Back in Action

Hey Sweeties!!!

Yes, it has been a LONG TIME COMING!!!!!! I am back in action. Oh how I have miss this part of me. Work has been the reason. I have a very unusual and demanding job that keeps me on my toes all day so by the time I get home I am dog tired!!! Somehow I keep reminding myself of what I have put on the back burner and what I need to get back to. My main squeeze, my wifey its you FASHION!!! I love you; always have and always will! I have an unconditional love for fashion. It has been with me for so long. I should have never steered away from you. Please forgive me! I am so sorry baby...lol! So I know the Summer is ending and we are about to go into the Fall Season...yay!!! So I thought I would introduce the transition by wearing this number. Man I fell in Love with this skirt as soon as I saw it. This is not a plus sized skirt. However, what helps is the elastic band in the back of the skirt. So I was able to get it over the big caboose in the back. The colors in the skirt works well in the Summer and Fall season so you will definitely will be seeing it again.  Please stay with me while I get back in the swing of things. I want this to become second nature to me so I know I need to get back in it and work hard at bringing you all the latest and the most fashionable from ViVi Style & Image! xoxo

TOP, SKIRT (SOLD OUT FROM JCP), BAG (AMAZON)

A Versatile Woman: That's Who I am!

Good People How Are You?

I hope this blog finds you all doing well? Ladies, do you call yourself one dimensional or are you well balanced when it comes to fashion? For me fashion is EVERYTHING! I hear it or read all the time a woman saying they can't do a certain style because it will not look right with their body type. So to me I think some women are one dimensional when it comes to fashion. I love being versatile in my style of clothing. I never knock a style or a piece of clothing because I don't think it will work. Your style can have versatility; it doesn't always have to be one certain look all the time. I love skirts like I will pick up a skirt before I pick up jeans or anything else to wear. I wasn't always like that. Skirts shows off one of my best ASSets... Ha! got'em!!!! I'm so silly! I also love sneakers; when I can afford them. Most time we as women will wear sneakers with jeans or sweats. However, give me a great skirt that can be dressed down and pair it with sneakers; I'm all for it. This same skirt will be dressed up with a blazer and heels later. Being versatile is exactly what your clothes can do for you. Try it sometimes. You will enjoy the comfort, the street feel, and the class of wearing a girly outfit without the heels, sandals, or cute flats. Also I would like to take the time to shout out a beautiful woman inside and outside who I used to work with. We both came in together and pretty much left the company around the same time to pursue our own businesses. Her name is Tawanna and she is the owner of Ruby Lips LLC. She is in the business of making all natural handmade lipstick. She has several colors along with other products such as natural lip balm made with Shea butter. I tried the Pucker Up Purple which is her best seller. I love the case mine came in with the silver rhinestone design. This shade of purple is dark and vibrant at the same time. It stayed on all day and is very smooth going on. I am so so so proud of Tawanna. I definitely will be purchasing again. Her website is www.rubylipsllc.com

Lip Color:  Pucker Up Purple: Sunglasses: Amazon, Top: Target, Skirt: Forever 21 (SOLD OUT), Sneakers: Nike  (Kyrie Irving "Easter") 

I Need Love: Featuring Women with Classy Confident Curves

Hey Ladies!!!


When I'm alone in my room sometimes I stare at the wall
and in the back of my mind I hear my conscious call
Telling me I need a man who's as sweet as a dove
for the first time in my life, I see I need love.

And I've come to realize that I need true love
And if you wanna give it to me boy make yourself seen, I'll be waiting! I LOVE you

-LL. Cool J

Ear cuff: Forever 21, Lip Color: Black Radiance, Nails: SinfulColors

I hope everyone is doing well! Today's outfit inspiration is brought to you by the word LOVE. Love is such a beautiful thing/feeling. Everyone deserves to be loved by another. As a woman, love is such an important part of our lives and we want the best there is out here. We know that true Love comes from when we first understand what Love is. God is Love and Love is God. When we acknowledge what love is then we can love ourselves to the fullest. Lastly, waiting for the man that God has for us to show us love...hmmm it feels good just to talk about it. So anyway lets talk about this outfit. I was feeling rather loved in this crop top sweatshirt and midi skirt.

Sunglasses: Amazon, Top: Forever21(In-Store), Gold Chain Belt: Stacked Apparel, Skirt: Rebdolls, Shoes: Jcp, Bag: Kenneth Cole

Hope you have enjoyed yet another blog featuring Love! XOXOX
Also would like to feature two ladies this week flaunting their #classyconfidentcurves @gracefullycurved and @classylady4_u Looking great ladies!!! Smooches!

#1 Fall Favorite the Skater Skirt: Featuring Lola Shoetique

Hey Ladies!!!


I hope all is well! This is a quick blog post featuring a piece I wore last year. Since Fall is coming near I wanted to bring back the skater skirt. I just have to say I feel even more confident in wearing this skirt now than when I first purchased it. I don't know if its because I am in the gym now and so it looks and feel different on me or what but your girl is feeling herself a tad bit. I love how the skirt brings attention to my midsection and legs. Not to mention these lovely red lace-up heels I purchased from Lola Shoetique. These shoes are skater skirt APPROVED!! At the same the shoes brings focus to my thick legs and I LOVE IT! This is my second pair of heels from their site and I am just in love. The site has some very fashionable and colorful shoes with a reasonable price tag. I recommend when looking to purchase heels try Lola Shoetique first. Outfit details are below with links to click on for purchase.

Earrings//Divaliciouslyhott, Top//Forever 21 (SOLD OUT), Skirt//ASOS, Shoes//Lola Shoetique

Thank you for reading and until next time. Be Good, Be Fly, and Shake a Tail Feather xoxox

Unexpected Blessings In My Size

Hello Ladies!!!

I hope all is well with all you who are reading. I wanted to talk about a HUGE opportunity I was given this past week that was so unexpected. After I celebrated my one year Bloggerversary with Classy Confident Curves I was contacted by the owner of Plus Size Fashionz who makes custom plus size clothing to model pieces from their clothing line. The fact that the clothing is custom made just for my body means  EVERYTHING to me. My measurements at this current time is 46, 42, and 57. Yes, I am a big girl and man o man do I love it. After looking at their website I fell in love with the prints, colors, and the women rocking these custom made styles. I was so excited to know I was chosen to take part in modeling for this boutique. I was sent my first dress and when I opened the package I automatically loved the color and when I saw the make I then automatically thought of the lovely Jill Scott on the cover of Essence magazine September 2014 edition.

I freaking love Jill Scott before and after!! She is currently my inspiration when it comes to getting my body in shape and wanting a more healthier me. I love how this dress hit every curve on her body and for me to receive a dress similar to the one she wore you all know I was too excited. So a special shout out to http://www.plussizefashionz.com/ for the opportunity to model this wonderful dress and the ones in the future to come.

My first celebrity dress alike! Yay! lol Loving this dress Shoes: JustFab and Earrings: Forever21

The dress is not yet on the website at  Plussizefashionz but there are others that I am sure you will love like I do as well. Hope you enjoyed the blog post. Also I may start blogging about my journey to a better me health wise. I am not trying to be skinny by far even if I tried I don't want that. Just wanting to be healthy and ready when the time comes for me to start my own family. I want to be ready for them. So in the meantime Be Good, Be Fly, and Shake a Tail Feather! xoxo

Black vs.White in These Streets Part 2 (Field of Dreams)

Hey ladies,

Hope all is well with everyone who is reading. I wanted to complete my Black vs. White blog with me featuring an all white dress I purchased from a well known store. This is actually my first time purchasing from this store that I am sure would be surprising to a lot of ladies. Before I jumped into the fashion you know I have to incorporate some realness into this blog.

Wearing white has never been my strong suit. I mean I am clumsy and sometimes absent minded about the color white and how EVERYTHING that is not white will show up on it. Wearing the color white reminds me of a no drama filled life where nothing or no one can come up against you to throw dirt on you or your name. Its almost like you stand in the middle of a field where no one can come close to you to bring harm towards you. Its hard keeping the color white clean; just like its hard being a woman in these streets. Like on the baseball field if you are not a great hitter chances are you won't hit a home run and just run through each plate clean. We stand on the base with our bat wearing our color white trying to stay clean from drama, negativity, and heartache hoping we hit a home run. Well like I said its always someone or something ready to throw dirt on you. Like me I try to give everyone 100% realness or at least be honest about who I am and what I am all about. I try to remain true to myself and to those I come in contact with each and everyday. I realize that everyone is not here for me. Some are out to get me dirty! Some do it with no care and some do it on the sneak tip. Those throwing dirt either don't use the sense God gave them and some throw dirt because they want you to feel as low as they do. Either way its hard wearing white in these streets. Everything shows up on white; fear, anger, pain, betrayal, defeat, and even let downs. However, in the midst of all the negativity while wearing the color white there is a tool used to keep me clean...PRAYER! I pray that God grants me Justice against my adversary. Luke 18:3. I try my best not to get my white dirty with negativity from other catty women and/or men who don't have my best interest at heart. Its rough wearing white in these streets. BUT GOD!!! I like the phrase once quoted in one of my favorite movies Bad Boys II, "Jesus, is the way my brother." Lol. I hope this passage helps you keep your white clean while you in these streets. Now on to the fashion...

As I mentioned, where I purchased this dress from is actually my first time shopping at this store. I hear so much about it and never got around to shopping until now. I purchased this dress for an all white party that I decided not to attend, but I chose to keep the dress anyway. I love the make and feel of this flare dress. Wearing white has one great asset; adding another color to bring the outfit together. I decided to add a pastel pink to my color white. I felt really girly in this dress and like NOTHING ever could come against me to get me dirty again. Don't mistake my kindness for weakness nor my quietness for being scared. I just don't have time to keep cleaning off the mess some people throw at me. I got bigger and better goals to achieve. As the saying goes, "One monkey don't stop THIS show."

Batter up dressed in ALL White! Dress: Fashion to Figure, Belt: Target, Shoes: Charlotte Russe, Earrings: Forever 21

The fit of this flare dress loves my body. I am ready to take on the world.

Coming to a baseball field wearing all white has got to be the BIGGEST oxymoron! LOL I love it!

 Hope you ladies enjoyed today's part 2 Black vs. White in these Streets. Until next time xoxoxo

Black vs White In These Streets Part 1

Hi Ladies,

As promised I had another feature coming to you showing off this all black scuba/mesh dress. With this particular dress I wanted to talk a little bit about being a FAT girl in a world where wearing see-through can be seen as too much for any woman with my body shape. I say as long as you know yourself and are comfortable in whatever you choose to wear, "WHO CARES" what others think. Yes, I stand by wearing what I like to call reinforcement especially in this type of dress. Scuba material is not body friendly especially on a plus size woman who carries something extra such as myself. However, it still holds you in certain places, but it does not disguise ALL your body. I wanted to be true to my readers and those who follow me and show what my real body looks like without backup worn under this dress. I love this dress because it shows some skin and still leaves some imagination for the mind. This is a sexy dress that can be worn for club night or a date night with that special special special someone. This dress is not meant be to worn just anywhere. I actually think I will be wearing this during this year's NCCU Homecoming. Hmmm?? Decisions, Decisions!

Ladies, being a FAT girl I welcome criticism of any kind. I once read from another blogger that no one can use the word FAT to break me because I own the word and embrace it. Yes, I am big and fat what else is new? At the same time I know how to strut my fatness up and down the street. Even in these pictures I stood in the middle of street while cars drove come up and down some even stopping to give me kudos on this look. So you see its not about the way others look at you its about how you look at yourself. Damn, I felt like Carrie Bradshaw typing that last sentence. Hahahaha....too funny to me! EMBRACE who YOU are and OWN it because that alone can never be taken from you!

 I am exploring more makeup. Example: Colored eyeliner Wet n' Wild (Turquiose)

 Lip Color is by: Corindacouture.com (Twilight) Midi rings from Aldo

Ear Candy: I love these earrings soooooo much! Goes with my lip color and shoes. Now let talk about these shoes.

I am always on Instagram, I mean like ALWAYS!!!!! So its one page that I have come accustom to watching and that is @lolashoetique I love how their prices are reasonable at the same time there is SO much to choose from in the style of shoe. I love these shoes! Before I purchased I knew I had to look for size, width, and if the straps were elastic. Once I could answer yes, yes, and yes I was good to go and the next thing I knew they were on my feet. I love the color, the heel, and my legs just look sexy honey.

 Shoes purchased from Lolashoetique

 

Remember ladies own and embrace who you are in the now so no one can use it against you in the future. Then just walk away strutting in these streets.

Be Good, Be Fly, and Shake a Tail Feather xoxoxo

Introducing the Future Dr. M. Wood Phd: In Living Color

Hi Ladies,

I hope everyone is doing well this week. I wanted to share a special friend with you and to also feature her on my blog this week. To jump right into this week's blog I would love to introduce to you my stylish, inspirational, and a fellow alumna of North Carolina Central University Ms. Marquita Wood. I've known Marquita since our freshmen year at NCCU. We were next door dorm mates from different ends of the state of North Carolina and we had no idea we would end up as great friends until this day. Marquita has made a great pathway into the educational system that will direct her into becoming one of not so many Black female university chancellors.

This woman inspires me to never give up, think long and hard, then make your move your best move of course after praying about it all. She has a heart that everyone has no choice but to fall in love with. While I am typing this in my 31 years of living I have never been able to describe another female this way as much as I can about Marquita. We are always talking about what friends are and what it really means to be a real friend. She has educated me over the years on how its okay to fall in and out of love with your best friend and still remain best friends. As stated from the title of my blog Ms. Wood is currently working on a doctoral degree in Higher Educational Leadership with the goal of becoming an university chancellor.

Ms. Wood will be celebrating a birthday on July 30th and wanted to feature her new look as the future Dr. Wood Phd, and the coming years. So she collaborated with DanielLamar Photography and Classy Confident Curves to bring her vision to light. What was so special about this project that Marquita, Daniel, and myself all graduated from NCCU and we took this photo shoot back to our ole stumping grounds; the sloping hills, the verdant greens of Dear Ole NCC. Two of the three sets featured on today's blog were personally shopped and styled by me and we got Mr. Daniel to bring this vision to light. I've known Ms. Wood to be very conservative in her style of wear so I wanted to bring her and my own style together in this photo shoot. Both outfits were purchased from JCP online and in-store. Accessories were purchased from Aldo and Forever 21.

This shoot is to not only inspire style but to also inspire growth, friendship, hard work, passion, trust in others, and most importantly dreams do come true. Watching Marquita stand firm on her own as she has for so long on the campus in front of the James E. Shepard statue gives me belief that she will become the woman God has her to be. Along with watching Daniel take the shot that captures what I so clearly see just by looking at Marquita take those poses gives me trust that we all can go for what we want out of life. Okay now for some color. Without further ado: Introducing Dr. Marquita Wood Phd. "In Living Color".

Prepping Dr. Wood for her photo shoot.

" In Living Color" Eagle Pride!!!

 I love this pose. Ready to take on the world all while in a business suit.

 Top/Skirt: JCP, Earrings: Aldo. Slingback pumps and Michael Kors watch purchased by Ms. Wood.

 

Top: JCP, Gold Chain Belt: Forever 21, Skirt: JCP, Earrings: Aldo

I want to thank Marquita for giving me the opportunity to style her for such a momentous occasion. I am greatly appreciated. Again, Daniel did a wonderful job capturing the future Dr. Wood Phd. Marquita, I pray the God blesses you beyond your already wildest imagination and Happy Birthday honey, I love You!

Stay Tuned ladies there will be another blog feature coming to you soon called Black vs.White in these Streets the other version.  xoxoxo

Be Good, Be Fly, and Shake a Tail Feather!!

When Life Throws You Curves

Hi Ladies!!! Its once again a great day to be alive and well. I wanted to talk a little bit about what I have experienced in the past couple of weeks. Let me just start off saying you can never make EVERYBODY happy or please people 100%. I never saw myself as a role model or someone anybody would look up to in life. I am a loner at heart and fashion has thrown its own curves in my life which I am welcoming with open arms. After watching what some plus size fashion bloggers go through when it comes to rude, disrespectful, and down right ignorant comments from people I sat back and wondered is this what I really want. When I decided to open up and broadcast myself on social media I never thought that I would have to worry about rudeness from others because I didn't think many people would be watching me. Well I was wrong.

As I get more and more comfortable with having hundreds and maybe even thousands of people looking at me from head to toe I have started noticing the hate, criticism, and body bashing trolls lurking. Its like they are just waiting to hate on the BIG BLACK WOMAN with the audacity to want to show off her style and curves. I am hear to say bring it!!! Regardless of the fact that no one person is perfect, but women still have the nerve to want to critique another woman on how she looks or what she has on. People are going to be who they are and there isn't anything I can say or do to stop them.

So what should I do about this you may ask? Not a damn thing but continue being me. You may think my arms/stomach is too big or that shirt doesn't go well with the rest of the outfit but I'm here...iz FREE!! (had to add little Color Purple in there). Honestly, ladies when life throws you curves FLAUNT them and keep moving. Do not worry about others and what they think they know. You can be the #1 most prettiest woman on Earth people will still find something wrong with you. While I'm on this journey of plus size fashion I am learning and growing. I expect to take risks that may not be necessarily flattering but guess what its me taking the risk and no one else. I finally know now I am on the right track to be great.

So without further ado I would like to give details on this week's featured outfit. I purchased this lovely African printed skirt from Christelle and Michelle N from The African Shop (Etsy.com). Once purchased the sites states it will take 2 weeks before shipping. Once shipped I received an email that informed me I should receive my item within 6 to 16 days I swear I received my skirt within 4 days. I was so excited to try it on. I ordered a size 22 because I was not too sure about the fit. I know now I can get my original size (20) with my next purchase. The colors and the added bow with pockets just warmed my heart. I loved the customer service and polite conversations I had  with these ladies. You guys ROCK!!

Top: Forever21
Skirt: The African Shop (Etsy.com)
Shoes: Heels.com
Earrings and Sunglasses: Forever 21

 

I hope you guys have enjoyed this week's blog as much as I enjoyed wearing this skirt. Until next time xoxo!!!

T-Shirt Dress Trend

Hello Ladies!!!

So, there is this trend brewing around now where wearing a basic tee as a dress is in. I have jumped on the trend-fashion band wagon and ordered my own. It was a pre-order buy from an online boutique that I follow off of Instagram by the name of Voluptuous Vixen Boutique. I saw this piece and really like what I saw as far as how women were wearing it. Its comfortable but at the same time most definitely a trendsetter. Most of the time we see trends such as these first seen on reality television shows like Love and Hip Hop of Atlanta etc. I usually pick up a few trends from reality television shows here and there but never go over board with them because I still feel more like myself wearing my own style. However, this look I knew I could have fun with. Which is what I actually did especially with this photo session with my photographer. This is our fourth session and the background rocked along with my outfit. It only took 30 minutes to get these shots compared to an hour and some change. I do not know if I love the graffiti or my outfit the most...lol! This particular shirt is now SOLD OUT online where I purchased mine from, but I am sure there are a few more websites selling this and maybe even in different colors. As always remember to have fun with your clothing and just know its nothing wrong with following the trends that we see on social media. I hope you enjoy this week's blog and like always the details will be below.

                                                                      

 

   Girl gotta mean walk...hammocks all out SMH!

 All accessories: Aldo, Maxi Dress: VoluptuousVixenBoutique (SOLD OUT), Jean Shorts: Made by me, Shoes: Charlotte Russe, Sunglasses: Forever 21

 

I hope you ladies have enjoyed today's blog and photos as much I did! Have a great day xoxox