You know what I love more than Gucci, Louis, Fendi, and Prada? Gucci, Louis, Fendi, and Prada at 60%–80% off retail price! If you love a good sale, too, then you will not want to miss out on this Gilt City Chicago Warehouse Sale from October 16–17 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Warehouse!

Ticket prices vary according to date and time of session, which allow for two hours of shopping, but here are some of the brands that everyone can expect to cop at the warehouse sale: Lanvin, Chloe, Valentino, Missoni, Balenciaga, Dior, Brian Atwood, Christian Louboutin, and Jimmy Choo. SWOON! 

Oh, and you might also catch me and Melony Melrose there! So come say, “Hi,” and let’s blow our paychecks together! 

Check out the full event details and some shopping tips courtesy of Gilt City! You can purchase tickets to the event here: gilt.com/ChiWarehouseSale

WHEN:           Friday, October 16, 2015

• 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!

Woah. Is it just me, or am I wearing a lot of white? I’m usually sporting a darker ensemble with more black, but I had to step out of my comfort zone a little bit with this outfit.

I found this skirt at Forever 21, which is actually part of a two piece set that comes with a matching top, but I ditched the top and had to have the skirt. I love the subtle camouflage pattern, it pairs with pretty much everything in my closet but also serves as a standout piece. Win-win!

This week, I am gearing up for my first-ever meet and greet at Lord & Taylor in Schaumburg, Illinois this Saturday! If you will be in attendance, please send me an email (natinthecity@gmail.com)! I would love to connect with you before the event. For more details, you can check out my previous blog post about the Lord & Taylor Meet and Greet.

I am also working on something else exciting, which I will be announcing and sharing with you all in the coming months. My readers can also expect to see more posts on Natalie in the City about fashion industry hot topics and events, as well as outfit collages and style guides! Don’t worry, I will still be posting outfit of the day posts every week!

I am beyond excited to announce my first ever meet and greet for all of my readers in Chicago and surrounding Illinois suburbs! Not only will we be able to chat, dance, and take a million selfies, but I will also be styling everyone who visits the new plus size section in Lord & Taylor at the Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, IL on Saturday, September 26 from 12–4 p.m.

If you would like to RSVP so I can reach out and connect with you before the event, head over to the Meet & Greet with Natalie Craig @ Lord & Taylor event page!

For those of you who can’t make it to Lord & Taylor at Woodfield, no worries! You can stop by Lord & Taylor in Oakbrook, Northbrook, and Old Orchard from Wednesday, September 23–Saturday, September 26 for amazing deals on clothes that you will love! However, if you want to kick it with me, I will only be at the Woodfield location. I wish I could be everywhere at once! *sad face*

Also, the store will be in the middle of their Signature Sale, which is a “Buy More Save More” event.
Here is how it works:
Spend $49.99-$99.99, save 20%
Spend $100-$249.99, save 25%
Spend $250 or more, save 30%

I have put together some of my favorite pieces from the Lord & Taylor Plus Section below to hold you over until September 26! I can’t wait to meet you all!

The title of this post is a little ironic, I guess. This is actually the hottest summer I have ever had as I survived a 3-month heat wave with no air conditioning—welcome to being a big kid Nat, air conditioning costs $$$$.

However—metaphorically, perhaps—this has been a pretty cool summer. I landed my first two “big girl” jobs at both Advertising Age Magazine and a tech start up in Chicago. Also, I will be going back to school to earn a certificate in fashion industry essentials from Teen Vogue and Parsons! So, as I wipe sweat from my freshly made up face, I will say that this summer has been pretty cool.

But let’s talk about this outfit, shall we? Every time I wear these Dolce Vita wedges,  I feel unstoppable. This sheer Mossimo burnout tank top can be paired with jeans for a casual day or a dressy skirt for a night out. I love having sheer pieces that show a little skin because they add a little touch of sexy to any outfit. Speaking of things that I am currently in love with, Target’s new Mossimo denim line. These black distressed jeans are from the line and I knew I had to have them when I saw the holes in the knees. Call me basic, but holy knees are trendy!

I have said it before, and I will say it again: I am thrilled, excited, and grateful every time a brand or retailer decides to create or enhance a plus size clothing line. However, in this constant thankful state I have been in, I oftentimes over look the fact that plus size clothing is not as great as it could be. These lines for full figured women are underwhelming and don’t push too many boundaries. For some fashionistas, this is fine. However, there are plus size women out there—ME—who want to look sexy and feel confident in whatever they wear.

So when Stylzoo challenged me to style this Plus Size Metallic Dress, I didn’t hesitate. This dress is everything that plus size fashion should be. Sure, the puffed shoulders are little ’80s, but the bold pattern and the form fitting fabric makes me feel like one of a kind. I MEAN, LOOK AT MY CURVES! Although risks may be hard to take and a little unsettling, they are absolutely worth it and exciting—especially in fashion. There is no better feeling than looking fierce and feeling confident, and that is exactly what this dress does for me. If you also love this dress, great news: It also comes in another color and you can check it out on Amazon! Oh, and shout out to my man for taking these photos. He’s the best!

This month marks the second year that I have lived in Chicago, and I can hardly believe that just a couple of years ago, a stary-eyed Natalie walked into the city, excited to see what would happen next. To celebrate my third year in Chi-town, I was invited by Shoreline Sightseeing to take an architectural tour on the Chicago River.

The tour was really informative and took us up and down the river and even out to Lake Michigan. As you would probably assume, the views of the Skyline were breathtaking. Our tour guide, Adam, was also pretty funny and we couldn’t help but laugh at his jokes about the Trump Tower or buying the old U.S. Postal Office for $17 million.  

Although I have been living in Chicago for a couple of years, there was a lot that I still didn’t know about the city’s beautiful archetecture. However, the tour guide answered all of my questions, and then some. I would definitely reccomend enjoying a Shoreline Sightseeing tour during the last couple of weeks of summer! Click “READ MORE” for my outfit details and some spectacular views. 

{ Photography by: Katherine Davis }

Before I tried on these jeans, there was not a single pair of light washed denim to be found in my closet, wardrobe, or any of my previous blog posts. I always thought I had to wear dark denim for it to flatter my figure and look great. However, these Mossimo, light washed, mid-rise skinny jeans from Target changed my mind completely.

I would have never tried a pair of light-wash jeans if I didn’t play a little game called “Denim Truth & Dare”—notice it’s not truth OR dare, but truth AND dare. I had to come clean with the TRUTH of my denim ways—all dark wash everything—and then I had to DARE myself to try something new.

The jeans are comfortable, seriously. I came home from work, sat down on the couch with my boyfriend and watched three episodes of Friends before I even noticed that I was still wearing the jeans, comfortably. I’m sure most girls understand this: Once I walk in the door, it’s heels off, jeans off, make up off, sweats on, hair up—I’m not playing any games. After a long day, I want to be comfortable. But now, I lounge in these jeans, even after I wore them all day.

I love that I can either wear these jeans with the ankles rolled up for a capri look, but if I don’t roll the ankles up, the length of the jeans fit perfectly with my height, eliminating bulky and scrunched up denim at my ankles.

So now, my denim diaries have expanded to new colors, styles, fits, and washes. I’m in love! Be sure to check back for more posts with these jeans styled in different ways!


Also, you can now shop these jeans and find your @TargetStyle at your local Target! When you try on denim, you will receive $10 off your first pair. If you are shopping online, use the code “TRYON10.” In the first 2 weeks in August (8/2 – 8/15), you’ll get free shipping and free returns when you shop denim on www.target.com/jeans.

As I was pilfering through a clothing rack at T.J. Maxx, I came across these blush, harem pants. I fell in love with the color and the material but then quickly thought to myself, “These won’t fit or look good on my body.” I put the pants back, but I could not stop thinking about them. I ran back to the rack before anyone could steal them, and decided that I would try them on for entertainment. As most of the other clothes I brought into the dressing room became a huge pile of “NOs,” I pulled on the harem pants….and I didn’t hate them. I REPEAT: I did not hate them. I actually loved them and they looked great on me.

I’m still trying to figure out just how to style them perfectly. So if any of my plus-size readers out there have tried the “harem trend” and have any style advice or love/hate stories to share with me, comment below, tweet me (@NataliexCraig), or send me an email (natinthecity@gmail.com).

P.S. This beaded top is also LIFE. Expect to see it styled with different ensembles on the blog! I got it from Fox’s.

I always go into the dressing rooms of my favorite stores with six or more garments and leave with one, or oftentimes nothing at all. As I struggle in the dressing room to wiggle, pull, and suck in my tummy so that I can fit into the dress, shirt, or pants of my dreams, I become frustrated.

Shopping for clothes is a guessing game, and it always has been.

If I don’t fit into a large then why don’t I fit into an extra large either? Where do I even fit in?
How come I am a size 14 at H&M, but a size 18 at Forever 21?

Usually after dressing room affairs and fiascos, shoppers criticize themselves and their bodies for not being able to fit into the clothes that catch their eyes or the sizes they usually wear. But I blame the stores, the designers, and the brands.

Sure, I may need to do some crunches or run a couple of miles if I want to fit into the smaller size, but I’m not asking to fit into the smaller size. Instead, I’m asking to fit into one designated size no matter where I decide to shop at.

Sure, measurements may differ from brand to brand as designers are based in various parts of the world. It makes sense that different countries have varying measurements because the average size of a person in that country may also differ.

Even though our bodies are not one in the same, how difficult would it be to come up with a clear-cut worldwide measurement system for clothing?

As I receive emails from my readers, I am learning that I am not the only one facing these issues. So many women and men are confused and fed up with the lack of unified sizing standards within the fashion industry.

My friend, who is much slimmer than I am, asked me when I was going to stop shopping at Forever 21, as if I was growing out of the brand at age 23. She was shocked to hear that I did not really have any other place to shop that offered plus size options that fit my body. She never considered that it was harder for curvier girls to dress their bodies than their slimmer counterparts, and she is not the only one. However, the difference in sizing also effects her. She says that she has dresses, skirts, and shorts that range from sizes 00–4, but fit her the exact same.

Sizing standards affect every body shape, not just those with a curvy figure. But when the size “large” shirt you can barely squeeze into does not come in an “XL,” sometimes there is no other option. This is why it is oftentimes more frustrating for those with a full figure as we cannot simply just go up one size. 

While we can make up excuses as to why the fashion industry seems to neglect or not understand the struggle that full figured bodies face, the explanation is actually simple: There is no excuse.

Designers should be learning skill sets that include creating clothing for different sizes and figures, more brands should adopt plus size clothing lines, and the fashion industry as a whole needs to recognize that not every plus size woman out there is trying to lose weight to fit into smaller sizes. Some of us are happy with our curves, and we are not going to lose them any time soon. We want to feel, look, and dress fabulously just like everyone else.

I am beyond thrilled as I see brands, designers, and retailers creating plus size clothing lines and adopting larger sizes because fashion is not just for one size, body type, or person. 

However, as summer approaches and I think about finding skirts, dresses, and shorts that fit me well and show off my curves instead of mask them, I cringe. My curvy insecurities always get the best of me during the warmer months as I am reminded that cute crop tops were not made for me, and neither were those distressed denim shorts I am obsessed with. However, this summer I am taking a stand. I’m going to wear crop tops, a cute bikini, and whatever else I want. And every curvy girl should follow suit with confidence!