Seeing red

Hi All!

I've been heavily perusing the webs lately for perfect fall/winter pieces in rich red hues.  Whatever shade of red you are into, oxblood, claret, wine, or burgundy there is no denying that this color is perfect for many of  the current fall/winter fashion trends.  I've recently pinned many items to my Pinterest board in the hopes of amassing a virtual clothing collection as rich and variegated as the color itself. I am currently on the hunt for the perfect velvet legging in a burgundy color and saw these leggings that literally made me gasp.

 

Isn't the color perfection?  Of course the challenge in finding the perfect velvet legging is making sure that said legging comes in your size (lamentably this one does not).

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I've was also able to snag the ultimate holiday dress by way of Monif C.  The vibrant color of this dress literally made my heart flutter and I had to snag it when I learned of their $50 off Friends and Family promotion! It is called the "Alexandra" and it is a body hugging, head turning, gasp-inducing creation of utter proportions. See for yourself:

 

 

Now, I already own this dress in a gold sparkly color and wore it for New Years 2 years ago.  I wore patent red Corso Comos and felt like a goddess.  Seriously, no one could tell me nothing! Here is a pic of me trying on the dress for the first time:

 

 

I also recently spied this little number from River Island and I'm absolutely feeling the lace/peplum combo:

 

 

Unfortunately, RI sizes only go up to a US14 so this was purely a "wish I could buy this dress" moment.

 

If you ever have the patience and the time, eBay and Etsy are also great places to find unique pieces in various shades of red.  Look at this dress I recently came across on eBay:

 

(ugh, I strongly dislike watermarks)

This dress comes in a plus sizes but the sizing seems to be more Junior's sizing.  It is jersey material which is naturally very stretchy so take that into consideration if you plan on buying!

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With regards to baubles and bling, the color red makes me think vintage and old world charm.  I fell in love with these earrings from ASOS because they had such a great vintage feel without looking overly gaudy:

 

What colors have you been drawn to recently? Have  you been successful in finding pieces that adequately capture the colors you like? Share your finds with me below!

<3

 

OOTPP: Outfits of the Post Preggy and win an Ashley Stewart dress!

Hello Lovelies!
It's been a while but I'm back in the building! Surely, you didn't think I'd be gone forever did you? So, I am officially post preggy and am getting used to being a mom for the THIRD time.  It's only been three weeks but I truly can't wait to get back in form (pre-preggy shape) so I can share all of my clothing finds with you! I managed to convince the hubby to take some pics for me and wanted to share with you some outfit posts. I am actually giving away the Ashley Stewart dress so read on to see how you can snatch it up!

Dress: Forever 21 (1x)

Earrings : Forever 21

So I initially bought this dress because I was in love with the colors.  After getting it in the mail., I threw it in my closet and forgot all about it. I'm kind of on the fence about it still because the silhouette is not something I'm accustomed to.  I'm also not in love with the ties at the waist...a smocked waistline would have been 100 times better in my opinion.

 A plus though, definitely the puff shoulders--just the right touch of whimsy.

Verdict: Ehh...

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Dress: Forever 21

So I don't know how I feel about this dress either.  I love the pattern which is why I purchased it in the first place.  As we all know, F21 sizing is extremely wonky.  I am usually a 1X in their clothing (which this dress is) but it seems that I should have purchased this in a 2x. I love the fact that is zips in the back but dislike the fact that it is as short as it is.  I guess no bending down to pick up lost change while in this baby!

Verdict: Ehh...

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Camisole: Sweet Nothings via Walmart

Pants: Rainbows

Top: Akira (one size fits all)

Belt: Forever 21 (main range)

I love, love, love this outfit.  I wish I had a slouchy leather satchel to go along with it! I copped the pants from my local Rainbows and am surprised by how nice they feel.  The pants are really slinky and have these really cool slouchy pockets.  I'm also loving the top from Akira! They don't cater to plus sizes but there are a lot of pieces that will accommodate a plus sized frame.  This top is very billowy and is sure to be flattering on many body types.

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Jacket: H&M faux leather biker jacket (size 14)

Camisole: Sweet Nothings via Walmart

Pant: Forever 21 fringe legging

Belt: American Eagle

So how bad-ass is this outfit? I'm in lurve with this jacket from H&M. What would make it perfection is if I found it in a size 16 as the jacket doesn't actually close on me.  I like the fringe legging from F21 but it has a sheen to it that I'm not really crazy about because it accentuates every bump and lump on my body.  I thought I'd throw on the AE belt to offset the monotony of the black.  Pink (in small doses) always seems to calm me down...

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Ok, so this is not an outfit pic obviously but I wanted to show you all my cool hat from ASOS.  For some reason I've been obsessed with bobble hats and had been on the search for a perfect one.  I love the rich teal color of this hat and the fact that the knit is so chunky and substantive. I can't wait to rock this when it gets colder! Oh, excuse the neck naps in the last pic!

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So to commemorate my return from preggo-hood, I'd like to offer you all a chance to win this Ashley Stewart wrap dress! It is band spanking new and is a size 14/16 but I think the dress could easily accommodate a size 18.  All you have to do to enter this contest is to follow my blog and leave your email addy in the comments section.  I will be using a random number generator to select the winner.  Enter now, contest will end Monday, October 10th at 8PM EST!

Hold you down...

Some people are not a fan of shapewear due to its naturally constricting characteristics.  I, for one, appreciate anything that will have me looking from "okay" to "va-va-voom" in a matter of seconds.  That being said, I tend to opt for shapewear that is not too bunchy or too heavy.  Throughout my life, I've probably spent hundreds of dollars on shapewear.  Some have been great disappointments and others are definitely worthy of a mention.  One such brand is "Sweet Nothings", a subsidiary of Maidenform.  Sweet Nothings is carried in Walmart stores and are very reasonable price-wise. They have both straight sized and plus sizes.   Here are a few items I have purchased from the brand that I absolutely swear by.

Get the Skinny Shapewear Leggings

These leggings are absolutely fabulous.  They feel great and are not too constricting.  Although I'd fit into the XXL, I tend to size down to get a more fitted look. These have a midriff flattening panel which is very sturdy which is a definite plus.

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Get the Skinny Firm Control Tank

Like the leggings above, I have this in an XL.  I actually have two of these-one is black and the other is black with lace edging.  This tank has a midriff flattening panel as well (most of their pieces do) and dramatically reduces stomach and back bulge!

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Sweet Nothings Convertible Strapless Bra

Before purchasing this bra, I had one strapless bra in my arsenal.  It is a Lilyette and is not the most comfortable.  This bra is the most phenomenal strapless bra I have ever tried on...it actually stay put when it is on! No more adjusting and picking at the side of your bras ladies! This bra comes with straps so you have the option of having straps or not.  I purchased this in the 42D in black  and it fits like a glove.  I may get one in every color!