thefatgirloffashion.com 💋 Plus Size Fashion + Beauty & Lifestyle
Lifestyle blog on fashion, food & travel in Chicago
Sundance Institute x Chicago presented the Luther Vandross documentary, ‘Luther: Never Too Much’. Notably, Chicago is the first U.S. city to host an independent film fest with the Sundance Institute outside of its home in Park City, Utah.
Plus-Size Fall Style: NYDJ. Are you looking for style plus comfort in your clothes? Many of us are looking for this as we slip back into real clothes this fall. NYDJ “Not Your Daughter’s Jeans” is it!
Continue reading “Plus-Size Fall Style: NYDJ”
In this blog post, I’m talking about friendsgiving with IFOnly. Life is made up of experiences and IFOnly.com wants to help with those experiences. If you’re looking for a new ways to create memories than keep reading.
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IFOnly is like the Ticketmaster for personal events. They have formed a marketplace for those of us looking to create memorable experiences. IFOnly has something for everyone. If you’re new in town you can see the town with local experts. Maybe you’re looking to improve you fashion & style there is options for you. Are you a foodie? You’ll find experiences featuring wine pairing, cocktail making, or culinary lessons. IFOnly also offers once-in-a-lifetime connections with lauded luminaries, providing access to a curated selection of extraordinary experiences that benefit worthy causes around the world.
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IFOnly believe that life is not about buying things, it’s about the extraordinary experiences to be remembered and shared. This is something that I very much agree with. So, when I was given the opportunity to receive an experience I know I wanted one were I could include my friends.
The IFOnly marketplace can delivers 1000s if everything everyday of they year. For me timing was perfect for my experience. Because I know I wanted to share my experience with my friends I thought what better time than friendsgiving?! Friendsgiving being a blend of friend and Thanksgiving, and refers to a large meal eaten with friends either on or near Thanksgiving I know I wanted to break bread as part of the offer.
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Using IFOnly was very easy. I had my experience selected with only a few steps.
I first selected the city, available in 26 cities world wide as on 11/17/2018, I wanted to have my experience in. Next, I selected my group size. I then picked the date I wanted to have my experience on. I followed up by selecting my price point and categories options. You don’t have to select your experience following my selection path but just know it’s easy.
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.The IFOnly experience overall was great! The site was very easy to use. My experience was processed and confirmed in less than 24 hours. The IFOnly site as well as the restaurant sent a reminder email and text. The restaurant was lovely and the worth the value of the IFOnly price point.
I would definitely use IFOnly again. With an upcoming trip to New York and saw an experience that has already caught my eye that. I really like the wide range of pricing options as well as experiences to be done.
I really like that the giving aspect offered by IFOnly. You can give to charities via the site. You can bid on experiences for charity. Anything from Ariana Grande Signed ‘Moonlight’ Perfume Box to a voicemail greeting from the Original ‘Star Trek’ Captain William Shatner. Or maybe you want to meet Chris Noth, Sex and the City’s “Mr. Big,” at his Private Invite-Only Event for Ambhar Tequila. Hmmmm yeah!
Feel free to tweet me at @fatgirl_fashion or message me on Facebook here. If you can find thefatgirloffashion lifestyle inspiration on Instagram here.
DISCLAIMER: I received my personal IFOnly experience compliments of the IFOnly, however; All opinions are my own.
Save $50 worldwide on your first IFOnly experience using code IFOnlyGift44. Code IFOnlyGift44 expires 12/31/2018.
SHOP THE LOOK
DRESS: Plaid Mini Dress
HAT: Similar Fedora
TIGHTS: Ultra Sheer Control Top Hosiery
HEELS: Similar Bow-Accented Pumps
What do see yourself doing an IFOnly experience? If so, which one? Let me know! Sound off in the comments.
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“I hide the takeout menus under the couch pillows.” _ Aunt Sylvia (Breach)
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This past weekend, Victory Gardens Theater and the Black Women’s Expo teamed up to be the shopping destination for Black-owned and operated beauty companies in Chicago. Victory Gardens did this while being the home of Antoinette Nwandu’s play Breach. You got so much bang for your buck. The ticket for Breach included entrance into the Black Beauty festival, a champagne cocktail, and a Victory Gardens Theater swag bag.
Black Beauty Festival hosted by Victory Gardens Theater and the Black Women’s Expo had vendors like Shea Body Works, Luv That Scrub, Entwine Couture, OXO Cosmetics, Chocolate Kinks & Curls, Eden Body Works and many more. It was wonderful to be able to do a little shopping before the play.
BWe Chicago 2018 will be held at McCormick Place April 6th-8th.
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After the shopping, I attended the stage play Breach at the same theater. Breach written by Antoinette Nwandu is a manifesto on race in America through the eyes of a black girl recovering from self-hate. I can say the play was more than I was expecting. I went through a range of emotions during the two-hour play. Breach tells the story of a woman named Margaret at a time in her life during self-caused chaos and reflection. Margaret is trying to do what’s best for her and her future while dealing with her aunt’s treatment of her during her youth. I left the play touched. The play runs to March 11th. I encourage you to see Breach for yourself. To save on your ticket use the code BEAUTY.
Photos from play are courtesy of Victory Garden.
If you like this look be sure to share it on your social media platforms!!! Tell a friend to tell a friend.
CLICK HERE TO SEE WHY I’M CHICAGO’S PLUS SIZE AUTHORITY.
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“Whether the rise was too long or the inseam was too short or the pair of jeans they wanted didn’t come in their size — finding the perfect fit for their body type was just too challenging, That’s a problem we wanted to solve.” _Target
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Last year, Target aka ‘Tar-zhay’ gave us A New Day which offers trendy styles and athleisure with Joylab. I personally love both labels. So when I heard Target was creating a denim line I was very open for it. So let me introduce you to that line, Universal Thread. Universal Thread is Target’s new women’s lifestyle brand focused on denim and their first private label launch of 2018. Universal Thread wants to be a staple in women’s closet, especially within the plus community. This newly added line is the capper to the other plus friendly line’s carried at Target such Ava & Viv and Who What Wear.
Universal Thread brand includes tops, dresses, accessories, and shoes with prices ranging from $5 to about $40. The new label will service sizes starting at 00 and run through 26W. This is the first time Target has launched a brand with this large of a range. Mark Tritton, Target’s executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, said: “Universal Thread is a denim-centric collection fit for all body types.” Target says jeans are making a comeback as women now look to diversify their wardrobes beyond leggings. I agree with him. I find it refreshing to have an exclusive women’s lifestyle brand offering denim.
In developing Universal Thread, Target said they research with nearly 1,000 women from across the country to better understand their needs when it comes to shopping denim. (I wish they would have reached out to me, lol.) Target heard from nearly all of them was that they dreaded shopping for new jeans. Whether the rise was too long or the inseam was too short or the pair of jeans they wanted didn’t come in their size—finding the perfect fit for their body type was just too challenging. That’s a problem Target wanted to solve.
My thoughts on the Universal Thread: It is great to have another option for denim. I’m wearing a pair of the Universal Thread jean in the Mid-Rise Curvy Skinny style. They in the color indigo and size 18 long. These Mid-Rise Curvy Skinnies are from the straight size line of the brand. In the pair, I’m wearing size 18 is the largest of the “straight size” sizes. These jeans fit very well. They have great stretch. Depending on what shoes I’m wearing I could have gone with a regular and not a long but the long works also. As a petite plus size blogger is great to see Target offering Universal Thread in different height ranges as well as extended sizes. I feel they are excellently made. Even though parts of the jeans are made from recycled plastic bottles they don’t look used or damage at all. I didn’t know I was missing my new favorite jeans from my wardrobe until I tried this on.
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This is not a sponsored post and all thoughts are my own.
Go get your wallets because Universal Thread is available now at Target stores and online at Target.com.
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DOES UNIVERSAL THREAD SPEAK TO YOUR DENIM NEEDS?
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Feel free to tweet me at @fatgirl_fashion or message me on Facebook here with any plus size news.
If you like this content be sure to share it on your social media platforms! Tell a friend to tell a friend.
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You can sign up for this blog’s newsletter here and follow on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and snapchat and now YOUTUBE!
“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.”_ Benjamin Franklin
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TheCurvycon is a month away. Where has the time gone? I’m very excited. This is my second year attending. I had a wonderful time at theCurvycon 2016. I also travel to NYC often. I know that this year’s theCurvycon is going to very special because it’s happening during one of the busiest time in New Year which is Fashion Week. New York will be crazy in a good way. With 30 days until theCurvycon here’s a quick checklist to make sure your trip goes off without a hitch.
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Purchase your theCurvyccon ticket – As of today, Platinum and teal tickets are sold out! You can still get general admission tickets. Those tickets are available here. Plans do change so you may see tickets online for resale. BE CAREFUL!!!! Those tickets are not guaranteed because they are not coming from theCurvycon’s Eventbrite page. Only purchase resale tickets from people you know and trust. You don’t want to arrive and your ticket not be honored.
Did you know? Last year theCurvycon team starting selling this year’s theCurvycon tickets the week following the event. So save a few coins for that because they offered a discount on those tickets. I hope they do that again because that’s when I purchased my platinum ticket.
Book Your Room – Rooms are going fast. They are also getting pricey. If you’re renting a hotel room or an AirBNB you really need to book today. New York rooms are smaller than rooms in other parts of the US but sharing is a great way to save.
Did you know? theCurvycon has a Facebook group for ticket holders. People are looking for roommates. So purchase your ticket here and join the group.
Flight/Train/Bus Tickets – By now you should know how you’re going to get there. If you haven’t as of yet book your travel plans. I suggest coming in Thursday because theCurvycon events start at 9:30 am on Friday.
Did you know? Save room in your suitcase for your swag and purchases. Some of my favorite brands like Gwynnie Bee, ASOS, Eloquii, ModCloth, and Macy’s will be at theCurvycon mall.
Ashley’s look – Jacket ▪Here | Jumper ▪ Similar | Purse ▪ Here | Shoes ▪Similar
Plan Your Outfits – This is a fashion event so bring it! You don’t have to wear Gucci. I find the best looks are when a person is creative. Time does fly so you want to make sure you have time for your orders to come in. You have time to try your clothes on and reorder if needed.
Did you know? It’s possible that an agency or two will be scouting at theCURVYcon. You could be the new face of your favorite brand.
Clean out our phone – This may seem very random but it’s not. There’s nothing worst than having the prefect selfie all lined up with your favorite blogger and your phone says you’re out of memory. Take the next couple of weeks and delete the old food pictures so that you’ll be able to capture all the fun without any issue.
Did you know? If you can’t decide which pics to let go of simply save them to your computer and then remove them from your phone.
Make reservations – Start thinking about all the restaurants and tours you’ve been wishing to go to. Now is the time to books that tour or place a call to that restaurant. NYFW is super business and your don’t want to miss out because they’re booked up.
Did you know? You can book many tours and restaurants online? Yep! Let your fingers do the walking, lol.
I hope these tips help!
Leave any questions in the comments?
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If you like this look be sure to share it on your social media platforms!!! Tell a friend to tell a friend.
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You can sign up for this blog’s newsletter here. Also lately I’ve been doing most of my posting on Snapchat@fatgirl_fashion. My Snapchat friends were the first to know about the location I selected for my blog’s 3rd-year-anniversary brunch. They saw first hand my Beyonce’s Formation tour experience and an NYC trip for theCurvycon. Snaps showed L.A. for BlogHer and ATL for TCFStyleExpo and The MakeUp Show Chicago. So be sure to follow on Snapchat so you don’t miss any of the action. thefatgirloffashion.com can be found on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter also.
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.”_ Saint Augustine
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Being plus size and traveling it’s as hard as you think. In facts traveling as a plus size girl can be very easy if you plan ahead. Within this post, I’ll be offering some simple tips to make your travels easy breezy.
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Drink Water – This may be a surprising choice to top this list but it’s important. Flights are often drying and can leave you very thirsty. You don’t want to be asking for sodas and juice. You drink your drink a like faster and more of if they are sugary. That’ll have you going to the restroom more often. Airplane bathrooms are small. I’m the type that always goes to the big stall so I can’t stand having to use the bathroom when flying. So if drinking water slows down your liquid intake that’s the way to go!
Did you know? Most flights start boarding 30 mins before the flight is scheduled to leave so try to use the airport’s bathroom before boarding the plane.
Top▪Similar | Stripe Culottes▪ Here | Shoes ▪ Similar
Dress Comfortable – A diva is a female version of a hustla. We all know you always win best dressed. Hands down you’re the fliest! However, 6-inch heels and a ball grown aren’t the ideal garments for travel. You can look your best in free flowing clothes. Dressing in this manner will aid in your comfortability while you’re flying.
Did you know? In most airport’s baggage claim area is far away from arrivals. So if you’re checking a bag then sneakers & athletic Shoes are the way to go for flying shoe wear. If you’re not a gym shoe kind of girl I would encourage flats or oxfords.
Cross Body Bag▪Similar
Carry A Small Purse – It can be easy to fill up a large purse when packing for travel. I have found in my traveling that having a small purse or even a fanny pack is great for holding important items like a cell phone, ID, boarding pass, credit cards, keys and travel notes.
Did you know? 3.4 ounce (100ml) bottle or less (by volume) are allowed to carried on to plane. Double check the bottle sizes so you don’t have to throw away your favorite shampoo and body wash.
Read about one of my favorite hydration mask here.
Take This Time To Moisturize – You should treat your seat like a spa chair. I’m a fan of using my time in the air as me time. Take this time to have a power nap. Before napping apply your favorite facial mask. When you awaken an hour or so later you’ll be rested and moisturize. That’s a win win!
Did you know? There are fiber masks with specific skin care benefits? You can focus on mattifying, anti-aging, moisturizing or skin brightening.
Cellphone case▪Here | Headphones▪ Similar | Battery bank ▪ Here
Make A Dope Playlist – While flying you’ll have to place all electronics into airplane mode. Which means no internet access unless you’re willing to pay for the use of the airline’s internet service. Hmmmmmm no. So if your flight is 2 hours long make a 3-hour playlist. That way you cover any time you may have to wait for the plane to take off and or enter the arrival gates. If you need help with getting started with your playlist click here for some ideas from my favorite album.
Did you know? Many battery banks can charge your phone from off to at least half full within 30 minutes. It’s going to entirely depend on the input charging speed of the power bank.
Check Into Your Flight Early – It’s ideal to check into your flight as early as you can. This allows you to select the seat of your choice. Aisles seats are the best. An aisle seat gives you more leg room and easier access to the bathroom if necessary. Some airlines will let you pick your seat in advance for a fee.
Did you know? The length of airline’s seat belt varies widely from airline to airline. However, you can request an extender at no charge and the airline attendants are very decent when handing them out.
WEAR A PANTY SHIELD – This may seem random to add to a travel list but it’s very practical. Being in a seated position for 2 or more hours where your body can be shifted from side to side can cause a small involuntary releases. Being able to use a feminine wipe and remove a used liner after a flight can leave you feeling refreshed.
Did you know? Not every panty shield are created equal. They vary in size, length, and shape. If you have never worn a shield or liner try them out by getting a small trial pack. These way you can find one that works for you.
PRINT OUT YOUR DIRECTIONS AND IMPORTANT NUMBERS – Many things can happen with your cell service when in another city or country. I’ve visited other cities and I couldn’t get any service unless I was connected to wifi. That can be hard if you’re out and about. Having your hotels address and phone number printed out can save you a lot of stress. I would also add the phones of the people you’re traveling with as well as at home contact(s). Being able to have the information handy will be a life saver if your phone is not working or even if it dies.
Did you know? It’s important to know if the airport you’re arrival in allow ride sharing companies to operate there. Not every airport allow people to use companies like Uber or Lyft.
I hope these tips help!
Leave some of your tips for easy traveling in the comments?
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If you like this look be sure to share it on your social media platforms!!! Tell a friend to tell a friend.
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You can sign up for this blog’s newsletter here. Also lately I’ve been doing most of my posting on Snapchat@fatgirl_fashion. My Snapchat friends were the first to know about the location I selected for my blog’s 3rd-year-anniversary brunch. They saw first hand my Beyonce’s Formation tour experience and an NYC trip for theCurvycon. Snaps showed L.A. for BlogHer and ATL for TCFStyleExpo and The MakeUp Show Chicago. So be sure to follow on Snapchat so you don’t miss any of the action. thefatgirloffashion.com can be found on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter also.
“Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.” _ Oprah Winfrey
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By reading this blog post you represent that you are over 21 years of age if not click here for another reading option.
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We all know the saying “Give a person their roses while they’re alive.” Monee here’s your rose bush. I met my good friend Monee randomly on one of my many retail therapy days. We became fast friends. She has been a great source of support for me and my blog. I am very grateful for her. A group of her many friends spent the day celebrating her birthday. We all got together for a cook out.
Summertime Chicago was a perfect backdrop for grilling and hanging with friends. We all agreed to bring a dish or beverage. There were some many great food options I was a happy camper. Monee birthday party was a huge success.
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.For the celebration of my good friend’s birthday, my contribution to the fun was a bottle of Ruffino Sparkling Rosé to her party. It’s known to have a fresh and fragrant with notes of strawberry and slight hints of rose petals. I normally don’t enjoy dry wines. So an extra dry wine is almost always a no go for me. However, the manager told me about the great blend and insisted I would like it. He was right. On the palate, this wine has elegant bubbles and refreshing flavors of delicate red berries and white fruits.
More recently I’ve been studying up on different wines and spirits to expand my palate. In researching Ruffino Sparkling Rosé it’s noted to be an elegant and stylish Italian sparkling wine made primarily from the Glera grape, which is used in all Prosecco wines, blended with Pinot Noir. The Glera grape gives the wine structure and body, and the Pinot Noir provides the wine with a beautiful rose hue. Because of its extra-dry style makes it easy to enjoy, and its bright fruit flavors and delicate bubbles make it perfect for enjoying a beverage before a meal or to pair with a variety of dishes such as grilled fish, roasted chicken, and mixed greens salads.
The Ruffino Sparkling Rosé was a huge hit. The ladies asked me where they could pick up a bottle of these wine. I picked my bottle from Food Life Chicago while I was at the Chicago Water Tower shopping. However, the Ruffino Sparkling Rosé can be picked up at Target and other restaurant locations. When consuming Ruffino Sparkling Rosé or any other spirits please do so responsibly.
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If you like this look be sure to share it on your social media platforms!!! Tell a friend to tell a friend.
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You can sign up for this blog’s newsletter here. Also lately I’ve been doing most of my posting on Snapchat@fatgirl_fashion. My Snapchat friends were the first to know about the location I selected for my blog’s 3rd-year-anniversary brunch. They saw first hand my Beyonce’s Formation tour experience and an NYC trip for theCurvycon. Snaps showed L.A. for BlogHer and ATL for TCFStyleExpo and The MakeUp Show Chicago. So be sure to follow on Snapchat so you don’t miss any of the action. thefatgirloffashion.com can be found on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter also.
“This is just my face try not to stare” _ Gabourey Sidibe
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Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe visited the Chicago Humanities Festival to speak with Britt Julious about her new book “This is just my face“. This hour long talk gave great insight into the person who is known internationally as Precious.
With that the first takeaway for the talk is the power of ones name. Gabourey spoke about how for years she fought off being called “Gabby”. As a child she found her name and the proper pronunciation of it very important. She added that when people call her by her iconic character’s name she politely corrects them because she doesn’t want to be only known for in her budding career.
The second takeaway was her relationship with her father. Gabby spoke about how her ideas of her father had been formed at the age of 6. Family issues (read the book for the tea on him) caused by her father laid the foundation on how she would deal with him. Her feelings for her dad did not change until she started writing her book.
My third takeaway was her handling of her mom. People live their lives though their own eyes. These same people will project their issue onto you because that’s all they know. These people include moms. Gabby spoke about her current views on getting married. She gave insight on how her grandmother’s thoughts on her mom and if she would get married. In turn Gabby’s mom shared her views to Gabby and her getting married. Gabby in a since, stated she broke the cycle on living life though the lens of her mom.
The fourth takeaway was how funny Gabby is. Gabby spoke about how she would love to do a dramedy. She has a dry wit that I’m here for. She finds herself to be funny and laughs at her own jokes. I saw that for myself, lol. She has lived a very interesting life that I could see myself watching a show loosely based on it.
The last and the most important takeaways ways for me was the idea that you can love and believe in God but still seek help for mental health. Gabby joking said “I love Jesus but I needed a pill.” She goes on to say that the black community needs to be more open about mental health issues and not making a person feel “crazy” when they do seek help. I firmly believe this. I’ve told people I love to see a mental health provider. Talking to a good girlfriend is great. Everyone needs to vent from time to time. However, you can not unload on a home girl like you can with a trained professional.
I’m loving Gabby book. I was over the moon to have a front row seat as she opened up about her life. I’ve been a fan on Ms. Sidibe since seeing her in Precious. Even though the movie was hard to watch it was great seeing a woman who looked like me starring in a movie. As a dark skin woman of size I don’t see myself on screen as the star. Fasting forwarding to now, I love that Gabby is not going to allow herself to be pigeon holed into the “fat friend” roles. Many of her statements and feeling were just like mine on life, dealing with parents and choosing your own path to happiness. I was great to see her telling her own story. If you haven’t had a chance to pick her book “This is just my face” I encourage you to and give one to a friend.
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This is just my face when Gabourey Sidibe said she liked my dress.
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You can sign up for this blog’s newsletter here. Also lately I’ve be doing most of my posting on snapchat@fatgirl_fashion. My snapchat friends were the first to know about the location I selected for my blog’s 3rd year anniversary brunch. They saw first hand my Beyonce’s Formation tour experience and a NYC trip for theCurvycon. Snaps showed L.A. for BlogHer and ATL for TCFStyleExpo and The MakeUp Show Chicago. So be sure to follow on snapchat so you don’t miss any of the action. thefatgirloffashion.com can be found on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter also.
REVIEW OF KYLIE COSMETICS’ KKWxKYLIE CREME LIQUID LIPSTICKS. MAKEUP REVIEWS DONE BY WOMEN OF COLOR FOR WOMEN OF COLOR.
Kim and Kylie teamed up to create the KKWxKylie creme liquid 4pc lip kit. These creme lipstick were suppose to be 4 nude lip. Kim is known for her nude makeup. It’s often called the “no makeup‘ look. Knowing Kim constantly wears nude lips I was happy to finally jump on the Kylie Cosmetics wave. Kim promoted on her Instagram that the kits came with the new creme liquid formula Kiki: Pinky Nude, Kim: Peachy Nude, Kimmie: Deep Nude and Kimberly: True Nude.
“I take, like, 500 selfies to get one I like.”_ Kylie Jenner
This collection is not nude. On brown skin none of the 4 lipsticks look nude. The color nude as defined by Merriam-Webster is 2a : devoid of a natural or conventional covering; especially : not covered by clothing or a drapeb (1) : having a color (such as pale beige or tan) that matches the wearer’s skin tones nude pantyhose nude lipstick (2) : giving the appearance of nudity a nude dressc : featuring nudes a nude movied : frequented by naked people a nude beach. To me all four of these color are pink and not nude as defined by Merriam-Webster or my eyes.
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Colors in swatch order: Kimberly, Kim, Kiki and Kimmie
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The colors look fleshy on my brown skin and don’t deposit enough color to work alone as a pink lip color. I not happy with product. The total cost was $45. There was no tax or shipping cost. Which comes to $11.25 each lipstick. That’s not a bad price for non drug store liquid lipstick. However with the false color promotion and bad formula I feel cheated. The KKWxKylie creme liquid is not FatGirl approved.
Beauties have you jumped on the Kylie cosmetics wave? If so what product did you get?
Product purchased and all opinions are my own.
You can sign up for thefatgirloffashion’s newsletter here. Also lately I’ve be doing most of my posting on snapchat@fatgirl_fashion. My snapchat friends were the first to know about the location I selected for my blog’s 3rd year anniversary brunch. They saw first hand my Beyonce’s Formation tour experience and a NYC trip for theCurvycon. Snaps showed L.A. for BlogHer and ATL for TCFStyleExpo and The MakeUp Show Chicago. So be sure to follow on snapchat so you don’t miss any of the action. thefatgirloffashion.com can be found on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter also
