Fat Chicks Should Wear Stripes

 Dress: Wrap Dress in Multi Stripe Print by Gilli (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Avenue (size 26/28)

Leggings: Torrid (size 4x)

Boots: Steve Madden

Earring: etXarte

Necklaces: former etsy sellers

Bracelets: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

This dress seemed too tight & I wasn't sure I was going to wear it beyond the farmers' market...but Kate liked it...& really...if I get positive feedback from David or Kate...it makes me look at a dress in a new light. It's important to have people you trust & whose opinions you value. I ended up feeling really sexy in this dress & decided it wasn't too tight, but it was too short. If I can't wear a dress with tights & feel comfortable...it's too short...luckily, there's leggings...which are not pants, but they offer enough cover that I won't be flashing anyone against their will. This dress was soooo soft & even though the material was thin, it didn't feel cheap & you couldn't see through it. Oh, & the colors...the colors were splendid & I adore stripes. Fat chicks should wear stripes. 

I liked this dress better without the cardigan...or perhaps I needed a print instead of a solid. I will often wear cardigans to hide a gapping neckline...but this neckline stayed put. 

Do these stripes make my butt look big?  

I like the way the stripes define my shape...going in & out.

My makeup with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Mildew; Anastasia eyeshadow in Edge, Venetian Red, Vermeer, & Primavera; NYX Liquid Suede in Bella & Biker Babe; & Greenwich Green nail polish by OPI. 

I wore this dress on three different days. Rye likes to climb on my lap, isn't he adorable?! Farmer's market with Kate...it makes me happy that there are always bands. After market, we went to The Madison Chocolate Co. looking for 100% chocolate for David's birthday...I had given him a few bars in his stocking at Christmas & he thoroughly enjoyed them. I'm including a photo of their doors because this is what I would like to do in our bathroom...sliding barn doors...but with old pocket doors instead. After dropping Kate off at her tempartment on the west side...I went into Vinnie's to check out their cardigans...& came home with two that look like Easter eggs...check out the original price on that striped one! After several years of admiring & using the Mother Fools graffiti wall for photos...I finally caught them in the act of painting one. 

After my last visit to Torrid to pick up a sale order...I ordered the leggings I saw there that I liked...& four other pair. So, I had to go to Torrid again to pick up *that* order...& they were having a sale on clearance...buy 1, get 2 free! I limited myself to three dresses...but I tried a bunch on. 

This green velvet maxi was my favorite. I made this salad for lunch...it was so simple & quick...& tasty...salmon salad with bell peppers, onions, & dill...served atop spinach & pea shoots from farmers' market...with some Meyer lemons from David's grandma's tree & parmesan crisps. 

A pretty pretty from Wendy...that always makes it a good mail day. Also, a super sale order of dresses from City Chic. I collect dresses I never get around to wearing. 

Constellation

 Dress: Short Sleeve Wrap Dress in Constellation Print by eShakti (size 26) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Camisole: Lane Bryant (size 26/28)

Cardigan: MAK via Modcloth (size 4x)

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Nine West

Earring & Necklaces: Babil & Bijou, former etsy shop

Bracelet: Age Before Beauty 

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

This print is dreamy...out of this world *wink*...one of my favorite constellation prints I've seen. I was so excited to get this dress...then I tried it on. The skirt part fit perfectly, with lots of room to twirl...it is a true wrap & I was worried how pockets would work, but they hit me just right. The midi length was fantastic & a nice change from all the short dresses. The top, however...well...as you can see in the photos, the top was entirely too small to wear without a camisole. This is not a problem I've encountered before...I'm pear shaped, so if anything is off, it's the bottom. The chiffon print is freaking fabulous...but this dress required a camisole & a cardigan...as the top didn't lay right at all...too much work for a dress for me. 

I love how the snow is mounded atop the floral architectural element & sign. Sometimes winter is pretty. But why does it have to be so cold?

I wore this necklace so short that I had enough extra to have a necklace in back too.

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in LSD, Edge & New Wave eyeshadow from Anastasia, UD eyeshadow in Stargazer, Nars lipstick in Majella, Gothica lipstick by Kat von D, & Holy Grail nail polish from A England. 

I wore this dress to work & out to dinner with the girlie. We tried a new to us place, Oliva, a Turkish & Italian restaurant. We picked it because we thought it would be a quiet Friday night place & it was. I opted for an appetizer meal...stuffed grape leaves & a plate of various dips which were delicious...especially the chaman, a spicy red pepper paste with walnuts & garlic. 

Restaurant Week

 Dress: Velvet Dress with Floral Embroidery by Kaktus (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Tights: Catherines

Shoes: Me Too, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Moon Necklace: Babil & Bijou (former etsy shop)

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

Boho, velvet, embroidery, dramatic bell sleeves...yes, please! If this had been a fit & flare...it would have become a permanent resident of my closet. Luscious substantial velvet was so cozy...great fit & length for me. I delighted in wearing this lovely dress even though shift dresses are not "flattering" on me or a shape I typically am drawn to. 

I wore this dress to work (when these photos were taken) & out to dinner with Kate...where I wore this dress with knee high black boots...which I liked better...but you'll have to picture that in your mind. 

These colors were my comfort zone before GB...black & earth tones...back when I only wore brown eyeliner. 

My makeup with this outfit included...Roach eyeliner from Urban Decay; Anastasia Beverly Hills eyeshadow in Pyramid, Obsidian, & Eternal; NYX Liquid Suede Lipstick in Bella; Winterberry lipstick by Bite Beauty; & A England nail polish in Holy Grail. 

Kate & I decided to check out a new restaurant, Jardin, for restaurant week. It was one of the few places that had a selection in every course that was within her dietary needs (a vegan who eats fish). All my food was delicious & I will most certainly go back. The mac & cheese was yum, but the winner of the evening for me was the Filipino Ceviche. 

After dinner I went to Ulta because they keep sending me 20% off deals. I came home with...a lot of lipstick. The Anastasia palette & Urban Decay lipsticks were already on sale, plus another 20%...how could I say no to that?! 

January's Play! box & OMG! that marvelous coat that a chick on Curvy Sewing Collective made...I need to check out that pattern. 

Phenomenal Purple Frock

 Dress: Floral Embellished Dress in Plum Multi by eShakti (size 28) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: CJ Banks (size 3x), thrifted

Tights: Catherines

Shoes: Me Too, thrifted

All Jewelry: Wendy Baker

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

Phenomenal purple frock from eShakti...sooo comfortable. The fit & length were spot on for me & the medium weight cotton lay just right. The banded waist was in a great place & of course...there were pockets. I had to pop this one in the bag quick & mail it back to GB before I bought it. I'm trying not to buy any new dresses (unless they are on super sale) until my closet is set up at the new house & I can see what I have. I'm going to put it out here & guess I have at least 50 dresses that I've never worn. 

The situation now is...my clothes are everywhere. So when I go searching for a cardigan to wear...I often times find something I didn't remember I had...like this rhinestone studded beauty. 

I do wish they had embroidered one more flower on the back of the dress so it was visible with a cardigan on top.

I wore a cardigan over this dress for warmth, not because I had to cover anything up...which was fantastic. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Voodoo; UD eyeshadow in Voodoo; Legend, Vinyl, & Misfit eyeshadow by Kat von D; Burgundy Lip Cream from Bite Beauty; & Colors by Llarowe nail polish in Unorthodox Annie. 

I wore this dress to work (more than once), to the mall, & to Angie & Toby's for dinner. 

I had to go to the mall to pick up my order from Torrid...which I think I already packed without taking a picture. I've been lusting over that pumpkin orange lace dress since it first came out...so since it was on sale on top of sale...it had to be mine. The other dress is a cute casual star print dress.

Whenever I pick up a Torrid order...I go into Lane Bryant to see what's new...they had their clearance on sale for another 40% off. I ended up getting two dresses & a cardigan. Also, I fell for these Torrid leggings & had to take a photo to remember to order them (they didn't have them in my size in store). 

Molly, delicious food, a fun new game, & Val...all the makings of a lovely evening at Angie & Toby's house...poor Sadie, she's not as pushy, so she doesn't make it into pictures as often...but she is a sweetie too & they are all an excellent greeting committee every time we show up. 

Savers Finds

 Dress: Bell Sleeve Fit & Flare Dress in Rust Multi Floral by Gilli (size 3x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Born, thrifted

Earring: Wendy Baker

Necklace: A Luscious Thing

Bracelets: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

This was my first time trying this brand, Gilli...it's pretty cheaply made, but I'd rent dresses by them again if they're cute...just not buy any. The colors in this were pretty, it was a great length, & of course...I loved the sleeves. But...it was nothing special & I couldn't bring myself to wear it anywhere other than work & thrifting. 

When the temperature hovers around 0 for days & days...we're forced to take pictures indoors. Typically, we head to the downtown library...but this round study room at Edgewood Collage is also a good choice...although there seem to be less books on the shelves with each visit. 

The edge of a table ended up in most of our shots...perhaps someday I'll know how to edit that out.

My make-up with this outfit included...NYX eyeliner in Gypsy Blue, Alchemy & Sonic eyeshadow by Urban Decay, Kat von D eyeshadow in Fran & Legend, Nars lipstick in Majella, & Lost on Lombard nail polish from OPI. 

Savers 50% off sale...this is what my cart looked like before I winnowed it down...

My finds...

All the Light Fixtures

 Dress: High Low Circle Sleeve Wrap Dress by Eloquii (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: MAK via ModCloth (size 4x)

Tights: We Love Colors, gifted

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

What a great 70s vibe this dress has with its rust, navy, yellow, & white stripes...I nearly bought it...but I'll wait until the GB resellers get it in my size (I've already seen some show up). The fit & length were great...it's a true wrap & the fabric was light & thin without being see-through. The only negatives for me were...I dislike seeing the inside of the fabric on a high/low dress...& if you look at the hem on the right, the white tag is visible (I'd obviously cut it out if I owned it). 

It was fun to pull out the colors in the dress with accessories & make-up. We Love Colors sent me these new microfiber tights to test...they currently carry them up to 3x, but this is a 4x version & they are lovely...thicker & more opaque than their regular tights. I hope they start carrying them soon. 

I found these brand new Nine West shoes on eBay about a year ago, but this was my first time wearing them. I was determined to find yellow shoes...& got three pairs at once. 

My make-up with this outfit included...NYX Faux Blacks eyeliner in Midnight, Anastasia Beverly Hills eyeshadow in New Wave & Dawn, Urban Decay eyeshadow in He Devil, UD lipstick in Heat, NYX Liquid Suede lipstick in Biker Babe, & Burnt Romance nail polish by CND Vinylux. 

I wore this outfit to work, farmers' market, & to Milwaukee with David to check out our favorite ReStore. We've had excellent luck with light fixtures there & that Saturday happened to be the last day of a 50% off lighting sale...what luck! The best score of the day was a 7 light bathroom fixture for $6! One of the glass shades was missing & I thought...we don't care, we like things that don't match. So, as I was looking around for one I liked...I found the missing matching shade. We've spray painted the silver bits bronze & I'm adding some colors of the bathroom on the raised bits...it will be magnificent when I'm done. $6. The other great find were two matching antique chandeliers with gorgeous gingerbread metal that will be amazing in the dining room & living room. We also went to WasteCap, a deconstruction place with neat things...but we just browsed.