“A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.” – Coco Chanel
An often-repeated, but beautiful adage. Have a classy and fabulous week, ladies!
— curvyceo
“A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.” – Coco Chanel
An often-repeated, but beautiful adage. Have a classy and fabulous week, ladies!
— curvyceo
Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you that I’m the girliest girl they know. No, really. I am just a few million short of being a black Robin Kassner. (I actually had a friend call me that once when I was contemplating buying a Hello Kitty iPhone case
OPTION 2 – Pair a bold cami with appropriate statement jewelry. With this option, you want to start off with a colorful camisole. You can really have fun here by wearing some of the trendy colors like emerald or mint green. Because the camisole will only peek out from beneath your jacket, you can go a little bolder with your accessories. I would recommend adding some tasteful statement jewelry that is more or less neutral in color. Remember, it’s still a more formal look so you don’t want to get too wild. Check out this sample look…
And, as Cover Girl Janelle Monae reminds us, don’t forget your makeup!! Those are just a few of my ideas. Perhaps you have others…please share in the comments section!
— curvyceo
As you know, I talk a lot on this blog about work/life balance – a crucial subject for ALL women, curvy or otherwise. So, with all the hoopla surrounding Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s new book Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead
*fanfare*
http://curvyceobooksandbrunch.eventbrite.com/
An in-depth discussion of the best-selling book Lean In
The event will take place on Saturday, June 8, 2013 beginning at 11:00 AM at the Archstone at M Street (1160 First Street, NE, Washington, DC – just steps from the NoMa-Gallaudet metro station on the redline!) Now, for those of you who fear a vegi-centric cuisine (yes, Vivi, I’m lookin’ at you 
), fear not! The menu includes pancakes, grits, and – yes! – mimosas!
Good food. Good conversation. What could be better than that? Tickets (because you know, we gotta pay for the catering!) costs $35 and may be purchased online at http://curvyceobooksandbrunch.eventbrite.com. Even if you’re not able to read the book, we invite you to come out and indulge in what is sure to be an awesome event.
Hope to see you there!!!
— curvyceo
“I have found that if you love life, life will love you back.” – Arthur Rubinstein
— curvyceo
Hey Everyone -
I’m getting ready to head out of town for Mother’s Day weekend, but I wanted to let you know about some great events coming up in the next few weeks in the DC area…also, one event – sponsored by yours truly – has yet to be unveiled. Keep your eyes on the blog for more details next week!
Anyhoo, here are some great fashion events you may want to check out!
— curvyceo
You’ve read about it.
You’ve thought about it.
The summer is coming…time to BE about it!
Registration is now open for the FIRST plus-size bootcamp in Washington, DC designed exclusively for plus-size women!!!
Here’s what Work Your Curves participants have to say:
“I am so glad that I had the chance to attend a 6 week cycle of ‘Work Your Curves.’ I started my journey to a healthier lifestyle change in January. Along with eating right, I had to reprogram myself to love working out again. Yes, the gym can be helpful from time to time but that can get pretty boring, pretty fast. When Curvy CEO came up with this awesome idea to bring a bootcamp atmosphere to the curvy/plus size ladies, I immediately jumped on the idea. And I am so glad that I did. It has truly helped me appreciate working out and knowing which exercise works for my type of body. I am truly grateful for Work Your Curves!” – Vivi N.
“There’s so much positive to say about Work Your Curves Bootcamp – the women, the trainers, the sweat (yes, the sweat) – but to sum it up? I feel so much stronger and suddenly I can do a sit-up! I had no idea that one hour, once a week, could bring about so much positive change! Work your Curves has not just made me stronger, but also more confident and more comfortable in my skin.” – Sara K.
So…are YOU ready to Work Your Curves? Just visit the Project Fitness website – www.p-fit.com and click on “EVENTS” – this will take you to a web portal where you can sign up. Just scroll down and select “Curvy Bootcamp.” (Or you can also just click here.)
— curvyceo
So, if you follow me on Twitter – which I know you all do – you know that last week, I went to Spark & Hustle – a dynamic conference on women’s entrepreneurship. While the conference was amazing, this post isn’t about what I learned or all the awesome people I met (waves across the blogosphere to Elegant Granny, Spoons & Smiles, ShopFullLoad, and NextBrides). Nope. It’s about a fashion triumph that I just had to share with you!
When deciding what to wear to the conference, I knew I wanted to look polished and professional. But hey, I’m a fashion blogger – I had to add some flare, right? So, I whipped out a hot pink blazer and paired it with a black shift dress, pointy-toe flats, and double strand of pearls. When I first buttoned up, I felt…well, a little frump-tastic. I mean, the color of the jacket was amazing and I loved the accessories. But something just felt off. Then I realized the problem: I had absolutely no waistline.
Yep. This jacket was a hold over to the days before I’d seen the light and banished boxy jackets from my wardrobe. (I think it was it’s color that saved it from the Goodwill pile.) I knew I was on the right track with my outfit…it just needed something….Suddenly I remembered an impulse eBay purchase that changed everything: a belt!
Yep, that’s right. I had a hot pink, wide belt that matched my blazer perfectly. With one simple accessory I was able to go from this…
…to this!
I knew I had made the right choice when I found myself getting compliments all day long! Here’s to going from ho-hum to hawt!!!
— curvyceo
This week’s Monday Morning Memo resonated with a lot of people, as evidenced by the many, many retweets. Today, I’m so pleased to present this interview with custom clothing designer Cassaundra Bourne. I even model an item she gifted me…and be sure to read to the end of the interview so you can find a discount code!
Tell me about your company, CCB Custom Dress.
CCB Custom Dresses is a culmination of my many years in the fashion business. I started sewing when I was around age 8, making clothes for myself. I progressed to making clothes for myself and then for my friends. I never even thought about being in the fashion business, sewing was just something that came naturally to me. It was my friends that recognized that I had talent and it was their constant encouragement that got me to my first interview. I went on the interview to prove them wrong but when I brought garments that I had made for them to the interview, I was hired on the spot.
I worked for an Haute Couture boutique for 5 years where I honed my craft but the most important thing I gained was a passion for well-fitting clothes. I am not label obsessed but I think that clothes should fit correctly not matter what size you are. I don’t think that you have to spend a lot of money for great fashion but what you wear should fit like it was made for you.
I recognize that standard sizing is a cruel necessity. Each designer has their own way of manipulating their sizing to keep the numbers small but consumers are left feeling lost and confused when they wear a different size with each designer. I am convinced that size doesn’t matter but fit does. I understand that most women do not fit standard sizes and so that was the guiding force behind CCB Custom Dresses. I created a collection of timeless garments (dresses & separates) that are perfect for women of all shapes and sizes. I offer free custom sizing so that women can include their measurements and have each garment custom fit.
Do you design all the clothes yourself?
I designed my entire collection based on timeless silhouettes that can stand the test of quickly changing trends.
True style is wearing clothes that tell the story about who you are; fashion is a state of mind not a great outfit.
How does your clothing line cater to the needs of the full-figured fashionista?
I am a full-figured woman and I understand the needs of women with curves and that influences my design. While I am designing, I always think about what body type can wear this dress or how can I make a style more comfortable for a woman with curves.
What are some of your best tips for finding clothing that makes you look and feel your best?
I think the single most important fashion tip is honesty. Know your body and what silhouette best compliments your shape and wear clothes that fit correctly. True style is wearing clothes that tell the story about who you are; fashion is a state of mind not a great outfit.
Where you ever (or are you still) balancing your business with a 9-to-5 “day job”? What are some tips you recommend to budding entrepreneurs who are also balancing multiple careers?
I count it as a blessing that I work-full time on the thing that I love to do. On my path to developing my collection to the point that it is a full-time job, I had to balance my true passion with earning a living. Starting a business is like dating, you make sure you know the person and you have fundamentals in common before you get married. Starting a business is the same way, research your passion, find an internship in the field or a mentor, and make sure that you have a solid financial plan before you quit your primary source of income.
How can my readers keep in touch with you, online or otherwise?
I do my best to participate in social media via Twitter, Facebook, and my own blog.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I feel like I am on a bit of a mission to help women let go of the size trap. I want women to recognize that you are not the circumference of your waist, a number on a scale, or a size on a label; you are who you allow yourself to be.
Well, there you have it! Here I am in my very own custom made maxidress with a 3/4 length sleeves and a boat neckline…
Want your own custom made dress? Visit CCBCustomDress.com and use code CURVYCEO25 at checkout and save 25% off your entire order. (Note that this code cannot be used with any other sale, coupon, or promotion and expires 5/31/2013.)
— curvyceo
“As a woman who wears plus size clothing, I refuse to allow myself to be defined by my size . . . . I believe that style and fashion come from within and the clothes we choose to wear are a very important part of communicating to the world what we think and feel about our bodies.” – Cassaundra Bourne, designer
— curvyceo
And the winner of our SpaSonic Giveaway is….
a Rafflecopter giveaway
YOLANDA!
*fanfare*
Congratulations, girl! Be on the lookout for an email from yours truly with the details on how to claim your prize! Thank you to all who entered – hope to have more giveaways soon!
— curvyceo
WHAT THEY SAID
June 17, 2013 () Curvy CEO's Summer Workwear Essentials Love the magenta dress adn the cat-eye glasses!!
June 14, 2013 () How I Learned Not to Hate Summer I had to accept summer here, too. The difference being that it never gets truly hot, just sort o...
June 10, 2013 () Books & Brunch - Will YOU Be There??? So sorry I missed this....sounds like a good time. I hope I can join you ladies on the next cycle...
June 5, 2013 () Books & Brunch - Will YOU Be There??? I'm sorry I can't make it. Things are just a bit rough these days. What a great event. Hope it is...