Rose Blouse

Took a little stroll around the neighborhood today on the way to brunch. Just so happy that it really feels like fall finally and I can wear long sleeves again. This sheer rose colored shirt from Simply Be is a perfect transitional piece. The little tie details on the bell sleeve give it something special. It fits true to size and really looks luxe. Paired it with an easy faux-leather skirt and my favorite clutch. I hope you all have a perfect weekend!

OUTFIT DETAILS
Rose Tie Sleeve Blouse – Simply Be
Mosman Faux Leather Skirt – Universal Standard
Clutch – Directive Made
Shoes – Kork Ease
Rose Gold Metal Necklace – Maslo Jewelry
Glasses – SEE Eyewear

Shirt provided for review by SimplyBe

New York Outfits

I visited NYC for my birthday and I just wanted to share a few of my favorite pieces that I wore.

Outfit 1
Black Wrap Maxi Dress – Eloquii
Shoes – Kork Ease
Bag – Valhalla Brooklyn
Earrings – Powers Handcrafted
Glasses – SEE Eyewear

Outfit 2
Black Jumpsuit – Torrid
Bag/Backpack – Steve Madden
Sandals – Sorel
Glasses – SEE Eyewear

Outfit 3
Crepe Geneva Dress – Universal Standard
Bag/Backpack – Steve Madden
Ankle Boots – Lucky Brand
Necklace – gift/unknown
Glasses – SEE Eyewear

Easy Sunday Black Midi Dress

I scored this amazing easy midi dress from Old Navy last year. It has become one of my staple garments in my closet – easily dressed up or down and it’s just so comfortable to wear. I’m really bummed they’re not making this dress anymore – I would easily buy another 5 just to always have it in my closet.

also I cut my bangs a bit shorter – I’m loving this style as I’m working on growing out my hair

OUTFIT DETAILS
Black Midi Dress – Old Navy – Size 2XL
Open Toe Shoes – Korks – Size 11
Necklace – I wish i could recall the vendor I got this from at Renegade Chicago this holiday. It’s one of my favorite pieces
Glasses – SEE Eyewear

Striped Sweater

This weekend was spent with friends and there was lots of PLANTS involved. The best being the morning we all spent at the Garfield Park Conservatory.

I haven’t purchased new clothes in so long, but CityChic just had a fantastic little sale and I snagged this super soft oversized striped sweater for casual weekend days. I love it so much and I’m also so happy to have some new items in my wardrobe.

So we’re back in action sort of here at InTheThickOfIt. at least for now. I hope to interact with some more folks. I’m trying to build up my instagram a bit too – so make sure to follow me there – I post lots of day-to-day stuff. It’s not as curated.

Yes my hair is longer. Yes I’m fatter. Yes I am happy.

OUTFIT DETAILS
Striped Sweater – Sz L – City Chic
Denim – Sz 18 – Kut from Kloth
Silver Boots – BC Boots
Glasses – SEE Eyewear
Necklace – local boutique AdHoc
Bag – Vintage Coach

Blue Lace

 

Weekend wedding and I needed something pretty and chic. I went with this great Vince Camuto blue and black lace dress. Kept things simple with some faux suede peep toe wedges and a vintage coach bag I thrifted in New Orleans last year. My glasses are from See Eyewear my spouse is wearing a bolo tie by minima maxima

Vegas Looks

Just a quick post of one of my Las Vegas looks.

City Chic top

Universal Standard waxed denim

Sam Edelman silver sandal

Vince camuto bag

Black Cami

Glasses – see eyewear

Wide Calf Boots Y’all!

How excited am I to finally find a pair of knee-high boots that REALLY fit my calves? BEYOND THRILLED. These beautiful leather boots are from Ted & Muffy – a UK boot brand that offers CUSTOM calf sizes on their boots. Additionally they offer sizing up to US 12 and wide shoe widths as well. I am so excited to see so many options for folks of all sizes. 

It’s been so long since I’ve had a pair of wide calf boots that was big enough to wear OVER a pair of jeans, that I just had to try this Demeter Boot with a pair of skinny jeans. Weekends are made for a casual look of skinny jeans, boots and an oversized top. But this style of boot could be dressed up quite well too – I love the versatility. 

OUTFIT DETAILS
Dip Hem Black Top – City Chic – L (special sizing)
Skinny Jegging Jeans – Torrid – 18 – available here
Parka – Old Navy
Demeter Boots – Ted & Muffy – available here
Black/White Bag – Rebecca Minkoff
Glasses – SEE Eyewear

Products provided by Ted & Muffy. All opinions are my own.

Eloquii Party Dresses

LastCraft lapel pins

Oh look I got dressed and hung out with my favorite femme and went to an actual party. I haven’t done that in ages. Nothing like gossiping with a small gaggle of femmes in a bar. Seriously. 

It’s busy season for me my loves – I’m deep in the weeds of small business holiday shopping for my little shop LastCraft. 

I am hoping for lots more outfit posts in early next year and perhaps a few small holiday party posts. There are SO many good plus size holiday party dresses available this year. My favorites so far are from Eloquii (seen above). Any favorites you can share?

For those that are interested, I’ll be doing a few upcoming markets in the Chicago area – I’d love to see y’all! We’ve got some amazing new totebags and enamel pins! 
Show of Hands – Nov 20-22 at Architectural Artifacts
Renegade Holiday Show – Dec 5&6 at Bridgeport Art Center

Outfit Details (on me – on right)

Black Body-Con Dress – Dorothy Perkins sz 20
Petite Black Leather Harness – Zana Bayne
Porcupine Earrings – Etsy
Glasses – SEE Eyewear

Greetings from Chicago!

This Chicago Postcard mural by @greetingstour I found a few months ago is just PERFECT. I couldn’t wait to show it to you guys with the right outfit. Oh also I have these new orange creamsicle glasses which i just adore and they go so well with this lovely plus size body-con (ish)  Anna Scholz dress from Gwynnie Bee and this rad mural. 

I’m totally thrilled that it’s fall. This is truly my favorite time of year. I’m also super excited that Gwynnie Bee is coming to Chicago next week – I’ll be share more of that in coming days.

OUTFIT DETAILS

Digital Print Dress – Anna Scholz Sz 18, via Gwynnie Bee
Waxed Denim Moto – H&M Plus
Necklace – Forever 21
Black White Handbag – Rebecca Minkoff 
Glasses (sunnies and orange creamsicle specs) – SEE Eyewear
Divine Enamel Pin – from the perfect @youwereswell 

On Plus Size Advancing Style

Lately I’ve been drawing inspiration from some of the women of Advanced Style. Now I realize I’m not in the Senior Citizen category, but I so greatly admire women older than me – as mentors, as icons, as wonderful friends. 

I am solidly over the age of 35, which still feels like a surprise to me. As a queer person, I never really knew what my life-path would look like, but I knew it didn’t have a lot of roadmaps. The folks I knew growing up that were older than me fit a very heteronormative path. They got married, had kids, wore J. Crew, strived to be a certain size.  I never felt those people were my people. I have known for a long time that I have a different path. It’s been such a journey! In my late teens, I found new role models like drag-queens Divine and Leigh Bowery and oh goodness the fun I had experimenting with all sorts of pieces of me.  It took me a really long time to learn to accept  myself in the body I have and get over a plethora of self esteem issues.

Oh and what does that have to do with fashion? Well a lot really – in that I always assumed  when I was younger that women in their late 30s dressed in frumpy shit – I mean there’s a reason why the term “mom jeans” exists. And frankly most of the options for plus size women women of any age were just embarrassingly bad and frumpy up until very recently. Posting photos of my outfits has always been to fight against those assumed norms.  

So here I am, a 36 year old plus size woman. I have no kids. I am (queer) married. I love fashion. I hope that my life can be a marker of what is a possibility. Now on to the clothes…(and my sweet little pixie hair cut that i’m just loving this summer) 

OUTFIT DETAILS
Cricut Plus Size Maxi Dress – via Gwynnie Bee – Sz 2X
Black Faux Leather Belt – Forever 21 – 2X
Black Faux Suede Shoes – Urban Outfitters
Glasses – SEE Eyewear
Clutch – Vintage
Bar Necklace – Dana Rebecca