Happy Tuesday everyone, I hope your week is off to a great start! Have you missed me? I know it has been way to long since my last post and I sincerely apologize. I feel like I was in a little bit of a rut and with my Mom visiting and being busy at work I didn’t have much energy to focus here.
But I have realized that it’s okay to regroup and renew by energy and passion. With accounting I am always go go go and have to be quick on my feet and ready to help my team. It’s technical and with all my experience I can usually resolve issues pretty easily. But being a blogger and digital influencer requires tapping into my creative side and I have learned that it can be much more physically and mentally exhausting. So while I love it, I know it takes more work and there are so many things that I am constantly learning.
And when you are an A type personality like me not knowing how to do something can drive you nuts. So while logically I know I need to cut myself some slack, in reality it is easier said than done. Having my Mom here really showed me that it is okay to ask for help. I have made a promise to myself that once June is over I am going to get a virtual assistant or an intern. It is only going to help me be better in the long run. And with the blog’s 3rd Anniversary just around the corner, things are only going to get bigger and better!
To get back into the swing of things I thought I would feature a look from one of my fave brands, ELOQUII. When I started blogging I had never heard of ELOQUII. The brand was initially The Limited’s plus size line and although it was a hit with customers they decided to drop the line in 2013. But thankfully for me and all of us plus size fashionistas some key people from the management team took a risk and decided to make a go of it on their own. And in February 2014 they relaunched and have never looked back.
They were still off my raider by the time I launched my blog in July 2015 because they only carried up to a size 24. But a few of my new friends who were bloggers couldn’t stop raving about them and so I started to follow their Instagram account and creep their website. It turned out that just before I launched the blog they had started offering select styles in size 26/28. So I ordered a few pieces and my love for the brand was born.
Not only do I love the clothes but I adore the women who have created this brand. They have supported me from the beginning, they didn’t care how small my following was, that I was Canadian or that I was constantly asking when more styles were going to be available in size 26/28. When I went to NYC for Full Figured Fashion week in 2016, they welcomed me to their office with open arms and gave us the full ELOQUII experience.
I remember looking at mood boards with so much awe and excitement, watching real live fittings, touching fabrics and samples, watching a real life plus model create magic in studio, stepping in front of the camera myself and getting to talk to Creative Director Jodi Arnold one on one and seeing her passion for the craft as she assessed the fit of the ELOQUII dress I had worn that day ( I should have sized down she told me lol). And she has put up with my feedback and complaints to this day! I feel like we are coming full circle as they get ready to offer all their styles in size 26/28 and launch size 30/32 this Fall. Hopefully that includes lingerie Jodi? (Wink wink, nudge, nudge 😉)
So hands down my favourite pieces from ELOQUII are their dresses. I have been on the hunt for a shirt dress since they started trending over a year ago. But this is one of those styles that is hard to find a good fit for my body type. A traditional shirt dress is like a button down shirt which is definitely not my friend. Either the buttons are popping at the chest or to get it to fit my hips the shoulders are way too big. And then I have no shape. So when I saw this style show up under new arrivals I was excited to see one that was made for my body. On the surface this is your classic tailored crisp white shirt dress.
But the way that it is tailored is what makes it perfect. The fabric is crisp but has stretch built in. There is enough room in the bust even for those of us who have larger busts and the buttons are spaced appropriately to minimize gaping. The waistband has elastic inset to provide an awesome fit and the skirt is full and flowy which is perfect for my hips and gives it a feminine feel. Finally, it has this waist cinching black belt that provides contrast and a classic colour pairing. I am wearing a size 28 which is my typical ELOQUII size.
To style this dress I wanted to keep to a black & white colour palette but have a little fun by introducing some different prints in the same colours. Gingham and polka dots are two of the biggest trends in prints right now so it only made sense to choose them. These slingback sandals are oldies but goodies that I had in my closet from Lane Bryant. The small polka dot and closed in toe give them a classic feel that is perfect for the office. And this gingham clutch that is also from Lane Bryant was the visually graphic punch that the look needed.
The only colour that I added was in these marble earrings from Lane Bryant. The marble combined with a pop of red & blush kept it subtle but still noticeable. A simple silver bangle finished it off.
So there you have it, a little history on one of my fave brands and another fashion trend is checked off my bucket list. This is one of my favourite blog looks I have shared in awhile. Thank you ELOQUII for all that you do. So tell me is there something on your fashion bucket list you need help finding? Leave me a comment and I will see what I can do!
Special thanks to Rebecca of Rebecca Northcott Photography for capturing these images.
Dress by ELOQUII | Shoes by LANE BRYANT (alternative here) | Clutch by LANE BRYANT (alternative #1 here) | Clutch by LANE BRYANT (alternative #2 here) | Earrings by LANE BRYANT (alternative here) | Bracelet by CATHERINE’S (alternative here) |
