It’s Friday and I’m not feeling that inspired. I don’t have any wise words of wisdom to share or any funny anecdotes to tell. Basically, I’m a bit boring, but luckily I have a cute outfit to wear and a vacation to plan, so that’s something, right?
See I usually forget to plan vacations. I like working. That maybe weird for some of you to understand, but I’m one of those rare souls that actually loves their job. So the end of year has rolled around, I haven’t used my vacation and I’m scrambling to plan something last minute. I am certain there are worse problems to have. So today I as I scramble to find a budget holiday trip (pray for a miracle folks) , I am remaining festive in my holiday decorations inspired look.
Shop this look
I love this look because it’s perfect for a party, but maintains a fierce commitment to the holidays. You can create your own holiday decor inspired look with the items below.
The sweatshirt has taught me that you can look like a plus size queen while be comfortable AF. So I’ve decided to dedicate today to threads that scream ” I’m so excited for all that is Christmas!!” while at the same time being the perfect thing for that Mindy Project binge watching session you have planned for the evening with your best friend, wine.
Perfectly Festive Pajamas
Sleep with yuletide cheer, people. Also, Ive included the pajamas I wore in my recent Sunday Spiel video which I can personally testify are wonder of comfort. Also, lets not even pretend here, Target is KILLING the theme pajamas game. For reals.
Not the amazing “making it rein” seems to be sold out online. Lame. But not lame? These amazing alternatives. It’s like an ugly sweater, but more comfortable and easier to asleep drunk in.
Ah the laziest way to say Merry Christmas. Be like that cool girl in high school, wearing a t–shirt and some how still looking better than everyone else. Apply that roll on lip gloss girl and own the room.
I want all of you to know I made this backdrop. You know casually taping (because the backs weren’t sticky enough) 400 some bows to a random wall in Austin, Texas to make plus size fashion Christmas magic. Actually I can’t take all the credit. I was helped through the whole process by my amazing photographer, Chelsea. She also “back seat bowed me”, ensuring the colors and patterns were evenly spaced and aesthetically pleasing. I will never look at the placement of a peppermint striped bow so casually again.
Christmas Renegades
It took 400 bows, two rolls of tape, 2 hours, a never ending playlist of yuletide hits and a wall we did not own to complete this whimsical design. Hell yes, we were yule time bandits, holiday hooligans, Christmas renegades! Well, as rebellious as two girls covering the world in pretty bows can be. We were inspired by a photo background that blogger, Splendid Rags created and offered our own softer take on the idea. The end result rivaled an Anthrolopogie store window, which is pretty much every slightly quirky hipster girl’s dream.
Christmas Grafitti
The best part about this is that not one passer by seemed concerned in our endeavor to deck the walls with boughs of bows. Most stopped to comment on how pretty it was. We joked that must have walked away thinking, “Man, I love living in Austin. People do the coolest things here!” because we were doing a cool thing like cool people in a cool city do. Maybe we should do this cool thing more, make it some sort of new festive graffiti. Like yarn bombing, but for the holidays… Christmas bombing! I like it.
We’ve Been Scrooged
Sadly within 24 hours the grounds crew for the building we assembled this master piece on, Scrooged us. I woke up the next day to find that some Grinch has removed every single trace of our festive decorating.Not a single bow in sight. No more sparkle. No more glee. Just a plain white, Christmas-less wall.Weep womp.
I had been planning to do a Christmas kitsch look book for months, because I love a good theme. So as holiday themed bojangles, baubles and trappings started to appear, I snapped them up. In my mind I was going to create something gloriously over the top. But, then, things changed.
Nerding Out Over the Holidays
Some how as the themed garb piled up, the ice cold heart of mine melted. Instead of being obsessed with the theme of Christmas, I became fascinated with it. So instead of shopping for theme t-shirts, I began reading about it’s history. I wondered where today’s traditions came from, why we celebrated in all the weirdly beautiful ways we did. Well before the Yule tide, I found myself engrossed in Christmas.
A Visual Love Letter
So what was set to be a silly set of images that were set to obnoxiously scream Christmas, became more subtly themed and sentimental. They made me think of the snippets I read and all the wonderful new things I learned. Decorations from the Mayans, Pagans and Shaman. Traditions from the Turkish, Dutch and Germans. Christmas is this amazing amalgamation of cultures and religions and superstition; it’s a beautiful piece of artwork in the form of celebration.
Finding my Christmas Spirit
It’s weird that this year, of all years, my Christmas spirit is off the charts. This is the year I don’t even know if I will be celebrating with someone or if I will be alone. A lot has changed in my life and the airlines are a cruel master. So this Christmas I might find myself alone with my pup. The weirdest thing is, I am totally ok with it. Because this year, I finally get why everyone sees the lights, the trees, the reindeer, old st nick and nutcrackers and their heart sings out. Maybe this year the music is a just little bit more audible because there’s another loud, brassy and potentially annoying singer in the chorus.
It’s hard to go out these days with out seeing several sassy clutches draped in the arms of the fabulous drinking lady masses. However, I never really got excited by clutches until this holiday season. See for me, they seemed impractical. I like a bag I can carelessly sling over my should after a few two many drinks in preparation for some epic dance moves.
I also blame this on my father, the perpetual worrier, who convinced me if I ever left anything unattended it would immediately be stolen, defaced and/or drugged. There’s been many sad nights sitting on the toilet in a club clutching my drink with extreme fears that my best friend Suzy was really out to poison me and steal my identity. You never can be too careful.
However recently, my trust in the rotating lady manned bag filled chair has increased. Maybe I just have grown to realize no one wants my drugstore lipstick, stale hard candy and $3 dollars in assorted nickels and dimes. I’m not their target. Also, the holidays have pumped so many adorably festive clutchs into the market, I’ve given into all. Jesus take the wheel or more accurately Anna take the sparkly seasonal clutches.
So this ho ho ho bag represents my first foray into owning a clutch. It’s sassy and sparkley and seasonal and very very me. And I love it. We were meant to be together. You can shop this bag and 9 other holiday bags that caught my yuletide eye before I found my Christmas clutch-mate below.
So unless you live in a cave in a very remote and desolate place of the world, are afraid of technology and refuse to read, you know today is small business Saturday. Today we encourage each other to shop local and invest in small businesses. Now, as a fashion addict, I’ve been shopping local for years. In fact, for a long time a plus girl HAD to shop local to be able to track down amazing duds. So here are a few of my favorite small businesses. They rock and you should definitely check them out.
Jewelry
Sparkle City Jewelry (featured in image above): This brand showcases whimsical earrings and more in bold colors and fun candy themes. Typically made from plastic.
Boo + Boo Factory : This jewelry designer creates bold and bright jewelry made from colored leather- often with fun tassels and fringe
Nina Berenato Jewelry: These accessories are beautifully handcrafted in metal using geometric shapes. I am literally OBSESSED with her work. I just bought this necklace from her today!
Accessories
Dots ‘N Bows: Handmade in Sweden these bags are the perfect mix of vintage cool and pop culture. You can see my amazing vinyl , rainbow weekender bag above. It’s my favorite travel accessory.
Katie Kansas: If you want something really different to make you look like a bad ass, this brand makes studded shoulder lapels, fringed arm bands and all sorts of other accessories for the bold. If you’re plus size,the store will work with you to make sure your items fit perfectly.
Ready to Stare: This shop is run by one of the most lovely body positive mamas and features perfectly hip chain belts, accessories and body chains.
Inclusive Fashion (offers both Plus + Straight Sizes)
Tuesday Bassen: This chick is a bad ass and her clothing is just as rad. It’s not hard to feel like the cool kid on the block wearing her threads. The image above is her new aggressive hoodie that has been my second skin since the day I got it. Her gear is available from XS to a 3X.
Smart Glamour: This brand focuses on inclusive clothing for all sizes, all shapes and all bodies. Clothing is made to order to fit your measurements and personality. I’ve always loved how the owner uses such a wide array of models to portray her brand.
Rue 107: For the funk fresh fashionista, this store offers amazing bodycons, leggings and swimsuits in sizes S-3X. The bold street styles help this brand’s clothing stand out from the pack, and their limited productions make sure you wont have to worry about wearing the same things as some one else.
Plus Size Fashion
Copper Union: This brand’s pieces are made with simply the best fabrics and potentially some of the best construction I’ve seen in market. Copper union brings fun prints to life and perfectly crafts them for plus bodies- take the skirt and shrug in the above photo. Plus, the owner is a good person, and I like supporting good people.
Zelie For She: Want to spice up your wardrobe? This brand features body urban pieces with a powerfulness the exudes “queen” in the design. Regular capsule collections create limited numbers, making each piece feel like a treasured discovery and purchase.
Jibri: This brand makes fun clothing is exaggerated silhouettes. While the pleated designs may not be every individuals cup of tea- they do wonders for girls with big hips and create a upscale alternative to your everyday bodycon.
Active Wear
Fractal.9: This brand makes all-sizes friendly legging in bold prints. I really love that fractal 9 offers all styles in all sizes, making this one of the only brands that sells yoga hot pants in plus sizes. I have two pairs of her gear and my electric leggings are featured above.
Personal Record: This brand is plus size only and offers luxe leggings self-designed unique to them prints. The designer actually started as a pattern maker for big box retailer’s plus lines, so she understand the plus body amazingly well.
Lola Getts: This brand focuses on impeccably made work out basics. Think of them as the Lula Lemon for plus sizes. Thoughtful details such as a back leg seams and high quality fabric choices make them the perfect store for high end, high performance plus work out gear.
I want all of you to know I made this backdrop. You know casually taping (because the backs weren’t sticky enough) 400 some bows to a random wall in Austin, Texas to make plus size fashion Christmas magic. Actually I can’t take all the credit. I was helped through the whole process by my amazing photographer, 
It’s hard to go out these days with out seeing several sassy clutches draped in the arms of the fabulous drinking lady masses. However, I never really got excited by clutches until this holiday season. See for me, they seemed impractical. I like a bag I can carelessly sling over my should after a few two many drinks in preparation for some epic dance moves.
