a reversible wrap dress that offers two looks in one. It is perfect for every woman, from the cost-conscious consumer to the avid traveler.

Sizes run from small to 3X, with extended sizes available upon request. This collection was created entirely in the United States, with all of the production based in the New York City garment district. The garments are made of breathable, quality fabrics and the colors were chosen with the confident, curvaceous woman in mind.

The “Gemini” collection will be showcased at Maryland Fashion Week on, Sunday,
August 12, 2012 at the International Showcase, followed by a Meet and Greet with Shanda Freeman. For more information on attending the showcase please visit: www. MarylandFashionWeek.com

About the designer:
Shanda Freeman is the wife of Grammy award winning artist, Fatman Scoop and costar of MTV’s “Man and Wife”. Her Shanda Says Vlog and advice column illuminate her ability to be compassionate, instruct and inspire her audiences. Her mission statement is to be a positive resource for individuals to discover and develop their potential by transforming limited thinking and unproductive practices into confidence and action. Her clothing line is an extension of her need to inspire confidence in every woman.

Get to know Shanda at:

http://www.youtube.com/shandasays 

https://twitter.com/ShandaSays

Video courtesy of ShandaSays

JC Penney Plus Size Dresses

By: Farrah Estrella


JC Penney Plus Size Dresses

JC Penney has a variety of fun dresses for plus size women. The best part is that the price range is from $30 to $70 dollars which makes them really affordable and they come in sizes 14w-24w.

Take a look at some of the pictures from our favorite’s dresses below.
Visit www.JCPenney.com for more information.



Lavish by Ashley Stewart

By: Farrah Estrella

Lavish by Ashley Stewart

Hello Curvies!!.. One of the many perks of attending Full Figured Fashion Week 2012 was the fact that we get a lot of goodies bags throughout all of the events and let's be honest, who doesn't love free stuff.

In one of the many goodie bags we received this wonderful fragrance Lavish by Ashley Stewart and we were pleasantly surprised of how good it was and soft.

The fragrance is rich and floral with notes of orange blossom, citrus verbena, and Brazilian mandarin.
The best part ladies is that it is only $19.50 dollars, you can't beat that!!

Be sure to grab one of your next trip to the store or buy it online at www.AshleyStewart.com

BarePlus by Bare Necessities

by Ta'Nashea McLeod


Attention Curvy Fashionistas, if you’ve ever struggled to find stylish, sexy, bras in your size look no more. BarePlus by Bare Necessities features more than 500 bras that fit sizes 38A – 56J. They also offer panty sets, plus size lingerie, hosiery, and swimwear, from over 81 brands including Elomi, SPANX, Bali, Wacoal, Hanky Panky, and Calvin Klein just to name a few.

Photos Courtesy of BarePlus

Bare Necessities is the leading online retailer of brand name intimate apparel second only to Victoria’s Secret.

Jay Dunn, Chief Marketing Officer for Bare Necessities also known as the mastermind behind the infamous “Red Bra” ad campaign, that ran on American Idol featuring a plus size model and later becoming a national sensation after being banned by both Fox and ABC says that “BarePlus reinforces our commitment to serving the woman with curves and marks the beginning of our effort to build the best shopping experience for curvy women.”

This online boutique designed specifically for curvy women coexist in a tabbed shopping environment with barenecessities.com. Shoppers clicking on the BarePlus tab will encounter products available exclusively in plus sizes.

For more information or to make a purchase visit: www.bareplus.com/  

www.twitter.com/bareplus

PLUS SIZE CELEBS MAKING STATEMENTS ON THE RED CARPET

by Ta'Nashea McLeod

Queen Latifah

Mo'Nique

Kelly Price

Gabby Sidibe

Melissa McCarthy

Amber Riley

“Embrace” A Curvy & Plus Size Charity Fashion Show.

by Ta'Nashea McLeod

Tampa Fashion Designer Audrey Pat McGhee of APM Fashion presents “Embrace” A Curvy & Plus Size Charity Fashion Show.

 

Audrey “Pat” McGhee creates custom designs for clients specifically with the client's figure in mind. She designs clothes for women who are sizes 6 to 24, with a focus on the women who were the forgotten sizes (12 - 24).

This charity fashion show will benefit ASAP (Aids Service Association of Pinellas) and The Heart Association.

 

Audrey “Pat” McGhee

Embrace Fashion Show

 

When: August 25^th, 2012

Where: Sunset Ballroom at The Vinoy Club
600 Snell Isle Blvd. NE

St. Petersburg, Florida 33704

Time: Doors open at 6:00 PM; the show starts at 7:00 PM

Tickets: VIP $75.00 Dollars (includes special sitting, gift bag, photo opportunities and exclusive shopping experience before and after the show)

General Admission: $35.00

Early Bird Special (before June 30^th): $25.00

Day of the Event (at the door): $45.00

Standing Room: $15.00

Tickets are available online at: http://www.audreypat.com/ 

For more information call (813) 300-3199