Thankful Thursday!

• The seriously orthopedic work shoes in the mail!
• My best friend for cleaning the kitchen every night when i fall asleep on the couch
• The ability to color my own hair
• Etsy
• Inventory being canceled at work!
• Overactive imganinations
• My awesome lazy Cooper

No one can nap quite like Cooper

A little bit of sass goes a long way!

So. Its no secret. I am an intense shoe girl. I know I've mentioned this before!
I think that the most important weapon in any girls wardrobe is a fantastic shoe! But as a plus size girl, I feel its EXTREMELY important to be well armed!

Jeffrey Campbell is often my weapon of choice! His shoes always knock my socks off! Ha! No pun was actually intended! I do generally go a size up in his shoes, but my feet are kind of jerks. Not only do I have wide feet, but also high arches. His shoes tend to start out a little tight, but they form SO perfectly to your feet! I have one pair of his old wingtips that were the only shoes I would wear EVERYWHERE when I went to New Orleans! So comfy!!

Check out some of my current Jeffrey Campbell obsessions!

If i dont get these I will die. 

at first i was unsure. Now i know i need them! seriously. i NEED them! they're like super tall flat ballet shoes!

i feel like if you wear these, you have no choice but to be awesome. and run from leprechauns.

I love that these are like a mary jane wingtip saddle shoe... very awesome!

i love the vintage style t strap. and i've found, even on bigger ankles, ankle straps do wonders! and i've always had a clear shoe obsession. must be a cinderealla complex!

these are just such adorable retro flats! and awesome red shoes are REALLY hard to find!

these remind me a lot of one of my favorite pairs of Louboutins! except more affordable, and a lot more comfy!

I know a lot of bigger girls are unsure about wearing tall shoes. I'm here now to tell you that's absolutely ludicrous. Obviously you have to do what makes you feel good. .. but seriously. Tall shoes make your legs look better, you have better posture and they give you confidence! Forget what anyone else says! Go buy a pair of sky high heels and knock the world on its keister! 

If you're chic.... clearly you're a star!

About two years ago, I kept seeing all these super cute Retro 50's styles on eBay. I eventually tracked them down to their source! Chic Star! SUCH awesome clothes and all VERY original! They make all of their clothes from original designs submitted by "regular" people. Their designs range from normal clothes, to cute Retro designs, to some really awesome darker style clothing! I haven't actually gotten around to ordering from them, so I can't attest to the sizing, but based on their size chart, they seem to be very validly plus sized! Here are a couple of my personal favorites!

Wow... you can't tell at all I love black and red and polka dots can you?!
They also do discounts if you upload personal photos in their clothes! I think that's double awesome. Not only is it incentive to order more, but it also shows future customers how it actually looks on regular people!

Check em out!

Thankful Thursday!

• Getting my first assistant pposition back at Fredericks
• Giving things one last shot before giving up
• PayPal
• New shoes
• Finding out that styles for less now carried plus size!
• Tax returns! 
• My Prada ssunglasses that are waiting for me to order them

Wait... what?! Stilettos aren't just for your feet?!

I keep hearing all of this nonsense about stiletto nails! And how we have Rihanna to thank for them and Lady GaGa. .. hmmmm...

Really?

I just wanted to take a second to point out that this nail shape goes back waaaay before Rihanna! To me, as a manicurists, I've just always known this shape as the Jean Harlow shape! Can't imagine why I'd get stuck on that one!

But lets take a little stroll down Golden Hollywood Memory Lane for just a second!

The ever luminescent Jean Harlow 

Norma Shearer

A very young Joan Crawford

I think the most important thing in fashion and style to remember is... everything new is old! Its so funny to see things pop back up every 20 years. If you think about the nails it makes sense! 30s, 50s, 70s, 90s, now!

So keep in mind, if you ever want to call a trend, look to 20 years ago! I love everything art deco, so Im just loving life and stocking up on everything deco!

and *my* Jean Harlow nails ;)

If I had to name my one true love right now...

It would  definitely be shoes! Whenever I tell my best friend, or my mom, "OH MY!  I FELL IN LOVE!!!!" They know its never a guy. It's always shoes. I know every girl has a shoe obsession. I was lucky enough to be able to build shoe shelves on one wall. I feel though, that as a bigger girl, my love for shoes runs a little bit deeper than the average girls love. Why is that you ask? Shoes always fit. Even if ya gain a few ;)

So, in honor of shoesday, I completely intended to write a blog about awesome shoes... But I used up all my shoe blogging time up actually buying a pair!

How adorable are these?! I love chucks! I have worn them forever! But there has never been a pair nearly as exciting as these!

I mean... really?! Platform chucks?! Yes please!! I used to 100% live in heels, but retail destroyed my back so no more tall shoes for me! Such a sad face! 

Everyone! Go to Nordstrom and buy these! They are super comfy & they make you taller! Who doesn't like that?! I'm 5'7, and I'm used to being about 6' in all my old heels so these are a bit of a godsend!

Just because it fits doesn't mean you should wear it!

Ever since I was a little girl reading Dear Abby, I have always wanted an advice column of my own. So I'm taking advantage of this blog to deliver some unsolicited advice to plus size girls everywhere!

When I was younger, I wore my clothes HUGE! I guess I thought I was hiding the fact that I was a big girl with big clothes. I'll never forget the day I learned bigger isn't always better. We'are talking size 16 in women's wearing a size 3x t-shirt in men's sizes.... yikes! 

I was shopping at Torrid, probably about 10 years ago when I found a Lucky 13 shirt I absolutely fell in love with. At the time, I think I was about. 20/22 on the bottom and I always wore a 4X t-shirt. The Lucky 13 shirt I loved was only a 2x... I loved it so much I decided to try it anyway... oh my God! The difference in my body shape was staggering! I had boobs! And some curves! I wasn't a block individual! From that moment on, I never looked back! Its been fitted shirts for me since that day!

But! Just because it fits doesn't mean you should wear it obviously goes both ways! I've tried to stuff myself into many a small size because it was just so darn cute! Yikes! Some things should just not be on a plus size body!

And for that matter... sometimes just because they make it in our size, doesn't mean we should wear it! I see some super cute things from time to time in plus sizes and I just want to go punch the buyer in the face! And by buyer, I don't mean us! I mean the stores buyer! 

The important thing to remember is only wear what makes you feel good. I have found shirts that fit my plus size frame in many a strange place! H & M has aa line that runs pretty big in the tops and I get endless compliments because it really flatters! Also, Express t-shirts and sweaters are always a huge hit for me! They run pretty big and they just do great things for a plus size shape! And it makes it more fun to go shopping with your girlfriends if they're thin if you know you can all find stuff at the same shops! 

Dont be afraid to experiment with what ya got! Sometimes it takes just a little bit of thinking outside the plus size box to make your fashion heart sing! 

An awesome new face on the plus size scene!

Ok. Lets face it. I'm not exactly the most business casual, jeans and t-shirt kind of girl. I honestly don't even own a pair of jeans! Why you ask? I look absolutely terrible in them! I wear a skirt every day. Honestly its just a lot more comfortable for me anyway. People are constantly asking me why I'm so dressed up. Even when I feel like I look like a schlub. The reasons are simple. 1- its a lot easier and more comfy! 2- why would anyone want to go around looking like a bum if they don't have to?
I know being a bigger girl its not always easy to find amazing, cute, comfy & stylish clothes. Lord knows I've looked high and low without finding anything! Until recently! I started making all of my own skirts about 2 years ago. It was just easier than trying to find anything that I liked and actually fit me well. So uusually, I'm only ever on the hunt for cute tops and sweaters and such... buuuuut!

This brings us to a fantastic designer that just started making plus size clothing! Jessica Louise! I've always loved the super adorable, pretty kitschy, very original stuff she's done in the past, but it was always just a liiiiiittle too small for me. The shirts anyway. I've been known to squeeze my big girl frame into little girl shirts from time to time! You can imagine how incredibly ecstatic I was when a friend of mine told me she was doing a plus size line. I haven't been able to order anything yet, but I have DEFINITELY fallen very madly in love! I go up to Hollywood very frequently and I am absolutely dying to go by her shop in downtown LA. For me, her prices are a little on the higher side, which I love and hate. I love that a legit designer is finally doing something for plus size, but I'm not used to loving a $58 shirt! Usually I totally cheap out on clothing so I can put that money towards important things! Like Chanel sunglasses and Betsey Johnson shoes! I think this Jessica Louise is going to be trouble for me. And I like it.
These are just a couple of my favorites from her new plus size line!

I am absolutely OBSESSED with this!!

this seriously needs to be mine! I don't think you're ever too old for pink or hoodie ears! especially if the ears are leopard!

I'm sad this one isn't pictured on a fuller model, but goodness gracious is it ever ADORABLE!!

she also has some VERY fantastic accessories!

can anyone here tell I love polka dots?!

So, this first fashion post has definitely focused more on my edgy tastes. I don't think anyone needs any set style. If you like something... buy it! Make it work for you. No one person is the same (I mean seriously how many times have we all heard that?!) but no one set style works for any one person! Nothing wrong with mixing a little of this and a little of that! And personally.... I am a print addict. Don't be afraid of spots and stripes. It's basically what our flag is, and everyone is ok with that right?!

 *All images taken from jessicalouise.com

Thankful Thursday!

Every Thursday I'll be saying what I'm thankful for! I think it's a really good idea. Because sometimes, life just gets in the way of being able to appreciate it.

• My friend Elizabeths blog Pirates Prerogative. Without it, I wouldn't have had Thankful Thursdays to steal
• My best friend Nick. Without him I would probably be a lot more crazy!
• My mom. She's totally been a very influential force in my life. She's kind of amazing!
• My ability to sew!
• My lack of fear about looking the way I want to look

Stay tuned to find out what I'm thankful for next week! 

Finding my voice

Hi! I'm Jennie Harlow! Its nice to Internet meet you! I'll bet you're wondering what makes me think I'm so special I deserve to have you spend your extra valuable time reading what I have to say. 
The answer is absolutely nothing!

I'm just a not so normal girl living in a very normal world.

As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster.

Ok, that may be true, but completely besides the point. 

Believe it or not, I originally had a much longer post, but... even I wouldn't read so much!
The long and the short of it is;
* I'm 34 years old, I live at home. This used to bother me, but with the current state of the economy, almost everyone I know moved home!
* I've gone to school for fashion and photography and I'm licensed to nail! 
* I love fashion, music, designer vinyl toys and my dog Cooper
* Without my best friend Nick I would probably never consider the consequences
* I've worked at Fredericks of Hollywood for almost 4 years.
* I was once referred to at Fredericks as the boob whisperer. (i know my sizing!)
* Nothing makes me happier than making other people feel amazing
* I have a 2004 New Beetle convertible named Jett that's almost more trouble than she's    worth
* Shoes and Starbucks are my two favorite worst vices
* I'm very single. I don't even know where I'm going in life. How can I expect to make that journey while worrying about someone else?!
* Nothing makes me happier than when people think I'm from New York
* I live in San Diego and spent the better part of my early adulthood growing up in Hollywood
* I LOVE visual merchandising
* Old Hollywood glamour makes my heart sing
* I worship at the house of Christian- Dior and Louboutin!
* I have an etsy shop called Rhinestones & Bobby Pins with everything sparkly from 
Burlesque outfits to awesome sparkly jewelry
* I have 2 amazing reality tv shows locked up in my head. .. just waiting for my big break to share them with the world! 
* I'm still trying to figure out life

I think that's about all there is to know about me!

Oh wait! Much less importantly... Yes. I'm fat. I don't really like terms like "plus size" or "full figure".  Lets just call it what it is! I have poly-cystic ovary syndrome. There are maaaaany many many things that this evil condition does to a person. It messes with your hormones, ability to have children, your emotional stability, your skin, hair, you can have ruptured cysts on your ovaries that make you think you're dying, and like for me... it can make you fat. It makes your body process foods differently and with all of the other imbalances, you kind of process them wrong. When I was young I actually had a doctor tell me I was lying about what I ate and how much I was exercising. Not much was known about pcos then. I've been on just about every diet plan, exercise plan, weight loss scam and everything in between, and half the time when people were losing 40 pounds a month for doing nothing, I would actually gain weight. Thankfully, A LOT more is known about it these days, and they're finding out diabetes drugs help with losing weight and there are fertility fixes and all kinds of great things! I heard about a woman who lost 180 pounds in a year with metformin! Talk about crazy! Every time I see a girl who visibly has signs of pcos i just want to yell "Go see a doctor! You probably have this!" 

I'm not gonna lie. I wouldn't be mad about being a thinner version of myself. In fact, I see myself in my head as quite a bit smaller than I actually am. But what I've learned over the years is... I'm me. There isn't anyone else in this world just like me. I'm not a cookie cutter version of Barbie. I'm not your stereotypical human being. And I'm getting to be ok with that. It's been a long journey, but I'm starting to accept me for me. 

Southern California can be a cruel and ugly place for a fat girl. But ya know what? Ya just gotta figure out how to make it beautiful. And that's exactly what I'm working on!

Me in front of the Sex & the City Carrie Bradshaw apartment 

New York 2011

well all right then. I fold!

I've been talking about starting a blog for over a year now.

What better day to start that than the first day of New York fashion week?!

This blog is going to be dedicated to my one true love.

Being fashionable in the city!

And yes. I'm a big girl who loves fashion. Who isn't these days right?

But trust me. I'm a little different ;)