GABIFRESH’S SWIMSEXY DROP
Photos by Ryan Michael Kelly |
GabiFresh has yet again graced the full figured community with another boundary-breaking and absolutely gorgeous collection of plus size swimsuits under the online retailer Swimsuits For All.
Gabi’s second line is made up of trendy prints, plunging one pieces, see through jumpers, earth tones, and a whole lot of sexy. Although I would love to see her introduce some mid-rise or lower waist bottoms—since a lot of plus size women don’t want to sport a high-waist (myself included)—Gabi really knows how to inspire every curvy girl to embrace her body and swim sexy. The color tones and prints couldn’t be more on trend, which is so important because up until recently, plus size swimwear looked like it came out of a terrible ’90s workout video.
My favorite pieces from the line include the Wish Underwire Bikini, the Midnight Jumpsuit, and the Midnight Zipper Suit.
Photos by Ryan Michael Kelly |
Photos by Ryan Michael Kelly |
Another thing that really resonated with me and made me even more excited about this line were the sentiments that Gabi stated in the promotional video below. “Every year it’s the same thing. New year, new you…It’s time that we embrace who we are now…Look in the mirror you are already your best you.” This year I have totally kicked the notion of a resolution out the window, and I have just decided to treat myself with gratitude and kindness and really realize that I am enough just the way I am. So thank you Gabi for the kick ass CURVE power and taking time to make something this community needs!
BOOK REVIEW – PUSSY: A RECLAMATION
Imagine reading a book with the word “PUSSY” on the front of it while riding on a crowded bus or train. I couldn’t imagine it, which is probably why I bought my copy of Pussy: A Reclamation for my Kindle. But that didn’t stop any regular, friendly person from glancing over and asking me what I was reading.
Click here to purchase Pussy: A Reclamation
The first time this happened, I was on an airplane when the woman sitting next to me asked. My first thought was, “Just tell her you are reading To Kill a Mockingbird, or something.” But what if she inquired because she just saw the full page detailed illustration of a vagina? (not joking!!) More than a couple of seconds passed as I contemplated. I was a few chapters into the book, and I knew that if I didn’t share this with her, I would have rejected all the lessons the book had taught me so far. So, I leaned over in an eerily silent airplane—the one time there was no crying baby on board to off set what I was about to say—and I whispered to the woman, “It’s called……Pussy. It’s about reclaiming your feminine power.” I expected her to give me a strange look, laugh, and go about her business, but instead, she insisted that I tell her more. So I did.
I just finished this book last week, and I am already planning to re-read it. I was so inspired that I bought a couple of copies of the book and sent it to all of the women close to me in my life—even my mother, who I know will cringe at the title. And I don’t blame her, because I did, too. But this book is about confronting that feeling we get when we talk about “pussy,” and why it is that so many women still feel uncomfortable discussing and learning more about where their feminine power comes from.
When I picked up this book, I felt that I needed to look a little deeper within myself to solve problems and obstacles in my career, relationships, and day-to-day life. I needed this book just like everyone needs a little wake up call or reality check every once and a while. But that’s not to say that I was prepared for the reality check this book was about to give me.
Pussy explores how living in a patriarchal culture and society forces women to suppress their power, emotions, and divinity. The suppression of the “feminine” holds us back from our true potential, and our world is also paying for it, too.
“When the feminine in a culture is repressed, the consequences are tragic. We end up with violence in schools, mass shootings, a mercenary corporate culture, and an environment on the brink of collapse. The game becomes power and profit, rather than humanity. We are passing the responsibility for feeling our pain own to our children and grandchildren, who will have to live with the consequences of our unwillingness to do so.”
It’s impossible to cover and share everything with you that I learned, but simply put: This book is a roadmap to reclaiming your feminine power, radiance, and joy. Regena Thomashauer, the author of Pussy, is also the founder of The School of Womanly Arts, a program that teaches women to turn on their innate feminine power to create a life they love—you could say that she is quite the expert on this topic.
Regena says: “Pussy is your call to tune in, turn on, and live more richly and fully than you ever thought you could. It’s a reclamation of what has always been your birthright as a woman. Because your voice needs to be heard. Because it’s time for you to live your truth, no matter what. Because your desires and your dreams want to be lived, in this lifetime.”
I don’t really make New Year’s resolutions, but in 2017, I am taking the lessons from this book and applying it to my life. New year, new Goddess!
Here are a couple of quotes from the book that I love:
“The feminine is the feeling part of us, our deepest intuition, our sense of community and connection. Additionally, it is a sense of spiritual morality and consciousness. The feminine is life. It may shock you to hear that she does not care about production, accomplishment, domination, assertiveness, or winning. Those are masculine values. On the contrary, she favors enjoyment, inclusion, surrender, and sustainability.” –
“Everything you want matters. It matters deeply—not just to you, but to everyone. We are all impacted, influenced, and shaped for the better by the radiant power of a woman’s desire. It’s terrifying to surrender, and terrifying to become greater. Far more terrifying than staying small. It is the ultimate hair-raising adventure to toss your saddle astride the unknown and gallop in the direction of your desire. But there is no more spiritually alive way to live.”
“When in truth, there is nothing more important than feeling radiant. Nothing. Sounds crazy, I know. But when we feel radiant, we get everything we have always wanted. We feel powerful, confident, and in control. Like the courtesans in whose lineage we are walking, we know who we are in time and space. We know we are not victims, but the heroines of our own lives. The stars of our show. Walking hand in hand with our divinity”
THIGH HIGH WIDE CALF BOOTS
SURPRISING THINGS THAT ARE SABOTAGING YOUR SKIN
There are so many ways that you are putting your skin’s health at risk without even knowing it. And to be honest, I am guilty of committing every single one of these skin sabotages.
Surprising Things That Are Sabotaging Your Skin
- Skipping meals: When you skip a meal, you deprive your body of the nutrients it needs to store energy. This can affect skin by making it look tough, tired, droopy, and even dry.
- Too many showers: Soap, hot water, and too much exfoliation can dry out skin and strip it of its essential oils, causing the skin to wrinkle, crack, and dry out. A common misconception is that the more you wash your face, the less likely you are to breakout, but this is simply not true. Giving your skin a chance to develop its natural oils is key for great, healthy skin.
- Caffeine: Your daily cup of coffee could also be drying out your skin and making you more prone to wrinkles. This doesn’t mean that you should quit coffee immediately. Just make sure that you are drinking plenty of water throughout the day to balance your coffee intake.
- Using expired beauty products: Makeup and lotions don’t necessarily have an expiration date. However, most beauty products have a POW on the back of them (a little jar with a number). The number in the POW jar is the number of months that the product is guaranteed to be fresh and safe for use. Using products past the POW date is not harmful, but your skin may not reach its optimal health, especially if you have sensitive skin.
- Popping pimples: It’s tempting to exterminate a pimple right when it pops up. However, this could be one of the worst things you could do for your skin. Not only will you introduce a bunch of bacteria to the open wound, but you can also create scarring.
- Chocolate: Chocolate is the solution to all of life’s problems, except for the fact that it also creates one of the biggest problems: acne. Although chocolate is great for your heart and other parts of your health, it’s not an advocate for your face. Don’t quit chocolate cold turkey—just pace yourself.
- Brunch: Well, not brunch exactly, but what is brunch without mimosas? Well, it’s brunch with clear skin. Mimosas are proven to cause dehydration and pimples because of the amount of sugar you are consuming in the drink. RE: Chocolate and coffee. Repeat after me: “moderation.” Because who in the heck is going to give up coffee, chocolate, and mimosas? Not me, no way!
- Sleeping on your stomach or your side: In these positions, your skin can be pressed and smashed for long periods of time, causing creases and unwanted wrinkles. UGH! CAN A GIRL LIVE/SLEEP?!
AM and PM Alcohol-Free Skincare Routine
Morning:
- The ordinary Vitamin C: When I first wake up, I wet my face and then apply the ordinary’s vitamin c.
- Solara Sunscreen: I found a clean alcohol-free sunscreen that’s also packed with amazing ingredients. I apply this after I apply my vitamin c.
- Milk Face Oil: I don’t wear makeup every single day, but when I do, I love wearing Milk’s Tinted Face Oil.
Evening:
- Skinceuticals LHA Gel Cleanser: At the end of the day, I cleanse my skin with Skincuetical’s LHA Gel Cleanser. This is a gentle chemical exfoliant, and it always leaves my skin feeling so good.
- The ordinary Hyaluronic Acid: After I get out of the shower and I have a damp face, I apply the ordinary’s hyaluronic acid.
- The ordinary Niacinimide: To prevent breakouts and treat any scarring and hyper-pigmentation, I apply the ordinary’s niacinimide serum.
- Nivea Essentially Enriched Lotion: After my serums, I apply Nivea’s Essentially Enriched lotion. Technically this lotion is simple when it comes to ingredients, but I love the glow it gives me.
- CeraVe Healing Ointment: Have you ever heard of slugging? Well, basically it’s when you lather on a layer of petroleum jelly before you go to bed. It sounds gross, and I definitely look like a glazed donut after, but it’s WORTH IT. I achieve this with CeraVe’s Healing Ointment.
LEATHER TROUSERS
Recently, I have been trying to push the boundaries on the trends, styles, and garments that I wear—hence my last outfit featuring a piece of lingerie. I keep a mental checklist of which jeans flatter my figure best, the kinds of blouses that I should stay away from, and the shoes I feel most comfortable in. But to be honest, a wardrobe based solely off of what is comfortable can get pretty boring.
When I first saw these leather trousers from ELVI, a U.K.-based women’s plus size retailer, I knew I had to have them. Although they were like nothing else that I had in my closet, I was ready to take on the challenge they posed—the trousers defy all of my rules for what not to wear. I paired the trousers with ELVI’s black check top and I tapered the pants at the bottom to create a skinny ankle. All-in-all, this fashion risk paid off, and I have a new appreciation for pants that don’t hug every curve.
I’m wearing a U.K. size 20 (U.S. 16) in the blouse and pants. Pants fit true to size, but the blouse runs small. I would order one size larger than usual for the blouse.
LINGERIE STREET STYLE
I will say this though: This lingerie piece is stunning, sexy, and suits its main purpose!
I bought this plus size eyelash lingerie teddy on AliExpress. When purchasing things from AliExpress, check the sizing chart before you place your order. I am usually a 1x or 2x, but this piece comes from China and the sizing is usually way off. I ordered a 5x, and it fit perfectly!
ASOS DEBUTS MEN’S PLUS SIZE CLOTHING
This may come as a surprise to most of my readers—as it was once a surprise to me—but there are plus size men who read Natalie in the City! Whenever I meet plus size men who are familiar with my blog, they always ask why I don’t talk about men’s plus size fashion, and I don’t really have an answer for them. I have always put the topic to the side and labeled it as “someday,” but I think now is a great time for me to start catering toward my male readers—especially with this exciting news.
ASOS, an online British fashion and beauty retailer, has launched a men’s plus size clothing. The ASOS expansion includes T–shirts, jeans, sweats, button-up shirts, and sweaters ranging in sizes (UK) XL-XXXXL. The line also covers a wide range of styles and tastes. Get a first look at some of the pieces below!
ASOS launched its women’s plus size clothing in January 2010. In 2014, ASOS saw a 132% increase in new product arrivals compared to 2013, and the line remains to be widely popular in the plus size community.
The average American woman is now a size 16, and the average waist circumference of the average American man is 39.1 in., which translates to a size XXL. Seeing as most Americans are plus size, designers, brands, and retailers should pay attention to the trends and create garments for men and women that allow them to feel comfortable and fashion forward at any size.
Major kudos, ASOS!
Here is some of my most favorite ASOS plus size clothing for men and women!
ASOS Women’s Plus Size Clothing
ASOS Men’s Plus Size Clothing
SUN KISSED
VICTORIA’S SECRET STILL DOESN’T OFFER PLUS SIZES
Photo by: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images |
I have never watched a Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, and I’m not going to start this year.
Victoria’s Secret just wrapped the filming of its annual fashion show, and social media channels have been flooded with leaked images and behind the scenes footage. On Dec. 5, more than 10 million viewers will huddle around their laptops or TVs to watch it.
I have never watched the show simply because the brand doesn’t cater to my body type. It’s just not for me, and that’s fine. But a friend and I were talking about whether we were going to watch it this year when my friend said, “I’m surprised they haven’t put Ashley Graham on the runway yet.” I was surprised, too. But even if the brand wanted to appeal to and include different body types, it couldn’t.
It’s 2016, and Victoria’s Secret still doesn’t sell panties beyond a size XL or bras beyond a 38 DDD, and the company’s Pink brand only sells up to a size large. A March 2016 Business Insider article said there may be a good reason why Victoria’s Secret hasn’t ventured into plus size pieces: Each lingerie size group requires a separate factory and set of patterns. So what they are basically saying is that, “It’s more complicated than you think.” However, that excuse doesn’t explain why the Pink brand only carries up to a size large even though the clothing under that brand is mostly yoga pants, sweatshirts, and underwear.
But why do I care? There are so many plus size boutiques and retailers that now offer lingerie, yoga pants, sweatshirts, bras, and panties for full-figured women. It’s not like the community has a demand that isn’t being met. Well, I care because it’s 2016 and the largest lingerie fashion show to exist is the least bit inclusive of multiple body types. Also, the brand that has been known to set the tone for what is “sexy,” is leaving out the average American woman—who is now a size 16.
Why isn’t Victoria’s Secret trying to be more inclusive during a time when most brands aim for that goal? This is my theory: Maybe Victoria’s Secret is sort of like Vogue. While Vogue‘s competitors—Cosmopolitan, Elle, Marie Claire, and Glamour—are more relatable to the majority of women, Vogue retains fantasy, which makes it all the more powerful and elite. Although the “every girl” can’t relate to the pages of Vogue, she dreams of it, and Vogue makes the big bucks off of those sold dreams. Vogue doesn’t care to cater to the “every girl,” and it doesn’t have to. It will always be the bible of fashion and every girls’ fantasy—until it isn’t. And maybe the only reason Victoria’s Secret doesn’t dabble in plus size lingerie is because it doesn’t have to. The Victoria’s Secret models on the runway will always be “goals.” Maybe Victoria’s Secret thinks women will always be chasing after the body type that they deem to be “sexy”—that is, until women decide to reject unrealistic body and beauty standards.
From a business standpoint, I don’t quite understand how a brand like Victoria’s Secret could snub their nose at the plus size clothing industry, estimated to be worth more than $17.5 billion, by the way. But it’s their loss.
The bigger loss is that the majority of women—a size 14 or higher—are being told that they aren’t sexy enough to stand next to their skinny counterparts during the most anticipated lingerie fashion show of the year. What a shame.
Victoria’s Secret has no problem accepting my money for their perfume and make up, but when it comes to lingerie, bras, and panties, my money is no good. I hope that changes one day, not because I can’t find clothing and lingerie that makes me feel sexy, but because this world is moving toward more acceptance and inclusiveness, as it should. And if Victoria’s Secret doesn’t, I’m sure it will come back to bite them. Just look at Abercrombie and Hollister, they are comparatively not doing as well as Forever 21 or H&M, because unlike their competitors, Abercrombie and Holister have continued to ignore the plus size customer.
Victoria’s Secret is obviously missing out on a huge opportunity to expand their customer base and, most importantly, the opportunity to help women and other brands change the way society sets beauty and body standards.
Sexy has no size. Just so you know, Victoria’s Secret.
LONGLINE BOMBERS AND WOOLLY MAMMOTHS
MAKE A SCENE
Would you believe me if I told you that a company that made tractors and rugged work boots also made a trendy line of lifestyle shoes? Well, prepare to believe me.
Many of you may or may not be familiar with the brand Caterpillar. Growing up in Idaho, I saw the brand and its products across many cornfields, farms, and wide-open land. But I never thought I would be sitting down for brunch and endless mimosas at one of Chicago’s hottest locations with a tractor manufacturer. But here I was.
I scooped up these Cat Coax boots at the event, and I fell in love with the unexpected comfort of the high wedge and the durability of the boots in rainy conditions. The fold down ankle also makes this boot versatile as it offers a two different looks in one shoe. See how I styled them below!
Cat Footwear will also be making stops in Los Angeles, California and Grand Rapids, Michigan, and everyone has a chance to join in the fun with the Make A Scene Weekend Getaway contest. The trip includes a $1000 flight voucher, $1000 hotel voucher, $500 Visa Gift Card for spending money, and a pair of Cat Boots. Enter to win HERE.