Navy and Lace! Formal Date Night Look!

Hi Ladies!

My handsome husband and I had a date to the Symphony this weekend. Let me start by saying, if you've never had the chance to witness a live symphonic orchestra, do yourself a favor and add it to your bucket list! Even if the arts, music specifically, aren't really your cup of tea, I think everyone should experience it at least once. There's just something about witnessing that kind of beauty and creativity in person, that cannot be duplicated on a disc, record, or radio. You're literally seeing music and art come to life. I'm not kidding when I say the theme song to Jaws brought tears to my eyes. Its sounds crazy right? It's just one of those things you have to experience. By the way, I guess now would be a good time to explain, that this particular symphony, was celebrating the eighty fifth birthday of the brilliant composer, John Williams! Yes, the movie music legend. Everything from Jaws, ET, and Jurassic Park to Harry Potter, Far and Away, the Star Wars movies and oh, so much more.  It was simply breathtaking. This concert also happened to be the season opener and was a completely sold out house!

Speaking of breathtaking we had the privilege of attending this concert by the York Symphony Orchestra, at the Strand Capitol theater in York, Pennsylvania. There is a reason this building is known as "The Crown Jewel" of downtown York. It is magnificent. The beauty and detail are almost overwhelming. Everywhere you look there is detail, it's stunning. I love old buildings with a story to tell. Art History in college, really encouraged this love of mine and I can't help but imagine, just how this beauty came to life. Who sat in the seats? What shows were seen here? I get lost in that train of thought. Oh how I love that sort of thing. If you'd like you can read more about this beautiful building here.

Photo Credit: https://www.britannica.com/place/York-Pennsylvania/images-videos

A few photos I was able to snap before the performance. 

The detail really is difficult to capture in a photo though. If you are ever in the York area, I've provided a link below to check out upcoming shows and performances. 

Okay now on to what I wore for the occasion! If you've read any of my other blog posts, you know I love the classics. I dabble in the trends, but there is nothing I love more than a staple classic, one that will truly stand the test of time. When you think of lace, you might think it's outdated or maybe even you think of your grandmothers old doily's. But I'm here to tell you that not only is lace a classic, this season it's also completely on trend. Just a few weeks ago lace was on the catwalks in New York for Fashion Week. While it was super common in 2015, it's back with a force. Mulberry featured gorgeous lace dresses. Alberta Ferretti and Alexander McQueen had many beautiful embroidered gowns. So don't be scared of lace if you do want to be on trend. I for one don't overly care about the trends, because my style will always be true to me. That's the beauty of fashion, there's so much to chose from, you can come up with something that is uniquely YOU. Stick with what you love and what makes you feel good, and add in trendier things here and there. There's no need to reinvent your entire wardrobe as the trends come and go. And you know what they say, "What's old is new again", it always comes back around.

This particular look for me was largely inspired by the Duchess of Cambridge, also known as Kate Middleton. She is one of my favorite, if not my single most influential, style icon. There's this lovely term in the fashion world, the "Kate Effect". I believe my dress is a direct product of the "Kate Effect". Kate wore a beautiful lace overlay dress by Erdem, the "Cecile" dress, when she did a tour of Canada with Prince William, several years back. She wore the dress as it's by Canadian designer Erdem, and she wanted to honor the country she was visiting. But the Duchess often sports lacy designs. Lace was almost instantly back with a bang and in just about every store after she was seen wearing it. And it's my personal belief, that the Duchess is largely responsible for why it's had such staying power in the fashion world in recent years. Her style is feminine and classic and that is refreshing to so many, myself included. I mean her wedding gown by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, literally brought sleeves back to wedding world overnight. The Duchess has heavy influence in the fashion world, and for good reason. She knows what she's doing and she stays true to herself, always. That's perhaps the most inspirational thing about her style. And who doesn't want to dress like a princess? I digress.

Photo Credit: http://whatkatewore.com/2011/06/30/its-an-erdem-dress-for-kates-arrival-in-canada/

The dress I wore is gorgeous navy blue lace, over a beige very curve hugging, but oh so soft material. The sleeves hit at the elbow and there is no underlay in the sleeves. It's beautiful, but feels like you are wearing a t-shirt dress! You would think lace might be scratchy, not the case with this dress. I'm not going to lie. I was SO nervous to wear this dress. It is very curve hugging, and curves I am not lacking. A couple weeks ago I was inspired by Kimmy of "Kimmy Dares Greatly" on Instagram (check out her Instagram and blog here and here) she is amazing and such an inspiration. So positive in every way, the world needs more light and positivity and she's throwing it around like confetti! So with her inspiration, I decided to just go for it. Well I am so happy I did. I made up my mind, since I was wearing the dress, I was going to WEAR the dress. I held my head up high, I mean I kinda had to because I was wearing some sky high heels, but I walked into that theater with confidence and poise. Within five minutes of walking in the door, two women complimented me and said I looked beautiful, one added that the dress was simply stunning. I felt like a million bucks! I'm not normally one to really display my curves, but that won't be the case moving forward. I paired my dress with my well loved, nude heels, by Nine West, and my trusty little clutch from TJ Maxx. I love the faux diamond details on the latch of this clutch. It really adds a little something to any outfit. For jewelry I kept it simple, my dress had so much detail, anything other than simple would have been too much going on. I really wanted the lace detail to shine. I wore halo diamond studs from Nordstrom. And again inspired by my favorite Duchess I wore my sapphire and diamond ring from Zales that is of course, modeled after the famous engagement ring, first worn by princess Diana, and now Catherine. My dress is by ASOS Curve. Sadly it's no longer available. But I have linked to several wonderful alternatives below if you are interested. More than anything I want to say, don't be scared to step out of your comfort zone a little bit! What do you have to lose? Wear what you want to wear and wear it with confidence!

Dress by ASOS Curve. 

Apologies for the lighting, it was very dark in the theater.

Sapphire and diamond ring from Zales and clutch from TJ Maxx

My very "well loved" Heels by Nine West

I went with very natural makeup. I did a soft smokey eye and natural lip, so as not to take attention away from the details of my dress. 

Shop the Look! 

ASOS Curve dress (Sadly sold out) but there are so many other dresses available as ASOS Curve! 

Click here to shop ASOS Curve Dresses! 

Alternative Dress Options

Similar Heels

Alternative Heels

Ring from Zales

Lipstick by Mac in the color "Angel" 

Nails OPI "Bubble Bath"

Check out the Strand Capitol in York!

That's all for now! But look for more next week! I have a new look book coming your way! 

Love, 

Kate

My hubby and I during Intermission

My "Go To" Little Black Dress!

Hey Ladies!

The little black dress is pretty much the Holy Grail of wardrobe essentials. Speaking of Holy Grail, I recently wore this dress for a date to the theater. I went to see Monty Python's Spamalot with my husband. It was phenomenal. I've never laughed so hard in my entire life. I'd highly recommend seeing it, if you ever get the opportunity! 

But lets get back to my LBD. I purchased this wrap dress from Ann Taylor. It is the quintessential, classic, black dress. So flattering and feminine. It is a true wrap dress and there's just something about it, that makes you feel extra feminine. I LOVE this dress. I've worn it for many occasions and it never lets me down. I've styled it so many different ways and it is always perfection. Honestly though, minimally styled, it's able to really shine.

For this particular evening, I paired it with another classic, matte black, peep toe pumps, by Jessica Simpson Collection. Keeping with the classic theme, I opted for red nails (OPI Red Hot Rio). I went with natural makeup, so my nails really popped. I also carried a nude clutch purse from TJ Maxx for my essentials, lipstick, lip gloss, my ID, and my cell phone. I wore my chunky gold statement bracelet from Nordstrom and my Cassandra Goad "Temple of Heaven" earrings. Lucky for you all this dress is still available in black (limited sizing), Rosy Plumb, Navy Blue, and Hunter Green. That Hunter Green is next on my list! I've linked to it below. Don't miss out on this dress! You'll have it forever, it's never going to be out of style!

That's all for now! But there's lots more coming your way in the next week!
Love,
Kate

Shop the Dress!

A Flannel Affair! What's Old is New Again! The 90's Are Making a Comeback!

Hey Ladies!

As I'm sure you've noticed, the 90's are making a comeback! Several 90's trends to be specific. Choker necklaces are HUGE right now. I can't wait to rock one on a night out with my hubby. More exciting for me, is the return of lived in flannel shirts!

Oh my gosh, I was in Target the other day, and the options are literally endless. I grabbed a few, but the one linked below is definitely my favorite. It's perfect colors for fall. As I talked about in my previous post,  it's still fairly warm in my neck of the woods. This shirt couldn't be more perfect. First of all, the fabric is so light and breezy, and oh so soft. Today, I rolled the sleeves up and wore a white cami from Torrid underneath for a laid back, but put together look. It was perfect for a lunch date with my hubby after watching him play a game of softball. I paired mine with dark navy, "Curvy" slim denim jeans, from Ann Taylor, and navy blue sneakers, by New Balance for J Crew. I would encourage you all to check out the return of the flannel shirt trend. They can be worn so many different ways. Open over a cami, tank or t-shirt. Buttoned up and worn with jeans or leggings. This shirt in particular is especially long in the back so I know I'll be wearing it with leggings for errand days or around the house. This is a trend that I can totally get behind! I'd love to see your ideas and how you style your flannel shirts! If you do decide to give them a try please tag me in your photos on Instagram @classicallycurvy!

That's all for now! But I'll talk to you again really soon!
Love, Kate

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Alternative Jeans 

Specifically Plus Size Jeans 

Olive Tones and Open Toed Booties Oh My! Plus Size "Early Fall" Lookbook!

Hi Ladies!

Fall is almost here! At least in my neck of the woods it is. I couldn't be more thrilled! This is my favorite season, especially as far as fashion is concerned. I love layering and having fun with my outfits. You can create so many different looks with a few staple pieces. I'll be posting several lookbooks this season as the weather gets cooler. For now, I thought I would kick off my favorite season with an "Early Fall" (read still fairly warm outside) lookbook.

I really wanted to play with the open-toed bootie trend, so I have featured and styled a pair in this post. Once it gets cooler, I won't want my toes and heels exposed. So this is the perfect weather to play around with this trend. I snagged these "DV Aria" booties from Target for a steal at $34.99. These babies are an exact dupe for a well known, high end brand, and they're much kinder to the wallet, by about one third! I don't mind spending good money on certain things. Shoes or clothing that are super well made and will really stand the test of time, classics that I know I'll have forever. However, when I'm trying out a new trend, I don't want to drop a ton of money for something that may go out of style as fast as it came in. These were an awesome price and they are so comfortable, and really well made. I could walk around in them all day, which is a huge plus. I'd highly recommend giving them a whirl.

For the first look I paired them with my favorite distressed, boyfriend jeans, by Lucky Brand which I purchased at Nordstrom. Sadly these exact jeans, the "Georgia" jeans are sold out, but I've linked to a similar pair below. I wore an olive green "Pop Over Top" by Merona for Target. This top is so soft and unbelievably comfortable. I had been looking for a shirt in this color for quite some time. I kept finding them, but in a silky material, that just wasn't as flattering on my figure as I had been hoping for. When I found this hidden treasure at Target I was over the moon. It is exactly what I was looking for and it's a soft flattering material to boot. Oh, and again, it's kind to the wallet at just $19.99.

For the next look I kept the same jeans, but threw on my simple black Vee Tee from Target (Ha, noticing a theme here? I love Target!) and added my American Rag Utility vest for a fun layered look, that was still appropriate for the warmer weather. This vest has become a staple in my wardrobe. It's so versatile and really just makes an outfit. I love the olive green color for fall, as you can probably tell from this post.

Right now during the day, temperatures can still get pretty warm. I included one look that would be great for a chillier evening. There is nothing I love more than a classic, navy, skinny jean. They can hide a multitude of sins, and they're just timeless. I LOVE these skinny jeans by Calvin Klein. They make me feel like a million bucks. I cuffed the ankles to really show off these booties and paired them with a navy and ivory Breton top from J Crew. I added this gorgeous "Downtown Field Jacket" also by J Crew. Side note, I had always wanted a Barbour jacket. Well when I saw this jacket at J Crew I knew it had to be mine. It has that classic Barbour look, at less than half the price, but it is most definitely not lacking in quality. It is also olive in color. If I get too warm, I could easily remove the jacket.

Well ladies that's all for now, but keep your eyes peeled! I am more than chomping at the bit to share some layered, cooler weather looks with all of you. I can't wait to see what you do! Please tag me on Instagram if you try any of these looks. I would love to connect with you and see your gorgeous faces!

Love,
Kate

Shop The Looks! 

Similar Jacket 

Forever 21 Plus Fuchsia Skirt Lookbook!

Hi Ladies!
I'm so excited to share this skirt with you. First of all, it's the deal of the century and a steal, at just under sixteen dollars. It's gorgeous and so versatile. I couldn't possibly be more in love with it. I've been wanting a skirt in this exact color for so long. I can't believe I found one, not only in my size, but for such an awesome price. It's also very well made and I know it will last a long time. You can dress it up, for a night out, or dress it down for a simple lunch date.

For the first look, I paired it with a simple black V neck Tee from Target and some Rockstud sandals. This would be perfect for a day to night look. To accessorize, I chose some gold statement earrings by Cassandra Goad, and a chunky gold statement bracelet by Nordstrom with a few gold bangles from Target.

For the next look I changed into some open toed, matte black pumps, by Jessica Simpson. I threw my hair in a low pony for a chic, pulled together, look. A small black clutch, would be the perfect addition for an evening out. I changed my earrings to small diamond and pearl drop earrings, for a more classic look.

For the next look, I went with something a little trendier. I kept the Jessica Simpson pumps, but paired the skirt with a chambray shirt from J Crew and a chunky pearl statement necklace, also by J Crew. I kept the same diamond and pearl earrings from the previous look, but opted for a simple updo for my hair.

The last look I created, has a nautical feel to it. I chose a classic navy and white Breton top from Old Navy. For the shoes, I chose super cute gingham and seersucker wedge espadrilles.

As you can see, this dress could be styled a million and one different ways, and I cannot wait to see what else I can do with it. I'm so excited to have it as part of my wardrobe and I know it'll be a favorite for years to come. I'd love to see how you style this skirt too! If you purchase it, please tag me on Instagram @classicallycurvy so I can see your beautiful faces.

Don't miss out on this amazing deal. It's also available in black. It's such a classic cut, I am purchasing the black as well.

Check out my first YouTube video showcasing this skirt! I had so much fun making it!

Shop The Look!

First Look!

Similar Shoes 

Second Look!

Similar Black Pumps

Third Look!

Fourth Look! 

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