DITCHING CLASS

natalie craig, natalie in the city, curvy girl fashion, bow tie blouse, suzy shier, canada fashion, plus size lace shorts, plus size fashion, chicago blogger, midwest blogger, natalieinthecoty.com, plus size blazer, open toed perforated booties, karl lagerfeld, college fashion week, fatshion

I recently expressed my love for the bow tie blouse. So it should be no surprise to you that I am featuring another take on the fall trend! This plus size blouse is from Suzy Shier, a Canadian women’s clothing brand with an amazing curvy collection called “Curve Appeal.”

My original vision for this outfit was to pear it with some leather leggings, a pair of black heels, and call it good. However, I decided to add a black blazer, lace shorts, and open-toe black booties for a more playful look.

Keep an eye out on the blog for more gorgeous tops from Suzy Shier—I may be wearing one of them to College Fashion Week next Saturday—and take a look around their online store and treat yourself to 15% off your purchase with the code “15SUZY“

I’m wearing a size 2x. This blouse runs true to size.

SaveSave
SaveSave

Leave A Comment

Uncategorized

GILT CITY FALL 2016 WAREHOUSE SALE

gilt city, gilt chicago warehouse sale, chicago blogger, chicago fashion news, designer warehouse sale, natalie craig, natalie in the city, museum of contemporary art, chicago fashion, midwest blogger

You know what I love more than Gucci, Louis, Fendi, and Prada? Gucci, Louis, Fendi, and Prada at 60%–80% off the retail price! If you love a good sale, too, then you won’t want to miss out on the Gilt City Fall 2016 Chicago Warehouse Sale from October 14–15 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Warehouse.

The sale is not just for the ladies, men will also have plenty of Tom Ford and Paul Smith—to name a few—to choose from. Shoppers can peruse racks stocked with all things fashion including the newest shoe styles, jewelry, suits, jackets, denim, tops, and outerwear. Shop both up-and-coming designers and renowned fashion houses, including Chloé, Valentino, Derek Lam, Jimmy Choo, Lanvin, Oscar de la Renta, and more.

Oh, and you might also catch me there! So come say, “Hi,” and let’s blow our paychecks together! Check out the full event details and purchase tickets to the event here: Gilt City Fall 2016 Chicago Warehouse Sale

Since I’m a veteran Gilt City Warehouse Sale Shopper, I have included some shopping tips for you below!

SHOPPING TIPS:

Arrive early: Just as you would for any sample sale, arrive early! No matter what session you come to, be sure to get there with ample time. This ensures a full shopping experience, and it’s best to view the merchandise when it’s most organized.

Reduce your drag: Come prepared to shop—we require coat check and large bag check, so bring a small purse or wallet that you can keep your credit cards and ID in. A small wallet or cross-body bag will leave your hands free to peruse the racks, or sip a cocktail! Also, shopping in light layers will allow you to try clothes on easily, and you may even decide not to wait for a fitting room!

Think ahead: Don’t be afraid to shop for future seasons. You’ll find that there are amazing deals for every occasion – score designer suits or that perfect glam dress for the holidays.

Have an open mind: The most exciting part of the Warehouse Sale is the element of surprise! While you may have certain items in mind that you’re really focused on purchasing, take your time, look through the racks and filter through the shoes and accessories with an open mind. This is usually the time when the magic happens and you’ll find yourself going home with some great steals that you might otherwise not have found!

And remember – plastic! No cash, so bring your debit or credit cards!

{Photos provided by Gilt City}

Leave A Comment

Uncategorized

WHAT MAKES THE PERFECT DAY, NIGHT DRESS

https://www.lyst.com.au/clothing/missguided-plus-size-lace-up-dress-black/?reason=feed-product&product_overlay_uid=SVMQHWV, natalie in the city, chicago, fashion blogger, lyst, midwest, chicago, lace up dress, fall dresses, plus size fashion

Shop this dress!

Confession: I’ve been obsessed with dresses lately. Even though it’s getting chillier by the day in Chicago, I’m still opting for a chic dress that I can pair with anything from a midi cardigan and a pair of knee-high boots, to a blazer and some lace-up heels.

I make a huge effort to ensure my outfits make me feel and look my best. But my busy schedule—a.k.a hitting the snooze on my alarm five times—has me rushing to put together an outfit, which means I usually skimp out on accessorizing. This is where dresses come in handy for me; with the perfect dress, you can make a statement without having to add too many accessories. But of course, you have to have the right dress.

https://www.lyst.com.au/clothing/missguided-plus-size-faux-suede-zip-up-shift-dress-nude-taupe/, natalie in the city, chicago, fashion blogger, lyst, midwest, chicago, lace up dress, fall dresses, plus size fashion

A dress is my go-to for many occasions, but there is a great contrast between what I look for in a day dress, and what I want to wear for a girl’s night out.

https://www.lyst.com.au/clothing/missguided-plus-size-kimono-sleeve-wrap-dress-black/, natalie in the city, chicago, fashion blogger, lyst, midwest, chicago, lace up dress, fall dresses, plus size fashion

“On-the-move” day dress

Whether I’m chasing after the bus, transferring trains, or making a quick Starbucks run, my ideal day dress has to be breathable and allow me to feel comfortable all day long—even if I’m in a mad rush. But I also love a dress that can easily double as office attire with the addition of a blazer. Sweatshirt dresses can also be the star of a great, fall look.

https://www.lyst.com.au/clothing/asos-white-cross-front-sweater-dress-grey/, natalie in the city, chicago, fashion blogger, lyst, midwest, chicago, lace up dress, fall dresses, plus size fashion

The perfect fit for a night out

You’ll hardly ever catch me in anything other than a show-stopping, fitted dresswhen I go out with my girlfriends. I feel most confident in a dress that hugs my curves and highlights my figure in all the right ways.

https://www.lyst.com.au/clothing/asos-long-sleeve-off-the-shoulder-bardot-mini-bodycon-dress-with-choker-collar-black/, natalie in the city, chicago, fashion blogger, lyst, midwest, chicago, lace up dress, fall dresses, plus size fashion

For a formal evening, dinner date, or event, I prefer something more whimsical and romantic like this wrap dress. But don’t get me wrong, I still like to be the life of the party, which is why I’ll always try to find a way to incorporate some shimmer.

https://www.lyst.com.au/clothing/club-l-plus-size-bodycon-dress-with-sequin-skirt-blackgold/, natalie in the city, chicago, fashion blogger, lyst, midwest, chicago, lace up dress, fall dresses, plus size fashion

Thank you Lyst for sponsoring today’s post! All thoughts and opinions are my own. Check out some of my favorite dresses on Lyst here.

Leave A Comment

Uncategorized

BOW TIE BLOUSE

I have been a bit obsessed with blouses that tie around the neck lately. Call it a fall trend, but I really love how chic the bow tie blouse looks, and I think it will be a staple that will stay long after fall ends. If you also love this trend, I will include my favorite bow tie blouses at the bottom of this post in the shop widget!

I thought about pairing this top with a more intricate skirt, perhaps a pleated leather midi, or a simple pair of light wash jeans and nude heels. However, I opted for a classic black pencil skirt and a pair of gray heels. The color of this blouse also caught my eye. I love purple grays and taupe grays, and depending on what the lighting is like, this blouse can take on both colors.

Leave A Comment

Uncategorized

IS IT OCTOBER YET?

plaid skirt, plus size fashion, long sleeve lace blouse with neck tie, neck tie blouse, plus size blogger, natalie in the city, natalie craig, chicago, chicago blogger, midwest blogger, plus size fall fashion, meijer ankle boots, ankle boots for plus size women, lace top, natalieinthecity.com

Plaid for fall. Original, I know. When I first bought this lace long sleeve with a neck tie, I couldn’t wait to pair it with this plus size plaid skirt. I am also planning on pairing this blouse with some jeans and a pair of nude or black heels. Either way, this chic top will give any outfit a sexy edge. I got these black ankle booties at Meijer while I was visiting their headquarters in Grand Rapids! I love the detail on the back of the boot, and to top it off, they are super comfortable.

Leave A Comment

Uncategorized

ZIPPED UP

I bought this sweater in May, which left me with plenty of time to dream about wearing it in fall. So since there is a slight chill in the air, I ripped this sweater out of my closest because let’s be honest, its debut was long overdue. Sure, there is nothing really that special about the destroyed sweatshirt, but if you ask my best friend, she’ll tell you that I love clothes with holes in them.

To dress up the distressed sweater. I paired it with this acid wash denim skirt from Love, Lianca. I have never owned a midi skirt that zips up the middle, which really drew me to this piece, and I can’t wait to see what else I can pair it with. To top off the look, I chose these black, open-toed ankle booties.

I’m wearing a size 2x. This skirt runs true to size.

Photography by: Katherine Davis

Leave A Comment

Uncategorized

SUMMER TO FALL: FRINGE SHAWL

Meijer style, clothes from meijer, natalie craig, natalie in the city, midwest blogger, chicago blogger, fall shawls, wear summer clothes in fall, from summer to fall, ripped black jeans, plus size fashion, plus size blogger

As we transition from warm, summer nights to cooler, fall days, I’m partnering with Meijer to dress up some of their trendiest summer pieces into fall staples. See more photos and get a glimpse of how I turned this fringe shawl for summer into the perfect fall cover up on Meijer Style.

Leave A Comment

Uncategorized

A FASHION-FILLED WEEKEND WITH MEIJER

Photo by: Candace Read, Live Love and Read.

As most of you saw on my social media channels, I took a little trip to Grand Rapids, Michigan last week to visit Meijer for a fall fashion preview. While I’m sure many of you are familiar with the Midwest super center pioneer, this was my first experience with the brand, and I have been dying to tell you all about it.

While I was in Grand Rapids, I met up with other notable Midwest bloggers Candace of Live Love and Read, Tieka of Selective Potential, Nina of The HSS Feed, Andrea of Blonde Bedhead, and Alexis of That Chic Lex. Together, we learned about the process of curating seasonal clothing lines for Meijer as we took tours of the corporate office, got an exclusive preview of Meijer’s fall line, and even got to chat with Venita James, the director of product development and apparel at Meijer. It was truly the most unique and transparent experience I have ever had with a brand.

Midwest bloggers, fashion bloggers, natalie in the city, blonde bedhead, that chic lex, live love and read, selective potential, webber shandwick, the hss feed, meijer, meijer style, chicago, grand rapids, Michigan

During my busy three days in Grand Rapids, the girls and I had many opportunities to try on different looks and push our own fashion boundaries with “style challenges,” all the while getting to know each other over fall themed picnics and hair and makeup tutorials from Pantene and CoverGirl.

Before touring Meijer and getting a first hand look at what goes into the buying and trend forecasting process, I would have never thought to look for on-trend clothing at a super center. However, I have found so many pieces from Meijer that I cannot wait to incorporate into my fall wardrobe. You can take a look at my first guest post on Meijer’s very own fashion blog, meijerstyle.com, here: Three Tops To Buy Now and Wear Through Fall. Be sure to check back to see my take on some of the Meijer pieces I scored during my trip!

Just had a date with @covergirl. Thanks for showing us what’s in store for fall beauty @meijerstyle #meijerstyle

A photo posted by CHICAGO FASHION BLOGGER (@nataliexcraig) on Aug 28, 2016 at 4:25pm PDT

Leave A Comment

Uncategorized

OXBLOOD FAUX-SUEDE + GIVEAWAY

faux suede, good vibrations dress, oxblood, fall fashion 2016, plus size fashion blogger, fashion blogger, fatshion, curvy blogger, button up dress, suede, fall colors, natalie craig, natalie in the city, chicago, chic soul

Chicago won’t let me win. I want it to be fall so bad, but every single time it gets chilly outside, a sweltering humidity follows. As you can probably guess, this hinders my day-to-day outfits quite a bit.

During one of these hot and cold days, I opted for this faux-suede, button up dress from Chic Soul. While I anticipated that the dress would be bit longer in length, the shorter cut made it easier to rock during this sticky and humid day. I would still recommend ordering one size up from your regular size to account for the short length. If you want to transition into fall attire a little sooner than everyone else—like me—this button up dress with roll up sleeves is your ticket! Score this dress or another item from Chic Soul with a $25 gift card! To enter, follow Chic Soul on Instagram or Facebook, and then comment on this post with a link to your favorite piece on chicsoul.com. I will be randomly picking a winner on Friday, September 9 at 12:00 p.m. CST!

I’m wearing a size 2x. This dress runs small, I would order one or two sizes larger than what you usually wear.

Photography by: Katherine Davis

Leave A Comment

Uncategorized

CONFIDENCE & SUCH

dresslily review, dresslily, plunging neckline, plus size fashion, positive body image, fashion, bold plus size fashion, natalie craig, chicago, midwest blogger, chicago fashion blogger, lace dress, tulle dress, confidence and curves, natalieinthecity.com

I preach confidence, acceptance, and self love to my readers when they confide in me with their body image struggles. But I realize that someone telling you to love yourself, doesn’t make it any easier.

Ever since I had a picture of myself in a bikini go viral on Facebook—which resulted in so many women and men reaching out to me to share their own body concerns—I have been thinking about how I respond to my readers, and how I help them through these difficult times. I portray a very confident persona on social media and on this blog, and although that is very true to who I am, I should be more transparent.

The truth is, I have the same hardships as most of my readers, and I believe that almost all women do, too. No matter how strong, confident, and “perfect” someone may seem, they have insecurities, too. We’re all human. And with that being said, none of us are prone to having doubts or feeling like we could be better or look better.

Click here to learn how to build confidence through positive affirmations

I am lucky. My journey to self love and acceptance wasn’t too difficult. As I grew up, I gradually started to accept that I was different from what was considered beauty / body goals, and that was fine, as long as I still valued and loved myself. Although I have always been confident, there are still instances where that strength is shaken. As women, we are inundated with images in the media of the way we “should” look. And while I have seen more acceptance and diversity in the media in regards to the inclusion of different ethnicity and body types, there is still an overbearing message and image that says, “You still aren’t perfect.”

It’s also difficult to be a plus size woman who loves fashion only to be shown by the industry and designers that you don’t deserve trendy, well fitted, and modern-looking clothing because of your size. Feeling sexy and confident feels like a tiresome task while swimming through layers and layers of oversized clothing that designers think plus size women want to wear. Which is why when a gorgeous piece of clothing comes along, like this dress from Dresslily, I can’t help but appreciate the designers who flip the middle finger to the notion that plus size women don’t want to show off their body. This dress, with lace detail and a plunging neckline, makes me feel unstoppable and perfect in my own way. If you need a pick me up, or a burst of confidence, wear clothes that push you out of your comfort zone and give you a new appreciation for what your body can pull off. For me, it was this dress. Hold your head high!

xo – Natalie

I’m wearing a 2x. Order one or two sizes larger that what you normally wear, this dress runs small.

Photography by: Katherine Davis

Leave A Comment

Uncategorized

STRIPED FLORAL SHIFT DRESS

pineapple clothing, blogger collaboration, floral dress, plus size clothing, plus size fashion blogger, natalie craig, chicago, natalie in the city, mommy and me clothing, shift dress, fatshion

After scrolling through my blog a couple of weeks ago and realizing that most of my outfits were all black everything, I have sort of made a conscious effort to incorporate more colors into my wardrobe. Starting with a symmetrical, neon floral top—a few posts ago—and now with this Hey-Sailor! Adele Striped Floral Print Shift Dress from Pineapple clothing. Not only does this brand boast bright colors and florals—which was perfect for my self imposed color challenge—but they also carry a wide array of sizes and styles. Up until three posts ago, I had never worn a shift dress before, but I actually love that the dress hugs my curves and then slightly flares out toward the bottom.

Hopefully I stick to this challenge because I am actually enjoying pushing myself out of my boundaries and into a more colorful wardrobe. Have you tried something that was out of your comfort zone lately?

I’m wearing a size 2XL. This dress runs true to size, and it does stretch.

Leave A Comment

Uncategorized

LACE SHORTS

The countdown to fall is officially on, but I am trying to embrace some of my favorite summer trends before the season ends. I have a love hate relationships with shorts—if you have thighs like mine, you would totally get it—but these lace trim shorts from Love, Lianca‘s summer line complete my chic day and night outfits.

Click here to shop black plus size lace shorts

For this look, I paired the shorts with a leather trim tank top, a statement necklace, and some nude lace up mini wedges for a day out. Be sure to check back for more looks incorporating these lace shorts from Love, Lianca!

I’m wearing a size 16. These shorts run true to size.

Leave A Comment