Tupieta

F in FIERCE: Amber Riley - Essence

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 13:55:00 -0800

Glee star Amber Riley is feature in the new Essence Black Women in Hollywood Issue. Words can not describe how great she looks paying homage to the beautiful Chaka Khan. I'm so happy for her and I can't wait to see more. Hopefully this issue will open up peoples eyes to a great new talent in Hollywood. She not only gracefully represents black women but young curvy women all over the world who dare to be confident.

See the full gallery on Posterous

Behind the Scenes

Permalink | Leave a comment »

WOW! or WTF? - Oscars 2011 Red Carpet

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 13:32:00 -0800

Last night I attempted to watch the Oscars but after 5 minutes I couldnt take any of the dry humor so I proceeded to catch up on one of my favorite shows, Shameless. Anywho you know the internet was buzzing with all of the red carpet fashions. I saw some best/worst lists and honestly some I disagreed with so I created my own. Below are my "Wow!" and "WTF?" moments from last night.

WTF?

See the full gallery on Posterous

1. Amy Adams 2. Cody Horn 3. Florence Welch 4. Helene Bonham 5. Marisa Tomei 6. Melissa Leo 7. Nicole Kidman 8. Scarlett Johansson 9. Sharon Stone

Amy Adams wore a L' Wren Scott gown in deep blue. The sparkles looked beautiful but I really was not a fan of the high neck.
Cody Horn looked ridiculous with the lace gloves. It really did not go well with the dress at all. It was rather boring.
Florence Welch wore a breezy Valentino gown. The dress itself is beautiful but I did not like it on her. It looked a little mormon-ish.
Helene Bonham was surprisingly tame in a black Colleen Atwood corset gown. I personally feel that she definitely walks to the beat of her own drum. However she could still make a statement without always looking like she just stepped off a broadway set.
Marisa Tomei dress really looked as if it was puking tulle.
Melissa Leo wore a Marc Bouer dress. To me it reminded me of a doily. It looked stiff and the collar seemed out of place.
Nicole Kidman wore an origami inspired Dior Coutoure gown. It was a bold choice but I personally did not find it flattering.
Scarlett Johansson wore a purple lace Dolce & Gabana dress. I was really split on this one. I personally did not feel it was appropriate for the Oscars and I feel it could've also been styled better.
Sharon Stone was a cross between Cruella Deville and Elvira. It was kind of scary.

WOW!

See the full gallery on Posterous

1. Anne Hathaway 2. Camila Alves 3. Cate Blanchett 4. Gwyneth Paltrow 5. Halle Berry 6. Hilary Swank 7. Mandy Moore 8. Mila Kunis 9. Natalie Portman 10. Sandra Bullock

Anne Hathaway, she could do no wrong in my book. Every single looks was amazing from head to toe. Oddly one of my favorite looks is the Lanvin Tux. I thought it was totally fun and cute. However if I had to choose a gown It'd be the closing gown by Tom Ford. It was breath-taking. I bow down to Rachel Zoe for the incredible job she did with her styling.
Camila Alves was perfection. I loved the classic silhouette of her gown. She was effortlessly stunning.
Cate Blanchett looked so marvelous! I don't understand how anyone could not love her Givenchy coutoure. This dress is not easy to pull off but she does it with ease.
Gwyneth Paltrow's Calvin Klein dress made her look so sleek and refine. Definitely a head turner.
Halle Berry was breath taking in a nude encrusted Marchesa gown. The ruffled silk tulle added the perfect touch.
Hilary Swank was definitely a beautiful swan in her feathered Gucci gown. That beautiful grey ombre was everything!
Mandy Moore looked angelic in a sparkling nude Monique Lhuillier gown. Her hair and makeup were perfect for this ultra-glam and sophisticated ensemble.
Mila Kunic looked so classy and elegant in a beautiful lavender Elie Saab gown.
Natalie Portman looked gorgeous in her plum off-the-shoulder Rodarte gown. Her pregnancy glow just adds to such a special moment in her career.
Sandra Bullock really did look stunning in a classic Vera Wang gown. I loved the red and I really thought she looked regal.

So what are your "WOW!" and "WTF?" moments from last night?

Permalink | Leave a comment »

F in FIERCE: Nicki Minaj - BlackBook

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 02:49:00 -0800

Nicki . . . looks . . . so amazing! I've seen a lot of editorials from her but this is by far my favorite. The styling is spot on and the hair is divine. The make up is perfection. She slayed.

See the full gallery on Posterous

Permalink | Leave a comment »

Nothing wrong with a little F.A.P.

Sun, 27 Feb 2011 08:04:00 -0800

Last night I was watching a documentary on CNBC about the future of technology and how it will affect our world. Although somewhat drab there were some interesting points made that really got me thinking about where my responsibilities lie. The population is steadily growing while we find our natural resources dwindling. I'm no expert on these matters at all but anyone with eyes whose willing to see should know that the world as we know it will be totally different well within the next 10 years! It's the responsibility of this generation to make sure there is a future for the next so I think it's important that we start really taking sustainability a lot more seriously. Instead of being "glamoured" by the media and corportations to spend more and more (especially what we dont have to spend) we should concentrate our efforts on how to use what is right in front of us.

So where does that leave us plus size fashionistas? Well, I know for sure that as far as thrifting or finding vintage steals in my size, it can definitely be quite a task. Some of us are fortunate enough to live in areas where there is more to offer but there are those of us who don't. Even so there are plenty of places on the internets ( :P ) where you can find used clothing and even swap.

As I was reading one of my favorite DIY blogs, Chic Steals, I came upon a couple of posts that peaked my interest. The first addressed the issue of sustainable fashion and is a great post! In this article she talks about her F.A.P. (Fashion Acquisition Philosophy).

My F.A.P. (or Fashion Acquisition Philosophy - just something I made up;-) for myself is probably split as percentages as 10/25/65 (Buy New/Buy Used/DIY); with 10% being items that I buy and wear as is, 25% being items that I buy or swap used and wear as is; and 65% of new acquisitions that I D.I.Y. or make from scratch. And that's how I allocate my clothing budget - since yes, I do love to shop, but I also like to exercise my creativity with how little can I spend and how well can I customize something so that it looks like it cost a fortune and yet is totally wearable and enjoyable.

I love this and aspire for those percentages myself. Not only will I spend less, but I will find more creative freedom in the way I dress. Especially being plus size, because lets face it, although the industry is definitely coming up I still find a lot of garments look the same.

The second article she wrote featured a site called Smashion. I really liked the site but found there wasn't a lot offered in the Plus Size category, yet. The plus size blogging community has grown tremendously and so I think we should support each other more by swapping and selling what we have to each other as well. I can definitely name a few closets I'd shop in!

Smashion® is a social fashion site that features a free marketplace connecting buyers and sellers with a passion for fashion. Smashion enables its members to express their unique style, connect with others to discuss fashion trends, and save money buying - or make money selling - lightly worn or NWT (new with tags) clothing, accessories, footwear, and more with no transaction or listing fees.

So next time you're out shopping think about where your money is going. Support your indie designers and each other and put us one step closer to a sustainable yet fashionable world! Below are thrift stores, blog sales, and a list of designers who create custom clothing at reasonable prices. Many even use eco-friendly fabrics. (Links are below the preview images)

See the full gallery on Posterous

BLOG SALES

ONLINE THRIFT

If you would like to add to this list just leave a comment!

Permalink | Leave a comment »

Happy New Years!

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 15:05:00 -0800

I can not believe we're already in 2011. It really does seem as if the years feel shorter and shorter. I'm so excited to be back! I have thought a lot about where I want to take this blog because it is important to me. However I believe I was so focused on being noticed that I was beginning to lose myself in it. Money was being spent irresponsibily and I found that I was limiting myself by trying to fit a niche. From now on I don't have a particular direction I'm going in because thats not who I am anyway. I still love fashion and this blog will have a lot of it. I just decided to line up my blog with goals I set for this year along with some of my randomness and see what happens lol. Anywho, speaking of goals here are the areas of my life I'm really looking to improve by 2012:

Finances - Last year I made a lot more money than I have ever made and yet don't have anything to show for it. Especially after getting into blogging, I definitely found myself shopping even more than usual. This year I have some goals set to save more, spend less, and spend more wisely. I'll definitely be tackling this issue more in a future post because I know plenty of women like me with this same issue.
Education - During my freshman year of college I was dealing with some heavy stuff and left the university to return home with a 1.5 gpa. Then I attended the Art Institute Online but was unhappy with my experience. After leaving I owed a bunch of money, and without the ability to transfer credits from AI I was still stuck with my shiny 1.5 gpa. It took me 2 years to pay off my debts and return to school. Last fall was my first semester back. I went to school part time and I did well. However I'm taking a full load this time and from here on out I'm hitting the ground running. Which means I probably wont have much of a social life for now.
Health - Every year I set goals to lose weight and I really don't get too far. However I'm not losing hope. No, I'm not trying to be what society says I should be, but I do have an obigation to myself to be the healthiest ME I can be. I do believe in health at every size but those of us who are quick to throw it out there as a defense are still the ones living unhealthy lifestyles and I do not want to be that person. This year it's not about the numbers, its about the way I live. By the end of the year I want to be fit enough to run in one of our local marathons whether I'm 250 or 175.
Blog - This site is definitely important to me and I want to continue to develop it. In an effort to control my spending you can definitely expect more DIYs and although I haven't given up shopping all together, I will definitely be looking at my purchases as more of an "investment" than an impulse spend. I also have a huge folder of inspirational material I want to share more.

There are some other smaller areas I would like to work on which are pretty much encompassed within the goals above. I feel taking small steps to tackle these goals will add up to something greater and make 2011 the best year yet!

Permalink | Leave a comment »

Tupieta Going on Hiatus

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 08:02:00 -0700

For the past few weeks I've been feeling all over the place. I work, go to school, and have all these personal projects. I'm beginning to feel overwhelmed and feel I have no sense of direction. It's not that I don't know what I want to do, if anything there is TOO much I want to do. I can't seem to really focus and get a handle on what I want to do now. I absolutely love blogging and I really wish I could dedicate more time but right now things are so hectic. I'm uninspired and unmotivated and it sucks. I'm frustrated and tired because I feel as if I can never dedicate to anything. Like the the scientist on Jimmy Neutron who always only finishes half of anything so his plans always fall apart. I don't want to be that person anymore. Being successful is really important to me and I'm trying to dig deep to find out how I can get there doing what I really want to do. Having this blog has help point me in some sort of direction but I still need more answers. For the next few weeks I'm dedicating time to just focus on me. There are only 2 months left in this year and I need to hit the ground running in 2011. I need to declutter my life and re-evaluate so I can come back with a fresh perspective.

Although I don't have many readers yet, I am amazed at all the new people I've connected with and the things that I'm learning. I'm so thankful to be a part of such a wonderful community and I want to continue to grow. That is why it's so important that I do this. I'll be back in December with a new direction and fresh eyes. In the meantime I'll be writing guest posts for thatbombmakeup.info. You can also find me on Twitter and Facebook. Oh yea, you know I had to throw in a random photo, lol.

xoxoxo,

Courtney

Permalink | Leave a comment »

Everybody Wants to Be a Weiner, Including Me. . .

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 10:19:00 -0700

Okay, as some of you may know I've been running for top spot in the Lane Bryant Right Fit Contest for the past couple of weeks. We are down to the last 6 days and although I try my hardest not to spam people I really need votes. There is a $2500 wardrobe on the line here! Right now I am at #16 but there is still enough time to make the top spot. I really would love ya'll support on this so please forgive me if you see a lot of twitter/facebook posts this week. At this point I'd say I need at least 600 more votes to really get myself up there and voting is on a daily basis so I have my work cut out for me. To vote for me you can use the two links posted below (both if you can because each counts as one vote). If you can share with your friends, blog, twitter, facebook, etc. I would be so grateful.

Link 1 (must be logged into facebook)

Link 2 (will allow you to vote as well but outside of facebook)

Both links count as a vote *wink*

See the full gallery on Posterous

The outfit I wore was inspired by the military trend this season so I wore my Right Fit straight jeans, Old Navy henley, military blazer from Re/Dress, and my new Jeffrey Campbell Foxy nude platforms. Accessories include the wing and owl ring from DOTS, and a thrifted fur milk man whistle on gold chain. I also tried another outfit but didn't submit it so I guess I'll post it here. Same jeans, another henley, with my DIY fascinator as a brooch and my chocolate Dolce Vita Noah wedge sandals.

While we are on the subject of contests, the beautiful Monique from Curves and Chaos is hosting THE ULTIMATE "SWAG" giveaway. The prizes are crazy so you definitely need to hurry to sign up for all of the great products up for grabs. There is only ONE weiner and that person will receive a swag bag (more like a suitcase) full of goodies from Torrid, Carolina Pad, T.J.Maxx, Lingerie.com, Cosabella, Phoenicia Goddess, Sofia Valle Co., and Size Appeal. Don't miss out! Head on over to C&C for a full list of rules and extra entries!

See the full gallery on Posterous

Rules:

Contest is only open to U.S. and Canadian residents (sorry shipping issues).

Must be 18 years or older to enter.

Only one entry per person, unless using the "extra entries."

Contest ends 10/26/10.

Winner will be chosen using Random.Org.

Permalink | Leave a comment »

Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby . . . .

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 19:31:00 -0700

As of late I've been having some great conversations with some friends of mine about dating. As one friend so eloquently put it "if the d*ck is good, we go together!' I know she isn't alone in this logic. Lets be real, if it's just right, you will find yourself falling for someone you never thought you would. Now I'm not saying that you have to close up shop but we all get a little to excited and next thing you know you're in a relationship with someone who you've only just met two weeks ago. It works for some but I'd venture to say that it really doesn't work for most. In the "gotta have it now" society we live in today, who has time to date when I can go ahead and secure my good sex and leave the rest for later?

I, for one, am guilty of this logic and over the years I have really learned to take a step back. In the past couple years I have really taken a turn in my love life, from entertaining a lot of bull, to actually having quality men in my life. Unfortunately for different reasons I am not with any of them, but great friendships have blossomed and each one serves a purpose. I have learned the value of dating and there really is no need to rush it with anyone. If a person is interested in you that relationship will form naturally. The most important thing is to continue to just enjoy that persons time with you and really use it as an opportunity to make the connection. I feel like we kind of get caught up with all the technical stuff that we forget to just enjoy ourselves.

Oh yea, I couldnt just leave this post without a photo so below is my first attempt at denim on denim. The bag was purchased at Re/Dress NYC and has not left my side since then.

See the full gallery on Posterous

Permalink | Leave a comment »

Keepin It Au Natural Haul and Giveaway . . .

Sun, 19 Sep 2010 18:47:00 -0700

AND THE WINNER OF THE GIVEAWAY IS *DRUMROLL* Priscilla!

See the full gallery on Posterous

A couple months ago I did a haul on some make-up and skin care essentials. I've been long overdue since I've had the same palettes for a couple of years. My Wales palette has been of great service over the years but now it's time to move on to something better. Before the Wales palette I had ordered a set of 25 "MAC" pigments and loved the richness of color and versatility they offered. One day I happened to have a conversation with Tamara of Makeup by Mara and she put me on to an affordable all natural make-up company, Simply Naturals. They are family owned and offer hand-made all natural skin care and make-up products. I ordered a 20 pack of their Multi-Purpose Mineral Make-Up which I use as eyeshadow (and sometimes lip tint) for only $32. They can also be purchased in smaller sets or individually for $2 a jar. I have to say that I am really impressed. The minerals come in 5 gram jars filled to the brim. The colors are rich and come in a variety of matte and glimmer shades depending on what you want. There are over 250 colors to choose from so there is definitely something for everybody. My package arrived quickly as well and even came with three complimentary sample colors. Below are photos of the colors I purchased. The photos really don't do the pigments justice so I'll blame it on my lighting.

We carry a wide variety of Simply Naturals products. Among them you will find Pure Bare MULTI- Purpose MINERAL MAKEUP powders, All natural LOTIONS, SOAPS, BATH SALTS, LIP BALMS, GLOSS, DESIGNER INSPIRED OILS, BRUSHES/APPLICATORS,JARS, SAMPLE POTS, SIFTERS, SHRINK BANDS, and more....

Simply Natural's For The Highest Quality Bath & Body Products

At Less Than Retail Prices!

We are a small family owned and operated business located in the North Eastern part of PA. Small enough to care for your every need, but yet large enough to offer a very large selection of many different things.

See the full gallery on Posterous

Another company I had the pleasure of ordering from is Beija Flor Naturals. I found out about this company through the Naturally Beautiful Hair blog and out of curiosity decided to read up more on it. Beija Flor Naturals offers affordable hand-made skin care and hair care products. I am a huge fan of natural skin care products especially for my dry skin so I placed my order for three products: the Amazon Antioxidant Treatment, Agave Aloe Polisher, and the Hemp Buttercream. My favorite product was the Hemp Buttercream, which I have currently ran out of. This product is the absolute best! I have dry skin and usually make sure I keep lotion with me. However with this cream I never had to reapply lotion, even after multiple hand washes during the day. The consistency is so yummy and feels so good going on. The Agave Aloe Polisher is another great product. It has nice big sugar crystals to ex foliate and this nice smooth thick oil that feels so great in the shower. After I get out the shower my skin feels super soft and moisturized. If you are looking for a great face moisturizer try the Amazon Antioxidant Treatment. I love to use it before applying makeup. It hydrates my skin without leaving it oily or shiny so I can even use my liquid makeup without feeling as if I have on too much. I must warn though, if you do purchase this treatment, it may melt in transit (although she did put freezer packs in it). All you have to do is leave it in the fridge for about an hour and it will be solid and ready to use. Her items are humbly packaged but I believe this allows my money to go more into the quality of the product rather than fancy packaging. Overall I had a great experience and will be placing another order for the Licorice Root Scalp Elixir, Organic Soap & Shampoo Bar, Juicy Summer Fruit Oils, and Cali Peach Pomade. Her products are great for all skin and hair types no matter what race you are. Beija Flor offers a great quality product at a even better price. They definitely get an A+ from me.

Beija-Flor Naturals is a vegan/vegetarian bodycare line with luxurious treats that promote healthy skin and hair. For years, the Beija-Flor Naturals mixtress has experimented with natural health and beauty remedies as an alternative to mainstream products. The raw materials used are influenced by her life experience and travels, especially the nutrient rich extracts of South America and Africa. Beija-Flor Naturals vows to provide quality natural products handmade,customized and made to order with love in California. The main ingredients in even the priciest store bought products include harmful petro-chemicals and other yuckie stuff that is used as low-quality fillers-read your product labels! Healing herbs, oils, butters and vegetable extracts have proven to be the best solution for virtually all skin and hair ailments as they work with body’s natural chemistry. Our vegan/vegetarian products are free of harmful petro-chemicals, made from raw vegetable based ingredients, preserved naturally, following FDA standards, and kind to your body and pocketbook.

See the full gallery on Posterous

GIVEAWAY TIME!

The winner of this giveaway will win the choice of one product from Beija Flor Natural. To win all you have to do is:

1. Follow Tupieta on Facebook or Twitter.

2. Tweet or Facebook: Enter the @CaliBeijaFlor Giveaway over @Tupieta for a chance to win a free product! http://j.mp/d9PLWE RT!

3. Leave a comment telling us what product you'd choose and your email.

*Prize excludes the Soap & Shampoo by the Loaf and the Creme Brulee Family Size*

This contest will end 11:59 EST Thursday September 30th. A winner will be announced Friday October 1st. Oh and that's not all! Those of you who put in an order will receive a free 4 oz. Honey Butter Scrub, a $10 value! Just leave Tupieta in the paypal comment area when you order!

Permalink | Leave a comment »

It's Beth Bish! Beth Ditto A/W 2010 Available Now!

Fri, 17 Sep 2010 02:20:00 -0700

Beth Ditto A/W 2010 for Evans is now available! I'm on the fence but will be reviewing a little more closely later today when I get home from work. Your thoughts?

See the full gallery on Posterous

Mag Shot courtesy of Blog to Be Alive

Permalink | Leave a comment »

Monif C in the City

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:35:00 -0700

My New York trip would not have been complete without taking a trip to the Monif C boutique. I am a huge fan of her work, and although it is out of my price range, I had to see for myself what everyone has been talking about. I had the opportunity to try on her convertible dresses and I am now convinced that it is an absolute staple piece for any woman, big or small. Words can not explain how comfortable this dress felt. It is difficult to feel sexy when you are not comfortable in your garment, having to pull and tug all day to keep everything in place. I did not feel that way at all with this beautiful dress. Her assistant was also great with the camera and took some nice shots of me trying on a couple of the dresses. He was even nice enough to let me wear his necklace, a Fennimas original.

See the full gallery on Posterous

Unfortunately for me Monif was on vacation so I was not able to meet her in person. However her staff was so warm and really made my visit such a pleasure. I stuck around to talk with them about the collection and check out some of her features (Of course I had to now include the recent photo of Gabi). They also had on show-case some beautiful accessories by Divine Sugar that were used in her photoshoots.

See the full gallery on Posterous

Although I was unable to meet her in person, Monif agreed to a short interview by email. She discusses this year's Full Figured Fashion Week, her new fall collection, and upcoming collaborations.

You were definitely a fan favorite at this year's Full Figured Fashion Week. How did you feel about the event this and the collections presented?

Each year the show gets bigger and better. The collections this year were wonderful. Its great that curvy girls are having more options than ever before.

Who are your favorite fashion designers worldwide?

Wow, that's a hard one. There are so many designers that inspire me. Definitely Matthew Williamson, Oscar De La Renta, Tracy Reese, Alexander McQueen, Stephen Burrows just to name a few.

Your garments are very well known for their comfort, versatility, and exceptional construction. What has inspired your style in general?

You just hit my style inspiration right on the head actually. I want to make clothes that are aesthetically beautiful, well made, and functional for the modern curvy girl on the go. When I design I think of this confident sexy woman and all the places that her social calender will take her.

What vision did you have in mind when designing your fall collection?

The fall collection is really a continuation of the spring/summer story. It's really a marriage between chic, sophistication with an ode to 80's cult classics like dynasty but it's still fresh and modern.

What is a typical day like when you're working on a collection?

I usually seclude myself for a few weeks as I come up with concepts because it's important that I first hone in on the story I am trying to tell that season. Honestly it's hard to say what a typical day looks like because sometimes I sleep for half the day and work at 3am or I may decide to spend the day in the library surrounded with my mood board and trend books. Once I have some sketches of my ideas I usually bring it back to the office to start refining them.

Your aesthetic is beautiful and you really do know how to dress full figured women. Have you ever thought about dabbling in couture wear?

Haute couture is an art that I respect and probably wouldn't dabble in it. Alot of people use the word couture loosely, but the artists that do haute couture really approach from a different perspective than myself. I will say though that when I design I aim to merge couture ideas, quality fabrics, and high fashion ideas into everyday fashion, so it's a slightly different concept.

There have been rumors of you adding more apparel to your collection, such as denim. Will we be seeing an expansion into more areas of apparel design?

Well, we are working on some collaborations with other designers. We do what we do best, which is make the best dresses, jumpsuits, and swimwear so we decided to partner with other designers that do what they do best. This season we will have a denim collaboration with Svoboda, we will also carry outerwear by La Dan's Closet, and we will have large size shoes, up to size 13, by a variety of shoe manufacturers that we sourced.

You're obviously a busy woman. What do you do when you're not hard at work?

Sleep! Lol, im such a workaholic, I dont really have much time to do much else. The saying is true though, once you are doing what you love, you will never work a day in your life.

Are there any other words of wisdom or information you'd like to add?

Sexy is a state of mind. No one can teach you self confidence, its a muscle that you build. Live life to the fullest, because you only have one shot. Happiness is a choice!

Thank you Monif C for providing us curvy women with sexy, comfortable, and luxurious style options. I can not wait to see what the future holds!

Permalink | Leave a comment »

Featured Photographer | Tomas Rucker NSFW

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 20:31:00 -0700

If I had to be naked in front of anybody's camera, it would be Tomas Rucker. His photography is so lucid and captivating that I could not resist sharing. Each one of his subjects are completely vulnerable and if I could, I'd want my body to be show-cased just as beautifully. There is no bio information on his portfolio page but the galleries themselves are definitely worth a look.

See the full gallery on Posterous

Permalink | Leave a comment »

I <3 New York

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 23:46:00 -0700

Well, as some of you may know, I took my trip to New York last week. I was so excited to go hoping I'd get the chance to meet new people and get some shopping done. However my trip quickly turned into a series of unfortunate events that tried to put a damper on my stay. It felt as if every single day bought new problems, from my glasses breaking as soon as I got off the bus, to my flight being delayed 4 hours on my way home. I also just really felt like people weren't being straight up with me and time was being wasted in some ways.

All I could really do is make the best of the good moments but I'd definitely be lying if I wrote about it as if it was the best trip I've ever taken. Regardless I am thankful for the wonderful people who did bring about enjoyable moments and I do look forward to meeting those people again soon. Plus I never thought I'd actually like the pace of the city. There really is always something to do and I love it. I will definitely be returning to NYC because I love the city, but I'll just make sure I do things a little differently next time.

Over the next few days I will be posting some of the good moments I had including my visit to Monif C to review her new collection, my visit to a new favorite boutique, and the wonderful people I met at Re/Dress. I did not get to take as many photos as I liked but I am very thankful that I had the opportunity to meet those that I did. Below are some of the more random moments. I had a cute tour guide take me around the city a couple of days. Then I met up with my favorite Loc/Video Blogger Chescaleigh who was totally sweet. I really do wish I would've took more pictures but there is always next time. ^_^

See the full gallery on Posterous

Permalink | Leave a comment »

Tweet'n & Greet'n @Re/Dress NYC

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 13:06:00 -0700

Yayyy! It's time for VACATION! *dance* (0^_^)o o(^_^0) I will be going to NYC this week to shop, network, and just get away from home a little bit. Earlier this year I won 2nd runner up for Re/Dress NYC's model search so I also was dying to go redeem my giftcard. I patiently waited for the end of summer so I could go snag some fall pieces. Now what meant to be a visit has turned into a tweet-up. I'm down in south Florida and lot of my favorite fashionistas are in NY so what better place to have a shin-dig than Re/Dress NYC. I'd love to meet so many of you so come out for some shopping and mingling. You never know who you may meet. ^_^

I also must mention the FABULOUS vintage shoot with the first runner up Mary. You can find her shoot posted on Plus Model Mag. She looks so freaking amaze-balls!

See the full gallery on Posterous

COME SHOP & MINGLE!
Saturday Aug. 21st @2pm
@ Re/Dress NYC

How to find Re/Dress NYC:

109 Boerum Place
Brooklyn, NY 11201

between Pacific + Dean Streets
F* or G train to Bergen Street stop

check out HopStop for public transportation directions.
(*F train from Manhattan be in the last car of the train)

Permalink | Leave a comment »

August Window Shopping and July OOTMs . . .

Sun, 08 Aug 2010 08:05:00 -0700

OMG I feel so bad that I have not updated in a bit. I've just been super busy between work and some personal projects that I just have not had the time. Today I am going to try and get through some other posts because I have so much to tell you ^_^. Right now I'm going through some good changes. I decided to start my own business and I'm finally going back to school so my plate is going to be full this fall. I'm kind of nervous because its been a couple of years. I really screwed up my first year of college so now I'm suffering with no financial aid so I'm definitely trying to scramble to make things happen. My savings is dwindling fast already *le sigh*

Anywho, I'm not really good with this OOTD thing so I decided to do OOTM (Outfit of the Month) to showcase my favorite looks. Most days I'm dressed business casual for work, nothing too exciting but at least once a month I may get a little jazzy. Here are some of my favorite outfits from this month. Please forgive the mirror photos for now. I need a good tripod lol.

See the full gallery on Posterous

I've also done a little window shopping. Fall is fastly approaching, even though it really is no big deal in Florida lol. It won't get cold until December. However there are still a few essentials that I'd like to have that will work for any season.

ASOS Curve

1. Bell Sleeve Dress 2. Pleat Waist Jersey Cuff Trousers 3. Tie Dye Embellished Oversized Tee 4. Dobby Mesh Panel Ruched Sleeve Dress 5. Embellished Neck Dress 6. Ponti Contrast Pencil Skirt Dress 7. Faux Leather Seamed Bomber

See the full gallery on Posterous

Evans

1. Navy Sequin Embellished Vest 2. Black Lace Waterfall Jacket
3. Denim Jacket 4. Military Style Suit Jacket

See the full gallery on Posterous

Ashley Stewart

1. Ruffle 1 Shoulder Blouse 2. Motocross Jeans 3. Jeweled Tunic Top 4. Denim Grommet Jacket

See the full gallery on Posterous

Permalink | Leave a comment »

Congratulations to Gabi and the Giveaway Winners!

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:10:00 -0700

Well if you haven't heard, Gabi has made it into the top 5 finalists for MTV TJ! *dance* (o^_^)o o(^_^o). I am so excited for her and I know all of you are too. However, our work here is not done.

After two weeks of challenges, the competition will move to television for the finale on Sunday, August 8, where the final five candidates will square off live on the air in a series of elimination rounds. After the nationwide votes are tallied, the first MTV TJ will be announced. The MTV TJ will begin work immediately, reporting for their first high-profile assignment at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards on September 12.

This means she'll need our continued support so do not forget to spread the word to your friends and family to tune in and vote during the live show! Congratulations again Gabi!!

Now on to other matters. I'd like to thank our wonderful friends at Lane Bryant and Eliza Parker for sponsoring $50 giftcards for the #TeamGabi Giveaway. I do wish more would have entered however our efforts were not in vain because I did witness all of the great support Gabi received through twitter because of all of you. I'd like to now announce the winners! Each entry was numbered and chosen through a random number generator. Prizes were given in the order that the giftcards were received (first Lane Bryant, then Eliza Parker) so I could keep it fair and unbiased.

Our first winner is Joni C @JoniCharminLove! In second place is Shenna @EyemJusMe66! Congratulations to both of you! Please email me tupieta@gmail.com with your contact information. Feel free to share what wonderful items you get!

See the full gallery on Posterous

Permalink | Leave a comment »

Doin it Big: Linda Scott & LS 1426, Inc.

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 13:59:00 -0700

LS 1426 Inc. is a company founded on the principals of love and empowerment. Before we can truly become empowered women we must learn to love ourselves first because with that love comes strength to do whatever our heart truly desires. LS 1426 Inc. firmly stands by its mission to see women prosper and come into their true destiny.

Our goal is to evoke positive images, enhance self-esteem, produce successful lifestyles, and promote the beauty within. Every woman from adolescence through adulthood should be empowered to explore her destiny. At LS 1426 Inc., we promote a culture of excellence by providing a vehicle for every woman to reach her optimal potential. We are committed to generating a spirit of leadership, wellness, and positive self-concept. We are here to teach and guide you along that way; so take a look at the personal services we offer the help achieve beauty inside and out!

LS 1426 Inc. was founded by CEO Linda Scott. I have come to personally know Ms. Scott and I have witnessed the hard work she has put into LS 1426 Inc. to help other young women like me, and like you expand our horizons and live to our fullest potential. No matter what ideas I have had (and God knows I have too many), Ms. Scott has always shown complete faith in me and has always been a great encouragement in my desire to succeed. My experience with her has been more than about modeling, it has been about my personal journey into womanhood. I really do thank her for continuing to push me to do greater things and be the woman that I am destined to be.

See the full gallery on Posterous

“Many of the problems women have with self esteem as well as health issues begin early on. If we can reach girls before self destructive patterns begin, we will see great success in their adult lives.” -Linda Scott

Linda Scott is a native of Delray Bach, Florida with over 25 years of experience in the fashion industry. She is the Director of Plus Models with Posche Models in Fort Lauderdale, FL. She began her career in Houston, Texas as a signature model for designer, Ann Goldman. Ms. Goldman was drawn to Linda’s grace, style, presence and her confidence. In the 1980’s Linda signed on with Mayo/Hill Modeling Agency, Houston. She became a familiar face on television as well as print. She has worked with numerous designers including Tamara of Texas, Jackie’O, Earl Washington, Fashion by Debra, Joyce Simmons, Desiree Fleming- Voluptuous You, B. Justice, Style Thy Way, Agape Goddess Wear of Atlanta, Bramer Leon Couture, Douglas Says New Jersey/New York, Angel Alternative of Miami, LaMaica Fashions, Jamaica and Ashley Stewart just to name a few. Linda Scott has graced the runway with Carlton and Fannie Hamilton of Vogue Esquire. She has auditioned for Monique’s Fat Chance Pageant and personally assisted Monique’s production director, Harvey Star Washington. She has also judged and produced beauty pageants with Jada Collins (commentator and spokes model for Ebony Fashion Fair, the world’s largest traveling fashion show), Sharon Quinn "The Original Runway Diva", and Judy Peterson from Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Class Reunion and Madea Goes to Jail. Along with her many other accomplishments, Ms. Scott has also had her hands in coordinating and producing beauty pageants and couture fashion shows, but did not stop there. Linda Scott created a motivational program for full size young ladies that would raise their self-esteem, build positive images, and assist them in realizing their full potential. The LS 1426 Inc. organization implements this ideology by holding Tea Parties and “boot camps” for teens, college aged women, and adults. The camps give the participants an opportunity to learn about beauty, health, fashion and how to love themselves.

As mentioned before I have worked with LS 1426 Inc. myself so below are a couple of photos from the 2009 Amateur Model Competion.

See the full gallery on Posterous

For those of you interested in plus size modeling, LS 1426 Inc. will be hosting a model call August 15, 2010!

Come and audition for your chance to be part of one of the biggest full figured runway shows of the year! It’s time for the LS 1426 Inc’s Fashion Production ”Fashion Under The Stars” on November 7, 2010 at 6pm at the Crown Plaza Hotel , Hallandale Beach, FL. Guest model will be former Biggest Loser Contestant Carla Triplett from Detroit, MI.

Application Fee: $25
Model Attire: Jeans, White Top, and 3 inch Heels or higher
For More Information: call 954-257-6545 or email models@ls1426inc.com

If you are out of town/state and you are interested you may send an email with the following:

2 photos (head/body)

Name

Age

Height

Body measurements

Bust

Waist

Hips

Dress Size

Shoe Size

Eye Color

Hair Color

Location

You may also send the above information by mail:

Linda Scott
P.O. Box 8661
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33310

NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY TRAINING IS AVAILABLE

If you have any questions or comments for LS 1426 Inc. please visit http://www.ls1426inc.com or send an email to info@ls1426inc.com

Permalink | Leave a comment »

#TeamGabi Campaign Giveaway . . .

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 21:05:00 -0700

*UPDATE 7/8/2010: Lane Bryant and Eliza Parker has agreed to sponsor this giveaway and help promote Team Gabi. On behalf of Gabi and myself I'd like to thank them for their support. We truly appreciate all of you!

DON'T FORGET THAT VOTING HAS BEGUN! HEAD ON OVER TO FACEBOOK AND VOTE FOR GABI!*

As many of you may know, our beautiful friend Gabi from Young, Fat and Fabulous is one of the 20 finalists for the MTV Twitter Jockey (TJ) contest.The competition will be held during the month of July, and the winner will move to NYC, get a one year contract with MTV, and make 100,000 per year! To help spread the word I am holding a giveaway to give someone a chance to win a prize for helping support the Team Gabi Campaign! Two winners will be chosen! The prize is a $50.00 gift card to Lane Bryant or Eliza Parker.

Gabi absolutely needs our love and support. She has been such a big voice in the plus size fashion community. She has inspired so many women to become comfortable with their bodies and to explore their own style. I have been a huge fan for some time now and I appreciate everything that she stands for. Being body positive is not just about loving yourself, it is also about giving each other the support that we need to succeed. That is why I am hosting a contest to help rally support for Gabi!

If you happen not to know who Gabi is you can check out her TJ Bio Page and also view the video below.

MTV Shows

Anyone who has been reading YFF for a while knows that living in New York City is a huge dream of mine. I tried moving there last summer but ran out of money and had to come back to the midwest. As much as I love fashion, I also love social media and popular culture; this is an amazing opportunity, and I truly need all of your support! How great would it be if there was a fashionable, body-positive plus size girl working in mainstream media (and MTV at that)? Plus, if I win, I can guarantee A LOT more outfit posts...can you imagine my wardrobe if I actually had steady income? Man.

The main thing I need you guys to do is FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY (my username is @gabifresh). There will be a series of challenges and you will have to follow me there in order to help! The more followers and interaction I have with you guys, the better. Secondly, PLEASE help spread the word and tell your friends to follow me. Post on your blogs, facebook, twitter pages, youtube channels, or anything else you can think of! (If you have any additional connections or creative ideas, feel free to email me!) Out of the 20 of us, the top 5 will go to NYC for a week and compete there, and then a live finale show will air on MTV and the winner is determined by votes....meaning I cannot do this alone! My biggest fear is that people will say "oh, how nice! I hope you win!" but not actively help me in this journey, but I hope that's not the case. I love you all so much, thank you for your continued support! I will of course keep you updated as things progress.

1. You MUST be a follower of @gabifresh and @Tupieta on Twitter.

2. Your campaign can include any medium. You can use your blog, facebook. twitter, myspace, youtube, flickr, or any combination you'd like. Even retweeting this post counts. The main goal is to spread the word and get people excited about Gabi. Be as simple or creative as you like but most importantly HAVE FUN!

3. You can submit your entry by commenting below with link(s) to your campaign. Photos and videos will also be added to the Team Gabi Tumblr page.

4. A winner will be chosen from the comments below using a random number generator.

A winner will be chosen by July 30th. Remember that Gabi will be participating in challenges. This is the most crucial period where she will need as much interaction from everyone as she can get so keep those campaigns going. If chosen, she will then compete as a top 5 finalist live on MTV on August 8.

We truly appreciate all of your support! Please spread the word about this contest as much as you can (even if you choose not to participate). The more entries, the more we know the word is getting out! If you have any trouble submitting you may send it by email tupieta@gmail.com

Have fun and good luck!

See the full gallery on Posterous

Permalink | Leave a comment »

Outfits and DIY . . .

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 22:11:00 -0700

I really need to work on doing more OOTD posts. A lot of times I just walk out the house and really don't get a chance to take photos. I feel like there is more of everyone else instead of me so I thought I'd let my light shine a little. I bought a couple of new pieces and also worked on a couple o DIY projects.

First off, I was able to find a dress for the tea party hosted by Linda Scott, 1426. It is a company dedicated to promoting plus size modeling and body image. The tea party was held to raise funds for two sisters who had lost their parents but are now going off to college. It is always great to be a part of a great cause and it was a very nice event. The party was hosted by Angel Myers of the Angel Alternative. Many of you may remember her as being one of the designers during FFFWeek. I wore a red dress that I brought from JCPenny and some Jessica Simpson heels. The fascinator was made by yours truly using feathers, a medallion, felt, and some E-6000 from Michaels. I absolutely loved the way it came out. The browns really complimented the dress. *Unfortunately I could not get a photo of the dress the day of so I took it later.*

See the full gallery on Posterous

After creating my fascinator I used the leftover feathers to trim the jewelry holder I made. I love costume jewelry so it is really difficult to find a proper jewelry holder. I ended up finding a little tutorial on how to create this earring holder but I lost the link. It wasn't difficult at all and anyone can do it. I just used an old mirror I found at the thrift store, spray painted it gold, found some metal screening, used clear thumb tacks to secure them and then trimmed it with the leftover feathers. Voila!

See the full gallery on Posterous

As for today, I finally was able to wear my shredded T-shirt. I've had it like this for a couple weeks but wasn't sure how to style it. I really liked it but I think I'll be experimenting more with different ideas to create something more unique.

See the full gallery on Posterous

I really need to dedicate myself to my DIY projects. I have a folder full of ideas and inspiration. Money is tight right now so I should really start working on more of these to spruce up my wardrobe. I guess we'll see how that goes lol.

Permalink | Leave a comment »

Doin' It Big: Tessandra Chavez

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 20:35:00 -0700

Over the past several weeks I have been trying to shape this blog into what I truly want it to be. I absolutely love plus size fashion. However I feel that we are more than just beautiful curvy women in great clothing. There are millions of beautiful, successful women who have had to struggle with societies views on body image outside the fashion arena. I just want to take time out to show my appreciation to these women and to showcase their accomplishments and shed a positive light on women who are overcoming the stereotypes. They are the business women, humanitarians, the stay at home mom, the woman who may be standing right next to you. We all make this world go round so "Doin' It Big" is my way of opening the world up more to EVERY woman out there who is taking charge of her destiny.

My first feature will be Tessandra Chavez. She is one of the inspirations for this segment. She is the creator of the Unity Dance Ensemble and is now a guest choreographer on season 7 of the hit dance series So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD). Many past contestants were part of her dance ensemble before becoming part of the top 20 and she has also choreographed numbers for SYTYCD Canadian tour. Now she has choreographed a group number for the first elimination night and also a judged routine for contestant Lauren Froderman and All Star Dominic Sandoval (below). I am so honored to have had the opportunity to interview such a great woman. She is not only a talented beauty but truly has a gift for inspirational dance. I can not wait to see more of her as the season progresses.

See the full gallery on Posterous

Thank you so much for taking the opportunity to do this interview, it is a great honor. I first saw your choreography on the opening for last week's SYTYCD first elimination show. It was beautiful, fun, acrobatic and such a pleasure to watch. I honestly felt as if I was watching a movie like "Fame" where everyone is just happy and dancing in the streets. After seeing you in the audience I just had to know who you were and jumped on ol' reliable google and the rest is history.

How did you become a part of SYTYCD and how did it feel to be a new addition to their family?

Many of my dancers in my company, Unity LA have been contestants on the show (Shauna Noland, Jaimie Goodwin, Kupono, Martha Nichols, Kathryn McCormick). I was referred by them and also I assisted Tabitha and Napoleon on the tour so I was able to meet the producers then. I put together a special showcase to audition for them. It was a 30 minute showcase featuring my contemporary and hip hop work. They called me the next day to ask me to join them this season. I was almost numb to the experience because I couldn't believe that I was given the opportunity. It's such a great platform and an honor. I've been working at choreography for a long time and just recently decided to live up to my destiny by aggressively pursuing the avenues that I was destined for. Self doubt can really block our destiny. I made a choice to not allow that anymore.

How would you describe your style of dance?

My style is a fusion of Jazz, Lyrical/Contemporary and Hip Hop. Some joke around and call it Contemp-Hop.

Who/what inspires you and your art?

I have 3 females that inspired me growing up and they are Debbie Allen, Paula Abdul and Janet Jackson. I wanted to be Debbie Allen in Fame and loved how Paula Abdul and Janet Jackson really captured the essence of dance in their artistry as singers. I've had the honor of working for Debbie Allen and met Paula Abdul recently and she told me she was a huge fan of my work! I've never met Janet but I am looking forward to it. Life in general inspires my work. I choreograph from a real place and have to feel "moved" when I work.

You began doing choreography at the age of 11 and started your company the Unity Dance Ensemble at 15. How were you able to turn this young venture into such a success?

I did start choreographing at a young age. I was compelled to do it. It wasn't a choice. Starting my own company at 15 was what I wanted to do and what felt right. I had an overflow of movement to share and needed dancers. What has allowed my young vision to bring me success has been determination and persistence. There were of course times when I wanted to give up because I felt like I kept hitting walls but I had faith that this was my destiny so I kept pushing.

Aside from a great choreographer you are definitely a beautiful and curvy diva. How has it been being a curvy woman in the world of dance?

I do feel being "curvy" has brought upon ill judgements of me and I've of course just kept on going and kept my eyes on the prize. However I don't see myself as "curvy" because I'm confident and honest and that comes across. Unfortunately in our society we deal with that stuff but life is about dealing in general and not letting things halt your dreams.

We definitely would love to see more of you. What else can we expect to see from you in the upcoming months?

In the next months I plan on working more and sharing what I love! I am about getting better and always growing at my craft. I feel we are never perfect but it's pretty fun trying to be.

What would be your advice for other young women out there who are trying to "do it big"?

My advice for anyone wanting to pursue this is.....NEVER QUIT....but make sure it's really what you want and desire. I feel alot of people pursue things just because it's cool not because they were born to do this. If you're genuine and truly authentic people will know and feel it and thus you will succeed!

Thank you so much Tessandra for being open enough to share your success. For those of you interested in more of Tessandra, below is a live interview and also a performance of Maxwell's "Pretty Wings". Also, make sure you tune in for more great talent on So You Think You Can Dance every Wednesday at 8pm EST only on Fox. Enjoy!

Permalink | Leave a comment »

Tupieta

F in FIERCE: Amber Riley - Essence

Behind the Scenes

WOW! or WTF? - Oscars 2011 Red Carpet

WTF?

WOW!

F in FIERCE: Nicki Minaj - BlackBook

Nothing wrong with a little F.A.P.

Happy New Years!

Tupieta Going on Hiatus

Everybody Wants to Be a Weiner, Including Me. . .

Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby . . . .

Keepin It Au Natural Haul and Giveaway . . .

It's Beth Bish! Beth Ditto A/W 2010 Available Now!

Monif C in the City

Featured Photographer | Tomas Rucker *NSFW*

I <3 New York

Tweet'n & Greet'n @Re/Dress NYC

COME SHOP & MINGLE!Saturday Aug. 21st @2pm@ Re/Dress NYC

August Window Shopping and July OOTMs . . .

ASOS Curve

Evans

Ashley Stewart

Congratulations to Gabi and the Giveaway Winners!

Doin it Big: Linda Scott & LS 1426, Inc.

#TeamGabi Campaign Giveaway . . .

Outfits and DIY . . .

Doin' It Big: Tessandra Chavez

Featured Photographer | Tomas Rucker NSFW

COME SHOP & MINGLE!
Saturday Aug. 21st @2pm
@ Re/Dress NYC