Portmanteau Blog Title.

I believe I might have found a dress for all occasions. Well, maybe not funerals or interviews for jobs that pay more than $8/hour, but still— a good dress. 

I found this dress for sale at Avenue. It’s very similar to the dresses that are currently for sale on their website, specifically this one. I paired this dress with some tights and some very old flats that I got from Avenue a few years ago and an over-sized scarf I purchased from Hancock Fabrics for $2 a couple of years ago. 

I keep telling myself that I’m going to stop shopping at the Avenue store in the mall because they never have shirts in my size and the salespeople are WAY too pushy with the credit cards and the “free” magazine subscriptions. However, Avenue made a really good decision putting their store beside the Payless Shoes and the movie theater. If the store were anywhere else in the mall, I wouldn’t find myself promising to “just look around”. This last visit, I went to Avenue hoping to find some comfortable flats for my new job, and as Payless has either vanity-sized their shoes or my feet have shrunk to the non-existent size 11 and a half, Avenue is the only place I have been able to find shoes that sort-of fit. Well, not this visit. Also, I was hoping to buy a bathing suit, but apparently no one needs bathing suits in July. Anyways, I bought this dress and a tank top (not shown) for around $20. Not bad.

This is my second dress that is this shape and style from Avenue. My first one is the dark brown dress I wore a few posts ago. The length is very flattering, the cut is nice (except when my enormous boobs eat the waistline, as seen above), and with one safety pin in the front, it is very easy to wear. 

If anyone has any suggestions as to where I might find some enormous sensible-yet-cute flats for my giant feet, I’d be glad to hear them. 

This is what I wear when I have a job interview, a fancy meeting with important people, or I don’t have any other clean clothes. Usually the dress comes down a little lower, but if I don’t wear a slip under it, it rides up. I didn’t wear a slip, so there you go. You’re welcome, internet.

Fourth of July festivities (a day earlier) here on the homestead. Went to a cookout at a friend’s house. Wore my Avenue Smocked Waist Sundress, an Avenue tank top under it because they don’t make bras low-cut enough to wear under that dress, my Target sunglasses, some fake pearls, and a scarf (also from Avenue) as a shawl.

Simply put, I looked fantastic!

Furthermore, this is the first time in my adult life that I’ve left the house with bare arms. I know I was covering them with a scarf, but it feels like a pretty big deal to me. 

In celebration of Independence day, here is a picture of me planking.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!

It’s officially Summertime, and here is what I wore today. 

Yellow polka-dot shirt from Fashion Bug in 2007. Unfortunately, it’s no longer being sold. Blue Jeans from Woman Within (I believe) called “Tall wide leg stretch jeans”, however, apparently they are also no longer being sold. The shoes are my hot pink Converse All Stars. As much as I love my Converse EV Players, these hot pink Chucks are my first love. Of course, I bought them on clearance and they are difficult to come by now, but you might be able to find some on eBay or something. 

I bought these sunglasses at Target today for $12.99. They also had them in plain black and black with a little rhinestone bow. I feel that I made the right decision in getting the red ones. 

Today I’m wearing a black headband I got from Walmart a few years ago, a stretchy pink tank top that I bought from One Stop Plus that apparently they don’t sell anymore, a “pearl grey MEGA TUNIC” that was from One Stop Plus, that they no longer sell, as well, presumably because millions of fat women across the world died of embarrassment from going to work dressed in a “mega tunic”, some more divine denim bootcut jeans from Avenue, and one of my many pairs of Converse.

I’m attempting to show you my shoes. It’s not going well. Anyways, they’re suede Star Player EVs from Converse that I got on clearance. They’re very similar to Converse All Stars, except they don’t have the grommets on the side to let in water and snow. They are probably my favorite shoes. If you ever see a pair of suede Converse Star Player EVs going for cheap, it would be in your best interest to buy them.

My makeup is Covergirl Aquasmooth foundation/cover up (not really sure. It comes in a long, blue compact) in Natural Ivory, Revlon ColorStay pressed powder in Light, Maybelline Eyestudio eye shadow in Carbon Frost, Maybelline Lash Stiletto mascara in Very Black, and Maybelline Eye Stiletto liquid eyeliner in Blackest Black. My lipstick was made by Jane, but I bought it over 10 years ago, and the label wore off, so I can’t say what color it is. I refuse to throw it away, even though there’s pretty much none left because it’s the best color of lipstick ever made and maybe one day they’ll invent lipstick cloning, and I can have more of it. 

tumblrbot asked: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE INANIMATE OBJECT?

You are, tumblrbot. You are…

This is how I look. I’m not wearing any makeup. 

I trimmed my bangs. 

Before.

After. Not bad, if I do say so, myself.

This is my outfit for the evening. I was wearing something else, but I spilled something on it. These things happen. Anyways, the shirt is from Avenue. I bought it on sale for $10. I’m pretty sure it’s this shirt (Boatneck tee), but apparently it isn’t offered in brown and white stripes anymore, which is a shame. The jeans are Avenue Divine Denim Bootcut in a 32 tall, which Avenue appears to have stopped making (both the bootcut jeans AND jeans in a size 32 tall.) The flip flops are old Nike flip flops that my aunt gave to my father for Christmas one year (mine now!) 

Both colors of nail polish are Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure brand. The pink is “Back to the Fuchsia” 530, and the blue is “Thinking of Blue” 460. I love this brand of nail polish because the brushes are round and flat, and it’s way easier to apply. When these bottles of nail polish run out or go dry, I’m going to keep the brushes to use on my other nail polishes, because they’re so fantastic. I’m a convert and I’m never turning back. The ring is my engagement ring. It came from overstock.com, and it’s the most expensive and lovely thing I own. 

I apologize if the images have gotten a little skewed. Once I figure out how to fix this, I will probably get around to doing so. 

It has occurred to me that almost all of the “fatshionista”, fat fashion, fat beauty, fat style, and otherwise fat-positive lady blogs focus on very specific styles: rockabilly and hipster. I am neither of those things. I know from experience that it can be challenging to feel comfortable in your own skin if you’re a large and in charge lady, especially since it’s hard to find comfortable clothes that fit you.

I have nothing but respect for all the other beautiful people who make fat fashion blogs. Your courage, wit, and beauty have inspired confidence and love in millions of people throughout the world. However, I would like to expand on the ideals of beauty for fat women.

Fat women, I would like to share some bits of wisdom that I have learned in my twenty-seven years on this planet:

First, you do not owe it to the world to be beautiful. No one has an obligation to make themselves easy to look at. If you want to wear bright colors, horizontal stripes, sweat pants, no makeup, THEN FUCKING DO IT! You do not have a responsibility to be beautiful for other people. You do not have to make yourself look thin, feminine, or young to be loved and respected. You have just as much right to be in this world as anyone else, and it’s up to you and you alone what you do with yourself. 

Second, “Ain’t nobody worried about you.” This phrase changed my life. I was at work and I was feeling self-conscious about the fit of my pants. As I was voicing my concerns that everyone was going to look at my disgusting gut, a very wise friend looked at me and said, “Girl, ain’t nobody worried about you.” And she was right. Nobody was worried about if my pants fit me right. Nobody is going to stare at you, or judge you, or think poorly of you if you don’t look 100% fabulous at all times. And if somebody does, well then that’s their problem, not yours. 

Anyways, here’s the deal. I’m posting this as much for me as for anyone else. I realize that I’m fabulous just the way I am. I just sometimes forget that. On this blog, you will probably find me in outfits that are not particularly fashionable. You will see my hair looking awful. You will may see some swollen ankles, and some pimples. You could even see some awkward hair cuts. This is me… fabulous me. 

I wear a dress size 32. I am 5’11”. I wear a size 12 in shoes. My bra size is 50 H. And I look fucking fantastic.