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 was going to do your typical black Friday post, but then I was like, screw that. Like do you really need another blog with links and sale descriptions? I don’t know how to make that original. I’m not that clever at 5 am after eating my weight in carbs. However, I do know there’s some items you’ve flipped over the last few months that are now super cheap. So here’s a list of things you’ve loved, that are now at prices you can also love. Each of the titles above the item click directly to the store.
Sometimes you are given the opportunity to do more than just shine, you’re given the ability to full on neon on sign glow. Today was one of those days. See, I saw this camouflage jacket and I could have been subtle. I could have paired it with a theme tee and jeans. But there on the rack, the little copper stunner spoke to me. It said, “Anna , be bold.” And I listened. When fashion speaks to me, I keep these ears piqued. I soak in all the free inspiration. And then next thing I new I was digging in my closet for my old faithful blue velvet booties. The result is a whole lot of look. But, can we take a second to marvel at how awesome that look is? I look like a plus size fly girl and if In Living Color was still a thing I would be shimming my way onto your regular evening programming. I feel like often fashion speaks to us and we refuse to listen, because it’s too loud, too bold, too unusual. Because the world tells us that being different and standing out are bad things. Blend, everybody blend. I decided some many moons ago that I was never going to blend well, so I might as well stick out like a sore thumb and just own it. So here I am metallic, sequined, and lifted on velvet raising one hand high in the air and dropping one booty low dancing it out to the joy that is being the weirdo you are and owning it. And dangit, I look good!
Shop This Look
You can find the items featured in this look by clicking the links below!
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.
Find 50% off site wide at 
Sometimes you are given the opportunity to do more than just shine, you’re given the ability to full on neon on sign glow. Today was one of those days. See, I saw this camouflage jacket and I could have been subtle. I could have paired it with a theme tee and jeans. But there on the rack, the little copper stunner spoke to me. It said, “Anna , be bold.”
And I listened. When fashion speaks to me, I keep these ears piqued. I soak in all the free inspiration. And then next thing I new I was digging in my closet for my old faithful blue velvet booties.
The result is a whole lot of look. But, can we take a second to marvel at how awesome that look is? I look like a plus size fly girl and if In Living Color was still a thing I would be shimming my way onto your regular evening programming. 
I feel like often fashion speaks to us and we refuse to listen, because it’s too loud, too bold, too unusual. Because the world tells us that being different and standing out are bad things. Blend, everybody blend.
