Now we all know that saying “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend”. But when it comes to material things, my best friend is a purse.  I cannot get enough of them.  There are so many types.

These are just a few:

• Day time bags
• Evening bags (Had to show you this purse)
• Clutches
• Hobos & Flaps
• Wristlets
• Messengers (one of my favorites for everyday wear)
• Shoulder bags
• Satchels & Carryall
• Crossbody Bags
• Business Bags
• Baby Bags
• Weekenders
• Wallets
• Tote Bags

It is important to always have a few great daytime bags and some chic evening bags. You do not have to have 50 bags like I do (I am not exaggerating). But have a few purses you can rely on.

A handbag can really be a great edition to your outfit. If you have a really unique purse it may be the only accessory you need. I love shopping at thrift, consignment and vintage stores for my purses. Consignment shops are a great place to find used designer bags because they screen hard for knock-offs. I also like shopping online and at various other stores for non-designer bags.

I actually just got my first brand new coach bag for a birthday gift. I usually get them used from consignment shops.  I am so excited! It is a gorgeous green color.

Purses can add a splash of color and excitement to any outfit.

If you are wearing:

• Black and white, definitely carry a solid color bag (almost any color will work). Metallics look nice too.
• Khaki or safari type colors, throw in a red or green bag
• Navy and white, pump your outfit up with a red or yellow bag
• White, add in a funky purse with a print or carry anything your heart desires. This goes for black too.

 All this is interchangeable! Mix it up. Get color happy!

I have a couple favorite clutches, one is coral and one is light green. They both happen to look great with every outfit I own.

Don’t forget vacations are always a great place to pick up unique locally designed purses. 

I like to have a mixture of materials, styles, and sizes for my bags:  leather, fabric, logos, faux fur, knit, metal, metallic, Ethnic style, designer, non designer, tiny, small, medium, large….

My Favorite picks:

• Chinese takeout purse
• Victorian mirror purse (see photo)
• Recycled candy wrapper clutch purse
• Coach bags

Another hidden gem that my friend turned me on to is 1154 Lil Studio. This is a shop where you can design your own purse. You pick out the fabrics and style. They make the bag for you. I could live in this place. They have locations in Chicago and Boston but they have party reps nationwide that will come to you! So have a purse party with your girlfriends. You can also design your special bag online.

There are so many purses at department stores right for every budget. I tried to show you items of all price ranges. Some are way over the top in price for me, but amazing to look at. No words can express how amazing Judith Lieber is. I may never own one of her purses but I always keep up to date with the collections!

“Size is just a number, remember always love yourself and adore your curves”

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It has been said that at a party/event… if there is a woman in red in the room, the eyes of men will find their way to her because men are attracted to the color red. I am thinking the same thing, who cares? But it is an amusing observation. There have been studies on this attraction to such a bold color. Tyra Banks had an expert come on her former talk show to chat about this. It was a great show and it made think I had to share this information. Too bad this is not true about my favorite color blue. I would be good to go!

So I went to a large social event where most of the women were wearing… guess what?….. black of course (I wear black a lot too), but not this time. I wore my sexy and classy Marilyn Monroe style halter dress. As I walked through the room I received a glance from almost everyone in the room. I’m serious! Several dashing men in suits smiled or their eyes lit up.  I felt sexy and daring in my ruby dress compared to my trusty black cocktail dress. I even ended up as the main picture on the event press page. 

Some of “us” plus size women tend to play it safe with dress colors for events. Well I say, “no more”.  Add some rouge to the room when you are feeling spunky. I think some people prefer not to wear red because it does attract attention. I was never a big fan of the color. It was too much for me. But I have learned it is a beautiful color that makes you feel sexy and there are so many shades of red.

Hips and Curves Nightshirt

Now I am not saying put on a red dress and go out fishing for attention. What I am saying is apparently there are benefits to wearing red. Red is considered to be the color of passion and power! Nothing like a sexy powerful woman. We only want men that can handle that anyway.

If you are in relationship wear it for your significant other. It could be  a red lipstick, red lingerie, red top, red shell, red swimwear and of course the sassy red dress.….

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081028074323.htm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/samleith/3563099/Why-are-men-attracted-to-ladies-in-red.html

Happy July 4^th! Perfect time to wear RED, white an blue.

“Size is just a number, remember always love yourself and adore your curves”

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Whether it is day or evening make up, you need to know what you are doing. Makeup can be so much fun if you are willing to experiment with color. But be careful of looking like a clown (okay for Halloween and high fashion photo shoots).

• pressed or loose powder, bronzer or mineral make up, concealer (skip foundation if you can)
• eye shadow, eye brow powder, maybe eyeliner, mascara
• lip gloss
• blush

For a very natural daytime look use pressed powder (shine is not divine), eye brow powder, mascara, and lip gloss. For a regular natural make up look use pressed powder, concealer, bronzer, eye brow powder, mascara, a neutral color eye shadow &  lip gloss.

 Evening can be (no need to use all of these):

• pressed or loose powder, bronzer or mineral make up, foundation
• concealer (Dermablend’s line is for the face and the body, is a great way to cover up stretch marks on the thighs and any other place you have them. You can cover up tattoos too!) Models use Dermablend for those little imperfections.
• eye shadow (there are a lot of smokey eye tricks available now), eye brow powder, eyeliner, mascara
• blush, lipstick, lip gloss
• body glitter, body shimmer, or body lotion with shimmer
• make up setting spray (used on shoots  all the time to keep make up on)
• leg spray (make those legs look smooth shiny and an even color)
• tanning lotion if you dare (don’t turn orange)
• fake lashes (very fun, but be careful with the glue)

Left to right: Timothy Beau Photography and Angela Michelle Perez photograpy

 There are so many products available to us women.  It is important to use them correctly. I have learned so much about make up from modeling. The makeup artists have shared their techniques with me and I practice and experiment often.  As a model you must know how to do your makeup. When is the last time you have been to a makeup counter at your local department store to update your look or brush up on your makeup skills?  My preference for makeup counters are Mac & Dermablend.  Clinique is good for sensitive skin. Ask them to do a daytime and nighttime look for you. Ask questions, watch and learn. Purchase the basics that you want and then get anything else at your local CVS, Walgreens etc… CoverGirl, Maybelline, L’Oreal, Almay, Max Factor etc…. are brands I use all the time in addition to my DS brands. I went to the Dermablend counter the other day and found out there is a much better concealer for me compared to what I had been using. I prefer not to wear foundation so it is important that my concealer is an accurate match (concealer should always be lighter then your skintone). I typically throw pressed powder or a bronzer over top. Now I don’t wear makeup everyday. I don’t see clients at my day job and my make up is done for me on most modeling shoots. There are benefits to wearing makeup on a daily basis though. You feel good because you look good and so many of the brands have sunscreen in them. Also there are several lines of mineral makeup that claim to be good for your skin.

Do’s & Dont’s

• Do always wear mascara and make sure it is not clumpy.
• Do curl your eyelashes before putting on your mascara. (Mom have you gotten an eyelash curler yet?)
• Do always keep your lips moisturized with lip balm, lipstick or lip-gloss.
• Do be careful with the “stay on all day” lip products. They can crumble on your lips (I am not a fan).
• Do make sure you are wearing the right make up colors and shades.
• Black eyeliner is not for everyone! You may need brown!
• Do keep your eyebrows shaped through waxing, plucking or threading. Don’t take out too much hair. Super thin is not in. Mine have finally grown back. 
• Do use an eyebrow powder that matches your eyebrows (apply lightly so it looks natural). Don’t forget the eyebrow brush to shape them. If  you shape upwards they will look thicker.
• Do try fun colors for the evenings and any other time you feel like getting a little funky.
• Do rock red lipstick for nights out.
• Do make sure you have a great set of makeup brushes.
• Do not fall asleep with your make up on! Yucky!
• Do wear at least neutral or clear nail polish on your fingernails and toenails. Get quick dry spray or blue nail oil to dry extra fast. I find painting my nails very therapeutic and relaxing.

My Top Picks:

• Dermablend Quick-Fix Concealer stick, Dermablend Leg and Body Cover Foundation, Dermablend Setting Powder
• L’Oreal Infallible Never Fail Plumping Lipgloss, L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara
• Mac Eye Shadow, Mac Mineralize Skin Finish (I use this as my bronzer /foundation for night looks), Mac Blush
• Proactive Sheer Finish Pressed Powder (this is a great way to eliminate shine while feeling like nothing is on your face)
• Maybelline Ultra Brow Brush on Color
• Neutrogena Shine-Control Blotting Sheets (Dewy skin is in but you still don’t want to be too shiny)
• Neutrogena Hydrating Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes

“Size is just a number, remember always love yourself and adore your curves”

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The Gals

I am so excited to be writing about the fun shoot I did at BlouseHouse.com a few weeks ago. They are definitely one of my favorite companies to shoot with. The atmosphere is so much fun which fuels energy into the shoots. They are open for suggestions and you can try different poses and accessorize your clothes without feeling nervous. The modeling industry is a tough business, so this place is a breath of fresh air. We shot inside at the studio set-up in the BlouseHouse building and also went outside to. The weather was perfect that day and I always feel on location shots can bring so much to the overall feel of the picture. I had the pleasure of shooting with three other lovely models. Chani, Jackie, and Danielle were a delight to work with and a ball of enjoyment. The three photographers are so cool to work with. While one person was shooting inside somebody else was shooting outside. And somebody was always giving direction. I also got to throw a few of my ideas out there and help with the styling of the models.  But everyone was so wonderful the shoot eventually just ran itself. I truly hope you enjoy the new photos and items.

I love so many things about BlouseHouse.com. You can shop by style, pattern, or event (career, casual, seasonal, vacation). They also have a promotion tab for you to see the latest contests, sale items, clearance items, press releases and more!

BlouseHouse is not just about tops they offer pants, jeans, jackets, dresses, skirts, vacation wear, career wear, casual wear, seasonal fashions and the “Slinky Collection”.

The customer service you will get is superb. With BlouseHouse being a family owned business they care about people and take pride in offering the best products.

So why wouldn’t you shop BlouseHouse? There is a fantastic variety of fashion tops, the prices are to die for and the colors and patterns are endless. The only reason you are not shopping at BlouseHouse is because you didn’t know about it. So go check out the web-site and get on the mailing list. You can follow BlouseHouse on Facebook and Twitter and you can check them out at their eBay store.

Of course you know I have to list my favorite items before I sign off:

• Teal Peacock 3/4 Sleeve Tunic
• Jodi of California ITY Babydoll
• Midnight Brass s.s. tunic w/shirring
• Citrus Blue s.s Tunic
• Brown and Copper Swirls V-Neck Babydoll

I would like to give a special thanks to the BlouseHouse family for the opportunity to model and blog for them. I couldn’t ask for a better company to work with.

“Size is just a number, remember always love yourself and adore your curves”

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FOX and ABC are refusing to air the Lane Bryant lingerie commercial.

Watch the video and the interview with the model!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyCuITBD6dk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiAgpgLDYHU&NR=1

What about all those Victoria’s Secret ads we see on a regular basis with thinner models…….

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2010/04/22/abc-slams-lane-bryant-rejected-plus-size-lingerie-ad/

Tell me what you think! Answer the poll & post a comment with your thoughts.

“Size is just a number, remember always love yourself and adore your curves”

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Photo by IGIGI

There is nobody in the world that loves getting dressed up more than me. Whether it is for a nice dinner, wedding, charity event, fashion gala, special occasion, dinner party, night out at the theater…… you have to have a good place to find the right fitting evening wear. Well you know I like to keep you lovely ladies “in the know” by sharing my favorite web-site shops with you. A great place to find casual evening wear & dresses or very dressy evening wear is www.igigi.com. They truly have an understanding of the plus size body and they use full figured models to show their clothes. You can really see what a dress will look like if you are a plus size woman.

What I love about this site is they show most of the dresses from 3 views (front, side and back), so you feel confident in your purchase. They also have a “shapestylist recommends” box where you can choose your figure type and it recommends dresses for you. Love it! In the same box you can “calculate your shape”.  I found out my body shape was different then what I thought. The best thing is after you find out your body shape they tell you “what to wear” and “what not wear”. You have to check this out!

Photo by IGIGI

The size chart is interesting. They go from a size 12- 32. They have a waist size chart and a no waist size chart.  Directly quoted from the IGIGI by Yuliya Raquel web-site this is what they say about their unique size charts:

“The main distinguishing attribute between the body types is the relation of a person’s waist size to their hips and bust.

Hourglasses, triangles and figures eights have a more curvaceous silhouette with their waist being smaller then their hips and bust. Their waist is more defined and we call these shapes “Waist” shapes.

Diamonds, rectangles, ovals and inverted triangles have more of a straighter silhouette. Their waist is not much bigger than their hips and is not as well defined. We refer to these shapes as “No-Waist” shapes.

Taking this difference into account to offer the best fit possible we have created two sizing charts. One charts is for Waist shapes and one for No-Waist shapes.”, (www.igigi.com)

I just realized an hour has gone by and I am still hanging out on the IGIGI web-site having a blast.

I was delighted to find out all the clothes are made in the USA. I was even more excited to read, quoted directly from the site that “IGIGI introduces most of its styles in very limited quantities to keep the collections exclusive. Thus, each style is unique and individual. Once it is sold out, it will not be brought back exactly as it is”, (www.igigi.com)

 Usually I like to tell you what my favorite item is but I must say I like so many on this site. I just can’t narrow it down. But I would never sign off without giving you a few of my picks.

Chic Power Dress

Unforgettable Dress

Obi Belt in purple, A must have!!! This will spruce up any dress or pants outfit and make the waist look great (comes in black too).

It’s a wrap Cardigan in Jade, I absolutely adore this, to go over a dress!

Brilliant Ideas Dress

Iconic Wrap Dress

Oh and never be “print” shy! They look great on us!  “Wearing only solid colors” as full figured women to make ourselves look thinner is a myth as far as I am concerned. Love your curves!

Make sure you have a good tailor in your life, in case you want to shorten your dresses a little. If your legs are one of your best features you may want to do this.

Ladies, one final note, I would love to hear from you. If you are enjoying this blog and the information I am sharing with you please leave a comment. Feel free to let me know some things you want me to write about.

“Size is just a number, remember always love yourself and adore your curves”

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swimsuits just for us .com

That time of year is approaching fast. For some plus size women it can be dreaded. For others it can be a ball of fun if you know where to shop.  

I enjoy swimsuit shopping because it reminds me that warmth is on the way. That I will be sitting by the pool soon. I have several types in my wardrobe consisting of various colors and styles. Last year I bought an expensive one for vacation. It was a very cute Shape FX black halter one piece swimdress with a deep V. I thought I was super cute in that “get-up” until I saw a photograph of myself. The first mistake I made was not making sure I bought a suit with full coverage or underwire. I am large chested and that suit had no support in it. What was I thinking? Make sure you get a suit that gives you support if you need it!  If you don’t love your thighs definitely get a swimdress or two piece with a skirt w/built in panty or a skirt that goes over your bikini bottom.  If you are small chested and want a little umph, get a suit with padding and/or push up. If you have a great pair of legs show them. Get the high waist panty! Don’t forget the other swim-gear you might need, such as the right cover-up and sarong.

swimsuits just for us .com

Well I have yet to find the perfect swimsuit but I think that problem has been solved because I have found an amazing web-site www.swimsuitsjustforus.com.  I had the pleasure of interviewing Richard Bowen, owner and photographer of this fabulous company . Together with his wife Juliet they have been in business for almost 12 years. They are always thrilled to help people and that is just how Juliet started the business. She had a friend that could not find a decent swimsuit to wear on a trip to Hawaii, even with living in a place like San Francisco!

Tre: What is your selection process for the different styles you decide to have on the web-site?

Richard: Our selection process is very complicated and very long. We start by going to the trade shows and dealing directly with the manufacturers and in some cases their designers as well. We’ve spent a lot of time and energy building relationships with more than just the sales staff to help some manufacturers understand the plus client. After the trade shows, we put together a story board to ensure we carry as wide a variety as possible in the areas we deem critical. Editing the board takes weeks, and by then the manufacturers have made adjustments, so we have to adjust the board again. This is a process that goes on throughout the year.

Tre:  What is your best selling swimsuit?

Richard:Our best selling swimsuit varies from year to year, but our best selling style is our 2 pc blouson with shorts such as this, item #1018-676.

Tre: Do you find the plus size women shopping on your site choose the mix and match swimwear often?

Richard: Mix and Match separates are a large portion of our business and offer a great value to our customer. Instead of going sized, we chose to go 1X, 2X, and 3X. This gives more “give” and allows for body changes. It also allows more customization as not everyone is evenly proportioned. Finally, it gives a better value as bottoms can be worn with other tops in the same color story, such as black short bottoms with numerous printed tops. Giving our customers a suit they can wear year after year, or just buying a new piece instead of the whole thing is very attractive in these tough economic times.

Tre: Do you change up your swimsuit styles, colors, and prints seasonally, annually?

Richard: There is really only one season for swim, although certain brands try to bring in new product twice a year. Knowing this, we try to stagger out our line so that we are always adding new looks. This has become harder during the economic downturn as manufacturers aren’t interested in different, they are interested in what sells.

Tre: Do you and your wife both choose what you think the best plus size swimsuit styles are for plus size women? Are plus size women involved in the selection process?

Richard: It’s funny. Juliet is all about the fashion, and I am all about crunching the numbers. She is most concerned about each suit, the fabric, construction, coverage and style while I worry about the cost, delivery time and quantities. So, when a couple years ago she thought it would be good for me to pick a suit, well, there were warning signs. Then, when I pick this very utilitarian more mature suit, those warning signs got larger. Still, she bought them, thinking this would be a good learning experience and write down. The suit style turned into our best seller (Item # 1018-676). This year we have 6 different prints in that exact same style.

Tre: Any sneak previews for 2011?

Richard: No, no peaks into 2011, but I will give you a start on another blog in a couple months when Swim 2011 rolls around in June 2010.

• There are several options for all ages.
• You can shop by body type (very cool), size, style and brand.
• There is an array of cover-up options.
• Tons of swimsuit styles to choose from
• Sizes go up to 32W and 4X
• My favorite suits on the site are the “Up Up & Away Belted Bandeau Swimdress” & the”Retro Dot 2-Piece Bandeau”. I will certainly own both of these.
• I was also really excited to see the “Luxe 5-Way Tie Plus Size Swimsuit – Convertible Strapless Bandeau and Halter Options”. What a great idea! Five ways to wear a swimsuit.
• In my opinion the size 16W is 14W-16W. If you wear a size 14 I am pretty sure the 16 will work for you. Take a look at the size chart measurements.

“Size is just a number, remember always love yourself and adore your curves”

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I love shoes almost as much as I love purses and believe me there will be a “post” devoted to purses. But with the spring here there is a more pressing matter, shoes. This time of year is the best for rejuvenating our shoe wardrobe. There are so many new styles out. I have only listed a portion of what is available and hip for this season. 

Ladies there are a few rules for the spring:

• Please get or do your pedicures if you are wearing open toed. With me being a model I always have to have a neutral color on my hands and feet. Not so fun. So wear a fun color for me. Go ahead and paint that bright blue color on your toenails that you have been debating to try.
• Get colors and metallics. I love wearing my bright green peep toes with an outfit of a different color.
• Embellishments are very chic too. I love my pair of dark brown sandals that have turquoise stones in them.
• Please give the ballet flats a break. If you are short they make you look shorter. I am 5’9” and they even make my legs look stumpy. Heels make your legs look longer which will overall make you look slimmer. Since you will soon be showing more of your legs…..a low heel is better than no heel. If you are going out for a night on the town, make it a rule, no flats! I seldom wear flats (except for thongs, low sandals and flip flops for the beach of course). But I know some people feel they are more comfortable in day to day wear or may have medical reasons as to why they cannot where heels. There are “comfort fit” heels out there that have special insoles and padding in them. I wear 2″- 4″ heels (4 1/2″ for the runway woo hoo). The rule is as long as you can walk gracefully and safely in your shoes no height is too tall. The best thing about spring heels are there are so many open toed and peep toe styles. They look so sexy. A good place to look for any of your shoe needs is www.zappos.com/. You can’t beat free shipping both ways!

Spring Styles (check out Newport News)

• Wedge sandals
• Platform clogs
• Slingback pumps
• Open toe platforms
• Wedge sneakers
• Gladiator sandals
• Strappy wood look sandals
• Sandals with wide elasticized straps
• Glossy pumps with over-sized ruffles
• Espadrille sandals
• Peep toe pumps
• Pumps with cutout shapes
• Mary Jane style pumps
• Peep toe ankle boots (all over the runways)
• Peep toe mules
• Crisscross sandals
• Slingback peep toe
• Mid calf and tall cowboy boots

Prints / Other

• Tortoise print
• Leopard print
• Snake
• Houndstooth (yes I have seen this for spring)
• Beaded
• Embellished

Colors

• Pastel blue
• Pastel yellow
• Pastel pink
• Lavender
• Fluorescent pink
• Fluorescent yellow
• Fluorescent green
• True Green 

Fitness / toning shoes which are all the rage right now that come in various styles

There are mixed reviews on these so I would love to hear your opinion! They are not for everyone. I have heard different things like they are not good for people with flat feet… They were recommended to me through my doctor for back pain and have really helped. Other people say they don’t work at all or have caused knee pain. Always consult your doctor with products like this especially if you have any past and/or present medical issues/injuries.

• Skechers Shape ups (I am trying these next)
• Fitflop (I personally love my fitflops)
• Reebok Easy Tone
• MBT

“Size is just a number, remember always love yourself and adore your curves”

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With all the products out there, it is hard to tell what is legit. We all know the brand Spanx can be helpful and I will definitely devote an article to the best undergarments, but I really just want to know if anyone has tried this product http://www.thebodymagicslimmer.com/.  I keep hearing about it. If so, please give me your honest feedback. Otherwise who knows I might try it out for fun. I’ll wait to hear from you ladies.

Stay tuned I have a great post coming up about one of our favorite items, shoes!!

“Size is just a number, remember always love yourself and adore your curves”

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A great way to spruce up any outfit is a statement piece.  Clunky necklaces are always something I reach for. They come in so many shapes, sizes, materials, colors and styles. You can wear them with a very plain outfit for a classic look or even with your craziest print to go all out.

Always be aware of your neckline so you can display your “clunker” properly. The horseshoe neckline looks great with a choker.  V-necks are able to support longer length necklaces above or below the V.  Crew-neck shirts work well with almost any length. Try different lengths out with your favorite shirts. Fashion accessorizing is trial and error.

One great tip is to be daring with color. If you have a black and white outfit pair it with a big beaded necklace in red or yellow. Take an all black dress and move away from your typical silver or gold jewelry and pair it with a bright blue necklace. There are also chunky black beaded necklaces out there that go with anything. The beads come in many different shapes. I own one and love it.

If you are on a budget you can find necklaces like this online, at any thrift store, yard sales, on vacation, or even inexpensive stores like “Dots” and “Fashion bug”. Remember the trick is to find something unique to you. Do not choose something that looks almost sold out. It’s not a statement piece if everyone is wearing it. The best statement pieces I own are from my grandmother. You may have some things that are amazing if worn individually. Go check your jewelry box.

Stand out in that crowd. People come up to me and comment on my unique pieces when I wear them.  The key to these pieces are, wear them alone. They truly make you and your outfits stand out, in a good way. They can help you portray a certain look: Hippie Chick, Classically Elegant, MOD or Casual Chic. They should tell a story and be distinctive to you.  Another item I own and adore is a purse made from repurposed candy wrappers that I got on vacation in Mexico two years ago. I surprisingly just saw one in a fashion magazine for $165 compared to the one I got on vacation for $20 at a market.

If you are willing to spend a little more, shop vintage or find an up and coming designer that has unique accessories.

Other Fun Statement Pieces:

One large bracelet

Cocktail ring

Hair combs, headbands or hair pins

Scarf

anything that is unique to you!

A Few Ideas For You:

1. Layers some costume pearl necklaces at different lengths
2. Pin a brooch on a satin headband. A Cameo is great!
3. Pin a brooch on a dressy plain clutch or handbag of your choice.

“Size is just a number, remember always love yourself and adore your curves”

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