The Best Dress Review I Have Ever Read by my friend Jessica

Today I am pleased to present a dress review of the Igigi “Modena” gown. Igigi sent me this dress this past March to wear to a weekend party and I promised to provide a product review. They sent the wrong size for me but the perfect size for my sister Greek chick Jessica, and thank goodness it worked out this way because I love her writing. So witty! So descriptive! And so pretty in her new dress! Please take a moment and leave a comment for Jessica (by clicking the word “comments”) after reading and wish her a Happy Birthday while you’re at it.

My Horribly Overdue Dress Review by Jessica

Igigi “Modena” Gown

Jessica's Fairy Godmothers

I guess it is every girl’s dream that eventually, one day, she’ll be Cinderella. A fairy godmother shows up, gives you an awesome dress and shoes, and lets you blow your house-cleaning responsibilities for a night of kicking it with Prince Charming. I never thought that at 31, I’d be a living version of Cinderella with TWO fairy godmothers and my big ball being bar-hopping until the wee hours of the morning in Green Bay in the dead of winter, but I also never dreamed that MySpace would become completely irrelevant.

I guess my story is one of being at the right place at the right time. The Tribe, as we call ourselves, was preparing for our BIG NIGHT OUT at the Bad Bar. Now that I’ve officially donned the title “Old Married Lady” for almost a year, I had resigned myself to wearing a fantastically low-cut sweater, tight jeans, and boots; gone were the days of Friday Night Fuck Me Pants and barely-there tops. I noticed a bunch of lovely ladies donning these gorgeous gowns (I had missed the e-mail to order one, it seemed), and I had a twinge of jealousy, but at least I would be snuggly and warm and non-descript as I guzzled my Schlitz.

Corinna was dashing down the hallway with this pretty dress in her arms looking for Mo. I couldn’t help but notice the ooh-ahh inducing royal blue color, the way the dress swayed in the plastic wrap, and I commented on it. Her eyes opened as she said, “WHAT SIZE ARE YOU?!?!”

Oh God. Because if there’s anything us women of heft don’t want to admit out loud, let alone to ourselves, is our weight and size. Corinna is the non-judgemental type, though, so I said “Um, 22ish.”

“Great! Take this! Have it!”

What? I am not the person who gets stuff for free. I was the girl on the college campus filling out credit card requests only to be told that today’s t-shirt/bobblehead/fleece blanket has been sold out, but would I finish my application anyway please? To have a gorgeous gown (“Look at this fabric,” murmured Corinna as she showed me the dress) handed to me was something I was admittedly skeptical of since I knew it wasn’t going to fit. It couldn’t fit. Could it?

My husband’s wolf whistle sealed the deal. “Wow, babe! You look amazing!” Indeed, the dress fit and looked pretty darn good. That is the magic of this dress, ladies.

I will say initially I was not a fan of the fabric; it’s a polyesterish blend. I thought for sure that I would sweat right through it leaving unsightly stains and even worse odor. Not only did I NOT sweat through this dress, but like Under Armour, it wicked the sweat away from my body! Magic!

Corinna and Jessica drink up!

Need further proof that this fabric is magic? Since I went out bar-hopping in this dress (I KNOW), I happened to be sitting on a table that an enthusiastic and drunk young man decided to stand atop of to lead everyone in inebriated song. You can see where this is heading: the entire contents of the booze-fueled table spilled and soaked my skirt. After a bit, I noticed there wasn’t a stain on my gown. Amazing!

Jessica Dancing Queen

About the fit: the dress is fantastic for the pear shaped among us who are not built like linebackers in the shoulder department but definitely are not lacking in the hip-butt-thigh area. The wrap top perfectly accents cleavage without constant nervous adjustment and embarrassing gaps. The skirt hides the flaws and accentuates the good parts of curves, without looking deliberately like it is trying to hide anything. I also had a very drunk lesbian loudly hit on me at breakfast at three in the morning, so win-win!

As for the negatives, if you are in the 5’6” range or shorter (like me), you will most definitely need this puppy altered. It dragged on the floor for the majority of the evening, despite me wearing super-high heels (courtesty of my second fairy godmother, Susan) and my best efforts to not let it hit the bathroom floor (gross). I found the sleeve-length to be flattering, but annoying. The dress also has a slight itch factor to it; I suppose the magic fabric cannot be perfect. All in all, I’m definitely looking forward to wearing this dress again, but not to bar hop in.

Recommended for: making your high school boyfriend jealous at your reunion, going to an opera, attending an awards banquet in your honor, hot role-play with the hubby wherein you play the famous Oscar-winning actress and he’s your bodyguard, fall/winter evening wedding.

Not Recommended for: a graduation party, (despite its ability to combat errant beer and booze spills) bar-hopping in Wisconsin, wearing to sporting events, spring/summer weddings.

**Since this dress is hanging in my closet, this counts as a compensated review. Thanks to the good folks at Igigi and The Tribe, and especially my fairy godmothers for making me oh-so-pretty!

Plus Size Bras – Playtex and Me

Here is my video of my day at Playtex. Please leave a comment and share your bra shopping stories. Go and get your boobies a proper brassiere fitting and remember – point ‘em up and out to God!

Visiting the House of Igigi and a Contest

Tonight I am having dinner with my friends Yuliya Raquel and Ozlem Arpaci from Igigi, and Lisa and Jim Dolan who own Lee Lee’s Valise. It is sure to be a fun filled evening and I will post a report tomorrow.

Remember that contest that I promised you a couple of weeks ago? It all started when I visited the Igigi showroom. Contest details at the bottom, after my report of my day at Igigi.

When I was in San Francisco last month I was fortunate to meet Yuliya Raquel, the design talent behind the House of Igigi. My appointment to tour the studio was with Ozlem, Yuliya’s confidant, business manager and sargeant-at-arms.

I am a big fan of Yuliya’s design talents and I was thrilled when I learned that she would be joining Ozlem and I for lunch. But lunch would be later in the afternoon and first, I got to try on clothes.

This is the Floral Creme Brulee Dress. When I came out of the dressing room I told Yuliya and Ozlem that this dress is a miracle, and it absolutely is. Yes, I know that my lacy black bra is much too revealed and I would never leave the house like that, but I wanted you to see how it looked on my body shape. I am your virtual mannequin!

I am 5’7″ and I have a rack of doom (38DDD), so there is probably enough fabric to cover your tata’s, while I must wear a cami. But I decided that the dress is worth it. I am wearing a size 12 because the 14 was too big for me.

There are so many incredible design touches that I can not rave about this dress enough. There is a bit of ribbon on the sleeve that compliments detail on the neckline. The dress is designed to wrap, with the attached belt wrapping inside the dress and through the side, so the belt wraps around to tie in front. There is enough fabric to cover you (there was too much fabric in the 14 for my shape and that’s why I chose the 12), and most importantly the quality of the fabric is luscious. It floats beautifully, doesn’t cling, shines like silk…and for $112.00? I told Yuliya she should charge more so I suggest you get this dress before I talk her into it.

Francesca dress in amethyst

This is the Francesca dress in amethyst, size 12. I don’t think I need to say much here. A cut above the basic low cut cocktail dress and it is simply gorgeous. The fabric is a good medium weight, is fully lined, and glides around my legs as I walk.

I absolutely love this dress. I think it works best as an evening dress and I don’t think that I would wear this to the office. Perfect for dinner out, going to hear live music and dancing, etc. I would even wear this to the Metropolitan Museum of Art on evenings when they open galleries with a bar cart and a jazz combo.

They have things like that where you live, right?

Squeezing into something too small looks like this.

This is the Breezy Morning Dress in size 12 I should have tried the 14. I am posting this pic of myself, your virtual mannequin, because I wanted you to see what it looks like to wear something that is too small. You’re welcome.

The top of the dress is a similar knit to the Francesca dress, and the bottom is similar fabric to the Creme Brulee. The reason the dress fits so differently is because of the differences in the two fabrics and the style of the dress. This is not a wrap dress (there is a zipper on the left side), and so there is no extra fabric to adjust to your shape. I suggest you order one size larger.

Friendly faces at Igigi:

Yuliya and Igigi wedding dresses

Yuliya at the design table

Yuliya working with one of her many inspiration boards.

oooh fabric!

Ribbons and details and colors oh my!

People who work at Igigi seem really happy.

I wish I could find my notepad with everyone's name. Thank you for letting me post your picture, guy who works for Igigi.

Somebody has to keep things running smoothly around here.

Ozlem, me and Yuliya holding her camera shy daughter.

AND NOW FOR THE CONTEST

Please post a comment (you click on the word “comment” beneath this post) with a link to something that you would get from the Igigi website and where you would wear it. Next Tuesday, June 22nd, I will be choosing by random number generator a winner for a $100 Igigi gift certifiate.

Cocktails at the museum? Best friend’s wedding? Someone planning on proposing to you? Your kid is graduating from college? Your kid is finally moving out? Be dressed for the occasion, or any occasion. Be ready for those moments when people take out their cameras. Igigi offers fashion, real fashion with a real design sensibility. The quality of the fabrics and the stitching is outstanding. I would say that their clothes are worth every penny so good luck in winning that $100!

Winner of $50 Kiyonna Gift Certificate

Congratulations to The Asian Pear! Her comment was chosen using a highly scientific process to randomly generate a number through a complicated system of algorithms. OK! So I really just clicked the button on Random.org

Pear – has been contacted by e-mail. Her response to winning? “Oh my gosh really? ME?!?! Thank you! I’ve never won anything before. I am DEFINITELY getting the dress I had my eye on now.”

And please check out her blog – she just bought the cutest snow boots at Payless. I think I’m going to go try them on myself.

Thank you everyone for your participation. It was so much fun to see what everyone wanted. There will be more contests and giveaways every month so stay tuned.

London Fashion Week – Plus Size Controversy

In a bold move, upcoming Canadian fashion designer Mark Fast decided to use three models from agency, 12+ UK in his London runway show last week. Not only is this groundbreaking for the fashion industry but it certainly also suggests that marketing for fashion lines might begin including a variety of body types.

There were reports over the weekend in several British papers; Daily Mail, Guardian, and Telegraph that the stylist and casting director for the fashion show had refused to work with Fast because of his choice to use size 12 and 14 models. They quit three days before the Saturday show, and freelancers Daniela Agnelli and Natalie Hubbarb stepped in to help make the show a success.

Today I read that the stylist is denying these reports as being her reason for abandoning the show. Erika Kurihara, who also works for the fashion magazine i-D, told the Guardian, “My ideal woman is [the size ten model] Lara Stone or Beyonce – I celebrate strong, healthy women.”

Fast, who designs figure hugging knitwear decided to use fuller figure models. Amanda May, Fast’s creative director, yesterday blamed the walkout on ‘creative differences’ over the use of larger models. ‘There was a team change and we are glad we stuck to our vision,’ she said.

‘The decision to use fuller girls is something we have been talking about. There’s an idea that only thin and slender women are able to wear Mark’s dresses and he wanted to combat that. We wanted women to know they didn’t have to be a size zero to wear a Mark Fast dress – curvier women can look even better in them.’

May’s Twitter page states that the stylist was replaced because she was “let go.”

As reported on Sky News, Fast created a bespoke garment for model Hayley Morley that she wore in a fashion show called All Walks Beyond The Catwalk, which featured models size eight to 16 and aged 18 to 65. The event was a fundraiser for B-EAT, a UK organization that raises awareness about eating disorders.

Fundraiser for Big Moves New York

I am thrilled to announce that Big Beautiful Bargains is coming to New York! This is a fundraising event for Big Moves NY, a non-profit dance company promoting size acceptance.

If you have never been to one of their shows, I highly recommend going to see them. The dance troupe is extremely talented and a whole lot of fun. I also hear that the dance classes they offer are great and I’m planning on checking them out one of these days.

New and Used Plus-Size fashions for Less!

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 29th and SUNDAY NOVEMBER 30th

From 10AM until 5PM

This extraordinary shopping event takes place at The Knitting Factory, 74 LEONARD STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10013.

MORE INFO: BIGBEAUTIFULBARGAINS2008@GMAIL.COM

Please check this website for more details: Big Beautiful Bargains on My Space.

I will be at this shopping event so please comment and let me know if you’ll be there too. Maybe we can have a Celebration of Curves meet-up? I’d love to meet you!

Michelle Obama: Election Night Style in Plus Sizes

I thought that Michelle Obama looked great on election night in the Narcisco Rodriguez wearing a tasteful variation of a more revealing version seen recently on the runway.

The First Lady Elect has been getting quite a lot of attention for her sense of style in addition to being a wonderful mother, partner to her husband and obviously for being a very smart woman. For more information on just how smart Michelle is, and for one well-written feminist viewpoint on all this fashion talk, please read Shakespeare’s Sister.

I am a feminist my friends. But I’m also a fashion loving feminist and right now, I’m gonna talk dresses.

Personally, I am thrilled that Barack will be our next President and that the Obama family will be living in the White House. Not only because he has a beautiful family, with a fashion savvy wife (which isn’t really all it takes to win my heart but it certainly helps), but because I believe that great things will happen for our nation and the world. The eyes of the world on you Barack, and perhaps even more will be expected of you than other Presidents. Now get to work.

I love this picture of the family together. So perfectly coordinated in black and red. Check out dad’s tie!

I’ve done some scouting, looking for something similar to the red and black dress that Michelle wore on election night. The dress is so new that similar dresses have yet to be found, although I am certain they are coming. Until then, here are my choices for wearing Michelle Obama’s style, just in case you have an acceptance speech to make in the next week or two.

The fabulous Sophie dress from Igigi.I really like this dress and I think I’ll be getting one for myself. I think that the overall line of the dress, and the way it is drawn in a bit at the waist does a good job of emulating the Rodriguez red and black dress.

And of course shades of purple and lavender are still very hot this season. Be careful the next time you dine at the White House, you might upstage the First Lady in this piece!

But if you must have black and red (again from Igigi) I chose the Brigitte Mod Dress.

This lovely dress captures a bit of the color block look of the Narcisco Rodriguez dress, but without the speckles and the fade, which received some negative reactions from fashion bloggers. Personally, I like it. I think it looks like champagne bubbling over a glass.

I love the Brigitte and I’m glad they didn’t go all huge flare with the hemline. I would wear this dress in 1967 with knee high, high heeled boots and then I’d ride around town with Steed kicking butt all over London.

The neckline of the Alexis more closely resembles that of Michelle’s dress, than anything I found, but of course it is lacking a burst of color. Perhaps coordinate with a hot pair of red heels and a red scarf?

Stretch Gabardine Wide Leg Trousers – $ 98.00
From: Kiyonna Klothing. And from Kiyonna, this is for those of you looking to dress up in black and red but refuse to show your legs.

What did you think of the black and red dress that Michelle Obama wore on election night? Yay or Nay? And if you find other pieces that are similar please post a comment.

Autumn Sales

You know that I like to get fancy with the sales. I like to put together a Look Book, or at the very least choose specific items from each sale. But I just can’t get it together this week.

I still have to show you the great pics I took on vacation two weeks ago when the hubs and I were in Phoenix to visit family and then drove to California to visit friends. This coming Sunday the hubs and I fly to Mexico, south of Cancun, to snorkel and then swim with Dolphins, lay on the beach and dance on the sand. This means that I will be checking out this big sale: Swim & Save at SwimsuitsForAll.com! Top Swimwear Styles $29 & Under! Shop Now!

So more vacation pics soon and another Look Book is being created. But for now, have a good time while you stimulate the economy!

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Get up to 70% off with our End of the Season Sale at Kiyonna.com!

Plus Size with Style – Enjoy What You Have

Have you ever tried on something in your size but it just didn’t look right? Even though it fits great it just doesn’t feel like “it’s you.” I watch women go through it all the time in department store dressing rooms. She goes in with an armload of goodies and walks out with tears in her eyes. She then launches into a tirade of everything that is wrong with her body and if only she were some other size or shape then everything that she tried on would look just right. This can cause enough heartache that a woman resorts to buying something on impulse that doesn’t look great.

It is my opinion that finding your style has less to do with your body type, your hair color, or whether your skin tone is a Winter or a Summer and everything to do with how you feel about yourself when you look in the mirror. So today let’s discuss how to find your very own style in terms of enjoying what you have.

Plus Size Style

The good news is that the best plus size fashion designers are now using plus size models. As plus size women are insisting on size positive images we are seeing more and more fashionable images of full figured women in media. At This Lush Life, in our plus size women’s clothes department, we exclusively represent companies using plus size models. If they sell plus size women’s clothes but they don’t show those clothes on plus size models then we won’t post what they have to offer.

There are many places on the web where you can read about the right hem lengths, the right necklines, how to coordinate patterns and colors and how to tie a scarf. Personally, I watch What Not to Wear on TLC with religious fervor. So rather than worry about what they are wearing on the runways this season — in this article, let’s focus on what’s going on in your head.

Dressing Room Depression

You bought a dress in a department store. You loved it in the dressing room. It hugs your hips in the best way possible, shows the right amount of cleavage and drapes perfectly over your bottom. You were happy in the store because you found something that fit so well but why does it just not seem right the first time you put it on at home?

You bought a dress online. You did everything right. You measured yourself, you measured the dress, you saw it on a model with a similar shape as yours and it looked great on her. You try it on and it fits perfectly so why does it just not feel right when you put it on in your bedroom?

Curing the Dressing Room Blues

Remember that dressing rooms lie! Dressing rooms lie. They do. They are sneaky and they will lie to you. Some are perfectly lit and highlight your beautiful checkbones and make you forget that a v-neck is better for you than a boat neck. There really is such a thing as a slenderizing mirror and chances are they have one at the store but you don’t have one at home.

The photographs in catalogs and magazines lie! Photographs lie. They do. Not only are those models surrounded by a team of people fussing with their makeup, hair and clothes between each and every shot but even the models don’t really look like the photographs after all the re-touching.

So how do I enjoy what I have and feel good about Plus Size Style?

1. Create a place where royalty would want to dress. Choose a corner of your bedroom and make it a sacred place for self adoration. Use Feng Shui, toss a coin or throw a dart but you must have a spot that is just for you to gaze lovingly at your perfect body in a full length mirror.

2. Did she say full length mirror? Yes, she did say full length mirror! You know in your heart that I’m right so go out there and invest in a good one. After all, you are going to be spending a lot of time in front of it admiring your luscious curves so you want something beautiful to frame your image.

3. Take a deep breath. Take a shower. Do your hair. Get ready like you’ve got a date with George Clooney…or Ellen Degeneres…whomever you are into. Light candles. Have a glass of champagne and put some fresh strawberries and chocolates in a bowl within easy reach. Play a Diana Krall CD. Remember that you are a goddess.

4. Take good look. God did not make any mistakes with you. You are beautiful. Now – pull your shoulders back and say three nice things about what you see. I mean it. Three…but feel free to say more. I like my eyes. I like the shape of my shoulders. I like the curve from the small of my back down to my right hip. This is really important. I do this every day. Sometimes I love what I see in the mirror and sometimes I don’t but I won’t leave the house without saying at least three nice things about my body.

Presenting the Stylish Plus Size Woman

I guarantee that whatever you try on now will feel differently than it did before. Can you guess why? It’s because you will stand differently. You will hold your head up, pull your shoulders back and be ready to toss out anything from your closet that doesn’t flatter your perfect frame. You don’t have to settle for something you don’t really love just because it hides a body you don’t love. And when you go out, even wearing something from the back of your closet, it might feel new and you might feel like the most stylish woman you know.

There is no reason to wait to like yourself more. Start today and then share this with a friend.

maunderings from dissertation hell: Celebrating Curves

Hey everybody! I got my first fan mail! Woo hooo I am sooo excited. Not only because I got a shout out from another blogger but mostly because my ranting about plus size women Celebrating our Curves gave a curvy girl a self-esteem boost and that’s what this is all about.

I very much enjoy reading Maunderings blog about her life written with an hilarious self-mocking tone. She also sells homemade soaps on Ebay – Dr. Sharna’s Natural Soaps.

I felt much less afraid of her proclamations of love after realizing that she makes homemade soaps. After all, why would I be afraid of someone who lives on a remote Texas farm, sees very few people, writes a blog making reference to being from hell, spending her quiet days making soap….oh. Suddenly it sounds like a scene from Misery. hmmmm……

So Dr. Sharna is good for your funny bone, good for your skin and good for the environment! Send her some love people, I think she’s loony…um I mean lonely.

Check it out.
maunderings from dissertation hell: Celebrating Curves