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That experience left me feeling as if the retail industry really needs to provide more options and a greater selection for women and men with fuller figures. Sixty percent of women are above a size twelve, yet it is so difficult to find larger sizes.

I asked my full-figured ladies on Facebook to give me some feedback on what challenges they face when shopping. Here are some of the responses:

The hardest thing about being plus size and shopping for me is that I am in the in between size. I am a 14 which can be found in plus size stores but also in regular stores. The thing I struggle with is that in some plus size stores like Lane Bryant, the clothes don’t fit me well. For instance, the pants are not flattering because they always have the bulge in the crotch area, the shirts sometimes are bigger in the belly area and short, making me look frumpy. So for me, it take a lot of time finding because I have to take my time and try on EVERYTHING. The other problem I run into is that designers think that just because a woman is plus size, they wear frumpy ugly clothing. The clothes that are cute and of good quality seem to be expensive. The store I LOVE is Ashley Stewart!!!!! I do not shop online very often because it’s hit or miss with clothes fitting me properly once they arrive and its too time consuming and expensive to continue to send clothes back if I get them and find they don’t fit correctly. – S.P

A huge challenge for me is finding clothes made from quality materials. I don’t always have time to sew. My top three stores are Macy’s, Ashley Stewart, and Torrid. I like the convenience of online shopping but not the risk so I do it in moderation. -Danielle

I shop at Lane Bryant, Old Navy and online. The hardest thing about shopping for me is that my options are very limited. I consider myself to be fashionable, but can’t always buy the fashionable pieces because they don’t make them in plus sized clothing. Living in Kalamazoo, the options are VERY limited as to where a plus size girl can shop. And for some reason, most stores think that big girls are really old or just have no desire to look beautiful or sexy. As far as evening wear, it’s almost impossible to find in a store around here, so that’s often an online purchase as well….so I really don’t have much of a choice but to order online. And I’ve been pretty lucky in getting things that fit and I know my body quite well and know what will and won’t look good on me. I really do wish that there were more options for plus size girls. When I’m wearing something pretty that makes me look and feel good, I am much more confident in who I am and in my beauty as a woman. I do want to feel beautiful and sexy when I get dressed. And wish designers realized that just because a woman isn’t a size four doesn’t mean she doesn’t deserve gorgeous clothes that are trendy and stylish…. -Stacie

 Being in-between most of my young adult life I shop at stores that have 12-14s. I’ve learned to shop GAP inc. I always find stuff in a 12/13 at Old Navy/ GAP/Banna Republic. If the outfit is an oversized look for a smaller person it tends to …balance out on me perfectly without me looking swallowed. I hate looking for jeans(big butt, smaller waist, big thighs…) -Iris

So the discussion has been started, what is your input?

What are some challenges you face while shopping? Name the top 3 stores you like to shop at. Where do you go for evening wear? Do you shop online? Why/Why not?

I will write a follow-up blog and address some of your issues and concerns, so post your response!

-ShereenaMonique

The Michigan Style Channel is a new and exciting online style show! Michigan Style Channel features and promotes Michigan based boutiques, fashion and hair stylists, and make-up artists. Michigan Style Channel will help men and women realize their style potential, promote self-confidence and modesty.

You will find valuable style information from the wide range of industry professionals appearing on the show.

The first episode was on Bridal Style. It was shot at Elizabeth’s Bridal Manor in Northville, MI. Hairstylist Melanie Stevenson and make up artist Brandi Taylor were also on hand to give bridal hair and make-up tips!

Tips from the show:

The Dress:

*If you are on a budget, you can buy a simple, inexpensive dress and add style and individuality with belts, boleros, jewelry, hair accessories and veils (DO NOT wear all this together, these are just your styling options:-) There are so many styling options for brides today.

*Make an appointment when shopping for your dress to ensure you receive the best service possible. When you have an appointment the store is able to be prepared and give you their full attention.

The Hair:

* Do a trial run with your planned hair style BEFORE the wedding! That will help your stylist know exactly what you want AND you will have time to find what really works for you.

The Make-Up:

*Spend the extra money to have your make-up artist on hand all day. It will cost, but this way you are sure to look fresh in all of your pictures, and you won’t have to try to hold back your tears, because your make-up artist will be there to touch you up as needed! So let the tears fly!!

For more tips, click the above image and watch the episode!

-Shereena Monique

-NO embroidery or embellishments on the skirt

-NO plunging necklines or exposed cleavage

-It had to be strapless

-Had to have a train

-Had to have lace on the bodice

-I wanted an a line skirt that I could wear a hoop or petticoat underneath to give it that princess vibe

My friends from college came in from Chicago and we made a day of dress shopping. I had three stores selected, a high end store, a mid range store and a budget store. I did not want to limit myself to any store “type” and potentially miss my dress. And what do ya know? When we walked into the “budget” store, which was our second stop, my sister pointed to a dress and said “Shereena is going to get that dress.”

She came and found me and told me she found my dress, I came over and saw it and fell in love. I tried it on and it was EVERYTHING I was looking for. Diamond white, sleeveless, with silver lace over the bodice, empire waist with a satin band under the bust with a jeweled broach in the center. An a-line, bustled skirt with a train. It was perfect, but there was one problem, the fabric was not the quality I was looking for.

The sales woman told me it was a knock-off of a Maggie Sottero gown. With that information I went in search of the real thing. I found the Maggie Sottero version of the dress at a beautiful bridal boutique called Elizabeth’s Bridal Manor in Northville, MI.

The day of my wedding, when I put on my gown, tiara, cathedral length veil, and crystal earrings, I felt gorgeous. To top it off, a family friend brought her five year old little boy to the wedding. When he saw me he exclaimed with shock “You’re a princess?! I didn’t know you were a princess!”

Ladies, post fond memories of your big day and how you felt wearing your wedding gown. OR post what you want in a gown when your time comes.

-Shereena Monique

So what do we all feel about wigs, weaves and hair extensions? I am not one to succumb to peer pressure but it seems that EVERYONE is doing it! All races and shades are partaking in the dainties of purchased hair. Why? It seems that hair extensions and weaves have gained much more acceptance and use in the past 5 years. It is not even something women care about keeping a secret anymore…”fake hair, who cares?!”

I myself wear weaves from time to time. The convenience of it is what ropes me in. It is quick and gets much style bang. But, I do like my natural hair, however, this requires MUCH more maintenance and sometimes stress.

Do you wear weaves/extensions? Why? Why not?

For women who do wear extensions, how do you feel about your real hair?

Shereena Monique

Guys, this is a refresher to highlight the options you do have to accessorize and bring a lift to your look!

Hats: Hats are a great option to add depth to your look and there are many styles to choose from giving you even more options.

Wrist Accents: Watches are a classic male accessory and can be the statement piece of jewelry a man owns. But bracelets have made a come back in recent years. A nice thick bracelet can add a tasteful layer of style to a man’s look.

Rings: Let’s not get too carried away when it comes to rings but one or two rings can bring a little flair.

Necklaces: Keep it simple and seldom when it comes to necklaces. It can make men look like they are trying too hard. But a simple chain and masculine charm with a button up shirt or graphic tee is appropriate every once in a while.

Earrings: I have nothing to say about this, it is a personal choice. But if you want to know, I lean more towards no, no.

Belts: This is where a man can really express his personal style. Belts come in so many widths, and buckles can be very classic and clean, or huge and expressive depending on what look is desired. But I encourage men to really choose belts and buckles carefully because they say a lot about you and can add a great deal of style.

Ties and pocket squares: ties are without question the most popular male accessory (what do you always think of when shopping for dad?). This is a very important accessory especially for work. They should be chosen carefully, also the knot used should be considered. The thickness of the knot says a lot about a man’s style as well.

Sunglasses: Huge style statement! Functional and fashionable. Have fun with shades!

Scarves: Men wearing scarves for fashion and not just function is a recent fashion phenomena. But consider your lifestyle and the look you want to project before you wrap!  

The Man Bag: Unless you actually need a bag for functional reasons, let’s NOT and not even say we did…

Wow, after listing this all out, men have more options than we thought! So men please take thought about your accessory options, maximize what you have, add some new trendy pieces and up you look! I also challenge you to buy or borrow and wear a new type of accessory that you don’t usually wear, like a bracelet, hat or tie and see how it feels for a day!

Quick Tips For Fab Mommy Style!

Just a quick post with suggestions on how to ditch the mommy uniform: t-shirts with baby food, sweat pants with milk stains and hand swept bed head.

Let me just say that I am still mastering this, I in no way have it all together (I am sitting in the library writing this and I realized I forgot to brush my teeth…busy mommy day!) But I have found a few tricks that can help us all.

1) Get dressed 30 minutes before baby or kids wake up. This is tough because we want to hang on to every moment of sleep. BUT getting dressed helps you feel refreshed and you actually feel less tired during the day.

2) Select 1 or 2 days per week to devote to prep work: painting toes, plucking brows, shaving legs etc. So on the days you select you will do the prep work during your child’s nap or play time(s). And if your baby or children are a bit older they may be able to be occupied with a toy or video while you primpJ

3) Get a simple hair do! Think braids, or a straight cut or even a weave. You want something you can do very little with and still look great. I had a sew in weave with micro braids in the front. It was high style-low maintenance.

4) Keep your clothes clean so when you are getting dressed you won’t get frustrated and give up because everything has Gerber stuck to it.

5) It takes 5…It truly only takes about 5 minutes to throw some powder, mascara, gloss and blush on your face. SO DO IT! Even if little Junior has to cry for a few minutes, trust me, he will later appreciate a mother who felt good about herself. The better you feel about yourself, the better care you can give to others.

So, when you put it all together you are ready to get dressed in 10 minutes because your hair is shake and go, you have already painted your nails, done your brows, you have clean clothes and you know how to do a 5 minute make-up face!

 Bra fit basics:

1. The underband around your body should be firm but comfortable. You should be able to run a finger under the band. If it’s too tight, you need a larger size or a wider hook placement.

2. The back and front of the bra should be parallel to the floor or slightly lower in the back. The lower edge of the band should anchor between the shoulder blades. The lower the back fits, the better the support.

3. The center panel should lie down against the breastbone, not bridge away from the body. If it doesn’t, your cup size could be too small, or the panel is not large enough to accommodate the separation between your breasts.

4. Underwires should lie flat against your rib cage, enclosing your breasts without rubbing or digging into the soft tissue or your armpit. If they bulge, you probably need a larger size cup.

 5. It should have a smooth outline, without bulging at the top or the sides. The cups should not pucker or wrinkle.

6. It should support the weight of your breasts mainly with the broadband and the cups, NOT the shoulder straps.

7. Check your silhouette. The bust should be midway between the top of the shoulder and the bend of the elbow to create a silhouette of balanced proportions. If your bra doesn’t fit correctly, it’s probably because you don’t have the right size. Taking a few minutes to “get things straight” will make you look slimmer, trimmer, and taller – WITHOUT a trip to the gym (http://www.sideroad.com/Clothing/bra-fitting.html)

Bras are also an investment, so you want to take care of them. Technically bras should be hand washed and hung to dry. But most of us do not have the time or desire to hand wash them. So here are care instructions for your delicates:

*Wash on delicate with other delicate items (I wash bras and underware separate from my other clothes)

*Fasten your bras so they don’t snag on other garments

*Wash bras in a lingerie bag

*Hang to dry. The heat from dryers can ruin the elasticity of your under armor:-)

It is best to be fitted by a lingerie specialist at a department store or lingerie boutique. But if you cannot or don’t want to, here is a site that will tell you how to measure yourself and calculate your size for you…http://www.wacoal-america.com/content/our-service//fit-guide/content.html