The Curvy Stylist

mother of my style - happy mother's day

  My Mother rocking a Fascinator on Mother's Day 2011

As a child I thought my mother was the most fabulous woman in the world.  She was curvaceous not overweight, but “tight sweater, pencil skirt with pointy toed pumps curvy” like Christina Hendricks on Mad Men.  My mom was even voted Best ‘Bod’ by her senior class.  I thought she had the most beautiful legs with sharp knees, crescent shaped calves, and lady-like ankles, and she loved her high heels, which made all that even better.

The quintessential fashionable church lady to this day, it was clear she was the most stylish woman in our congregation.  Mom didn’t simply copy the trends, she was inspired by them.  She created glorious ensembles for Sundays and the ubiquitous church events she attended regularly.  She always had the best selection of accessories, beautiful bobbles of bling and the hats, oh my God, the hats.  I assumed that my mom got her sense of style from my grandmother who was also a stylish church lady, all five feet and “skinny size 9 N stiletto pump of her.”  They both are stunning women.  I am praying the longevity of beauty and style runs in the family.

As a teenager my mother inspired me so much that I would literally try to steal her style by borrowing her blouses, jackets, sweaters, and jewelry without asking for permission.  It wouldn’t have been so bad if I had gotten her things dry cleaned, but my teenage frontal lobe wouldn’t let me go that far.  One day as I was foraging for style inspiration in my Mom’s room and I ran across her secret style stash: Essence, Vogue and a variety of fashion magazines.  I marveled at the images.  I had found her source of inspiration.

My passion for all things style was ignited by my mother, the well-dressed church lady, who religiously brought home fashion magazines like Vogue, Essence, Cosmo, and Glamour.  I learned to interpret the fashion trends for myself when the words fashion and trend had yet to appear together in the same sentence for plus sizes.  At a time when a slimming effect meant covering up feminine curves and plus size clothing was anything but youthful, I was inspired to break with convention and accentuate my curves rather than disguising my body.  What can I say?  Like mother, like daughter! 

Thanks Mom!  Happy Mother's Day!

Feel Better by Rocking Color Blocking

@thecurvystylist:  #COUTURE: NY Bridal Fashion Week was AMAZING!
Smiling cause I nabbed TONS of Bride magazines in that red bag shhh..

I've been feeling yucky all week, but it always makes me feel better to have something fun to do.  It's time for COUTURE: New York Bridal Fashion Week presented by TheKnot.com and the Wedding Channel.  I always look forward to going almost as much as I do Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.  The grandeur of bridal fashion inspires me to overcome the blahs and find something cute to wear.  Plus, I am going to videotape the first webisode of "Down That Aisle in Style for the Curvy Bride."  The weather is beautiful today and there's no time for feeling or looking dreary.  I need color, lots of color!!!

What should I wear to COUTURE: New York Bridal Fashion Week?  I love the colorblocking trend.  So I shopped my closet and pulled out my new red jeans, purple blouse, new grey wool capelet, and my new Michael Kors leopard pony kitten heels.  Every season I update my wardrobe with some trendy new pieces to repurpose what I already have in a new way.  Since I aim to dress well on a budget, I searched high and low for a pair of reasonably priced red jeans.  I found these jeans at Strawberry in the Empire State Building, no less, for only $20 (reg. $99).  While I loved the fabric and color, the waist was too big and pant leg too long.  I took them to a tailor and for only $15 he removed the waist band, put in some darts, replaced the waist band and hemmed the legs.  That was a total of $35 well spent and I don't even need to where a belt.  Ha Ha! 

My purple blouse with the tie neck costs just $6 on Target's clearance rack last year.  I nabbed my new grey wool capelet at a sample sale in Midtown this month for only $20, believe it or not.  Excluding the shoes, the outfit was only $61.  These Michael Kors kitten heels are my everything: chic pointed toe, comfy padding under foot, cool leopard pony and patent leather trim with gold button detail....EVERYTHING!  I bought them at Century 21 (Downtown NY) for under $70!  First Lady Michelle Obama would be proud!

What do you think?

A BRAND New YOU!

© Elisa Vavouri/Smart MAGNA/Corbis

A New Year always brings with it hope for a brand new you.  As a result we are bombarded with ads about weight loss programs and plastic surgery to “fix” whatever is supposedly “wrong” with us.  According to a study inspired by Dove’s Real Woman campaign, “Ads featuring skinny models make women feel bad about themselves…”  So worried about our imperfections, many of us become stuck in a style rut with closets full of colorless, ill-fitting, and unflattering clothes.

In a recent sermon my Pastor said, “Don’t let your inadequacies be a dysfunction of your view of yourself.  It doesn’t matter what you lack, pay attention to what you possess.”  Wise words, when it comes to your personal style.  You can spend money on all the new clothes and diet programs you want to work on the outside, but the real makeover happens on the inside.

When it comes to our personal style, are we more focused on our flaws than the fashion?  Save some money, begin to value what you already have and feel more confident.  Here are my tips to discover the brand that is YOU in 2012!

1. Apply Philippians 4:8:  “Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious – the best, not the worst: the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.” (The Message) Take a lesson from this scripture and focus on the best in you.   Write down all of the good things that come to mind. 
   
   
2. Flaunt Your Assets:  Look in your closet and pull out the pieces that you love to wear.  These should be the clothes that accentuate your best physical traits and in them you feel most confident.  Analyze these items and make a list of what’s in need of repair or replacement and flaunt your assets for another year.
   
   
3. The Runway to the Everyday:  It so easy to wear your favorite pants with that same top, belt, and shoes every time you wear them.  Try viewing your closet with a fresh pair of eyes to see how your favorite pieces can be worn differently.  Look to fashion magazines for the inspiration to update your style.  Keep the pages of the looks you love for future inspiration when dressing and shopping.
   
   
4. Go from Flaws to Fabulous:  Instead of focusing on your flaws make them fabulous with fashion.  For example, if you are not pleased with your wobbly arms, instead of hating them, find ways to adorn them.  Invest in amazing jackets or sweaters or use jewelry to accent them.

Style by its very definition is “a distinctive manner of expression” or in other words, it's your brand.  This is the beginning to understanding your personal style, which projects to the world your brand and a more confident You! 

Do you find yourself more focused on your flaws than the fashion?

You ARE Fearfully & Wonderfully Made

Happy New Year!!!  Before you beat yourself about all things you must change, why not start by celebrating the way God made you. 

Glamour magazine (October 2011) asked 300 young women of all shapes and sizes to record every anxious thought they had about their bodies throughout one day.  The study found that 97% of the women had an average of 13 negative or anxious thoughts, some as many as 100.

The women noted some very disturbing thoughts. “I’m ugly.  Too skinny.  Look sick.” “You’re obese.  All the pretty girls are size 2.”  “Oh my God, look at her waist and legs.  We’re the same height.  She looks like a model and I look like a lumpy sock.”

The article enlisted the help of psychologists to breakdown why this happens and what can be done about it.  I started to wonder what does the Bible have to say about the issue, and I turned to Psalm 139.

Of course, God knows everything about us.  He created us.  We are fearfully and wonderfully made.  His workmanship is marvelous!  How well we know it….or do we?

When it comes to how we see our bodies, do we think God made a mistake?

In our celebrity obsessed culture, we are bombarded by images of people who are “picture perfect.”  While the average woman in this country wears a size 14, the “never too thin” world of fashion considers a size 8 plus size.  It’s easy to understand why when we look at TV and magazines we may feel less than perfect.

Examine your own self talk.  How likely are you to walk up to a mirror, checkout your reflection and say, “You look marvelous?”  The answer may give you a revelation of how you really feel about one of God’s creations…YOU. 

Without thinking, we say things to ourselves that we would be really offended to hear from someone else?  Imagine how you would feel if someone walked up to you and said “You look disgusting with those cottage cheese legs and stretch marked hips.  Nasty.  No one will want to touch you.”

Unfortunately, these are the horrible things we think about ourselves that drive us to obsess about body and diet or even develop eating disorders. 

What is this obsession with our imperfections?  “Neuroscience has shown that whatever your mind focuses on shapes your brain.  Those pathways become stronger and become habits.” says Dr. Kearney-Cooke, a Cincinnati specialist in eating disorders.  It seems you are what you think you are. 

“God knows our hearts and our anxious thoughts.” And here’s what the Bible recommends in Philippians 4:8 “Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable, right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

My advice?  Wake up each day and affirm Psalm 139:14, “God I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Marvelous are Thy works.  And I know it body and soul.”  Repeat it when you look in the mirror; or wish you had somebody else’s thighs; or think about starving yourself to be thin. 

It’s true.  God makes no mistakes.

To celebrate the relaunch of my blog, I have a FREE gift for some lucky girls!  Just leave a comment and your email address to enter to win.  MUAH!!!

How to Dress Up Your Denim for Church

Photographer: Michael Parker

Pastors Michael & Lakeesha Walrond
First Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church

Whether you sport a denim jacket, chambray shirt or your favorite pair of jeans – fancy denim looks are the trend.   Dressing up the denim we typically grab to dress down is a perfect style strategy when wearing denim to church.  I don’t have to look any further than my own Pastor Michael Walrond and First Lady Lakeesha to see how to make denim our Sunday best. 

Stylish new denim fashions are showing up this season in the form of chic dresses, jazzy jumpsuits and dynamic washes.  High end designers such as Stella McCartney, G Star Raw and Ralph Lauren Black Label Denim for Men are taking center stage in fashion magazines with new luxurious and elegant denim collections. 

Keep an eye on your budget and update your look by starting with the denim pieces you may already have in your closet.

• The Denim Jacket – Ladies don’t ditch your maxi dress when the weather starts to cool down.  Slip your denim jacket over it or a flirty chiffon summer dress for a girly take on the trend.  Men can do the same in a pair of khakis with an untucked shirt and tie for a preppy look that eases into fall.

• The Chambray Shirt – A structured denim shirt will go with just about anything, even a pair of jeans, IF they have a different wash.  Men can rock the color block trend with a blue jean shirt and colored jeans in black or red.  Ladies, for an easy breezy Sunday morning look unbutton your shirt and wear it like a jacket then layer it over a flowing full skirt and tank top. 

• The Favorite Jeans – Dressing up your favorite jeans for church can be as easy as slipping on a classic single breasted blazer.  Men mix it up with a plaid shirt and a paisley pocket square.  Stay in the same color family for a look that’s unconventional with style.  Ladies wear a feminine top with your blazer or try a short dress over skinny jeans for a look that’s bohemian chic.

• The Accessories – Express your personal style.  Men: sport a tweed newsboy cap, penny loafers and sporty watch in a bright color.  Women: "style it up" with an amazing pair of shoes, layers of necklaces, and bangles that make you sparkle.
  

To celebrate the relaunch of my blog, I have a FREE gift for one lucky girl!  Just leave a comment and your email address to enter to win.  MUAH!!!

Lanvin's Elbaz Makes (Success)Full Figures

Despite the indomitable rift between high fashion and plus sizes, I am inspired by an article I read in the Financial Times' award winning luxury lifestyle magazine, How To Spend It.  The article titled "More Mister Nice Guy" featured a picture of Alber Elbaz almost hiding among pillars after Lanvin's spring/summer 2012 show in Paris.  The subtitle on the piece is what really caught my eye.  It read: "His work does not change radically from season to season, and women of all sizes adore his clothes."  I had to read more...

Alber Elbaz is credited with bringing Lanvin, one of the first Parisienne fashion houses ever, back to life over 10 years ago.  However, it is his congeniality and sensitivity that seems to surprise the industry.  The article goes on to say "because of his own struggles with weight, which are public and frustrating, Elbaz designs clothes that make a woman feel beautiful, but are never challenging," says Marigay McKee, the fashion and beauty director of the famed Harrods department store.

Alber Elbaz designs for all women, even this cute little one.
Here are a few adorable images from 2012 collection for girls.

Seldom are the collection of words "women of all sizes" seen in the same context as a luxury brand and almost never in a postive way.   McKee spoke of the success of the Lanvin line in its stores in this way, "We buy in a wide range of sizes, from a 34 to a 44.  The same dress! And that is very, very unsual."  This was a rather delightful aberration.   Granted a European size 44 is about a size 14, but there is hope.

It's encouraging that Alber Elbaz is making money with a business model guided by his own mother's motto "Be both big and small."  Of course the writer went on to explain that this meant to "dream big, but also never forget you are just a man."  What if Elbaz has been taking this motto literally in his business and designs?  Jeffrey Kalinsky, executive VP of designer merchandising for Nordstrom describes "there is no specific Lanvin customer, because everyone is potentially a Lanvin customer."  Isn't that amazing!  Has Alber Elbaz hidden an empathy for plus size fashion in plain sight of the fashion elite?

Checkout this quirky video for Lanvin's collection for H&M.
Could this be a plus size model on the treadmill?

 

They say his business model is very unique, referring to his old-fashioned method of being more hands-on than most designers today.  Elbaz says, "I don't do anything because it is commercial!  What does that mean?  That it is cheap?  Generic? Familiar?  Commercial should just mean something you love to have."   According to chief executive Thierry Andretta, Lanvin revenues are up 28 percent on the previous year, but has actually experienced the highest same store revenue growth in the sector, up 32 percent.   Lanvin has 27 directly owned stores around the world, 25 franchises and more than 730 points of sale - and is debt free.

Alber Elbaz is described as a "mister nice guy" and an amazing artist with a successful business model.  I believe Elbaz has cracked the concrete gateway to high end plus size fashion,  and may be putting to rest the notion that success just isn't possible in that market.  With over 67 percent of the women in this country wearing a size 14 or larger, it is very likely that we have the money to spend.  Not to mention the huge numbers of women from around the world who come here to find fashionable plus size clothes.  I believe there is furtile ground for profit in the plus size market, if someone would just make the fashion we love and want.  Here are a few pieces from the Lanvin 2012 collection I think would look lovely on a full-figured woman too. After reading this post, what do you think of Alber Elbaz?  Would you buy Lanvin, if it were available in plus size?

a drop dead diva's fashion night out

Brooke Elliott (Before) at The Avenue FNO event

Brooke Elliott (After my "styling") at The Avenue FNO event

You never know who you're going to meet on Fashion's Night Out. For the third year in a row designers, models, fashion editors, and shoppers headed to New York City for exclusive FNO parties and an extravagant night of shopping, star gazing, champagne and cocktails.  I was definitely one of them.  This year I was free to roam this fashion fair of sorts to my heart's desire.  Should I go to Manolo Blahnik to meet 'friend in my head' Sarah Jessica Parker or meet Red Carpet designer Tadashi Shoji at Oh My Lord & Taylor?

My decision was made when I received a frantic call from my talented designer & friend, Ms. Abby, telling me to hurry my booty down to The Avenue to see someone she knew I was anxious to meet.  Every week I watch the fabulous Brooke Elliott, the star of Drop Dead Diva on Lifetime TV.  During each episode I imagine that I am the wardrobe stylist for the show and envision the looks I would choose for every scene. 

I arrived just in time to not only meet Brooke but we were able to chat briefly and pose for a few pictures.  As Brooke and I talked, she complimented my outfit, not once but twice.  I wore a strapless black jumpsuit (a designer sample given to me by the fabulous Ms. Amber!  Thanks, Girl!) with a Target blue jean jacket and comfy Clark gold ballet flats. (Very low key style)  I winked at her and with a cheeky grin I said, "That's why I'm the curvy stylist!"  She smiled broadly and said, "You're right!  Now, really, where did you get that?"

It's my passion to help curvy celebs look their best.  Brooke looked stunning as always in this animal print dress with a ruffled front from The Avenue.  I thought it looked great on her body type.  My friends asked me, "How I would have styled Brooke for her FNO appearance?"  If I had my way I would have swapped her black pumps for something a little more diva-licious by adding some brightly colored shoes, like these Magenta Jimmy Choo's.  Our Drop Dead gorgeous diva would then be rocking two of this season's hottest trends: animal print and bold color.  A girl can dream, right?

I liked her wide black belt with the dress, but I felt strongly that her belt was too low on her torso.  I think it would have been a bit more flattering if the belt was inched up a bit.  So, of course, I told her so and just slide it up a little bit.  I really couldn't help myself.  It looked so much better to me.  Check out the 'after' picture.  What do you think?  (I think a gold or silver belt a bit thinner really would have taken this FNO look to a MARVELOUS level!!)

To celebrate the relaunch of my blog, I have a FREE gift pack of EOS products for one lucky curvy girl!  Just leave a comment and your email address to enter to win these and other perfect prizes too.  MUAH!!!

vote4sheri in about.me

Will this face show up in Times Square?  OMG!  I don't know what got into me, but I entered this contest to be the face of about.me, a splash page website that let's you create an online profile that's all about YOU.  It's cool and contemporary and it's absolutely free.  This is the picture I uploaded into my profile.  As my friend Deirdre would say, "It's extra cheesy!"  Really, it is the result of one of those 'fake it til you make it' moments in life, when I felt discouraged and wanted to keep the faith.  Now, when I look at it I can barely remember what was so wrong.  I must say the strategy worked.  You should try it.  Today, September 20 is the last day of voting.  Please take a moment to vote by clicking the about.me tab or click here >>>to Vote4Sheri in about.me.

To celebrate the relaunch of my blog, I have a FREE gift pack of EOS products for one lucky curvy girl!  Just leave a comment and your email address to enter to win these and other perfect prizes too.  MUAH!!!

are curvy models bad for brands?

"Ads featuring thin models made women feel worse about themselves, but they regarded the brands higher" stated a New Jersey university study inspired by Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty.  (AdAge.com, 7/31/09)  I pondered this for a while... 

Women want to feel they can look extraordinary, like the women they see in fashion magazines.  67% of the population of women in this country are a size 14 or larger...Plus Size.  Are we so self-loathing that we really feel that brands are less desirable when the model in the ad looks like us?  

Check out the Dolce & Gabbana ad above with plus size supermodel Crystal Renn.  She has come to symbolize the debate over size in the fashion industry.  According to her agent, Gary Dakin, her weight fluctuates between a size 8 and 10, which for the fashion industry is plus size.  “I think the fashion industry is changing and is more open to a new ideal,” says Renn. “It’s about a personality and a moment captured..it’s not about body size it’s about talent and effort."  Although she's toned up and slimmed down a bit, Crystal's career took off when she was heavier and had the confidence to break barriers in the world of high fashion. 

Commercials and talk shows feature plus size women who say they feel trapped in their bodies and unable to fulfill their dreams.  This message is so misleading.  Contrary to what is seen in the mainstream media, the majority of the women in this country are plus size.  It stands to reason that we are doing a heck of a lot more than waiting to drop some weight before we can step up to life. OMG!  We are judges, elected officials, designers, stylists, businesswomen and super models, no less.

I was inspired to use my marketing expertise and love of fashion to become a stylist and write this blog.  Armed with my MBA, my mission is to destroy these stereostypes and create positive images of plus-size women in the media.  I want to change the images that people see of plus size women and ultimately change how we see ourselves. 

To celebrate the relaunch of my blog, I have a FREE gift for one lucky girl!  Just leave a comment and your email address to enter to win.  MUAH!!!

eos - evolution of smooth (review)

I love beauty and skin care products almost as much as I love fashion.  They are a key part of any curvy girl’s lifestyle.  They keep us pretty, fresh, sparkling, and smooth all over.  It's what you put on before your clothes that can make the difference in being really put together or not.  Rough, dry or ashy skin is not a good look. 

When I was asked to try a new body lotion by EOS (Evolution of Smooth), I approached the task cautiously.  I was not at all confident about putting aside my Vaseline petroleum jelly enhanced with cocoa butter, especially now.  My summertime go-to moisturizer slathers away the ash on my cocoa brown skin, but it’s at least a 20 minute routine every morning.  However for the sake of integrity I owed it to you to make the sacrifice. 

After my shower, I’ve been using the "EOS BOOST Hand & Body Lotion."  It’s an all natural remedy for dry to extra dry skin that’s 97% Paraben free.  I started to wonder, what is paraben anyway?  And why do I care that it’s not in there?  So I Googled it, of course!  Parabens are found in shampoos, commercial moisturizers, shaving gels, cleansing gels, some toothpastes and even personal lubricants.  OMG!  There is research that suggests that parabens act like estrogen hormones in the body which can make it a really bad thing for our risk of breast cancer.  Not a good thing!

Okay back to my experiment….my EOS body lotion smoothed on easily and absorbed quickly into my skin which for a die-hard heavy cream user like me made me little nervous about it’s effectiveness.  Remember I believed you had to “work” for it.  Six hours later I ran my hands down my legs and, what do you know, they were still smooth and soft.  I looked at my legs.  They looked radiant, almost shiny, no ash in sight.  How did it do that without me investing many minutes rubbing it in and then being careful not to get greasy residue on the fabric of my outfit?  No worries about my clothing with Evolution of Smooth body lotion.   No grease and no mess.

This is a breakthrough....at least for me.   Who needs the parabens?  Natural is so much better.  Less time and less worry.  I loved it so much I gave one to my best friend too. 

EOS is available in three formulations for different skin types:

Nourish - revitalizing care for normal to dry skin, leaving it radiantly healthy

Boost - complete care to revive dry to extra dry skin

Refresh - active care to energize normal to dry skin with natural cucumber and aloe

The ultra modern packaging is so adorable for all of their products which include oval shaped hand lotion, shaving creams and these cute little egg shaped lip balms.  BTW - the hand cream and minty lip balm are the bomb too.   EOS is available at Target, Walgreens, and more.  Check out the website to buy online at evolutionofsmooth.com.

To celebrate the relaunch of my blog, I have a FREE gift pack of EOS products for one lucky curvy girl!  Just leave a comment and your email address to enter to win these and other perfect prizes too.  MUAH!!!