Head's Up!

This is just a little note to say that I will be taking a short break from the blog - but fully expect to be back on track as of this coming sunday (8/4) with a new Look-Alikes for y'all. Just a little occupied with work and lifestyle changes coming soon (i.e: signing a lease for my first apartment!). Thanks for your patience, see you soon! 

OOTD: A Little A-Symmetry

G Hoops, Forever21, $3.80
Waterfall Wrap, Forever21+, (OLD!)
Mossimo Sleeveless Maxi Dress w/Asymmetrical Hem, Target, $24.99
Silver Mesh Flats, Forever21, (SOLD OUT) (Similar here and here)

I guess I'll briefly apologize right off the bat for the terrible photo quality (though you should know that I fiddled around with it on iPhoto and it looks about 10 times better than the original!). I put it up only because I really loved this outfit and I especially REALLY loved this Mossimo dress from Target. Anyway, that's that and we'll move on!

I think I'm slowly being sucked into one of Target's largest / most popular brands: Mossimo. Every time I see something new from the Mossimo line I am struck by how fashion forward - and more importantly, how AFFORDABLE - the pieces are. This is one of my latest purchases and I love it. At first, I wasn't sure about the Asymmetrical hem (I've never really been a fan). And I was particularly concerned about the fit (I bought this online). I didn't know how generous the Mossimo line is with their sizes, even though they go up to XXL. I've noticed Merona tends to run a little small and really tight in the hips. I was relieved to find that all the Mossimo purchases I made fit very well and weren't tight at all.

I was so happy this dress fit! The pattern is what grabbed me first, followed very closely by the summery / breezy feel. You can't see here, but the straps are adjustable (thank goodness!) spaghetti straps that lend the dress a distinctly sexy feel - in a mysterious Spanish kind of way...if that makes any sense! :D  But I was going to dinner with the parents, which as we all know calls for little sexiness, so I classed it up with one of my all time favorite sweater wraps (seriously, I got this thing when I was in high school!).

Well, I think that's all....yep. I'm done! See you guys next time!

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OOTD: Show Your Spots and Stripes (R.I.P Eloquii!)

Gold Medusa Pendant, Baublebar, $34.00
Ponte Stripe Mix Dress, Eloquii, (SOLD OUT) (Similar here)
Mossimo Supply Co. Odell Ballet Flat, Target, $14.99

Hello, all! I'm going to get real for a second and unashamedly admit that this is a knock-off outfit. But perhaps not in the sense you might be thinking! (I wish you all could hear my signature Frenchman laugh impression I did just now) To me it is a knock-off outfit only in the sense that I had worn the same outfit earlier this week to work (I know, shame on me, blah blah blah). I was just lounging around the house when the parents decided they wanted to go to PF Chang's and I needed to throw something on quick so I could bum an order of pan-fried pork dumplings off them (the dumplings are soo good I'm willing to stoop that low...don't tell me you wouldn't do the same!!! :P) This dress from Eloquii was still draped over the back of my chair so I went for it. Reusing outfits within a certain time frame doesn't really bother me and it just so happens that dresses are the quickest thing to put on in a hurry.

If you follow any other plus-size fashion blogs, you may have already heard the news that one of the very few exclusively plus-size clothing retailers online, Eloquii (a branch of The Limited), has gone out of business. By the time this post is...er, posted, Eloquii's website will be taken down (I assume). It is my understanding that after only a year, the people in charge of Eloquii decided not to renew the brand due to some business-related reason (my guess is it wasn't making enough money).

LOOK-ALIKES: ASOS Statement Pharaoh Collar Necklace

Hello, all! Wow, the week really goes fast - I feel like I JUST wrote the Star Wars ASOS dress Look-Alike post yesterday! (I got the dress in the mail yesterday - it's...SPECTACULAR!!!) But onward we must go. This Sunday, I thought I'd get back into the traditional form of this segment and do a high/low Look-Alike. The high-end version is curtesy of ASOS.com (I think I might have an addiction to this place...). It's a statement collar necklace reminiscent of ancient pharaohs of old. And if you haven't caught on by now: I am a die-hard ancient history geek (and I'm not afraid to say it!). Below you'll see a picture:

ASOS Statement Pharaoh Collar Necklace, ASOS, $59.40

So yes...I may have a bit of a Cleopatra fetish - but  I'm sure I'm not the only one!!! Suffice to say, I wouldn't mind having this necklace in my arsenal. I like that it is silver as well. Most statement necklaces on the market now are a ghetto-fabulous gold color (which, don't get me wrong, I love very much), but silver just goes better with certain colors and I've read that my skin-tone looks better with silver anyhow.

But I am reluctant to spend 60 bucks on an extremely trendy piece that I wouldn't anticipate wearing all that often. As far as the cost-per-wear, not a very savvy wardrobe investment choice for my lifestyle. But if you are like me and will do just about anything to make something work for you, may I suggest the below item for all the budget-conscious divas out there:

Silver Look Mix Chain Collar, Dorothy Perkins, (SALE!) $17.00

The similarity is chilling (I've always wanted to say that...in my best CSI: Miami voice impression). It's hard to approximate a size comparison, but if I had to guess I'd say the Dorothy Perkins necklace is a bit smaller. I also must have to say that Dorothy Perkins is rapidly becoming one of my favorite online haunts! It's nice to know that 75-80% of the clothes go up to my size and the stuff available is so on trend. The only downside is that I think a sizable portion of the clothes offered are a little overpriced (which could be due to the british pounds to american dollar conversion). Luckily (or unluckily for me), DP has many, MANY sales throughout the year that make prices much more reasonable.

Anyway, that's all for today my little darlings. It's been a blast - see you soon!

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DIY FRIDAY: Ulyana Sergeenko Couture Knit Berry Headband

{This is a guest post written by my infinitely crafty sister, Jennifer. You can read about more of her DIY crafts on her blog, Crafty Knack.}

Image curtesy of Google Images

Hi! My name is Jennifer and I'm from Crafty Knack. Thanks Lauren for having me post on your blog! Today I'll be sharing my pattern for making knit blueberries (with a touch of crochet) ^_^. They come in two sizes for a bit of variety... The end goal is a headband look-alike that Lauren found a picture of Ulyana Sergeenko wearing. Enjoy!

Materials:

- US 3 dpn

- 7/6.5mm hook

- Tapestry needle

- Worsted weight yarn (I used Cascade Yarns: Cascade 220 Heathers 9449 dyelot-4292)

Small Directions:

CO 6 sts across 3 dpn (2/needle). Join in the round. (6 sts)

Rnd 1: Knit

Rnd 2: Knit through front and back loop around. (12 sts)

Rnds 3-5: Knit

Rnd 6: K2tog around. (6 sts)

Go to "Finishing"

Larger Directions:

CO 6 sts across 3 dpn (2/needle). Join in the round. (6 sts)

Rnd 1: Knit

Rnd 2: Knit through front and back loop around. (12 sts)

Rnds 3-4: Knit

Rnd 5: *Knit through front and back loop, k1*; rep around. (18 sts)

Rnd 6: Knit

Rnd 7: *K1, k2tog*; rep around. (12 sts)

Rnd 8: Knit

Rnd 9: K2tog around. (6 sts)

Go to "Finishing"

Finishing:

Pick up crochet hook...

Slip st into 1st st on left needle, ch 4, sl st into 2nd st on left needle*; rep around all 3 needles.

Cut 5" tail. Using tapestry needle, thread tail around top under crochet edge and pull tight. Make a knot and stuff using tails.

Stay tuned as I might come back to also knit the leaves, headband, and show the final piece! ^_^

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OOTD: Showers of Flowers

ASOS CURVE Swing Dress with Daisy Applique, ASOS, $110.31
Black Gold Metal Stretch Belt, Torrid, $16.50

Can I just stop and say how much I absolutely, positively, limitlessly, LOOOOOVE this dress???!!! Okay, glad I got that out of my system. But seriously, it's fabulous. I feel like a fairy princess when I wear it (don't judge me). The sleeves are long, but they're a bit too long on me, plus it was HOT, so I pushed them up. I wore this to go on an apartment tour. The plan is that I'll be moving into a dorm/apartment hybrid building downtown the day after my birthday, which is a while from now, but I hope to sign a lease soon.

The dress is a trapeze dress, so unless you want to look: a) pregnant or b) like an enormous flowery...I don't know - panda? - you're gonna wanna belt that sucker. I used my new favorite belt from Torrid. I've been looking for a gold bar belt for quite some time. There was a time a while back where it seemed like EVERYONE was wearing them, and I couldn't find one anywhere! But then ASOS Curve had one, and it sold out in every size within a week. So I waited...like a mongoose. :P Finally I saw this one at Torrid and sprang on it (like a mongoose!) not knowing it it too would instantly sell out.  Luckily for all of you ladies it is indeed still in stock. It is a little overpriced in my opinion, but I think it's worth it. It looks great with this dress. Oh yeah, another thing about the belt: It doesn't come bent at the waist, like you see mine is. It comes as a flat bar. I'm not sure if that's the way it's supposed to look, but I bent it over my thigh to fit my waist better because I couldn't stand seeing the elastic gap at the ends of the straight metal bar...it's hard to describe. But the thing to take away from this is that it looks so much better when it's moulded to your shape.

One last thing about the (fabulous) dress. Do not buy if you don't own a nude bra (which you should anyway!!!). The lace is see through, and though you can't tell from the picture (thanks to a nude bra) the top of the dress actually cuts across almost mid bra. In other words, if you weren't wearing a bra you'd be seeing an indecent amount of cleavage. And the back is sheer lace as well. Use your best class-girl judgement. That's all I'm sayin'.

Enjoy the rest of you day!

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LOOK-ALIKES: ASOS CURVE Rainbow Maxi Dress

So this Sunday's Look-Alikes post is going to be a little different than ones of Toasted Crackerz past - but it's also one I am so stoked about it is a little ridiculous! Instead of focusing on a low-end item and a high-end item that look similar, I'm doing a....wait for it....movie look-alike! That's right folks, I'm showcasing a plus-size garment that strongly resembles a movie costume. That may sound like a bad thing (who wants to look like they walked off the set of Lord of the Rings, right?---um, me!), but trust me, when you see the below images you're gonna' like what you see. Below, you'll see the garment that started this whole thing:

ASOS CURVE Rainbow Maxi Dress With Necklace Trim, ASOS, $110.31

...Does this look familiar? Anybody, ringin' any bells? Well, if you are as much of a Star Wars fan as I am - well, really I'm just a fan of Padmé Amidala's wardrobe - you might have a leg up on the others. When I saw this dress I IMMEDIATELY was taken back to the first time I watched the scene when Padmé and Anakin Skywalker were at her summer house and you saw her wearing this gorgeous/amazing gown (called the Rainbow Lake Gown by fans). 

DIY Friday: Shoulder Pouf!

DIY Shoulder Pouf

I was first inspired to begin this DIY quest when I saw an often reoccurring LARGE shoulder pouf on the blog I am Khatu: a Style Chronicle (if you're not as handy, you can buy a shoulder pouf made by her in her Etsy shop here). I loved the bold statement and I knew I could easily replicate the look in less than an hour. I looked around for the perfect DIY instructions that would give the same pouf as the big and fabulous one Khatu has, but everything I could find were meant to make small, dainty poufs, à la Ban.do (see Ban.do pouf pic at right). Finally, I came to the realization that I would have to modify instructions to suit me. I went with the instructions on this site and only had to perform some slight modifications.

Lust List

1. ASOS Bag With Side Straps And Metal Keepers, ASOS, $64.49
2. ASOS Boyfriend Watch, ASOS, $37.33
3. Bandelettes - Beige, Bandelettes, $14.99
4. Cascading Chains Necklace, Dorothy Perkins, (SALE) $17.00
5. Converse Birdie, Glasses.com, (SALE) $77.00
6. Black Cat Face Jumper, Dorothy Perkins, $39.00
7. Statement Stud Rope Necklace, Dorothy Perkins, (SALE) $9.00
8. Blu Sage Wide Waistband Petal Skirt - Plus, JC Penney, (SALE) $15.00
9. Wine Rib Crew Jumper, Dorothy Perkins, $27.00
10. Olive Epaulette Crew Jumper, Dorothy Perkins, $29.00

I like to shop around at a lot of different online retailers when I have down time. Some people may call this and addictive / shop-o-holic behavior, which....it might be. I don't really see it that way because for me it is what I do to relax. Some people read. Some people take naps. Some people take bubble baths. I happen to love browsing page after page of new merchandise. Of course, this does lead to the problem of me seeing some AMAZING one-of-a-kind piece that I feel I must have IMMEDIATELY! This is my lust list, where I artfully arrange in a picture all the items I would kill someone for (just kidding...maybe. :P) You might be thinking, "....that looks more like Fall stuff." And you would be right about that! I'm in a Fall state of mind! I've never really gotten into Summer/Spring stuff, but Fall is the best. The rich colors! The sumptuous fabrics! The layering!!! So, yes. I would like most of these things with the anticipation of wearing them in the Fall.

OOTD: Shades of Neutral

Ivory Linen Button Jacket, Dorothy Perkins, (OLD) (Similar here, here, and here)
Mossimo® Women's High Low Printed Tank, Target, $19.99
ASOS CURVE A-Line Skirt, ASOS, (SALE) $18.67
Mossimo Supply Co. Voneta Studded Tuxedo Flat, Target, $19.99

This has to be one of my favorite outfits in a long time. Isn't it weird (and incredibly annoying) how you can spend hours planning the "perfect" outfit in you head, yet the ones you throw on literally minutes before you leave the house are the ones that turn out the best? This is one such outfit. My dad told me he was going to the supermarket to pick up some things and so I ran upstairs to find an outfit that could deal the the 90+ degree heat wave we've been having. 

I've been wanting to find a suitable outfit for this tank top from Target for a while. It's a little long on me, but I'm not sure if I want to hem it so...when it doubt, tuck it in! And yes, I'm wearing the skirt from ASOS Curve again. Expect to see it many more times. :D The blazer is great. It's cream and it's linen, so it was practically made with Spring/Summer written all over it. I like how the sleeves are 3/4 and ruched. I've always admired women who could pull off the casual "oh-I-just-rolled-up-my-blazer-sleeves-in-the-most-effortless-and-chic-way - No big deal" look. The only problem is that when I roll up blazer sleeves they get incredibly TIGHT and cut off the circulation below the elbow (I wish I were kidding). This blazer is nice because the effortless rolled up look is sewn into the design!

From head to toe, I love this look! I'll definitely be recycling it into the future. Probably the near future...at work...tomorrow. :P

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LOOK-ALIKES: Anthropologie Filigree Peacock Earrings

It feels like it's been so long since I wrote one of these Look-Alikes post, but that's just because I usually write a ton of them all at once! Anyway, this weeks look-alike is brought to us by Anthropologie. I went through a kind of "complete-obsessed-with-Anthropologie" phase late in high school. Of course, I wasn't one of those high school kids who could afford the things at Anthro, but did that stop me from reading strictly Anthropologie-OOTD blogs religiously? Heck no! I've kind of grown out of the Anthro style - it's a little TOO lady-like for my tastes - but I do browse their epic jewelry section online every now and then. And that, my friends, is how I came across the subject of today's post: Anthropologie's Filigree Peacock Earrings (shown below):

Filigree Peacock Chandeliers, Anthropologie, $48.00

This is probably a little pricier than what most people would want to spend of a piece of (what I consider to be) novelty jewelry. If you know anything about Anthro, you know their jewelry can get WAY expensive, even on sale (though you can often find a gem - har har - if you look hard enough and hit the right sale). 

When I saw these, I had to pause. I looked at them for a good long while. I thought to myself: "I bought these earrings...at Forever21!" Granted it was several years ago and F21's peacock earrings are no longer for sale online (I checked) but I KNEW these were the same (minus the pearl beads) because I still have them. See pic at right for exhibit A...

Convinced yet? So, knowing that I had the same exact earrings on my hands as the Anthro kind, I figured there must be something similar out in the wide world of Google Shopping. So I googled it, and found the below option:

Big Ornate Peacock Dangle Earrings in Brass, Tribal Muse, $8.99

I checked out the website since it's one I've never heard of and it seems legit. But, as with all online shopping, always, ALWAYS EXERCISE CAUTION! If you don't feel comfortable making an online purchase somewhere, it's always better not to do it. I, myself, have made some risky online purchases, and while they luckily panned out for me I am much more cautious now. There are a lot of scammers looking to take advantage of shop-o-holics like me (and possibly you)! Anyway, that's my spiel. 

What's great about the low-cost earrings is that they look like if you're mildly handy with needle nose pliers and have some spare pearl beads and wire, you could easily make the low-cost look EXACTLY like the high cost pair.

Well, I think that's all for today. Happy Shopping!

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In the Name of Independence!

(ATTENTION! This week's DIY Friday has been suspended due to the holiday! It will be up and running again next week)

City Walk Panama Hat, Cuyana, $58.00
Waterfall Wrap, Forever21+, (OLD!)
ASOS Maxi Dress With Cut Out Detail, ASOS, (SOLD OUT) (Similar here, here and here)

Every year, as far back as my memory of living in our current house goes, we've celebrated the Fourth of July. Not in the typical way of most Americans with extended families over, a backyard barbecue, and fire-works (though I did petition my mother for sparklers this year...and failed). Are you wondering what the heck is wrong with my family yet? Instead, my sister and her husband came over, and we had our annual indoor "picnic" of sorts. 

I'll be honest, we've tried the eat-outdoors-and-smile-and-laugh-as-we-enjoy-our-meal thing, but let's get real, shall we? Eating outdoors sucks. The wind. The hot sun. The bugs (*shudder*). It's simply not glamorous, darling. So we eat our barbecue food inside, and I'd say we're all the more happier for it. My dad makes hot dogs on the grill. That's about as barbecue-y as we get, actually. The real tradition is in the food we eat. 

When I was little my mom let me make "menu" of all the foods we'd be having for our 4th of July dinner. I was in to scrapbooking then (yes, as a child!) and made it all fancy with different papers and scroll-y text. We've stopped making fancy menus since then, but we always plan to eat the same foods every year: Sweet corn on the cob, potato salad, hot dogs, macaroni (for my sister and I - it never gets old!), watermelon, and baked beans. To drink we have tangy lemonade and my dad always - ALWAYS - has to have his unsweetened ice tea. 

OOTD: Check Mate

ASOS CURVE Check Top With Step Hem, ASOS, (SALE!) $20.36
Gold Medusa Pendant, Baublebar, $34.00
ASOS CURVE A-Line Skirt, ASOS, (SALE) $18.67
Liz Claiborne Cap-Toe Ballet Flats, JCP, (SALE!) $26.00
Lipstick: Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids Lipcolor in On Fire Red (reviewed with some other lipcolors here)

From the Back...

Hello again! Here's a little somethin'-somethin' I wore to work last week...I have to say it's an outfit that seems to work better in real life than it does on the not-so-silver screen. Here it looks a little rumpled, but I got 3 compliments from separate people so it can't be that bad...right? Haha, whatever. I still like it!

Now, you might be looking at this pic and thinking, "what's going on with the back, there?" If you look to the left you can see it even better. Well, what's going on is that when I ordered this top from ASOS Curve, it looked like it hit the model mid-thigh. On me, it is a dress. Literally. I could belt it and wear it as a dress. I realize I'm no giant, but come on! The picture is COMPLETELY misleading. Lucky for ASOS Curve though, I love the top anyway. It's made out of a nice thin cotton (nude undergarments are a must!) which was perfect for the hot muggy day we were having when these photos were taken. I kind of like the tail sticking out...my mom wasn't so sure, haha. Looking at these pics now it almost looks like I'm wearing an apron over a dress. I might pin the tail of the shirt up in the future so it doesn't show...or I might not. HAHA, I'm a Rebel!!!