The sun is bright and beautiful, and the leaves are green and new. Tulips are starting to open up and everyone’s planting flowers in their gardens. It’s my first ever Spring, and I’m absolutely loving it so far!

Spring also brings unique fashion challenges that I’m just beginning to discover. Here in Chicago it’s sunny, but there’s often a cool wind a-blowing. In Washington DC, it can be rainy. Figuring out just what’s best to wear on a spring day often means just being prepared for the best and the worst. These recent fashion finds have been working for me!

When it comes to fashion, I tend to be drawn to simple, classic styles that don’t scream “look at me, I’m trendy!” I have a bohemian, free spirited flair, and I like clothes that make me feel feminine and sexy. One of my favorite brands is XCVI. This California-based fashion line creates clothing that’s effortlessly chic for regular and plus sizes. XCVI’s regular-size clothes make me drool on a regular basis, and I love when I find a plus item that is just as easy and gorgeous as anything you’d see on a storefront mannequin. My latest acquisition is the Silver Queen Tunic, which I wore at the BGLHOnline tweet up recently. Love this top. The fit is loose but sexy. Scoopnecks are so me right now. And the embellishment on this top make it so perfect to go from day to night. Love it! Click here to become a fan of XCVI on Facebook.

I currently own three pairs of Not Your Daughter’s Jeans, and have my eyes on a fourth! I am now obsessed with the raw denim slim leg jeans, which look perfect with a long tunic top with a boyfriend blazer on top. These jeans make my butt look pert and my tummy look flat under my shirts, and they’re comfortable enough for all day wear. Can’t get enough of my NYDJ’s. If you can’t afford them full price, definitely check out Filene’s Basement or Marshalls – there’s always a rack of NYDJs there in the plus size section!

Every time I wear my Dr. Martens Women’s 1B60 Boot in black and cherry red. Next up I want to get Jemma — a tall tortoiseshell delight of a boot, and the worn 1460s in purple. If you’re digging Spring’s floral trend, check out the Cashlin boots! Feminine, but with an edge. Love them!

I love new clothes, but I always have to keep my budget in mind. So when I had the opportunity to visit a newly refurbished AJ Wright in Hillside, I was super psyched for the bargains! There is no AJ Wright in Florida, so this was my first opportunity to check out the cousin to TJ Maxx and Marshalls. And let me tell you, I was VERY pleasantly surprised! The new AJ Wright is all about an easy to navigate layout, and something for everyone. And the plus size selection was really good! MUCH better than a nearby Nordstrom Rack and TJ Maxx. Check me out with my amiga, Chicago based plus size blogger Curvatude, trying on the same blue jersey dress with zipper detail. We were specially invited for a preview of the store, and given gift cards to experience all the store had to offer. – I scooped up several basic jersey dresses for $12.95 a piece – perfect for wearing over leggings and with a jacket or cardi scarf layered over them. The selection of purses and shoes were also to die for — flats bedecked with studs or gems are SO cute for spring and summer, and there are some great pairs at AJ Wright for the right price! I am dying to go back for round 2!

Those are my latest fashion finds, and stay tuned for a giveaway of one of the aforementioned items!

What are your recent fashion finds?

Giveaways always make me happy and excited, but my recent TJ Maxx giveaway
had this bella feeling over the moon. It wasn’t easy, but I chose one Chicago fashion expert to go shopping with me, and school me in all things related to being chic in cold weather.

The winner — Nikia of ChiTown Fashionista declared herself an expert in cold weather chic. And as soon as we met at the TJ Maxx on Fullerton here in the Chi, I realized — I was in good hands. Nikia knows what’s what! Our first stop — scarves and accessories.

Animal prints and multicolored scarves FTW – I totally bought that striped scarf, and I also managed to find a snakeskin print in brown with gold metallic that adds such richness to my earth toned ensembles. Loving it!

What did I learn from this shopping excursion?

– how to easily tie a scarf
– the kind of thickness I need to look for, when scarf or sweater shopping. Have you noticed how thin ladies’ winter sweaters are, compared with men’s? It’s possible to combine both warmth and style, designers!
– the joys of sweater coats
– and finally, if you see an item that looks like the sort of thing your mom would be mad at you for if you didn’t buy it…buy it. Nikia talked me into getting this gorgeous black and white houndstooth coat which seemed kind of not me at first, but has managed to become a wardrobe essential in no time flat.

Here are Nikia’s final purchases!

I lobbied heavily for the “It Is What It Is” sign. If I was still working in an office, I’d be putting that up on my desk too!

So yeah – there was a segment of the video with me in it as well, but it was long, I didn’t love my look, and I’m going to share my finds with you in upcoming outfit posts. For now I’ll just say — don’t close your eyes to classic patterns. That houndstooth coat is a winner and I never would have guessed it, if I didn’t try it on!

Thanks to Nikia and to TJ Maxx for their generosity and inspiration. Stay tuned for my next giveaway, bellas. It’s gonna blow you away!

Every day I gaze out of my window and notice the trees. Green soon faded to gold, orange, some became fiery red. Gorgeous. And now most of the foliage has fallen, and the trees have bare (yet still beautiful) branches.

Chicago has been having an unusually warm autumn and this bella is not complaining! It just gives me more time to rock my late-summer gear, and get ready for the cold weather that is inevitably a-coming. I’ve been thinking long and hard about the items I need to enhance my wardrobe, and I realize that I need HELP!

True story: I don’t know how to layer. I think I have it down pat, them my husband looks over my outfit and lets me know that ain’t it. (and he’s not exactly Tim Gunn, so I KNOW I’m struggling).

I apparently don’t realize what kinds of garments I need to get through the upcoming wind and cold with style and self-expression. And I don’t quite get how to put it all together to the most fashionable effect.

So I need help from someone who knows how to WORK IT in Chicago’s unfriendliest season. I’m on the look out for Chicago’s most chic, curvy fashionista, to join me on a shopping spree at TJ Maxx!

For this very unique giveaway, TJ Maxx has provided a $250 gift card for one lucky winner’s purchasing pleasure. The winner will use that $250 and join me in shopping for fall fashion essentials. And we’ll film a little video about our coolest finds, to share with Afrobella readers!

Does that not sound FUN?

So Maxxinistas — mount up! Do you have this cold weather fashion thing down? Leave me a comment describing your personal cold weather style. If you’ve got links to photos online, share with me! I’m going to leave these comments open until Wednesday, and choose a winner ASAP so we can go get our shop on! The air’s getting chilly and I’m ready to be in style before Christmas!

*** edited Wednesday at 8:05 CST – Bellas!! You blew me away with your AWESOME suggestions. I’ll choose a winner by the end of today from the 15 comments received so far, so hang in there! And guess what — I have some GREAT giveaways coming up next, so keep reading, keep entering and if it isn’t your turn this time it might be the next time!

Frugalista. Recessionista. Maxxinista. Whatever you call yourself, saving money isn’t a trend. It’s a necessary lifestyle these days.

Gone are the days when people shopped with whimsy. Now I go armed with a list, and double guess myself on every item I buy. Now instead of ooh that’s really cute I want it, it’s ooh that’s really cute but will I ever wear it? Probably not, get the sensible item instead you know you’ll wear that more than once.

I have a beer budget, but oh those champagne dreams won’t go away. So I’ve had to become an expert in my own right. I’ve had to learn how to get what I want, for cheap. And now I’m gonna pass along some of my best discoveries.

You want — hot Fall fashion.

How to get it — avoid the regular retail stores and bypass those trendy boutiques. As cute as everything is there, you’ll wind up paying more there than you will at an off-price store like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, or my latest haunt, Filene’s Basement. (Sadly, there is no Ross in Illinois. I miss Ross!)

If you’re not used to shopping at stores like these, a brief tutorial. This won’t be an in-and-out shopping trip. Be prepared to spend time sifting through disorganized racks of clothes.

Also, know your stores: TJ Maxx is more about trendy clothes and beauty products, Marshalls is more about shoes, purses, and fly accessories — and the hip teen section in the middle called The Cube. Many of the items available at these off price stores aren’t previous season duds, they’re currently being sold in stores or online… but the vendor may have ordered more than they can sell to department stores. Their miscalculation = your shopportunity, as they say! My recent purchases include a super fly retro-styled denim jacket from TJ Maxx, a cosy and classic V-neck Jones New York sweater from Marshalls, and a stunning crinkled parachute-material skirt from XCVI, that I recall seeing on Zappos for like, $100, I got at Filene’s Basement for $29.95. SO glad I waited and didn’t rush to buy it online. I’d say a good 95% of my shopping is done at off-price stores. These three are my favorites, then there’s Nordstrom Rack which has amazing high end finds…but the prices still aren’t as affordable as the Maxx, Marshalls, or Filene’s. FYI.

You want… furniture for your home.

Where to get it… NOT at a mainstream furniture store, that’s for sure. Have you ever been to a Thomasville store before? The prices are insane! Like, you’re gonna need to have a special credit card just for this purchase, insane. I don’t know about you, but I just can’t afford to pay full price for items like that right now. But I did get a relatively new, great-looking Thomasville dresser about a month ago, from a most unexpected source.

Three words: hotel furniture liquidators.

Do a Google search to see if there are any near where you live. I got lucky — here in Chicago there are THREE hotel furniture liquidation centers. For my Chicago bellas and fellas, I’ll save you some time right now. Cooper Furniture and Carpet is five floors of crazy. Seriously, they could film a horror movie here — the upper floors are just piles and piles of lampshades, old carpet and ugly chairs, and what’s that in the stairwell? Is that a dead pigeon or just a huge pile of feathers? What’s that…smell? Yikes. There are finds for sure, but they’re probably all on the first floor and I wish you all the best in getting someone to help you.

The shopping experience was like night and day, when I went to Fort Pitt Furniture. This place is on a whole ‘nother level. For a super fun shopping experience, you need to go in on Monday or Friday, when Phyllis is working. Who’s Phyllis? She’s a 6-foot-tall sista who will break it down for you, when it comes to finding the best deals in the store. And oh, there are some deals to be had. I got a beautiful, mahogany, marble topped kitchen cabinet/pantry thingy for $120. A Thomasville dresser for $150. And best of all, an enormous wood armoire to hold all my clothes, makeup, and hair products for $99. I said $99! Try finding something like THAT at any other furniture store.

Not the best photo, I took it with my phone. Sorry =(

For other affordable furniture purchases, there’s always IKEA and Craigslist….but Craigslist requires patience and sometimes you just can’t wait forever. For accent pieces and accessories, you need to find out where the nearest Home Goods is. Home Goods is the domestic branch of the TJ Maxx/Marshalls company, and there are fantastic finds there. I bought a gorgeous rug for my bathroom for less than $10, and this was the kind of fluffy rug that would retail at Pier One or Bed Bath and Beyond for over $20.

Another way to find furniture and home decor on the cheap is to look for store closings. Sadly, not every retail chain is sailing through these rough economic seas. But where there’s a store closing, there are items being sold for insanely cheap. This past weekend, I found out that a local Cost Plus World Market was closing. Floor models were moving fast, but the shelves weren’t yet picked clean… and I managed to get the most amazing fluffy white shag rug — originally $300, now $130. SCORE! Even the shelves and fixtures are up for grabs, so if you’re in the Orland Park area — go now!

I’m gonna return to this subject soon — look out for future tips on affordable food shopping, and beauty buys! Where are YOUR affordable shopping secret places? Share with me!

Whenever I go anywhere, or even think of going anywhere, they’re the first item of clothing I envision. They go with fancy frilly tops and heels, or teeshirts and sneakers. For many (including myself), they’re practically a daily uniform.

Of course I’m talking about jeans. I’d be lost without them.

I don’t love a jean with pockets or flashy logos that call attention to my butt, or glittery doodads all over the leg to instantly date the style. (Like Ed Hardy, for ideal example. Shudder).
I am a picky bella. I like my jeans wide legged or boot cut, slim in the thigh. I want a jean that makes my butt look good, and that is comfortable enough to wear all day.

Finding the perfect pair of jeans can become a bit challenging if you’re a full figured, curvy gal. I’ll share my favorites with you if you share yours with me. Deal? Deal!

I’ve reviewed them before and I’ll say it again — Rocawear makes a real effort to find a fit that flatters fuller figures. Their sizes go up to 24, and on most pairs the R symbol is subdued enough to be classy. (Or at least, I find them way less distracting than the apple pockets on AppleBottom jeans).

There are jeans brands out there that claim to truly be made for women with curves. But the funny thing about PZI Jeans is that the sizes are limited. I know many bellas who are just below what I’d call plus size, who adore these jeans — they range from size 4 to 18. I fall into the plus size camp, so unfortunately these jeans remain just outside my grasp. Here’s hoping that the brand expands their size range to truly rep for women with fuller figures.

Cookie Johnson (yes, Magic’s wife) has just come out with her own line of denim as well — currently available at Nordstrom for ahem, Nordstrom prices. $198 for the chic dark rinsed flares you see here.

Lucky, lucky me – I found the perfect pair of jeans at one of my favorite stores. You may already know, that’s TJ Maxx (you should go! Ha! But no really, you should!)

I was kinda psyched to see how the discount shopping experience would match up, in my move from Miami to Chicago. I felt kind of adrift, knowing there’s no Ross in this neck of the woods. Thankfully, Marshalls and TJ Maxx abound, and here it’s my one stop plus size shop.

I’ve noticed that I consistently have better luck finding affordable plus size clothing in TJ Maxx, though. Why is that? The Marshalls here in Illinois had a great selection of most everything else, but of late the selections have been skewing a little higher end than one might expect. I found a military style Ralph Lauren jacket that I was DYING for — but it cost $150. A fraction of the original price, sure…but still sadly out of my range.

At TJ Maxx I was able to find a sizeable range of jeans sizes, in brands ranging from the hip hop fab (shake your derrierre in Dereon, anyone?) to tried and true classic (good ol’ Levi’s). I tried on numerous pairs before discovering my new favorite big girl pants.

Not Your Daughters’ Jeans describes themselves as the “original tummy tuck jean,” and they come in sizes 2 to 24. The secret? No front pockets. Instead of front pockets and buttons that add bulk, the front of these jeans are smooth, streamlined, and high waisted. They made my stomach look svelte, my butt look perky, and my legs look long and lean. I LOVE THESE JEANS! Inside there’s a sticker from the founder, which simply says “you can thank us later.”

I’m saying thanks NOW.

NYDJ is also one of those department store brands, but thanks be to the craptastic economy, you can find loads of high end garments at your local discount stores. I got my pair for less than $30.

What’s next on my jeans radar? I managed to get my mitts on a copy of Dickies’ Buyer’s Guide catalog — click here to get yours! Dickies has an insane selection of clothes in larger sizes that for some reason aren’t available on their website. I’m eyeing the flannel lined jeans — I ain’t playing games with Chicago winter!

What are your favorite jeans, bellas? Tell me your brand o’ choice and where you get them!