Sweet Buy Stripes!

I was so very close to posting a picture taken with a real camera but the resulting photos were very fuzzy, so here I am with my handy camera phone!
Over the holidays I acquired a lot of fabulous Torrid pieces, so hopefully there will be more updates!
I'm quite the regular at my local Torrid, so much so that a couple members of staff have memorized my sizes! One staff member went to the back and came out with some lovely items, including the striped ponte jacket pictured.

Black and White Striped Cropped Ponte Jacket
The cropped jacket gives a flair of femininity with ruched sleeves and for those of you that like a little closure, there is a single button. The only con I find (a con that I find with most blazers produced by Torrid) is that the jacket has fake pockets….WHY TORRID?! Ladies need pockets too!  Size Pictured: 3

Tripp NYC Black Skinny Pant
I haven't had a nice pair of black pants for a while. This pair really hugs the curves, however I realized that although, at the time, I was wearing a size 22 in jeans, I needed to buy a the black pants in a size bigger (24). And for those that like a bit of stretch and love the feel of Source of Wisdom, you may find yourself pining for those blue jeans since the waistline of the Tripp pants isn't very stretchy. However I find them comfortable enough and I love that they are versatile, so whether you're in a fun flirty mood, or you're ready for business, slip into these with a nice pair of chucks, wedges, or heels and you're good to go! Size Pictured: 24R


Striped Tank Top
The tank top pictured is a top I've had since high school. Purchased at Hot Topic in the throws of my punk/goth youth, I used it in my stripey ensemble today and I must say it worked wonderfully. Personally, I would not venture to partner a top with a very busy patterns with the jacket. Stripes or solid colours would be my approach, but honestly to each their own!

For more information about each item, click on the photos below!

Tripp NYC-The Black Skinny Pant
$48.00

Black and White Striped Ponte Jacket
$54.50

Sweet Buys: Fair Isle Fun!

Time for some warmth in the chilly season! Put together a simple outfit from some sweet Black Friday buys and a couple of these items are up for grabs at amazing prices on Torrid.com!
A cardigan, boots, and leggings make for a comfortable ensemble! I'm really digging Fair Isle print right now and had to snag this cardi. The tank top is my own, a school tee that I cut up for comfort. The colours at play here: grey, black, and white!

Sizes I'm Wearing:
Cardigan: 3
Leggings: 2
Boots: 11

Click the Torrid pictures below to link to the items for info on the products and the size chart!

Grey Fair Isle Open Front Cardigan
Was: $48.50Now: 29.99

Basic Black Leggings
$20.00

Remey Black Sweater Trim Ankle Boot (Wide Width)
$54.50

Sweet Buy Sweaters and Cardis!

Tribal Shawl Collar Cardigan

$24.80

        Hello! I'm back! Please excuse the months and months of absence but big changes have taken place! I moved up to NorCal for school, I'm still settling into the way of things up here and guess what….
THERE'S NO TORRID OR FOREVER 21 out here! I have been stripped away from my places of worship! OH THE HUMANITY! Luckily there's always online shopping!
It's cold up here and now comes the time to pack away the shorts and tank tops and bust out the sweaters! I didn't seem to pack enough, but that slight problem has allowed me to present the excuse that I need to buy more! Item A to the left proves that I've done just that.
   
  Straight from Forever 21+, a navy/hot pink Tribal Shawl Cardigan.
100% acrylic
Banded hemline and cuff
Long sleeved
HAND WASH ONLY
     
        If you're a patron of Forever 21, you'll notice that all their apparel is of the utmost delicate nature and can ONLY be hand washed. It's a knit cardi, and light to medium in weight. I wouldn't recommend it for a 40 degree day, but it's nice for those nippy mornings. I'm picture wearing a size 3X. Below you can see the pattern up close. Click the picture of the model to go directly to the product page! Keep an eye out for some great deals on the site! A fe days ago there was a sale on $7.99 basic dress BOGO and within half an hour they sold out! Getting more for your money is NEVER a bad thing!

  

Sweet Buys! Skull and Cross bone Summer!

I'm not usually one to purchase a top with an elastic hem and no bust cinching, but I was pleasently surprised by this navy chiffon blouse from Torrid. 100% polyester, the sheer top is perfect for a lovely, breezy summer night. I'm wearing a tank top underneath so as not to be overexposed!

At first glance, it may look like a simple polka dot pattern. There are dots but you'll find that the pattern also includes skull and crossbones!
A cutsey detail for the lady pirate in us all!
Click the picture below for more info on this top!

Navy Skull Chiffon Blouse
$44.50

Sweet Buys! 3/4 Sleeve Tops and Jeggings!

Sorry for the bathroom picture, but there aren't many people around able to take photos of me! To the left, you'll find me, pictured in my coziest (but cutest) ensemble yet. Forever in love with 3/4 sleeve tops, Torrid has on offer a variety of these, from paisley to floral print. A very light polyester fabric, I've found this top actually does well in the summer heat. This size i'm wearing is a 3x (22/24). I picked out this along with a blue floral top. The picture may not focus on them very well, but my pants are jeggings, my first pair in fact, and I have to say I HONESTLY see no difference between them and a well-fit pair of jeans. EXTREMELY comfortable, they come in Small, Regular, Tall, and Extra Tall.

To get a better view of the items purchased, click the pictures below for prices and sizes!

Red Ditsy Print 3/4 Sleeves Crinkled Top
$34.50

Navy Floral Print 3/4 Sleeves Crinkled Top
$34.50

Torrid Denim - Sophia Jegging (Tall)
$58.50

Fashion designer embraces the plus-size world

Remember when fashion designer Julien Macdonald called plus sized models a "joke" and that "If you're a size 14 in a room full of size eights, you're in the wrong room?"
Well guess who's changed his tune after the June issue of Vogue Italia featured THREE models on it's cover?

Tara Lynn, Candice Huffine and Robyn Lawley
range from sizes 12-16 and although there are a few comments regarding the lack of clothing, it's my personal opinion that that's what makes it so empowering. Being plus-sized doesn't mean you should be ashamed of who you are! Take pride in the skin you're in BUT….please be classy =]
AS FOR Macdonald, he told Look Magazine that, "You can be real and still be sexy Bigger girls can compete against girls half their size."
He also stated that he would not dismiss any plus-size fashionista walking around in his clothes.
"There is a gap in the market, and if someone good wanted to represent my brand, I'd do it."

Renewed FAITH in FOREVER

When Forever 21's plus size line first appeared (originally called Faith21) I found its apparel to be boring drapery with an intention that seemed to be to hide the female form rather than showcase it. A bunch of paisley prints, plaid, ruffles, and basics, were not enough to impress me.
After a couple of uninteresting buys I shunned the line as another cheap attempt on a companies part to acclimate into the growing number of big-girl friendly clothing stores.

A few days ago, while shopping with family, we went into Forever 21, and I decided to head over to the small corner that the store seems to have created for all the shapely women to accumulate and browse, and I must say I was extremely impressed, and went on a grabbing frenzy and headed for the changing room.

One thing I find frustrating with stores is that when it comes to plus-size clothing, they don't take current fashion trends into account and sew together whatever large, billowy, lackluster prints, they have lying around, and sell it at unheard of prices. Forever 21 seems to have made a significant effort in remedying this issue and is utilizing popular trend patterns in their plus-size line.

I'm very into the trend of tribal prints and geometric shapes and found this colourful cardigan for 17.50. Not to knock my mecca, but a similar cardi at Torrid would cost $38.

This University jumper cost the same price. while the tank top was $9.
These are A FEW of the things I bought. I can't wait to go back and find more lovely items, HOWEVER, I do wish the design team would integrate more of the smaller sized clothes into the line. As far as I can tell all the patterns, colours, and styles are wearable by almost anyone. Please forever 21….PLEASE!