Introducing: Sacramento Body Positivity Collective (SacBoPoCo)

Something has been bubbling inside of me for a long time and I honestly don't know why it's taken me so long to act on it.  They say to "be who you needed as a child."  While I try to integrate that into my everyday life, I feel like I wasn't doing enough.  That changes today.

I'm launching a new project called Sacramento Body Positivity Collective (SacBoPoCo.)   The goal is to create a community that celebrates ALL BODIES.  Inspiration will be for everyone, worldwide, but I hope to have meet ups locally in Sacramento.  I want to create a safe space where people can talk about their body, their insecurities, and also share their wins.

My Why

Being a blogger and being someone in the media puts me in a lot of different places literally.  I go to events and I hope to find another bigger person to relate to.  I look on social media for camaraderie and it feels like all I see are "the beautiful people."  (Yes, I know that all people are beautiful in their own way but mind meld with me for a bit.)  My feed is full of what I call commercial beauty or society approved beauty.  And let me tell you, I love each and every one of my commercially beautiful friends with all my heart.  But it makes me feel so incredibly alone.

Being a fat Asian woman is already hard because of the stereotypes that Asian women should be small, demure, fair skinned, etc... Obviously, I am no Asian stereotype.  But increasingly, the more I look, the more I cannot find people like me.  Plus sized brands don't have Asian models.  Even when they are brands that share social media pictures from customers, I don't see plus sized Asian women.  It is hard to have no one to relate to.

Who is this for?

SacBoPoCo is NOT only for plus sized people.  I just wanted to share with you the feeling that sparked this movement.  And I NEVER want you to feel it for yourself.

At SacBoPoCo, I will be featuring all different people.  People of different sizes, shapes, color, ages, abilities, medical conditions, personal style, etc... And by feature, I mean, I want to share not only their pictures but also glean wisdom from them.  I want to talk about the postpartum body, the breastfeeding body, the dealing with chronic disease body, the life after cancer body, and so much more.

I want to talk to everyone who wants to talk to me.  I want to share stories that will inspire people to love their bodies even though they aren't what society thinks of as "perfect."  I want people to know that it's ok to love yourself in the process of getting to where you want to be.  And mostly, I want people to know that they are not alone.

How can you join?

Easy peasy!  You can follow along with SacBoPoCo on Instagram to see all the inspiration.  You can use #sacbopoco to join the community when you post about your own body positivity.  You can join the conversation in the SacBoPoCo Facebook group.  Again, while meet ups will be local, anyone can join the group for chatting and friendship.  All the online stuff is free.  I'm not sure about the meet ups yet since I'm not sure if I'll need to rent a space.



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I Feel Pretty: An Important Movie with a Crucial Message

Last night I attended a media preview of the film I Feel Pretty that will release April 20.  I joined a large group of women for a happy hour then we went to see the movie.  My friend Emily went with me and I thought it would just be a fun night with a chick flick.  After the movie, my friend and I had the most heart wrenching conversation about the issues of self confidence and body positivity.  This is a conversation that needs to be had so I'm going to add my little bit to it today.

In I Feel Pretty, the main character Rene is played by Amy Schumer.  (I'm going to try not to spoil anything.)  Rene struggles with self confidence in the beginning of the movie.  Then she has an accident at Soul Cycle, bumps her head, and wakes up seeing herself as beautiful.  While the film has its' flaws, my take away was the theme that nothing needs to change about you other than your perspective and attitude.

This is HUGE for me.  I didn't lose weight or all the sudden become beautiful one day.  I changed my perspective through what I call "Exposure Therapy."  I posted a photo of myself a day everyday for Dressember (which is such an important campaign.)  By the end of the month, I started to be ok with the way I looked in photos. This then translated to being ok with the way I look in real life.

Another important point is that I have a daughter and like it or not, I'm her role model.  In the movie, Rene says talks about how being a little girl, we have ALL this confidence and then over time with people's comments or perceptions, that fades away.  I find this thought TERRIFYING.  I have the most spectacular, smart, funny, and beautiful daughter in the world.  She has ALL of the confidence.  You CAN'T TELL HER NOTHING.  And I fear the day that some person makes a comment about her body or her outfit that crashes through her shield of confidence and hits her heart.

Because of this, I've cut the negative self talk out from myself (at least out loud.)  If I'm trying on outfits, I try to say "I don't feel like wearing this dress today" instead of "this makes me look fat."  I will say "My skin is bothering me this week" and not "I have horrible skin, I hate it."  This shift shows my daughter that these things are temporary and don't rule my life.  But they used to.  I used to stand in front of the mirror and detest my fat rolls, my acne marked skin, my unruly eyebrows, my widow's peak, my everything.

The thing is, I still have a lot things I used to hate about myself.  Probably more so now.  But I decided that my body and more importantly my soul couldn't thrive if all I did was sit there all day and tell myself how much I HATED my flaws.  I switched to trying to be kind to myself.  I switched to giving myself grace.  I switched to saying "my hair is rocking" and "this dress looks awesome on me."  And it literally changed my life.

What I loved about I Feel Pretty is that Rene did not "body swap" or lose weight or have a makeover, she shifted her perspective and her whole life changed.  And I just wanted to echo that message to you.  CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE.  When I finally decided that I was WORTH something, the world decided I was worth something too.  I'm not saying it was easy.  I'm just saying you can do it and you are SO incredibly worth fighting for yourself.

Huge thank you to STX Entertainment and Katie from the Wake Up Call for inviting me to this event!  Please go see this movie and have the conversation about how confidence can change your life.



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Super Affordable Full Figured Bras

It is no secret that I am a busty full figured gal.  I mean, it would really be a miracle if someone hadn't noticed.  LOL!  Being well endowed comes with a plethora of issues like back pain, trying to find the right length necklace, laying down on your front, and so much more.  (Like where do I cross my arms if I'm angry?  Over?  Under? On top?  I don't know.)  One of my biggest issues is finding a bra especially an affordable bra.  (Scroll down for giveaway info!)

When you're bigger, finding a bra is a chore.  For years, full figured bras lacked in cuteness.  They looked industrial.  They looked like something a grandma would wear.  Say goodbye to pretty flowers, rhinestones, unlined mesh, and basically anything pretty.  Which is so sad when you're a young woman who wants to feel confident in her undergarments!  This seems to be slowly changing in the plus industry.  

Beyond the appearance of the bra was the hefty price tag!  Full figured bras are usually at least $50 each for plain solid color bras with no frills or thrills.  If you want a cute print or lace or special back smoothing technology, it came at an additional cost.  I have friends who were skimping on bras and giving themselves back and breast pain because they didn't want to pay the huge price tag.  

Thankfully, us busty girls now have a solution!  DreamFit bras available at Walmart!  Now, I know what you're thinking and this is not your Walmart bra of yesteryear!  I've tried those ones and these are nothing like that!  The DreamFit bras are thoughtfully made offering a few different styles including one that can go strapless.  They also have cute designs like stripes, lace, and floral!  They also go to a triple D in store which is usually a challenge for me.  Best of all, they retail for $11.44!  I actually got mine on sale for $8!!!  My mind was blown!  

Display at Walmart

I picked the DreamFit Deep Plunge since I like more of a demi cup.  I find this cut best if you have a variety of necklines in your wardrobe.  I also liked that it had a touch of lace for added femininity.  Of course I had to select the floral print since for so long all I had was beige, black, and white.  The bra is comfortable!  The straps have a nice width to them.  It offers a nice amount of support.  This is a great everyday kind of bra!  

I find it so important that things like bras are becoming more accessible to plus sized women!  We deserve pretty bras with nice prints too!  And we also deserve to get a good deal.  Not everyone has $50 to drop per bra.  I appreciate having lower cost options especially since you're supposed to replace your bras every six months!  

GIVEAWAY INFO:

DreamFit is giving 4 gift cards to Walmart worth $250.  Plus 10 other winners will receive a DreamFit bra of their choice.  ENTER HERE!  Good luck!

I decided that it was important for you all to see the bra on so you can see the fit.  I don't usually do bra pictures so I tried to find comfortable ways for me to show you.  I also wanted to show you the bra on with a t-shirt over it since I'm gonna guess that is how most people will want to wear it.  But you know, you do you.  

Top: Forever 21+ | Skirt: Lularoe Madison | Necklace: Just Jewelry

Shirt: Torrid | Jacket: Charlotte Russe | Leggings: Walmart 

I hope you guys found this info as useful as I did!  I love knowing about options especially lower cost ones.  

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Little Black Dress Blogger Collab - Dressy Plus Size Look

Over this last year, I've had the pleasure to connect with a lot of local bloggers.  Most of this is due to The Blog Bloc which is a Sacramento blogger networking group.  It is so amazing to have a group of people who do what you do and understand your plight!  When my sweet friend Racquel asked me if I wanted to join in a collaboration with a few other ladies to show how to style a Little Black Dress for your body type, I was all in!

With holidays approaching, a little black dress is always good to have in your closet!  I find that when I don't know what to wear, a black dress can be the answer to every occasion.  Obviously, little black dress means different things to different people which is part of the fun of this collaboration.

My style is very weird.  On the daily, as a mom, I'm very causal.  Probably too causal.  I wear joggers, leggings, graphic t-shirts, etc...  But if I have a meeting, a press event, or any kind of get together, I normally wear a dress.  You guys are probably used to seeing me in dresses.  I will don a dress unless I'm at an event where I need to be down on the floor with my kids.  I feel like a casual dress is just like a regular Tuesday for me.  I wanted to wear something a bit more formal since the holidays are coming and I love a little something extra at holiday time.

I was so lucky when it came to my dress!  I was watching Vintage or Tacky on YouTube and she mentioned that City Chic was having a huge sale (about a month ago).  Earlier this year, I discovered that I LOVE City Chic and it is definitely my aesthetic.  I was able to get the City Chic Audrey Dress for only $30!  Since the dress has a high neck and so much lovely lace, I didn't want too do too many accessories.  I wore big chandelier earrings and some shiny peep-toe wedge shoes from my wardrobe.

Don't forget to check out the other ladies to see the details on their outfits:
Britney from Seams and Sprinkles
Kachet from The Kachet Life
Racquel from Racquel Always

Our GORGEOUS location was the Sawyer Hotel in Sacramento and they let us use their Revival at the Sawyer rooftop bar and lounge.  This space is absolutely stunning!  The furniture is so beautiful and the view of Sacramento is breathtaking!  Everyone needs to check out this hotel and this lounge!    We had an incredible shoot with Shelbie from Seeking the Sea Photography.  You can also find her work on her work on Seeking the Sea Instagram too.  We also go to work with Kyle from eNVy Films who created an amazing behind the scenes video!



Here are some more photos from the shoot.  I love each and every one of these ladies!  I think they are all so beautiful in their dresses and in their style!  I am so lucky to have them in my life and you should be sure to check them out!

Do you like wearing a Little Black Dress?  If so, what design to you prefer?  Do you have parties you are attending this holiday season?  Tell me all about them!  And remember, if you drink please drink responsibly.  

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Edgy(er) Fashion for Winter or At Least That's the Goal

I feel like I'm in a bit of a transition right now.  If you've been following my blog for a while, you're probably used to seeing me super girly.  My style is very feminine and kinda cupcake-like.  What does that even mean??  Frilly, fluffy, sweet, potentially with glitter on top.  While, I'm still like that (and probably always will be, if we're honest), lately I've been craving a bit more edge to my aesthetic.

The temptation is high to throw out all my clothes and start fresh but you know I have that Mom Guilt.  That nagging inside you that says $60 for ONE pair of shoes for me?  Are you kidding?  Yet the same voice says nothing when you want to buy your children each $25 pairs of matching Christmas pjs that will be worn exactly once.  So, how do I transition my wardrobe and look into what I'm craving to be?

I'm no expert but this is what I did.  I hope you can take away a little or a lot from it.  Also, huge thank you to my friend Mickey for these AMAZING photos!  You can see more of Mickey's work on his Instagram or Flickr.

1. Change your hair.
My hair was long and my ends were damaged.  I had my hair dresser chop 4-5 inches off.  I'm not even sure.  I wouldn't let her tell me.  While my hair is not short by any means, I do think this takes me into the medium length category.  I also stopped dying it.  (GASP!  What am I going to do without purple hair?)  Just for the time being, I'm liking the dark hair with the bleached tips.  I don't know where I'll go next but for now, this is perfect.

Shirt: Charlotte Russe | Skirt: Lularoe Lola

2. Buy some dark lipstick.
I'm not one of those girls who wears different colored lipstick all the time.  Correction: I wasn't one of those girls.  I probably have 40 lipsticks that look nearly identical to the color of my actual lips.  My lips but better, they call it.  Dark is a relative term.  For me, right now I'm going with some berry tones and some pinky browns.  I'm not bold enough for deep plum or black lipstick.  Maybe someday I will be or maybe I won't.  But the darker lips definitely change my aesthetic from super sweet to a bit more fall/winter.  LOL!  We aren't moving mountains, we are inching toward them.  Good enough for me.  I'm using Lipsense in Sheer Berry (shown in these photos), Raisin, and Glam Doll.  You can read my thoughts on Lipsense HERE.

3. Pick a few trends and find affordable ways to put them into your wardrobe.
Don't go too crazy.  Just pick 2-3 things you want to try out.  My advice, shop at an affordable store for trendy pieces.  You do not need to spend $90 on a shirt if you're not sure you'll like a cold shoulder or $200 on destroyed denim that you might only wear once.  I decided to pick up a few things from Charlotte Russe because they offer a price point I'm comfortable paying.  (I am in no way affiliated with Charlotte Russe.  I'd LOVE to be but alas...)

My picks were a Lattice Front Top (clearance for like $6), faux leather moto jacket (waited for a sale, $30) and a fur scarf that was actually in my closet that I've never worn before.  I know fur is a huge trend right now but I'm afraid a full vest or jacket will add too much bulk to my body so I went with a scarf.  This is how I adapted the trend to not only fit my body type but also my budget.  A scarf will typically be more more affordable than a whole coat.  You can also wear it under a jacket to make it look like your jacket is lined with fur.

Shirt and Jacket: Charlotte Russe | Skirt: Lularoe Lola

Dress: The Pomegranate Boutique | Scarf: Just Jewelry from a few years ago

Another tip I have for incorporating your new pieces into your wardrobe is to wear all black.  NOW, I'm not an advocate of wearing all black just because it's "slimming" or "flattering."  I'm especially not a fan of black because you want to be invisible.  However, if you want to wear black because it's CHIC and more edgy then I'm here for that.  I'm also fine with using black to try out a new trend because trying a new style shirt might be hard enough without the added pressure of trying a brand new color.

Shirt and Jacket: Charlotte Russe | Skirt: Lularoe Lola

How do you think I did?  Do I look like an evil ninja cupcake?  I'm mostly ok with that.  Do you have tips on how to dip your toes into an edgier, moodier look?  I'd love to hear them!  Let me a comment or shoot me a message on social media or email.

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The Pomegranate Boutique - It's About FIT Not Size

Hi friends!  Today, I want to tell you about a shopping experience I recently had.  My friend and fellow blogger Racquel referred me to a brand new store in Sacramento called The Pomegranate Boutique (they also have an online shop).  Being a plus sized woman, I always ask if the store caters to people of my size.  The owner of the shop says "we cater to all sizes" but I was skeptical since online they only show that their clothes come in S, M, or L.  However, since my friend Racquel referred me and I think she's pretty familiar with my size, I went ahead and went in.

*This post is a collaboration with The Pomegranate Boutique.  As always, all the opinions are my own.*

I talked to one of the co-owners Araxia through The Pomegranate Boutique's Instagram and set up a time to come in.  She was so friendly!  Their pop-up shop is located in the Curtis Park area of Sacramento inside Shortkutz for Kidz.  When I came in, I was greeted by Araxia and she told me she had picked out some items for me to try on based on photos from my AshleyNewellPlus Instagram account.  I was pleasantly surprised!  I'd never had someone in a shop pull a rack of clothes for me before.  I felt very fancy!

When I went into the dressing room, I went to try on one of the dresses she picked out and the tag said "medium."  Well, this was awkward.  I've very visibly plus sized.  I went to the next thing she picked out and it was the same dress in a "large."  I took a look at the dress and it was the Harem for All style.  It looked like a tent-y trapeze style dress so I went ahead and tried it on in the large.  To my shock and awe, it fit just fine.  I came out of the dressing room to take a picture and Araxia asked me what size I was wearing.  I told her I went right for the large.  She told me that some ladies my size prefer the medium since it hugs the bust more so I went ahead and tried it on.  It FIT!  Can you believe it?  I fit into a medium!

I went on to try on the rest of the items she pulled for me.  There was only one item that was actual "plus sized" and she told me to take the 1XL because the dress looked big to her.  Most of the items fit in the medium and the large.  Some of the items didn't.  These were items in non-stretchy materials.  Most of the items wouldn't fit because of my bust so if you were a 3xl or 22 with a small bust, you might fit.

This leads me to something my friend Heather always says "it's about FIT, not size."  If we are honest, that is usually said to someone that is told to put on a bigger size than the normally wear because something runs small.  But I think that it gets ingrained in Plus/Curve girls like myself that we NEED to seek out plus clothes.  That straight sizes aren't for us.  That it would be RIDICULOUS to put on a size small even if it's a shawl.   We need to stop this.  We need to be ok looking at something with our eyes and using our brains to decide if it will fit rather than letting a little tag tell us what we can and cannot wear!

These numbers do not define you!  If next season the maker of your favorite jeans decides to change the sizing (which totally happens!), that's them, it's not you.  Do you know what I mean?  It doesn't matter what the number on your clothing says, what matters is how the clothes make you feel.  This goes either way.  If I fit into a "small" but I feel uncomfortable, I'm not going to buy it just because it fits.  Likewise if I fit into a size 26 in a certain brand, that doesn't mean I shouldn't or won't buy it because I'm normally a 22.  All that matters is that the clothes fit your body the way you want them to and that you feel good in what you're wearing.

Here are some pictures of the clothes and I'll indicate the sizes in caption if I know it in case you have a body similar to mine and need to know what size to buy.  I have no shape wear on in these photos.  (I wish I did but what can you do?)

Harem for All - Large

Harem for All - Medium

T-shirt Maxi Dress - Medium

Bubble Trouble - 1XL

Sage Butterfly - Large 

Ruffled Belle - Large

The Pomegranate Boutique also has shoes, purses, jewelry, and hair accessories.  I also got to meet the other owner, Stella who was also lovely!  The clothes are picked out from showrooms in Los Angeles and they get different items all the time.  They have a shopping team made up of ladies in different shapes and sizes to try out the clothes before they bring them into the shop.  The Pomegranate Sisters's goal is get to know their customers so well that shopping with them is like going to your sister's closet where you can find just what you need for any occasion.  I'm excited to go back to The Pomegranate Boutique and see what they bring in next!

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Dear Women, Get in FRONT of the Camera

Hi!  It's me, your chubby, tired, mommy friend with a few stray grey hairs and blemishes on her jaw.  I'm here to tell you to get in front of the camera.  And we've probably all seen the amazing article telling women to get INTO photos called So You're Feeling Too Fat to be Photographed.  Well, I'm here to tell you that you should take it a step BEYOND that.  I want to challenge women (particularly moms) to take professional photos BY THEMSELVES.  That's right, no hiding behind your kids, your partner, or your pets.  I want to SEE you!

Remember when you were a senior in high school and you did an entire photoshoot all by yourself?  Or when you would take Glamour Shots at the mall?  (Is this still a thing?)  Remember when you were young and not only allowed but paid people lots of money to take your picture?  What happened to that girl?

I became the opposite of that girl.  I offered to take the group shots at parties and get togethers so I wouldn't have to be in them.  I would hide or say I had to go to the bathroom during the photos.  If you somehow got me in a photo, I would try to stand in the back so you could only see my head.  And I can't tell you how many family photos are only of the kids.  I'm talking Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthdays, etc... I was removing myself from memories because I didn't want to be seen.

Do you remember my Lularoe for the Plus Sized Gal post?  I can't remember a time between that post in Feb 2016 and my wedding in April 2005 where I allowed myself to be photographed full length by myself.  That's 11 years where I only had a head.  I remember even putting "Do a Photoshoot by Myself" on my 30 Before 30 list.  Yeah... I checked it off because I asked my sweet friend to take a couple headshots after I got my haircut one time.  But that wasn't being truthful to myself.

Here's my challenge, I'd like women to do what I'm calling a Celebrate You Shoot.  Not maternity, not boudoir, and definitely not a group.  Just you.  By yourself.  Pick out an outfit that makes you feel great.  Do your hair, your nails, your makeup, or don't.  But get in front of a real camera with a photographer and have your picture taken.  And here's the REAL challenge, when you get your pictures back look at how pretty you are.  Look at your joyful smile or your sparkling eyes or your athletic shoulders and see beauty.  You are not allowed to sit and nit pick at every little imperfection that no one else sees.

Bonus, print out a picture and let your significant other take it to work.  Print one out for your parents.  Frame one and put it in your own house.  Let yourself be SEEN by the people in your life and by yourself.

I have to warn you that I went full on Senior Portrait on this photoshoot with Sparkle and Smile Photography.  I also wanted to try different poses and see how it worked for me.  I'm really happy with the photos!  I'll admit that there are some where I wish my tummy was flatter or my arms were smaller but I just keep scrolling because it is what it is. I loved working with Nichol!  She really helped me to execute this vision.

Dress: Lularoe Amelia | Jacket: Isabel Toledo for Lane Bryant | Boots: Lane Bryant

If you do a shoot like this, please leave me a comment with a link.  Or use #celebrateyoushoot on social media and tag me so I can see!

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1 Dress, 3 Different Ways Collab w/ The Smiling Sweetheart (Plus Sized)

Do you ever meet someone and just know that they are going to be one of your people?  That's how I felt about Mona from The Smiling Sweetheart.  She is an amazing fashion blogger that lives in my town.  I saw her at an event and I thought to myself "I want to meet that girl!"  Sadly, the event passed by and I didn't get a chance to meet her so I did what any normal person would do and stalked her on Instagram.  After liking and commenting on her photos for a little bit, I asked her if we could meet for coffee and talk about a collaboration.  When I met Mona in person, it's like my heart sang!  She just gets me and she's so genuine and lovely!

For our collaboration, I asked if she would help me style a little black dress.  As a mom, I can't always spend a lot of money on different outfits.  I figured if I could take a staple from my wardrobe and make the most of it, that's the way to go.  Of course, as a plus sized lady my forever favorite staple is the little black dress!  If I'm ever feeling insecure and I don't know what to wear, I throw on a black dress.  It's timeless and can be dressed up or down.  I asked Mona to help me work on modernizing my accessories since a lot of the stuff I have is dated (read: very old from when I used to work outside the home.)

The base for ALL my outfits is my Lularoe Carly dress.  It is a t-shirt style dress and made of a cottony material.  It has a high-low hemline and a small pocket on the chest.  It's one of my favorite pieces as it transitions into all seasons for me.  Please head over to Mona's blog learn why she picked the accessories for each outfit!  (Here is the direct link to Mona's Collab Post.)

Let's start with a family day look!  Here is the collage Mona sent me.

Here is the look we put together.  We decided to add a hat for some sun protection.  I'm OBSESSED with this hat from Pomegranate Designs!  I figure being a food blogger makes it totally ok to wear a knife on my hat.  

Dress: Lularoe | Jacket: Old Navy | Shoes: Rocket Dog | Hat: Pomegranate Designs | Tote: Charming Charlie | Necklace: Borrowed from Mona

The next look is for going out to coffee or meeting up with girlfriends.  I think this look works for both day or night.  

Dress: Lularoe | Jacket: Old Navy | Shoes: Payless Shoes | Bag: Madison West | Necklace & Earring Set: Charming Charlie

The last look is for date night!  Normally I wouldn't wear such a casual dress on a date but I think the look really works!

Dress: Lularoe | Shoes: Simply Be | Clutch and Necklace: Charming Charlie

Huge thank you to The Smiling Sweetheart for styling me for this blog post!  She showed me different brands to shop with for plus sized items and wide width shoes.  That was super exciting! She was also so encouraging when we were taking photos and trying things on.  Everyone needs someone like Mona in their corner!  

A big thank you to Photography by Yasmeen for these AMAZING photos!  I love them all!  

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Plus Size Evening Looks with Gwynnie Bee (Mostly City Chic)

Today, I have some awesome plus size evening looks for you using Gwynnie Bee which is a clothing rental service for women who are size 10-32.  Gwynnie Bee is GREAT for evening especially if you have a lot of different events to attend.  I find a lot of evening looks to be very memorable and I tend to see a lot of the same people at the events I attend so it's nice to wear a rental so I look different in the photos.  This is just a personal preference, obviously.  You can easily wear the same dress to your events and change things up with accessories or you can just wear the same thing every time and rock it.  But if you haven't tried the Gwynnie Bee 30 Day Free Trial and you have a lot of events coming up, it's the perfect time to try it!  (I've used affiliate links in this post but as always, the opinions are my own.  Thank you for any support you show to me and my blog!)  

Eliza J Cold Shoulder Fit & Flare Dress - I love a cold shoulder right now!  I feel like it's stylish and a little sexy without showing much skin.  This dress has a great weight to it and would transition really beautifully into the fall and winter.  It has great stretch and the fit & flare cut is works well on my apple shaped body.  (PS is there are term for an Apple with thick legs?  Are Apple shapes supposed to have small legs?  I don't know.)  This dress also has pockets which I love!  It's also a lot later in the evening in this photo so sorry for bad picture.  

City Chic Mono Sheer Panel Dress- I'm OBSESSED with this dress!  In fact, I ended up buying it.  I love the black and white stripes with the flowers!  I love the sheer panel at the top!  I need to go buy some red shoes to wear with this dress and my life would be made!  I like how it pulls in at the waist. Without Gwynnie Bee, I never would have tried this dress and I'm so happy I did!

City Chic Lady Tiffany Dress- I feel like this dress is also perfect for brunch or a tea especially if you put a cardigan over it or a kimono.  The length is really conservative.  I really loved the water color print looking skirt.  Overall, I don't like this length on me since I have short legs and a longer torso.  I feel like tea length dresses and skirts make me look so short even in heels.  It's a really beautiful dress and if you are taller or just have longer legs, I think this would work well.

City Chic Scoop Nick Ponte Peplum Dress- I sent this dress back to Gwynnie Bee and it hurts my heart every time I look at the pictures of it.  I took this dress with me to Vegas and wore it to a concert and out clubbing and it was just perfect!  This peplum was in the perfect spot!  I got so many compliments on this dress!  The length is on the shorter side of what I usually wear but it was not uncomfortable.  The fabric was stretchy and suited my figure really well.  The belt that comes with it is the perfect accessory!  I really wish I had bought this dress.  I have so much regret!

MBLM by Tess Holliday Mesh Tunic and Lucky Brand Emma Crop Jean- This outfit is more a going out with the girls to the club type look which is different for me but I do it.  The model showing off this shirt is wearing a tank top under it and I didn't realize that.  I put this top on with a bra and yes, that is my bra you are seeing in the photo.  I'm not mad at it.  I'm not going to lie.  Of course, you could wear a tank under and be more conservative but this works for a night out or a date night with hubby!  The Lucky Jeans fit me really well but obviously they aren't as cropped on me since I have short legs.  The model is wearing them cuffed but I didn't like the look of the cuff so I wore them unfolded.

What kind of outfits do you wear for evening?  What are your favorite brands?  I think I need to go check out City Chic some more since I'm obviously drawn to their designs.

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