Getting ready for MAGICLV- Tips for Survival

Marie Denee — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:30:33 +0000

So, this spring I am not attending NYFW, but rather I am headed to Las Vegas to attend another mega fashion event: MAGIC! Last August, I attended my very first MAGIC Tradeshow and let me tell you I had a blast, but I wasn’t ready! I thought I was- but no.

Each season over 5,000 brands descend to Las Vegas for MAGIC, a fashion tradeshow uniting the largest and most influential network of buyers, brands, media and decision makers via innovative initiatives, exclusive access to cutting-edge information and conveniently merchandised show areas that I am a fan of: WWDMAGIC, FN PLATFORM, POOLTRADESHOW, PROJECT and SOURCING at MAGIC.

Seriously, it is amazing and overwhelming all at the same time, but if you are not prepared, MAGIC can kick your tail! So, as I get ready to head out to MAGIC, I through I would share with you some tips and tricks to make it through MAGIC Successfully!

Tips to Make it Through MAGIC Fashionably and Sanely

·Wear shoes MADE for walking.Please note, not all flats are made for walking. I paid the price last season as I thought I could sashay through the 1,000,000 square footage convention halls… Um, my feet had me paying the price through the rest of my trip.
·Bring your chargers.As you are snapping photos, tweeting, updating your blog, these things can drain your battery quite fast and you will have to have moments where you can recharge and relax your feet. Thank God, for the Blogger Lounges I was a part of last season, or my poor overworked phone would have died ten thousand deaths!
·Bring a great carryall bag.Trying to carry your purse, iPad, Tablet, notebooks, and merchandise from and about all the brands you have can get quite overwhelming if you are not ready. Please note, your bag should be made for carrying vast amounts of weight and hopefully has the ability to stay organized. I was so grateful for my MZ Wallace bag- this saved my hands and arms!
·Get your Coffee fix EARLY.If you think leaving your hotel room with 15 mins to spare to get in and out at the coffee spot will work? You my dear, are so WRONG! These lines were everywhere! My poor caffeine addicted self was in a flurry trying to think I could speed through and just grab a cup of joe. Please, plan accordingly… Give yourself at least 30 mins just for coffee.
·Snack Attack.I ran myself to the floor being so overwhelmed without snacking or eating well throughout my time at MAGIC, please do not do the same mistake as I! Bring little energy bars, snacks, or whatever will give you energy throughout the day! Before you know it, it is 6pm and you realized you only had a slice of pizza all day. There are many places to get your eat on and I highly advise you take full advantage!

Q. Have you been to MAGIC?What tips would you have for those attending? Did I forget anything? If you are on Twitter, make sure you follow @WWWDMAGIC and the hashtag: #MAGICLV for the latest news and join the convo!

Keep it Curvy.Confident.Chic.

A Plus Sized Valentine’s: Date Night Dress Picks

Marie Denee — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:30:51 +0000

I would be remiss not to acknowledge that Valentine is a week and some change away! As the day approaches, whether you have plans with the beau, the girls, or yourself (YES, have you taken yourself out before?), I thought I would round up some fun Date Night Picks!

Valentines, interestingly enough has a love hate relationship with a more than a few people and while some may rumble over the commercialized aspect of this, to others, Valentine’s Day is REAL. I have only had a Valentine once in my life… In fact as I write this, I am single and sooo ready to mingle, but that does not take away from the fact that I love this day- but I am also a big sappy, hopeless romantic, and secretly wish for flowers to be delivered to me… but that is another story…

Don’t worry, while I am sharing Date Night Picks, later in the week, I will share some fun lingerie picks for the grown and sexy… Hey, we do have a few options! In the meantime, take a peek at some of my favorites and if you already have your date night outfit, I want to know! Share in the comments!

A Plus Size Valentine’s: Date Night Dress Picks

Kiyonna Cosmo Dress

Simply Be Red Embellished Dress

CarmaKoma Alma Dress

Prairie New York Sequined Shift Dress

Monf C Blanca Dress

ASOS CURVE Exclusive Swing Dress in Crepe

Love Ady Colorblocked Dress

ASOS CURVE Skater Dress In Spot Lace

Prairie New York Plus Size Jewel Sleeve Dress

Strapless Party Dress

Monif C Marilyn Two Tone Dress

Igigi Leigh Lace Dress in Red

ASOS CURVE Shift Dress With Cutout Detail

Simply Be Bespoke Colorblocked Dress

Lace One Shoulder Dress

Are you a dress girl? What do you think of these dresses? Fancy, cocktail, dinner, or party- there is a dress to be had for your special night with your lover, your girls, or for treating yourself out (or not)!

Q. If you are celebrating Valentine’s Day, what are you wearing?

Poised, Polished, Professional, and Plus Size: The Plus Size Wear to Work Essentials

Marie Denee — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:30:12 +0000

Last week, I shared with you tips for plus size professional work wear, kind of like an overview of what to wear to work. As promised and much requested, today we will go over what items are your essentials for work, how to wear them, and tips when rounding out your work wear wardrobe!

Before I delve into this, understand that different industries and positions can be more lax or stringent upon dress code, these tips will give you a starting point and from there you can play within the lines of your company’s dress code!

Shopping for a work ensemble can be tricky, especially if you are just entering the workplace-either just graduated or re-entering. Even if you are looking to spruce up your look, it is quite easy to get lost in it all! So before you go and buy all the trendiest pieces and items, let’s go over what items you should have in your closet!

The Plus Size Wear to Work Essentials

The Catch All Trouser

The trouser can always be tricky; however, the trouser here can be a great cotton blend in a different shade from black. Brown, navy, khaki are all great neutrals to play in. These trousers will give your suit a break and offer your wardrobe a different attitude when you are wearing them! Paired with a cardigan, a playful blouse, or jacket, your trousers are like an anchor to your wardrobe, so make sure fit, fabric, and function are paid attention to!

Shown in picture: Tahari ‘Merlin’ Pants in Indigo

The Tailored Pencil or swing Skirt

Skirts for work are always fun, well for me they were always lovely! When playing with skirts, if it part of a suit family as an option, this can be a plus and an alternative to your pant suit. For most work settings, right above the knee or at the knee is the safest, and regardless of the shape you choose, a lined skirt will be your best friend in not showing all of your goods and it will extend the life of your garment.

Shown in picture: Asos Curve Pencil Skirt

The Knit Cardigan

A great option to your suit jacket is the knit cardigan. Your knit cardigan is a great way to layer or to polish your look without feeling to stuffy! A great waist or top of hip option that has a coordinating tank is always a plus (to wear with or underneath a jacket)! Play with different colors, from pastels to rich hues, and depending on your line of work, a playful print could work here!

Shown in picture: Eloquii Rhinestone Cardigan

The Sharp Pant Suit

A great wool blend or heavier cotton blended suit will give your professional work wardrobe some legs! A great classic black suit is always a great starting point! With your suit, you can wear together or break it apart and wear the suit as separates! While you can find a suit almost anywhere, because of the frequency of wear, it will suit you best (pun intended) to invest in (read: spend a little bit more) a suit that is lined, tailored, that will sustain your curves.

Shown in picture: Eloquii Classic Fit Suit

The Crisp or Feminine Blouse

Here, you probably have a few options, but blouses and tops here you will need! A great crisp white button up is the best place to start and to have in your closet (I have three variations of these) in addition to a great feminine or chic blouse in a fun jewel toned hue. Fit is key here, especially when blessed up top and in the future series of this, I will go into more detail!

Shown in picture: Nordstrom Pink Foxcroft Blouse

The Perfectly Tailored Dress

Yes, this is where your little black dress can come in and work its magic! However, your perfectly tailored dress does not have to be black, it can be a great classic print, or it can even be a part of the same family as your suit! The thing here is to have this dress, preferably sleeveless to wear a multitude of ways with different layers! With a cardigan, a white button blouse underneath, or paired with a jacket, this is a great alternative to those days you do not feel like rocking a suit.

Shown in picture: Rafaella Gabardine Ruffle Dress

Tips when shopping for Plus Size Wear to Work Essentials:

Fit: So key, when trying on your items, if it restricts movement, pulls or tugs at the seams, outlines one of your body parts, or shows too much leg or cleavage, leave it. If I can see the outline of your underwear, it is too tight. Get my point?

Lining: I kept referencing lining, and for wear to work options, lining allows your garments to lay on your curves without tugging or pulling, and allows your body and curves to breath comfortably. This is also a great alternative at times to the slip or shape wear!

Colors: Dependant on what you already have in your closet, it is always best to start out with great neutrals for your work wardrobe. Black, navy, gray, and different shades of brown and tan will help provide you a great foundation to your ensemble. Bold hues serve as a great accent color!

Where to buy: Shopping for wear to work essentials can be confusing and at times frustrating, but have no fear, there are places you can go that cater to your wear to work needs Without looking frumpy, dowdy, or boring! I promise!

Eloquii, Lane Bryant, ASOS Curve, Lafayette 148, Rafaella, Nordstrom, Macy’s, Bloomingdales, Target (The Merona Line), Dorothy Perkins, and Lord and Taylor are great places to start!

Q.What are your wear to work essentials?Where do you go to buy your plus size work wear? Sharing is Caring! J

A Plus Size Spring: Elena Mirò Spring 2012

Marie Denee — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:30:58 +0000

In the Hierarchy of plus size fashion, one of the designers whom I think is at the top by setting fashion examples and inspirations with a few others is the Italian Powerhouse: Elena Mirò.

I have written and featured them many times over and I cannot stress how amazing the brand is! For years (since 2005), there were the only plus size designer to open Milano Moda Donna Fashion Week, but after reasons unknown, they no longer show there BUT they still show- to a full house!

Who is Elena Miro?

Elena Mirò is one of the historic labels of Miroglio Fashion, the clothing division of the Miroglio Group which was set up in 1985 to cater for the need to give a positive response in terms of style and taste to all the women with Mediterranean-style fuller figures. Over time Elena Mirò has acquired in-depth knowledge and expertise in the skills required to follow fashion, style and trends, adapting them to shapely sizes.

Today, the Elena Mirò brand exudes plus size luxury, high fashion, and sophistication. Don’t believe me? Take a look at my favorites from the Runway Spring 2012 Elena Mirò Collection:

Elena Mirò Runway Spring 2012

Want to see the full collection? Here is the video of the entire collection- all 36 looks!

You can keep up with the Italian powerhouse, Elena Miro on the website, via Twitter and on Facebook!

Q.Which look or looks are you loving? Where do you imagine yourself sashaying to in one of her frocks?

Are you headed to #MagicLV, If So, you are in for a treat

Marie Denee — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:30:48 +0000

Last Fall, I was invited to MAGIC and had a blast and a half! This spring, I will be headed back to MAGIC to check out what is new for fall, interview the creative designers, sit on a few panels, and identify and share the trends of the Fall ’12 season! (more details about this soon!)

To say that I am excited is an understatement! This February, (the 13^th-15^th) WWD MAGIC has stepped up their game, introduced some newness and interest that will be quite exciting!

A Vintage Chanel installation, Spanish Art, a renowned fashion designer, and just a few runway shows to be exact! Over the course of these three days, buyers, designers, brands, bloggers, media, and celebrities gather to talk shop- literally!

Asides from the the Daily Fashion Shows, with Fall’s hottest trends, with over 60 looks per show, everyday at 1:00pm, here are a few of the highlights for WWD MAGIC:

·Betsey Johnson!!! She will make a personal appearance on Tuesday, February 14th from 1pm to 4pm.
·The Concourse: An uber-chic collective of interactive exhibits that will be the home base for some of the industry’s hippest fashion bloggers. (I will be there!)
·The Buzz Boutique: Here a bevy of technology and social media partners that are uniquely involved in the business of fashion will be present.
·Artist J. Pierce: He will be creating and painting a 16-foot mural on the show floor during the 3-days of MAGIC.
·The ‘Dreaming of Chanel’ Installation & Book Signing: Author Charlotte Smith will sign copies of her latest book “Dreaming of Chanel” in conjunction with a ‘Then & Now’ concept installation featuring 16 vintage Chanel dresses.
·Prêt à Porter Paris, Heart of Prêt: Returns and has more than doubled in size and will present more than 30 top French and European designers making their way into the U.S. market. To celebrate, WWDMAGIC will host an opening night reception to welcome all of the designers and brands that have made the journey. Brands include, 2026 Paris, Aventures Des Toiles, Chacook, Fred Sabatier, Lauren Vidal, Pause Café, Rizal, Mado and more.
·Almeriane: Relish culture with Spanish Artist who has an amazing art-to-wear line named after the famed Spanish artist, Almeriane. They will be at WWD MAGIC all week painting the amazing colors found in the Almeriane line of sweaters, scarves, knit tops and dresses.

Sounds exciting right? I know I am beyond geeked about this! Make sure you visit WWD Magic, follow Magic on Tumblr, follow @WWDMagic and use the hashtag #MAGICLV to keep up on all the news and happenings!

Q.Are you headed to MAGIC? Is your Brand showing? Let me know so I can stop by and say hello!

The Academy Awards: What the Curvy Fashionistas Could Wear

Marie Denee — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:30:31 +0000

After both the Golden Globes and the SAG Awards, comes the Academy Awards- Kind of like the Super Bowl of the Award shows. This awards season we have two beautiful plus size women up for an Oscar! Both Octavia Spencer and Melissa McCarthy!

Now, the Academy Awards is where drama usually arrives on the red carpet and which some designers hold back for! Perfectly timed after most Fashion Weeks (Couture and NYFW), most dresses literally go from red carpet to the stylist/actress! However for the Curvy Fashionista, most of the curvier actresses have to pull from current collections or have something custom tailored for them- which is quite alright with me!

So I decided to round up a few dresses by the designers who have made custom gowns, cater to plus sizes, or in my perfect world- would cater to us, to bring you a few looks that I think would be perfect for the red carpet drama!

Style wise, we know this: They both like to cover their arms a bit and love to live in darker tones. I happily suggest to step outside of their box with these suggestions:

My Academy Award picks for the Curvy Fashionistas

Carmen Marc Valvo Academy Awards picks for the Plus Size attendees

Marchesa Academy Awards picks for the Plus Size attendees

Carmen Marc Valvo Academy Awards picks for the Plus Size attendees

Badgley Mischka Academy Awards picks for the Plus Size attendees

David Meister Academy Awards picks for the Plus Size attendees

Tadashi Shoji Academy Awards picks for the Plus Size attendees

Q.Which look would you like to see on either Octavia or Melissa or any other plus size attendee?

First Look: Plus Size Designer Ashley Nell

Marie Denee — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:30:34 +0000

I love twitter for its fabulous leads and jewels… (Are you following me there? @mariedenee ) Anywho, today… Thanks to Chastity of Curvy Girl’s Guide to Style, her latest post, Designer to Watch Ashley Nell, I have found a great new designer whose aesthetic is quite refreshing!

Enter in Ashley Nell, a San Diego designer whose collection features sheers, leopard prints, fun pants, and a dose of Moxie!

Not much is to be known about this designer, as Chastity shared, but hearing hints of possibly a showing in New York in June??? Who knows!

But you have to feast your eyes on the images that have emerged!

First Look: Ashley Nell

you have to check out her blog, Ashley Nell Tipton to stay on top of her style and collection!

Q.What do you think? What do you have your eyes on? I want that sheer skirt with the leopard top combo!

Thanks Chastity for sharing this!