Category: Fashion

Holiday Gift Giveaway!

It was the day after Thanksgiving and all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a…whoops looks like I have mixed up my holidays here a bit! Well, I guess this opening line was partially true for a great lead into what I got into the day after Thanksgiving. As my family took naps I decided to bundle up and stroll around King St. in Old Town, VA. I have lived here for seven years and it has been ages since I have actually just walked around to enjoy the sights and sounds of the bustling streets, historic buildings, and the warm holiday feeling that is in the air with the twinkling lights strung amongst the trees. I feel like I am getting super poetic here, but I am serious…it is such a quaint part of the DMV!

I remember when I first came to visit here I was with my Dad and we parked on Rt. 1 and got out to stroll around and see the area. Being from Indiana in an area where there was not communities as large as this with such history and a variety of boutiques, restaurants, and such I immediately fell in love. It is like one of those places you go that you feel like you can never get tired of. Also, my first job when I moved here was at Current Boutique and that is where I continued to express my love for fashion and supporting a local business.

So in celebration of the holiday season and the emotional connection I have to this town that started my journey in my career, the ups and downs of love and loss, new friends and discovering too appreciate the ones I miss at home so much more, starting my blog, and the list goes on…I am doing a 5 Day Gift Giveaway with items that are from local boutiques in Old Town! So, starting today check out my Instagram and I will be posting a new item each day for the next 5 days. There will be super easy instructions on how to enter!

Most important of all I wanted to do this giveaway as a huge thank you to you all for your support throughout the years of this blogging journey. I am so blessed to be connected with a community of creatives and the kind words you all share with me on each and every post! Ok enough of the gushy stuff and lets get to the good stuff, head to my Instagram @dreamyrealist_ and enter for the first giveaway!

Catherine

Tags Holiday Giveaway

Fashion

A Journey of a Girl and a Bodysuit

Post author By dreamyrealist
Post date December 18, 2018
No Comments on A Journey of a Girl and a Bodysuit

Did anyone else read this title and feel that it is going to be pretty magical? Well, that is kind of what I am going for on this one. As you all may have read in past posts I try and do the ol buy one thing take one piece out to donate or to consign. This eases the build up of unnecessary items that I haven’t maybe worn in years, don’t fit anymore, and helps my closet feel nice and organized.

This year has flowwwwwn by so I have been off my game a bit with this little life hack. So last week I started to take an inventory of just a couple of the new pieces I have purchased this year and honestly it has not been many since my obsession with Rent the Runway has begun.

Anyways, I did a count of the pieces I have remembered purchasing at least within the past year to six months and then started to pull pieces that I did not even lay a hand on for that year. Well, then I came across this beautiful lace embellished maroon bodysuit from Eloquii. I vividly remember buying this to wear on my 30^thbirthday and of course I got in my own head thinking I would not be able to pull this off so I went with something safe. Ughhhhhh! Come on! What was I thinking! Entering a new decade should be all about going in with a bang and 30 has been pretty good to me so far.

Well, instead of adding it to the donate/consign pile I decided to incorporate it into my next blog post. Here ladies and gentlemen is the final product! I guess what was holding me back was that of course a bodysuit is basically tucked allll the way into jeans, slacks, skirt, etc. and my middle section felt super exposed. Once I got over this self-conscious moment I finally saw how many things in my closet I can pair it with! So if you have been thinking about jumping into the waters of bodysuits here is a few things to remember if you are hesitant:

They actually are super flattering! Nothing worse than trying to tuck your top into your skirt and it looks all bunchy in the front or back. With bodysuits there is that smooth and seamless look without you having to worry it if comes untucked.
It gives you that little bit of spice while still looking classy.
Super versatile! This bodysuit is actually apiece of lingie from Eloquii, but without me telling you guys you probably would not have been able to tell.
Can be worn with a majority of what you already own such as high waisted jeans, slacks, any style of skirt, shorts, etc.
So many different styles to choose from that can fit what you are comfortable in. From super lacey to cotton there is such a selection out there to pick from.

Are you on this bodysuit trend?

Catherine

Tags Eloquii

Fashion Lifestyle

Top 3 Body Positive Influences I wish I had as a Teenager

Post author By dreamyrealist
Post date December 15, 2018
No Comments on Top 3 Body Positive Influences I wish I had as a Teenager

Last weekend my wild night consisted of attempting to do one of those sheet mask facials, ok are those really hard to keep on or is it just me? Yes, I agree its me. Also, made myself a nice dinner and settled in on the couch to get through a book that has taken me forever to crack into. Flash to 10 min later and I am browsing through Netflix. Not sure how I got to that point, but just roll with it.

So after attempting to search for Christmas Vacation and coming up with no luck I went to the What’s Popular section. Then I came across Dumplin. You guysssss…as you know already I am a Dolly Parton fan and I have seen her all over promoting her new album for this film. I thought it was going to only be in theatres. What do you knowwwwww, it was showing on Netflix! Then flash forward midway through the movie and I am literally balling my eyes out one minute, laughing the next, and then having these overwhelming flashbacks of how much I could relate to the star, Danielle Macdonald. The emotions she felt in her life experiences in one way or another I could really relate to and honestly no matter what size you are you can probably relate to as well. After the movie was over and I cleaned off my mascara that was running down my face, no joke I legit scared myself in the mirror, I started to just think about the film as I was getting ready for bed.

The one thing that stuck out in my head was that I really wished there was a movie that was like this when I was a teenager or younger. Instead numerous films and tv shows portrayed the girl who was curvier as the crazy funny one or the one that gets bullied in the plot line. Never the one that gets the guy, follows her dreams, and is the main star seen in such a positive light. Now I am sure there may be some films I’m missing where this is not always the case, but honestly not many come to mind in my opinion! Well, for those that have not seen the movie I do not want to make this post a spoiler alert so I guess I will make it about the 3 things I wish I had as influences in my life as a teenager. Ok, here we go…

Body-Positive social media influencers, models, movie stars, etc.

For real, when Ashley Graham strutted down the runway in lingerie during NYFW with Addition Elle it literally gave me chills. Here is a woman that is giving you high fashion vibes and is making it about what she is wearing not what her size is. She is a woman and she is fierce!

Body Positive Events like the CurvyCon

It is so amazing to see the events that are from national to local that are all about supporting others local influencers or bloggers, but also bringing people together that share a common bond of changing the narrative to all bodies are beautiful! Honestly, you don’t have to be plus to be a part of this conversation. We all have struggles in our minds that we deal with, but having a support system is soooo important.

Brands that offer above a size 12

It makes me tear up just thinking about this. I remember the days in high school of strolling around the mall with my friends and stopping into Hollister and Abercrombie playing dress up in the fitting rooms. That feeling of literally nothing fitting and feeling ashamed of yourself crying in the fitting room trying to hide it from your friends is a feeling that truly makes my stomach turn even as an adult.

Honestly, I feel like if there was an offering of a range of sizes this would have made me see myself in a different light, a more positive light. Of course, there are a lot of parts to the puzzle of self-esteem, but I feel this is totally a piece of it! I felt as though I had this creative vision, but I wasn’t able to express it due to limited size options. Remember this was pre-online shopping so what was at the mall is what you got. The fashion industry still has a longggggggg way to go in terms of inclusive sizing and diversity, but brands like Eloquii, Modcloth, Gwynnie Bee, Ellos, ASOS, Addition Elle and more are leading the way to change the narrative to provide stylish and unique pieces at an affordable price.

I feel like there are so many more, but this is a good start, maybe a part 2 will be in the near future. Now what are your top 3 things?

Also, note myself in a blonde wig and sequin dress because I was Dolly Parton for Halloween this year so it felt appropriate to add a photo of this moment of being one of my favorite music and style icons! Ok…now go watch Dumplin!

Catherine

Makeup by my amazing and beautiful friend Kira!

Fashion

Self Conscious Chronicles- Sweaters

Post author By dreamyrealist
Post date December 10, 2018
No Comments on Self Conscious Chronicles- Sweaters

Welcome back my friends to another edition of Self Conscious Chronicles with your host…me. Sorry guys built that up and really brought us back to reality. Just me, sitting here drinking a cup of coffee, writing this post while googling if cats and dogs can really see in the dark. Super exciting things happening over here. Anywhooooo…this week’s topic I want to chat about my relationships with sweaters.

To be honest with you it was one that was quite non-existent for a lonnnnnnnng time. Well, the reason for this was most sweaters I would throw on that are the adorable cable knit, fleece, or some other cozy look that I spotted on Pinterest of a gal wearing while she is holding her latte sitting near a Christmas tree. Ok that was super specific, but you know I love a good photo set up!

Well, when I would try to recreate this look minus the tree and latte I felt like what would trip me up is that if the brand that gal was promoting did not go past a size large just trying on any of these sweaters made me feel defeated. Either they were too tight in the wrong areas or the material was so thick that I was literally sweating walking from my house to my car and don’t even mention being indoors at a party. Excuse me while I pat my face down with paper towel casually and throw on that back up shirt I brought in my purse. Yes, I occasionally bring a backup outfit in my bag…I know…lil much I agree.

Don’t even get me started on if a brand does go past a size large and there is absolutely no shape or unique design elements in mind. Wearing a giant piece of material that has no shape can make you feel like a giant potatoe. Note to self…check out to spell potatoe properly, is there an e at the end…I don’t think there is.

Instead of feeling bad for myself and getting so self conscious about a piece of clothing that I really wanted to feel good about myself in I decided to do some research. Well, when you put time into it there are so many brands out there that are designing sweaters just right. In my research Ellos was at the top of the list.

They sent me this amazing pink little gem, which is the perfect mix of being light weight, you can wear as over sized on purpose and it still looks flattering, and the material is oh so comfy and cozy. Follow this link to shop it!

Just when you think you have given up on a certain type of look a brand that has your style and size in mind comes to the rescue! So I did a round up of other sweaters that I spotted that can help those of you who can relate to my feelings on sweaters take baby steps back into this magical world of warmth!

Catherine

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