PRABAL GURUNG x LANE BRYANT COLABORATION 2.27.17

“We simply believe that all women should be seen and celebrated as they are"

- Brian Beitler Lane Bryant CMO

Lane Bryant has come together with designer Prabal Gurung.  The 22pc collection was release today and can be bought in store or online.  Lane Bryant has once again partner with another designer to give women of all sizes a high end collection but at an affordable price. 

Prabal’s  has been added to Lane Bryant list of collaborators like Christian Siriano, Lela Rose, Sophie Theallet and Isabel Toledo. Prabal's collection, with super model Ashely Graham, is made up of a collection of minimalistic jumpsuits, full skirts and form fitting dresses paired with feminine flora's and bold color blocking creating sexy yet stylish pieces.

Prabal’s said " I am grateful to the Lane Bryant team for giving us the opportunity to create beautiful clothes that celebrate women who inspire us. Our goal has always been to create a luxury brand with soul, and inclusion is inherent to this ideal.”

Lane Bryant's campaign has always asked for women to embrace their confidence, curves and be fearless.  This collection is a celebration of women being unique and being themselves.  Lane Bryant always push for women to be beautiful but to not confirm to what society say is beautiful.  This collection says just that.

"The collaboration of Prabal Gurung and Lane Bryant exemplifies that celebration by praising the female form and redefining the traditional standard of beauty. The groundbreaking designs and innovative vision that have made Prabal such a massive success come to life in each piece within this collection. We are thrilled to share Prabal’s designs with the Lane Bryant customer.” said Brian Beitler, Lane Bryant CMO.

Click HERE to shop the collection online 2.27.17

photos complement of Lane Bryant

sponsor post

Move Fashion Forward Campaign with Dia & Co.

Today Dia & Co., personal styling and subscription box company for the plus size women, took out a full page at in the New York Times calling for ALL fashion designers to start being size inclusive.  This would call for them to not stop at a size 10 but to go up to a size 24 to include the plus size market.  The ad is published on the first day of the most recognize fashion event in the world, New York Fashion Week. 

With 67% of the population being over a size 14, its crazy that in 2016 such an ad has to be done.   Designer should be more than happy to carry every size in order to gain over half the population and gain more revenue.  Why hasn't the industry as a whole changed?  Most think it has to do with the brands loosing their skinny target audience and being rejecting the brand.  We all see that that is not true.  When Christian Siriano made a line of plus size clothing for Lane Bryant, put plus size models on his runway and dressed some of Hollywood hottest plus size starlets, his fan base increase, his brand presents increase and revenue increased. 

He is proof that the old way of fashion is dyeing.  I'm here to say that the old way of the fashion industry is rapidly changing with the rapid change in technology, population and social media. 

I applaud Dia & Co.  for giving am opportunity for designer like Kate Spade and DVF to recognize the change in fashion and move with the times.  Plus size designers have already seen the change and done something about it.  A lot of plus designers and retailers have added size 10/12 to gain that "not so plus" market. Now its the designers turn to do what's right. 

So what can you do to help the movement?

Join in on the campaign and let your favorite designer know you want them to be size inclusive.

Copy this picture, or the one above, and post it to your social media page with hashtags #movefashionforward

#nyfw

Make sure to @ the designers 

Also visit Dia&Co campaign site www.dia.com/movefashionforward also
Check out Dia &Co. HERE to see what this company is all about.

Tweet, Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram this movement today!!!!

#style@anysize

TRIBUTE TO FASHION ICON MICHELLE OBAMA...

With less than 10 days until the Obama Family leave the White House and we crawl into our beds crying wondering what we did wrong to end this relationship (lol), I wanted to look back on some better times.

From the first time I saw Michelle I fell in love with her style.  Maybe it was our similar love for sleeveless fit and flare dresses, her serious yet quite demeanor or her need to smile when it was time to smile and not because the public said "you should smile more".  Her personally was like gravity and her style was like silk to me.  Strong, soft, flowing, non conforming and unmatched to any other.  The more I saw her the more I wanted to see her. 

Over the last 8 years her style grows, changes and matures as her children and husband has changed.    She wore all of my my favorite designers and open my eyes to a few new ones as well. 
To show how much I love Mrs. Obama style, I wanted to show my top 10 FLOTUS looks from the last 8 years.

1. Isabella Toledo on Obama 2008 inaugural walk through Washington
The fact that she chose Toledo on such a special day let me know I had found my new fashion Icon

2. Christian Siriano @ The Democratic Convention

3. Missonni in Milan

4. Tom Ford

5. Jason Wu (this is now apart of a museum collection....a MUSEUM people!!!)

6.Thome Browne (you know I screamed when I saw her wearing Thome)

7. Naeem Khan

 8. Jason Wu (again)

9. Kenzo (Can we all look so polish & amazing stepping off a plane)

10. Versace

(The president said to her "They not looking at me" #damerightobama)

First Ladies of the past were known to wear one designer over and over again.  FLOTUS Michelle changed the fashion of first ladies by doing the exact opposite. Mrs. Obama ambition to feature American fashion designer or young and upcoming designers was not lost to me. She mixed high end designers with off the rack. She wore sneakers, jeans and shorts, which was something never seen before.  She was colorful, polish, and bold.  All the making of a style icon. 

I will miss Michelle representing the US as our first lady but I know there is more style to come. 

OOTD: SMILE THROUGH THE SHADOWS....

Back in the fall, I took  photos with a heavy shadow falling on me.  I don't know why but I held back on these photos.  I wasn't sure if I should show them at all.  The outfit was fine and the lighting was perfect but still I didn't want to show them. 

I now realize why.

During the time I took these photos I was dealing with a lot of change.   I'd gain 20lbs. My mini me was starting middle school and would be taking public transportation for the first time by herself.  I had major doubts about my application to my Masters program.  I loss contact with friends that I considered dear to me and wasn't sure why.  My body was hurting and I was mentally drain. 

When I took the photos, I had all these thoughts and doubt and wasn't sure how to deal with them.  When I saw these photos I just saw all the shadows.  All the darkness around me.  Nothing stood out but the shadows. 

"In 2017 I will be...." is the phrase heard over and over again.  A new year signify a new beginning.  Feeling like the world is on re-set every year maybe great for most but not the way I handle a new year. Most New Year goals crash and burn because people can not plan.  I should now.  I was a terrible "New Year New Me" resolution setter. 

 

Maybe its because I'm a Cancer but, doing things that way didn't work for me.  I've walked to the beat of my own drum and done things on my time. Now, I don't reset for 2017 or create goals for beginning of the year.  I set goals throughout the year.  I make a commitment to work towards the goal and work it every day. 

 I move forward through the shadows.

When you do things differently you handle things differently.  By then end of 2016 I had done more then I expected.  I'm in school (meaning I got my ass in gear finished my application and got accepted).  Mini me is doing just fine and even made new friends while taking the bus home. The weight came down and my mental health is getting back on track.  I realize I may have lost some friends but I gain SO much more and even though I am sad at the lost connections I am also grateful for my new ones.
I guess the main thing I learned is to smile.  Smile though your shadows.  They are there ( they will always be there) but that doesn't mean they hold you down.  Sometimes you have to pick your head up, smile and move forward.  The shadows will always be there, but you just smile and everything will get better.
I started this as just an outfit post but I want to send a message to my Stylistas that you have to smile through your shadows and remember to always keep moving forward.

In 2017 lets smile through our shadows

Outfit details (because it was a fly outfit)

Jacket: Lane Bryant

Jeans top boots: Avenue 

Much love to my photographer Lee!!!

Hit her up on Insagram @artnlee

12 DRESSES OF CHRISTMAS NO 12: BLACK & GOLD HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

On the 12 (and last) day of Christmas my Fashion Fairy gave to me....

Eloquii Black and Gold Suit

 The New Year Collection (and 12 Dress countdown) ends with this gold & black printed suit from Eloquii. 
From the first time I put on the jacket I was in love.  I held it as my last outfit because nothing screams New Year like a black and gold suit. 

These Brooklyn Streets Not Ready For This!!!

Some will say that matching suit is too much but not for this Stylista!!!!
I feel if your going to stand out it might as well be in the best way possible. 

 I completed the suit with a white button down, black and white pumps, gold accessories and black/gold clutch.

To all my stylista I just wanted to end with saying Happy New Year!!! I hope to see you all next year and that we keep growing together.  I thank all of you who have been with me from the beginning and the stylistas who found me this year.  My New Year resolution is to keep bring the best I can to NEC STYLE .  NEC Style is my fashion blog but I do it to show that women of the 22+ size can and ARE stylish.  I resolve to bring you guys more and more and keep the love and positivity flowing.  I want to bring more products, makeup, fashion and brands that sizes for the plus size women. 
I pray that I can bring this and much more to you all for 2017!!! God Bless you all and...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

OUTFIT DETAIL

Suit: Eloquii

Shirt: Lane Bryant Glamour Collection

Clutch: Gift from friend(no name)

Shoes: Avenue (no longer available)

photos by MGP Photography

12 DRESSES OF CHRISTMAS NO. 11: SPARKLE AND ROSE GOLD

 On the 11th day of Christmas my Fashion Fairy gave to me.....

Sequins Dress from Eloquii

 NOW THIS IS WHAT I CALL A PARTY DRESS!!!!

The sequins on the Eloquii dress changes change to gold, black, silver, yellow and pink sparkles as you run you hands across it.  I spent a good 10 min changing the colors on my dress the first time I tried it on.  (Side Bar: Mini me took one looked at me, shook her head and retreated back into her video games....oh well)

To keep  the party going I added more sparkle with my gold clutch bag and rose gold heels.  Two things to love about this bag: the gold chain and its ability to become a side bag.  Being from NYC,  I need a bag that I can change to go over my shoulder keeping my hands free. 
Added the rose gold strappy heels to complement the pink in the dress.

I didn't add any jewelry to this look (I am the sparkle and shine).

Just a little peplum leather jacket, I'm ready to party my New Years Eve Away!!!!

 OUTFIT DETAILS

 Dress: Eloquii

Jacket: Lane Bryant

Bag: Torrid (no longer available)

Shoes: Ashley Stewart (no longer available)

jacket sponsored by Lane Bryant

photos by MGP photography

12 DRESSES OF CHRISTMAS DRESS 10: NEW YEARS EVE DRESS

On the 10th Day of Christmas My Fashion Fairy gave to me....

GCGme High Slit Maxi Dress

Analise High Slit Maxi

 Hey Stylistas!!!! I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas.  May you received everything you wanted and spent time with family ad friends!!!

Christmas is over but the 12 Dresses of Christmas continues with looks perfect for New Year Eve!!!

GCGme designs, contemporary women's apparel and fashion accessories.   Their designs focus on giving strong key pieces in bold colors, to make a effortless statement where ever you go. 
GCGme reached out to me to show off their dresses in plus size.  Dress sizes start at a small and goes up to a 4xl.

I'm wearing a 3xl in the Maxi.  I decided to go with their High slit maxi for one reason....to show a little leg.  I love to show you can have a little leg shown no matter what your size. 

Link to purchase this dress is HERE

The Bag can also be found at GCGme.com.  This bag comes in several colors to match the color of your dress.

Click HERE to purchase bag

photos by MGP photography

sponsored post