Style: Pumped Up Kicks

I've recently teamed up with a new friend and fabulous photographer, Annie Vovan, who shot today's style post and is definitely a woman to watch.  I met up with her one recent afternoon in Santa Monica where she had told me about a local bar that had a few cool spots to shoot some photos.  Imagine our joy when we found this classic piece of man metal parked just outside.  So I decided to get comfortable...

Leather is all the rage right now (but really when is it not?) and I wanted to make this outfit a bit more casual to go with the laid back Santa Monica vibe.  I purchased this top not too long ago from The Limited's (somewhat) new plus size line, Eloquii.  I loved the classic color blocking but I wanted to give it a little more shape to accentuate my fine girlish figure.  This turquoise belt is falling apart and as vintage as they come.  I stole it from my mom's closet years ago and it's been a favorite staple of mine since.  (Sorry mom)

Now, I've been DYING to rock my wedge sneakers and I finally found the outfit that I felt deserved them.  I went back and forth on this trend for a long time.  I couldn't tell if they were hideos or genius and to be honest I'm still not completely sure.  When I saw these on the Topshop website I fell in love though and I know it was what my elementary school science teacher would call an "educated guess".  I guessed that I needed them on my feet.  And so I ordered them.  And they are horribly uncomfortable yet so epically fabulous that I continue to wear them on the reg.  "Is that a sneaker or a heel that you're wearing?"... "Maybe if we slip into something a little  more comfortable you can find out..."  (said nobody)

This post is a little photo-heavy but I couldn't choose just 5 or 6 I loved because my photographer Annie gave me so much to work with!  You can check out more of her stuff here or even book one of her empowering Just BE sessions for yourself!

Colorblock Black/White Top- Eloquii; Leather Paneled Skirt- Forever 21; HighTop Wedge Sneakers- Topshop; Turquoise Belt- Vintage; Watch- Michael Kors; Earrings- Target; Cougar Ring- Nasty Gal; Car-strangers

Style: Pumpkin Prey

Halloween has long been my favorite holiday but with the devastation on the East Coast from Hurricane Sandy and my sudden onslaught of the flu that is lingering now for its third day, it looks like this year may be my most relaxed and dare I say "grown-up" one of them all.  Boo.  And not in a fun Halloween way.  Regardless of my ailing body, I'm so excited to share these photos with you that I took last week with a new friend, amazing photographer, and inspiring woman, Annie Vovan.  Annie enjoys capturing beautiful moments at weddings, and has found her true passion in portrait photography and in empowering women.  Annie and I are teaming up in an effort to give all women the opportunity to feel beautiful and confident through her Just B.E. (Be Empowered) photo sessions. More on this later but I definitely recommend checking out the amazing work she is doing!

There is the cutest little pumpkin patch located quite close to my apartment in Santa Monica.  The day Annie and I shot these photos it was one of the chillier evenings we've had this year and it felt perfect for a fall themed shoot.  The men working at the patch were so friendly and even offered their direction as to what the best backdrops and landscapes would be to shoot.

As the weather gets (slightly) cooler in Southern California, I love making the switch to wearing tights with all my dresses.  Because I'm 5'10, some of my dresses can ONLY be worn with tights (this statement was questionable during my sorority days) so it is like having an entirely new wardrobe and a plethora of options to choose from.  Because the leopard print on this sweaterdress is so busy, I paired it with a basic Levi's denim jacket to dress it down.  Plus, denim screamed Pumpkin Patch to me and reminded me so much of growing up in Long Island, NY... probably because both my mom and I work denim overalls about 85% of the time.

I'll be scanning my Facebook and Instagram news feeds looking for all of your creative Halloween costumes as I lay recovering in my bed for the third day in a row.  Sending my prayers and positivity to my East Coast friends as well and hoping everybody can still be in the Halloween spirit amongst all the chaos!

Photography by Annie Vovan

Leopard Sweater Dress- Victoria's Secret; Denim Jacket- Levi's; Black Tights- Target; Leopard Face Ring- Nasty Gal; Brown Booties- Target; Cascading Earring- Target; Red Lipstick- Makeup Forever Rogue Artist 42

Style: A Backless Bodycon Birthday

A couple weeks ago I headed down to Newport Beach to celebrate my mom's birthday.  I hung out on the patio with my mom and dad drinking wine, and then dined at The Cannery Restaurant overlooking the bay.

Now, this dress is usually one I'd save for a night out with the girls or a hot date, but I couldn't wait to wear it so consider it a birthday gift to my mother.  You're supposed to shake what your mama gave you, right?

When I saw this dress from Tart on Hautelook, I wasn't even sure my eyes were registering what I was seeing.  Backless AND Bodycon AND the perfect length AND long sleeves.  SOLD... ten times over!  I'm pretty sure this dress was made for me and though I must admit that the backless bra/lower rise Spanx combination was a bit tricky and slightly uncomfortable, it was worth ever tug and tuck.

Because this dress is so va-va-voom, I chose to keep the jewelry simple.  Even though the dinner wasn't very dressy, I threw on some cascading gold earrings from the luxury designer known as Target.  Please forgive the following deer in headlights phenomenon...

It was a wonderful night of celebration and there may have been one too many bottles of wine involved but who's counting?  It is so wonderful to have my parents living so close and I will certainly miss that when I make the big move to New York next year.  But hey, the career calls and I refuse to be left behind.  I've got myself some big dreams and by God I'm going to chase them!

Happy Birthday to my beautiful mother!

Dress- Tart; Shoes- Dolce Vita; Earrings- Target

Wear This, Not That

When it comes to fashion for a curvy, full-figured, or plus-size woman, it is not just what you wear, but how you style it that is important.  You may have a completely fabulous dress but if you don't focus on how it flatters your specific body type, it could end up looking more like a potato sack... A pretty potato sack, but a sack nonetheless.  And if anybody knows about potato sacks it's YOURS TRULY

Working in the modeling industry has taught me so much about what works for my body type and what doesn't.  And just because you think a certain style doesn't flatter you, doesn't mean you can't make a few of your own personal additions and alterations in order to make it work.  I spend my days trying on hundreds of outfits and then watching stylists tweak them to perfection, so it is only fair that I share some of my tips with those who may not be behind the scenes with the experts.

1. Too Baggy is Never Good

When you get dressed, try to remember that the clothes' job is to FLATTER you, rather than HIDE you.  More fabric may seem like the better option for covering up whatever imperfection you may think you have, but something relatively fitted or with some kind of shape will almost always be the better choice.  When you wear something like the top above, keep in mind that it will fall against your widest part, mine are my hips/butt.  As a result, it makes it appear that everything unseen under that top is also the same width as my hips/butt... are you picking up what I'm putting down?  Ok GREAT!  If it isn't something you can belt at the waist, try tucking your top in.  I like the partial tuck in that almost looks like you accidentally did that during your last bathroom trip.  If you don't feel comfortable tucking shirts in, opt for a shorter top that is fitted in the chest and has more fabric in the stomach area.  Just make sure it stops above your hips so it shows off your curves rather than blends the whole body shape into one.

2. Give Me Some Space!

If your outfit is pretty full coverage, it's nice to break up the human totem pole effect (aka a solid connection of shoe-pants-shirt-jacket, and sneak in at least a little bit of skin.  I have been loving the skinny cuff and it has a great way of making any denim transform into a more relaxed feel.  The blazer I chose has contrasting fabric inside so I decided to cuff the sleeves as well, to show off some of my jewelry and a little more skin.

3. Accessorize Basic or Neutral Colors

Wearing a lot of neutral colors allows for a ton of creativity when it comes to accessorizing.  I like to add one pop of color (often that color is turquoise) or pile on the golds and browns for some statement jewelry.  A fun belt, great hat, or a purse or shoe with a pop of color can also be a fabulous addition.

4. Shape Up!

If the garment you're wearing isn't built with a lot of structure, don't be afraid to add a little of your own.  Adding a fitted blazer, tucking in your blouse, belting your dress, and layering tighter options over looser ones, are all great ways to give your outfit a bit more shape and to further flatter your body type.

I hope these tips come in handy next time you find yourself in an "almost perfect outfit" situation.  Oftentimes, one little tweak can make all the difference!

Blazer- Forever 21; Sheer Tunic Faded Giraffe Print Top- Target, Belt- Vintage (my Dad's= why it is so big); Ripped Boyfriend Jeans- J Brand;  Shoes- Target; Watch- Michael Kors; Stone and Turquoise Beaded Necklace and Brown Beaded Bracelet- St. Eve;  Brown Leather Braided Bracelet- Michael Kors;  Hair by Lindsey Carter

Style: Sun Seeker

My favorite color is yellow.  Not necessarily to wear, eat, or smell, but I think the color overall has such a happy, vibrant connotation to it.  When I saw this leotard for sale on ASOS (I'm a huge fan of leotards in general), I knew I had to have it!  I wear a ton of things that sit at my waist as I think they flatter my shape better and they are generally much more comfortable.  As a result, leotards have become a staple when it comes to that pairing.

Now unlike the average real housewife, I can't just open a Vogue magazine and pick out something from an ad and well... buy it.  But when I saw this purse by Mulberry in a magazine, took a screenshot of the ad, and found myself still thinking about it on the reg months later, I made my very first high society exception.  I was in London for a bit of work and a bit more fun with friends.  Considering I'd done plenty of research on the bag, I knew there were a few Mulberry stores in the city.  I justified it by telling myself that because I wouldn't be paying tax for it, it was actually quite practical to get it during my time there.  And I mean... when in London (or New York, or Kentucky, or when the internet is available...)

Yellow Zig Zag Leotard- ASOS.com; High Waisted Denim- J Brand; Tan Platform Wedges- Dolce Vita;  Gold Square Patterned Earrings- Target;  Brown Leather Purse- Mulberry

Style: Zip, Zap, Zop

Two weekends ago I was so kindly invited to tag along with my best friend and her family for a weekend in Vegas.  I am sorry to report that I did not make any form of VIP list at Wet Republic, but what I lacked in bottle service and boob tassels, I made up for in fine dining and my own little quadruple bypass that I like to call The JERSEY BOYS!

I saw this blue/black minidress on Forever 21 plus sizes and that was that.  I knew the second I slipped in to it that my milkshake would undoubtedly bring all the boys to the yard.  Needless to say I was right...

On our last night in Vegas we headed to the Palazzo and dined at Emeril's restaurant, Table 10.  The highlight of my evening?  SRIRACHA Chicken Wings!!!  I would tell you more about them but I might be too tempted to eat my computer.  There was also an outrageous Banana Cream Pie involved.  I love when desserts have fruit in the title and you automatically think you're eating something kind of healthy.  Peach Rings, Fruit Roll Ups, Appletini, Stoli Blueberry... you get my point.

Even a simple dinner out in Vegas requires careful style choices.  One thing I've learned is that you never know where the night will take you.  Another thing I've learned is that what happens in Vegas usually finds a way to leave town for a while.  Metaphorically of course.  I thought this dress was sexy but still classy for dinner, and the vibrant blue is one of my favorite shades to wear.  I also found out that the zipper on this dress is... in fact... a working zipper.  Good times.  Such good times in fact that we decided to stay an extra night, and because modeling is somewhat like being unemployed(?), I had nobody to call in sick to.  And that's something I can get down with.

Dress- Forever 21+; Shoes- Sam Edelman; Silver Circle Earrings- A generous loan from the lovely Mrs. Karen Lupinetti

What Lies Beneath:  Maidenform Self Expressions in Black (Purchased at Target)

Style: Flying High

A couple years ago, I wouldn't have dared wear this outfit in front of anyone besides my bedroom mirror.  Two huge trends in the last couple years have been lace and crop tops, and though I was fashionably prepared with this top on hand, it remained on its hanger.  I've grown a lot as a person in the last year and my confidence has exponentially taken the first place ticket in that race.  I can now genuinely say that I love my body and the curves that I have, and I am ready to share them with the world after years of being told otherwise.

I talked about crop tops before here, and there is no reason a plus size or curvier woman should miss out on the trend.  Try one with a high waisted skirt or jeans, or even layer one over a basic form-fitting dress to give it a different look.

To be honest, I'm not entirely sure where I got this top.  I'm pretty sure a friend left it at my house years ago and time passed and I forgot who it belonged to (and fine, ok... I didn't try TOO hard to return it).  Maybe they'll claim it now though after this post.  However, I'm going to need to see valid identification and proof of ownership if the emails start flooding in...

Photographer: Stefan Brysha

Location: Lido Island, Newport Beach, CA

Lace Crop Top- Vintage (no tag or anything, sorry) but here is a similar one at Torrid; Black High Waisted Skirt- Zara; Tan Lace Up Heeled Booties- Michael Kors; Brown Stone Ring- Forever 21; Coral Beaded Earrings- Target

And finally... Here are your PHOTOS THAT ALMOST MADE THE CUT (Because nobody is perfect)...

*Note: I will never photoshop my Style/Personal photos in order to alter the size, shape, firmness, smoothness, etc. of my body.  I think it is important that we see people as they truly are, and if I can do my little part to help promote a better body image, then I am fulfilled.

Style: White Trash Playground Chic

After spending the last week thinking about Flamin' Hot Cheetos more than any human being ever should, I figured, why stop channeling my white trash self now? Enter this denim vest/Rhinestone Hoop/Converse situation... And I don't hate it!

I wear a ton of heels but nothing beats a little occasional comfort... oh, and heels don't work all that well in sand.  Then again, this was shot in Orange County, CA and I'm very willing to bet that there are plenty of moms in this neighborhood that have mastered it.  I'm not one of those though.  Nor do I have any children.  That I know of.

I love to pair things that don't necessarily go together.  Like this black pleated skirt with these dirty green converse, or showering and then watching the Jersey Shore immediately after, or Jake Gyllenhall and I at the premiere of Hope Springs.  No wait, that last one actually goes together.  Tricked ya!

Gabi over at www.gabifresh.com is always rocking the "fully buttoned to the top look" with her blouses and I think it looks fabulous so I tried it with this vest.  With the exception of the vests middle button that is seconds away from champagne popping off full speed ahead, I think it gave the vest a cool shape.  It also allowed me to wear it on its own.  Imagine the thrill.

Photographer: Stefan Brysha

Location: Lido Island, Newport Beach, CA

 

Denim Vest- Levis, Black Pleated Skirt- Jason Wu for Target, Green Sneakers- Converse, Rhinestone Hoop Earrings- Target, Gold Leopard Mouth Ring- Nasty Gal,  Blonde Baby in Park- Unknown

And now I'd like to introduce to you a new addition to my style posts called...

PHOTOS THAT ALMOST MADE THE CUT (because life isn't picture perfect, and contrary to [VERY] popular belief, neither am I.  I know, I know, I just shook up your world with that one.  Let it marinate a bit.)