Greetings from Full Figured Fashion Week!

Last night was another fun night… the runway competition was really fun. I’m super tired, but I wanted to give you some updates on the weekend and what’s going on.

First of all, I’m running a giveaway on Twitter! Figuresque dressed me for FFFWeek last night and I got a lot of compliments on my ensemble. They’ve got a great store and lots of fun clothes and they’re offering a $50 gift card to one lucky reader. All you have to do is Tweet “I follow @thebiggirlblog for #sonsifffweek & @Figuresque for #plussize #fashion!” and you’re entered to win!

Secondly, I got an email last week saying that Gemini Magazine, an Atlanta-based “curve-friendly” publication, and full figured fashion retail giant, Lane Bryant, are hosting an afternoon of cocktails and “intimate” fashion chat featuring the newest collection of Cacique® lingerie at the store’s Herald Square (NYC) location on June 19th—dedicated to helping full figured women to create a sexier, more beautiful self.

Sommer Johnson, publisher of Gemini Magazine is someone I met via Twitter, we became email friends, phone friends and she even gives me wake-up calls when I need to work out in the morning. I’m so excited to have her in NYC I feel like my Mom is coming to visit!She has a huge heart and she’s a beautiful person who is very dear to my heart even though we’ve never actually met!

So if you have time on Saturday at 1pm, you should pay her a visit, get some bras from Lane Bryant (I think its their Semi-Annual sale) and sip cocktails. When you see Sommer tell her that CeCe sent you!

Okay, I’m going to try to get some rest… I’ll check in with you later!

Last night was the opening of Full Figured Fashion Week™ in New York City. Walking in, I didn’t know what to expect but I was excited! When I got out of my cab, there was a line of gorgeous Plus Size Princesses waiting to get into BLVD, where the event was held. Because I was a guest of the Curvy Collective, I was whisked right inside and met up with some of the behind the scenes/press people associated with FFFWeek. I was casually standing around fiddling with my camera when a really sweet woman started chatting with me. After we spoke for a while about the event and how great it was, I asked her name. It turned out that she was Yulia Raquel, the designer of Igigi one of my favorite lines! I began to gush about her line (I’m kind of obsessed) and she just laughed “Plus size women deserve the best!” she said. Isn’t she beautiful?!

Over all the night was pretty fun… some of you may remember that I had an awesome time New York Fashion Week this year in Bryant Park, and I must say Full Figured Fashion Week is very different. I was hoping to see lines that pushed the envelope and to have more of a fashion show experience. To me last night was more of a party with plus size clothing as the guest of honor. I wasn’t prepared for that, but once I realized what was going on, I didn’t mind. Of course I don’t expect Haute Couture from mainstream brands like Just My Size, but I definitely wanted to see things that I hadn’t seen before.

To me, there was one designer who really showed me fresh, new fashion. Her name is LC Skinner and her line is called “Chan.nel Karama“. When her models came out, the crowd went nuts because her pieces were just unexpected and phenomenal!

The energy that came from her show was ridiculous… I found myself screaming “YES! YES! YES!” in appreciation of what was coming down the runway. Again, this was nothing like NYFW in Bryant Park! The Chan.nel Karama line is definitely edgy (imagine Rhianna’s stylist dressing a Plus Size Princess). But there were pieces that anyone could wear. I wasn’t able to touch them or anything, so I cant say too much about the quality, but it looked well made.

I’m looking at her Mod Diva Collection right now and its really impressive. I’m super excited to see/hear more from Chan.nel Karama and when I do, I will share it with you!

Happy Full Figured Fashion Week!

P.S. In Honor of FFFWeek, I’ll be doing some more Twitter Giveaways! Make sure you follow @thebiggirlblog for updates, photos and free clothes!

I. Hate. My. Arms.

When it comes to Plus Size Princesses and our arms, I think we all have a cross to bear. From my observation, its either flab or stretch marks or both! I’ve seen PSP’s with big arms but they somehow managed to maintain some shape, definition, but those girls are few and far between. Most of us are either trying not to move too much so our “bat wings” don’t wiggle or we’re praying that we don’t end up with stretch marks from our collar bones to our elbows.

Honestly, I feel like I’m right in the middle. I’ve seen flabbier arms than mine… I’ve seen stretch marks in more abundance… but when it comes to my arms, they’re still one of my least favorite body parts.

This summer, I’ve found myself in a predicament: I hate my arms, but I love clothes! and my love of clothes has made me realize that throwing a shrug over all my summer dresses just isn’t cute anymore (for me). I’ve noticed that shrugs take away from dresses and make them seem more casual than they are. As I continue to evolve in my fashion and style, I can’t keep falling back on the same fat coverage tricks I used in high-school, so its time to step my game up.

But, what’s a big girl to do? Push-ups? Arm Curls? …Shake Weights?! All of those are good plans, for some long term Michelle-Obama-Arm goals, but I’m wondering if, for right now, maybe I should just… get over it.

I think I need to wear my halter tops, strapless dress and sleeveless shirts without shrugs, with confidence, when I want to. Its going to be hard… but if I continue to encourage all of you not to “wait on your weight” I have to push myself to do the same. Last night I wore a sleeveless dress to an event with no shrug or cardigan and I got just as many compliments on my dress as I would any other night.

Full Figured Fashion Week starts on Wednesday night and I think this would be a good time for me to rock some of my cocktail dresses and other pieces that I love sans-shrug.

I think I’m going to need some support on this one… what do you think? With the summer coming, do YOU struggle with your arms?

I know I’ve been a bit quiet over the past few weeks (I’ve had a lot going on…) but I plan on making it up to you with lots of fun posts this summer. First of all, we’re still in the middle of our Twitter 1K Giveaway, so there’s still more chances for you to win products and clothing for the Plus Size Princess.

Secondly, remember my awesome night at NYC Fashion Week in Bryant Park? Well, I’ve got some more Fashion Week news specifically for my Plus Size Princesses: I’ve been asked to join The Curvy Collective and cover Full Figured Fashion Week™ 2010!

Here’s an excerpt from their press release:

Curvy Collective co-founders, Marie Leggette of The Curvy Fashionista and Johara Tucker, of Luvin’ My Curves, launched the collective last Spring of 2009 with the inception of Full Figured Fashion Week™.

Back for a second year, the leading plus size fashion blogs joining the Curvy Collective include: The Curvy Fashionista, Luvin’ My Curves, A Curvy Girl’s Guide to Style, Diary of a Mad Fashionista, Fatshionista , Full Figure Plus, Life Size Radio, Musings of a Fatshionista, Madison Plus, The Big Girl Blog, StylishMaven, and Daily Venus Divas.

The Curvy Collective will also facilitate a Full Figured Fashion Week™ panel discussion: “The State of the Curvy Community” being held at Hotel Penn on Friday, June 18th, from 4 –6:00PM. Moderated by Sharon Quinn, panelists will address the climate of plus size in the media, the progress, challenges, and successes of the curvy community.

For all press inquiries regarding The Curvy Collective, please contact press@fffweek.com . For more information on Full Figured Fashion Week, please visit their official website at Full Figured Fashion Week ™.

This will be my first time attending FFFWeek™ and I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences, taking loads of photos and maybe meeting some Plus Size Fashion royalty…

If you live in NYC or plan on coming to NYC June 16-19th, you should come check it out the exciting schedule of events they have planned!

More details next week….