Frank Catalano & Jimmy Chamberlin

 Dress: Farrah Maxi Dress by SWAK (size 3x), gifted

Sandals: Alegria, gift from David

Earring & Necklace: Babil & Bijou, former etsy shop

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

This dress was gifted to me last year by SWAK for Marcy's Size 22+ Style Lookbook. And I finally wore it out, though the photos are from last year. I was immediately drawn to this colorful maxi with the stunning patterns & was sad when I found out they were out of my size...so I took a chance & had them send me a 3x...& it fit beautifully. I loved this dress so much, that I ordered another one in a different colorway...that I have yet to wear. A perfect goddess maxi. 

The above shot is my favorite of this series. 

I don't have any makeup information as I never took photos of it, but it seems I represented all the colors in the dress on my eyes. 

I wore this maxi to The Shitty Barn to see Frank Catalano & Jimmy Chamberlin with Angie. Second in line! We've been having to sit in front off to the side this year because the barn has become more popular & people are getting there earlier...but I beat the rush on this day. 

Tacos & a selfie. I wore a different earring & shoes to the barn...but I prefer last year's choices. Two black chairs...front & center...just as I prefer. Another glorious evening of music...

Size 22+ Style Lookbook

When Marcy asked me to be a part of her size 22+ lookbook...I was beyond flattered...look at all these gorgeous women!!! It is now live & ready for you to check out... 22+ Style. I am SO excited!!! It was incredibly fun to take part in this marvelous project. Marcy put a lot of work into this & I appreciate all she does for the plus size community.

I started my blog because there aren't too many bloggers out there that are my size & I think it is crucial for plus size women to see others that look like them. I think most of us have a distorted image of what we look like & looking at photos of myself has made me appreciate my body & style more. I blog to be more visible & because it brings me joy to be able to celebrate myself. I am inspired by Marcy & all the women involved in this lookbook. 

Photography: David Langford

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

Dress: Cherry Velvet, size 4x (gifted to me for this lookbook)
Necklace: Wendy Baker
 More photos of this dress here 

I am truly, madly, deeply in love with Cherry Velvet dresses. I need to take a trip to Vancouver, BC & give CV designer, Diane, a big hug...her dresses always make me feel so fearless & fetching. I know I've said it before...but I adore this company for making gorgeous dresses in 4x, all the way down to XS...thank you for making us feel #StunningAtAnySize.

Dress: Melissa Masse, size 4x (gifted to me for this lookbook) 
Tights: We Love Colors
More photos of this dress coming soon

Melissa Masse is another designer I adore that makes her clothing available in sizes S-4x. Her fit & flare dresses make me feel flirty & feminine. I am still stunned that Melissa made this dress especially for me. Her choice of fabric was perfect for me, and made me gasp with its deeply vibrant hues & stunning pattern. 

Dress: SWAK, size 3x (gifted to me for this lookbook) 
More photos of this dress coming soon

SWAK makes lovely plus size clothing that is always a joy to wear & they go up to a 6x. I have a dress of theirs in my closet from nearly 10 years ago...still in perfect shape. If you are a tall girl looking for a maxi dress...this should be your go-to place to shop...their maxi's are always a tad too long on me at 5'7", but perfect with heels. Also, I don't know about you...but I feel like a goddess in a maxi dress...this one was particularly delightful with all the colors & patterns that makes my heart go pitter-pat.

Dress: Avenue, size 26/28 (gifted to me for this lookbook)
Teggings: Re/Dress 
More photos of this dress here

I owe so much to Avenue. You may have noticed I'm obsessed with cardigans? Avenue is where it all began. Avenue has been a staple in my wardrobe for more than 2 decades. With Avenue, I know I can count on going into their store & leaving with something I will reach for again & again. And out of the dozens of dresses I've gotten from them over the years...this one is my favorite with its colorfully swirly kaleidoscope pattern & the sexy side slit that allows my teggings to peek through. 

Dress, leggings, & shoes: Torrid (gifted to me for this lookbook)
More photos of this dress coming soon

When Torrid opened, it was the first store I could go into & try on clothing in my size that was a bit edgier than was being offered anywhere else. And I still obsessively check the Torrid website to see what new legging patterns are available. Oh, I love to pattern mix. What?! I only have ~20 pairs...you can never have too many leggings...or of anything really. 

I have so many more pictures of these fabulous outfits to share with you in the next month. Check back here & on Instagram (the_muffin_queens_closet) to see them all.

To see more garments I've worn by these companies, click on their labels in the right hand margin. Thank you, thank you, thank you...Cherry Velvet, Melissa Masse, SWAK, Avenue, & Torrid for dressing me & making me feel like a Muffin Queen for a day...day after day! And thank you Marcy for including me in your lookbook, & making all this possible.

When Doves Cry

 Dress: Isabella Swing Dress in Idelic by SWAK (size 4x)

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Array, thrifted

Necklace, Bracelet, & Earring: Wendy Baker

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

This dress had to be mine...I knew that as soon as I saw it in the SWAK spring lookbook...it's the most fabulous 60s scarf print...& the colors *swoon*. And you know I'm all about swing dresses right now...sassy swing dresses...my new favorite thing. The flow of this dress is amazing...it's a light silky poly/spandex blend that can be worn year round. I got this in my usual SWAK size, 4x, but I could have easily sized down & still had plenty of room...however, I prefer the extra fabric in this case. This dress is nearly perfection...the only thing I would change is to shorten the sleeves because I prefer above the elbow length. 

I received this dress weeks ago & didn't notice there were a few places along the seams that the fabric had escaped the thread until I put it on. I called SWAK & was dreading having to complain...but I shouldn't have worried as they have exceptional customer service. The woman I spoke with told me they were out of my size, then went to check to make sure that was true...she told me my size options in this dress, as well as 2 other prints in this style & let me know she could issue a refund as well. I explained to her that it was all about the print...& she offered to take another $10 off the sale price I paid. The amount was back in my paypal account as soon as we got off the phone. I have been buying clothing from SWAK for years & this is the first time my order has not been perfect. Also, I've tried to sew on slippery fabric like this & it left me in tears. So, thank you SWAK for being awesome & friendly. 

Kate got us takeout from Shük...sweet potato falafel (I spared you the picture since I've posted it here a dozen times already)...& we hung out at her place listening to records. I forgot to take photos, but I *think* the 3 below are what she put on the turntable. 

I saw Purple Rain at the theater with my friend Tonya right before we started high school...I remember slow dancing to Prince during my first freshman dance...& listening to Darling Nikki & Head & so many other "naughty" Prince songs that made me feel grown up. Kate & I pondered which other important childhood musicians were left that we'd be sad to lose...I reluctantly agreed with her (only because it's been over a decade since I've liked anything she's done) that Madonna would be big. So, Madonna...try to make it through this year. Then Kate made me re-watch the Bitch I'm Madonna video that I had managed to erase from my mind. Why?!

The next day, as I was dropping off Kate at home after farmers' market...I noticed some garage sale signs in my favorite neighborhood...unplanned garage sale-ing finds include these gorgeous art nouveau soup spoons that the seller said she used to eat cereal with when she stayed with her grandparents (she was in her 60s)...I love hearing stories about the things I buy. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Deep Blue eyeliner from NYX; Kat von D eyeshadow in Swoon, Analogue, & Vinyl; Korean Candy lipstick from MAC; Blood Orange lipstick from Bite Beauty, & OPI nail polish in Get Cherried Away. 

Zombie Jesus Brunch

 Dress: Jatin Dress by X-two (size 26/28) via Gwynnie Bee Shop

Cardigan: SWAK

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Mossimo, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Babil & Bijou (no longer online)

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this outfit for Easter brunch & on another day to work. Although to be completely honest...I only wore the dress & earring to brunch...when I host a meal, I often don't have time for make-up & feel lucky to have showered & put clothes on. I chose this dress for Easter because...duh, pink. I got this dress free from the GB Shop at the end of December. They've put free things in the Shop several times, but this is the first time I've ordered a free garment because I thought I'd at least wear this as a nightgown if nothing else. I'm not clear if they add free things for fun or by mistake. I rather like the asymmetrical double skirt hemline...but I had to steam it as it wrinkles easily. This dress will be worn to garage sales & the dog park over the summer...then become a nightgown. I don't iron.

Easter Brunch, or as we like to call it...Zombie Jesus Brunch. We managed to squeeze 9 of us around our dining room table. There are always vegetarians, but this year I also had to take into account that Kate was going dairy free (except for eggs) for the month of March. I think I managed delicious food for all. I made the cover dish of the Jerusalem cookbook, Shakshuka, for which I also made my own harissa, since I needed it for my favorite new dish of brunch, Harissa & Maple Roasted Carrots. There was also a new strata, spinach & cheese strata, which is Smitten Kitchen's favorite brunch recipe. Then I made some old favorites...caramelized onion strata (with shiitake, gouda, pork, sage), rosemary garlic roasted potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes, asparagus with hollandaise, bagels & lox, & 2 kinds of waffles made by Kate, Jason, & Daniel...carrot cake & whole wheat. And mimosas, the reason for brunch. Yum!

For dessert we had fruit salad with ginger (Kate), fruit tart (elly & Josh), & cinnamon roll monkey bread (Angie). It was all amazingly delicious. 

After food...lounging in the living room, taking turns in David's massage chair. David cleaned for 4 hours straight downstairs...he's wonderful. And dogs. Kate in an adorable spring outfit.

My make-up with this outfit included...NYX eyeliner in Deep Blue,  Too Faced eyeshadow in Totally Fetch & Sprinkles, Bite Beauty lipstick in Quince, Urban Decay lipstick in Crush, & OPI polish in Give Me Space. 

Purple & Yellow

Dress: Juliet Dress in Eggplant by SWAK (size 4x)

Sandals: Born

Necklace & Earring: Wendy Baker

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this Juliet dress everywhere...to work, out to eat several times, & to various farmers' markets (although I only put make-up on the day we took these photos on our way to work, other days, naked face). It is such an easy comfortable dress to throw on...I also own it in blueberry. I bought this dress a while back, but my own clothes get ignored while I wear GB...so I was happy to finally wear it out. I adore the empire waistline & soft pettable jersey fabric. Also, purple! 

I found all of these marvelous treasures at one garage sale! I was in heaven! I am going to use the vintage quilt as a tablecloth for picnics. 

I collect old photographs of weddings...I like to imagine how they met & what their lives were like. This particular collection started after my paternal grandmother died & I inherited photographs of her wedding to my grandpa, as well as from her first wedding...that husband died in WWII. 

Kate & I skipped a rather rainy (there were at least several drops!) Saturday market to have brunch instead. We tried a new-to-us place, Oliver's. The drinks were spectacular! The girlie had a Thyme Traveler (thyme infused vodka, grapefruit, & salt), while I tried a Rose Nyland Fizz (gin, Thai rose/rhubarb syrup, cava, & lemon). My Eggs Benedict with house made muffins were lovely, but I was disappointed in the not nearly crispy enough rösti potatoes. 

These London Times blouson dresses from GB look fabulous on Kate...

The much more manageable Sunday market. Fun all female band, Prairie Bayou Cajun Band & free sweet corn boil. 

After market, Kate showed me a pretty nature area she likes to walk & we wandered on the trail for a bit. 

My make-up with this dress included...Sugarpill's Buttercupcake eyeshadow, Purple Tang eyeliner by Stila, a mixture of UD Ladyflower & Bite Beauty Burgundy on my lips, & Woodstock nail polish from Colors by Llarowe. 

I'm taking part in Leah's Outfit August (since this is the first outfit I've worn this month out of my own closet, this is my first time). Check out her fabulous blog to see her outfit's & links to the other lovely ladies taking part. On Instagram, look for #outfitaugust2015 for more photos. 

Food & Wine

 Dress: Loretta Lace Dress in Burgundy by SWAK (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month for $10 & help me earn an extra garment for a month)

Top: Love Your Peaches

Tights: Catherines

Boots: Dr. Martens

Necklace: former etsy seller

Earring: etXarte

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me (Canon Rebel & iPhone)

I wore this lace outfit to have a light dinner & wine/cheese tasting with the girlie. It was a blustery day. The color of this dress was gorgeous...& I adore pairing Doc Martens with dresses, especially lace or velvet. The lace was soft to the touch, but this dress was not an especially flattering cut & felt much more cheaply made than similar dresses from Kiyonna or even other lace dresses from SWAK. 

Yum, a light dinner at Heritage Tavern! Kate & I shared their superb deviled eggs, roasted brussels sprouts, and beautiful (as well as tasty) leek & spinach soup.

Then...wine & cheese pairings at Square Wine with a local cheese maker. 

Isn't burgundy rich & scrumptious? 

Kimono Cardigan

 Dress: Juliet Dress in Blue by SWAK (size 4x)

Cardigan: Rila Kimono Cardigan by BB Dakota (size 3x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month for $10 & help me earn an extra garment for a month)

Socks: Sock Dreams

Shoes: Dansko

Necklace & Earring: Babil & Bijou

Photography: Super Boo & Me (Canon Rebel & iPhone)

I wore this outfit to work. I bought this Juliet dress back in the spring because I loved the color & how comfy & flowy it is. The kimono top from GB was the most lovely breezy fabric for summer, however, I felt a bit silly wearing it on this chilly fall day. I liked the idea of a kimono cardigan, but this was just too boxy for me & I didn't understand why the back panel was black lace...? 

The colors were pretty. 

Have I mentioned I adore SOCKS?!