The Pashmina

One of the most versatile accessories this year is the pashmina wrap or scarf. It’s been around for years and is popular in Europe. With the sleeveless dress gaining more and more appeal amongst plus size women, the addition of the pashmina has gained momentum 100 fold. I was at a June wedding a few weeks ago and literally half the women who attended had some kind of pashmina to keep the chill off. Some were in sundresses and some were in suits. Either way it’s a nice addition even for summer.

You can spend a lot or a little money on a pashmina. I’ve seen them priced for as little as $10 to a whopping $1000. It is nice to have a few inexpensive pashminas of various colors to match your wardrobe (be sure to include the neutral black and tan). I found an array of pashminas from Amazon all under $60. Their fabric content ranged from the most desired cashmere to viscose; the viscose being the least expensive alternative. The best part is that they come in large (80” x 36”) and there are many colors to choose from.

If you are dumbfounded on what to do with your pashmina once you get it then watch this video by the Travelista showing different ways to harness various looks:

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Topic Links
* Get Your Own Pashmina from Amazon

The Corset Top

A growing trend in plus size club wear is wearing a pretty corset as a top. In most cases I find that corsets and bustiers are meant for shaping and should be kept for the underthings they were meant to be.

But occasionally I come across a corset that I can totally understand why some one would wear it as a top; at a club or otherwise. Plus Size Plum has a lovely corset top called Corset Vest with Casablanca Stripes. It comes in the Ivory shown at right as well as a soft pink. I think the pink looks too underweary to wear as a top but the ivory has definite halter top potential.

This $69 plus size corset comes in sizes 40, 42, and 44, with adjustable/removable garters and g-string. Doesn’t it look great with jeans and matching pumps!?

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Topic Links
* Get your own Casablanca Corset from Plus Size Plum

Promo Friday

A sale or two to get you through the weekend:

Catherines is offering 40% off all regular priced items and an extra 40% off clearance items
Coupon code: NA
When: June 28th ONLY
Visit Catherines for plus size clothing

Black Cat Plus is offering 20% off purchase of $100 or more
Coupon code: PROMO20
Expires: NA
Visit Black Cat Plus for plus size clothing

Target is offering free shipping with $50 purchase in Women’s
Coupon code: NA
Expires: 10/03/09
Visit Target for plus size clothing

Torrid is offering 50% off clearance sale
Coupon code: NA
Expires: July 5, 2009
Visit Torrid for trendy plus size fashions

CJ Banks is offering Free Shipping On Orders of $50 Or More
Coupon code: NA
Expires: June 29, 2009
Visit CJ Banks for plus size clothing

Avenue is offering $20 off $100 purchase
Coupon code: AV91069
Expires: July 10, 2009
Visit Avenue for plus size fashions

Swimsuits for All is offering 10% Off Your Order
Coupon code: 10off
Expires: NA
Visit Swimsuits for All for plus size swimwear

Junonia is offering 10% off $100 order
Coupon code: NA
Expires: NA
Visit Junonia for plus size active wear

Be sure to check out last week’s Promo Friday for sales and promotions that may still be running.

Have a great weekend!

Save $10 with Fashion Bug

From June 24 until midnight June 28 receive $10 off orders of $60 or more with coupon code: 776279804. This online only coupon can not be used for things like “priced just right” items or fragrances. It also can noot be used with other coupons.

There are so many lovely things at Fashion Bug, which carries regular and plus sizes. They carry plus sizes 14 to 28. Here are a few of my favorite items. Notice I couldn’t decide on one pair of shoes!

The Affordable Maxi Dress

Old Navy has jumped on the maxi dress bandwagon. Ok, they had one dress; but it’s cute and it’s affordable.

The Crochet-Trim Maxi Dress comes in the blue of nightlife. I especially like the draw string and crochet trim. It’s a nice casual sun dress for staying cool in. The plus sizes available for this dress range from 16 to 24. It’s regular price is $39.50 but it is on sale for $34.99.

The straps are pretty thin so you’ll need to dig out the invisible bra straps or go strapless underneath. Please don’t do the colored bra thing or the bra less thing (going bra less in public in a sun dress or at all gives the rest of us a bad name — unless you’re a celebrity).

Hope you all are having fun and staying cool.

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Topic Links
* Get your own Maxi Dress from Old Navy

Amarte Aqua Veil Review

The Amarté Aqua Veil Pure Hydration Serum is the last item I’ll be reviewing from the first Beauty Fix Kit. This facial hydrating serum came in a 2.2 fl oz tube and retails for $42. According to the Beauty Fix data sheet this product hales from Korea and is known as “magic water” in Asia.

The Aqua Veil has an interesting texture. It’s thick and has a matte appearance to it compared to other facial lotions. I immediately recognized a cucumber scent which I found comforting — great for the end of the day when I’m preparing for bed. Other ingredients include: mallow flower, sambucus nigra flower, arnica montana, parietaria officinalis, and hedera helix.

The serum glides over the skin and absorbs quickly while providing more than adequate coverage; a little goes a long way.

Skin results? I’m very impressed. I have oily skin and this product gave my skin an even texture and kept it virtually oil free throughout the day while still giving it a soft texture. It reduced breakouts around the jawline. But the most noticeable difference I found was my pore size. I have large pores to begin with and my regular lotion does a fair job of reducing their size but the Amarté Aqua Veil topped that by at least 75%. I don’t think my pores have ever looked so small. Another plus is that I couldn’t even tell I had lotion on my face. It absorbs so naturally. Some days I’d forget to apply it and I’d get this dry itchy feeling. When I applied the Aqua Veil I had immediate relief and was able to forget about my skin. I would love to try a body lotion version of this!

The Amarté Aqua Veil also came with a trial size version of Amarté’s Natural Wonder Cream. The only thing I wonder is how they ever got the name. The full size version sell for $90. I hated it and stopped using it after a week. The purpose of the wonder cream is to fade freckles, hydrate and smooth lines. All it did for me was make my face feel incredibly greasy.

A definite yes for the Amarté Aqua Veil Pure Hydration Serum and a definite no on their Natural Wonder Cream.

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Topic Links
* Get your own Beauty Fix Kit
* Get your own Amarte Aqua Veil from Amazon

White As A Sheet

I spent most of my life being white as a sheet and being commented to about it. I don’t really care any more since white is in again and when the wrinkles start to really roll around I will be blessed with looking younger.

When I saw this new t-shirt from Threadless (I never get sick of mentioning them) I had to mention it to you. The “White as a Sheet” t-shirt was designed by Anwar Rafiee. It comes in sizes small to 3x for $18. I luv this one but I would like to see another version with blonde hair. Although technically, I guess you could argue she could be blonde because the image is printed in black and white.

I love Threadless tees because they have such unique limited designs and of course because they come in plus size. Hopefully some day soon they will go bigger than 3x so even more people can enjoy them.

Another reason I love Threadless is their obvious appreciation for cake! Threadless in conjuction with Threadcakes is having a contest this summer where Threadless t-shirt owners can create cakes in the likeness of their favorite t-shirts. This is their second year for running the contest and they have a nice line up of prizes; like a year’s worth of tees (luv it!) and a bunch of baking supplies.

I’m actually kind of excited. I have my cake planned in my head so far with a couple of notes on paper. I’m not going to tell what shirt I’m doing yet until I unveil/submit my final results but you can probably read about complaining on twitter. If you are a Threadless nut like me I hope you’ll enter too.

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Topic Links
* Get your own White as a Sheet t-shirt
* Sign up for the Threadcakes contest

Friends and Family Sales

I have two Friends and Family Sales for you this week.

The first is with Liz Claiborne. They unveiled their new designs by Isaac Minzhi and are looking to give their customers some summer savings. Shop at Liz Claiborne between June 23 and June 25 and receive 40% off their entire site. I mentioned last week that Liz has gone really bright for summer.
To take advantage of these savings you need to enter VIP40 at checkout.

Second up is plus size clothing retailer Catherines (you know if Catherines is having one that Fashion Bug and/or Lane Bryant is probably not far behind). During this Friends and Family sale Catherines is offering 40% off Maggie Barnes items (and free shipping on orders over $75). This sale finishes June 23 at midnight. There is no coupon code for this sale. But I do have a coupon code for $10 off orders of $50 or more: 776999864. Doesn’t hurt to try!

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Topic Links
* Enjoy Liz Claiborne’s Friends and Family Sale
* Enjoy Catherines’ Friends and Family Sale

Promo Friday

A little sale or two to get you through the weekend.

Junonia is offering 10% Off your order of $100
Coupon code: NA
Expires: NA
Visit Junonia for plus size active wear

WebUndies is offering 15% off (free shipping on orders $75+)
Coupon code: WUFAVORITE
Expires: Sunday, June 21
Visit WebUndies for cute sleepwear and underwear (limited selection – put “plus size” in find it search)

Svoboda is having a eBay sample sale with up to 70% off ($5 shipping in US)
Not a good deal for anyone outside U.S. ($30 shipping, no combining)
Coupon code: NA
Expires: While quantities last.
Visit Svoboda’s Ebay rack

Penningtons / Addition-Elle / MXM is offering 15% on your order of $100 (they also have a great reduced merchandise sale on)
Coupon code: SUNNY15
Expires: NA
Visit Penningtons / Addition-Elle / MXM for plus size fashions

Barnes and Noble is offering 20% off one item (how about “Lessons from the Fatosphere”!)
Coupon code: D3A7V3V
Expires: June 23, 2009
Visit Barnes and Noble

Fashion Bug is offering up to 50% off summer styles
Coupon code: NA
Expires: July 14, 2009
Visit Fashion Bug for plus size fashions

Fashion Bug is offering free shipping
Coupon code: 776277808
Expires: June 22, 2009
Visit Fashion Bug

Lane Bryant is having it’s Cacique Semi-Annual Sale (Buy Two Get Two FREE)
Coupon code: NA
Expires: July 5, 2009
Visit Lane Bryant for plus size bras

Kiyonna is offering 20% Off EVERYTHING
Coupon code: FIREWORKS09.
Expires: July 8, 2009
Visit Kiyonna for plus size dresses and career wear

Shoes.com is offering 20% off all sale items (except bags)
Coupon code: SALE
Expires: June 30, 2009
Visit Shoes.com

Emitations is offering 8% off $30 purchase or more
Coupon code: AFMJ8
Expires: June 30, 2009
Visit Emitations for plus size jewelry

Check out last week’s Promo Friday as many of the coupons are still in effect.

Have a great weekend!

Black and White Print

When it comes to Lane Bryant they have been the worst offenders for suppling the most hideous plus size print tops. I noticed an improvement last season. And this season I’ve fallen in love with many of their black and white print tops.

Beginning bottom left and clockwise: the Contemporary warm-weather sweater is $64.50 (sizes 16 to 28); the tribal print belted tunic is $44.50 (sizes 14 to 32); the Paisley crinkle blouse is $44.50 (sizes 14 to 28); there’s even co-ordinating jewelry like the Triple row beaded necklace for $29.50.

Black and white never goes out of style and works for any season, even summer.

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Topic Links
* Get your own Black and White tops from Lane Bryant

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