The Perfect Pair of Jeans

Yes!  You read that right ladies.  Thanks to the gorgeous Natalie Wakeling, who started Embody Denim, you CAN find the perfect pair of jeans.

Jean shopping. I know some of you are cringing just reading those two words. Although jeans are a ‘must have key piece‘ in your wardrobe, shopping for them is what most women despise doing.

Enter Natalie Wakeling to save the denim day.

Natalie Wakeling, Australia’s first plus size fashion editorial model

Natalie created Embody Denim after years of frustration at the lack of fashionable, denim options for the size 14+ customer. Being Australia’s fist ever fashion editorial plus-size model, she had so much knowledge and experience on fit and fabrics that she decided to put her expertise to creating the first premium range of designer denim that would finally fit and flatter curvy women.

Natalie has worked as a plus size model for over twelve years and she knows first hand what curvy women want and intends to see that her market gets it.

Established in 2006, Embody Denim jeans are unique and seem to be made especially with curves in mind. They feature subtle design additions, such as special seams, support bands, and pocket placement to help enhance the silhouette of curvy women.

YAY! Amen for Natalie and Embody Denim! Seriously, thank you sista.

Embody Denim has done so well as the leader in designer denim that Natalie has now expanded her collection to include Embody Clothing, a seasonal range of tailored skirts, body skimming dresses, and classic jackets in this season’s must-have prints, fabrics, and cuts to suit curves.

Embody Clothing

I recently got to meet and connect with this amazing woman at the Curvy Couture Roadshow.  I watched her latest collection of denim and her extended range, Embody Clothing, strut down the runway and I was in awe of the gorgeous fabrics, colours, and textures, not to mention that the beautiful curvy models who rocked her label were so gorgeous and inspiring. The beautiful Laura Wells is featured in many of the Embody campaigns. She is such a gorgeous woman, it’s no wonder!

I love the statement on Embody Denim’s website:

We Believe,

That all women are created equal.
That beautiful women come in all different shapes and sizes.
That all should enjoy gorgeous fashion designer jeans.
That designer denim should be available in petite and plus sizes.
This is Embody Denim. Denim that loves your body.

I know you are wondering, with so many different cuts out there how do you know which jeans are right for you?

So many cuts and choices to suit every BODY! photo: Embody Denim

Well, Natalie has sorted that out for you too. Not only do they offer a page solely dedicated to finding jeans to suit your exact body shape, but if you send through your measurements they will help you find the perfect pair to suit your shape by offering you a personal consultation.

It is service like this that makes these guys the best at what they do.  As you would have seen in our Body Shape Series post last week, it is so important you know your shape so you can choose styles that will flatter you best.

THIS is service! Finding jeans for YOUR shape

My body shape is an hourglass and my personal problem is finding jeans that fit my booty and thighs AND also fit at the waist. I know you hourglasses out there feel me! It’s a pain in the booty when your jeans are sagging at the waist but the lower half is fitting perfectly. Here is what the website told me when I clicked my shape:

‘Styles:  Tempt, Tempt Narrow, Ice Queen Skinny, Blue baby, Fever Skirt, Bella and Fever Jeans are your best options as these styles have a wider leg and higher waistband to showcase your waist.’

Seriously! How cool is this? I LOVED the Ice Queen Skinny Denim Jeans as I felt they were so my style:

Ice Queen Skinny Denim Jeans

“Ice queen skinny is a versatile wearable skinny leg jean that can be worn by most women. Particularly good for hourglass and pear shaped women. With a three way ankle design you can control the look of your jeans.”

Ice Queen Skinny

So to all you curvy Queens out there who can’t find denim that suits, this is the brand for you.

You can purchase her ranges through the Embody Denim website, Te Kiero Boutique in Avondale Heights in Melbourne, and they also sell on The Iconic.

Ok, ok! I know you are hanging to go find out which jeans are right for you so I’ll leave you to it, girl.

Happy jeans shopping!

x E

The 10 Pieces Every Curvy Queen Needs in Their Wardrobe

 

Love the colours in this wardrobe!

I am really big on creating a wardrobe that works and that you can easily mix and match up with all the pieces you own.

I have created this list as a guideline on what items are must haves (before you go buying the trends and the fancy floral prints). Get these items in your wardrobe ASAP, you will be surprised how much you use them on a daily basis.  Here we go:

1. A Great Bra 

Your bra can make or break your confidence, there is nothing worse than four boobs popping out or, even worse, you having to adjust them every five steps you take!

Let me tell you, I just recently purchased the first bra that has ever fitted me the RIGHT way! I can’t even begin to tell you how friggin’ exciting this is! My boobs are huge and they do not sit well in most bras. Actually, I can’t say I have ever fitted into any bra I have owned… until now!

I met with Regina from Miss Scarlett Did It and she fit me into the perfect bra. This women is a master of bra fitting. Not only am I super comfortable but my waist became more defined, my back looks awesome, and the girls are sitting exactly where they should be. The free boob lift is such a great bonus!

Miss Scarlett Did It show at The Curvy Couture Roadshow

2. A Pair of Jeans That Make You Feel Gorgeous

Denim is always making a comeback in fashion but that’s because it’s never gone anywhere! Jeans that you love wearing are a must for your wardrobe. I know it’s a tough gig to find jeans you love, but let me tell you ladies, it is well worth the hunt.  I love Embody Denim. The owner, Natalie Wakeling really knows her stuff. She was Australia’s first ever plus size model and has created a brand that understands our curves and the cuts and fabrics that suit. When you are looking for jeans be sure to try them on. If you’re an online shopping addict then you’ll need to know all your measurements, especially the inner leg as this area gets forgotten and you want to make sure the fit is exactly what you’re looking for. They should feel a bit snug at first but once you wear them they should sit comfortably. I seriously feel I live in my jeans, there is so much you can do with denim (hmmm I think I feel a denim blog post coming up!).

Embody Denim – I LOVE these!

Embody Denim – denim on denim is where it’s at!

3. The Pencil Skirt

You can never go wrong with this staple piece. This skirt is great for every curvy body shape and it goes with almost everything. The pencil skirt can be dressed up or dressed down, and is great for layering. If you are wider at the hips, work with smaller print or go with colour blocking (just one colour, no patterns). If you have a flatter bottom and want to create some action around that area, wearing larger print will help make it appear bigger and rounder.

Asos Curve Pencil Skirt

The gorgeous Mel from Suger Coat It in 17 Sundays pencil skirt

Asos Curve pencil skirt

 

4. The Blazer/Jacket

Black, pattern, dressy, or casual, you can never go wrong when you throw a jacket on (OMG that totally rhymes, ha ha!).  Jackets are especially great for autumn. I love that it’s a key piece you can dress up, dress down, or make some jeans look really fancy with a pair of heels. Casual style icon Jennifer Aniston has helped many of us learn that if you throw a suit jacket on top of a tee shirt your outfit is instantly transformed. It’s great to have a black jacket, as it’s probably the one you’ll use the most. As you add to the collection don’t forget to look at detail; leather trim, funky buttons, and zips. It’s worth investing a bit more on this piece as it will be something you can pair up with almost anything.

 

Queen B blazing it up

A splash of red makes you pop! Photo: celebuzz

5. A Statement Necklace

Ok, I will admit… I have a slight addiction to these. By slight I mean I own like 60 of them, and by addiction I mean I am always hunting for more; cooler, newer, and bigger ones. Oh gosh, what can I say about these necklaces?! They go with EVERYTHING! I love wearing them over the collar of a buttoned-up shirt. They work wonders with simple minimal colours or tops that are low-key, and they look funky with tops that have a busy pattern as well. I love them mostly because you can be as expressive as you want; I get really funky with the styles I pick because it makes me feel like I am wearing a little work of art around my neck.

My favourite necklace – I love it!

Simple yet gorgeous. photo: Pinterest

Great necklace! Photo: essence 

6. The A-line Dress

I recently posted the photos below about Adele and her bad self in this A-line dress. I just loved everything about what this dress did for her figure. The pattern, the length, and the A-line takes in her waist so nicely. These skirts and dresses really work wonders for the curvy woman. A-lines are great because they draw the eye to the areas you want to highlight and they skim over your curves nicely.

Adele looking gorgeous in an A-line dress. photo: fabsugar

A-line skirts are great for the curves. Photo: sheknows.com

7. Black Leggings and (7.5) Black Opaque Tights!

I’ve done 7 and 7.5 because we all need a good pair of leggings especially in the cooler seasons when the layering comes into play, but the tights are a must have for me as well! I love my tights; I wear them with skirts and boots and dresses and then I try to get all creative and buy weird textured tights. It’s kinda fun, so why not!? Again, black is very doable because you will get a lot of use out of them. I bought a polka dot royal blue pair and a black pair, and, um… yeah, I have only worn the polka dots once; my black ones on the other hand, well! I had to buy 5 pairs, just in case!

 

Kim K doing the all black look. Photo:etcfashionblog

Black leggings with leather detail from 17 Sundays

Kelly rocking tights! Photo: wardrobe staple blogspot

8. The Wrap Dress

This is the ultimate in curvy styling!  You cannot go wrong with a wrap dress. The amazing Oprah (who can do no wrong) loves these dresses and the dresses love her, too. It accentuates and brings the eyes straight to the waist and the boobs. The different sleeves and skirt lengths are great as well, since some of us like to go longer and some are keen to show more skin. What I will say is, a wrap dress that is a V-neck or scoop neck will work best as it elongates and shows off a bit of the girls, and since you have a great bra (right?), why not?

Embody Denim wrap dress – so hot!

Gorgeous Embody Denim wrap coat – my fave for autumn

The gorgeous Marilyn wrap dress by Embody Denim

9. The Classic T-shirt

Another item I live in! I have recently been wearing my hubby’s t-shirts because they sit so nicely and baggy. T-shirts are great – again – for dressing up or going a’la casual. When you find one you like, I say get it in a few colours; black and white for sure but look for a nice bright colour that makes your face pop. These are great pieces to layer in autumn and will go with almost everything on this list.

17 Sundays classic t-shirt goes great with leather leggings and is so comfy

The classic T from Harlow, you can pair this one with everything 

10. A Great Pair of Flashy Flats

I recently did a blog post on the ‘man’ shoe. I love me some heels, don’t get me wrong, but there is nothing like a comfortable, gorgeous pair of flats. Now there are so many different styles, colours, and textures to choose from you could flat shoe shop for days (ah, Wittner outlet, don’t even get me started girl!)

I love flats but I like them to have some serious personality. I struggle wearing the ballerina plain round toe flats when there are so many cool colours and styles to choose from. My favourite pairs are the ones with unique things like sequins or see through material; the weirder the better. Red flats are really versatile, since you can wear them with stripes, blue, black, and white.

 

Love the denim on denim and red flats. Photo: crazylove4clothes

My shoes! How cute are they? Thank you Zara! Photo: fabsugar

Even Kim K wears flats – classic black goes with everything. Photo: celeb buzz

Well curvilicious sistas, I think I just created an outfit up here! I hope you got a lot out of this post. I tell the clients I’ve styled that you need a foundation wardrobe, and once you have your basics, then you can add pieces as you go. But never go too trendy when you are missing basics. I have tagged some of the awesome brands I love here so feel free to go check them out and happy shopping y’all!

x E

The Man Shoe

So one of my favorite things are shoes, like….. I am obsessed. But not just regular shoes (although you do need those as well) I am into really cool, crazy, unique shoes. You know the ones that make you go, “where did you get those shoes!” Yeah, those ones.

I have had a tiny bit of a fascination lately with what I call ‘Man shoes’. I don’t know, they look like a man would wear them so that’s how they got the name. They’re the kind of shoes that make me feel like I should throw on a buttoned up collar shirt and fling a jacket around my shoulders, oh don’t forget the blinged out statement necklace!

I bought a pair 3 years ago in Vegas when I went back home to the states. OMG these shoes….. man! They are amazing, they were screaming “Please buy me, take me home, who cares if there is no room in your suitcase, you CANNOT leave me here!”

So, of course, I bought them. Mind you, it’s ridonkulous, they cost me $20! Yeah….. I miss shopping in the states. I don’t know if it was the gunmetal sequins or the casual looking laces but these shoes just drew me in. These were the first pair of flat I had bought in years (I think the last pair were sneakers so those don’t count).

It was funny I was on my to a bar in one of the many casinos and literally out of the corner of my eye I saw them. I stopped in my tracks and although I had no bag to take them in, I bought them and told the lady I would come back tomorrow for them. Ha ha! Talk about multi-tasking, going out, quick shop AND back to the bar we go!

What I love is that first of all they are flat, (that’s an extra bonus) they go with almost any outfit. You can dress them up or wear them with skirts, long or short and they look great with jeans. What’s not to love! They have been coming out with some really cool patterns and different textures although I must say my sequins and metallic ones are my fav.

Now I keep seeing these shoes everywhere they are calling them Brogues, I like “Man shoes” better.

Here is a bit of Man shoe eye candy for me. I mean…You. Yeah that’s what I mean.

Big love Queens!
x E

Our 1st VIP Curvy Styling event!

What an amazing event we held last Saturday the 22nd!

We had 17 women in room talking body shapes, self love, fashion, style and of course all in the company if great champagne and amazing retailers.

The Queen has launched and we took all the ladies on the journey with us.   This journey is all about LOVING YOURSELF, stopping the negative “ity bitty shitty committee” that at times meets in your head.

This was not only a gorgeous luxurious space but a body hate free zone where all of us really got to connect to that inner goddess, that inner Queen within us.

Once we got the ladies figuring out what body shape they are we then went into all the tips and tricks for each shape (stay tuned we will be posting them up on the blog soon).

After that we SHOPPED! We had the amazing ladies from blue illusion
The amazing team at target and finally a known curvy classic brand the gorgeous girls from City chic who were so kind to offer their newest collections to shop from!

They rocked the house allowing our Queens to preview and try on their latest fashion and it was fantastic!  Ladies were shopping while learning what styles look best on their bodies and celebrating their style!

What a great day, thank you so much to everyone who attended and if you missed out don’t worry we’re doing more!   Word around the streets says woman want Jeans?   Hair/Makeup tips and undergarments!   The next events are coming soon so if you missed it stay tuned the next VIP Curvy shopping event is not far away.   Hope we get to see you there 🙂

Big love to ya Queen

xo Erika from Amerika v

The Queen of Curves on Sunrise

Making a godd first impression

Can’t find shoes that fit?

Shoes shoes & more shoes!

To all the curvy ladies in the place with style and grace, I have heard many of my clients say they can never find shoes that fit them are comfortable and suit.  Dot & Pete are an awesome brand based in Sydney Australia and their sizing ranges from 8-13.

So if you have been searching and had no luck here’s the link, check em out!

http://dotandpete.bigcartel.com/about

Happy show shopping ya’ll!

x E