Plus Size Swimsuits That Don't Suck

ModCloth: Flamingo | Retro | Chevron | Seagulls

You guys, it's a rough world we live in when it takes (seriously) days to find a good swimsuit for us bigger girls. Here's what I hate most about swimsuit shopping, be it in person or online, some companies like the pretend that chunky ladies don't like the most common of summer activities. Hello, I'm a big girl and I like to swim and get my tan on, just make that cute suit you designed...bigger.

No but really, swimsuit shopping in general bothers me because, 1) no boob support, 2) those little skirt things, 3) tankini tops are weird. Why is it so hard to create a bathing suit with a bra in it? Like women want to be wearing silky nylon fabric without some support...come on now. I know I'm in the very small minority of women who actually like wearing a bra, but let's be real, unless you have real support in your swimsuit, nothing looks good in that area. Slap some under wire in there. Also, I assume that a lot of places think like this when designing for plus size..."oh, put a little skirt on it so she doesn't worry about her thighs showing! Oh, not to long though, still needs to be like the normal swimsuits! There, perfect!" No, no, not perfect, those skirts cut off right at the largest part of my thighs, what was the point of adding it? Nothing is modest or slimming about those poorly cut skirts. The only exception to this is the flamingo suit from ModCloth that is shown above and only because the skirt isn't frilly and I like the illusion sides. Final swimsuit pet peeve, tankini tops. Just because I don't get what the point of wearing a cami top is since they just float up once you're in the water anyway. Why not just wear a regular bikini top? Someone can explain that to me in the comments I guess.

Torrid: Pink | Multi-Color | Swimsuits For All: Black Fringe | Dragonfruit

Anyway! I found some suits I actually like and now I need to figure out which to buy! I need a one piece because I'll be running a camp this summer and the dress code says no two pieces, but I also really love that the high waisted two pieces are back on trend and want one because I plan on spending too much time at Lake Erie this summer, you know, since it's like right here. These are my favorites and while not all of them have as much support in them as I'd prefer, the reviews seemed positive and if worse comes to worse I can just sew an old bra into one. I should probably just sew my own suit altogether.

Torrid: Tie-Dye | Swimsuits For All: Polka Dots | ModCloth: Blue Fringe

All of my current suits are from Victoria's Secret but I see that they are becoming less and less accommodating to the big girls, which is depressing because I love their stuff. But I had some good luck with finding suits at ModCloth, Torrid, and Swimsuits For All. Which of these do you like best? How do you feel about swimsuit shopping?

Fashion Forward Fridays: Summer Festivals

All I can think about recently is going to summer festivals. So I thought why not use that for Fashion Forward Fridays? I know that I will be heading to a lot more than usual because I need to get Marion Claire off the ground and summer festivals seems like the way to go for me. But I don't think I'll be able to make it to any of the awesome music festivals that Eric and I really wanted to head out to, which is sad. So here's some fashion inspiration for those of you heading out to all kinds of festivals this summer!

I always want to wear sandals to festivals and then hate myself afterwards for doing that. So much dirt, so much walking, don't wear sandals unless it's in a mostly paved area. (Like the Three Rivers Arts Festival.) And you always need a bag that can hold a lot of stuff in, water bottle, blanket to sit on at any notice, wallet and necessities, camera, and room for stuff you buy. I'm getting excited just thinking about going to festivals! Where are you guys heading this summer?

Books of the Summer

So this summer, I was able to get back into my "reading groove" - living back home with such a great library has done wonders for me. This summer I read A LOT. But these ones were my favorites and I hope that you guys will think about checking them out!

Incendiary by Chris Cleave - If I had to pick a favorite author, Chris Cleave would certainly make the short list. I love his ability to tie multiple story lines together and explain in depth what characters are feeling, without going overboard and Incendiary is no different. A story about a family of three, living a working-class life in London and how the mother/wife character is able to go on after losing her young son and husband by the hands of notorious criminals in an event that shakes London to the core. This summer I also so the movie based on this book and I must say, it sucked...just read the book.

The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker - When I first picked up this book I was very skeptical about whether or not I'd like it because it seemed very "end of the world" and "unreal" to me, which I'm usually not a fan of. However, although it does have speculative fiction, it's a beautiful coming of age novel that is written beautifully and has a believable story line. This novel is from the point of view of Julia, a middle-schooler growing up in an average American suburban lifestyle, whose world is totally altered when it has become obvious that the Earth's rotation is slowing. This book is stunning.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - Alright, this was THEE book of the summer. Gone Girl is fantastic. I was hooked to every word and was in love with it from beginning to the very last word. This book is about a marriage gone horribly wrong between Nick and Amy Dunne, and all it comes unraveling on the fifth wedding anniversary. The characters are rich and the plot is thick and surprising. You just must read this one for yourself.

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan - This one is also a must read. Especially if you're a total nerd. There is an odd subculture revealed to Clay when his life of a web-designer ends and he begins to work the overnight shift at Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. Mr. Penumbra is an interesting character who Clay cannot get enough of and soon he his immersed in a secret code-breaking club run through the way-back shelves of the bookstore. Along with this club, Clay finds true friendship and love and something much larger than his humdrum life that he'll never forget. Also, the hardback book cover glows in the dark, so there's that.

Office Girl by Joe Meno - Since this book is so different then any others I've read and there is no better way to explain it, this is what the back of the book actually says: No one dies in Office Girl. Nobody talks about the international political situation. There is no mention of any economic collapse. Nothing takes place during a World War. Instead, this novel is about young people doing interesting things in the final moments of the last century. Odile is a lovely twenty-three-year-old art-school dropout, a minor vandal, and a hopeless dreamer. Jack is a twenty-five-year-old shirker who's most happy capturing the endless noises of the city on his out-of-date tape recorder. Together they decide to start their own art movement in defiance of a contemporary culture made dull by both the tedious and the obvious. Set in February 1999—just before the end of one world and the beginning of another—Office Girl is the story of two people caught between the uncertainty of their futures and the all-too-brief moments of modern life. ...andddd pretty much, read it. It's certainly interesting and unlike anything I'm sure you've read.


Trains and Lovers by Alexander McCall Smith - If you're a hopeless romantic, you need to read Trains and Lovers. This novel is about four travelers heading from Edinburgh to London who all meet on the train and have beautiful love stories that tie them all to the locations of where they are coming from to where they are going. This book is just lovely. It's something you can finish in a few day and if you're a sappy girl like me, then you'll be smiling and possibly crying the whole time. It's a great book about how wonderful love can really be. 

I was told there'd be cake by Sloane Crosley - This book of personal essay's had me laughing the entire way through. Sloane's writing really is profoundly genuine and honest and I loved every minute of this book. These essay's are of Sloane's twenty-something lifestyle while living and working in the big city. I loved it all. She is the more "family friendly" version of Chelsea Handler's book(s) of essays and just as witty. After so many novels over this summer, it was good to end the summer with a hilarious book of essays by an extremely relatable woman. 

Chels Wears: $10 Neon

Owl Ring & Leather Bracelet: Charlotte Russe | Braided Belt: Unknown

Neon Shirt: Dollar General | White Tank: JCPenney | Pants: Target | Shoes: Charlotte Russe

Just to brag for a moment, while I was out wearing this outfit, I got a lot of compliments but one lady came up to me and said don't you just love that top? And she went on and on about how she just got the same one from Old Navy and for only $30 dollars and how much she loved it. Naturally I agreed with her because I love it too, but I got this little stunner from the Dollar General, for ten dollars. Sorry, ma'am.

Morale of the story: never question where you can find a great outfit piece. I'm all about saving money, especially when it comes to clothes because I buy them basically everywhere I can, so those couple racks of clothes that you've been overlooking at your local dollar store, stop overlooking. It's usually not a guarantee that you'll find anything awesome there, but sometimes you get nice surprises like this one! And for the record, I did see this shirt at Old Navy earlier in the week, but promised myself to only shop in their clearance section, so I passed on it. Lucky for me, I found it twenty dollars cheaper while I was out buying cat food...it's the little things.

Chels Wears: Business Casual

Ring & Bracelet: Charlotte Russe | Purse: Urban Outfitters | Belt: Unknown

Shirt: JCPenney | Cardigan: Target | Skirt: Goodwill | Shoes: Charlotte Russe

I am not becoming a fashion blogger. That feels a little stressful to me, having to wake up and worried if what you're picking out to wear will look good on the Internet. Yep. Not doing that every day. But you guys know I love fashion. Fashion Forward Fridays is my pride and joy. Most of the blogs I follow are fashion blogs. And I did tell you that there would be a few changes and be a bit more "Chels" on this blog for a while. So since I love fashion, this is the kind of thing you'll see here on Wednesdays.

I've been hearing this "business casual" term a lot this summer. Mostly because of the job hunt but no one seems to know how to define it. When someone labels an event, or a job tells you to wear business casual, no one really gets what that means. So this is an outfit I wore to work recently, because we are "business casual" but the same day one of my co-workers showed up in leggings and flip-flops. She looked cute, but I wouldn't consider her outfit in this category. What do you think business casual means? Where do you draw the line?

Brooklyn Rider at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater

Johnny Gandelsman, violin | Eric Jacobsen, cello | Colin Jacobsen, violin | Nicholas Cords, viola | Sarah Small photo

Thanks to the Pittsburgh Chamber Music Society, I was able to attend a concert last Thursday at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater as part of their Just Summer series. Although before being offered these tickets, I had never heard of Brooklyn Rider, I am so happy that I was a bit "out of the box" and headed out to hear them.

Brooklyn Rider is a pretty well known string quartet. Now, if you know me at all, you know I'm a huge music fan, but that doesn't mean I know anything about string quartets, except the absolute basics, like which instruments would be in one. But, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that Brooklyn Rider quite possibly tops the charts in this area.

They were obviously well trained and talented, but they also played interesting pieces (they described each one before) and they seemed like great guys in general. They were fun to watch, which might seem strange to say but the way they were enthralled by what they were doing and how they interacted with each other during each piece was wonderful. They made it seem like playing typically classical music should be extremely entertaining.

I will mention that if you are being torn between going out one night and the urge to stay and and be alone with your thoughts, go out and see a string quartet. Or really, go see any type of music that does not involve lyrics. I was so lost in my own feelings of the music and what I was thinking that I never once was bored, what might be a "typical" reaction to a concert like this for my particular demographic. Although I admit that most of my thoughts did circle around whether or not the friend I took with me would want to go out to eat after the show, I also was choreographing a modern dance number in my head during the last song. So that's almost legit.

As for the theater, I had never been to the Kelly Strayhorn before and was overly excited to check it out. Somehow, despite being one of those theater-goers I hate who get there 2 minutes before showtime, I got a parking space right out front and was surprised to see how big the actual theater space is. Though it could use a bit of TLC, it was the perfect space for a concert like this, big enough to hold the crowd but intimate enough to make everyone feel closer to the performers. My favorite. 

So, if you see an event like this being advertised around the city, especially by the Pittsburgh Chamber Music Society, because I expect great things from them now, I suggest that you give it a try and check it out, even if it isn't something you would typically go to. That's one of my favorite things about Pittsburgh, there is always something new to try because there is something for every one's taste.

This is a sponsored post, I received tickets for this event, but all opinions are my own. 

Pittsburgh Weekend Staycation: July 19-21

Everyone knows that summer means a time to relax and possibly take a vacation, but if you're like anyone else these days, you're also looking for a way to save money. So a lucrative vacation might not be your scene right now, but here's a way to still have a great time "away from home" while staying right here in Pittsburgh.

I've made a little roundup of fun activities for anyone in the area who wants a mini-vacation but still wants to get away. To get the full effect, I suggest you splurge on a two-night stay at any of the great hotels around the 'burgh and take on the activities in this list, especially tailored for this weekend. Get packing, the fun starts after you get off work tomorrow!

Skybar: though I have yet to be there, I cannot wait to go at some point this summer! Photo credit.

Friday Evening: 

Check into your hotel and head out the door for dinner and a little fun at the Rivers Casino. With five wonderful, trust me I've tried them, restaurants to choose from and plenty of slots and table games for you to play, you're sure to start your evening off right and instantly feel like you're on vacation. But don't stay too long because you want to be able to head down to the Southside to check out Skybar, Pittsburgh's only rooftop pool and lounge. Seriously, how big city of us to have a rooftop pool bar.

Saturday Morning/Afternoon: 

Where else would you want to spend a Saturday in the summer besides Kennywood? 

Ride the Phantom's Revenge, take the Pittsburg* Plunge, and for all things great and beautiful, eat some Potato Patch Fries!

*Pittsburgh was spelled without the 'h' circa 1890 - 1911 so the Plunge still takes that spelling.

Cinema in the Park: various parks around Pittsburgh, but the one mentioned is happening this weekend. Photo credit

Saturday Evening: 

Get a prime view of the city while snuggled up to your friends on a blanket while watching 

Rise of The Guardians at Cinema in the Park at Grandview Park on Mt. Washington.

Sunday Morning: 

Wake up early and head to Schenley Park for the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix. 

The parade and opening ceremony starts at 11am and at noon watch those cars fly! 

The newest addition to the Gateway Clipper Fleet, the Queen! Photo credit.

Sunday Afternoon: 

What better way to end your time in the city than by touring through it on the Gateway Clipper? 

See all the sites from the upper deck of one of their one-hour sightseeing cruises and reminisce about your greatly packed, Pittsburgh weekend!

Whatever you do this weekend make it fun and think about keeping it in Pittsburgh!

Summer Soiree & Fashion Show scheduled for July 25th

Just letting you guys in on an upcoming event that I am really excited for! Pretty Living PR, is hosting Pretty in Paradise, a summer soiree to benefit UPMC Cancer Center for Melanoma Research on NEXT Thursday, July 25th at The Cabana Bar in Wexford, Pa.

The event is, obviously, beach-themed and will feature a fashion show by Tidal Cool Creations, who was featured on Chels & the City a while back for Fashion Forward Fridays. This event will also offer raffles, local celebrities, hors d'oeuvres, and prizes! While the event starts at 7p.m., Tidal Cool Creations will start their fashion show at 9p.m. and you really don't want to miss this because it is the last runway/party before Tidal Cool heads off to New York Fashion Week!

Need a little more convincing? The cause that you will be supporting, UPMC Cancer Center, offers comprehensive diagnostic services, cutting-edge treatments and supportive care to patients with melanoma and non melanoma skin cancers. Also, specialty care options are available through the Melanoma and Skin Cancer Program of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, patients also have access to a large network of community-based physicians. So, you'll have a great night and you'll be supporting a very important and worthy case.

To order tickets, head over to the Pretty in Paradise ShowClix page and to keep up with all of the events and promotions offered by Pretty Living PR, feel free to follow them on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook!

This is a sponsored post, I received tickets to this event but all opinions are my own.

Fashion Forward Fridays: My Go-To Summer Style

Shirt: Target | Skirt: DIY | Shoes, Purse, & Belt: Charlotte Russe | Handband: Brash

Okay, so for anyone who saw my Facebook or Twitter posts about how excited I was for today's post, no this is not what I had planned. But next week for sure, I'm super excited and you should be too, especially if you're close to Pittsburgh because you'll get to admire this new addition really soon! Anyway, although these photos were taken during my last week living downtown, this style has basically followed me all summer so far. It's just so easy to make cute and seem dressy. I usually just swap out the shirt and how I do my hair. Yep, pretty much it. And everyone always seems to think that maxi skirt or dress means "dressed up" but to me it just means comfort. Hello, no pants.

When these photos were taken, I was shopping around some of the boutiques in South Side and I kept getting compliments on my "pattern mixing" and this is a way to easily mix patterns, especially if you're a little worried about trying that trend. Since these patterns (polka dot headband, feather tank, cheetah sunglasses) aren't right up against each other, they are easier for the eye to accept and like. Just as a tip. Pattern mixing is quite possibly my favorite trend ever, so this is nothing for me, but I'm glad it's well liked. What do you guys think?

And because who doesn't love a good Polyvore style board:

Hope you all have a stylish weekend!

Fashion Forward Fridays Reader Submitted: Meet Tara!

So, you know what a great feeling is as a blogger? Getting your stuff read and liked. Even if it's just by one person, it's fabulous. Since I moved, I guess word got out that I would probably be doing "reader submitted" Fashion Forward Fridays until further notice. Which is basically true and thanks to friends and friends of friends and genuine readers, I think I'm pretty set with this little segment of the blog for awhile and I so appreciate that. I love that you guys love this section of my blog so much that you're willing to get someone to take pictures of you of cute outfits and be featured. 

Admittedly, I do miss the little rush of nerves that race through my veins as I'm about to ask someone randomly on the street to be on my blog and I miss making that in-person connection through those little interviews, I do very much appreciate the emails and Facebook messages asking to be featured. Today is no different. Tara, today's fashionista, is actually a close friend to Jodi, whom I met at Jodi's birthday party. And once Jodi let her know I was accepting reader submissions for Fashion Forward Fridays, it was on. We were supposed to meet up in downtown once, but when that didn't work out, Tara still found a way to get pictures taken and email them to me, along with her interview. (Thanks, Tara!) And below, in her own words and showing off a cute and simple summer outfit, here she is...

Love these sandals!

How would you define your style? 

My style is very comfortable and affordable. I won't wear anything that I am not comfortable in. Being a post college grad, affordability is essential. I am also pretty versatile. I wear big, sparkly, studded earrings one day and then skulls the next. I try not to limit myself to one particular style or trend. 

Where are your favorite places to shop? 

I work at Target, therefore I shop a lot at Target. They have some really great affordable basics. I get my jeans from Old Navy. I love that they fit me perfectly. 

Left: Closeup of Forever 21 earrings | Right: Closeup of Tara's, Charming Charlie's necklace.

Where are the pieces of your outfit from? 

My dress and shoes are from Target. I bought them both for the summer and can't wait to wear them constantly! My necklace is from Charming Charlie's. That store is an accessory heaven and I highly recommend it. My earrings are from Forever 21, which is my favorite place to go for super cheap earrings.

What advice would you give to someone trying to amp up their style? 

Accessories. Fun earrings can do a lot for an outfit. I always try to wear a great pair of earrings every day, even if I am only going to work. Also, make sure that whatever you choose to wear, you are comfortable. There is nothing worse then getting an outfit to keep up with style trends to realize how uncomfortable it makes you feel. 

Who doesn't love a great maxi for summer?

GQ named Pittsburgh the third worst dressed city - do you agree/disagree and why/why not? 

I think that Pittsburgh gets a bad fashion rep because of our love to wear sport jerseys. For some reason people in Pittsburgh think it is okay and reasonable to wear their favorite jersey everywhere. 

 

 

True, people do think it's okay to wear jerseys everywhere. Let's try to settle down on that, shall we?

At least to nice places...and church. Anyway, Happy Friday, everyone and since the word is 

officially out now, by all means, if you'd like to be featured on Fashion Forward Fridays, or 

know of a designer, boutique or fellow Pittsburgher who should be featured, 

email me at chelsandthecity[at]gmail[dot]com and I'll get back to you asap!

 

     

Nothing Says Summer Like Frozen Yogurt

Razzy Fresh is located in two places in Oakland and in Squirrel Hill.

The Razzy Fresh three-step process.

Two sizes of frozen yogurt cups.

Some of the yogurt flavors.

Some of the toppings.

My finished product.

Tempting, I know. Nothing says summer like a cup of frozen yogurt, especially from such a bright and beautiful place like Razzy Fresh. In three locations in the city and priced by the ounce. Nothing better on a Monday too, right? You should go out and treat yourself to some, like MJ, Isaac and I did yesterday. Friends and frozen yogurt, come on guys, what better way to spend an afternoon.

It's been a summer!

Well blog lovers, sorry for the summer hiatus. To those of you who would have liked to know about all the fun and to-do list items going on in Pittsburgh this summer and I hope that you still found them out without me, but do not fret....I'm back!

This summer has sent me to various fun locations and to new heights, personally. I love the summer months! I always seem to use it as a renewal time and of course to rest and get tan. Well, I have been renewed and have rested but the beautiful tan I had at the beginning of the summer has faded away. However, the memories I made this summer have not, so here's the rundown of what I have done all summer, instead of living in blog-world.

First and foremost, you should know that throughout the summer I was thoroughly immersed in researching the glittery universe of fashion marketing for this little thing called the master's thesis. I will gladly talk to anyone about how wonderful this world is, but please give my brain some time to breathe first, it was going crazy all summer. Also, for anyone who thinks fashion marketing is a dumb thing to do a thesis on can no longer be my friend...you have no idea, so again, I will be happy to explain it all to you at a later date.

The first stop on my summer adventure was a week away at Jumonville, a summer camp where I spent my childhood and have spent the past four summers as a camp counselor. My friend Hannah asked me to help her with running an adventure camp for a week. For anyone who actually knows Hannah and I, you should know that adventure camp isn't really our favorite thing, but no worries, our campers were elementary aged so nothing too crazy was allowed because they are too small for a lot of the harder adventure activities. We did however enjoy some rafting, caving and the ropes course and adventure center on Jumonville's campus.

Hannah, Jenna and I waiting our turn to fly 800 feet above Ocean City!

The week after adventure camp, Hannah and I, along with our friends Jenna, Colleen and Emily packed up and headed south for Ocean City, for a week long adventure to celebrate Hannah's birthday. Along with of course, laying on the beach for countless hours, the girls and I spent one day parasailing and jet skiing, which was some of the best money ever spent on rental equipment, thanks to Paradise Watersports. We also were able to go to Assateague Island, which is notorious for its wild horses that roam the island. This girls' getaway was a great time with friends and a great start to the summer.

Our view during the Pirates' game for my birthday!

The following week was my favorite time of the summer, as it is every year, because it was my birthday week, which goes along with the fourth of July...my favorite holiday! I spent my birthday being spoiled with a trip to Panera, my favorite restaurant, and a one hour cruise on the Gateway Clipper with MJ and then dinner at Fire Mountain with MJ, my brother Eric and of course, my parents. On July 4th, I spent the holiday in khaki pants, working a 14-hour shift at the Gateway Clipper, since it's the busiest day of the year for them. I still got to watch the fireworks, aboard the Majestic on the river...picturesque to say the least. I finished the celebration that Friday with a bunch of my friends, with a tailgate party and Pirates game to top off the week.

Also in July, Lindsay and I went to an event that we have been looking forward to for most of our adult lives. The Dave Matthews Band concert. What a night! Quite possibly the greatest show I have been to and like I said, one that I have been excited to see for a very long time! So I am glad that they, and their opening act, SOJA, lived up to my expectations.

Ashley, Jenna, Hannah and I right before our little dancers performed. 

While the rest of July was dedicated to working everyday at the Gateway Clipper and working every night on the thesis, August brought another week at Jumonville for an Elementary Dance Camp, with Hannah and Jenna and another great friend, Ashley. And it also brought the end to the thesis and I left my position at the Clipper to allow more time for school-related internships and jobs. So I'm sure some of you are thinking that I should now be done with my masters degree, but I have one more semester to finish the program. I thought doing all of the reading and research and ultimately writing over the summer would be better and give me more time to devote to it, which actually only became particularly true with this busy summer line-up. But Point Park only has a May commencement so I will be taking some extra courses as well to build up my portfolio and then graduate in May. I cannot believe I am almost a "Master."

Baby Khalifa...look at those eyes!

This summer was a great time to rejuvenate and even get excited for the new school year to start, since I am so close to almost being done and obtaining a goal I have had for a few years now. However, the greatest part of my summer was not any of the things mentioned above and saying it might certify me as a weirdo, but I'll take it. In mid-June, I adopted a beautiful little black kitten and named her Khalifa. I love her more than most things and she is the only cat I like. When I was little I wanted a kitten so badly, but then we got a dog and I fell in love with her and dogs in general, making me a "dog-person" which I would still consider myself to be. So don't go telling me that I will instantly become a cat-person because I got a kitten. I will only like this kitten....I'm still a dog-person.

And finally for my summer, I was recently, by which I mean, yesterday, I was offered a position to be a Pittsburgh Steelers Blogger for the site Her Game Life, which is a site geared towards women interested in the NFL. I am very excited for the smell of fall and the game of football to get started so I can blog even more. I'll give you the heads up to look out for me there! So enough about me, what did you guys do this summer? Anything that you could consider to be your favorite thing from the warmer months or are you looking forward to fall as well?