Frost and a Borrowed Skirt

I did it! I got up early enough to take outfit pictures before work! Okay, so it only happened once, but  at least it happened!  It wasn't exactly a warm evening either. It's hard to tell from these pictures, but there's frost on the grass! 

Outfit: Skirt- Kiyonna via GB; Shirt- H&M; Cardigan- Old Navy; Belt- Steve Madden; Boots- Madden Girl; Tights- Hue 

This skirt is my first item from Gwynnie Bee. I decided to take advantage of their first month free  promotion and sign up. After getting my first few pieces, and seeing the items they'll be adding to the collection in December, I'll definitely be continuing my subscription for at least a few months. Wondering what Gwynnie Bee is? Think rent a swag.

This skirt fit me perfectly except for the length. I like my pencil skirts to hit me at the knee and this one hit a little below my knees. I don't think styling it with boots was the best choice, but it was a chilly day. I think it would look better with platform sandals and bare legs, so maybe I'll borrow it again in the summer.

Breaking all the Rules

I have always been a fan of makeovers. Clueless was one of my favorite movies growing up, and I loved TV shows like "What not to Wear". As much as I believe that how you look on the outside can affect your mood. I have become quite disenchanted with makeover shows. They always pose a stupid list of rules, especially for curvy women! No horizontal stripes, wear dark straight, but not skinny legged pants or an A-line skirt and heels to slim and elongate the leg, etc, etc, etc. 

I acknowledge that here are cuts, styles, colors and prints of clothing that are more "flattering" to my figure, but I think abiding by a list of rules when you get dressed in the morning is a ridiculous notion. If you aren't having fun with your wardrobe and taking some risks then what's the point? So here I am, wearing flat shoes, horizontal stripes and bold skinny leg pants. 

Look at me breaking all those rules. Where are Stacy and Clinton? 

Outfit: Corduroy skinnies-  F21+ last year; Sweater- Old Navy; Flats- Target

Allie over at Wardrobe Oxygen wrote a great post earlier this week on the subject of taking clothes a little too seriously. The post really resonated with me. In getting caught up in the rules, we jeopardize our personal style. We lose the things that make us unique! We should all take Allie's advice and lighten up a little! 

What  fashion faux pas did you commit this week? 

Two Beaches, One Blue Bikini

Unlike super models, bloggers come in all shapes and sizes. That fact is one of the primary reasons I started reading blogs a few years ago, and why I felt compelled to start a blog of my own. It is so important for women and girls to be exposed to images in the media that are realistic. My hope was that if just one thick-thighed, pear-shaped woman out there would see my blog and think "hey, she looks like me and she wears what she wants!",  then I would have made a difference.

If there's one item of clothing that can make even the most confident, body accepting and self assured woman cower in body shame terror, it's the bikini. I know I'm not the first chubby girl to put up a picture of herself in a bikini for the world to see, and I sure as hell hope I won't be the last, but it was really important to me to do it.

In short, I've been wanting to do a swimsuit post all summer, so imagine my disappointment when I realized I forgot my camera on our first vacation beach day. I improvised and had Mike snap a few cell phone pix, but I just wasn't super pleased with how they turned out.

Thankfully we were able to get in a second beach day and get some better pictures with my little point and shoot.

So what does it take to feel confident in a swimsuit? I have no clue. What helps me is to have a suit that is comfortable and fun to wear. I don't mind showing my stomach, but I like to keep my upper thighs under wraps, so I usually go for a skirted bikini. Not because I think my thighs need to be covered, but because that is what makes me feel most comfortable.

Swimsuit: Victoria's Secret- Bottom, Top 

Normally I advocate trying everything on if you can, but this bikini was an adventure in online shopping that actually worked! I had a gift card to Victoria's Secret leftover from my birthday and a coupon so I decided to take a glimpse at their sale swimwear. Low and behold I found a skirted bottom and supportive top in the color I wanted! I ordered it knowing there was about a pretty good chance that the XL bottoms would be too small, but hoping they would fit.

The skirted bottom fits perfectly and provides the perfect amount of coverage. The top is supportive and has two sets of straps that can be worn lots of different ways. The sizing is by bra size, so it's really easy to find the right fit, it VS carries your bra size. This is definitely my new favorite swimsuit, and if I lived somewhere where I needed a lot of swimsuits I would totally order another color!

I had a great time at both beaches and I'm happy I have these photos to share with you:)

Dealing with Chub Rub Part One: Shapewear/ Bike Shorts

I wanted to take a break from OOTD posts and Weekly Wishlists to talk about a curvy girl issue close to my heart. As much as I love spring and summer there is one little problem- chub rub. Chub rub is the irritation caused when your thighs rub together when you walk, and it doesn't just happen to plus size girls! I've had thick thighs for as long as I can remember. The first time I had issues with chub rub was the summer before my freshman year of college, when I was roughly a size 8. Sizes and pounds have come and gone, but irritated thighs remain.

I've found that the best way to totally prevent any irritation is to wear garments that cover the entire area. As a result, I almost always wear thigh slimming shapewear, tights, or bike shorts under my skirts and dresses. This presents its own set of challenges. Will the shorts or shapewear ride up or cause irritation? Will they be long enough? Will I get over heated? Can I afford several pairs?

In college I wore leggings or bike shorts under all my skirts and dresses. Bike shorts are surprisingly hard to find! They are the only thing I've ever been so desperate to find that I resulted to Walmart. Here are my favorites:

image via walmart.com

Danskin Now Bike Shorts- $12 for two at Walmart. 

After college I put on a little weight. I also became a city girl. With all that walking I wanted something more durable and more supportive. I tried a bunch of different brands and styles of shapewear over the course of a few years. I found most of them to be too tight, too restrictive, or just too hard to get up and down. I didn't want to feel like I was wearing a girdle, or 10 pairs of control-top pantyhose! Finally, while browsing the intimate apparel section of Marshall's, I found the perfect solution.

image via maidenform.com

Flexees Thigh Slimmer with lace- $22 from Maidenform

These little guys are amazing! They're lightweight, they aren't too binding, they stay where they're supposed to, and they're slimming. Plus the lace bottoms make them delicate and feminine. What more could a girl ask for? I got these thigh slimmers last spring at Marshall's for $12 each (I have two nude pairs and two black pairs). I think they'll last me a few more years because they still look brand new.

I still wear bike shorts on windy days and when I'm wearing shorter skirts, but my Flexees are my favorite. I won't wear a pencil skirt without them! What is your favorite shapewear garment?

Thanks for reading this text-heavy post. Next week I'll write a little about products to reduce chub rub.

Weekly Wishlist: Rompin Around

About two weeks ago I tried on a romper at Forever 21 as a joke. Much to my shock and dismay I actually liked it. I probably would have purchased it if it had not been strapless (I was worried about my girls falling out). I like the idea of a romper in theory. One piece, comfortable and effortless... like a sundress but without the need for precautions against the dreaded chub-rub.

Still I was  hesitant/ filled with self doubt. The last time I wore a romper was when scrunchies were still cool. Can I really pull one off? Then I saw this romper on GabiFresh (seriously how cute is she!?!) and I decided I have to add at least one romper to my wardrobe.

image via forever21.com

Abstract Print Romper- $24.80 from Forever 21+

 Y'all know how I feel about polka dots. This romper is my favorite choice. I will probably order it on payday. I like that it has sleeves and is super colorful. Available in sizes XL-2X.

image via torrid.com

Leopard Romper- $120.50 from Torrid

Leopard, sweatheart neckline, awesome. Love this romper, HATE the price. The only clothing items I'll pay more than $100 for are winter coats and leather boots Please let me know if you've seen a more reasonably priced alternative. Available in sizes 12-24.

image via target.com

Ruffled Romper in Navy Floral- $18 from Target

This Target romper is available in a few different prints and colors. I like the floral print, and the ruffle is fun.

Available in sizes XS-XL.

image via uniquevintage.com

Red Gingham Playsuit- $124 from Unique Vintage

This romper has an adorable vintage feel. I'd love to have it to wear to a 4th of July party, but it's also a little over priced. Available in sizes XS-XL.

What are your thoughts on rompers? 

Ignoring the Numbers

I've been searching for an animal print pencil skirt for a long time. I was delighted when I saw this zebra print one on the rack at TJMaxx for just $15!

Around the time that I started this blog, I also set out on a mission to improve my health. I started eating better, and joined a gym. For me it isn't about loosing weight, but that has been one of the many positive side effects of getting healthy. I try really hard not to get caught up in the numbers, so I don't know exactly how much I've lost, but I am starting to notice a difference in the way clothes fit and the way I feel.

Despite my efforts to ignore the numbers, I'm reminded of them every time I go shopping. I almost passed this skirt up because of the number on the tag. It looked like it might fit, but I thought "no, that size will never fit me!" Regardless of what size you are, never pass up an item because of the number on the tag. If it looks like it might fit, try it on! Do not let the numbers define you.

Outfit:
Skirt: TJ Maxx
Tank: H&M Conscious Collection
Cardigan: Old Navy
Sandals: Payless
Necklace: very, very old

Weekly Wishlist: Colorful Swimwear

My beau, Mike, and I are brainstorming ideas for a beach vacation. I spent most of my childhood living in South Texas, so I spent my weekends, and sometimes my weekdays at the beach from April- October. Even when I lived in Maryland there were river/ bay beaches right at my fingertips and trips to Seabrooke Island, SC with family in the summer. I long for the sand between my toes, the breeze off the water, the fresh seafood.

What I don't long for is swimsuit shopping.

Although I am definitely on the road to body acceptance, I'll be the first to admit that I'm not quite there yet. I don't mind showing my stomach, arms, chest, but I prefer to hide my upper thighs. I feel most comfortable in a skirted bikini or one piece. The problem is that skirted suits tend to fall into two categories. 1. Matronly, shapeless, or simply too much coverage or 2. not enough skirt to provide the coverage that I need.  The other obstacle I face is that I'm bigger on the bottom than I am on the top.

I can usually get around these issues by purchasing separates. I have two plain black swim skirts that I pair with cuter tops from more trendy swim wear collections. This has suited me fine for the last few summers (pun intended), but I really want to add some color into my swimwear repertoire. Here are a few colorful suits I've got my eye on.

Image via Alwaysforme.com

Salinas Print Twist Front Bandeau One Piece- $89 from Always For Me

I love the bright blues in this suit. The website shows the back of the suit and it appears to provide a good deal of booty coverage. Also the straps are removable! I recently discovered Always for Me. They are a plus size retailer specializing in swimwear, activewear and lingerie. I love so many of the suits on their site, but I think this one is my favorite. it would be a great one-piece option. Solid color option here. Available in sizes 16W-24W.

Mossimo Plus size Swim Skirt in Boysenberry- $22.99 at Target

Colorblock halter bandeu top

Paisley Halter top

Striped Bandeau tankini top

I have this swimskirt from Target in black from a few summers ago, and it is one of my favorites. I am really pleased to see it online in some bright colors! This boysenberry color is my favorite because I found the greatest variety of tops to go with it, but I also love the turquoise! The swim skirt is available in the plus sizes 1X-3X. The tops all come in sizes XS-XL and are $19.99 each. When buying separates, I like buying multiple tops so I can choose how much coverage I want.

image via jcrew.com

image via jcrew,com

Seersucker Skirted Bottom $64 and Halter top $48 in Bright Citrus, both from JCrew

I've never tried on a JCrew Suit before, so I don't even know if their largest size bottom would fit me. I am a sucker for seersucker and yellow. This suit is just too cute not to include! Top and Bottoms available in sizes XS-XL.

image via mindbodylingerie.com

Strapless Polka Dot Swimdress $59.95 from Mind Body Lingerie

 I had to throw in one last suit, because y'all know I can't pass up a polka dot. This suit is adorable, but I don't think it'd be good for any actual swimming as it doesn't have straps. I've never heard of Mind Body Lingerie, and the site appears a little risque, but they have cute retro inspired suits in a variety of sizes. This suit is available in XS to XXL.

What is your favorite style of swimsuit? Know of any good plus size swimsuit retailers?