I have longed wanted to go the Essence Music Festival.  Music, Fashion, Music, Fashion,  AND GREAT food… Sigh! Did I mention Music and Fashion? So much so, I even gave you a little guide to the 2011 plus size fashion events for the Essence Music Festival!

And if you are like me and wanting to attend this amazingly fun and fashion filled event, well State Farm THE Giveaway for YOU!

Playing up the fashion, State Farm and Essence Magazine have created this really cool contest:

The “Celebrate Your Unique Style Contest”

For starters, this is a really cool contest!  Imagine this:

• An all expense trip to New Orleans for you and two of your closest friends to the 2012 Essence Music Festival presented by Coca Cola
• A $500 Makeover
• Your picture, makeover, and reveal on the Essence.com and Essence Music Festival channels
• FLOOR Seats to all THREE nights of the concert

Um, can we say Amazing?

The contest is a celebration of YOUR unique style and an extension of the Essence Music Festival!  Are you familiar with this annual music festival where all descend upon New Orleans to celebrate contemporary African American music and culture?

Well, this year, July 6-8 in New Orleans, the Superdome transforms to a MUST ATTEND weekend where music, fashion, and food is celebrated in sooo many different ways!

Ready to enter?  Do you want to go?

To enter into the “Celebrate Your Unique Style Contest” contest, head on over the Essence’s landing page for the Celebrate Your Unique Style and submit your photo! You have UNTIL June 7^th to enter!

Enter NOW!

Make sure you also visit State Farm on Facebook and State Farm on Twitter- the fabulous sponsors of this amazing contest!

*This post is sponsored by State Farm and I was compensated to write but all excitement and opinions are my own*

Popular Posts:

• It’s Here: H&M Plus Sizes in Select Stores and I tried it on…
• Spring into the Plus Size Trends: Colored Denim
• 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. The 2011 Essence Music Festival: Curvy Girl’s Guide with Chenese Lewis
2. Amber Riley for Essence as Chaka Khan and more…
3. Magic at the Essence Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon

I am one of the panelists too! Yes… Atlanta here I come! Here is what the weekend breakdown looks like:

BUT WAIT, there is more!!!!!!!

In celebration of bloggers of color, SBOC has announced their 1st Annual SBOC Awards and I am NOMINATED for Best Plus Size Blog!

This means, I NEED YOUR VOTES LADIES!

Head on over to Style Blogger of Color Awards and cast your vote for your faves from each category (or not) and then when you get to Plus Size Blog, give your girl a nod! J You can vote each day too!

You can vote here, and while you are there, make sure you check out the event- who just landed Google as their sponsor! This weekend is going to be HAUTE! Will you be there? I will!

Make sure you follow Style Bloggers of Color on Twitter & Pinterest to stay up on the latest news!!!

VOTE VOTE VOTE!

Popular Posts:

• It’s Here: H&M Plus Sizes in Select Stores and I tried it on…
• Spring into the Plus Size Trends: Colored Denim
• 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. Spring into the Plus Size Trends: Colored Denim
2. A Plus Size Spring: Jibri Spring 2012
3. A Night at the Academy Awards: What the Plus Size Nominees Wore

Have you heard of the latest Dove Campaign?

Since 1957, Real women have been at the heart of the Dove® brand, and they have used everyday women in their advertising; celebrating real women of all shapes, sizes, and colors!  For their latest endeavor, Dove has launched its “Show Us Your Skin” campaign, giving all women the opportunity to be in a Dove ad!

Really?  Yes, Really!

While this campaign is currently taking place on the Dove Facebook page, if you are in Southern California on May 10th, head to the Del Amo Fashion Center to participate in a mini-photo shoot as part of Dove’s “Show Us Your Skin” campaign during their Mom’s Nite Out event on from 6-8pm!

To encourage women to join the campaign, Dove® has collaborated with Simon Malls where attendees visit the Dove booth to get their photo taken by a professional photographer.  That photo will be uploaded on-site to the Dove gallery on Dove.com and eventually featured on the billboard in Times Square.  In addition to this, you get to take home product samples to keep your skin soft and smooth!

Can’t make it to the Del Amo location, but you want to participate?

Getting involved is easy!  Jump over to the Dove® Facebook tab to submit* a photo showing off your fabulous skin.  Every woman who submits a photo will appear in a Dove ad, INCLUDING a billboard in the famous Times Square and online digital ads!  Woot!

And so that you don’t miss your “moment of fame”, Dove will email you your photo- the snapshot of YOU on the Times Square billboard! The “Show Us Your Skin” campaign celebrates the beautifully soft and smooth skin women get from Dove Body Washes and Beauty Bars.

Do you agree that all women should have the confidence to show off their beautiful skin?

Yes???!!!???

Then head on over to Dove’s Facebook Page to submit your photo! You can also do so on Dove.com at their Show Us Your Skin site!

*Photos must meet all requirements outlined in program rules

Will I see you at the Del Amo Fashion Center or on the Times Square Billboard??

Popular Posts:

• Holiday Wish List- 30+ Beauty Gift Sets
• Beauty Review:RECOVER PM Night Cream by Cellure!
• Beauty and the Tech Geek: L’Oréal Paris introduces The MatchMaker™ by True Match
• Dove Clear Tone to the Rescue!
• Sally Hansen- Because I Refuse to Wax

You may enjoy this as well:

1. Dove Clear Tone to the Rescue!
2. Spring Forward with Dove Cream Oil Shea Butter
3. The Quest for the Perfect Skincare

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the jampacked days of Lucky Magazine’s first west coast, third ever, Fashion and Beauty Blogger Conference= FABB.  I had missed the last two events in New York, given my arrival time for NYFW, but when I heard through the grapevine the LA conference, I squealed a little bit!

If you don’t know, I live in Southern California and a lot of the real cool events happen in NY or Atlanta! So… the moment I could sign up for the waiting list, the tickets, and the parties, I did not walk , I ran over to sign up!

After registration, I was invited to their Sunday Welcome brunch put on by the fabulous people of Reward Style!  Given that this was a fashion blogger brunch, I knew that people were going to be fitted, however I also knew this was California, so there was going to def be an air of ease! So, what did I wear?

Jibri.

Outfit 1: I pulled out this white dress that I had for a few years, wanting to be more ladylike and playful!  Donned with asymmetric peplum detail, I felt this was perfect, but I had to layer on my accessories!

Slip: Bali | Earrings: Heart’s Desire Custom | Bracelets: Ashley Stewart | Shoes: Sam Edelman | Large stone ring: Ideeli via Noir | Black Stone Ring: H&M

Then! We had a shopping trip courtesy of the new site, Have to Have in which we sashayed our little bloggers hearts down Downtown Abbey! With a quick shoe swap, I was ready!  But then…

Outfit 2: We had a Cocktail Party!  That meant outfit change!  I wanted to definitely be more laidback, and I could have easily wore what I wore to the cocktail to the brunch, but hey… it’s LA right?

Jacket: Clements Ribeiro for Evans |Tank: Ashley Stewart | Jeans: NYDJ Wide Leg Jeans | Heels: Red Jessica Simpson Pumps

I am looking to see if someone caught an outfit of mines from the conference itself, cause all the while I was taking pictures of the event, I realized in my photos, I have no pictures of my ladylike dress!  On the hunt I go!

But what do you think? Do you like my looks?

Popular Posts:

• What I Wore: City Stepping In Polka Dots
• FIRST LOOK Clements Ribeiro for Evans Collection: SWAN
• OOTD: All Dressed Up and Nowhere to go
• Gotta Have It: Swan by Clements Ribeiro Red ‘Joan’ Dress with Sequin
• OOTD: Day One #MAGICLV at the Teen Vogue Blogger Lounge

You may enjoy this as well:

1. Full Figured Fashion Week™ OOTD: Kmart Bloggers Brunch
2. My Lane Bryant Photoshoot
3. OOTD: What I wore to FFFWeek(end) Los Angeles

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!

 Popular Posts:

• It’s Here: H&M Plus Sizes in Select Stores and I tried it on…
• Spring into the Plus Size Trends: Colored Denim
• 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

BUT!  If you are in the Miami area, please join me for Ashley Stewart’s Girl’s Night Out at the Southland Mall on Thursday, April 19^th to celebrate its grand opening!

Sure to be an evening of fun, come down to the Southland Mall for an evening of music, shopping, and deals! No seriously!

Ashley Stewart’s bringing in a DJ, I’ll be there to help you shop till you drop, there is going to be a Model Search to be in Ashley Stewart ADS, Prizes to be won and sooo much more!

Here are the details:

Girl’s Night Out

Make sure you follow Ashley Stewart on Facebook and via Twitter to stay up on the latest plus size fashion news from them!

Will I see you there?

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. San Francisco Designer Chan.nel Karama debuts for Full Figured Fashion Week Opening Night
2. Ashley Falcon- Up Close and Personal with Marie Claire’s columnist
3. Marie Claire adds Plus Size Column for Fashion