People who know me know that I like rules. Well, sort of. I like rules when there needs to be order, or when there are changes, and I like to know what they are so I can break them. But seriously, rules make doing things easy, because all you have to is know what they are, and do them. Not much other thinking involved. Yay!

Fashion is full of rules. Unfortunately, some of them are stupid. For example, no white after labor day. Don't wear horizontal stripes, etc. The thing about fashion is that one set of rules for a million types of bodies just doesn't make any sense.

But shopping is HARD. It's work! Even if you have a body designers tend to manufacture clothes for, not all clothes are meant for all people. We all have something that's a little bit different. Maybe we're tall, maybe short, wide hips, small bust, etc. etc. etc. So because of this work and all the options that are available to us, having rules can make shopping a whole lot easier.

But if those general fashion rules don't work, as I mentioned before, then what do we do? We make our OWN rules. Rules that we find work best for us. If we take note of things while we try them on - things we like, things we don't like - we can remember these as we shop in the future, and save ourselves some frustration and time. Allow me to share a few of mine with you.

1. No slinky material.
I don't really know what this material is called, but it stretches a lot, but also goes back to its shape, so it's very clingy. This works great on some shapes, but on me, I just can't stand it. It hugs a lot of curves I don't prefer to accentuate. So whenever I see an article of clothing with this material, I pass immediately.

2. A line, skater, and fit and flare are a go.
My body looks amazing in those more classic cuts - the A-line skirt, the very popular and in skater skirt or dress, and "fit and flare." All of these really accent a higher, natural waste line, hit the hips, and flow out from there. This cut totally accentuates the curves that I love. As long as the clothing isn't that slinky material, and it's the right size, it's almost guaranteed that I'm going to be happy with it. Similarly, there are certain cuts that I don't really like on my body. Even though I wear a larger size, I have a smaller frame than the typical woman who wears the same size. So things like tunics don't look so great on me. They're kind of bulky and are kind of like pretty potato sacks on me. Those shirts that have the elastic at the hip? Same story; very boxy on me since my waist line is lost. Pencil skirts? Oh, as much as I love these, I don't generally like how they look on me. But more about that below...

3. No skulls or hearts
Not much of an explanation needed. I just don't do these.

4. Try it on!!!
Now, I have started doing more online shopping, so this isn't always possible, but if I'm in a brick and mortar store, I go ahead and try something on, even if I'm not sure it's going to work. Clothes are made in a million different ways, and sometimes will fit better or worse than expected. Therefore I don't have to worry about something not fitting me. Let me say that again in a different way - If something doesn't fit you the way you like, it's the garment, not your body. Clothes are mass produced, and in no way are going to fit you 100% of the time. If something doesn't work, oh well! Move on to the next thing. But at least if you tried, you know. Who knows, maybe that pencil skirt I love on the hanger will look great on me!

5. Know your brands
At Target, Xhilaration is a juniors brand, and Merona is a women's brand. They are in the same area of clothes though, so unless you don't know that, you figure they're going to fit about the same. BUT THEY DON'T! Juniors clothes generally don't have a lot of room for curves, and run smaller for not-quite-yet-developed bodies. Womens clothes have more room for curves, knowing that the more mature female's body is going to have a little more shape. So generally, I avoid the Xhilaration brand. I also know that the Worthington brand at JCPenny just doesn't quite fit my broader shoulders/chest area. Old Navy clothes tend to run larger. These are just a few examples, but knowing what brands fit you is a HUGE help. If you see something you really like in one of those brands that generally doesn't work, just go back to rule number 4!

6. Go for those horizontal stripes!
Something I've noticed about horizontal stripes, especially if they're smaller, is that they totally emphasize curves in a wonderful way. I have a really cute peplum top with horizontal stripes. Also an A-line dress with horizontal stripes. Love both of them.

Check it - thin horizontal stripes on an A-line dress
without skulls or hearts made with non-slinky material!
I'm not familiar with the brand, so I think I'll try it on!

These are some of the things I think about when shopping. The only way I learned them, though, was by trial and error; taking a mental note anytime I didn't quite like something, or when something was totally awesome. The cool thing is, since I've started following these rules (and really, they're more of guidelines), I've had more and more times in the dressing room when I've turned something away because I didn't like theway it fit, not because it didn't fit. Or because I've found too many things that worked really well, and I couldn't spend that much money! In the past, there were some very frustrating and disappointing moments, but knowing these things have made shopping a much more enjoyable activity in the long run.

So, what are some of your rules? What sort of things work for you?

Vintage!!

When I was about 12, my elderly grandmother gave me one of her blouses for Christmas, and it was one of those, "Awww, you really shouldn't have!" moments.

When she passed away, she had a closet of decades-old clothes I couldn't have cared less about.

Boy do I regret that now!


I think my grandmother had this dress.
(link)

My most recent fashion love is vintage clothing. I get my physique from that grandmother's side of the family, so I'm sure I could've found some real vintage gems to pull out of her collection. Vintage inspired is really fun too, but it's not quite the same. What I really love is seeing how other people have been able to take those vintage pieces and make some really cute outfits out of them. For example, this:


Now, I probably wouldn't put that big belt on it, and maybe not quite so a wild top, but the idea is fascinating.
(link)

Another thing I looove about vintage clothes is that they really knew how to fit women with curves. Higher waistlines and A-line skirts were abundant, and the feminine figure was really accented in the best possible ways.

On my most recent shopping trip (with some GREAT Black Friday deals), I was able to find a few fun vintage-inspired finds for pretty cheap! Check them out!


This total sexy-librarian Chiffon Tie Front Blouse was only $6 at Maurice's! I paired it with a military-inspired blazer (also from Maurice's, $10), Forever 21's skater skirt ($11), and a beautiful pair of tights from Lane Bryant ($8). Add a cute pair of heels and some pearls and BAM! A wonderful outfit for the workplace that could easily be taken out on the town by trading the skirt for a pair of dark skinnies.

I also found this dress at JCPenny for $30. Not much is needed to complete this retro look. I added a chunky gold necklace and red kitten heels and was ready to go.


As for certified vintage shopping, it's a bit harder for a bigger girl as most well-kept items are pretty slim. But from the little bit of concerted effort I've made so far, it seems like thrift stores are a good place to start. Other bloggers have said there's a ton of stuff on ebay too. Like I said, I'm kicking myself for not having more interest in my grandmother's clothes. But there's a whole world of hand-me-downs out there, and I've never backed down from a challenge, so I'm super excited to see what I can find!

Inaugural Post!

Hello! Thanks for coming over and seeing my new blog! I have been devoting a lot time recently focusing on fashion, positive body image, and how I can fuse the two together. While doing this, I have come across many wonderful blogs and websites that have helped me in my journey, so I wanted to do the same and hopefully help others. And, it's also a place where I can show off new outfits, thoughts, and anything else I have to say.

A little bit about myself: I am currently 27 years old. I'm single and haven't experienced too many serious, long-term relationships. I work a full-time job that I like pretty well. I don't make a ton of money though, and therefore am restricted in what I can buy. Also, I don't have a credit card.

Fashion Facts: For me, fashion is a way I can express myself, feel confident, and show to the world that I am not afraid to stand out, even with this non-media-approved body. I am 5'1" tall. I would consider myself an apple shape, with most of my weight spread out over my whole body, and a little more in the mid-section. I usually wear anywhere from an XL in women's sizes to a 2x in plus sizes, or 18-20.

Food Facts: I am what most people would call a yo-yo dieter. I change my habits for a while, lose weight, then get tired of being disciplined, maintain the wait for a while, then slowly gain it back, then start the whole cycle over again. I'm currently about 6 weeks into the weight-loss stage. My weight loss strategy is all about portion control. I do not limit what types of food I eat, just the amount of it. I am very honest about weight loss and do not attempt to live up to unrealistic expectations. And this is what works for me. Because I LOVE food! And not getting to taste the foods I love (ahem, carbs) is just too sad for me.

Fitness Facts: I LOVE ZUMBA. That is all.

Again, I thank you for checking out what I have to say. I hope this is helpful for others, as other blogs have been helpful to me. If you ever have anything to chime in about, simply comment below! Keep it positive and constructive, however, as I do not wish this to become a troll-ridden vehicle for fat-shaming. That being said, I look forward to writing more and sharing my journey with you!