Fat Girl Flea Market - Purchases Over the Years

This Saturday is the FAT GIRL FLEA MARKET aka the best day for NYC fatshionistas. The Fat Girl Flea Market (FGFM) is a once a year, day long, giant flea market, where for once everything comes in our size. If you are in town you cannot miss it.

There's a $10 entrance fee to get in and then there are prices for types of clothing. There will be some new clothing for sale that has been donated by fabulous plus size designers and there will be TONS of donations. If you have clothing to donate (and let's be real, most of us do) you can drop off donations on Friday night or bring them Saturday when you come to shop.

I'll be working as a stylist on Saturday afternoon. Come find me so I can find you a fabulous outfit!

Wonder what you can get at the FGFM? Here are some snapshots of me in stuff that I've scored over the years.

I picked up this cropped jean jacket at the flea several years ago and I sometimes wonder how I lived without it in my wardrobe. It is an absolute go to piece for me. This was probably $5 or so.

I got this top at the FGFM a few years ago and looking at this photo I think I should wear it more frequently than I do. It's cute.

Sadly this isn't the best photo to show off my top, but take my word that it is this great turquoise sweater with a cowl neck that I picked up in the communal dressing room after someone else decided she wasn't interested in it. Fatty sisterhood!

Here are some great tips about hunting at the flea and I'm gonna add a few more of my own.

1) Come unencumbered. Wear as little clothing as possible and if you have a messenger bag, now is the time to wear it. You want your hands as free as possible.

2) Water. Shopping is hard work and hydration is important.

3) Cash. The FGFM is all cash and while everything is a massive bargain, it's not free. You'll need cash to pay for your goodies.

4) Have a good attitude. The flea is a great community day. It's going to be a great time, for your closet, pocketbook and your heart.

5) TRY IT ON! You never know what will fit.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll be done cleaning out my closet and will be able to show off some of the things I'm donating.

Hope to see you there!

Country Chic

Sometimes life is amazing. You tweet "I really need a weekend away" and all of a sudden a friend texts you "wanna go to the Catskills tomorrow?" and you have your weekend away. Life is magical that way.

Off we went for a lovely weekend of sleeping, cooking, drinking, game playing, dancing and general merriment. It was wonderful.

When planning my outfits for the weekend away I wanted to get into the country mood, look decent and be incredibly comfortable and I think I did a good job of it. Honestly I think in the right context throwing a furry vest on anything can make it a bit fabulous in the country.

Outfit sourcing:

Top - Evans

Leggings - Danskin via Ebay

Vest - Target

Boots - Duo

Sunglasses - Swiped from the coffee table, not entirely sure who they belong to. I think they're Ray-Bans.

My photographer for the day is a photo stylist for fancy shoots, can you tell? Also the view from the deck we took photos on is this. Can you imagine how gorgeous this must be in full spring bloom? Apparently spring comes even later to the Catskills than it does to Brooklyn.

New Hair and Office Sequins

Ta dah! Check it out, I have new, all natural hair.

Last spotted in 1998 and a two-year work in progress, it's my all natural hair color. I was more than a bit shocked when I discovered just how dark my hair really is and to be honest I wasn't all that pleased. But it's been a few weeks now (I'm quite the delayed blogger) and it's really starting to grow on me. The cut was inspired by a curly haired Maggie Gyllenhaal and while not quite as dramatic as I was hoping for it did re-dedicate myself to my stylist who I was thinking about breaking up with after a very long relationship.

You like?

I've also got on a very cute, new to me dress. I picked this up on my trip to Portland this past fall on Hawthorne Boulevard in the Southeast. Portland was glorious and I can't believe I never told y'all about it. When I finally wear the dress I got from Fat Fancy I'll give you an update.

It's just a simple black sweater dress that has the most AMAZING 80's shoulder pads and sequins. It's a continuation of my desire to bring sequins to the office, not just the weekend. I've paired my sequined sweater dress with some Duo boots and a headband from a Brooklyn street fair.

Photo credit to my beloved Ateqah.

I'm the Fat Cruella de Vil

A week or two ago the Fat Heffalump asked me if I'd be willing to contribute to a blog post about what fatshion meant to me. I was super touched to be included and quickly sent her a few lines and included the above photo of me. Amongst the things I said I wrote

"Sometimes I get on the subway in the morning, look around at everyone on the train and think about how in a sea of black, I am the fat woman wearing multiple fluorescent colors and a faux fur jacket. And then I laugh to myself and think about how far I’ve come from the days when I didn’t even know where to buy jeans that fit me."

And today's outfit is just an example of how far I've come. Not just in being comfortable in my body enough to show it off and bring attention to it, but also in the array of places I have to shop.

Also before winter finally ends in New York I wanted to show you what I have found to be the best part of my winter. My amazing, vintage faux fur that I purchased at Re/Dress a few months ago. I'd been coveting a faux fur all season and after a few ordering misses I picked this up at Re/Dress in the midst of one of the many blizzards we had. Every time I wear it, it puts a huge smile on my face. I think it makes me the fat Cruella de Vil!

Underneath my coat I had on those multiple shades of fluorescent I referenced. This dress was also picked up at Re/Dress and it was one of their new pieces that they carry. For some reason I don't wear this dress that often, even though I do like it. It often feels like a lot, even for me. The one other time I wore it I met Morgan Freeman.

There are batwing sleeves - fun! The dress comes with a belt that threads underneath the sleeves, but in the most un-bloomie fashion I chose not to wear it. I'm also wearing tights from Target, shoes from Payless and earrings from Primark.

As an added bonus the dress does some nice stuff for my booty. My ass and I are happy.

Photo credit goes to Amy and Ateqah.