.Smart Glamour.. is genius!.

It's tough enough to find clothing as a plus size woman, as I'm CERTAIN you all know. I recently discovered Smart Glamour and decided to give them a try. The initial appeal was that they offer clothing for ALL sizes and it's customizable.. Plus I just really wanted a 'Feminist' Jacket TBH. 

So, I sent off my measurements, and was pleasantly surprised with the clothing. It fit well, and was fun..and affordable.

I'm wearing the Joan Sheath Dress and Amelia Bomber Jacket. The Bomber comes in 3 color options, with 4 verbiage choices - Feminist, Babe, Lady, or Boss...All pretty amazing! The clothes are hand-made to order in NYC and as an added bonus, they use vegan fabrics.

You can visit the website to see more, or if you are in NYC, Smart Glamour currently has a pop up shop in the East Village - which ends on May 30th. They have every size XXS-6X available on the same rack, for the same price as one another. It is the first and only NYC body positive boutique where women of every size, shape, height, and weight can shop together in this way!! It blows my mind in the best way!

(photos by Nick Holliday)

So go check them out, or visit www.smartglamour.com! Which piece is your favorite?

xx,

Tess

.Sugar & Spice.

SimplyBe's new Holiday Lingerie collection "Sugar & Spice" is all things sexy..and not so "nice."

Wearing the Splendour Underwire Padded Plunge bra in a 44G & the Splendour shorts in a 22. I paired it with a satin underbust from Orchard Corset 

Wearing Shapely Figures Underwire bra in Teal & Charcoal size 44G & Shapely Figures Full Fitting Panties in Teal & Charcoal size 22 

SimplyBe has one the biggest ranges of lingerie and sizes- Love it all! 

xx,

Credits:

Photos shot by Heidi Calvert 

Makeup Natasha Marcelina 

Hair Jonathon Van Ness 

.I like bathing suits & I cannot lie.

I know it's been quite a while since I blogged-but I'm back! Thanks to my son spilling water on my mac book, I've been out of commission for a bit, but wanted to do a quick post about my new favorite time of year- BATHING SUIT SEASON.

I never thought those words would come out of my mouth, because believe it or not I haven't always embraced my size. 7 years and 100lbs ago before I had my son, I wouldn't have been caught dead in a bathing suit, much less a bikini. Yes, I've put on a good deal of weight, but weight isn't the only thing I have gained... confidence came with it. It's been such a journey, and a very eye opening one at that. I went from finding anything and DOING anything to conceal my curves when I was a 16..heck, I even put duct tape on my stomach one evening when I lived in Seattle to try and pull my "fat stomach" in! Let me tell you, it was a..well..you know what to get off. Now, I don't even wear shapewear unless I'm shooting and I really need to for the garment. It's so refreshing to be able to feel the breeze on my skin, to be comfortable in not only my clothing, but my skin. I was taught my whole life to cover up my body, that the bigger I was, the more I should wear. I can't even count the hours wasted flipping through fashion magazines about how to "dress for my shape" or certain clothing to "avoid" to "flatter" my figure. Now, I wear whatever I want, and the bigger I've gotten, the less I've worn. Not because I don't care about how I look, but because I don't care what others think. I don't dress based on society thinks I should as plus woman, or a fat woman..I wear what I want because I feel good! That's why I created my #effyourbeautystandards hashtag- to help other women embrace their bodies through fashion and hopefully find the confidence I have regardless of their size.

That's why today, when I opened my mailbox and saw this beautiful custom bikini from Black Cat Bikinis staring back at me, I couldn't wait to put it on & even *gasp* take photos.

 Life can be as beautiful, or as miserable as we want it to be- so why not choose to be happy and lift each other up?

xx,