Brooches, and how to enjoy them

Let me wax poetic about the brooch. Brooches are an awesome and frequently cheap way to accessorize, especially if you don't love wearing lots of jewelry. Rings and bracelets irritate me, earrings and necklaces are fun but not always what I'm in the mood for. But a brooch? It is super easy.

It all started back in 2007 when I bought a black flowered wooden brooch at a boutique where nothing else fit me. You know, fat girls always have great accessories and all. Anyways, I realized after I started incorporating this pin into my wardrobe that it made my otherwise predictable ensemble of jeans, shirt, cardigan somewhat kickier.

So, over Christmas break I had the chance to shop with my sister in law (Hi Mags!) at this awesome, huge vintage/antiques (what is the difference? I don't know!) store called The Knitting Mill in Chattanooga, TN. I would highly recommend it for anyone in the area! Anyways, I came home with many spoils, two of which were awesome vintage brooches that I will now show you.



This beauty cost me $8, and I love it!


Details:
Black sweater shirt: Target merona 14/16
Jeans: Avenue divine denim "the straight" size 20 (I usually wear a 22 at all other stores)
Shoes: Payless, AGES ago, size 11
Brooch: I believe you have been introduced.

Light blue/gold enamel: Also only $8!




Details:
brown tank/shirt: Old Navy XL (from a few years ago when everything was swing cut, this thing is like a circle skirt with straps, I swear)
cardigan: target merona xxl
jeans: same as above
shoes: same as above

So now, I'll bet you are wondering only one thing:
How can you get started in the brooch-wearing club? Easy! Just follow this 4 step plan.

1) Get a brooch. Thrift stores, vintage malls, open air markets, etc. are a great place for this, they always have tons of jewelry that is often $1 each or some such nonsense.
2) Hold the brooch in your right hand if you are right handed. Or left hand. Really, either hand will work.
3) Pick a side to wear your brooch. I always wear mine on my left, it just looks better to me.
4) Put the brooch about an inch or two below your collarbone, right where you bra cup meets your bra strap. Pinch through all the layers you are wearing if, perhaps, you are sporting a cardigan and shirt underneath. This will help anchor the brooch.
5) Be your sassy self, now broochified!

I think I probably include a brooch in my wardrobe at least twice a week, from my collection that now numbers around 10 brooches. I LOVE BROOCHES. Brooch.

OOTD: Playing with the idea of "shapeless"

Lately I've been thinking about the idea of "shapeless" and experimenting with baggy, flowy, and otherwise not-cinched-in-or-belted looks. This dress was a sales post dress, and normally I wear it belted with great success. Also, it looks like it is really long (like knee length) in the pics but I feel like it is shorter in wearable life!



Details:
Dress: Sales post, vintage
Tights: Target Merona collection 1x/2x, light grey
Shoes: Frye size 11
Bag: From a market in Brazil
flower brooch: from a jcrew bridesmaid's dress

Your model is 45/40(empire)/48(jeans waist)/53, 5'9" 240ishish

Advent of Dresses: Days 13-15 (final!)

Hello lovelies. I ended up only making it through 15 days of dresses before I stopped taking pictures of them, then went on holiday break. So I bring you the final installment of the Advent of Dresses.

Day 13: The first dress I bought as an adult!




Details:
Dress: Old Navy, probably about 7 years old!, size xl
Cardigan (spot is on camera, it's not a well-placed but blurry brooch :) - Target, xxl, last year
Boots: Target Kady size 11

I keep hanging onto this dress despite the fact that it has alot of pink in it, and I don't really like pink. It's just so damn comfortable, and made of a very light cotton that doesn't wrinkle. I can't find anything like it. I'm thinking of dyeing it some day to revitalize it, but for now I don't want to ruin it so I'm keeping it as is.

Day 14: The butter yellow muumuu from a thrift store


I know you've all seen this dress before. I love it! It really is a testament to "TRY EVERYTHING ON!" because this super trendy thrift store that I go to - I just assumed that nothing there would fit me. This dress changed my perspective. I have since then found other awesome dresses at the same store, and at other thrift stores.

Details:
Dress: thrifted
belt: target xxl
Boots: guess which? :)

Closeup of belt:


I paired it with a brown cardi because I was in a hurry, I really don't like it. My navy one from the day before looks better but I had just worn it, so I steered away.



Day 15: Dress from thrush.etsy.com



I finally paired this with a more substantial black sash, and I like the effect. I also enjoy having a dress with sleeves so I can forego the cardigan for a day. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love me some cardigans, but I am starting to get a little tired of wearing one daily.

Details:
Dress: Thrush.etsy.com
sash: from a renfest
boots: Target kady size 11
I love this pic of me - of all the weird contortions I did to try to get shots of myself, by myself, I like how this shows the ruffled neckline, and also the delicate black slip underneath. My hair looks awesome, and the glasses match super well. All in all, a great shot of me, if I do say so myself :)


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I think the Advent of Dresses was a really fun project! I was really glad to wear and rewear some old dresses and think about accessories and companion pieces like cardigans differently for the month. I definitely didn't get to all of my dresses, so keep your eyes peeled (isn't that such a gross saying?) for more new dresses from me in the coming month! Thanks so much for looking!

Advent of Dresses: Days 10-12

Hello lovelies,

Ready for some more of my December of dresses (Dressember?). Days 10-12 of the Advent of Dresses were among my faves - especially once I discovered the awesome cocktail combo for Day 11!

Day Ten: the oddly-fitting Old Navy dresses continue!




Details:
Dress: Old Navy 1x from this summer, clearance
Cardigan: Old Navy xxl from last year
Knee Socks: Ozone, my favorite ever, they stay up all day! from a shoe store in Portland (Imelda's)
Boots: You know. My faves. Target Kady, size 11
Brooch: Etsy seller AtlanticAvenue
Fridge: Because fatties love to eat.

Day Eleven: I LOVE LOVE LOVE this combo! Worn to my company holiday party.



Bob is so darn cute I like to sneak kisses during pictures:


Playing drums - our party was at the EMP in Seattle - a music museum!


Because hydration is important when whiskey is involved:


Details:
Dress: thrifted, me-sized!
petticoat: thrifted
shirt: Lane Bryant, YEARS ago, size 14/16
brooch: gift (for myself anyways)
shoes: faryl robin size 11, year ago

Day Twelve: Avenue clearance skirt!



Without the cardigan:


Details:
Shirt: Target xxl, years old, tissue weightish
Skirt: Avenue clearance from last month, can't find it on the site anywhere now
Cardigan: Avenue, in store, size 14 (here online)
Boots: you guessed it, Target Kady size 11

This outfit was a trial to wear. The skirt was linen, so a slip was a must, and kept slipping up or down depending on whether I was sitting or walking. The smocking at the waist of the skirt kept puckering horizontally, the shirt would either be tucked in too tight or too loose, the skirt would ride up, then down... Ok, I'll stop whining. It was uncomfortable. But I think it looked cute, I just need to figure out a way to do the skirt with a slip with a tucked in shirt. Tuck the shirt into the slip too? I had it sandwiched between the slip and the skirt and it wasn't really working well.

Advent of Dresses: Days 7-9

Now we are on to some of my favorites of the advent of dresses project. 2 of these were from a fatshionista sales post, and one is from the charity dinner auction that Bob and I went to.

Your model is 5'9", ~240, 45/40(high waist)/48(jeans waist)/53, a size 1x or 2x in dresses and a solid 22 in jeans.

Day Seven: The vintage dress with actual sleeves!



Details:
Dress: sales post!
Belt: target 2xl
boots: Target kady size 11





Here she is again! This is Waffles, our 6 year old pom/schipperke mix. She's a shelter rescue, we've had her for a month and she is AWESOME.

Day Eight: The charity ball!



Closeup of the birdcage veil:


Details:
Dress: Kiyonna size 1, no longer available, and getting tighter in the tummy than it was this time last year...
Birdcage veil: I made it! I wore it in my wedding too.
Pearls: gifted at a friend's wedding
shoes: Kathryn Kerrigan, size 11, no longer available but similar ones on endless.com
clutch: marimekko from a shop in Portland. Usually I use it as a bag-within-my-purse to hold necessities of the lady hygiene variety. Which is kind of TMI. Sorry.
Husband: adorable in his wedding suit, black tie, and black vans slip-ons. He's 6'3", 280, for those playing at home.

Day Nine: If I had shaved my legs, I would have worn heels instead.



Details:
Dress: sales post!
belt: goodwill, brand new
petticoat: thrifted
boots: target, kady, size 11 (I told you I wore these nearly daily)
flower pin: off the jcrew bridesmaid dress of ill fittingness, but a beautiful color!

Closeup, so I'm not headless:


Heels would have given this the retro vibe I was looking for. But it was still a cute dress! I felt cute all day. And, unlike most of my other vintage dresses, this one and the dress from day seven actually fit me in the bust/armpit/shoulder/arms, so I didn't feel like I was stuffed inside of it all day.

Advent of Dresses: Days 4-6

Here be the second post of my Advent of Dresses project.

Your model is:
5'9", 240 lbs last I checked, about a 1-2x in dresses, a solid 22 in jeans.

Day 4: a desperate attempt to like this dress again



Details:
Blue shirt dress: Old Navy plus size 16
Pastel floral belt: off a dress bought via sales post
Leggings (it was cold that day!): duo maternity 2x, from sales post, and seriously the most comfortable bottoms I own. I napped in them later that day.
Boots: the infamous Target Kady boots in brown, size 11
Headband: made from a black headband elastic and a fake flower with the wire stem shortened and wrapped around the band.


closeup of headband:


Day Five: the lane bryant silky dress that I love!!!





Details:
Silky awesome dress: Lane Bryant, 14/16, current
Cardigan: Kersh, xl, bought years ago. Very tight, only works with dresses that have no sleeves or are silky.
Regular old black trouser socks
Boots: Target Kady... sensing a trend? I think I've worn these every day for 2 months.
Necklace: urban outfitters years ago, though you can find reasonable facsimiles all over etsy

Day Six: The clingy cheap jersey dress from Old Navy



I'd seriously ditch this dress if it wasn't such a great color. I still may. It just clings in all the wrong places, but it looks great with a variety of belts and cardigans, and wearing a slip underneath helps with the clinging somewhat.

Details:
Dress: Old Navy 1x
Cardigan: Target mustard cardigan of love!! xxl
gold and ivory leather belt: target 2xl, current
My feet are cut off, but I'll bet you can guess what boots I'm wearing :)

Advent of dresses: Days 1-3

(crossposted over at fatshionista.livejournal.com)

Inspired by Lilli over at frocksandfroufrou, I decided a few days into December to wear a different dress every day until the end of the year. I counted in my closet, and I'm fortunate to own 25 dresses (many of which I got through sales posts!), but I only wear about half of those regularly. I decided this would be a good way for me to try out some older or rarely worn dresses again, and to winterize some summer ensembles.

So, here goes - the first three days of my project! Expect about 5 more posts chronicling days 4-18, at which point it will be January and I'll be glad to rewear some of my faves again :)

Your model is:
5'9", 240 lbs last I checked, about a 1-2x in dresses, a solid 22 in jeans.

Day one:

Details:
Dress: Speed control via Ross, 1x
Cardigan: Target, merona, xxl (current)
Boots: the beloved Kady boots in black, size 11, Target
headband: by VieModerne on etsy (http://www.etsy.com/shop/VieModerne)


Closeup of my awesome face!


Day two:

You can really tell the days that Bob gets home in time to take my pic vs. me having to do it myself with the timer. This is a timer day.

Details:
Dress: Avenue, this summer, 18/20. THIS IS MY FAVORITE DRESS EVAR!!!
Boots: Target Kady brown boots, size 11
Cardigan: Target merona xl, few years old

Day three:



I love this ensemble! Usually I don't match my socks to my outfit so visibly, but I thought this was cute and not too much.
Details:
Dress: Target merona xl, actually too small, makes my boobs hurt
Tank underneath: old navy xl, years old
Cardigan: Target merona xl, years old
Boots: Luccheses, bought at a real cowboy store in Austin Texas. I am so proud of these boots. Men's size 10.


Has anyone else done something creative to force yourself to wear the clothes that maybe aren't your favorites? Though the dresses above are all faves, you guys will get to see some that I have hardly or never worn, so stay tuned!

Outfit of the day: mobile chowdown edition

After my Advent of Dresses posts over at fatshionista (I will probably cross post them here now!), I was honestly getting kind of sick of dresses. And cardigans. So I've decided to deliberately put together outfits that don't include a cardigan. But here's one more dress :)!

This dress is too short to wear by itself, but paired with leggings I feel more comfortable.



Details:
Black long sleeved turtleneck dress: Old Navy XL, years old
Black coat: Target XXL, last winter
Black leggings: Duo maternity 2x, from sales post
Black boots: Target Kady size 11
Black dog: Waffles, pom/schipperke mix
necklace: gift from husband on wedding day, it's a tiny copper book that opens like a locket



No, not pregnant. But maternity leggings are COMFY!