What were you thinking???

wow.. I can't... I mean.. ::head desk::

Footwear follies

Since moving to the Tennessee I have discovered the weather here is drastically different!

style flashback: 80's tv edition

Today I was browsing modcloth and I had a clothing flashback

The Bird and the Bee: Part 2 The Reply

Hi friends.
I got a reply to my email from this post.

The Bird and the Bee: GB wrap up

Hello friends!

I am on the cusp of the end of my trial with Gwynnie Bee, as you saw over my last few posts I have been less than thrilled with my trial.
So today I wrote them an email about my experience it reads as follows:

The Bee: part 3

Third dress arrived from Gwynnie Bee, And while it is pretty and more casual, it really wasn't good for me.

Clothing I love

(this is a personal opinion: I have not been offered anything to give this opinion. This message is not sponsored in any way shape or form. But if these fine brands wants to throw some plus size stuff my way, I wont say no.. just saying!)
Hi friends, Sorry I have been gone so long.

Today I am going to dish about some clothing.

Complaint Department: seatcover edition

This is the post where I talk about my underpants..
If you do not want to know about my bloomers, I suggest you walk on.

Skirts, boots, dresses.. and Pasta?

The clothes from my previous post The Naughty List arrived.
I have been wearing the blue skirt at least once a week. okay i'll be honest, I wear it to work once a week, but then I wear it at home way more often.
Its blissfully soft, blue and has an odd hem. In short almost perfect. There is an odd bit on the trim that sits funny, but I am willing to ignore it.

the helladays

Happy almost whatever winter holiday..

I really dislike the whole holiday hell that follows thanksgiving Halloween.
I have since I was about 10. Mostly its all the people who normally durring the year when out shopping can be rude but it seems to increase 10x in the winter. Not a fan.
Plus it is almost impossible to avoid christmas music in stores.
I saved myself some shopping pain, and did 99% of my shopping on amazon (with prime).

This year I have also been graced with a magical chest/sinus cold. It's special.
I have cement in my nose and gunk in my chest. A lovely raspy voice and interesting colored mucus.
Yes, I am just bursting at the seams with holiday cheer.

alight.com review Q&A 2.5

In my last post, I had a reader ask me to review my experiences with alight.com .
This is just my opinion and experience. Alight.com has not offered me anything to give my opinion. (however if they want to kick down a gift card or something I wouldn't say no)
If someone who reads this has any of these dresses, and they are in good condition, in a 3x or 4x, 24 or 26, please hit me up!

I own a sum total of three dresses from alight they are:

"Modern age dress" by: mlle gabrielle (2006?)

I adore this dress! its a very soft cotton. It has washed well and worn hard. I think I might have lost a button at some point. but that was my fault not the dress. i would really like to see this style come back. At the time I bought this dress there were two others that had a similar cut to them. But since the dress was like $50 I couldn't afford them too. I will include the photos so you can drool too.

old fashion orange dress

hue bet

This is my power dress! It was called "the big time dress" by sele

I can't express how well this dress has lasted. It looks just as good as the day I received it.

And I wear this dress a lot! I wash it and hang it to dry. This dress was purchased in 2008 I believe.

Now I own this Blue plate dress (4x) in a different color, that I then dyed purple-ish. 

but I thrifted it. therefore I did not got it directly from alight

It too seems well made. Also cotton, and very soft. almost gauzy.

So my review is this:

The clothing I have, are all very well constructed! 

They wash and wear just fine. So durable, yes!

Sizing: it depends on the brand (like all clothing). But I would say the sizing is fairly consistent. I can wear anywhere from a 3x up to a size 28. 

Alight provides the measurements for a 1x in most items, rule of thumb is to increase each size by about two inches (example: 1x has a 42 bust, a 2x would have a 44 bust.. and so on.)

They also have brand specific size information. This is very helpful!

Only down side: is the price of the clothing. 

I however feel that the quality of the clothing is fair to the price they charge. It's a toss up.

I hope this was helpful! 

Raven

PS: if my readers have any more questions, things they want me to review, or topics they would like me to cover; Please leave a comment. Or you can email me directly.

We Have Winner! (dixie belle lingerie slip giveaway pt. 2)

Yes ladies we have a winner!

I would like to thank everyone who entered.
All of the comments and likes were amazing. Nice to know that someone other than my mom reads this little snark filled blog.

I will cut to the chase out fabulous winner is:Gail 
(I redrew the winner, due to other person no contacting me.. and yes I emailed them)
::trumpets sound::

You will be rocking the ever popular and sexy #04514 (you lucky thing you)

A very big thank you to our sponsor Dixie Belle Lingerie, Without whom I wouldn't have had something so great to give away.

Please do check out their slips and undies. 
(they have a pretty new web site! go check it out.. I'll wait)
I have been amazed by their fit, and value. I can only hope you will be too.


much love

Raven

Plus size Tripp!

(this is a personal experience/opinion: I have not been offered anything to give this opinion. This message is not sponsored in any way shape or form. But if Tripp NYC wants to throw some plus size stuff my way, I wont say no.. just saying!)

I just wanted to pass it on to anyone else who might interested in buying plus sized tripp things.

I wrote an inquiry to Tripp NYC, Because I love their combination of style, fit and quality of merchandise (I own pieces that are over 7 years old and are still as nice as the day I bought them, even with regular wear and washing). Because of this, I always want the opportunity to own more of their clothing and I know I am not the only person who is peeved at torrid for no longer having Tripp NYC clothing in plus sizes available.


My message:


I am writing to inquire, whom if anyone carries your plus size line? Other than Torrid (as they seem to no longer have your items in stock). or hottopic (their sizing is either listed incorrectly or they aren't straight sizes). Thank you in advance for any help.


It took a few days for a reply, However a REAL person wrote me back!




Tripp NYC's Response:

Thank you for contacting Tripp NYC, we appreciate you reaching out to us! All of our currently available plus size clothing can be found at our retail store http://www.trashandvaudeville.com/, and we are working on having some more items available soon!

Thanks & have a great day!



I took a look, and as of this afternoon (8-1) they have 3 dresses ($40-$70) and one skirt ($80) (some to a size 28/30)


I think it's awesome!
If you like tripp clothing please, show them some love and buy their wares.
Like any store I can only imagine demand will = more styles.


Raven



PS: Incase Tripp NYC does read this, I want that skirt! and the black poison dress.. size 26 or 4x!

Thanks!!  I wouldn't say no to anything you might want to throw my way.. (not that this is likely to happen, but you never know)

 

trials of thrifting

I buy the bulk of my clothing used.
 most of it cames from local thrift stores, an online swap, or general fat fashion community and naturally the biggest garage sale of them all Ebay.

Most of the time I find really great things at very affordable prices.  And that my dears is the double whammy for any fat girl who wants cute clothes.

But there are a few down sides. One of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to Ebay, People don't seem to wash the clothes before they sell it!

I just got a very awesome pinstripe button front tripp vest :

exhibit A

Soon as it got delivered, I whipped that puppy out of the mailer envelope and tried it on.
Looked in the mirror to see the fit, and what might need to be adjusted.. and then the smell hit me.
It stinks of stale cigarette smoke, and really cheep floral perfume. A combo that is beyond foul when mixed together! It smells so unbelievably skanky; just sooo wrong!

Now I admit I smoke (cloves.. don't judge! or call me goth.), and I like to wear perfume.
However any time I have sold clothing I wash that stuff! Namely so you (or whomever buys it) would never be able to tell: A) what I smoke and B) what perfume I like to wear.

Most online communities that cater to swapping or selling clothes have serious rules about clothes that smell and or have pet hair, thankfully. (a thing ebay could use!)

I expect when I get clothes from a thrift store to smell like the odd industrial soap they use. No big deal.. but stuff that came from a persons home that stinks.. eew just eew!

I don't know if I should lower the rating for this purchase,  I feel like I should. I did pay like $11 for shipping, least they could have done is send it through the washer.

Thoughts, feelings, horror stories you care to share??


Wash your clothes people!

**grumbles**


PS: I thought of a name for the smell!  introducing : Skank Stank (the next new perfume from some completely lame celebrity. More than likely from some reality TV show)

Multi- review

Okay so normally I don't review things I buy weather it is clothes or fabric but today I feel the need to gush. bear with me.


I've been running around for the past two weeks trying to finish getting ready for burning man. I've been sewing pants and a fur hooded vest (sans pattern) for my dude and trying to make a jacket for me.. And that brings me to my first review!


a Burda style pattern:   burda style magazine 02-2010 cropped wide lapel jacket
I really do like this jacket.  After an hour or so of cutting and taping the patter pieces (it's a print at home deal) I went on my merry way to make a up sized mock up...

sadly the pattern instructions blow goats.

Maybe I am just spoiled with american patterns having detailed instructions with drawings to show what the company means (much less showing and marking things like darts).. 

I also have a problem with their limited sizing on most of their patterns. I had to up size this one about 8 inches over all to fit me properly. I still haven't started the jacket due to not wanting to waste the cool hot pink fabric I bought for the coat (but I do have a somewhat complete muslin mock up..) I do not like being scared of a pattern! But this one gives me a splitting head ache. I even had to write to both Burda and the amazing Psycho Sue for help (Sue was the more helpful of the two; she rocks (literally), so not such a surprise that she would give better advise).

I'd also like to add that the whole burda website isn't super user friendly. So take what you want from that statement.

Due to pattern fail I've been scrambling for cool clothes to take with me. That brings us to Review #2:

 I found some very nice thing at wet seal in the juniors plus section online. I was happy that their prices weren't bad overall. 

I bought 2 obnoxious skirts and a soft bra type thingy. 

The very nifty teal, yellow and black zebra skirt fits me loosely at a 3x bit is comfortable at the same time so no complaint on sizing what so ever. It has good stretch and length to it despite looking uber short. Personally i'll be wearing cropped leggings under it so doesn't matter how short it is, but just saying. I also Dig the big waistband on it, as you can fold it if you want it to be smaller and it wont look weird.

Second skirt has all the charm of the zebra skirt, this pink leopard with its loose but comfortable fit, and again the large waistband is good for folding to sit lower. This has the added bonus of also being a longer skirt overall. It hits me right at my knee bend,but I am only 5 foot six inches.. However I don't see the length being an issue for those lucky enough to be taller than I am. The pink is a tad brighter in person, and in my case that was a plus!  

Lastly I bought a soft bra type thing.. I was unsure what top size to buy so I got a 2x, originally when I took it from the box I didn't think it would fit. It looked very small indeed. I was amazed by how much it stretched, and it ended up fitting me perfectly!  It has the extra bonus of having small molded cups inside so when I wear it you can't tell if i'm cold or not. woohoo! 

Normally I am weary of buying clothes from places I haven't shopped online before, and I haven't had a lot of luck with the slew of new places that say they carry a 3x, for it really only to be a size 18.. I was thrilled with wet seal and their sizing. The quality of the clothes for the price is darn good! I'm going to see how well they survive burning man, but that isn't normal everyday wear and tear.

And that my dears is my opinion!

till next time, i'll be chained to my sewing machine then off playing on the playa!

Kisses,

Raven