After a month full of nonstop work and holiday events I saved my favorite holiday look for Christmas Eve. I spent the day at church with the family which was followed by a late lunch by the East River before heading into Dyker Heights in Brooklyn to take in some of the gorgeous Christmas light displays. It was a full day, but it was amazing because I got to spend it with my family. What made it even better was this Eloquii dress I purchased as a gift to myself. This dress was everything that I could want for a holiday look — elegant, feminine and festive. 
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Tag: body positivity
Q&A with Body Positive, Comic Book Convertible Dress Designer, Danielle Ward of Little Petal
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.
Leanna (Little Petal’s Webmaster) and Danielle at Megacon.
Sweater Weather Picks 2016
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.
Fall Weekend Getaway (feat. Gwynnie Bee)
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.
This 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
Why Fa(t)shion?
I have been very fortunate to have major support for what I do here on this blog. I’ve had friends and family help me pick out blog shoot sites, take pictures and point out new industry updates that I may have missed due to my hectic schedule. And every once in a while they question what I decide to feature in my posts, but with recent events being what they are, I’ve noticed that these private exchanges have shifted. I’ve begun to get messages saying that with my academic background and intellect, my time and efforts would be better spent writing about social injustices instead of fashion. To be honest, I have been anticipating that comment for a while now. The very act of getting dressed is considered to be a necessary, yet frivolous, part of everyday life, so the pointing out that fashion plays a central role in society is met with denial and ambivalence. The thing is culture, race, socioeconomics, gender, capitalism/consumerism and even politics all intersect in fashion.
Everyone whether black, white, rich, poor, male, female, adult, child or teen interact with it in some capacity. Just think about the amount of effort we put into figuring out what to wear for everyday occasions like going to work, job interviews, graduations, dates, quinceañera parties and of course weddings. Fashion, even at its most simple, conveys culture, social status, income level, education, age, sexuality, and even nationalism. Continue reading
Big City, Curvy Girl, Thin Wallet 