This is the first faux button up shirt and blouse look that I have tried, and I really have come to like the trend. The top is from Suzy Shier, a Canada-based women’s clothing brand with an amazing curvy collection called “Curve Appeal.” The blouse is very versatile so I usually wear it with jeans or leggings, but I wanted to switch it up for this blog post. If you are also falling for this blouse, take a look around Suzy Shier’s online store and Curve Appeal section, and treat yourself to 15% off your purchase with the code: “15SUZY” Check out my other favorite blouse from Suzy Shier here: Ditching Class

Now, my bag is one of my favorite things. Recently, I was in the market for a new, black, small purse or clutch—and I was willing to drop some MAJOR dough on it. I went to the Gilt City Chicago Warehouse Sale a couple of weeks ago with the hopes of finding the perfect purse. But I had no such luck. Just a day later, I stumbled upon this gem in TJ MAXX, and I thought, “Oh my gosh, this bag looks so expensive, and so perfect.” I cringed as I looked for the price tag, but as I flipped over the tag, I realized it was only $35, and there was a girl standing behind me waiting for me to put it down so she could claim it. Needless to say, I ran to the register so fast. I have included some similar bags and pieces of my outfit at the bottom of this post for you to shop from. You can shop all of my looks at the bottom of each post. If you can’t find a piece that I am wearing, email me at natinthecity@gmail.com, and I will try to help you find it!

Lastly, I get so many emails asking me where I find the perfect, wide-calf, knee-high boots. I get it, the struggle is so real. I bought these wide calf, knee-high boots from Comfortview on WomanWithin.com, but they are $50 cheaper on Amazon! They come in black, grey, brown, and beige, and I own all four pair. I LOVE them.

As some of you may have noticed in the past couple of months, I have been working very closely with Meijer. I have spent time in a variety of their stores here in Illinois, and I have even visited their headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan. During these visits, I met with the company’s style and merchandising team who have repeatedly expressed their devotion to offering stylish, on trend, and affordable plus size clothing. They said “style at every size” was one of their top priorities.

But today, they announced that they are getting rid of their plus size section entirely. That’s right. The Wall Street Journal broke the news, and I couldn’t be happier. You may be asking yourself, “Wait. Why?” I’ll tell you why: Meijer is eliminating their plus size section because they are integrating it into all of the other sizes. YES. In one rack, you can find dresses, shorts, and blouses, whether you are a size small or a 3X. Plus size women can now find clothes that fit them and make them feel beautiful alongside their straight size counterparts. 

There are currently 15 Meijer locations with size integration, but each of the retailer’s 230 stores will become fully integrated by early 2017.

I have expressed my wishes for this to happen, and I have been very vocal about it and how brands should not turn away the plus size customer or make them feel secluded or isolated. It makes no sense to me why a brand can make clothing in an extra small, but can’t simply extend those sizes to include plus size women. Instead, most brands create a plus size section devoted to full-figured women, and oftentimes, these plus size lines are way behind the trends and don’t provide plus size women with what she WANTS to wear. As a full-figured woman (and I have been all my life), I have always wanted to wear what my slimmer friends were wearing. I didn’t want to shop in the dark corner of the store where clothes seemed more like pajamas. But now, I can shop with my friends and with EVERY woman, thanks to Meijer.

You guys, I am absolutely beside myself, and so proud to say that I know and love Meijer to the moon and back for this. I hope that other retailers and brands will follow suit, because THIS IS THE FUTURE. My goal as a blogger is to bring light to these issues and inequalities that plus size women face in the fashion industry. One day, when I have a daughter of my own, I hope she gets to grow up in a world where she is encouraged to love her body and wear whatever she wants because the media, society, and trendy retailers aren’t telling her that she shouldn’t.

Thank you Meijer, for leading the way and for truly making a dream of mine come true. 

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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.

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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. 

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.