Heading to Paris for work, I wanted to keep my wardrobe simple and my suitcase light. I have a little trick for when I am trying to go to the max with my wardrobe, but at the same time manage the increasingly smallness of my luggage. After years of living on the road and having to still work it like the sassy boss ass bitch I am, I found my balance by committing to the church of color poppin’. Color pops are the simplest form of color blocking and can do MIRACLES for your look. I mean you wear some hot pink pants and no one can ever pay attention that you forgot to do makeup, haven’t slept in 3 days and that there is a piece of bread from the sandwich you ate at 2 am more than little drunk most definitely stuck in your hair. Instead they just gush and co over your sassy fancy pants. Fashion witchcraft!!!! Here’s how I maximized the colors to keep me looking ace while traveling for work in Paris.
On Monday I rocked a pair of hot pink crops from Nordstrom with a black crepe top and patterned, but still neutral bomber. The key when wearing the world’s brightest pants and trying to be professional, is to keep the top simple. However if you aren’t at work, treat those pants as a neutral and go crazy. Just do you!
Tuesday I brought out my favorite chartreuse a-line skirt from Eloquii. I paired it with a check patterned top from Target. the key to this look is to make the top strong enough to support such an unusual and bold color. A plain black top could come off thoughtless and make the look seem as if it was “missing something.” Introducing the subtle pattern makes the style sing and the boys go ooh la la.
On Wednesday I rocked my most favorite clearance rack find- my neon orange moto jacket from target- over a sleek black dress and leggings. To pull this look off, I relied on accessories to tie the deeply contrasting colors. This Oliver Bonas necklace did a rad job of bringing together two cross spectrum colors and made the pairing almost seem obvious.
When you travel, bringing your entire bejeweled caboodle filled of sparkle is not always option. I instead opt for clothing with interesting necklines and pizazz to make the look a stunner even with out my preferred amount of bling. Here I used this amazing secretary pussy bow blouse from Monif C and add a little of snazziness with this cheap yet elegant looking Charlotte Russe tulle skirt. It looks sassy, classy, and leaves nobody thinking “where’s the glint, Glitter?”
Today, I faced the reality that I needed to be comfortable and kept my color blocking look real… real simple. I paired this t-shirt dress with my go to Lola Getts leggings and the bomber jacket. I like that even though I am wearing the same jacket as Monday, changing up the color blocking helps the jacket feel fresh and unique.
So ladies and likely gay gents, that’s how I use color blocking to make the most out of my travel wardrobe. It’s s simple and fun way to make travel clothes stand out with out having to over pack or haul every accessory you own (even though I always want to). So get out there and get get get it poppin’ with some fun colors. It is summer after all!
Macaroons, croissants, wine and baguettes to you all! This week I’m blogging from the quaint cobblestone streets of Paris as I take on the city one board room at a time. In between fierce meetings (Buy! Sell! Buy! Buy!) I’m finding myself exploring this beautiful city as a flâneur (a person of leisure wandering the streets) and clearly brushing up on my French! My goal is that when I take the stage in a celebrity death match-style karaoke battle later this evening I won’t be told “tu chantes du yaourt” which literally translates to “you sing yogurt!” That’s apparently a French thing. Yogurt singers. While my French obviously needs a wee bit of brushing up, my French fashion style is on point! After many a fun trip to France for the work ( ooh I sound so fancy), I’ve become pretty aware of what makes Parisian women some of the most fashionable in the world. So grab your beret and your over-sized sunglasses because I am about to share with you five ways you can bring ze Parisian flair to your daily wear. Props to my lovely Parisian coworkers for being French, stylish, and willing to allow me to chase them with a camera.
Structured Pants:Many still consider Paris the fashion capital of the world and while we are often enthralled with what’s happening on the runway, the fashion on the streets can be just as notable. There’s a perception that French women rock the fancy frocks all the time, but the reality is that they want to be as comfortable in their day to day wear as you and I (sans yoga pants; sad face). The French love a good pair of trousers for their versatility and comfort level. The average lady on the street would much rather be in a nice pair of slacks coupled with a stylish top than to be dressed to the nines on a day to day basis.
Minimal Make-Up:When it comes to make-up, French women abide by the “less is more” philosophy, which also happens to be my personal philosophy on eating steamed carrots. In this theory, make-up should be nude and almost invisible, used to merely enhance your natural features yet not stand out on its own. The rare exception might be a pop of color on the lips for a little ooh la la man flirting. This way the only thing that should be standing out is the bootay!
A Fitted Staple Jacket: Another stand out wardrobe staple for the ladies of Paris is a well-cut jacket that is tailored to their body. Rather than having a closet full of jackets that almost fit, French women will spend the big bucks to have one or two jackets made especially for their body for daily wear. And with the versatility of a exceptionally tailored jacket they really get their money’s worth.
A Statement Scarf: French women love to spice up an outfit with a sassy neck scarf. With all the amazing fashion brands available in Paris, the scarf is the most financially accessible for the average person to add to their wares. In order to incorporate upscale elements into their outfit, French women rely on scarves to help show the season’s current trends without breaking the bank. It’s almost like French women invented the phrase “ballin on a budget!”
Neutral Palette: I have also found that French women dress in primarily neutral colors, especially black, to serve multiple purposes. Relying on nominal but thoughtful accessories to add interest to the look, French women can wear their neutral palette wardrobe in a variety of ways to make an expensive but minimal wardrobe serve any event. (Just beware of that powdered sugar on your delicious crepes! It will leave hand prints. And trust me, trying to lick them off does not work. )
You can combine these looks together or you can pick and choose different elements to create your own je ne sais quoi! Now, I am off to a power lunch with a street mime, a plate of cheese, and copious amounts of wine. It doesn’t get much Frenchier than that! Au revoir, chiennes!
Last night as I drifted off to sleep , I had a dream, nay, a vision if you will, of where to next. And what, pray tell, could have been so overwhelming that I am devoting today’s blog post to this nighttime reverie? Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg came to me in a gloriously unanticipated vision to inspire this little old blog of sparkle and sass. Yes, THAT Ruth Bader Ginsburg; the Justin Timberlake of the United States Supreme Court Justices, if you will. And let’s be real here; when The Notorious RBG comes to you in a dream, you listen!
AP Photo by Ron Edmonds
“Glitter, I’m tired of looking like a pile of sadness and cat hairballs in all my media photos. I’m a government official, sigh. I can’t just glam them up with snazzy accessories. God knows I’ve tried! But the sideways glances I’m already getting from Sotomayor as it is… What can I do to dramatically improve my photos?”
“You’ve come to the right place Ginsy…Can I call you Ginsy?…Too informal?… Ok good, Ginsy it is.”
And thus this little masterpiece was begun in the wee hours of the morning as I subconsciously tried to piece together how to improve on sweet ole Ginsy’s photo prowess. It was my civic duty to take her from shabby to “dayum gurl where’d you get that lace neckerchief from??” I narrowed my advice down to three main areas. So grab your closest bible and I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about my three easy tips to look your best in photos.
Personality is EVERYTHING in a photo
First and foremost, always let your personality shine through, whether it be through your eyes, your body language, or letting loose and just guffawing your way through a photo shoot. Nobody likes a one and done-er, not in the bedroom and definitely not in photos. Digital is amazing! It’s no longer like ye old days where you had to fork over cash for film, were limited to 24 photos and had to wait an eon for those little suckers to develop. Oh, no indeed. You can take 60 picture bursts at a time to hopefully grab that one picture that captures the essence of YOU. So go on have a little fun, be yourself, take some horrible photos for the chance of scoring that one epic shot. And when you find that one photo that showcases exactly how you feel inside, it’s quite possibly the best feeling in the world.
Pose your body to showcase your best ASSets
You put your right arm in, you put your right arm out…you know the drill! When it comes to showing your best self, maybe the Hokey Pokey IS what it’s all about. So take those body parts you feel uncomfortable with, whether it be your waist, chest, or arms, and push them ever so slightly away from the camera. Meanwhile, let’s accentuate the positive! Bring those body parts that you know will bring the heat towards the camera to feature them. Some features are hard to showcase this way, so if you have and amazing waist you want to flaunt, a careful hip pop and hands on your hips are great ways to further define those curves!
Seated pose? Lift dat booty!
Look, if you have to take a photo sitting down, this can often lead to what I like to refer to as the smooshed Tootsie Roll effect on your thighs. You know what I’m talking about; every kid has taken their delicious morsel of cylindrical chocolaty goodness and squished it down until it was flat. This is appealing as a candy but dangerous in photos. Nobody’s photo aspirations include showcasing their thighs in this pancake state. The only flapjacks a girl wants are on a plate. With butter. And Syrup. And some fresh Berries. Awe hell, throw in the cream. If you find yourself in this situation never fear! I’ve taken to using a yoga trick that has worked wonders in my seated positions. Grab the closest seat back pillow and ever so subtly slide it under your backside. This will force you to sit a little bit straighter, and at the same time prevent that Denny’s midnight special thigh look we would all want to avoid. It’s a win/win sitch!
Remember, white is one of the hardest colors to photograph in, especially on a plus sized gal like myself. However, I just followed the three simple steps listed above to make things work even in the most difficult of filming situations. So say a special thank you to Justice Ginsburg, for making this post possible. Also, Ginsy, can you please stop making guest appearances in my dream world? That precious time is best devoted to the likes of sexy, Glitter adoring man meat.
Sometimes it’s overwhelming how expensive looking like a stellar, like a street rockstar, can be. Ok. Well. Erm. Am I the only one who suffers from what I like to call “peanutbutterandjellyitis”? You know the disease, the one you get when you splurge on that expensive piece and you’re so broke that have to spend the rest of month eating off brand peanut butter and jelly. Either way, over the years I’ve had to get creative on how make things work on a budget. One little style trick has always seemed helped me weather the style storm- a trusty scarf. Scarves come in tons of styles: summer scarves, square scarfs, those tiny don’t fit round my big ole head scarfs, neck scarves, those supposed to wrap around my waist and be a skirt but never seem to work out scarves. However, one thing they have in common, regardless of the size, is the uncanny ability to pump up your outfit and make a dowdy dress, daring.
You might be asking, how do I wear a headscarf, Glitter? Fear not! I took a little time and made a video of my 7 favorite ways to wear a scarf on yo’ head The truth is there are wayyyyy my more ways to work that silk, catwalk in that cotton, prancersize in that polyester square, but people apparently don’t like infinitely long videos of people babbling about how to do things. I can’t even imagine why!
Look one: This tutu is for a fun night out that you probably wont remember in the morning. Forever21 crop top topped with a Sejour print bomber paired with vintage accessories and chucks.
The other night I had some drinks. And by had some drinks, let’s just say I was “high-fiving strangers and inventing new dance moves that later get turned into animated gifs by your friends” drunk. When one gets to this special place, we sometimes come upon “great ideas.” My great idea was that I desperately needed tutus, that this was going to be my thing, and that one would not not be enough to fulfill my my tutu wearing fantasies. A couple of drunken amazon clicks later, I passed out and life moved on…. Until the following Monday. Two tutus show up, that I don’t remember purchasing and I have no idea what I going to do with. Does this feel like a poorly written sitcom? If I added sound effects would it take it the next level and maybe get pick up on ABC Family?
Look two: Stand out at a party by laying two different colored tutus ( black tutu is Charlotte Russe plus) and pairing with a simple crepe black top from forever 21. Top off the look with bold boutique jewelry + Cole Haan wedges.
So I put two fingers in the air and I played around with said tutus (score the red on here) and I came up with so many ideas. I forced myself to pair down and stick to a theme (red and black). You’ll see my four looks pepper through here, but trust me I had so much fun I am sure I could have come up with waaaay more.
Play time helped me arrive at some legit tutu related conclusions in addition to these super sassy photo montages. Read on little chickadees, and get ready for just how to add a little tulle to your today wear.
Look three: I paired my favorite t-shirt with a chambray short sleeve shirt and my tutu. Look is accented by red crocodile leather, bedazzled cheetah earrings, Cole Haan shoes and a serious attitude problem.
1. It’s just a skirt. Remember regardless of it’s fluffiness, a tutu is really just a skirt. If you have a red tutu (like the one I used in this shoot) try to think of it as just another red, swing skirt. This will push you to try new things.
2. Let the tutu be the star. It’s easy to over style a tutu. It’s tempting. It’s just a ball of fun, and you want to just throw bling and sparkles and all other manner of shit at it. However the skirt is the statement, so resist the urge to over do it.
3.Leggings are your best friend. Let’s be real here, tutus can be pretty damn see through, so plan to wear biker shorts or leggings under a skirt if you want to have a tutu moment. Or commit to that whole exposed nether regions, Hollywood look.
4. Experiment with placement. Looks that appear awful when the skirt is worn at the waist, might just look awesome when the skirt is worn just below the bust. The same is true with the hips. Make sure to give yourself some time to figure out what works best for your shape and the styling.
5. Confidence is key. If you wear a tutu skirt and constantly tell people its a tutu skirt and that you feel awkward, then it simply wont work. If you stand proud with a “damn I look good” smile, people are going to think the same. Plus they’ll probably comment on how they wish they could be as bold as you and how sexy-sassy-fierce-awesome you look.
6. Have Fun. It’s a mother effing tutu, not divorce court. Everyone should own a piece of fashion that makes them feel like their playing dress up. IMHO, Tutus are like the unopposed president of that “fun” category. It’s not rocket science. Put on that tutu. Rock some sweet sweet jams. Play around with your clothes. Taylor swift and your self esteem will love you for it.
Look four: A tutu refuses to be seasonal. This winter look pairs an over-sized sweater and leggings from Old Navy with the shirt. Topped with an Irregular Choice scarf, vintage jewelry, and red pumps from New Look.
Over the last few weeks I have seen a lot of bloggers, magazines and gossip sites drop their 2015 “best swimsuits for you body type” guides. Of course I started consuming these like a rabid beast who hasn’t eaten in months. Duh, because I too wanted to write one of these “so you want to look like a sexy as shut-yo-mouth in a swimsuit” posts. I’m soooo trendy.
But the more I read, the more livid I got. All I got from reading these posts was a huge dose of “your body sucks, here’s how to make it less sucky.” Nearly every post focused on aspiring to some sort of ideal beauty standard that a lonely caveman came up with to sell rocks many moons ago. None of them celebrated the differences in our bodies. None of them allowed me to be educated enough to make my own choices on what I accented + hid. None of them were particularly inspiring. Sigh.
So I fixed it. Well I tried to. I spent probably about 10 hours researching and reading all of this bullshit. I boiled down all the oppressive body talk, pulled out those little nuggets of truth, rewrote it to be factual instead of loaded with “opinions” and categorized it. I The result is what I like to call the #bodypositive swimsuit guide.
Pick the body part, and select whether you want to diminish or accentuate. YOU [not some internet fashion a-hole] are in full control. No glossy magazine is standing by to tell you to hide your gorgeous grandiose gluteus maximus, or to cover up your curvacious cantelopes. You just do you girl. Because doing you, that’s where the real sexy is at.
Edit: A few feel I am advocating for obesity with this guide. This is a size neutral guide. In reading posts, women with toned and athletic bodies (ie the most fit) were still shamed into feeling their body wasn’t ideal. So were petite women, women with wide shoulders, women with chests, and butts. Basically all women. It’s a shame that because I am plus size and open to showing my body with out shame, that some discredit the value of my ideas and thoughts.
I do believe women should be happy whatever size they are, but have a responsibility to continually improve themselves. That improvement includes optimizing the mind, body and heart. Some people’s challenges are more visible than others. I don’t advocate any “state” because I understand that we are all progressing to our own definition of ideal. I don’t have the right or desire to try and control or comment on what any other person’s goal of perfect is. I am busy enough getting my own shit together. If you want to know what I am striving to improve, read some other posts. Peace.
