What I Got vs. How I Styled It (ft. XPLUSWEAR)

When it comes to plus size fashion trying to find something cute, AND affordable is like finding a needle in a haystack. But sometimes you find some hidden gems when you’re not even really looking.  XPLUSWEAR is one such brand that I had stumbled across while mindlessly scrolling through my FYP on TikTok (as one does) and I soon after I found an invitation from them in my inbox to try some of their pieces.

So, armed with some new pieces for my wardrobe to try, I decided to dive into some styling sessions. But hey, since it’s February and love is in the air (or maybe just lots of chocolate), I thought, why not sprinkle in some Valentine’s Day vibes? Yep, expect a lot of red and hearts  because who says you can’t be festive while slaying the fashion game? Especially during New York Fashion Week, which calls for a dash of extra flair to the mix.

Disclaimer : The pieces styled in this post were gifted for review and feature, but opinions are my own. 

Rated M for Morbid & Macabre

For the second year in a row, I have spent Hallo-week with my bestie, Brooke, in Baltimore. In an earlier visit a few years back, I had managed to convince her to take me to the Edgar Allen Poe House and Museum, but that visit was fairly short due to the fact that both she and her daughter were majorly freaked out by the vibes the house gave. (It was pretty dark in there, so I totally understand.)

At the time, it was really cool to at least do a quick walk through, though I did have a list of other Poe-related things I wanted to check out, mainly Poe’s graves (yes, that’s graves plural) and a few other sites inspired by his work, including the Annabel Lee Tavern. Fast forward two years, and we finally got to do just that.

Back in Black (Faux Leather)

Fall has gotten quite a bit of a slow start this year in New York, and so I’ve been forced to wait longer than usual before I finally break out my favorite season staples. I will admit that I do enjoy the challenge of styling summer into fall, though the anticipation for crisp fall weather has me feeling antsy.

This weekend I finally got my wish as the temperatures dipped closer to the seasonal norm, allowing me to finally break out the newest addition to my leather jacket collection along with sweater from my Cider haul from last fall and some new jeans that I bought in the most unlikely of places.

5 Tips for Thrifting While Plus

I’ll be honest, I haven’t done much thrifting as an adult compared to when I was a child and teen. Back then it was more or less a necessity due to the fact that my family couldn’t afford much so we had to make the best of what we could find in thrift stores. Once I got older and I started working, I made a point to start shopping in stores that I previously couldn’t afford now that I had “adult money” to do so.

Fast forward to 2023, thrifting has become as much if not more expensive as shopping mainstream brands. Couple that with the fact that there are so many people intentionally looking for items in plus sizes to repurpose the fabric as they design something smaller. That was my long winded way of saying that I’ve been avoiding it, but I have friends who have taken to “shopping green” whom have made a point to pull me away from mainstream/fast fashion so I’ve  started to join them in their adventures these last  couple of years. That said, here are 5 things that I’ve learned as I’ve started to thrift again.

1.Don’t be afraid to look

Even though I am on the lower end of the plus size spectrum in terms of size, I have this habit of avoiding places that don’t outright sell plus sizes.  As an “old fat”  (someone who has been plus size her whole life) I still carry the trauma of crying in fitting rooms during shopping trips with my mother because I couldn’t find things that fit me, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise I make an effort to avoid going through those same emotions even today.

Denim Jumpsuit Days

I don’t know what it is about jumpsuits, but I find that they have a way of making me feel like a total badass when I wear them. Which is pretty  funny considering I can count how many I own on one hand and I make a point not to wear them that often because, to paraphrase a viral tweet from last year, whenever I do I’m left alone with my decisions each time I need to go to the bathroom.

I guess that’s fair exchange given the circumstances, haha. Needless to say I’ve been on the hunt for a denim jumpsuit for the longest time and I’ve finally found one in straight-size section of a brand I don’t regularly shop from no less.