We’re back with part two of the perfect gift guide for your loved ones! If you have a little more to spend, check out gifts $100 or less here. Shop the perfect beauty gift sets for $50 or less!
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The holidays are always a toss-up for me. On the one hand, I love the decor, Christmas events, frivolity, and plus size holiday style. But on the other hand, it reminds me of all the family and friends who are no longer with me during the holidays. This is why I always do something special to brighten up my mood during the holidays.
Last week, me and my girls got together and dressed up in Lane Bryant’s latest picks for the season. Plus Size holiday style went up by 1000 points this year. It’s so awesome to see more bold and bright styling for us plus size girl.
I reached out to my friend Arlyn to snap a few pictures for us. We met up at one of our favorite creator places in Boston, and voila! We made memories while dancing to Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson, and R&B Christmas songs.
It was perfect. I honestly think this is going to be a common practice for me. Maybe once every three months. But for now, check out our looks!
Disclosure: I’m not being compensated for this post, but the items were gifted by Lane Bryant for a sponsored Instagram post. There are affiliate links in this post – this means that if you click through and order anything through them, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. These commissions help me continue my work here, and I greatly appreciate the support!
It’s been eons since I’ve done a full style post outside of my house! So today, we’re taking it back old school so I can show you some plus size holiday style ideas from Lane Bryant.
Bracelet-Sleeve Button-Front Blouse
Twisted Pearlized & Goldtone Hoop Earrings
Boyfriend Fit denim
There’s nothing more classic for the holidays than a red tartan plaid. This dress screams “festive!” and paired with this stunning red coat, you’re ready for any holiday occasion. The coat looks stunning with even the most basic of outfits – you’ll see me out in it this winter with denim and a turtleneck.
Red Wool Blend Long Coat
Cap-Sleeve Fit & Flare Midi Plaid Dress
Mary Jane Heels
Necklace
The dress would also look cute with a belt. Plus, it has pockets (a must.)
I’ve never been a big flannel shirt wearer, but this flannel dress is so great for dressing up or down. It is supremely comfortable while still being holiday-appropriate for so many occasions. I paired it with some wide width velvet flats, but it could easily be styled more casually with sneakers and a denim jacket.
Lurex Shimmer Flannel Midi Dress
Embellished Velvet Flats
As an elder millennial, it feels against my religion to wear anything other than skinny jeans. Still, I’m trying to get with the times and these boyfriend fit jeans were a surprise win. This popover top is also available in a red plaid, but I loved the green and navy contrast. I paired it with wide width Chelsea boots that have a very walkable stacked heel.
Crinkle Popover Blouse
Boyfriend Fit Jean
Chelsea Ankle Boot
Twisted Pearlized & Goldtone Hoop Earrings
Are you holiday shopping yet, or are you waiting for a few more weeks? There are no wrong answers!
If you’re cutting it real close to the holidays, here are some quick gifts for under $15 that you can buy online and pick up in store.
December has always been one of the busiest times of the year for my family. From birthdays to Holiday gatherings, we’re always on the go and balancing multiple priorities. In the blink of an eye, the month comes and goes and the New Year becomes our new norm. So, it’s not surprising that my Holiday shopping doesn’t even start until the tree is up. Even then, it’s usually a three week mad scramble leading up to Christmas.
Every year, my shopping starts with a trip to Shoppers Drug Mart. I’ve picked up fragrances, video games, gift cards and so much more for family and friends while collecting PC Optimum points. Most locations also have an incredible Beauty Boutique where you can stock up on everything you need to look fierce and fabulous for the Holidays. Check out my 2020 gift guide here in case you missed it and keep reading for some amazing gift ideas for every budget and anyone on your Holiday list.
For the makeup enthusiast on your list, the limited edition QUO Brush Sets are always a great idea. The brushes are amazing quality and the kits come in different price points. This year, the “All the Glam” Brush Set really caught my eye and is already wrapped and sitting under my tree for that special someone. It’s a great set that includes six synthetic brushes and a portable tin for only $20-25.
Another great gift find this year was the Head to Toe Glow Masking Kit ($18) by Life Brand. The mask collection is formulated to provide ultimate indulgence and is great for men and women of any age! It includes seven revitalizing mask treatments that leave skin feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and restored while providing a brighter, more glowing complexion. This would make such a great unisex Secret Santa gift!
I love recommending the Fragrance Discovery Collection & Certificate that Shoppers Drug Mart launches every year because it allows you to try multiple mini-sized fragrances, and use the certificate included to cash in for a full size of your favourite scent. If you know your loved ones’ signature scent or what they’re hoping to see under the tree though, Shoppers has a wide assortment of scent options at every price point. Pictured below is Very Good Girl by Carolina Herrera ($168), a popular EDP for 2021 but if my family is reading this Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium is my all-time favourite 😉
From chocolate to lip balm, costume jewelry and even toiletries, the stocking stuffer selection at Shoppers Drug Mart is endless. Just get your loved ones what they use and love everyday! I’ve been loving the Remedy Masks ($34) by Pixi Beauty. These masks have single handedly revitalized and helped to calm my winter parched skin and deserve a special shout out because I don’t see them getting enough hype online. Available in three different varieties (Rose, Milky & Vitamin C), each generously sized tub comes with its own spoon-style spatula and is an absolute treat for anyone looking to kick start their skincare routine in the New Year.
Shoppers Drug Mart also has wonderful gadgets to give and get! Things like the Nintendo Switch, Philips Sonicare One Electric Toothbrush, Beats Wireless Headphones and the Double Barrel Total Body Massager ($140) pictured below.
Happy Shopping & Happy Holidays!
Wearing ✶ Retro cotton print dress c/o Very Shop summer dresses at Very UK ✶ Self made hair bow ✶ Espadrilles and Bee shoulder bag, both c/o Very
It’s late August but I’m not ready to let go of summer yet! And with the August bank holiday weekend predicted to be sunny and warm, I’m hoping for one last river swim before the end of the season and holding on to my sundresses and sun hats. Last weekend, I wore this sweetest of summer dresses for a little trip to the Northumbrian market town of Rothbury. We’ve driven through Rothbury several times on our way to Cragside and Wallington, and I’ve always wanted to shoot some photos against the charming shopfronts and houses.
My entire outfit has been gifted by Very.co.uk (with the exception of my hair bow, which I made!) Very has so many delightful sundresses and maxi dresses in at the moment that are just perfect for summer holidays or a daytrip to a picturesque market town like this. It was hard to pick just one but in the end, this Monsoon dress in the most darling retro print had my heart. Everyone keeps saying that twee fashion is making a comeback but for me, it never left. I leaned heavily on the cutesy retro vibes with a red bee crossbody bag and cream espadrilles, both also from Very, and finished the look with a me-made hair bow and red lipstick. Matte red lipstick and winged liner is my go-to makeup look when I want I want to exude retro vibes without going into too much fuss. And my curling iron waves ended up looking like a messier version of pin up curls, which is the closest to pin up hair I’m ever going to get!
Regarding sizing, I’m wearing a size 20 in the dress and a size 8 in the shoes. In hindsight, I should have sized down to the 18 in the dress as the 20 is currently a bit too loose for me and this is meant to be a fitted style. If you look at reviews of this dress on Very and Monsoon, you’ll find a lot of people saying that it runs small, but that hasn’t been my experience at all – I feel that it’s quite true to size. The espadrilles felt a bit tight on my somewhat wide feet at first (I can wear both wide widths and regular, depending on the shoe) but after a bit of walking, they stretched out and were perfectly comfortable all day.
I hope you enjoyed this old school outfit post! I miss the days when I’d dissect my looks and discuss sizes and fit on this blog, and I think I need to bring it back. After all, twee fashion and outfit dissection is how I started blogging all those years ago!
