Can "Big Girls" wear leather? (FashionStyle.com Guest Blog)

In a recent conversation with one of my favorite curvy friends, I suggested that she get some leather items for fall and she told me "Us Big Girls, can't wear leather!" For a moment, her comment took me back to the past - a past where I'd lived in ill-fitting skirts and pants from places like Wilson's House of Suede and Leather (hey, it was the early 90's!).  

I LOVE leather, the feel, the smell, the look; I even love the vegan and faux-leather and always have! Back then, I was willing to compromise true fashion just for the chance to rock leather that was often too tight or didn't fit well at all.  I could never find the cutest items in my size or that seemed to compliment my shape, which isn't quite straight size, but not quite, plus size either.

To read more of my thoughts on the leather trend for curves, click here.  Much thanks to the beautiful Kadia B. for the opportunity, love this site!

Portions of the original article re-printed via @fashionstyle.

Read More

Join me for a #curvyactive October!

A friend of mine from college issued a challenge on her Facebook page: For the month of October commit to do 30 minutes of activity EVERY day.  You may be thinking to yourself, that 30 minutes of activity isn't hard at all. However, the discipline to make activity part of your DAILY life as opposed to something you do a few times a week is not as easy as it sounds.

Taking 30 minutes to honor your body daily should be a part of our daily activities.  However, as women, we routinely don't honor ourselves or our bodies.  We don't take the necessary time to relax and decompress from our busy lives or honor ourselves with the gift of physical activity.

I decided to take on the challenge for this October (a month before I turn 35!) in order to practice what I preach; after all one of the core beliefs (aka #curvyrules) is: 

My increasingly busy schedule has made me have to rethink activity in more lifestyle related terms.  This challenge for me, is less about going to the gym every day and more about the practice of taking 30 minutes a day for myself.  Not only is being active good for maintaining and tightening your curves, it is also great for stress relief and clearing your mental and spiritual space.

An L.A. girl to my core, I prefer working outside whenever possible.  My knees and ankles are shot, so I tend to favor long walks that have a variety of terrains available (hills, stairs, paved and unpaved areas), plus walking with and among nature is always good for centering oneself.  

Some other great ways to get to your thirty minutes of activity are:

• Take the stairs (at work, at home or at any other opportunity).
• Take a brisk walk for 15 minutes a few times a day, seeing the sun will lighten your mood and before you know it, you've done 30 or more minutes of activity. 
• Take the long way home; get off the bus, subway a few stops early.
• Park your car a block away from where you need to go.
• Don't order delivery! Walk, run or bike to pick up that food order.

Make a date! 
Another GREAT way to get your 30 minutes in to your everyday life is to make activity part of your social life.  Make a date! That friend (boy you crush on) that you've been meaning to get together with? Why not invite them out for a little active fun.

• Enjoy the city! Take a brisk walk, run or bike ride in your cities best public spaces (I love to do Central Park dates, myself.)
• Get active for a cause! Find a fitness minded charity event like SweatySaturday (October 13th) or Making Strides Against Breast Cancer's Annual Walk (October 21st) and get some friends together. 
• Sweat and Eat (or drink)! Create a negative calorie effect by making a date before your typical brunch, dinner or a drinks date to sweat it out.  Try that Stiletto Bootcamp you've been wanting to check out or use that SoulCycle online deal you bought months ago.  Either way, you can sweat (and groan) with a pal and then take the second part of your fun to your favorite bar or eatery.  You won't feel so bad about splitting an order of fries or a glass of wine if you just burned 500 calories!

Join me this October in getting active and making time for ourselves and honoring our bodies!

Embrace your curves, embrace your life.

Read More

#denimdelight with Catherine's

A few week's ago, I had the pleasure if enjoying some delicious lunch with Kellie B.and other gorgeous curvy women a The Park in New York City, courtesy of Catherine's #DENIMDELIGHT.

In the back patio of The Park, Catherine's set up a delicious spread including sliders, insane mushroom risotto and delectable Potato Gnocchi with Pancetta, Arugula and Pecorino. The team also had sangria and drinks available for us to nosh on while we mingled, tried on gorgeous feeling denim and getting custom made lop gloss courtesy of Giella Cosmetics.

I am always on the search for he perfect red and what better way to get it than to have on customized before your eyes.  After viewing my completion the technician from Giella added gold undertones to my gloss to compliment my skin tone.  I loved the results!  The best thing about Giella is that its custom, you can even come to them with something that is no longer made so they can match that hue of your favorite hard to find shade.

Giella Custom Made Red, Jewels courtesy of  Catherine's

The denim all felt gorgeous.  I really loved the feel of the jeggings (I wore them almost the ENTIRE #curvyinMA weekend) and picked up a pair of trouser jeans for my Mom.

My Mom and I modeling our Catherine's jeans on a girl's weekend in Massachusetts. #curvyinMA

For more on Catherine's Denim check them out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CatherinesPlusSizes

Read More