I know that my only role in battling COVID-19 is to stay home, and that role is a rather simple one compared to those who are on the frontlines of making sure this virus is treated and doesn’t spread. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that being quarantined doesn’t come with its own set of struggles. It’s been very hard to deal with the stress of the Coronavirus pandemic, paired with isolation. I have been trying to stay active and leave the house to walk every day—keeping a safe distance from everyone else on the street—and I have also been keeping up with my friends via FaceTime. But still, I put in so much effort to just remain in good spirits every day, and it is exhausting. I know this is an extremely difficult time for EVERYONE, and I hope that you are coping well and adjusting to the new “normal.”

I’ve been filling my time keeping busy with work but also indulging in things that bring me joy—for example, clothes! Since I do have a little extra free time on my hands, I have been spending time in my closet pairing styles together to gain a little inspiration for outfits I want to wear once we are in the clear to return back to normal life. An unexpected pairing I recently created was this outfit. I am currently fascinated with plus size organza styles, so I wanted to find an unexpected pairing for this Organza Zip-Up Hoodie from Forever 21. Sure, I could pair the hoodie with some jeans or even sweatpants or leggings. But, I decided to slip on this Plus Size Slit Cami Dress for an edgy and sexy look. I love pairing curve-hugging pieces with looser or see-through styles because the contrast makes an effortlessly cool look.

I can’t wait to get dressed again, but until then, I’ll be dressing up for fun and shooting looks in my apartment or the alleyway outside! Hah!

Stay safe and healthy! I am ALWAYS available to talk through Instagram and email! Feel free to reach out to me if you need to talk!

SIZING INFO: I am wearing a 2X in both the dress and hoodie, which is my usual size, and they both fit perfectly!

I recently spoke on a panel about Size-Inclusivity in Fashion, hosted by the Chicago Fashion Incubator, and it really made me start thinking not only about how far plus size fashion has come over the past decade, but how far it needs to come. When the panel was opened up to the audience for questions, much interest was paid toward sustainable, fair trade, and socially-conscious clothing like sustainable plus size dresses.

As a plus-size consumer, I am just now being able to shop anywhere I want—kind of—but I miss out on opportunities to embrace the more forward aspects of fashion like sustainably-made, ethical styles. Fast fashion has wreaked havoc on our environment, but for plus size women, sometimes the only affordable and accessible styles come from fast fashion brands.

After the panel, I spoke with someone who worked for a local, sustainable clothing brand called Mata Traders, which aims to ‘fashion a better world.’ The brand aligns with fair trade practices to make an impact on global poverty, which helps bring fair wages to artisans in India and Nepal. I recently decided to try out a couple of dresses from the brand to get my first glimpse at sustainable plus size fashion. I was pleasantly surprised at the accuracy of the fit, as well as the comfort of the fabric. My favorite dresses by far were the Midtown Plus Size Dress and the Ana Wrap Dress. I love the versatility of the Montrose dress and the fabric was so soft and stretchy. I’m so happy to explore the world of sustainable fashion, and I hope there are more plus-size sustainable clothing brands to sprout in the coming years.

I am on week four of quarantine, and I am doing okay! I really just want to get back to normal life, but other than that, I am doing fine. I hope you all are staying safe and healthy! My email and Instagram DMs are always open if you ever need to talk!

SIZING INFO: I am wearing a size 1X in both dresses, which is a size 18-20 at Mata Traders. This is my usual size, and both of the dresses fit perfectly. They both have a tie feature so they allow you to contour the dress to fit your curves perfectly. 

It’s been about three or four weeks since I started practicing social distancing and self-isolating to help flatten the curve of COVID-19. I am very fortunate to be able to work from home, and while I am still balancing the work of my 9-to-5 job and my blog, staying home all day felt like a much-needed pause on life.

This pandemic is truly frightening, and unlike anything most people have experienced in their life, but I do think that the Coronavirus has made us all slow down and appreciate the aspects of life that we took for granted. So, I have actually been enjoying my time in isolation. However, this weekend, it started to get to me. I noticed my confidence and self-esteem tanking. It can be really hard to be alone at all times of the day, especially when you struggle with insecurities, like me. Don’t get me wrong, I am a very confident person, but like everyone, I battle negative thoughts daily—especially when I am not filling my days with things I love or things I am good at.

One of the things I was missing most about day-to-day life was getting dressed. So, I devoted a day this weekend to getting dressed, doing my hair and makeup, and having my own little photoshoot in my apartment (I take my own photos, so don’t worry, no one else was involved in this)! This boosted my confidence through the roof, and I was taking pictures all day. I even made my very first Tik Tok where I show you my transformation from drab to fab!

I recently got a bunch of cute stuff from one of my favorite plus size woman-owned and socially responsible boutiques, Common Assembly! And I was so excited to find a plus size mini dress that actually fit me perfectly. The Penny Proper Black Ruffle Dress is such a versatile piece, and it instantly boosted my confidence when I put it on. The ruffle hem gives the dress a fun and flirty feel, and the subtle polka dots add an element of surprise. I cannot wait to wear this dress out and about. I could easily dress it up for dinner with a pair of strappy heels and a wide-brimmed hat or dress it down with a cardigan. Common Assembly is having a sale on its dresses, and you can get 30% off!

I hope you all are staying safe and healthy! P.S. STAY HOME!

SIZING INFO: I am wearing a size 2X in the Penny Proper Black Ruffle Dress, which is my usual size, and they dress fits perfectly! The material isn’t stretchy, but it runs true to size, and it fits comfortably!