What to do with good foundation that has a few problems? OK, the makeup is a little worn, with a cracked case. I love my L’Oreal True Match super-blendable powder (I wear C8 - Cocoa and N8 - Cappuchino), and I found a little round case of it in one of my old makeup bags. The powder came in a nice little solid disk, but that’s all done and over with - it’s now a billion pieces, and looks pretty useless.
We can use a makeup brush to save the day. It sounds common sense-y as anything ever could, but I was seriously about to chuck the darn thing out! Naturally, if you have REALLY old makeup that isn’t in good condition, you may want to simply throw it away - bacteria can get into makeup over time and cause breakouts. Not cool!
The foundation hasn’t really been used, just squirreled away. I think I’ll run by the store and get some new makeup brushes.
This post is apart of the Makeup Madness collection.
5 Finer Points of Plus Size Magazines
This is mainly my wish list as far as plus size fashion is concerned. I’m piggybacking off my last post on this subject, “In Praise of Magazines for Plus Size Fashion”
While I’m sure we could lengthen the discussion beyond five points, I think these are five points that we can agree on:
If we’re on the subject of plus size fashion, the only models we should see in a plus size fashion magazine are plus size models. It’s ridiculous that stores offering plus size clothes to women still use the same rail-thin, boyish models. It’s getting better - but too slow for my taste. The Charming Shoppes Trifecta can’t be the only champ in the field here; it’s also going to take mainstreamers and high-enders like Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Macy’s to make a splash here as well.
While we’re on the subject of reality, let’s not forget the reason why we read in the first place: content. My dream plus size magazine should have plenty of content — timely, relevant content.
Moreover, this content shouldn’t be afraid to step outside just “fashion” alone. What about accessories? Purses, belts, necklaces, watches — these details shouldn’t be forgotten in our quest to land that perfect dress, or the best jeans.
The newsstand price is relative — I’ve purchased Glamour, InStyle, and Vogue — all of which are roughly $3 - $6 bucks. A good magazine should fall in this range, though I could see paying more for targeted content.
Plus size fashion is like any other specialized niche — for quality, you have to pay. You must be willing to be proactive, and seek out resources that fit your niche. It’s easier these days than it used to be, but I often worry that the expansion, exposure, and popularity of the Internet has spoiled people — we’re still not sure if we’re seeing the end of free, or the beginning of fee.
Content publishers (magazines, newspapers, even myself) have to expend resources (whether that’s time, money, or a combo of the two) in order to deliver quality content. I hope that potential magazine buyers keep this in mind. I do have a feeling a big print magazine devoted to plus size fashion would get some relevant ads to make it profitable.
It’s not just about magazine pricing. We’re reading plus size magazines to satisfy the visual as well as getting the text-goodies. High priced items are going to be a given, but there should also be realistic items as well. I know we’re talking relative here, but I highly doubt we’re all out buying twenty thousand dollar dresses!
Bottom line: let us dream, but give us a certain percentage of pricing reality as well!
Quite frankly, length is the most subjective issue for me in writing. My posts to all of you are generally quite long, and I generally assume all of you are intelligent enough to be able to read paragraphs.
Related story: I had to take an civics class one summer, and our final project was to write an essay on a former President of our choice. As I was getting ready to get started on the assignment, a student in the back whined, “How long does it have to be?”
We paused a bit — I remember how much Ms. Bell hated that question. She replied sweetly, “It’s sort of like a good skirt — long enough to cover everything, but short enough to still be interesting.”
That’s the way plus size magazines should be. I should get enough content to whet my intelligent whistle, while not being bored to death. We’re not talking War and Peace here — too much detail can kill a magazine.
Clarity, tone, style - you know, those nasty words your English teacher cherished more than Godiva chocolates and Chanel earrings. They matter when it comes to something so word-driven as a magazine! The content in our little plus size magazine example should cut to the chase, be clear in the message, have a great tone without sounding overbearing or snobby, and make me think on something. Fashion is only as vapid and shallow as we make it.
The signal should be high, and the noise should be as low as possible. With the use of ad revenue so prevalent everywhere, that could be a challenge. I do think that it’s possible to have good content.
Recommendations should be positive, without too much bias. I’m quite sure other writers get some sort of compensation for reviews of certain brands — fashion giveaways are too tempting to pass up. However, we should be given not only a sell, but a good sell - make me want to buy what you’re reviewing.
Biggest gripe: we should not feel like we’re being talked down to. I’ve gotten a chance to meet a lot of plus size women, and they are some of the most intelligent people I’ve ever met — it’s not like we’re that different from other women. Don’t dumb down, be real with us.
There’s so much bull out there, I need another section — along with a shovel or five — to clear it. My biggest gripe with women’s magazines is that there’s too much how-to-get-a-man-in-10-days, lose-20-pounds-before-beach-season, and other asinine topics that I’m not interested in. Show me fashion for everyone, not just those apparently interested in “catching” a man. Some of us plus size women are happily taken, thank you! We’re professionals, wives, mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, daughters, students. Others are happily single — spare us the “how to get a man” and give us more tips that we actually can use!
Fashion doesn’t end up being a how-to-get-a-maaaaaan drama for me - I would like to think I’m in good company on this matter.
What are your ideas on plus size magazines? Do you agree with the Five Points? I’m not as verbose as President Wilson was, but I try.
Plus size fashion is so interesting because the customer has so much power. If we all start creating buzz, and back it up with the almighty dollar, I bet you things will really start a changin’.
Small delays ladies — Deluxegrrl is back on track and ready to continue with the 12 Days of Plus Size Style series.
At the beginning of summer Deluxegrrl showed to me…
Three, three, three. The number of completion, and also a sign of the perfect witness. For today, it’s time to find completion in an item of our wardrobe so commonly overlooked: our shoes! Shoes are definitely important, as they tie together an outfit that may need a final touch to really bring your sense of style out in the open. Plus size women shouldn’t have to feel like they can’t have a great pair of shoes for their wardrobe.
It’s summertime! Whether at work or at play, sandals are the classic codeword for summer. It’s the shoe we pick for fun at the beach, or for the office that totally “gets” that whole business casual idea.
A good pair of decorative white sandals will get you nearly everywhere you want to be for the summer. This pair caught my attention when I looked at the decorative flower trim - what else screams ‘girl’ more than flowers? Sizes range from 6 to 10, standard size. If you buy this shoe, you can get another shoe for 50% off - usual disclaimers apply for the offer (i.e., equal or lesser value)
I love a good dress sandal - this would be a sandal that I would feel good strutting into work with. It’s great, because you can play up a sexy dress or a white blouse and wide leg trouser — or anything else that strikes your fancy! At $100, it’s not precisely a bargain, but if you’re looking for a little slice of luxury for your wardrobe, you can’t get better than this. Not to mention that we at Deluxegrrl have seen much, much higher pricetags… The upside to this shoe is that sizes range nicely — from a 6 to an 11, standard size.
A sandal for the ladies out there in the great outdoors - this sandal is practical and cute. I would wear this if I wanted the attention drawn more to my pedicure or even to my outfit - sometimes shoes can trump an outfit, and that may not be what you want. You get two pairs of sandals for $25.99, and sizes range decently. Give ‘em a chance — they actually look comfy!
That’s all for today’s session of Plus Size Style. I hope that my choices can help guide you to the next pair of shoes for your sizzling summer wardrobe. As always, these are just helpful suggestions — feel free to find an alternative shoe if you like the style, but not the actual shoes I picked out. It happens.
this post is part of the 12 Days of Plus Size Style series.
At the beginning of summer Deluxegrrl showed to me….
On Day 1, I was supposed to show you a t-shirt, and ended up giving you three four t-shirts! Today, I’m going to try to stick to my fashion song parody and give you two necklaces, not three or four.
For the summer, I really love to play up soft features, tenderness, that sort of thing. This necklace is really delicate looking, and goes with so many potential wardrobe ideas! Wear it to let everyone know you have a playful side as well as a serious one. The price may be somewhat high, but this isn’t a trendy piece that will disappear — you can wear it over and over!
What needs to be said about this little number? I decided to keep the theme going today with another delicate necklace - a circular string of bubbles. I really like both pieces of jewelry because they’re playful - why fill your jewelry box with stuffy pieces that won’t excite you when you put them on? With all the choices in jewelry these days, there’s absolutely no reason to do this.
The plus size woman is the same as her counterpart - both schools of women need accessories to add to their outfits. Accessories help carry an outfit, draw attention to the body, and ironically, downplay areas that you might be obsessing about. Besides, if a piece of jewelry makes you feel good, wear it!
At the beginning of summer Deluxegrrl showed to me…
What better way to reinforce that summer is definitely here than to put t-shirts first? T-shirts are stylish, lightweight, and a summer staple that can be worn even when the leaves start to fall. Plus-size women have some great options this your with plus-size t-shirts.
The trend of the summer for plus size t-shirt is well-fitting. Many plus-size women go for t-shirt that may be plus-size but are too baggy. However, a great, well-fitting t-shirt plays up on your body’s natural curves a lot better than the baggy t-shirts of yesterday.
Ruching. It may not be exclusive to plus size fashion, but it’s worming its way into plus size fashion vocabulary, right next to princess seams and the empire waist. Ruching is that scalloped look seen on a lot of women’s clothing. It pulls the fabric into a very tight space, drawing the attention to the region. Ruching for plus-size clothing is an ultimate win because it plays up the beautiful assets of a full-figured body!
Alright, let’s get back to business - you ladies deserve some great plus size t-shirts. Here are the t-shirts that I’ve found rather luxurious:
2-Toned Ruched V-Neck Tee
From: Kiyonna Klothing
The ruching on this t-shirt makes turns this t-shirt from plain to cute! The vibrant blue-and-white combo makes this a winner for your wardrobe too — it’s a basic tee at the roots, so you can wear it with black wide leg pants, or khakis, or even a flouncy white pleated skirt. The possibilities are endless, so get out there and mix and match!
I’m a huge fan of fitted t-shirts - I like to show off to the world that I’m just as curvy as any other woman. Plus size fashion shouldn’t be about baggy, and this cute little tee is not only streamlined, but affordable! Boost savings by buying two of them and save a buck or two.
When it comes to plus size fashion, we seem to still be afraid to break “The Rules”. Contrary to popular belief, horizontal stripes are not always the enemy! In fact, the horizontal stripes in this tee actually look good! They’re slender, and wrap themselves around a full figure well. The tee even comes with side vents to bring the eye to your curves again and again.
It’s listed as a tunic, but in this case we can translate that into “sexy tee”. This slinky little number fits close to your body and lets everyone know the good word about those curves! I think a good top should always accentuate the very best of what we have, and form-fitting tops definitely aim to please! This tee is a steal at $17.15, so get it while you can!
Plus size t-shirts come in all shapes, sizes, and styles - let your inner personality glow with the very best the summer has to offer!
Plus size women don’t need to wait until Christmmas to look their very best! For the next 12 days here at Deluxegrrl, we’ll be giving you the very best links to stylish plus size clothing, amazing plus size lingerie, and fantastic accessories to help you keep the summer sizzling!
As we go through the days, we’ll list all the links right on this post, so you won’t have to flip backwards and forwards.
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dee·lux·GRRL n.An intelligent, dynamic female who isn't afraid to take risks, take time for herself, or create her own unique style!
Stores I Like:
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