I love Anderson Cooper

Not only do I love Anderson for his dashing suit choices and overall silver foxiness, but my love for him grew recently when he came to the aid of plus sized style icon Adele. If you haven’t heard already, the fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld had recently been quoted calling the Grammy-nominated artist “A little too fat”. The Foxy Mr. Cooper, in his short segment on CNN called The Ridiculist, defended Adele by pointing out just how absurd Lagerfeld is. It’s hilarious! Watch it below:

Please click here to see the video on CNN

Additionally I would like to point out that in one of my favorites books Eccentric Glamour, Simon Doonan quotes a 1970s version of Karl Lagerfeld stating “I don’t like skinny people. I think it’s very démodé.” Yes I do realize this quote is from 40 years ago, and Karl  has not aged a day Real Housewife style since then, but I secretly want Lagerfeld to re embrace his inner chunk and remember who he was when he said this.  But until he has a reawakening and realizes plastic surgery is not the same as exercise, we need to realize that not everyone appreciates an amazing plus sized role model. Keep up the style Adele! We love it!

Excuse me, is my bra size still in the english alphabet?

The first time I ever experienced nice plus sized undergarments was in front of a whole brood of french women. I was working at a high end retail store when a colleague from the lingerie department asked me to model bras for reps from Chantelle (a french lingerie line) who had flown in from France. They wanted to see how their bras fit women of different shapes and sizes. As incentive to model underwear in front of strangers, she told me they’d give me a fancy bra au gratis if I agreed. Who doesn’t want swag? So I tread over through a buffet of undergarments and into a dressing room with 5 very petite french ladies. I thought I would being going into a dressing room on my own, putting on said bra, and showing it to the women who mystically don’t get fat (or so I’ve read in a popular book). But that was not the case.

 I was put in the same room with all the ladies and asked to strip down to my waist. EN PLEIN AIR IN FRONT OF THE FRENCH. I really had no time to react. I immediately looked at the 5 women from France who donned slightly pinched looks (probably because no one is feeding them) and I obeyed in fear of annoying them with my modesty. The experience was horizon-widening. Not only was this my first time getting quite this friendly with foreigners, but the bra was actually fantastic. It was beautiful and fit comfortably. I was slightly confused  at this point because Victoria Secret had made me question whether pretty bras went past a size DD. I learned an important truth that day: plus sized bras don’t have to be perfunctory or look medically issued. The pictures here are proof!

My favorite brands? Chantelle, Fanatasie, and Freya just to name a few. Most of these bras go all the way up to 38H or 44F! My advice? Don’t skimp on the support. Ladies, just because it goes under you clothes doesn’t mean it can’t be beautiful!

Orange ya glad?

“Knowing who you really are and dressing the part — with an air of amused recklessness — is life affirming for you and life enhancing for other people.” -Simon Doonan

When I was about eleven I bought my first lipstick. I remember the taste and texture well, and most importantly the color. The lipstick was Mac CB96. If you’re not familiar with the shade, it’s orange. Not pink, nor red, or any other color that lips appear naturally, but orange. Would you like to know what I lined it with the first time I put it on? A black eyeliner pencil. Yes, orange lips lined with black. I’ve always wondered why no one interceded when I walked out of my house to go to a friend’s dressed in sunflower print overalls and makeup that made me look like a lady of the night. I’m quite positive I enhanced the lives of all the elderly ladies of my small town who were out walking that day too. My friend had also called me lava lips or something to that tune. I did indeed look like I’d taken a good bite out of volcano.

All hooking and geological vocab aside, I still do love a good bright shade of lipstick. In the photos featured, a good friend of mine Megan Autrey did my makeup with a great corally shade of orange that I’m in love with. While it’s not the exact shade I donned as a an eccentric child, it did cause me to reminisce. Special thanks to her hubby Jason Autrey and Fear Not Photography for the photos!

M-I-C…

The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique.

-Walt Disney

Makeup by my fabulous friend Megan Autrey

Just a quick post on an AMAZING thrift find. Mickey mouse sweater with blue tights? I’m thinking yes. Annette Funicello would be proud. You’d be amazed what sorts of plus size fashion you can find at a thrift store. Most of them have shoulder pads which I completely adore.

I love the quote by Disney and he’s absolutely right. It’s great to be yourself.

Buxom Bloke: Brian James

No, your eyes have not been deceived. This is, in fact, a man. I know I usually post about women and plus size fashion but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity! He is of the big and tall variety of gentlemen, originally from Washington state and currently living in Nashville. He is usually sporting some sort of plaid with a leather jacket, knit beanie, and a few leather bracelets. You could say his fashion style is country with a twinge of Seattle grunge. But it’s not just his style or southern urbane that catches attention. He is quite seriously one of the best musicians I know.

Let me paint you a picture of the musical genius that is Brian:

We’re in downtown Seattle at an open mic night at Conor Byrne pub. It was about 8:30 and we’d gotten there late, which put him very near the bottom of the list of people to play that night. The first few acts were entertaining and no doubt regular performers. But as the evening progressed, the crowd grew restless and bored and turned to chat noisily among themselves. The bar grew even louder as more time passed. Pretty soon very few people were paying attention to what was happening on stage. Brian’s name was called and he took the stage just shy of midnight. My heart sank because no one even acknowledged the new musician setting up and I wanted so badly for people to pay attention. He tuned his guitar and still no one flinched in his direction. But then, my friends, he began to play. The ambient noise slowly died down and a hush fell over the entire pub. I was completely floored. He had just enchanted the entire crowd with his six string pickin’ some Stevie Ray Vaughn. And the crowd didn’t just pay attention for a few minutes, they watched him play on stage for the entire set. They even cheered and gave him back slaps when it was over.

Brian, my friend the crowd charmer, is currently  living in Nashville and pursuing his dream to be a musician. He’s working as a writer now, but one day he is going to be the main event. Take a minute to check out one of my favorite songs of his and see for yourself (song starts about 1:15 in):

Recycled Romance

Conquer the WORLD with painted nails

Whenever I feel tired, run down and listless, there is nothing more uplifting than a good manicure. It also makes for more glamorous bowling. If you hadn’t noticed, I look like the Dark Knight or Captain America in that middle photo. I was fighting evil and striking down dastardly pins.

Yep. It’s the nail polish. Edgy right? I’m pretty positive it makes my jokes better too.

So ladies, here it is, heed my sage advice: whenever you’re having a bad day, simply paint your nails. You’d be surprised what magic is worked with a little color on your digits. Jeans too tight? Try I Eat Mainely Lobster. Feeling loney? Throw on some French Quarter for Your Thoughts. Taking out the recycling? Not without a little Houston We Have a Purple. With shellack on your nails you’ll be performing even the most mundane tasks glamorously.

Caution: Painted nails may cause you to experience extreme fearlessness and strong desire to run for office, demand a raise, ask out a very dapper man, and so forth. This blog is in all ways responsible for that. You’re welcome.

Skinny is the Old Ugly

Huffington Post found these vintage advertisements telling women that skinny was ugly (say what?!). One of the ads even goes as far as to say “Skinny women are not glamorous”.

While I’m an advocate for plus size women and fashion, and find the nilla-wafer thin fad boring, I think this old ad condemning skinny women is pretty terrible. Right now I am asking you to take a look at whoever is trying to sell you something and stop a moment to think. Be happy with your body for crying out loud! You will waste you’re entire life trying to lose weight (or gain weight) and achieve the perfect body. There is no such thing as perfect in case you’re searching for it Where’s Waldo style. So thank the good Lord for all those places that jiggle. Whether you’re a 2 or 22, accept yourself. That’s the most attractive thing in the world. Just a little New Year’s Wisdom:

Feel beautiful, dress the part.

I’ve got my New Year’s Resolution. It’s not a fad diet. It’s confidence. And MAYBE wearing hot pink tights more often. Cheers to you and wishing a Happy New Year to you and yours!