So Paperself sent me some sample body tattoos and I had them hanging eagerly at my desk for about a week. Every so often I’d look up stare at them, and think ” I’m going to save those until I have a really rad idea.” The thought would wisp away and my eyes would return to spreadsheets and productivity.
Then Friday, during a business meeting, genius struck. So Imagine this, I am on a phone call- actively participating mind you- while at the same time slathering my body in temporary tattoos and painting my face dramatically with watercolor face sticks. Thank god, no cameras or screen sharing was involved, or I would have had a lot to explain. Or not so much. My work gets me.
It’s weird how I can so seamlessly do two things at one. My artistic and business side seem to operate on completely different wavelengths allowing them to produce equally good work of entirely different nature at the exact same time. One part Picasso, one part [insert less annoying famous business person than Donald Trump]
I’ve really never been much of an artist on paper and maybe it’s because I am realizing the body is my canvas. This will inevitably result in me justifying at least $200 of drunk purchases related to body paint, temporary tattoos and body jewels. JUST. LET. ME. EXPRESS. MYSELF.
I loved the reckless details of these rose and bird tattoos. I feel like my body is the secret garden. Hmm. That sounds like I am trying to make some naughty reference. Like it could be the title of sexually suggestive Katy Perry song. ugh. What I meant is that these specific design elements seem special, unusual and not something you’d cross everyday.
So We Love Colors sent me some samples of a few things they are trying out new for plus sizes. Free things I would have bought anyways? SCORE! So when I opened their package and saw bright yellow tights staring back me, only one thing came to mind. It was a beautiful and sacred thing or which teen dreams are made of….
I feel like every since I saw this movie eons agos ( I will not how long to protect my age and let myself continue to lie about my age to quasi strangers who might google me when we inevitably fall passionately in love), I lusted after these outfits. They’re so color rebellious. They’re so hip. They were so unlikely to ever be made in my size.
Well times have changed. And I can easily find a hot pink bodycon dress and yellow tights.
THANKS INTERNET.
And I just so happened to have the heirloom whistle necklace.
Basically it took all the way until 2016 to make all this possible.
We all know I am a sucker for a bold, sassy, fearless, menagerie of color print, and this lovely faux wrap skirt from Nyata meets all my technicolor needs. I like this brand for a few reasons: First they don’t use numbers for their sizes and instead choose positive adjectives to describe each size on the spectrum. Would you rather wear a size 20 or a size “amazing.” I’d choose amazing any day, because I am every day. Always. Self love, high five yah’ll.
Second, is the meaning in the name of the brand itself. Nyata means “real” in Indonesian, and Amber the designer created the label to encourage women that regardless of their size they are a real person, and important part of this magical world.
Lastly, Nyata boasts lots of staple prints. The type of timeless patterns that I believe endure beyond a single season. I believe every girl should own one bold printed frock that emerges each year with the same bravado it radiated the year before. I feel these prints have those types of chops.
I love being bathed in colors and wearing this skirt just makes me happy. It’s the type of print you look down at and just smile because it’s a bold display of fabric emotion. How can a girl not be happy candy-coated in such lovely hues?
I wanted to keep the styling simple and let the skirt be the star. But life isn’t simple, and either am I. Let’s be real, I am complicated mess. At least my fashion sense is a true reflection of self.
I really really really wanted to share this cute story with you today that involved fried food, an adorable old man and craft beer, but my computer crashed and ate it. Being I have a big girl job and very little spare time, I hope you’ll forgive my filthy no good hunk of junk computer from it’s document consuming ways and instead just oggle the prettiness of this lover-ly look.
Hearts. Hearts. All kinds of hearts. I saw this skirt/jumper/wondrously life appropriate beer garden esque garb on Unique Vintage and I wanted it so bad. But moving has made me super broke. Like, wow I can’t believe I found $20 in my couch cushion, now I can……….. pay my electric bill, broke. I am coupon clipping- people. I am considering pan handling at the park. WHY MUCH YOU COST SO MUCH DOG DEPOSIT?
As luck was have it they reached out to me around the same time offering a piece of theirs to style. I consider this a Valentine’s miracle. So although I am desperately single, at least my body can be covered in a suspender-ed skirt of hearts and colorful jubilation.
I’ve been thinking a lot about how certain fabrics and prints are associated with certain walks of life and age. Like how cheetah print is a moniker of slutty 60s cougar types- the type with red lipstick bleeding into their foundation soaked wrinkles and an addiction to hairspray so severe that you fear stepping within a foot of them with an open flame. How zebra print makes me immediately think of Liza Frank if in a colored variation or low budget lady of the night if it’s the traditional black and white. Horse hair? If you’re wearing horse hair I immediately assume you have more money than me and I am afraid to stand next to you at a party. I drop things. Liquidy things. All the time.
This week I received a few fun pieces from Empress Eleven, an Australian Plus Size brand to try out and style. Breathe a sigh of relief- they ship to the US (and for fairly cheap as well!) When I opened the bag of glam goodies, the thing I noticed immediately was the snake print duster. I have no preconceived notions about snake print.
I pondered on this for a bit, is snake print the neutral animal print? Why don’t I immediately have some stereotype to associate it to? The only thing that really came to mind was the Basillisk in Harry Potter, mostly because I am a huge dork. I eventually arrived to the only obviously conclusion. I am meant to wear snake print, and when I do- my looks are deadly.
Plus this duster jacket has shoulder pads SHOULDER PADS. I feel like a way hipper, way sexier Amy Schumer 80’s lady. Like my shoulders are subtlety telling the world that I mean business.
And this black shurnik ( half tunic, half shirt) is the perfect staple. I just love how it’s fitted and sexy and so freaking comfy. As I always saying, clothing that looks bomb and feels like pajamas, is my favorite type of clothing.
I paired this sassy look with my favorite new flats from ASOS. I am not sure what animal they are supposed to be. Any guesses? I am jut glad they are sparkly and full of lucious lashes. Like moi.
It’s weird how I can so seamlessly do two things at one. My artistic and business side seem to operate on completely different wavelengths allowing them to produce equally good work of entirely different nature at the exact same time. One part Picasso, one part [insert less annoying famous business person than Donald Trump] 
I really really really wanted to share this cute story with you today that involved fried food, an adorable old man and craft beer, but my computer crashed and ate it. Being I have a big girl job and very little spare time, I hope you’ll forgive my filthy no good hunk of junk computer from it’s document consuming ways and instead just oggle the prettiness of this lover-ly look.
