(Top and Skirt)

Click Here to see more items at The Curvy Elle Shop!

On Saturday, I had the opportunity to take my grandmother (who is now 91 years old!) out to lunch and to one of my favorite thrift stores that I hadn’t been to since before my daughter was born. It’s far from where I live and having my daughter has limited some of my adventures in thrifting.

I grew up going to thrift stores with my grandmother and her sister. I would go out with them for the day and we would have lunch, go to thrift stores, shopping, etc… My great aunt made her living by selling collectibles and antiques at flea markets and in her own stores. My grandmother loved helping her find items for business. So, I guess you can say I learned how to thrift from the two of them. My grandmother no longer helps her sister thrift, now that she is gone, but she still loves going to go thrift stores and buying random junk and killing time.

Going out on Saturday really reminded me what I have missed about running my business. I felt like my “old self” and in my element. I guess it proves that, just because you’re a mother, doesn’t mean you have to lose yourself. It just takes a little more effort to get there!

<I’m Wearing:   Vintage Pastel Blue Blouse  –  The Curvy Elle   .    Vintage Paisley Skirt  –  The Curvy Elle   .   Green Sandals  –  Vintage (Similar)>

Recently, I had the honor of being interviewed by Refinery 29 for an article entitled, “How To Be A Top Etsy Seller” by Judith Ohikuare about being a woman and running a successful Etsy shop.  It’s a broad overview of advice and information about running your own Etsy business. Myself, among other Etsy shop openers were featured.

Make sure to check it out!

I’ve gotten the itch to really start going here and at The Shop. I found this 1970’s housedress a few months back while thrifting at a new (for me) thrift store near my (new) house. At first I didn’t know what it was because it was wrapped up in cellophane and folded around a piece of cardboard. But, after taking a second look, I realized it was this amazing 1970s’s primary color floral print house dress with tags still attached and original packaging.

I, also, got inspired while doing this photo shoot, to make a little video to really show this amazing dress. I want to try to do this more often in the future. Check out the video below:

<I’m Wearing:   Vintage Primary Color Dress  –  The Curvy Elle   .   Nude Slip  –  Vintage (Similar)>

The original photo shoot can be found here.

<Wearing:   Vintage Floral Top (Similar)  –  The Curvy Elle   .   Vintage Green Skirt (Similar)  –  The Curvy Elle>

As for life now, it is very, very different than it was when I was in New York. I no longer live on the East Coast (I reside in Silicon Valley/San Francisco Bay Area, California) in the suburbs. I am married to my wonderful husband (who likes to remain incognito on the internet) and we have a toddler girl named Lorelai, who is currently almost 19 months old (gosh time flies!). I am lucky to be a “stay-at-home mom” to my little girl. This means she is my full time job now! But, I still run The Curvy Elle Blog & Shop part time. I love fashion and vintage, even though I am not as tip top on the fashion world as I once was — it’s still a big part of my life.

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My Love Affair With New York (Part I)

A few days after moving to NYC.

I love New York, plain and simple. It will always hold a special place in my heart. In the last few months there has been so much sad coverage of the ravages that hurricane Sandy made upon the city.  It has made me sad and thankful that I am not in New York at this time.  This is a post I was planning on writing a while ago, but have had to think on and take my time writing.

It was only a few short months ago that I was living in New York. After Hurricane Sandy, I kept on thinking the “what if’s.” Thankfully those “what if’s” are not the truth. It has also got me thinking about how New York has made it’s path through my life. This is my New York story; I like to think of it as My Love Affair with New York.

You might be surprised to find out that I didn’t visit New York for the first time until I was 19 years old. It’s crazy to think you could be in love with a place that you had only seen in movies and read about in books, but there it is and that’s how it was.

I knew I was part of the melting pot that is New York City,  the first time I visited it as a tourist. When I got accepted into the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)  for their Spring semester when I was 20, I nearly jumped through the roof when I received my acceptance letter. Me actually going to New York City?!?!! I couldn’t believe it! I had never before or ever since reacted to any new in this manner–I am not the yippee dippy excited type of girl.

If I had been any younger, I don’t know if I’d have had the balls to move all the way across country. Having lived in San Francisco and gotten my Associates degree made me feel that I could conquer anything! I wasn’t yet jaded and I was feeling the cockiness of youth, so there was nothing else to do than to follow my dream! I also knew that I could do the move if I had school as my crutch, but the thought of moving to New York to look for work scared me shitless. So, school it was!

On my way to my first internship!

I am giving you the short and sweet version of things. Added to the decision making process is family members who weren’t supportive or happy that I was moving across country. It was a tough call to make. If it hadn’t been for the support of my mother, who knew I needed to do this and supported me wholeheartedly, I don’t know if I could have done it.

Even with all of the mixed emotions. My guiding thought when leaving for New York that (FIRST!) time was– “What’s the worst that could happen? I go for one semester, hate it, and come back home?” Better to fail and follow my dreams than live my life full of regrets and yearning. What is life worth if you don’t get to follow your dreams?

I spent the next three and a half years in New York finishing my bachelor’s degree.  There was a lot of homesickness and tears through the years–and even thoughts of transferring back to school in San Francisco–but, in the end, I did it!  Every time I had second thoughts, I would stop and remind myself of the amazing magnitude of what I was doing!  I was actually living, working, and going to school in New York FUCKING City!!! How many people dreamed my same dream and never pursued it? And, here I was–DOING IT!!

Graduation from FIT.

When I graduated, I had plans of staying in New York and pursuing my career. There wasn’t any other decision to make….  Except, the market crash decided to make that decision for me. I graduated in December 2008 when the market crashed and the economy and job market went “kaput.” After the holidays, when I started to look for a job, there really weren’t any to be had. My school even had a career fair for graduating seniors (where in past times, a lot of people ended up with jobs afterward), but there weren’t that many companies participating, and the ones that were, weren’t really hiring.

I had shit luck. I stayed in New York for nine more months applying for job after job in everything and anything.

By the following September, I had been offered a job back home. I made the decision to come back because I was done. Between the job search, relationship problems, what have you–the city had burned me out.  Life in New York City is very amazing and very tough–all at the same time. The job was what I needed. So, I left.

Leaving New York that first time was definitely bitter sweet.  Yes, due to circumstances that were out of my control, I did not succeed in finding a job. BUT, I did it. I moved to New York City! I graduated in my dream major! I did it! I followed my dreams! There is no failure in that. New York had made me one sassy, worldly chic and built me into a better person. I have no regrets.

With the new job in California, I knew it was time… It was my time in life for a new chapter. I knew I would be back, it was a matter of when, not if… Once you fall in love with New York, you can never part for long…

*  *  *

My Love Affair with New York (Part II)

Central Park during a winter visit.

I left New York that first time because I needed to come home. Plain and simple. The city, my personal life, the job search, the market crash… all had burned me out. A job offer back home in California turned out to be the right path for me at the time. I new I wasn’t leaving New York forever. Once you fall in love, there is no way of falling out of love. It stays in your blood and in your heart. It was a matter of when NOT if I would go back to New York.

I spent a year working a retail level job that I thought would turn out to be more than it was.  By the end of that year, I knew retail wasn’t for me and I missed the creativity and passion I had for design. I bit the bullet and left my safe job, making okay money, but which had left me craving for more.  I had come up with a one year plan: go back to grad school for Fashion Design, revamp my designing skills, and build a new portfolio. After that year, I wanted to find a way to go back to New York, intern, and eventually get a paying design job.

This is not an option for everyone. I was lucky that I had the savings and familial support to make the decision to leave my full time job, go back to school, and move to New York.  Don’t get me wrong, I know that I was very lucky and privileged to have this opportunity.

In my “Fashion Illustration” class at the Academy of Art.

That next year I commuted to San Francisco and worked harder that I ever imagined at design grad school at The Academy of Art University. By spring semester I knew it was time to make plans to head back to New York. I had everything planned–I was doing a summer internship program through my Alma Mater (FIT) and was going to stay in the dorms temporarily. In the fall I would look for more permanent housing.

A week before finals at the Academy of Art, during an art store run in the middle of class, I fell and broke my right ankle and severely sprained my left ankle (more to that story HERE). When I was riding in the ambulance to the hospital that day, I had a sinking feeling that I wouldn’t be making that trip to New York.

The accident ended up being more severe than I had thought. I had surgery to put a metal plate and screws on my ankle. The surgery healing was added to the regular healing process.  This would be a summer long (if not longer) ordeal. I knew I couldn’t do an internship and walk all over New York in crutches–that  was IMPOSSIBLE.

What would I do? I couldn’t give up on my dream! After a disheartening initial response. I took my future in hand, making a decision for myself–I would still go to New York, plans just needed a little tweaking!

With the help of my proverbial cheer leading team (aka, my mom), I was able to figure out a new way. I found temporary housing through the Salvation Army. I would have a private room and bath with 2 meals a day in their Women’s Residence in the West Village. The only commitment needed was 3 months and I had to be going to school.

So, I registered for a non-degree student course at FIT and was on my way!

On August 31, 2011, I headed back to New York to follow my dreams. I had a few internship prospects lined up, but nothing certain. I knew I would make it this time, this was my city and I was going to conquer it! Not even a broken leg and surgery could deter me from what I wanted. I was doing this!

On September 1, I had my first interview. I rocked it and got it! But, that is a continuing story for another time…

On my way to my first internship interview.

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The Final Chapter: My Love Affair with New York (Part III)

Since yesterday was the one year anniversary of this blog and The Curvy Elle Shop, I felt it was very appropriate to finally finish my tale of my time in New York.  They kind of go hand in hand.

I have been putting off writing this for a very long time. Mainly because I don’t want to hurt anyone or myself for that matter. No, the story isn’t bad, but things happen in life that act as catalysts for a new chapter. This is one of those type stories.

I ended Part II at the beginning of my final move to New York. This was the beginning of the end of a wonderful, heart wrenching, education in life and passions. I went on to participate in 3 different internships over a 6 month period of time. Eventually landing an Assistant Designer position with a very small Juniors/Juniors plus size company.

This position was a 3 month stint job (temporary). During this time my grandfather (back in California) fell and broke his hip. He ended up in the hospital for surgery and recovery. Like what happens with a lot of elderly people in hospitals, he came down with Pneumonia. We didn’t know if he would make it, but he battled through only to fall pray to a stroke that put him into a coma with massive brain bleeding. To skip over a very painful time in life, we will just say that we all stayed with him until his time on earth was over.

It may seem odd, but it was my grandfather’s death that acted as the “push” to get me to start my dream of selling plus size vintage. I actually did my first photo shoot (yes, I know this sounds weird) the day of his funeral.  My grandfather’s death acted as the birth of a new life in me. The beginning of this blog and shop.

I didn’t drop my career aspirations right away to begin this business. I had no idea if my vision would even work or if I would even like doing it. So, I kept on at my job and I worked on the blog and shop at night and on weekends.

When my position ended, I had to make a decision on where I wanted to take my life. Do I stay in New York and keep looking for Assistant positions? Or do I go home and try my hand at this new “hobby” I had started?

Losing someone can sometimes push you to see what is most important in life. I had already fallen in love with writing this blog and running the shop. My grandmother (who I am very close with) was dealing with the death of her husband of nearly 65 years–and I could see her withering away before my eyes. So, what do I do? Stay and work in an industry that doesn’t care if I live or die or love or hate? Or go home to those who love me and work for my own dreams instead of someone else’s?

After many debates and pro and con lists, I gave my 30 day notice for my room. I was going home. To a place I never pictured permanently being. Doing a business that I never thought I could really do.

July 2012, I left New York to build a new unknown life.  Ending my second chapter in my “Love Affair with New York.”

Yes, I am calling this my “Final Chapter”–BUT, I always like to say: “never say never!” The future will only be able to tell where New York and I will stand. And, there’s always VACAY!!!

4th of July 2012 waiting for the fire works. One of my last days in NYC.

 My daughter, Lorelai, and I recently on vacation in Hawaii. “No Filter!” Happy and enjoying life as a plus size lady and mom.

I wrote this post a while back, right after The Curvy Elle was featured on the Etsy Blog. I actually meant to post it sooner, but life happened and I kept putting it off… The usual way things that seem to go on when you have a toddler and are a stay-at-home mom.

Here is a little post about being plus size and the misconceptions out there by people who are not/have never been larger sized. This post started out at an annoyance about a comment someone made on the feature, but it actually was more about my feelings on the subject — it simply acted as a catalyst.

I feel like this comment represents a multitude of events and judgements that have happened to me through life by ignorant and sometimes mean spirited individuals.

*  *  *

The Curvy Elle’s Etsy blog feature turned out wonderful and the people commenting were so sweet, congratulatory, and happy with what I do with this blog and The Shop. But, of course, there always has to be that one negative comment to wreck all the nice things people say. Someone had to bring health into the equation.

They couldn’t just see that The Curvy Elle is about making people feel good about themselves, and should not be hidden because we are catering to someone’s idea of what is “right.” Being plus size/overweight does not completely equal unhealthy. Everything is a case by case circumstance, and even if you are unhealthy, doesn’t mean that you don’t have a right to look and feel good about yourself. There is no rule saying you have to weight 120 pounds to live life! Or that you can’t look good until you are a size 2!

There are thin people who are unhealthy with things such as “diabetes” and issues of “burden on the spine.” I’m not saying that some people who are plus size don’t have these kinds of issues due to their weight. I’m saying that you can still enjoy life and yourself even while being a larger size (healthy or unhealthy). A person’s health is only the business of that person and their heart care provider (to a certain extent). You don’t have to be hidden.

Yes, I do and will “say what I think” when it comes to ignorance and hurtfulness. Everyone should be accepted and everyone should worry about their own personal health and self care.

And, thank you to the person who made the comment, you have given me new inspiration and motivation to find my voice once more.

I am excited to announce that The Curvy Elle Shop has been featured on Etsy’s Blog in their “Featured Shops” series! It is a wonderful write up about me and the shop and how it all came about. Make sure to check it out!

This was actually a really  inspiring experience to go through as well as reading the article. Thank you to Etsy for featuring my shop and to the writer, Sharon Steel, who wrote a very lovely piece.

Enjoy getting to know a little bit about me!

(Originally published on November 28, 2012 in a post entitled, ‘My Love Affair With New York (Part I).’)

*  *  * 

A few days after moving to NYC.

I love New York, plain and simple. It will always hold a special place in my heart. In the last few months there has been so much sad coverage of the ravages that hurricane Sandy made upon the city.  It has made me sad and thankful that I am not in New York at this time.  This is a post I was planning on writing a while ago, but have had to think on and take my time writing.

It was only a few short months ago that I was living in New York. After Hurricane Sandy, I kept on thinking the “what if’s.” Thankfully those “what if’s” are not the truth. It has also got me thinking about how New York has made it’s path through my life. This is my New York story; I like to think of it as My Love Affair with New York.

You might be surprised to find out that I didn’t visit New York for the first time until I was 19 years old. It’s crazy to think you could be in love with a place that you had only seen in movies and read about in books, but there it is and that’s how it was.

I knew I was part of the melting pot that is New York City,  the first time I visited it as a tourist. When I got accepted into the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)  for their Spring semester when I was 20, I nearly jumped through the roof when I received my acceptance letter. Me actually going to New York City?!?!! I couldn’t believe it! I had never before or ever since reacted to any new in this manner–I am not the yippee dippy excited type of girl.

If I had been any younger, I don’t know if I’d have had the balls to move all the way across country. Having lived in San Francisco and gotten my Associates degree made me feel that I could conquer anything! I wasn’t yet jaded and I was feeling the cockiness of youth, so there was nothing else to do than to follow my dream! I also knew that I could do the move if I had school as my crutch, but the thought of moving to New York to look for work scared me shitless. So, school it was!

On my way to my first internship!

I am giving you the short and sweet version of things. Added to the decision making process is family members who weren’t supportive or happy that I was moving across country. It was a tough call to make. If it hadn’t been for the support of my mother, who knew I needed to do this and supported me wholeheartedly, I don’t know if I could have done it.

Even with all of the mixed emotions. My guiding thought when leaving for New York that (FIRST!) time was– “What’s the worst that could happen? I go for one semester, hate it, and come back home?” Better to fail and follow my dreams than live my life full of regrets and yearning. What is life worth if you don’t get to follow your dreams?

I spent the next three and a half years in New York finishing my bachelor’s degree.  There was a lot of homesickness and tears through the years–and even thoughts of transferring back to school in San Francisco–but, in the end, I did it!  Every time I had second thoughts, I would stop and remind myself of the amazing magnitude of what I was doing!  I was actually living, working, and going to school in New York FUCKING City!!! How many people dreamed my same dream and never pursued it? And, here I was–DOING IT!!

Graduation from FIT.

When I graduated, I had plans of staying in New York and pursuing my career. There wasn’t any other decision to make….  Except, the market crash decided to make that decision for me. I graduated in December 2008 when the market crashed and the economy and job market went “kaput.” After the holidays, when I started to look for a job, there really weren’t any to be had. My school even had a career fair for graduating seniors (where in past times, a lot of people ended up with jobs afterward), but there weren’t that many companies participating, and the ones that were, weren’t really hiring.

I had shit luck. I stayed in New York for nine more months applying for job after job in everything and anything.

By the following September, I had been offered a job back home. I made the decision to come back because I was done. Between the job search, relationship problems, what have you–the city had burned me out.  Life in New York City is very amazing and very tough–all at the same time. The job was what I needed. So, I left.

Leaving New York that first time was definitely bitter sweet.  Yes, due to circumstances that were out of my control, I did not succeed in finding a job. BUT, I did it. I moved to New York City! I graduated in my dream major! I did it! I followed my dreams! There is no failure in that. New York had made me one sassy, worldly chic and built me into a better person. I have no regrets.

With the new job in California, I knew it was time… It was my time in life for a new chapter. I knew I would be back, it was a matter of when, not if… Once you fall in love with New York, you can never part for long…

This past week I added this Upcycled Button Dress to The Curvy Elle Shop. I originally did a photo shoot with this dress back in 2012, while I still lived in New York.  This was one of the very first items I made with the intention of maybe trying to sell, but for whatever reason, I never actually put it up for sale.

My mom took these photos while she was visiting me. I had just finished up a design job that I had not been very happy at, and I was at a cross roads — stay in New York and look for another job or come back home to California and try my hand at my own little business. It was a hard time, because I was feeling “done” with New York and the fashion industry there.

Obviously, you know what decision I made… Since leaving New York, I have not had one moment of regret. I love New York and fashion, but California is home for me and (long term) I could never work in the fashion industry traditionally.

Since I finally put this dress for sale, I thought it was fitting to do an “Out Takes” post of pictures from the photo shoot. (See the original post entitled, ‘Upcycled Dress.’)

< I’m Wearing:   Upcycled Button Dress  –  The Curvy Elle   //   Black Tights – Spanx   //   Boots  –  Chelsea Crew (Similar) >