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Please check out the new Blog site rate and comment….

Hope to see you there

Love Peace and Curvyness

The Diva V

Ok I know its Tuesday but my internet is down right now so I am a day late

Any who on to our dress piece today from Tim Gunn..

DRESS PANTS: Although it doesn’t say black, this is probably what you want to look for. Black is flattering on all figures and goes with everything.

I love a good pair of dress pants, in neutral colors black, gray and brown.  They come in so handy I also have one pair of tuxedo pants this is not plus size, but it is from Spiegel.com $69.00.  But if you can only get one pair I say go for black or grey, a dark grey. Both are from Lane Bryant for $69.50 each

You want to go for a straight leg, no taper it will give you that lovely Ice Cream Cone effect and we know how sexy that is lol

If you have a tummy as most of us do, * God Bless the Curvy Girl with the flat tummy I so want to be you lol * If you have a tummy you want to steer clear of pleated front pants.  I know this is hard I my self am guilty of this. But pleats add volume and that is what we don’t want.  You want to get a straight leg, slightly long so when you wear heels * I know you Curvy Girl Divas love your heels * your pants will hit at the right spot.

If you can afford to get 2 pairs of dress pants I suggest getting one dark grey pair and a black tuxedo pair.

Now what to wear with the dress pants, the possibilities are endless.

I love a classic crisp white button down shirt *sorry no french cuffs on this one from LB $39.99* with French Cuffs *I am a cuff link junkie*  or a twin sweater set and a pair of loafer *yes I am preppy lol *

Any number of shirts, blouses, sweaters and/or camis would go great with the dress pants, add a blazer and your set for work.

Now if you are going out on the town, you can pair it with a sexy silk cami, light weight sweater shrug, some pearls *did I mention I love pearls* and your best pair of platform pumps and your ready to head out with your Honey and have a great time.

For a Semi-Formal Event you can wear the tuxedo pants, again the silk cami and a satin jacket, sparkly earrings and black satin heels and you are ready to do the damn thing.

The dress pant is a great piece to add to your wardrobe.

Let me know how you like to wear your dress pants

Love Peace and Curvy-ness

Cute Curve Girl V

Yes, my name is V and I am Addicted to Reality TV

I hate to admit it but I am.  I mostly watch the fashion and make-over shows like

• What Not to Wear…LOVE STACY AND CLINTON – airs on TLC
• How Do I Look …I miss Finola Hughes the old host – airs on Style
  
• Say Yes To This Dress…airs on TLC
• Project Runway….Love Tim Gunn he is my new BFF but he does not know it yet lol – airs on Lifetime

These are just a few of the ones I watch but they are the main ones that I make sure I catch every week.

The last one Project Runway which originally aired on Bravo TV  and is now on LifeTime.  Now that P.R. is on LifeTime, Bravo seems to be looking for it’s replacement.  They have had two shows so far, The Fashion Show …Isaac Mizrahi,  Fern Mallis, and Kelly Rowland where the judges of the show.  While I adore Isaac and Fern, every week I watched I wondered why Kelly Rowland was on the show…she was ‘eh at best.

The show was ok but most of us who watched were hopeing it would have the same spark as Project Runway has…and of course it did not.

Currently airing on Bravo TV is Launch My Line , where Dean & Dan Caten who are D2, along with Lisa Kline &Stefani Greenfield are the other two judges.  This show is a bit far fetched for me.  You have people who have no sewing experience or background as the designers and experts who do the sewing and guidance to help them launch their line.

I am feeling this show less than The Fashion Show.

Bravo needs to beg, bow, scrape, etc to get PR back on Bravo, because the two shows that they have put out have not come close to PR.

And yes I know it will not be the same but, you don’t even find your self liking most of these designers on this show.  While Project Runway exposed you to stuff you could wear every day, and some really out there stuff, the items and challenges on the two new shows were just a bit far fetched for my tastes.  Not to mention I think the twins from D2 are a bit annoying, and too over the top.

While most of us who watch PR love and adore Michael Kors, and love to hate Nina Garcia, we (at least me) learn something from the show.  Be it a new designer, or some history or just something (like who Fern Mallis is) I don’t feel these other shows do that.

Maybe I am expecting too much from them, and unfairly judging them.  I will continue to watch the fashion reality shows that Bravo puts out in hopes that they can hit PR Gold again.

Sssooo my Fashion Followers…what do you all think?

Let me know if am being too harsh lol

Love, Peace and Curvy-ness

Curvy Girl V

ATTENTION

TO MY CURVY GIRLS

MY THIN GIRLS

TO EVERYONE

Please, Please, Please for the love of all that is holy….Can we please make a pack in 2010 to wear the correct and proper foundation garments?  PLEASE?

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HISTORICAL TYPE STUFF

Now let’s start with the basics of what a foundation is, I got this from Wikipedia:

A foundation garment (also known as shape wear or shaping underwear) is an undergarment designed to temporarily alter the wearer’s body shape, to achieve a more fashionable figure. The function of a foundation garment is not to enhance a bodily feature (as would, for example, a padded bra) but to smooth or control the display of one.

Specific styles of foundation garments have been essential to some fashion movements, and required in some social situations in various fashion periods, particularly but not exclusively for women. Garments may be categorized according to level or shape control offered – for instance, light, medium or firm. The simplest foundation is a body-liner or bodysuit, which are an ultra-light-weight leotards, and offers a light touch of smoothing. These are available in a unitard style (shortened legs) or a camisole-leotard style. The leotard offers greater control from a body-liner, and is available in boy-leg and capri-leg lengths, with spaghetti straps, low cut necklines, and even scoop backs, to cater for the outer wear under which the garments will be worn. These softly smooth the figure and provide light support. Micro-fiber camisoles and boy-leg briefs or “hot pants” are also available. Girdles are often called “body shapers” or “contour garments”. These garments are made with much more Lycra spandex than the 10% lycra / 90% cotton blend of most leotards, and they offer the highest level of shaping and support.

Basically to look your best and for your clothes to hang properly and give you the best shape you need the right foundation. * can you tell this is irking me lol *   They are just that the foundation to a great look, just like a building needs a strong foundation, your clothes need a strong foundation.

Here is a list of the different types of foundations:

• Bodysuits
• Brassieres
• Corsets
• Control briefs
• Garter belts
• Girdles
• BodyBriefers
• Control Slips
• Control Camisoles

I will do a weekly series of  different foundations  Please check our your local department store or even Walmart for different foundations you will be amazed at what you can find there and how much it will make a difference in how your clothes look.

I bet you thought I was going to talk about baseball lol NOT!!

Love Peace and Curvy-ness…..

V

I will blog about the pieces every Curvy Girl needs in her closet

I am going to start off using Tim Gunn’s 10 Essentials Guide

I did the Black dress so whats next?

2. Trench Coat - The trench coat is one of the pieces that is both classic and currently a hot fashion item. Most any store sells this piece now. It is great for fall and you can pick it up in a wide range of lengths.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE  a Good Trench Coat

I have 3

My very first was out of college after my first real job I had to have a London Fog Trench, mine is to the ankles with a zip out lining I LOVE THIS COAT.  I wear it mostly in the Spring, it looks something like this one from the London Fog Site

But this coat is not plus but it is in Missy and Petite cost $99.00  It is a single breasted, i love both single and double breasted, but if you are on the busty side you might want to opt for the single breasted look.  This Trench is great for windy places like Chicago and Baltimore, helps to keep your legs warm when you have on a skirt or dress or even dress slacks which never seem to be warm enough.

Now they do have this coat in Plus $109.99

I love a Belted Trench to show off Yes i have a Waist!!!!!

This is a double breasted car length coat that can be dressed up or down, great for going to work or even jeans

I also like to Toss a scarf around my neck for a pop of color

Like this one I found on fashion scarves and shawls

Ok so sue me i love fringe lol this scarf is $33.95

I have a collection of scarves and shawls, some are vintage, I received from my late Granny Marie

They are a great way to add some color to a neutral coat or outfit, you can tie it around your neck or on your shoulder bag This is just for representation sake.  But i love this look

If you are a bit more daring and LOVE color you can go for a RED!!!! Trench like this London Fog *yes i know its an illness* lol

This Trench is Car Length great to be dressed up or down, great with pants also and has that bold statement color, it is single breasted and again you can belt it at the waist or not.  Cost is $109.99

Here are some High and Lower End Trench Coats and where you can find them:

From Bloomies Hillary Radley $435

You can never go wrong with Classic Black and again use accessories to add pops of color

The O Overstock.com a Leather Trench $219.99:

Lane Bryant.com Plum Trench on Sale $59.75:

A great time to catch these timeless classics is at the end of Spring when they generally go on sale, or check out TJ Maxx, Syms *which is so great for business wear*,and Filenes Basement These are just a few of the bargin spots where you can get a great coat at a steal of a price….

So my Curvy Girls…What do you like to pair with your Trench? What kind of Trench Do you like?

Let me know Curvy Girls…..

Coming Next Mode Monday:

Dress Pants

Til Next Monday…Stay Cute and Curvy….

V

2010…..

I hope everyone has a bless  and successful 2010

I hung out with one of my OES Chapter Sisters last night for NYE

I had on one of my Black Dresses

can i say Ciroc is evil…. just evil lol

here are a few pics

I this man so much

His book A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style which describes the 10 Essential Items:

1. Basic Black Dress -
2. Trench Coat -
   
3. Dress Pants -
   
4. Classic Shirt -
   
5. Jeans -
   
6. Any Occasion Top -
7. Skirt -
   
8. Day Dress -
9. Jacket -
   
10. Sweatsuit Alternative -
    

Bonus: One Indulgent Trendy Item

Tonight i am going to talk about the 1st one, the Black Dress or as many of us Ladies call them the LBD the Little Black Dress

I found this pic of Tim online holding up a LBD Clearly this dress was not meant for a Curvy Girl….the spagetti straps alone would nix it for most of us.

Now me I Love Love Love a Sheath Dress on me and a Curvy Girls

This is a cute lace sheath dress that can be dressed up or down, put a blazer over it for the office, or going out a cute little shrug , and Pearls.  I don’t know what it is about a LBD that i just have to have some pearls with it

This dress is from Lane Bryant $79.50 Pearls from Target $39.99

Another classic LBD

From OneStopPlus.com $39.99

This is a great dress, it is knit with an empire waist and 3/4 sleeves for those that don’t want to show their arms.  Great again for work  or a night out with the girls add a pop of color by adding a belt

from Amazon.com $12.99 on sale

To my Curvy Divas go out have fun and enjoy looking for the Perfect Little Black Dress, here are a few other styles, i will list the websites below

Monif C

Kiyonna

So Cute Curvy Girls send me your pics of your LBD….I will post up pics of mine soon

Love & Peace

Cute Curvy Girl V

VIOLA P. MOORE – My Paternal Grandmother

Grandma or Mommi Vi as some of her grandkids called her was before her time.  She knew how to sew, crochet, etc.  She was an educator married to an eye doc *my grandfather * my grandmother was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., To give you some back ground info about Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.  They were founded in 1908 on the campus of Howard University. They are the first collegiate sorority for women of color, for more information on this great organization please visit their website by clicking here.   No i am not a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha.

Back to Grandma, was a different kind of woman of color.  I believe if she had grown up now she would have been a lawyer and not an educator.  She was an english teacher then a librarian, she held both a bachelor’s degree and a masters degree.  But to me she was just grandma, the woman i looked up to style and diva wise.  She first exposed me to Marshall FieldsField’s is now Macy’s *boo hiss* Any who I HEART Marshall Field’s so much i worked there after college.  But Grandma would take me to get some clothes from fields because they would last and were good quality.  She stressed quality garments, and the value of investing in good pieces.  My family would buy me clothes that would last for years, like a long wool coat that i got from Evans *RIP Evans* and i had it from the age of 16 to the age of 30 when i feel apart, i still have not replaced it lol.

Grandma believed in the whole package from head to foot, that when you step out you look your best, make up done, hair done, nails done, shoes polished.  While i strive to follow all of that, she has instilled in me to look my best and be my best at all times. She helped start our family’s love addiction with clothing, accessories and make-up, mind you i am one of the few women in my family lol.  My Dad and youngest brother LOVE clothes!!!!!

Grandma Vi I Love you and Miss you…

Here are a few pics of me style wise in my early years…..

I am 36 Black Woman, of a very mixed dna mixture, No Kids,never married, but i am dating a great guy and an assistant project manager by day for a construction company.  I am a die hard Chicagoan, and an Alumnae of Tuskegee University, a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority *whew that was a mouth full*

Thats the basic boring stuff…I was a prissy little girl who’s mom is a TomBoy. It was interesting growing up, my Mom made sure i knew how to play sports and change a flat tire, my Dad made sure i knew how to fight.  They both encouraged me to grow up and be what i could be and never let the fact that i was black or a woman stand in my way.

But there was something really interesting with me and my Mom.  She is a die hard TomBoy.  Now she wears dresses but getting all dolled up is not her thing, but it was mine.

I have been a budding fashion diva since i can remember.  One of my fondest memories is going shopping for my Easter outfit.  Which consisted of a bomb diva dress The dress was the start, it was usually pink or red or purple the 3 colors i lived by as a kid, still do today. Then you had to find the right shoes Patten Leather was/is one of my favorite materials for shoes and bags…. i would have the matching shoes usually black or white and of course the coordinating bag and of course your thinking thats it right? No not for Vonetta, i had the anklets, gloves and hat to match

While i miss the days of me getting a new easter and christmas dress *yes i got a new one for each with all the bells and whistles that go with it* I do not do the matchy matchy thing any more lol

But cant you see the start of a young fashion diva, make-up was a whole different ball of wax lol

How did you start out on your fashion road?

Love & Peace

Cute Curvy Girl

V