All Striped Up - Torrid Strapless Dress OOTD

Happy Fourth of July lovelies! I hope you all are enjoying the fireworks along with an abundance of yummy food. Today was an absolute scorcher...well okay, it was a scorcher to ME since anything above 75 degrees has me crying like the Wicked Witch of the West, "I'M MELTING, MELTING!!"

Since it was supposed to be a hot, ahem, beautiful day, my friends and I decided to journey down to the beach and spend the 4th on the sand with a perfect view of the gorgeous fireworks by nightfall. Since I usually come back from the beach exhausted, sweaty, and full of sand where it should NOT be, I decided to take my outfit of the day pictures before I turned into grumpy cat. I figured what better way to enjoy a day on the beach than a cute & casual dress paired with a white denim jacket to keep me at least somewhat warm once nightfall arrived. Okay...you caught me..skip the keeping warm part, I just wanted to rock my new jacket.

By the way, YES! I am wearing a jacket that I haven't the faintest hope of buttoning up. Why? I specifically bought it this way so that whatever top or dress that I'm wearing underneath won't be hindered by excess denim floating in the way.

I decided to wear this outfit sans accessories so that none would get lost in the sand. If you think that the heat makes me grumpy, you can only imagine me trying to dig in the sand for a lost bracelet, now THAT is a sight to be seen (it is similar to a Gordon Ramsay special but, you didn't hear that from me).

Since this post is kind of short I'm going to include my review for this dress as well. I picked this up not too long ago (whenever the last Haute Cash sale was) and I can certainly say, I'm glad I purchased this while on sale and not at pull price. Even though this dress is super cute and beyond comfy, I just don't think that it's worth the $48.50 price tag, in fact nowhere near; I would price this dress as being worth somewhere in the $20 range. Why? I have only worn this dress three times and pilling has already begun, and while that is okay for a cheap item, I do not want a $50 clothing item doing that after only a handful of wears. Also, because of the cotton/spandex material, this dress is fond of losing it's shape after a few hours of wear-time. Thankfully though, the shape does bounce back after it has been washed.

Now, as you've read, this dress has a couple of negative aspects but, don't fret, this dress has a certain level of awesomeness as well. Firstly, if you're like me and you sweat, and by sweat I mean boob sweat, belly roll sweat, and the whole shebang, this dress is perfect. Since it is made out of pure cotton, it keeps you both cool and dry, which is essential when being a fat babe and walking around in 80+ degree weather. Secondly, as I said above, this dress is wonderfully comfy as the sizes run quite large. I purchased a size 5 and I could have easily went down to a 4 or maybe even a size 3. Also, if you're a SPANX wearer like myself, this dress is flowy enough that you can easily forgo the SPANX (I know I did).

Overall, if you're looking for a cute summer dress that will keep you comfortable, cool, and dry, this is a good dress to own. However, I still would not pay full price; this item is on-sale right now for $33.95 but, between you and me, I may or may not have seen a $10 off coupon floating around so be sure to search for that *shameless hint*.

Torrid Black & White Striped Strapless Dress

Ashley Stewart Cropped Denim Vest

Lipstick is MAC Russian Red. Check out my review here!

This dress is also available in two other colors, you can check them out here & here

Much love xo

Torrid Fold-Over Pencil Skirt - OOTD & Review

"Soft, stretchy and oh-so-versatile, this jersey knit skirt goes from classic pencil to sexy mini with a fold of the wide waistband, it will be a fashion favorite all season long."

As a plus sized girl I have always been intimidated by pencil skirts; they are the one clothing item that I have always been absolutely enamored with but terrified to wear. Why? I have belly rolls. And the tightness and form fitting aspect of a pencil skirt was just not something that I felt comfortable wearing for a long while.

A few weeks ago, I was window shopping the Torrid website looking for a plain black skirt to serve as the bottom for my upcoming Shaun of the Dead cosplay and somehow, in between the lace and florals, popped out a series of fold over skirts. Okay...I will admit this sounds incredibly corny, forgive me! After a small pep talk with myself and an overbearing need to just say f*ck it and wear whatever I want, I called my nearest Torrid to check if they had it in stock. To my luck, they had one left and it happened to be my size. Fate eh? No? Well, I like to think so.

Anyhow, fast forward to trying this baby on and it was instant love; the length and fit were absolutely perfect. Now, I must warn you, it is a VERY good thing that this skirt is meant to be folded down and customized to your needs. Why? Because I'm 6'1 and even when pulling it up to just under my breasts, this skirt still almost reached my knees. If you are any shorter than I, you will probably need to fold this skirt up a bit to still be a classic mini or pencil.

Can I express just how much I love this skirt? The material is super duper stretchy and beyond comfortable, this is one item that you can definitely wear to dinner and not have to worry about it feeling uncomfortable by the end of the meal. Now unfortunately, nothing can be perfect and this skirt does have a flaw. Since the material is so stretchy, after a day of wear it becomes very loose, not to the point of falling off but it is definitely not as form fitting (hopefully washing will fix that right up).

Onto my cam-whoring! Let me pause for a moment and say, I tip my hat to all of you fashion bloggers out there; posing is a lot harder than it looks! I ended up taking around fifty photos just to get ten that I really liked.

Overall, I really do love this skirt so much I'm probably going to end up ordering the black & white striped version, especially now that they are on-sale. I think these types of pieces are essential in ones wardrobe since they are perfect for dressing up or down. In case you're wondering, my skirt is a size 3, lipstick is MAC's Lady Danger, and the cami that I'm wearing is also from Torrid but now sold out online.

And to all my fat babes and my regular babes, wear whatever the hell you want and hold your head high, don't be afraid or intimidated like I was; I spent so many years shying away from pencil skirts when I could have been enjoying them! Love you all and hope you enjoyed my very first outfit of the day!

Retail: $24.50 // 24" long (Cotton/Spandex fabric)

Purchase Black here

Purchase Grey here

Purchase Black & White Striped here

Purchase Navy Floral here

Much love xo

Torrid Kiana Fold-Up Flats - Review

Spring time is finally upon us and thankfully it's time to shed the boots, the scarves, and the heavy clothing! Who else is excited? I bought these flats back when it was still frigid and snowing so I hadn't had the chance to wear them until now and well...unfortunately they didn't work out like I had hoped. I never would have thought in one hundred years that a simple pair of flats would be infinitely more uncomfortable than four inch heels. My first experience wearing these was about a month ago, I chose to wear them on my convention weekend because I wore dresses on both days and these flats seemed like the perfect compliment to both. And honestly, we all know that conventions mean standing, walking and everything in between and I was NOT about to wear heels!! I sincerely tip my hat to the amazing people that wear heels to these types of events.

It boggles my mind but the Kiana flats are hands down the most uncomfortable pair of shoes that I have ever worn. Within five minutes of slipping these bad boys on and walking, my feet had turned bright red and were already crying for relief. By nightfall of day one, my feet actually had calluses in several places; I was in hell! Believe me, I wanted to say f**k it and go barefoot on more than one occasion during my weekend! (Hey! I'm angry here, let me vent) Now you might be wondering, Desi if these shoes were that uncomfortable, why on earth would you wear them both days of the convention? You are absolutely right. In retrospect, this was totally not one of my better ideas.

Now, to come to Torrid's defense for a moment, these are fold up flats which basically means that they lack the support of a regular shoe and thus are not really suitable for long time wear; they are essentially "emergency" shoes if you should ruin or loose your current shoes for the night or your feet have given up from a day of heels. I know that is partially the reason why my feet were in such bad shape by the end of it but, on the other hand these flats were already shredding my feet within a few minutes of slipping them on and that is simply not normal for any shoe. Another drawback? These flats have VERY LITTLE traction which resulted in me slipping numerous times no matter the surface (I spent the majority of the convention walking on carpet). Torrid, you really dropped the ball on this one. I hate to say it but, I would not re-purchase these shoes if they were on sale for 99 cents. While these pups might suffice for very short distances they just simply aren't adequate for anything beyond that, and at the $20 price tag that Torrid wants for essentially a piece of cardboard between the soles of your feet and the earth, there are certainly better alternatives. These shoes won the round for versatility but they have by far lost the round for comfort and quality; and that is what really matters right?

Retail: $19.95 (a small travel bag is included)

You can check out & purchase the fold up flats here:

Gold

Black Patent

Much love xo

Torrid Cherry Halter Swimsuit - Review

As much as I love wintertime complete with piles and piles of snow, I can't help but be insanely excited for summer! When Haute Cash rolled around, I purchased my very first swimsuit in YEARS..yes....YEARS (I know! I know!). If you know one thing about me it's that I absolutely adore the 50's. I love pinups, the clothing and just everything about that decade, so much that I even have a gorgeous little pinup tattooed on my arm. When Torrid started releasing their swimwear a few weeks ago, I immediately had my eye on this retro inspired cherry number. Since I haven't worn a swimsuit in years, I was a bit hesitant on what size to purchase. I normally wear a size 3 top in Torrid clothing but I can wear up to a size 5 depending on what the item is, I ended up playing it safe and ordering a size 4.

Photo courtesy of Torrid.com

Now, as much as I love the swimsuit there is one thing that I do not like...there is absolutely no breast support whatsoever. None, zip, nada! Since Torrid is a plus sized company and more often than not, plus sized lovelies have larger busts; I cannot fathom why they would make any sort of bra type item without chest support in some form. I know that the function of a swimsuit is to swim and not necessarily look glamorous but for us lovelies with larger busts, breast support is not only wanted, it is a necessity! So due to this oversight on Torrid's part, I will most likely end up installing my own chest support although I'm not quite sure what yet. Had I known this suit didn't offer any support beforehand, I probably would have purchased from Lane Bryant which has quite a few pieces with built in bras, check them out here.

Apart from lacking in the support department, I love everything else about the swimsuit. It's stretchy, comfy and it allows me to move without feeling constricted. My favorite thing is just how comfortable it really is. From what I can remember of past swimsuits, they always felt skin tight, were very hard to get on and off and just an all around pain in my butt! Since the material is so stretchy (it was more than enough to cover my belly!) I recommend purchasing in your normal Torrid size.

For some reason, Torrid claims that this swimsuit will slim and shape your body. While the cut of the suit along with the midsection detailing does help you to achieve that famous flattering retro shape, the material is just too stretchy to have any sort of slimming capability.

All things considered, I cannot wait for summer to arrive. My goal is to get as much sun, waves and wear out of this swimsuit as humanly possible, I can feel the sand in my toes already! So here's to an awesome summer now complete with the almost perfect piece.

This swimsuit retails for $68.50 and can be purchased here

Check out other Torrid swimwear here

Check out Lane Bryant swimwear here

Much love xo

Baggu Backpack - A Review

What do you do when you have Birchbox points that are about to expire and you still haven't cashed them in? IMPULSE BUY! I'm kidding of course but no seriously, my points were about to expire but, nothing on the site caught my eye until I saw this bag. I had been looking for a new one for school since the strap and lining on my six year old messenger bag finally called it quits. I was looking for something comfortable, preferably just a little trendy and large enough to hold my art supplies, fabric and just hopefully, my laptop as well. After cashing in my points and also getting free shipping, I paid an astronomical $4 for my purchase.

Photo courtesy of Urban Outfitters (Navy color)

The bag arrived nice and on time, and even through I'm not exactly thrilled on how Birchbox shipped it (not wrapped in anything, folded multiple times and crammed into a box entirely too small) I guess that's what one can expect with free shipping. The bag hit almost all of the points that I was on the market for except being able to carry my laptop, it fell about two inches short. If you have a laptop smaller than my gigantic 17.5 then it will be absolutely perfect, I still love the bag despite that. The backpack is made from 100% recycled canvas and feels very sturdy and well made, that will definitely be put to the test once I take it to class a few times. I really enjoy the fact that the bag is made from recycled material because even though it's small, it's still a contribution to the environment. Baggu even offers a service, if you return your worn out bag to them, they will give you $1.00 towards your next purchase. While I don't think that's much of an incentive for you to go out of your way for, it's something I suppose and that's better than nothing.

Unless you have points to redeem like I did, I suggest purchasing the bags directly from Baggu or Urban Outfitters, as they have a much wider color selection. Currently, Birchbox is only offering navy and white. I chose navy and I really like it, the color has a worn in vibe to it. I can't wait to put my own little personal touch on the bag though, I have a few ideas but I haven't decided on anything concrete as of yet, it is a "canvas" after all. -Cheesy pun intended.

The backpack has a total of three compartments. The first is a zippered outside covering about 1/3 of the front of the bag. It's enough space to carry my "quick grab" essentials like gum, phone, wallet, etc. The other two are on the inside, a small non zippered space at the top and the rest is empty space inside of the backpack. While the bag as a whole isn't the largest or the roomiest, it is just the right size for all of my daily class supplies plus a few extras like my makeup bag, lunch and reading material.

Overall, had I seen this bag in stores I honestly probably wouldn't have chosen it because it doesn't stand out but I really am happy with my purchase. It's lightweight, comfortable and easily customizable. My only downsides are the limited number of compartments, it has two (inside and outside) and the price, at $34 for a small backpack it can be a bit pricey but considering similar backpacks are the same price if not more expensive I can let that go. The bonus is that it is eco-friendly being made out of 100% recycled material and that is good enough for me.

Backpack measurements: 16 inches high and 10 inches wide

This back is currently on sale at Urban Outfitters for $24, here

This backpack can also be purchased here and here

Note: This backpack is not to be confused with the daypack that Baggu also offers, the daypack is smaller, cheaper and made of different material.

Much love xo

Lane Bryant Smooth Satin Full Coverage Bra - Review

Photo is courtesy of lanebryant.com

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Lane Bryant bras, they are literally all that I own but lately my old favorite, the cotton t-shirts just got to the point where they were old, pinching and ridiculously uncomfortable. I really have no idea why other than their age (a little over a year old) but it got to the point where they were stretched out and constantly digging into me from all angles, which resulted in a very miserable and disgruntled me. Now entering misery country population one! The cups had also started to curl after repeated washes. So I was unquestionably on the hunt for some new bras, I had my eye on the full coverage line for awhile, because of my bust size (46-48D) those seemed like the best option. I must admit that I had previously steered clear of them because they seemed more like the dull, unattractive "old lady" bras and less like the flirty, printed bras that I was used to wearing, oh how wrong I was.

I couldn't be any happier with these bras, they are FABULOUS! It fully covers my girls and there are no HELLO! type "slip ups" when I bend down or move a certain way. C'mon, we all have that moment when we bend down to pick something up and a good handful and a half of boobage slips out of the middle of the bra and we have to run off to the restroom to "re-adjust". Thankfully and proudly I can say that I no longer have to do that. This bra also offers amazing support and lifts me up right where I want to be. I have back fat and usually experience that uncomfortable band roll up and pinching but I don't with these, because of the smooth texture, these are perfect for wearing daily. I must admit, it's actually pretty nice not having all the bells and whistles for now and just enjoying a great, everyday no fuss bra. I won't be able to stay away from the prints and lace for too long though, so next sale I will be stocking up on those! The moral of the story? Don't judge a bra by it's cover, had I not taken one look at these years ago and turned up my nose, I could have been wearing these all along and saved myself countless embarrassing moments and some major discomfort. My only con with this bra is the band material, it's a see through mesh type fabric. I would have much preferred a more stable, solid fabric to reduce the risk of ripping and tearing.

This bra is now available in a lacy option for your more vixen moments but I would size up with those because they fit a little more snug. This bra wore comfortably for most of the day but in LB's defense I am still breaking them in so they should mold to my body in next few days. I'm going to give the cotton and expandable cup versions a try soon. I encourage all of my fuller chest ladies to give these a try, you won't be disappointed! Don't get discouraged if you can't seem to find the perfect fit, LB is known for their bra sizing to be a bit off depending on the style and color, what I wear in this bra I would have to go up almost three band sizes to fit a balconette!! Just keep trying on different styles and prints until you find "the one".

This bra can be purchased here: Smooth Satin Full Coverage

Much love xo