My new favorite- Denim Pencil Skirt!

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Happy Friday, Fashionistas!

It has been an amazing and busy week, and I'm so excited to share with you how much I'm LOH-VING that Fall Fashion is right around the corner! I'm a Midwest girl, so I love when the seasons change and I get to wear all my cute Fall/Winter jackets, my knee high boots, and all of my fave fuzzy sweaters.

One of my 'tried and true' fashion items that I love to wear ALL year long, is a great-fitting pencil skirt like this one I got from Gwynnie Bee. With the right skirt? You can pair it with a tank top in the summer, throw a jacket and a blouse over it for Fall, and wear it with thick tights and a plush sweater in the winter. There's no limit to your options! (Hm, I think I just got an idea for one of my next 'RajdulariStyle' blog posts! ;))

Scroll down to read all about THIS pencil skirt I'm crushing on,

and my full outfit details below!

 

P.S. This post is sponsored by Gwynnie Bee, and all pics (except for 1) are courtesy of Ryan Landell

When I saw this skirt on Gwynnie Bee's site, I knew I had to have it! Even though it has a denim look, the material is SOO soft and has great stretch and give for my hips. I just could imagine wearing it with so many different outfits!

Check out the pic below. I love how it looks on the taller model (who is probably close to 6ft tall?), and you can also see how it fits my curvy 5'3" frame.

Sometimes it helps to see how a garment will fit on a petite curvy model,

and not just on the tall ones, am I right? ;)

Try. Wear. Love. Repeat. Free Shipping. Unlimited Fashion. Sizes 10-32. Start Your Free Trial

For my accessories, I chose these beautiful earrings I got from Rustic Tavern in Ft Collins at the DenverStyle Magazine event I attended a while back. (Unfortunately I bought the eagle feather ring years ago, and can't remember where.) 

And for the PUMPS, hunney, scroll down!

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Nine West Tatiana Pumps

Loved these heels so much, I had to give them a special shout out! (Details below)

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...Look Details...

Top: Philosophy (Nordstrom Rack)

Skirt: AdditionElle via Gwynnie Bee

Shoes: Nine West

Earrings: RusticThread

What I love about Gwynnie Bee's Service

..that I don't experience with other 'home mail' subscription services, is that I don't have a time frame to send things back. I can wear, re-wear, and hold on to a garment for as long as I want and they don't force me to make a decision instantly, or buy anything they send! It's awesome, especially if I have events coming up, and I need a few looks without feeling like I have to decide RIGHT AWAY and pay for everything at once. (Of course, I love it so much that I still end up buying just about everything, but that's because they have great fashion AND I'm a shopaholic, lol!)

I HIGHLY recommend this service, it's definitely increased the 'fun factor' in my wardrobe, and I'm sure it'll do the same for you! 

Want to try Gwynnie Bee's service? Just click on the banner below!

Try. Wear. Love. Repeat. Free Shipping. Unlimited Fashion. Sizes 10-32. Start Your Free Trial

As always, thanks for reading my articles, Fashionistas! Like this one?

Please SHARE it with all of your fashionable friends!

Want to see me do an article on the joys of pencil skirts and the many ways you can style them? Sign off in the comments below!

Dance among the Sunflowers....

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Happy Wednesday, Fashionistas!

Photographer Ryan Landell and I had an amazing time discovering the Sunflower Fields in Commerce City, Colorado a few weeks ago. :)

This week is alll about my love for this new ruffled-sleeve blouse I found (at Target, no less!), and these super soft jeans I picked up from Macy's. Read on for details about the look below!

My Trend for Fall:

Feminine Lace and Soft Fabrics

During the Spring and Summer, I love to wear as little as possible on my skin, and wear flowy dresses as much as possible. 

However, I'm still a Midwest Girl at heart. I LOVE the change of the seasons. Love the crisp cool air in the Fall, and I always feel like the first snowfall night is the most romantic night of the year.

What I DON'T like about Fall & Winter, though, is the scratchy fabrics and the layers of clothing we have to wear for months at a time. For example, wool itches me to no end. But I have to wear it because I get super cold in the winter.

So, my goal this year? Is to find the softest sweaters and pants to layer me up without causing irritation to my skin. That way, I can be nice and warm, and comfy too. ;)

These pants that I found from Macy's are just the perfect solution to that problem! They're super duper soft. They hug the curves but don't constrict my body. And they're nice and warm and can be worn alone or with tights underneath. A win-win!

How do YOU prepare your Fall & Winter wardrobe, Fashionista? Sound off in the comments below! I'd love to try out YOUR suggestions too!

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...Look Details...

Top: Merona via Target

Skinny Jeans: Celebrity Pink (similar here)

Shoes: DreamPairs

Sunglasses: Cira, LTD

 

 

(all pics cc: Photographer Ryan Landell)

Take Time to Smell the Sunflowers....

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Happy Wednesday, Fashionistas!

Given all that's going on in our world today, (from the political climate, to each of us just doing our best to make ends meet), when's the last time you took a moment to 'stop and smell the roses'? (Scroll down for details about this look!)

This post is sponsored by StitchFix, & all images provided courtesy of Landell Original.

'When God made the color 'yellow' he was showing off'...

Last weekend, my photographer Ryan Landell mentioned to me that he wanted to travel out to shoot in a sunflower field near Commerce City, Colorado...

It was a lonnng drive on a dusty red dirt road, on a hot sunny day, so I was a bit skeptical of what we'd find when we got there. 

But, my goodness, when we pulled up and saw this gorgeous never-ending field of sunflowers? It instantly made my heart smile, and made the long trip ohhhh so worth it.

Standing there, in the middle of that quiet gorgeous field, I was reminded about how important it is to stop, quiet the chaos around you, and truly embrace the beauty of nature. Even if you only do it once in a while? It can truly be a restorative and healing process, and soooo good for the soul..

Immediately when I saw the field, I thought of that quote in "The Color Purple", about how it ticks God off if you walk by the color purple in a field and you don't acknowledge it's beauty... ;)

Click the image below to watch one of my fave quotes from that movie!

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'More'n anything, God love admiration'...

-Shug Avery, Color Purple

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...Look Details...

Dress: CityChic via StitchFix

Shoes & Sunglasses: Cira Ltd

Bag: Gianni Bernini

What do you think of this article, Fashionistas?

Have YOU taken time out to smell the flowers lately?

Sound off in the comments below. Would love to hear what you think of this look!

This post is sponsored by Stitch Fix. All pics courtesy of Landell Original.

So, I went to my first DenverStyle Magazine event...

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Happy Wednesday, Fashionistas!

Recently, I'd heard that Denver Style Magazine was going to be hosting a Summer Mix + Mingle event in Fort Collins at a clothing boutique called Rustic Thread. The event was on a Saturday, so Ryan Landell and I packed up the car and took the 90-minute drive from Denver to check it out and do some networking!

It was great meeting the owners of DSM; Editor-in-Chief Heather Okimoto & COO/Co-Founder Kelsey Bigelow. They are two women who founded the magazine here in Denver just a few years ago, in 2014, and have been working diligently to elevate their platform and grow the magazine through their community events, print magazines, and partnerships with various boutiques and designers in the Colorado area. I truly enjoyed meeting these women, and I was inspired by their drive to fill a fashion void that they saw that was missing here in the city.

And...while I truly enjoyed meeting the owners of Denver Style Magazine- and attending their fashion event- there WAS one thing I was disappointed about, that I noticed as soon as I started shopping....

One thing that I've seen over and over again at each fashion event I've attended since moving to Denver:

None of the boutiques I visited had ANY offerings of clothing for my Plus Sized/Curvy readers... Not one... 

In fact, the highest size I could find in each boutique I visited was a 'Large'. 

Now, Colorado....you know good and well 

there are tons of us Plus Sized Fashionistas living here...

And while I know that we are making significant strides in the fashion world to be more inclusive of sizes, it's disappointing to me-as a stylish Plus Woman and a new resident in Denver- to consistently attend these shopping events where no one thinks to offer plus options to their consumers who may be in attendance.

So, how do we fix this?

I'm new to this area. And, I'm new to the fashion world as a blogger too. But, if you know me, you know it's hard for me to stand idly by and just accept that my new city- this beautiful Denver that I've fallen in love with- is not going to provide fashionable offerings to me and my fellow plus consumers...

So, what can I do about it?

My plan is to reach out to Denver Style Magazine, and other fashion boutiques in the area, and to petition them to create more events that support more inclusive fashion & extended sizes. Does this mean that every one has to offer plus sizes in every boutique? Of course not. But, if you are going to offer fashion events for ALL, shouldn't our curvy sisters be included in the style conversation? (of course we should!)

My hope is that boutiques, designers, & fashion houses in the Denver area will realize that they are missing out on a HUGE market. By not offering options for curvy women, you are essentially losing out on millions of dollars in potential revenue.

(Yes, I said millions. We curvygirls like to shop too. ;)).

And, the biggest piece in all of this -that these straight-size fashion houses may not understand- is the FEELING that a plus woman gets every time she walks into your store, sees ALL of the pretty things you have to offer, and then feels the disappointment once she realizes that none of the clothing in your store has been curated with her in mind...

All of this being said, I am truly hoping that in the future we'll start to see more fashion offerings by and for EVERY woman -not just the fashionistas who fit in sizes from XS-Large- and that Denver's 'Style' community by and large will be hosting more size-inclusive events.

Fingers crossed, Fashionistas. I will keep you posted on any developments. ;)

(Scroll down for details about my look this week!)

Dear Gwynnie Bee, you sure do know how to dress a girl. ;)

...Look Details..

Dress: Jessica Howard (courtesy of Gwynnie Bee)

Bag: Gianni Bernini

Shoes: Dream Pairs

Sunglasses: Toms (similar here)

 

(all pics in this article courtesy of Ryan Landell)

What did you think of my event recap, Fashionista? Did you like this article?

Do you live in Denver, are you PLUS-sized, and have you had a similar shopping experience?

Sound off in the comments below!

In love with this dramatic Eloquii top!

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When you embrace your own style

and what makes YOU unique? Trends become irrelevant..

 

(Photography & Styling by Ryan Landell)

Happy Wednesday Fashionistas!

Don't you just LOVE a beautiful dramatic off-the-shoulder top?

I'm addicted to this one from Eloquii, and I felt like a true diva wearing it!

(Scroll down for full outfit details.)

For this look, we paired the top with a curve-hugging pencil skirt and my new favorite gold pointy-toe pumps,

but you could also rock this with some skinny jeans and a pair of flats (making the top your statement piece),

or even with your favorite slacks for an extra-fab work look! 

How would YOU rock it, Fashionista?

Sound off in the comments below!

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...Look Details...

 

 

Top: Eloquii

Skirt: StitchFix

Shoes: Daya by Zendaya

Sunglasses: Wish.com

 

..photographed & styled by Ryan Landell