Plus Size Floral Jumpsuit

Over the years, my style has really evolved! Coming from sleek, form-fitting, all-black outfits, I am now wearing bright colored floral jumpsuits. And those are three things I would have never thought would be in my wardrobe, but here we are.

I really have to credit Fashion Nova for pushing me outside of my own boundaries. I think this was the first brand that made me really want to take risks with my fashion in terms of trying sexier styles and bright colors. My love for rompers and jumpsuits also started because of this brand. It’s crazy to think that one brand could completely change my mind about certain trends and styles. A couple of years ago, I wouldn’t have even looked in the direction of this Barbados Floral Jumpsuit, but it recently caught my eye. I think it’s perfect for a summer music or street festival, and even a night out. I don’t typically like floral prints, but this one has a really cool vibe, and it doesn’t feel too cliche.

SIZING INFO: I am wearing a size 2X in the Barbados Floral Jumpsuit, which is my usual size, and it fits okay. I will say that it is a little long because I am only 5’2 and the back fit’s pretty loose.

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City, review's Fashion Nova's floral jumpsuits.

Fashion Nova sent me this look to review. All opinions are 100% my own.

Leave A Comment

Plus Size Dresses

My Favorite Fashion to Figure Dress

This blog has really pushed me to be more open-minded when it comes to fashion. Seriously, if it weren’t for you all pushing me outside of my style boundaries, and encouraging me to try new styles, I would probably still be wearing all-black outfits and sweating my a** off in jeans all summer.

This may seem like your average striped midi dress, but for me, it would have been an absolute no-go just a couple of years ago. I would have avoided the style because it was too girly, too long, and way too colorful. However, I saw this Christel Striped Ruffle Flounce Dress at Fashion to Figure, and something told me to try it. When I first tried it on, I didn’t love it, but after I tied the waist, it changed everything. I was afraid that this dress would hide my curves because it was so long and not form-fitting, but the tie waist really gave me the opportunity to accentuate my curves as much as I wanted. I enjoyed a day full of twirling and just feeling super cute in this dress. I’m glad a took a shot on it because it opened up new possibilities for me in terms of color schemes and fits.

SIZING INFO: I am wearing a size 2 in the Christel Striped Ruffle Flounce Dress, which is my usual size, and the dress fits perfectly. The dress is naturally a bit roomy, and I think I could have sized down if I wanted to.

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City reviews Fashion to Figure's Christel Striped Ruffle Flounce Dress.

Fashion to Figure sent me this look to review! All opinions are my own!

Leave A Comment

Plus Size Dresses

Plus Size Satin Robe Outfit

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City reviews Soncy's satin robe kimono duster in lavender.

I always thought that the light purple hue known as lavender was my best friend Katherine’s color. I never even considered that it would be a favorite of mine. I usually don’t wear a lot of color, let alone any shade of purple, but lavender has really caught my eye lately. From the outfit I wore to Her Conference to this one, I am loving what this color does for me!

I have always wanted a satin robe to wear outside of the bedroom ever since Nadia Aboulhosn launched her clothing line a couple of years ago. I’ll never forget, she had this rose gold duster robe that was just beautiful. However, I hesitated on getting it because I feared that I wouldn’t wear it much. And I don’t know if I have totally committed to wearing this satin robe out of the house just yet, but it’s growing on me. I found this entire look at Soncy, a new plus size boutique! This Kimono She Better Don’t Duster caught my attention immediately, and because I had pulled off a complete lavender look a couple of months prior, I decided to take another shot at it. So I ended up finding this I Can See Clearly Now Mesh Dress, which I thought would go perfectly with the kimono!

SIZING INFO: I am wearing a size 2 in both the I Can See Clearly Now Mesh Dress and Kimono She Better Don’t Duster, which is my usual size, and they both fit perfectly!

Soncy sent me this look to review. All options are my own!

Leave A Comment

Plus Size Swimwear

Cupshe Plus Size Swimwear Haul

On my quest to find the perfect swimsuit for my carefree fat girl summer, I was told to try Cupshe! I was a little apprehensive at first because I have never ordered from the brand, and I didn’t know if sizing was going to be off. I ordered from the brand’s straight size range, which goes up to an XXL, and I also ordered from the designated plus size collection. What do you think? Will it fit?
Watch my Youtube Cupshe plus size swimwear haul below to find out!

L O O K O N E : Snake Print Reversible Bikini (Size: XXL)

L O O K T W O : Beatific Life Solid Bikini Set Green (Size: XXL)

L O O K T H R E E : Relaxation Exercises Solid Bikini Set (Size: XXL)

L O O K F O U R : Sweet Caramel Bikini With Ruffles (Size: XXL)

L O O K F I V E : Fish Scales Printed Plus Size One Piece (Size: 2X)

Leave A Comment

Plus Size Dresses

How I Deal with My Body Image

I have fallen for dresses like this before. It’s something about the curve-hugging, see-through sweater material that gets me. And usually, when I see it, it’s on a straight size model. She has no rolls, creases, or hips poking out of the garment, it just falls on her so perfectly. So I order it. I can’t wait to try it on, and then I face the reality of just how different my body is from the model’s. It’s not like I didn’t know that as I came across the dress on her. However, sometimes when I see something online, instead of thinking “I wonder what this will look like on me,” I think,” I will look like her if I order this.” And while I love my body and I feel confident in who I am, I fantasize about having a different body.

The mainstream plus size body we are advertised

I think we all do. That’s why most of your favorite plus size brands use size 8/10 models, and while they may be a little thick and curvy in all of the right places they are not plus size by any means. For a long time, I wondered why brands did this, but it hit me relatively hard when one of my favorite plus size brands started using one of my friends as a model in most of their commercial and print shoots because I had modeled with her before, and I knew that she was a size 8. I had even seen people on set stuff her leggings with body pads to fill her out to fit a size 14. I thought to myself, “Why would a plus size brand use a straight size model?” And I even called them out on it. Their response: “Our clothing sells better when she wears it.” I guess it all made sense. We all look at these airbrushed models with perfectly curved bodies, and we think, “If I order this garment, I am going to look like her in it.” It’s purely aspirational. It doesn’t mean that you hate your body and that you don’t love yourself. It’s just an automatic response to the criticism and brain washing we get from society regarding what our bodies should look like.

Patience is key

So next time you order something, and it doesn’t look the way you thought it would, or it doesn’t make you feel the way you thought it might, give it some time. And more importantly, be patient with yourself.

How I feel about this dress

For me, this dress was a huge disappointment. When I put it on, you could see every roll, dimple, and crease. I quickly tore it off and threw it to the side. A couple of days later, I confronted the real issue: my mindset. I put the dress on, and instead of holding myself up to the unrealistic standards of that model’s airbrushed body, I looked at my own body and said, “Natalie, let’s be real. You have hips, curves, dimples, creases, and rolls, but that is your body, and it’s beautiful. You better let your creases and dimples show. You better learn to love them and give them the appreciation they deserve.” And it took some convincing, but I started to see this dress and my body in a different light. I decided to make myself feel even better by setting up my own little photo shoot in my apartment, and once I saw myself in this dress through the lens, I got a rush of confidence. You can really change your perspective and mindset by treating yourself or making yourself feel special—like I did with this photo shoot.

P.S. You may be looking at these photos thinking “What was she worried about? I think she looks great.” And honestly, that is so telling. We are our own worst critic, and even though we see every flaw and decide to obsess over it, sometimes the people around us see the beauty we can’t see in ourselves. What I am saying is: we are all way too hard on ourselves.

I got this Walk in the Sand Crochet Maxi Dress from Fashion Nova Curve, and I also have a similar dress in a midi fit and orange color called Walk on the Beach from Fashion Nova, which you can check out here: Walk on the Beach. If you love this look, you can get it for 20% off by using the code “NATINTHECITY”!

SIZING INFO: I am wearing a size 2X in the Walk in the Sand Crochet Maxi Dress, which is my usual size. However, I will say that the dress was very long on me (I am 5’2), but it did fit on my body. I think I may have been able to size down for a tighter fit since it is quite stretchy.

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City reviews crochet dresses for the beach, pool, and summer. beach cover ups

Fashion Nova sent me this look to review. All opinions are my own!

Leave A Comment

Plus Size Outfit

Go With the Flow

Today, I rarely ever shy away from anything when it comes to fashion. And that’s saying quite a bit because “no, I can’t wear that,” was all I used to say to a lot of styles and trends. And once I graduated from saying no and trying to cross my own boundaries, I found myself saying no once again in the form of, “That’s not my style.” But when I realized that I couldn’t pin point exactly what my style was, and therefore, I shouldn’t limit myself when it comes to embracing certain trends.

So here I am, wearing things that scare me (just a little), but thrill me beyond words. This Never Apologetic Pant Set set is my latest obsession. I get so excited when I see it hanging up in my closet because it really is the coolest set I have ever seen in my life. I found it on Fashion Nova Curve, and I was immediately drawn to the loose, whimsical fit and the turquoise hues. I anxiously awaited its arrival, as I was a little scared that the 100% polyester fabric wouldn’t fit me as loose as I expected. However, when it arrived, I slipped it on, and it was stunning and just as perfect as I had hoped. I am still trying to figure out what the best top is to wear with this. I naturally went for my KiKi Cropped Top, but I am wondering if the outfit needs a top that is more neutral and fits more like a bra, showing a bit more cleavage. I haven’t decided yet. But for now, I think this cropped tank is fine!

SIZING INFO: I am wearing a size 2X in the Never Apologetic Pant Set, which is my usual size, and everything fits perfectly!

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City wears a matching kimono and pant set.

Leave A Comment

Plus Size Outfit

Plus Size Leopard Mini Skirt

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City reviews SheIn's mini skirts and crop tops.

It’s wild how often I embrace leopard print these days. A couple of years ago, you couldn’t even get me to look at leopard print or even consider it. But I guess that’s how fashion goes; one day you’re in, and the next day you’re out. And while that may seem a little harsh, it gives every style, pattern, color, and trend the chance to reinvent itself and come back better than ever. Styles and trends are never really “new,” fads are recycled decade after decade and they are interpreted in a way that makes sense for the current times. Throughout my 27 years of life, I have seen leopard—and other animal prints—reinvent itself multiple times.

And I guess this outfit and these photos are proof that leopard has made its way back into my life. I was on the hunt for a ruffled mini skirt for this summer. For some reason, I flashed back to my senior year of high school where I used to fund the cutest ruffled mini skirts, and I always felt so confident in them. So it’s almost like we are taking a trip back to another decade for two trends—yeah, I said a “decade,” as it’s been about 10 years since I have been out of high school. WHEEWW. Anyways, let’s get back to the clothes. I didn’t really have much luck finding the ruffled mini skirts I was looking for, but I did find this Leopard Print Tiered Layer Skirt at SheIn, and I felt like I may had found exactly what I was looking for. However, I was extremely apprehensive about ordering from SheIn because I heard that the sizing was way off and the clothing wasn’t great quality. However, I decided to risk it all and order this outfit and a couple of other skirts. I was pleasantly surprised at how well everything fit me, and I will definitely be ordering from them again. When ordering from them, I really paid attention to the reviews and the photos that customers posted—it really helped me make the best decision on what sizes I should order. The crop top is no longer available, but I found similar options here: Plus Solid Flounce Trim Cami | Plus Solid Cami Crop Top

SIZING INFO: I am wearing a size 1X in the Leopard Print Tiered Layer Skirt, which is one size smaller than my usual size, and it fits perfectly. I sized down because the reviews from other customers told me this skirt ran a little big and a little long. I am happy I sized down, but I do think that the skirt would still fit me if I had ordered my usual size. It would have been just a little looser.

Photography by: Rorie Raimondi

Leave A Comment

Plus Size Outfit

Plus Size Snakeskin Pants

When I first began having the desire to wear snake skin, I wondered if it was just me or if everyone around me was feeling the craze, too. Sure enough, snake skin can be found everywhere this season: from wide width shoes to plus size bodysuits. So it’s inevitable that you and I are going to end up with something snake skin—whether we like it or not.

While I did buy some snake skin booties and a bodysuit, I was still craving another item of clothing in the same print. Then, these Keeping My Distance Pants from Chic Soul entered my life. It may not be the ‘70s, but I needed these bell bottoms in my life! I chose to pair the pants with this Simply Black Tank, however, as I get more comfortable with the print, I plan to pair the pants with vibrant neons and more expressive tops. But for now, I’m keeping it simple. I wore this look to a photo shoot I had, and I loved that this was such a comfortable outfit, but it didn’t sacrifice style. Usually, I would just wear sweat pants and a tank top to a shoot, but I liked that I arrived on set in style!

If you’re not familiar with Chic Soul, it’s actually their birthday today! Head over to their Instagram account to wish them a happy birthday: HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Today, Chic Soul is giving all of their customers a free shirt and free shipping on their orders!

SIZING INFO: I am wearing a size 2X in both the Keeping My Distance Pants and Simply Black Tank, which is my usual size, and they both fit perfectly!

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City reviews Chic Soul's snake skin bell bottoms.

Chic Soul sent me this outfit to review. All opinions are my own!

Leave A Comment

Plus Size Outfit

Plus Size Flowy Pants

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City reviews Fashion Nova Curves wide leg pants and crop tops.

Chub rub: every curvy woman’s worst nightmare. I think I dread summer solely for this reason. I mean, I don’t like being hot, but I despise chub rub. And while I love my mini dresses and skirts, they obviously come with a price. That’s why I try to find some show stopping, light weight and flowy pants that I can rock during even the hottest summer days.

This summer, my go-to is going to be these Woah There Wide Leg Pants from Fashion Nova Curve. I’m actually really impressed with myself that I have been able to open my mind when it comes to embracing different styles and fits. I used to be so closed minded and I wouldn’t wear anything flowy or baggy because I felt like it wasn’t “flattering.” Since my “flattering” days are well over, I’m loving embracing and wearing whatever I want and whatever feels good to me. These pants are so dynamic. The way they wrap and cascade down the front is so beautiful, and when I walk, I feel like a goddess because these pants definitely give me a Beyoncé moment as they move in the wind. While they are extremely wide leg, they fit my booty very nicely, which highlights my figure instead of hiding it. I paired the pants with the KiKi Cropped Top, which has been in heavy rotation for quite some time now. It’s honestly the perfect little crop top for summer, and it obviously goes with everything. If you see me wearing this outfit more than once a week, I’m not sorry!

If you love this Fashion Nova look, you can get it for 20% off by using the code “NATINTHECITY”!

SIZING INFO: I am wearing a size 2X in the Woah There Wide Leg Pants and the KiKi Cropped Top, which is my usual size, and everything fits perfectly. The pants stretch at the waist and they are oversized.

Fashion Nova Curve sent me this look to review. All opinions are my own!

Leave A Comment

Plus Size Swimwear

The Perfect Plus Size Bikini Bottoms

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City review's Aerie's plus size hipster cheeky bikini bottoms.

A couple of months back, I was venting to my Instagram followers about not being able to find sexy plus size swimwear. While I do know that there is an abundance of plus size swimwear out there—especially compared to five years ago—I was struggling to find bikinis, and bottoms that didn’t rise up beyond my belly button. I wanted to be able to wear a normal bikini just like everyone else. I also wanted to show off my tummy and booty rather than covering them up—like I usually do.

My followers quickly flooded my Das with suggestions: SheIn, Fashion Nova, CupShe, Swimsuits For All, etc. I had considered most of these suggestions, and I had already scoured the web for my perfect suit. However, there was one place my followers suggested that I hadn’t even thought of: Aerie.

I haven’t shopped at American Eagle since high school, and I’ve never shopped at Aerie. However, I know that Aerie has been making a splash on social media with their “zero retouching” campaigns. And while that is admirable, the brand only sells up to a size XXL. This means that most plus size women, can’t actually fit into their swimwear. And while I would fit into an XXL, I really try to wear brands that have a wider size range so that I can recommend them in good faith.

But there was one day, where a huge Aerie sale was brought to my attention, and I decided to check out their swimsuits. I loved the wide variety of fits they had for their bikini bottom, for example, the Hipster Cheeky Bottom ensured that I would have enough coverage in the front, while being able to highlight the booty. So I bought a couple of different bottoms at $9 a piece (low risk AF), and I hoped and prayed that they would fit me, since I couldn’t size up.

I was pleasantly surprised at how well the bottoms fit me. They were exactly what I was looking for. The bikini bottoms I am wearing in this photo are Aerie’s Basic Bikini Bottom, which also fits me perfectly! I also got this Perky Triangle Top that you are seeing me wearing, but it’s not my absolute favorite. There were so many different styles of bikini tops and bottoms, but I stuck to the basics just because I was so interested in how things would fit. Needless to say, I will be rocking these bikini bottoms all summer, and I may have just found my go-to for swimwear!

SIZING INFO: I am wearing a size XXL in the Basic Bikini Bottom, which is my usual size, and they fit perfectly. I am wearing a XXL in the Perky Triangle Top, which seems a little too big for me.

Leave A Comment

Life

I Got Laser Hair Removal on My Face

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City gets laser hair removal on her lip and chin at SpaDerma med spa in Chicago.

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger, influencer, YouTuber, and model Natalie Craig, of Natalie in the City, gets laser hair removal on her lip and chin at SpaDerma med spa in Chicago. Will it work if she has polycystic ovarian syndrome?

If you are following me on Instagram, you’ve probably been following along on my laser hair removal journey. Back in January, I decided to begin laser hair removal on my upper lip and chin areas because since I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), I have noticed that the hair on my face grows very rapidly. I used to have to shave my chin and my upper lip once a day. Having thick, black hairs on my chin and upper lip were really embarrassing for me.

I wasn’t sure how laser hair removal would work on someone who had PCOS since the main reason behind rapid hair growth in PCOS patients is a hormone imbalance. When I was researching the condition and its side effects, I learned that whether you remove the hair follicle or not, the hormonal imbalance may cause the hair to still grow. Knowing that you shouldn’t trust everything you read on the Internet, I decided to take my curiosity to a med spa here in Chicago.

I visited SpaDerma at their Lincoln Park location on Fullerton to chat with Niki, an aesthetician. Niki was very knowledgeable about how laser hair removal can work on PCOS patients, and she even had treated some clients who had PCOS. Niki told me that whether you have PCOS or not, laser hair removal has a 70% success rate because it may not work for everyone, and it’s not always permanent because hormones can change throughout the course of your life. Hearing these statistic was not the most reassuring to me as I thought laser hair removal would be more permanent. However, I really wanted to see if this could help me regain confidence and eliminate the intensity of the hair. So I decided to go through with it.

I received six treatments, which is normal for removing hair completely through laser hair removal, and I paid $299 for all of the treatments. If you decide to visit SpaDerma, you can get $50 off by using my name “Natalie Craig,” and you will only pay $250 (always remember to tip your aesthetician if you enjoy the service!).

After I received my first treatment, I noticed a difference right away. I went from having to shave once a day to shaving maybe once every two weeks. And as I moved through each treatment, my hair disappeared entirely. I have gone through all six treatments, and I no longer have hair on my chin. There are some very tiny, light hairs that have grown back on my upper lip, but I barely notice them.

This has truly been such a life changing decision for me. I used to feel so self conscious about the dark hairs on my chin. And I have had such a good experience that I have decided to do laser hair removal on other parts of my body, and I have also decided to get a tattoo removed at SpaDerma.

If you want to see each of my treatments, I made a YouTube video so you can tag along to each of my appointments and even here some important information from my aesthetician, Niki! Watch the video here: I GOT LASER HAIR REMOVAL ON MY FACE

Learn more about the services SpaDerma offers at: spaderma.com

Be sure to check out my aesthetician, Niki, on Instagram: @niki_spaderma

Leave A Comment

Plus Size Outfit

Feeling Confident in Plus Size Crop Tops

Every summer I try to push myself outside of my comfort zone a little bit more. And that’s saying a lot because during the summer season, I am already pretty uncomfortable. Speaking from personal experience, summer can be a trying time for plus size women for many reasons—but to include a few: chub rub, sweating, and lack of practical, on trend, and cute summer clothes. However, I try to make this season as exciting as I can by putting together beautiful looks that require me to be a little adventurous!

This summer, I have decided to embrace crop tops. Up until recently, I have pretty much avoided crop tops because I have always been very insecure about my lower tummy. But to dissolve the fear and dread I have behind my insecurities, I have learned to fully embrace my insecurities and rock them. Now, whether I am showing my tummy a little or a lot, I have learned to really love crop tops because they make me feel rebellious and adventurous. So I headed to Gordmans, my favorite place to get all of the designer brands I love for half the price, to stock up on all kinds of crop tops. I was really successful in finding different styles, fits, and patterns that could work for almost every occasion I have planned this summer.

Although, every Gordmans I have ever been to has a great plus size section, I always visit the Valparaiso, Indiana location because it has the best and biggest selection of plus size clothing.

Almost every article of clothing I got from Gordmans was less than $20, which is such a bargain because these are some of the brands I typically pay full price for! Thanks to Gordmans for being an off-price retailer, I can score all of my favorite designer brands for a fraction of the price. If you aren’t familiar with off-price retailers, they essentially buy excess inventory from department and specialty stores, then sell it at greatly reduced prices. You can also find home goods and accessories at Gordmans, which I always treat myself to when I shop.

Let’s dive into each of these looks!

Farmers Market Chic
I wore this neutral look to the Farmers Market and out in the city while I was running errands. A lot of crop tops can come off as sexy, depending on their fit, but I love that the looser fit of this top gives off a more casual and chill vibe. However, I still feel like a goddess in it when I pair it with form-fitting bottoms or a mini skirt!
Crop top: $12.99
Pants: $19.99
Purse: $13.99
Sandals: $9.99

Strut Your Stuff, Any Day….Any Time
WOW. If you can’t tell, I feel like the hottest chick walking down the street. This outfit propelled my confidence onto another level, which is so interesting, because light wash jeans show my lower tummy area unlike anything else. While my lower tummy has been a longtime insecurity of mine, fashion has really assisted me in developing confidence and finding love in the parts of my body I used to hate. The proof is in these photos, baby!
Crop top: $3.99
Jeans: $16.99
Purse: $4.99
Necklace: $6.99
Heels: $10.99

Festival Queen
This has to be one of my favorite looks for this summer. I love an outfit that is so easy to put together but looks like a lot of styling and time went into it. Every time I wear a top off the shoulder, I feel so radiant and beautiful—I think there is something really pretty about showing off shoulders. I love how the crop top balance a loose fit with a fitted bandeau, it looks so good on my body. I paired the top with these cute shorts that actually look like a skirt. Together they make such an adorable summer fit that I have on repeat!
Crop top: $10.99
Shorts: $18.99
Necklace: $7.99
Sandals: $9.99

Sunday Funday
When it gets super hot out, I want to be wearing as little clothing as possible. This cute little look is perfect for days hanging out at the beach or the park. I love this pop of orange, it’s such a great color for my skin. The ruffle hems and the straps are so darling. I will absolutely keep this crop top in rotation through fall, because it would also be cute dressed up with jeans and a jacket.
Crop top: $4.99
Shorts: $12.99
Necklace: $7.99
Sandals: $9.99

Date Night or A Night Out
Don’t get me wrong, I love a sexy look. When I saw this leopard bandeau crop top, I immediately thought about creating a look for a fun night out or date night. Leopard is such a hot pattern right now and I know that this top is very versatile and could also be mixed into a more casual look. I am so excited to see how many ways I can wear it. But for tonight, we slay a sexy look!
Crop top: $6.99
Skirt: $26.99

Find your closest Gordmans store by visiting Gordmans.com… and do not forget to invite me!

Thank you to Specialty Retailers, Inc. for sponsoring this post. I am a huge proponent of brands that promote inclusivity and sell high-quality, well-fitting clothing. All opinions expressed in this post are 110% my own! Thank you for continuing to support the brands that make Natalie in the City a possibility!

Leave A Comment