Model For a Day

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With the increase of the body positive and the size acceptance movements there have been an influx of women who want to model or blog, with modeling being the most popular. I never thought about myself as beautiful enough to be a model so when I was asked I found it hilarious, but I thought, “Why not give it a shot?  Blogging got me out of my comfort zone so let’s take it up a notch.” (This is especially true  since I am a major perfectionist and control freak so I had to let that go for this.) I’ve been asked to model three different times this past summer for different things, one of which was the Yona New York fall campaign that is  celebrating real women.

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Treat yourself to 30% off your entire order on yonanewyork.com with coupon code everdaywoman from October 28th through November 4th!

I came into it with preconceived notions about modeling and its relationship to the fashion industry only to find most of them to be wrong. I think modeling has been so glamorized that people don’t realize the reality of it, so I wanted to help shatter that. I hope that this inspires women who are considering going to attending a casing call or just let them know of the realities.

Check out 6 things I learned in the video below. Continue reading →

Q&A with Body Positive, Comic Book Convertible Dress Designer, Danielle Ward of Little Petal

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New York Comic Con 2014. I was determined to be one of the first people to get this limited edition Sailor Moon t-shirt that had been announced by Viz Media on Twitter a few days before. During my more than two hour wait in line for the con to officially open,  I decided to put on some lip stick and I was approached by this beautiful young woman who asked to use my compact to touch up her make up. We talked about make up, the con and of course her cosplay. She was wearing this interesting dress which she changed three times while we were on line.  Later that same day as I walked the show-floor I bumped into this young woman again at a booth covered with pictures of women in dresses like the one she was wearing and she introduced me to the designer, Danielle Ward. Owner of Little Petal, she designs and creates custom convertible dresses that are comfy and sophisticated.  These dresses are unique recreations of characters from comics, manga, anime, film and even video games.  As someone who, at the time, hadn’t cosplayed but wanted to, I was stunned by the concept. One dress, multiple styles. I put down my deposit immediately. Danielle is so amazingly creative and talented that I just had to find out more about her.

Check out my talk with Danielle below!

Disclaimer: Responses have been edited for clarity and length.

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Leanna (Little Petal’s Webmaster) and Danielle at Megacon.

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Sweater Weather Picks 2016

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This year fall in NYC has been a bit of a tease, going from crisp, cool temps to summer sometimes even within the course of the same day. While I have yet  to fully swap my spring/summer wardrobe to my fall/winter collection, I am looking forward to refreshing my closet with some new pieces. I did some online shopping recon and noticed that this fall we have a great selection of comfy knits from various retailer. So I’ve complied a list of these chic sweaters and sweater dresses to prep for the cooler temperatures ahead. For this list, I made sure to have some budget-friendly options as well as some splurges that are well worth the price given their quality. Check out my picks below and let me know in the comments if you have any favorites.

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Fall Weekend Getaway (feat. Gwynnie Bee)

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Last weekend I got to head over to Lancaster, Pennsylvania with two friends and my mother. A retreat of sorts, it was a trip I wasn’t expecting to go on until my mentor casually mentioned that she had purchased my ticket because I deserved to take some time to unwind. (I truly really am blessed with some great friends.) I had to travel light so I looked to Gwynnie Bee to help me make a decision as to what to pack. Gwynnie Bee is a subscription box service that allows you to try different styles and brands for an affordable rental fee.  For my first box I got these two beautiful printed dresses that were just perfect for the occasion especially since they both go well with my favorite crossbody satchel.

Day 1-  Pennsylvania Dutch Country Sightseeing and Shopping

One we entered Pennsylvania our first stop was Kitchen Kettle Village. A very picturesque countryside attraction with small shops and restaurants,  I got to sample authentic Amish jams, and window shop scented candles, soap, hand-carved signs, handmade quilts, and leather goods. I totally missed my chance to take a buggy ride tour of the nearby Amish farms, but I guess there’s always next time.

20160930_130044This Hemant & Nandita print A-line dress is meant to be worn in the summer yet when paired with a turtleneck or denim jacket, can easily be worn during these early fall days when the temps are just beginning to drop into the mid-60s.  The pattern and colors are stunning in person so I highlighted this with black tights and boots. (Style notes: I would suggest either sizing down or wearing this dress with a belt because it runs a bit large. As it is not lined I wore a slip underneath, this helped with the static, but it did cause the dress to twist on occasion.) Continue reading →

Let’s Talk Bras!

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With the great amount of attention that we put on shopping for great outfits, we tend to ignore what lies beneath.  Foundation-wear is essential to looking great for every outfit that you put together which is why I was so excited to learn about  Curvy Couture from body positive designer and blogger, Alyssa Dalessandro of Ready to Stare at Curvy Con this year.

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With the inspirational Alyssa at the Curvy Couture booth.

Curvy Couture is an online plus size intimates retailer that  sells lingerie and  bras internationally up to a H cup. As I got the chance to take a look at some of their bras in person at their booth I decided to order one for myself.  I’ve never owned a t-shirt bra  so I decided to order one in the color nude, a shade that has yet to grace my bra collection.  My favorite thing about my experience shopping at Curvy Couture was the fact that returns are free and the team is goes the extra mile to help you get the right fit.  I’ve had my new bra for a month now and it has become one of my favorites.  That said, I figured this was a great opportunity to discuss bras and bra shopping. So if you’re looking for a new bra or to just refresh your collection here are some points to keep in mind.

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.

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