Knowing that there are quite a few of you who have emailed others and me about blogging, I thought what better place to talk shop than at FFFWeek?

More than just pretty clothes and the latest trends, Full Figured Fashion Week is THE event to network AND learn!  Asides from the highly anticipated Legal Panel, The Personal Style Workshop, and the Small Business Network Event, there is an event especially for YOU, the plus size blogger, designer, or model.  Yes, you should protect your brand AND Network, but you have to have a platform right?  Right!

So what we’ve done is created a panel to talk about the basics of blogging and social media! I have shared a few tips here and there on my personal site, MarieDenee.com, but now I get to bring them to life with YOU!  Join me as I moderate a panel of three distinctive voices in the community, all who serve different purposes, have different voices, and offer varied perspectives within the community!

Building your brand through Social Media: Blogging 101

Panelists:

• The Magazine: Madeline Figueroa-Jones- Plus Model Magazine
• The Blogger: Alissa from Stylish Curves
• The Designer: Marina Zelner of Queen Grace
• Why do you want to blog?
• What is the purpose of Blogging, using Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr for your brand
• How to leverage the tools to give your brand a voice
• Presentation is Everything
• Taking your brand to the next level

The Topics:

Sounds pretty cool right?

I am really excited to talk shop with you and our panelists, so if you know you are going (or know someone who does) whether you are a designer, blogger, or model, you should be in New York for Full Figured Fashion Week, BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW, as they WILL sell out!Popular Posts:

• The Fashion Front for Full Figured Fashion Week
• Introducing The 2012 Face of FFFWeek: Venessa DeLaRosa
• Ready, Set Run! Tickets are live and up for Full Figured Fashion Week NY!
• Full Figured Fashion Week’s Finale and My Favorites
• And the 2012 FFFWeek Plus Industry Award goes to…

You may enjoy this as well:

1. Full Figured Fashion Week Presents The State of the Curvy Community Panel Discussion
2. Full Figured Fashion Week(end)’s Own Social Media Powerhouse
3. Are you ready? Full Figured Fashion Week is around the corner!

The Curvy Fashionista!

Last Friday, while I was traveling back from Miami from an amazing trip and event with Ashley Stewart, I received the most amazing news!

The Curvy Fashionista has just been awarded the:

 Full Figured Fashion Week Industry Award for Best Plus Fashion Blog of the Year!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Excited? You Betcha!

Humbled? BEYOND!!!

Geeked? Words cannot even express how grateful I am for this honor!

And while I would love to go on and on about how excited I am, it would be remiss of me to not congratulate the additional awards winners that have already been announced:

Plus Designer of the Year

Jibri

Plus Stylist of the Year

Spry Lee Scott

Plus Fashion Blog of the Year

The Curvy Fashionista

Plus Lifestyle Magazine of the Year

Pose Magazine

Plus Model of the Year

Ashley Graham

Plus Agency of the Year

Dorothy Combs Models

Plus Boutique of the Year

Curvaceous Boutique

Plus Retailer of the Year

Ashley Stewart

Plus Fashion Photog of the Year

Stanley Debas

Plus Industry Leader of the Year

DeVoe Signature Events

Don’t see some of your favorites?  Make sure you check the 2011 FFFWeek and 2010 FFFWeek Award Winners here!  They may have already been recognized!

How cool is this?

Make sure you check out FFFWeek.com for the 411 on this Summer’s Must attend plus size fashion event!

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• It’s Here: H&M Plus Sizes in Select Stores and I tried it on…
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• Spring into Plus Size Trends: Peplum
• Tara Lynn Dubbed “The Body” on the Cover of Elle France
• A Plus Size Spring: Jibri Spring 2012

You may enjoy this as well:

1. Full Figured Fashion Week Honors Trailblazers within the Plus Size Industry
2. Introducing The 2012 Face of FFFWeek: Venessa DeLaRosa
3. The March PLUS Model Magazine Issue is Live

You’ve heard the buzz!  Read about the Face of FFFWeek™, noticed a few of your favorite designers are going to be there, and heard about last year’s all-white cruise party.   Well Guess What?

Tickets are now available and the schedule for Full Figured Fashion Week has been updated with all the fine details! The WHO. The What. The Where and most importantly, THE HOW!

Last week, I shared with you the addition of my new Events Calendar- and if you noticed, Full Figured Fashion Week is on there!  BUT NOW, the schedule and the links to get your tickets!  If you know anything about the years’ events past, you’ll be wise to get your tickets YESTERDAY!  The events sell out fast, the hotel room blocks fill up quickly (one has already booked!), so if you snooze- then most definitely you will miss out!  I am sooo not lying!

What are you waiting for?

You had better move fast!  Head over to FFFWeek.com to get your tickets NOW! Make sure that you are also following FFFWeek on Twitter and FFFWeek on Facebook for the latest up-to-the-second news!

Popular Posts:

• The Fashion Front for Full Figured Fashion Week
• Introducing The 2012 Face of FFFWeek: Venessa DeLaRosa
• Full Figured Fashion Week’s Finale and My Favorites
• And the 2012 FFFWeek Plus Industry Award goes to…
• Full Figured Fashion Week™ 2012 is Coming! Let the Registration Begin!

You may enjoy this as well:

1. Full Figured Fashion Week Designer Submissions
2. LA are you ready for FULL FIGURED FASHION WEEK(END)
3. Full Figured Fashion Week opens its’ call for plus size fashion bloggers

With Full Figured Fashion Week on the horizon, this means it is time for a new face, spokesperson, model, woman who exemplifies grace, leadership, and one who inspires others to chase their dreams. Last year, FFFWeek™ introduced us to Nina Taylor and Rosie Mercado the year before! For 2012, there is a new Face of Full Figured Fashion Week!

Drumroll Please….

Please welcome Venessa Delarosa, the new Face of Full Figured Fashion Week!

 “We are delighted to add Venessa De La Rosa to the list of beautiful and talented women who have won our FACE of FFFWeek Cover Model Search. Venessa’s passion for the plus size community and her diligence in pursuing her dreams makes her a perfect spokesmodel for our event and we look forward to working with her,” said Gwendolyn DeVoe, Creator and Executive Producer of Full Figured Fashion Week™.

What does Venessa receive?

Venessa receives a round trip ticket to Full Figured Fashion Week™ in NYC, an opportunity to host the red carpet VIP reception and her face is placed on marketing and media material for the event. She is literally the “FACE” of FFFWeek!

Chosen by a panel of plus size industry leaders and community champions, the panelists included: Queen Grace Designer, Marina Zelner; Plus Size Model and Spokesperson,  Tiffany Braxton-Belvin; Plus Model Magazine Editor in Chief,  Madeline Figueroa-Jones; and Plus Size Stylist  Steffany Bready-Edwards. This panel had the daunting task of sifting through the 60+ applications to bring us the beautiful face that is Venessa Delarosa!

Who is Venessa?

While I could post her bio here, know that she is no stranger to the modeling or acting scene, Venessa has an impressive resume in the arts and in community service. And, AND she was in the military! HA! You can learn more about the new Face of FFFWeek by visiting here.

Pretty cool Huh? Venessa I cannot wait to meet you in New York!

Popular Posts:

• The Fashion Front for Full Figured Fashion Week
• Ready, Set Run! Tickets are live and up for Full Figured Fashion Week NY!
• Full Figured Fashion Week’s Finale and My Favorites
• And the 2012 FFFWeek Plus Industry Award goes to…
• Full Figured Fashion Week™ 2012 is Coming! Let the Registration Begin!

You may enjoy this as well:

1. Be the FACE of debuting plus size line Evie Foster for FFFWeek
2. Your chance to Be the Face of Full Figured Fashion Week
3. FFFWeek™ Giveaway: Opening Night Curves at Sea All White Affair!

The stage was set, the editors, bloggers, models, execs, and lovers of fashion flocked to the Marriot Marquis (who has the strangest elevators!) to gaze their eyes upon designs for the plus size woman.

Anticipation, excitement, and women decked out to the nines in their grandest looks- it was a fashion show just looking over the crowd!

But back to the runway…

Usually I would go through and highlight each designer, but with some strong highlights and me wanting to get my favorites out to you, I have rounded out some of my favorite looks from Full Figured Fashion Week™.  Funnily enough, some of the looks I was eh about, people around were elating “I can wear that to work! That is my new work outfit!” and it made me smile on the inside.

On the runway, there were vast amounts of diversity- from age, race, AND size (with the size 20’s and 22’s receiving enormous applause!). In addition to these physical attributes, there was a vast representation of lifestyle choices, from work to play, formal to casual workout- while not the norm you would see in fashion week- the range of style and fashion served an amazing purpose in showing plus size women their  newfound options.

While you would not rock every look on the runway, you have your style, your likes, and your own perspective and with that, I wanted to share with you MY favorite looks from Full Figured Fashion Week™!

You Ready?

There were so many more looks and designers that were workable, but these were my most memorable looks that I loved! To view the entire show and the looks, make sure you visit AlecTurner.com- whose photos were used here!

So what do you think of my favorites?

Did anything catch your eye?

To learn more about the designers featured, please visit the Designer Section on FFFWeek.com!

Popular Posts:

• It’s Here: H&M Plus Sizes in Select Stores and I tried it on…
• Spring into the Plus Size Trends Flowers and Birds
• Spring Ahead with Plus Size Brand eShakti
• A Plus Sized Valentine: 19 Lingerie Picks to spice things up
• Adele Slays in her Vogue Cover and Feature

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1. Why Full Figured Fashion Week™ Matters
2. Full Figured Fashion Week NYC 2010 Finale: Susan Moses
3. Full Figured Fashion Week OOTD: Media Reception

The Fashionistas were OUT in STYLE!

Now, out of fear of rocking the same thing as someone else, I wanted something a little bit different and went on a hunt. What I really wanted to wear was an amazing short suit- but trying to find the style eluded me! (SAD FACE) So I opted for something close enough!

I ventured outside of traditional plus size stores, and shopped at a retailer who carries up to an 18! I headed over to Spiegel and was pleasantly surprised when I fashioned a Ponte Knit Boyfriend Jacket and slim leg pants- rocking an all white suit! Paired with my ASOS Bodysuit with mesh detail, I felt like I was super chic!

I accessorized in gold-ish bronze hues with earrings by K Renee, a clutch by ASOS, and heels I scored from ROSS a few years back!

One of the things I really liked about the White Cruise is the confidence I saw! White short, dresses, pants, suits, in strapless, one-shoulder, sheer play- you name it, these women were all over it!

What do you think? Did my all-white look score?

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• It’s Here: H&M Plus Sizes in Select Stores and I tried it on…
• Spring into the Plus Size Trends Flowers and Birds
• I Gotta have it: ASOS Curve Tank Dress
• A Plus Sized Valentine: 19 Lingerie Picks to spice things up
• Adele Slays in her Vogue Cover and Feature

You may enjoy this as well:

1. All Curves Aboard for FFFWeek’s ™ Opening Night Sunset Cruise
2. FFFWeek™ Giveaway: Opening Night Curves at Sea All White Affair!
3. The Winner of the FFFWeek™ Opening Night Tickets is…

This is where Full Figured Fashion Week™ comes in.

In its third annual fashion week in New York (with a forth event held last year in Los Angeles), Full Figured Fashion Week™ (FFFWeek) served as a plus size fashion mecca to cater to the fashionably underserved in week’s worth of events tending to the lifestyle of the plus size woman. And with each year, FFFWeek ™ hosts and unapologetic platform to those who confidently love their curves and encourages those who never knew how beautiful they are and can be- to love themselves.

See, FFFWeek™ is more than fashion.

It is NOT a capitalistic way to make money off the curves of women who are starved for fashion. (we see you who see us as $$$)

FFFWeek™ IS a movement of epic proportions orchestrated by Gwen DeVoe- a woman who passionately CARES about the community and who handles her BUSINESS. Passion, community, and a drive to elevate the plus size community: the fuel that set things off for Gwen DeVoe’s company, FFFWeek™ by DSEvents.

Throughout the years of participating in FFFWeek™ I am constantly humbled and overjoyed with the women who smile, tear up, speak out and applaud the fashions- being a fashion blogger and all- but for me, FFFWeek™ makes me proud because of:

• The joy of confidence these women leave with
• The sigh of relief when they find fashions that work for their lifestyle
• The elation when they look at the runway and see someone who “looks like them”
• The fierceness in their eyes as they sashay onto the red carpet or pose for the event photographer
• The forum to challenge retailers and community leaders to do better, be better, live better

It’s the moment of realizing that the months precluding Full Figured Fashion Week™ with preparations, conference calls, emails, and sheer exhaustion pay off- just hearing a woman say and BELIEVE “I am beautiful.”

See, FFFWeek™ is more than Fashion.

FFFWeek™ is a movement to empower, celebrate, own, challenge, and inspire the plus size woman and her community to step up, take back, and redefine plus size fashion- from the inside out! This is why I participate and support.

So, I ask you this:

If you did go, what are your greatest takeaway moments from this event?

OR

If you missed out on FFFWeek, what held you back from attending?

**Stay tuned for all the event recaps!!! this week!**

 Popular Posts:

• It’s Here: H&M Plus Sizes in Select Stores and I tried it on…
• Spring into the Plus Size Trends Flowers and Birds
• A Plus Sized Valentine: 19 Lingerie Picks to spice things up
• Adele Slays in her Vogue Cover and Feature
• Media Planet’s USA Today Insert “Curvy Evolution” Hits Stands Today

You may enjoy this as well:

1. Full Figured Fashion Week- Look of the Day: Simply Be UK
2. Grab your bags- Full Figured Fashion Week is on!
3. Full Figured Fashion Week Designer Submissions