Faith 21 Contest

This has actually been mentioned on another blog already, but I just HAD to re-post and I never do that: It is that wonderful! Faith 21, the plus size branch of Forever 21, is hosting what they're calling a "Most Stylish Gal Search." First prize includes a trip for two to Los Angeles for a photo shoot, and a $500 shopping spree - crazy! Not to mention there is also going to be 2nd and 3rd places. I hope some of you guys enter :D! How cool would it be to know the winner? Just remember you have to be wearing an item from Faith 21.























I've never really been a competitive soul, but I thought, "hey! I'm wearing a Faith 21 product in one of my recent outfit shots...why not!?" Remember? So yep, I entered! I'm not sure exactly how it works yet but I'll keep you updated! I DO know that we should know the winner around December 14th. Wish me luck!?!

Get more info here.

P.S. Just to let you know, they're extending their sizes to 3X - hurray! :)

Fat Love Friday #7 - Always Late!

First up is J of Fatshionable, a Californian blogger on her way to becoming a lawyer. What a classy gal! Her style is absolutely polished and classic. One of her trademarks is mixing the super feminine with tougher pieces, like ruffles and leather, which I LOVE. She seems to invest in high quality items, so seeing her outfits (especially the shoes!) are the things of my shopping fantasies!






























She really knows how to flatter her figure, too! Even if you aren't plus-sized, every girl has some feature that isn't the easiest to dress. But her taste and eye for shapes and styles is really just impeccable. I love that she doesn't use too many prints, and instead opts for nice fabrics and texture details. Even her makeup is amazing, she always looks so natural and fresh! And seriously, I want every single pair of shoes she owns! :)



Next is someone you could might call a fat fashion super hero! Gabi of Young, Fat, and Fabulous was one of the first plus size blogs I ever encountered, so she's really had a hand in my blog as far as the confidence it takes to put your outfit photos out there. She's got a great edge to her personal style, which lately is something I've been really inspired by, too! She always adds great rock 'n' roll vibes to her outfits, so they're always current and fashion-forward. I love that she always tries out recent trends, and in fact, she always interprets them so well, I don't think I could ever look back on her photos and find them dated!






































She's also very adventerous with layers and accessories too, which I know a lot of people find difficult. Not to mention her hair styles! She's done so many drastic things, but I really love each and every one, I can't even pick a favorite!

Fat Love Friday #6

I have two beautiful ladies for you today! Both of them are coincidentally not from the U.S., too. Exciting, no? As I'm sure you may have noticed lately, often times I am torn between vintage and modern outfits. These gals are perfect examples of what I am for when I try more modern looks :)! I hope you enjoy their outfits as much as I do.



First we have French beauty, Sakina of Saks in the City (clever, too, right?! :P). Her style is very ladylike, sophisticated, and tailored. Her outfits are always perfectly accessorized. Even her more casual outfits seem elegant the way she adds jewelry and layers. Not only that, but she's another one with a knack for fit! Because she's so good at choosing clothes that fit perfectly, she always looks like a million bucks!
























I also really admire the way she interprets trends. For instance, I am IN LOVE with the way she wears blazers! Trying out trendy looks can sometimes be difficult, unsuccessful, and ultimately a waste of money if you aren't careful. But I truly feel that her looks are timeless!
























Unfortunately she and I don't share this trait, but I also think she photographs extremely well and wish I could pose as nicely and naturally as she does :P!






























And now we have Val! The gorgeous Belgian blogger of Blog To Be Alive. Her style is feminine, yet edgy, and all around glamorous. I love that she takes risks with loud prints, maxi dresses, sequins, etc. Because she pulls them all off effortlessly. The maxi dress she's wearing in the photo really just stuck with me. She looks like a goddess, doesn't she!?






























I also love that she wears heels so often. I am honestly stunned - I don't know how she does it! I think the heels add just the right amount of sexy to her outfits. Ah, if only I knew how to walk in them...Another thing I love about her outfits is that she isn't afraid of color, and often wears some of the lovliest color combos I've seen!






























And seriously, how amazing is her hair? I'm so tempted to grow mine out now haha. Anyway, if you get a chance, do visit their blogs! All of the entries are translated into English, so there should be no problems there, and there are PLENTY more photos to put into your inspiration folder :P!

Fat Love Friday #5

I wasn't sure if I was going to continue doing these kinds of posts because of the controversy over the last one. To clear things up: Fabulous fat ladies WILL continue to be featured here. I am fat :D. Like many other women, I have found it difficult to embrace my body over the years. Recently, I have slowly become more and more aware of the fact that bodies come in all shapes and sizes and can be, and truly are beautiful - EVEN mine!

The gals posted here are a tribute to or celebration of that idea. As I said the first time, I will spare you the lecture about the unenlightened society we live in. However, I'm sure you already know... unrealistic beauty expectations and shallow messages in the fashion industry are no secret. To put it as simply as possible, the point of this post is to facilitate change. If you do not enjoy this post - please skip it! But for those who have enjoyed it in the past, thanks for your support, I really appreciate it :)!



First up is Lilli, from Frocks and Frou Frou. This girl is absolutely radiant. Her clothes fit like a glove. Plus I love all the funny little details, like quirky owl pins, red boots, and Chihuahua mary janes! Her style is classy, yet still remains whimsical. I also love her uses of color, wide belts, cardigans and ruffles/bows!

























It's probably also largely due to her 100 watt smile, but she just seems so approachable. There seems to be such a comfortableness about the WAY she wears her clothes. Her style is so consistent, as if she has figured out what she likes and feels wonderful in, and then owns it with pride, outfit after outfit. I don't think that's easy to do!


























And seriously, that is the cutest haircut ever. Don't even lie! At least a few of you are going to take her picture to the hairdresser, aren't you :P?






























And of course, another well-known lady: Maria of Corazones Rojos! So, talk about versatility. She looks just as fabulous in those girly day dresses as she does the edgy, destroyed numbers. Personally, I think the '80s is a very difficult era to draw inspiration from, and she does it wonderfully. I love the bright colors and bold prints she chooses. Her style is cool, inventive, yet always perfectly feminine and flattering.






























One of my other favorite things about her outfits is the way she mixes patterns and prints. There is a fine line between a hugely creative outfit with patterns that compliment each other, and just a plain mess. Honestly, I don't think I've graduated to that level yet haha. But some day!






























Red nails, lime green pants, jean jacket? Yes, please!

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Fat Love Friday #4 - On Sunday, Oops!

First up is Sandra, aka MadamOwl. I have to give her the award for most effortless style ever. She just has this look that says to me “Yeah, I just roll out of bed with this kind of perfection.” Lately I’ve had some sort of fashion epiphany (haha) where I realized that I don’t really like what I call a contrived style - anything that looks too thought out or too fussed with. Lots of matching, super clean and pressed stiff, no thanks!


I find myself drawing inspiration from her a LOT. Her outfits are usually 100% thrifted, which is also something to aspire to! Lately I’ve broken down and bought new or at least more expensive secondhand, but Sandra really comes up with some creative stuff (I’m loving the tshirt under a dress with chucks combo, totally going to try that at some point!) There's also a sort of youthfulness about her style that I love.






























The thing I’d say I most admire about her though is her attitude! I think her wardrobe really communicates a philosophy, which seems to say “I wear what I like and I don’t mind anything you have to say about it,” which in my opinion, is much easier said than done.



The second beautiful lady is one I found just today! She is Marie of Agent Lover. First of all, my old love of Japanese street fashion is seriously rekindled. Fashion and clothes aside for a moment, I have to say her blog is hilarious. I don’t know about any of you, but once in awhile I have a tendency to skip over words and go straight for the photos on a blog, but so is not the case here! She’s so upbeat and spunky in her writing it really wears off on you!





























As for her style, I really love the sass that comes across in her outfits. Spider hats, corn on the cob nails, she knows no boundaries! I think the biggest element of fashion and style is confidence, and this gal has definitely got some. I'm definitely inspired by the whimsy and playfulness of her outfits (heart sunglasses, giant bows, nerdy specs, yes please!)



































P.S. Don't forget to enter the WeLoveColors tights giveaway - it ends midnight (12pm Eastern) on Wednesday!

The Practical Lady According to Candybar: Plus size shopping edition.

How nice would it be to flip through this month’s issue of Vogue and, along with all things fashion
and beauty related - find a sewing pattern, a recipe, financial advice? From what I understand, women’s magazines aren’t what they used to be. Not that I haven’t bought my fair share of Vogues, Elle, and Cosmos, but to be honest with you I don’t think I bothered with 99% of the articles there. I guess the point of these types of publications is to communicate runway fashion and trends to the masses, and that’s all well and good, but for most of us it’s a “use once and discard” situation - look at the pictures and throw it away, save for a few inspiring photos to scrapbook or to cover your wall with if you’re 14. Some are catching on with blogger articles and such, as far as the fashion stuff goes, but there really isn’t as much practical advice as their used to be. Women’s magazines of the olden days valued practicality and thriftiness. What happened?

So I’ve decided to start a new regular feature, The Practical Lady According to Candybar. I hope you get at least a little something out of these “articles!” I’ve already sort of done something like this without realizing it when I posted about thrifting tips awhile back. So this time we’ll be talking about plus size shopping.

1. My first, and I figure my most important tip, is: do not settle. I struggle with this problem very often myself! I think it’s easy to get frustrated when things don’t fit and to just buy “the next best thing” because the piece you fell in love with didn’t fit/cost too much/etc. Save your money! It will be worth it when that thing you almost bought isn’t hanging in the back of your closet with the tags still attached.

2. KNOW YOUR SIZE. Even thin ladies do this :P If something is too small…it’s too freakin’ small. Don’t buy it for “when you get back to suchandsuch weight” or altering it to try and make it fit (unless you’re letting out a seam). I’m sure you are a creative goddess, but unless you are a skilled tailor and know what you’re doing, I say move on. When you try something on and it seems snug, or is the fabric is pulling or that last button doesn’t button…don’t you dare try to talk yourself into saying it fits. It’s okay to try things on that are a smaller size that look like they may fit (some brands run large, may have an elastic waist or any other number of forgiving features), but for goodness sake don’t keep picking up a 12 when a 16 would be much more flattering. You are not a number.

3. That being said, understand your body. My best friend and I agree that we’ve come to understand our shapes and what works for them. Not that there’s a uniform style you need to stick to, but certainly an idea of what is unflattering is helpful. In my case this means no low rise jeans (muffin top, ahoy!), strapless things (instant uni-boob), anything too high-waisted (darn my short torso!), and narrow shoes (wide feet, blame my mother :P!). You should also know your measurements and don’t be afraid to try things on that you think usually don’t work for you. No harm in trying!

4. Broaden your shopping horizons. Get creative with where you shop - if you keep heading to the same local shops, it only limits you. Don’t be snobby and ignore the plus shops, either! You never know what you’ll find. Try out maternity clothes, too. Get over any mental stigmas you have about clothes and where to get them. And by God - shop online! The whole world is your shopping mall. To start off…

Ballyhoovintage.com
Violetvillevintage.com
Heyviv.com
H&M
Delias.com
Torrid.com
OldNavy.com
Gap.com


5. Something I learned the hard way…Consider how the garment will fit after its been washed. Do you really want to hand wash and line dry that t-shirt every time? Will it still fit as well as it does now once its been washed and dried? Dry cleaning your thing?

6. Be thrifty. I get seriously annoyed when a plus vintage dress is marked up on Etsy or Ebay and I see the words “Rare large size!!” Glare! I hate to be a drag, but even if they are rare, it just doesn’t seem right. I find larger size vintage in thrift stores fairly often. I think the price should depend on other factors, like quality, age, style, etc. Also, some modern stores like to charge a few dollars extra on larger sizes. For what…a few more inches? I don’t think that’s very good customer service, if you ask me! (Yes, I’m talking to you, Alloy folks.)

7. I’m sure I could have easily grouped this one in with number 3, but I thought it deserved a proper mention on its own. Try to avoid “easy fashion.” It seems big retailers want to confine us to certain styles. Not that one wrap dress, weird flowy boho top, or some form of stretch geometric print will kill you, but let’s not get carried away like our friends at Faith21. You deserve choice, I tell you!

I have loads of ideas for future topics, but is there anything in particular you might like to see? Not that I'm an expert on all matters, but maybe someone will benefit from my two cents!

P.S. Come back for a really awesome giveaway tomorrow :)!!

Fat Love Friday #3

First is Norwegian blogger, Muija! I found her on Flickr and was thrilled to find out she had a blog! Her style is so put together, for one thing. I also really admire her color combinations (red and black being a signature for her!), like that first one, I never would have thought of that! Her style is kind of quirky with fun pin-up influences.






























There's actually a movie character she reminds me of, too! Enid of Ghost World, anyone? I love that her hair style (love the Bettie Paige bangs!), glasses, and red lips are her trademark. As for how she's influenced me, I'm really excited to try out solid colors. Most of my dresses and skirts are floral or patterned. I may even dig in my closet tonight to try to come up with something!






























Up until now, I've also kind of shied away from the Rockabilly look. But since she "rocks" (ha ha :P) the look so well, I might change my mind about that, too!





























"Mamushka" Marie, of course! Who I found on Flickr as well, but also has an awesome blog. She's a thrift addict like me! This girl has a serious knack for prints and accessories. Her dresses look like they're from a high end boutique, I'm amazed that she picked them up second hand (lucky girl!). Sometimes I skip belts/jewelry because I'm afraid of looking gawdy, but her photos make me want to go out and stock up!






























I also think her looks are really innovative. Specifically I love that she used a slip under the dress in the first photo. Her body shape seems really similar to mine too (is that weird to say??), so much so I gathered up some courage and asked her to do a dress swap! I have a bunch of plus dresses either of mine that I never got around to wearing or are going into the store. I'm so excited to pick one I think she'd like!























But that's a whole other story! :)

Fat Love Friday #2

I really have to refrain from sticking every plus gal I find on here(and hallelujah I’ve found so many!) in order to keep it at two per week to give them the attention they deserve. I hadn’t intended to pick two people who are on the same wavelength, but don’t they look great together!? They look like they should be friends ^_^.


















































First is Nicole of Fashion Forestry, or perhaps you know her on Flickr as lecondevetement. Nicole lives with her (hunky, dare I say!) French husband in San Fransisco where she goes to school for fashion design (obviously!). First of all, I’m having trouble finding words for her style. She’s like…like… a beautifully wrapped Christmas present or something! Layer by layer she just gets better :D Talk about personal style! If I put her outfits on, I'd probably look a mess, but on her she is over and over again a mixture of fun and class. Do I even have to point out the attention to detail?!

























I love the way she marries every era in an outfit, whether it be a '60s print and '40s hat, or '80s shoes and her own current design (via the top left photo).























I have to admit, she's slowly but surely influencing my style, as after I sorted through her photos I became determined to accessorize more and take more risks!


















































Here we have the lovely Canadian lady, Cynara, most well known on Flickr as piningforthemoon, but also the Livejournal stitchtowhere. You should seriously take a look at her livejournal, first of all, because I love me a gal who can talk fat politics. Her sassy-ness radiates from the inside out! I'm absolutely in love with her dresses and if I didn't admire her, I might be tempted to steal them...somehow D:






























She has such a funky retro vibe, if I were to meet her on the street she'd seem like someone I could approach with ease. I love her use of prints and punchy colors, and I'm definitely on the hunt for one of those veil fascinator hair gizmos and some fancy gloves
























Another prime example of taking all the fashion (and makeup! oh, how i dream of trying red lipstick) risks I feel I can't, and proving that I just ought to give them a try :D!

Fat Love Friday #1

I've decided that Fridays are for loving on my fellow fat chicks, hurray! I'm not even going to go into a lecture about how the media, the fashion industry, and even the average Joe neglect or devalue plus size fashion. So I've created a place for them here :). But don't worry, I'm not leaving out the thin ladies either! I'm very inspired by many of them too and plan on sharing my favorites with you eventually! All in good time :P Speaking of the equality of all figures, remember how I mused about a giveaway in my last post? I'm setting one up that every size can enjoy, so stay tuned! Without further ado, I give you my Plus Picks o' the Week!

The first is the Parisian blogger, Stephanie of Big Beauty. Her style is like a modern day princess, with lavish jewelry and accessories and lots of sparkling embellishments. She must have a royal tailor too, because she has quite the knack for fit! All of her clothes hug her in the right places and show off what a full, feminine shape she has. Expensive and lady-like taste too, as I don't speak french but I'd recognize Chanel anywhere!


Like I said, she has such a regal quality to her. Her outfit photos are the picture of poise and grace, even the ones of her trying to be silly! Most of her blog is in French, but some of the posts are translated to English, but the pictures alone make it worth a visit!


Not to mention she has THE greatest shoe collection ever. Seriously!

































Next is Australian blogger Hayley of Fashion Hayley Hits Home. Is she not the most fashion forward person you know!? Most of her clothes are second hand and on sale, so not only are her outfits fabulous, they're budget conscious too. She actually works in the fashion world as a photographer and stylist, so it's safe to say she knows a thing or two about fashion. Like myself, she's also drawn inspiration from Japanese trends (she's even been there a few times, how jealous am I?)











































I actually find her style very easy to relate to. Florals, chunky jewelry, funky prints. I also love her hairstyle, and personally, I think it's become quite her signature.



















































You've gotta know you're doing something right when famous people start drawing you, right?

Want to be featured here? Don't be shy, give us a holler! Starry9oclocksky@yahoo.com