Diva of Fashion - Fashion Truths to Live by

What are they thinking?

Lillie — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:01:21 +0000

I am in the mist of watching twenty-five hours of spring fashions on QVC. For you not familiar with this way of shopping and like to drop names, they have Bob Mackey , designer of clothes for Cher, Carol Burnett, and lots of the younger girls. He is just one of many. Three of my favorites are Marc Bower, Bradley Bayou, and the wizard of coats Dennis Basso.

But oh my goodness what the heck are they thinking with the trend of spring is leggings? Legging? Don’t they know that the average size woman is a size 14/16? Besides that we are older and that means we are finding our figures to be shifting with the sand at the bottom! We are supposed to wear leggings?

I love fashion and I am often stopped and complimented on my dress. So I feel left out with these new trends. To top that off they are touting the tunic. Well being five foot nothing this new length top will look like a top that is way too long or a dress that is way too short.

They keep saying we all can wear leggings and the tunic top. I am not a sheep feeding from the fashion trough. There are just some fads we have to let pass us by. I guess I will try to reinvent last year’s clothes with some of the bright new fashion jewelry.

Just say NO to leggings if you know your figure runneth over!

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Fashionable BBW’s I admire

Lillie — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 23:58:23 +0000

As a BBW myself, and a fashion conscious one at that, there are three BBW’s who’s look I admire. The are talk show host Wendy Williams, Monique, and Queen Latifah. The first two I question their talent. Queen Latifah is a beauty with style and grace.

I have watched the Wendy talk show and still shake my head wondering about and article put out right before her show started. It touted her to be the one to knock Ms. Winfrey from her perch. RIGHT!!! Wendy can’t touch Oprah! But I want to be like her when I grow up. She has a good sense of style and a large beautiful figure. If it wasn’t for her constant petting of her hair she would get an A from me. Wendy as a girl who believes you are only limited by your purse as to how much hair you can have, STOP touching the hair!

My girl Monique’s act is most of the time a little rough for me. But since her forty pound weight loss she looks good. I have had to raise my eyebrow at some of the clothes she has worn but for the most part the girl has the right to strut her plus size frame with pride.

Now the Queen. What can you say about perfection? Yes she works for a cosmetic company but as a Black women who knows how hard it is to get make-up right for us, hers is perfection plus! She has had breast reduction and that was for health reasons but the added bonus was a better balanced body. She also lost some weight. Every time I see her she is dressed well and looks fantastic. I think the Queen rules.

I hope the young BBW’s are looking at what dressing well and good grooming can do for any woman no matter what size she is. Beauty no longer belongs to the size “0.”

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Accessories: Fun, Exciting, and New!

Lillie — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 03:07:36 +0000

Fall is just starting but the lineup of the trend for accessories is out. And I can’t remember a year where there are so many areas in the spot light! And because of the economy, where the mass population of women can’t run out to buy a whole new wardrobe, accessories are more important than ever.

Accessories are not just shoes, hand bags, or jewelry but now scarves are back in a big way. So are belts in all widths. So most women can find a width for their figure. A new contender is the cardigan. This staple is no longer just for keeping warm. But it’s now a new layering piece to add color.

I was just watching an accessories show where shoes were featured in the retro look of peep toe. There was also the shootie which is a cross between a boot and a shoe. When first introduced they were a substitute for a boot. No more. Now they are worn with pants and dresses alike.

I think the surprise is the resurgence of the cardigan as an accessory. You can add a cardigan to pop a color. Add a slim belt and you have the new look for fall. Adjust the width of the belt to fit your figure. Cardigans now have bling and texture to provide interest.

I am saying all of this to inform you that this is a fun year to spice up your wardrobe without breaking your budget. Try adding something new that will kick your wardrobe into high gear for the fall season.

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They are baccccck!

Lillie — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 17:45:51 +0000

Being a self proclaimed Diva of fashion, I love color and boy do I love prints! One of my favorites is back in a big way. Plaids are everywhere! From clothing, to shoes, bags, scarves, and belts. I usually dress monochromatically with splashes of funky items to break up the sameness.

One of my favorite looks has been a black pants suit with plaid back and white shoes. And when put together with pearl jewelry or my gold jewelry, I think I look quite nice.

Would I wear a large all over plaid outfit? NO! That would be too much for my short round frame. But I LOVE my plaid shoes and matching bag.

Ladies I am not a big time fashion expert but remember plaids are back. Go out and get some plaid to spice up your fall outfit!!!

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Fall is really around the corner

Lillie — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 17:52:26 +0000

I live in San Diego and it is the middle of August. You would think we would not yet be feeling the hint of fall but oh no. Our mornings are getting cooler much to my distress. I really am a hot weather girl. Does it ever get to hot for me? Rarely! But that is about to change.

If the cool bite of the morning air wasn’t enough, the bulge in the mail boxes of all the beautiful catalogs. That says it’s time to look at our wardrobes to see what we can squeeze out of our tight budgets to spice up what we have. We went through a spring where just adding a beautiful bright handbag did wonders for our wardrobe. We can now do the same with just a few new items for the fall.

The pieces that you add must be in jewel tones. Amethyst purple, Emerald green and Sapphire blue are on the fashion horizon. To those among us who love color this is a banner year. Not into the bright colors? Don’t despair! Gray my new love is hot, hot, hot! Gray with white or for you old school folks who don’t wear white after Labor Day, cream and black is just delicious. This fall promises to be fun and very chic!

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Michelle’s new do

Lillie — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:19:57 +0000

I am a Back woman with serious hair issues so to me if you have long hair you are A1 in my book. I had to eat my words when I saw the first lady’s new summer cut.

Styles in hair, clothe, and jewelry change so fast that its hard to keep up and be in the fashion loop. I think the long hair trend has been in longer than I can remember hair styles staying in vogue. I had been wondering when the tide would change. I had noticed a few short dos but when I saw the first lady I was amazed at how great she looks.

This hair style is not only practical for the hot muggy Washington weather. But it shows off her long graceful neck and gives her an air of sophistication that her position demands!

There is speculation that she might not have cut her hair as short as it appears. Take a look at the picture below and decide for yourself!

Whatever is the case, well done Michelle. You look great! And as a lover of longer hair this is top notch!

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Player Haters: Give it a Rest!

Lillie — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:50:43 +0000

There is no way for Michelle Obama to win. This beautiful, sophisticated, intelligent woman’s every move is judged and written about at every turn. That in itself is expected by the position she is in. But to be attacked for such petty things makes my heart sick.

Now the same people who wrote that she spends too much money for clothes are now complaining about her wearing the same thing more than once. My goodness people you can’t have it both ways. Either she should spend like a wild woman or she should wear what she wants when she wants without being criticized at ever turn.

I feel deeply that this has less to do with her fashion sense than it has to do with the fact that she is the first lady and she is Black. Get the heck over it!!

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Fashion Faux Pas

Lillie — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 17:07:44 +0000

Women often stand in front of their closets and state they have nothing to wear. But the worst mistakes they can make are the following five fashion faux pas. The first one is so common and really so uncalled for that I wonder why it still happens. Visible Panty Lines, or VPL, yes the old “look everyone I have on panties.” Why women feel this is necessary to share with the rest of the world I don’t know. This can easily be fixed. Fashion experts feel that thongs are the answer to this but for those of us who feel uncomfortable with a string in places we would rather not think of, there are now full panties that do not show a line. Go one step further and remember that to wear white pants with anything else but flesh colored undies, the effect of thongs or no pantyline panties is lost.

I personally don’t think that everything the experts say is gospel so this is one I have mixed feelings about. When I was growing up no well groomed lady would leave her house for special occasions without hose. Now going bare leged is in vogue especially with peep toe shoes. I thought hose with no seam line on the toes or heels was invented for this. Ladies go with the crowd or be thought behind the times. But let me say I have seen toes that even when they had a pedicure were better covered.

Ill fitting clothes have no place in any woman’s closet. But most of us have tried to get a few more wearings out of that favorite outfit that just doesn’t fit anymore. Well, either give it away or skip some meals until it fits again. Large women try to hide in too much fabric. No, this does not work! It just draws attention to what you are trying to hide

I think this is an east coast thing. Commuting in tennis shoes in business suites. I have seen pictures of this and it is not a pretty sight. Ballet slippers were a suggestion. But there are flats that would complete the outfit until you get to the office and wear the required pumps in the work place.

Now here is where the experts and I really part ways. I am a full figured five foot one and one-half inch diva. I dress monochromatically with jewelry and long vests as accents for my outfits. Now I am being told that this is a no no. Well, experts tell me how I can wear several colors on this short round body without making it looking shorter and rounder?

So fellow divas here is where we have to take what the experts say and use the rest with good fashion sense!

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Too Much Ain’t Enough

Lillie — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 02:14:45 +0000

Oh how I wish I could take the credit for the above statement but alas I can’t. Kenneth Jay Lane, the living legend of faux or junke jewelry, said it first.

Ahead of his time but always in style, he is leading the fashion parade that all the designers are now in step with. Pilling on the colorful and here’s where the word “chunky” doesn’t hurt with necklaces and bracelets in numbers that would stagger most women.

The necklaces are long and multi layered and so colorful to wear with clothes that it would make a peacock hide his head in shame. Go wild! Be adventuresome! Have fun this summer because who knows when the fashion tide will change and we will be back in Dullsville.

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Easter in the South

Lillie — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 17:24:34 +0000

Growing up in the south, there were rules and traditions that governed our lives. They gave structure and a feeling of safety and warmth. Easter was and still is the announcement of the coming of spring. Even as a child in the South, we knew that Easter was more than chocolate bunnies and new outfits.

Churches and Sunday schools taught about the real meaning of Easter. It’s about the death of Christ for the salvation of us all. I can remember Palm Sunday and getting the cross made of vegetation that we wore. I am not sure the children of today know what that means.

We also had the tradition of a big family dinner. Baked ham with the skin scored into blocks. Aromatic sticks of clove stuck into each area. Then the whole thing covered in brown sugar and mustard, cooked to a golden brown. Next there were the green beans cooked with bacon. Yes, by today’s standards they were cooked too long and too high in cholesterol. But these greasy boys were so good. Kids did not object to veggies then. Next was the great big bowl of potato salad. Boiled potatoes, boiled eggs, sweet pickles, mayo (not salad dressing), mustard, and celery mixed and seasoned oh so well that just a taste would make you shiver. Food in the south is love and any chance to show love and receive it tightens the family bond. Last was the dessert. My mom slaved over the stove and made one of my favorites. Coconut cake with seven minute white frosting. My taste buds went into overtime with every bite. A visit from or to friends finished off the day.

Another tradition was the after Easter sales. Off I would go with my mom to see what things we could get at half price.

I remember one Monday I got all dressed up in my Easter finery. A frilly pastel dress, shinny black patent leather shoes, and oh yes there was my brand new straw Easter bonnet. It was bedecked with flowers and bows. While getting off the bus I felt a great big breeze. Off went my new hat. As I turn to run after it my heart sank. My beautiful hat was crushed under the wheels of the bus.

Were there other great Easter memories? Yes, I am sure there are. But even now being the Diva of Fashion that I am, my heart still sinks at the thought of my beautiful Easter hat.

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