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!

The Permanent Pout

When I think of vintage style, one of the first elements that comes to mind is a red lip. It's considered a classic, and I think it's here to stay! And trust me, I have spent a fair amount of time annoying sales girls as I try to choose the perfect shade. I am a picky person in general, and lipsticks are no exception. I prefer smooth, matte shades in just about all areas of beauty and really can’t get into sparkly or pearl finish products. I was just telling my friend the other day how drugstore cosmetic shopping would be so much easier if they only listed the type of finish!

You might think all reds are the same, but ah! Apparently it isn’t so. There’s your coral red, blue tone red, yellow tone, ones that wear more brownish - it can be a confusing thing! And well, sorry to disappoint, but I don’t think I’ve found my perfect shade yet. Truth be told, a bold lip makes me pretty self-conscious! Someone told me once to wear it around the house for awhile to get comfortable, and even though I feel silly, I may just try that.

Part of my search includes of course, scouring flickr and bloggy folk. And boy, did I find some lovely ones! I even found out what color/brand they are so that perhaps you might do some trying out yourself if you’re on the hunt like me!

































Solanah - Chanel Red Velvet (or she suggests her cheaper alternative too, Revlon Really Red!)















































Johanna - Flamenco by Clinique (discontinued, but you can find it on Ebay!)



































Diary of a Vintage Girl - MAC Viva Glam I


































Piksi - A combination of MAC Russian Red and So Chaud.















































The Stylish Wanderer - MAC Ruby Woo





























Super Kawaii Mama - Boots No. 7 Moulin Rouge

When it comes to beauty products, I spend a lot of time researching beforehand, and one place I always check out is Makeup Alley. Not only does it have tons of awesome reviews, but you can actually swap on there, too! (And yes, I do! If you're worried about sanitation issues, just use alcohol for lipsticks, baby shampoo for brushes, etc. A lot of ladies even swap brand new sealed stuff.) You can find me on there as "starry9oclocksky" if you wanna trade :)! Oh! And if you're looking for swatches, check out Karla Sugar.

Anyway, I’ve already tried most of the MAC shades above (though I do love other MAC lipsticks! Like High Tea & Touch), and I'm way too poor for Chanel, so I guess I'll just have to keep on keepin' on. Back to the drawing board!

P.S. Thanks a million to all the pretty ladies I bothered about their lipstick color :D!

The Practical Lady According to Candybar: Business edition.

One of the greatest things I’ve enjoyed about blogging is discovering what wonderful business talent ladies have out there. Personally, I really don’t enjoy working for someone else and dream of the day I’ll be able to quit my day job (I think I mentioned it in a previous post, but if not I work at Borders Books & Café). No co-workers, no silly rules, cranky customers, no rejected time off! So if that’s your dream, too, I figure I can give you a few tips I’ve learned so far on this journey to help you along as well! But first I’m going to share what two successful ladies had to say about the subject (who you probably have already heard of!) They were both super sweet and I really think the world of them for taking some time to answer my questions! I interviewed Rhiannon of Liebemarlene and Anja of Clever Nettle. Check out their wise words!


1. When did you start selling things online?

Rhiannon: I first started selling things on Etsy in 2006, I think , sort of just to get rid of some of the old dresses I had around that didn't really fit me or look good on me. I never thought I could making a living off of it, and I just got excited whenever I'd actually sell something!

Anja: I've been selling things online ever since I was in high school. Right before and after I graduated (in 2001) I was selling commissioned drawings to a girl in Minnesota, and one time I even sold a magazine ad for the tv show Trading Spaces on ebay for ten bucks! Who would buy that? It was pretty weird. I started on Etsy in 2005 and left Ebay behind not too long after that.


2. Rhiannon, what kind of jobs did you hold before opening your own online store?

Rhiannon: Oh, not-great ones. Different secretary jobs, and a job at a sort-of orphanage taking care of kids, and I loved the kids, but I had to be an authoritarian with them, which I was awful at. The only thing I was good at was teaching them how to knit.

3. Anja, is Clever Nettle your full time job? (I knew it was Rhiannon’s ;D)

Anja: Yes, and it has been since November of 2007 when I was happily fired from my last job at a cookie store. At first I thought about trying to get a part-time job in addition to selling on etsy, but things have progressed and my business has grown enough that I don't need an extra job, nor would I have time for one. Vintage has been taking up most of my time but I want to start working more on art too.


4. Rhiannon, what do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of Ebay and Etsy?

Rhiannon: I've sold on both and I probably prefer Ebay, if only because I'm used to it. I like that an Ebay store can be customized . . . As a whole, Etsy looks nicer, but it's harder to give an Etsy shop its own individual look, but you can load your Ebay shop up with all sorts of HTML. Etsy is nice because it just looks more streamlined and organized.

5. Rhiannon, about how long was it before you were successful enough to work for yourself?

Rhiannon: I was working at a part-time job, selling vintage clothing on Ebay on the side for about 4 months before I decided to drop the job and do Ebay full-time.

6. Any advice on how to market your business?

Rhiannon: I think the very best thing you can do is set up a blog--you'll be able to give customers a better idea of who you are and what kinds of things you sell, and it's probably the best marketing tool as well. Advertising on other blogs and in online magazines seems to work well too though I've never done it myself. But I've seen brand new Etsy shops explode in popularity after just one or two well-placed ads.

Anja: I don't know a lot about marketing, but I always try to be conscious of the line between putting your business out there respectably and annoying people with constant reminders that you have a shop. I've had online journals for a really long time so starting a blog was an easy step to take, and I think that blogging (and being linked from other blogs that I like) has been the best way of marketing my shop without really having to try very hard or go overboard with promotions. The internet is big and once you find your online crew things sort of fall into place. The vintage blogging community is just awesome! I think we support each other in a cool way, I'm always happy to see photos of the dresses I've sold in outfit photos on someone else's blog, and I love to show off what I buy from my favorite etsy shops too, which in turn hopefully helps them sell more too!

7. What do you think are some of the most important things to do when you start selling?

Rhiannon: I think it's best to build up an online shop and fill it with the sorts of things you like best, rather than what you think will be good sellers. And find a way to display the things you sell in a way that stands out from the others . . .

Anja: I think it's important to really sit down and think about what you want your shop to be. If you can start with a clear, cohesive plan (what will my photos look like? what will I sell? what will my shop name be? how can I be different than other shops?), you'll be doing yourself a lot of favors. I didn't really think about that stuff when I started my vintage shop on etsy, but I've learned a lot and am working backwards from mismatched clutter into a neat, tidy shop.


8. Any last bits of advice?

Rhiannon: I guess, to only get into the business if it's something you really love and will have fun with! It's a lot of work, and there are definitely boring, everyday job aspects to it, but if you love hunting down vintage (or making things to sell on Etsy) then it will be worth it.

Anja: Make sure you are starting a shop based on a true love or interest, because that love is what will keep you going when you're feeling worn out. My brain spends a ridiculous amount of time thinking about vintage clothing and if I didn't love it so much, I'd probably be feeling just as crazy as I used to at the "real" jobs that I hated. Also, set little goals and develop tricks that you can use to keep yourself motivated and on task, because there's no one around else to tell you that maybe it's time to wrap up packages instead of watching the newest episode of Australia's Next Top Model, haha.

A few additional tips from my personal experience:

1. Always buy delivery confirmation. Just trust me!

2. When selling on Etsy and you’re having a sale, send a few messages to people who have added you to their favorites letting them know.

3. Do start a blog. And comment on others! But try to refrain from being pushy about having them visit or link to you. Just leave honest, thoughtful comments where you think they’re deserved! And try to comment back, it’s always very appreciated.

4. Join social networking sites. This is something I’ve been working on lately. I sort of hate Facebook and Myspace, but I did join Twitter today! Try Flickr, Livejournal communities, Weardrobe, Chictopia, Lookbook, Modepass, the list goes on…

5. Post pictures. An all-text blog is really just not as appealing.

6. Use photoshop or another editing program. I don't do anything terribly complicated, but it's good for simple things like adjusting image size or sharpening, etc! If you can keep a secret, I downloaded mine at Isohunt.com :P But if you don't want to fool with any of that, consider paying someone who can! Aya of Strawberry Koi did my header and she's very reasonable!

7. List often. I struggle with this one myself!

That’s all I can think of for now, but I hope this helps anyone thinking about starting an online shop. Good luck, gals!

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!

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! :)

Thrifting 101

Here are two skirts I've thrifted for myself recently ^_^. The floral one on the left only just fits, and I happen to be eating a piece of coconut/pistachio/pineapple cake (my mom's specialty!) and I know I'm not helping matters! The one on the right was actually difficult to photograph (do excuse the wrinkles :P) but I love the color/pattern. I'll probably end up wearing both of these with boring white tshirts, but... we'll see.

So I was thinking about thrifting and all the little things I've learned through my adventures and I decided to write them down for you! Whether you're a novice or a thrift-spert or somewhere in between, I hope they help!

1. Learn to be selective. Only buy it if it’s amazing. Don’t just go around buying things willy-nilly because it’s vintage. A lot of vintage things are just plain ugly, and don’t get any more attractive just because they’re vintage!

2. Check carefully for damages. I learned this the hard way! There were a few times I brought home what I thought was the perfect find, only to discover it had stains, a botched hem, or some sort of tear (usually in the armpit!). There are things that can be mended, but if it’s in terrible shape, unfortunately it may just be best left behind, pennies saved for something else.

3. If you DO buy something that needs fixing up, make sure that you know how to do it, or at the very least, that you will find some way to do it. If you can’t stand sewing (like me!) the chances are that these projects are just going to pile up and be a waste of money in the end. But if you enjoy sewing and can make the time, by all means have at it!

4. Have a routine. I try to go the same thrift store at least once or twice a week. I’ve tried to go more frequently, but it’s easy to get frustrated when there’s barely anything new. Unless your store has a “new items” section, I think it’s better when there’s a little time between visits, because a week or so gives them enough time to put out new items. A good thing to do is ask when new things are put up, too!

5. Don’t always disregard sections that seem unappealing. We have a “Sportswear” section at my store that I tend to avoid, but occasionally I’ve found a vintage cardigan or blouse in there. Also check out the sleepwear section, since some of those housedresses can make really great cotton-y summer frocks!

6. Keep finding more stores. If you have the means - travel! I’ve often made it a day trip to visit several towns within an hour or two away. It’s nice to get away and refreshing to see new people and places. Here’s what I do when planning a thrift trip:

a. Use yellowpages.com to find stores around your area. You can also go to the official goodwill and salvation army sites for locations.

b. Use mapquest or a map to determine what the best route is - what makes the most sense driving-wise.

c. CALL BEFOREHAND. There is usually a telephone number in the listing, I highly recommend calling in advance to find out their hours, or if they are even still operating.

d. Don’t be afraid to ask for directions, and bring tools to help you navigate. Personally I have a little swiss army knife with a compass on it that’s helped immensely!

7. Haggle. I wouldn’t be my father’s daughter if I didn’t try to bargain with someone! If something has a hole, missing buttons, or any other damage, at least try to get a small discount. Or if you’re buying a lot of things. Most times, people are willing to take 10-50% off if you point these things out. This ain’t Macy’s, ladies!

8. Find out when they have sales going on. The Salvation Army stores in my area have their biggest sale on Wednesdays. A lot of times stores will have flyers that tell you what colors/items are discounted on what days - just ask if they have one!

9. Be friendly with the staff. Employees who recognize you might be willing to show you some of the more interesting items or even share their discount with you. Now, don't try to make friends just to get a discount! But it always helps to be nice and show appreciation, no matter where you are or what you're doing.




























I also thrifted this amazing vintage coral wallet and a lavender Stanley thermos. The wallet is in pristine condition, it even still has the original pen inside. It also has the owner's original last check in there! Apparently its come all the way from St. Louis, Missouri to be with me. The thermos will be nice in the winter time, and oh how I love feminine housewares!

Anyway, if you're determined to be a smart thrifter, you should also check out:

1. Rhiannon of Liebemarlene's 10 thrifting tips via Mademoiselle Robot
2. Rachael of The Life Aesthetic's second hand shopping guide
3. Diana of Painfully Hips' thrifting pointers
4. and Aya of Strawberry Koi's thrifting video!

Happy thrifting :D!

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