Fairy Dust

"Well you know me; give me a full ballerina skirt and a hint of saloon and I'm on board." ~ The Devil Wears Prada.  This pretty much sums up how I am feeling about this ballerina skirt.  If there is one person in the world that I know who appreciate this outfit, would be my 5 year old niece Kylea.  This skirt is right up her alley.  I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing.  Outfits like these make me think I should be keeping some fairy dust in my clutch.  

Outfit Logistics:  Top - Kiyonna $68, Skirt - Shabby Apple $62, Clutch - ShoeDazzle $39, Wedges - Calvin Klein via Nordstrom Rack $60, Lip Color - MAC Pink Nouveau, Nail - Shellac Studio White

Sorry about the bad convo on the blog lately.  I'm pretty much just holding my breath until my two trips.  Meaning I have two weeks to ride out until I'm outie 5000!  Then I should much more exciting things to talk about.  Until then, you just have to look at me in lace and tulle "at the same dang time." LOL Gucci! Excuse, but I am having an obsession with all things ratchet lately. 

More Fabulous Swimsuits for this Summer!

These plus size swimsuits come to us by way of NakiMuli.  This line has been around for a while, but they just added some super cute swimsuits that can be bought in both straight & plus sizes. So you've heard of convertible dresses, these are convertible swimsuits with infinite possibilities.  I am in love with the colorful one! There are only these two styles available, but I thought these were just too adorable not to share.  

Bright Delight Wrap Bathing Suit $138/Black Liquid Wrap Bathing Suit $125

I've just made my first purchase from this brand, so I am not familiar with the quality.  If you have questions shoot over to Tiffany from Fat Shopaholic.  I know she has purchased from this brand before.  Now with all these gorgeous swimsuits that have been shown to you by all these wonderful bloggers there is no excuse not to get out and enjoy the water and sunshine.  I want you to walk down that beach like you own it!


What do you think about the idea of having a convertible swimsuit?

Travelin' Woman

Noticed anything lately. My hunny bunny bought me the NIKON 1 camera and it takes magnificent shots.  I am so excited because I will be traveling in a couple of weeks to Kanye Country (Chicago) and JayZ territory (NYC). (I'm not sure why I am thinking in terms of rappers.) Since I am a blogger and obviously take pictures all the time, when I go on trips I tend to opt out of taking pictures.  You can probably say I am pictured out.  This go around, I have said I WILL take plenty of pictures.  I am excited, the Chi-Town visit is a girl's trip and I don't have to say what the NYC trip is for.  

Outfit Logistics: Top - Forever 21 $20, Pants - JIBRI $130, Necklace - Archive Vintage $20, Sandals - Talbots $18, Shellac Color - Studio White, Clutch - Nordstrom Rack $50

Designer to Watch: Annette Lea

Etsy always bring designers with such a young and fresh perspective on fashion.  This designer is no exception.  Check out the Annette Lee Plus Size Collection.  Sold on both etsy and her personal website, Annette shows she has a lot to offer to the plus size fashion community.  

 Blouse $75/Skirt $90/Dress $180

Dress $165/Blouse $175

Dress $245/Dress $150

Prices range between $70 - $250.  What do you think of the Annette Lea Collection.

Elle Finland Feature

Check out my feature in Elle Finland's June 2012.  Unfortunately, I don't read Finnish, but I look to be in great company with Beth Ditto right above me. 

Update:  Tiina, a reader from Finland, translated the article.  She says - "The article gives dressing tips for curvier gals. You Chastity set an example there how trends can be worn at any sizes, like the cropped top you are wearing in the picture :)"

Casual Girl

I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day, I sure did.  My mom & my mother-in-law came to visit and let's just say I am still recovering, as you can see from today's post. This is probably on of my few relaxed posts and I have on...sneakers! Can you believe it? I'm not much of a sneaker girl, but I found the cutest sneakers at Nordstrom Rack and thought I would actually wear these!!!  

Outfit Logtistics:  Top - JIBRI $60, Jeans - Avenue $20 sold out (simliar), Sneakers - Nike via Nordstrom Rack $30, 

I always say getting dressed up is the easy part.  It's the dressing down in a casual, but chic way, that's the hard part.  How do you keep it casual, but stylish?

Turning my MonifC 1 Piece into a Fatkini

I'm no Fluvia, but I wanted to give you a before and after of my plus size swimsuit project.  It all started when I purchased this MonfiC swimsuit from Boutique Larrieux for a mere $50.  Awesome right?!?  They were having a sale and I couldn't pass up on this baby.  Anyway when I received the suit I thought it was adorable.  The color was vibrant and the it was nice and thick, but there was a fit problem.  I'm tall, but my tallness comes from a long torso and not long legs.  I tried on the suit and it seemed to be too short.  The bust was being pulled down by the bottom of the suit and it made me look like I had saggy boobies.  I perished of the thought of giving it up...it was just two cute.  So I thought in my head, if I made this into two pieces it would alleviate the bust issues.  And that's what I did.  I took the suit to a seamstress and had them separate the top from the bottom and Wah Lah Magic (sorry that song is my guilty pleasure)!  This is definitely my favorite suit of the summer.  

Outfit Logistics:  Swimsuit - MonifC via Boutique Larrieux $50, Sarong - AllSarongs $20, Bag - Target (over 3 yrs ago), Sunglasses - Juicy Couture via Saks Off Fifth $30, Lipstick - MAC Girl About Town $14, 

Well this concludes swimsuit week.  I hope you enjoyed, because I sure did.  I must admit that I am ready to put some clothes on.  LOL! There is 7 more days to enter the "Fatkini" Contest. Enter here if you haven't done so already.    Whether it's a fatkini or a whole piece have fun just get out there and enjoy the summer!  I know it's not the easiest thing to bare it all on the beaches, but I am a firm believer in the phase, "if you look good you feel good."  I'm not thrilled at the idea of being half naked, but if I have to do it I plan on being as fabulous as I can be.  Feeling good about your beach look can make all the difference in poolside experience.  Now I want to see you guys strutting on this summer! 

***Quick Update:  Just wanted to let you know that I will be attending FFFWeek in June.  I can't wait to meet everyone!!!

Plus Size Swimsuit Post #2

Swimsuit week would not be complete without a fancy one piece swimsuit.  Some ladies felt that the plus size bikini wouldn't work for them and that's fine, a one piece can be just as bold.  Swimwear is a great time to add in fun accessories.  I, personally, like to go glam at the pool.  A fun beach bag and some bright lip stick and I am ready to go.    

Outfit Logistics:  Swimsuit - Kiyonna $118,  Scarf - Nordstrom Rack $20, Sunglasses - Chanel $239, Skirt - Asos Curve $40 (soldout), Lipstick - Nouba No. 14 , Belt - Off of some random dress LOL

Check out From the Rez to the City in her scarf and sunglasses combo.  I have always thought this look is so chic.

Very quickly, I would like talk about my irritation for plus size cover ups and the reason I had to re-purpose this skirt.  Plus size cover ups generally just cover the body to the top of the thigh, but what about us girls who want leg & booty coverage.  We always get left out in the cold.  I personally don't want a cover up my swimsuit, but I would like something to take the edge off of these thighs...LOL.  I will say that now that I have found this cover-up I will probably never buy another one.  It's perfect! It took me years to find it, but now that I got it I'm never letting it go.   Speaking of re-purposing, I have a huge collection of belts that I take off of dresses.  I tend to think the belts that come with a garment look cheap, so I always replace them.  Swimwear is a great place to wear some of these belts.  It's no biggie if you get them wet, because they didn't cost you a dime.  

Also, thank you so much for all your positive comments on the plus size bikini. It can be a little unnerving to unveil all your goodies in front of the world, even for a girl like me. 

Want your own Fatkini? Enter here for your chance win your very own.  

Plus Size Bikini My Way Giveaway

What would my newly declared swimsuit week be without a swimsuit giveaway.  Here's a chance to win your own "fatkini."  One lucky reader will win my swimsuit combination. 

Here's how to enter.  All entrants must be followers of The Curvy Girl's Guide to Style via Google Friend Connect.  Contestants can enter up to 4 ways.  Minimally, contestants must like the GarnerStyle Fan Page and comment their email address & "Enter Me."  You can get two additional entries by following the www.twitter.com/garnerstyle twitter page and tweeting "I just entered @garnerstyle Plus Size Bikini My Way Giveaway at www.garnerstyle.blogspot.com"  All of this is be done through the Rafflecopter Widget below.  Entries will be taken until 5/18.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway




Want to view the details of the item you could possibly win.  See the bikini top here & the bikini bottoms here.   Good Luck to all!  

Plus Size Bikini - My Way!

So I'm declaring this week plus size swimsuit week on my blog.  As of yesterday, Dallas heat hit 95 degrees. Side Eye!  It will be another scorching summer, not to worry though as long as I have my AC & the pool right down stairs.  My long time readers know that I buy three swimsuits every summer.  I plan to show them off all this week.  

I've been trying to accomplish the fatkini for two years now.  First time was a fail -- I tried to order via etsy and it was just a disaster (badly made).  This year I've have 2 fatkinis and 1 whole piece. The bikini presents the obvious plus size issues, but for me being an 16/18 on top and a 24/26 on bottom presents an even bigger dilemma.  The plus size two bikini is a new concept for companies, so often time you cannot buy the top and bottom separate in two different sizes.  I actually loved the Monifc Black 2 piece, but I knew I needed to buy the top and bottom in two different sizes.  In the country we say there is more than one way to skin a cat. And there is!  I ordered the high waist bottoms from Lane Bryant and the top is from Old Navy and put together my own plus size bikini.  I must say the bottom from Lane Bryant is perfect.  It has a nice thickness and it's firm for keeps everything in check.  I thought this skirt from Asos would make the perfect pool side cover up.  I added a belt from Forever21 that is practically plastic, only cost me $3, and it's a perfect swimsuit add on.  Warning - do not jump in the pool with your leather belt...LOL...only cheap plastic ones.  

Outfit Logistics:  Swim Top - Old Navy $34, Swim Bottom - Lane Bryant $50. Skirt - Asos, Belt - Forever21 $3, Lipstick - YSL Lipstick Rosy Coral #052 $30

And shout out to Gabi from in her "Fatkini" she looked adorable! Check her out here.  Anyone plan on trying the plus size bikini this year?