KURVY Etiquette by Brei.

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Well hello there Kurvy Kuties! This past weekend was just as relaxing as the previous week. To my surprise I was reunited with a very good friend from my 'Skegee' (TU!) days. Sometimes life moves on but you never forget those you once had a real connection with. It was such a breath of fresh air to hang with one of my dear ole gal pals and her beautiful 9 year old daughter. At times watching my friends children grow reminds me of... Sheesh! I'm getting old! I remember attending her baby shower. Where does the time go? Le sigh. Though Atlanta's weather was a bit fickle this weekend (come on ATL!), we still managed to make the best of it. Along with another beautiful gal pal (Yes, all my friends are gorgeous) we took a stroll through Centennial Olympic Park, nibbled and conversed at Hudson Grill on Marietta Street then proceeded to stay up all night giggling like little school girls. In addition I was beyond appreciative of her and her mini me assisting with taking a few photos of myself. Now, I don't know how we took all those picture without taking one together. I promise I'm not a bad friend.

Thank you Keke and Amerah 😘

Style Notes

This black New York & Co jacket was a thrifted find from my friends at Alexis Suitcase Consignment Shop. They have 3 locations around Georgia and their plus size selection is getting better each month. I always finds something. The top is a Kurvy Etiquette original. If you remember the previous post about Dine en Blanc, I wore the matching skirt. This top and skirt are both available in black. contact me by email for inquiries. My bottoms are Fashion to Figure size 2. I picked up these stretchy trousers while shopping Curvy Con in June. The boots were my favorite purchase. The stacked rugged sole and heel are one of my favorite trends from 2015. I picked them up a week ago (week ago. LOL) from Macy's. This purchase was a sale item and only set me back $29.00. Original price was set at $60.00 and I wore them all day with little fuss.

There's been plenty of talk on my end about What's Next for Kurvy Etiquette. I've been blogging about starting a clothing line for thee past 10+ year with one of my very best friends Katie-Marie Lewis-Fox. I must admit that for some time that's all it was. Simply something to keep our creative juices flowing. But in the back of my mind I always truly desired to become a designer. In 2014 I decided to get serious and apply to a prestigious school of art and design. I wasn't accepted. We'll talk about why at a later date. Still I insisted on learning the art of design. After several trips to Barnes and Noble I felt my design arsenal was fully loaded and ready for lift off. I decided to teach myself. I studied sketching and drafting techniques as well as took free Coursera classes on line for design and fashion marketing. Not being accepted was not allowed to be my excuse.

A year later and I have a work studio (my sun room but it does the trick). MY designs are actually hanging in my home. I've already had a few request to for custom made pieces. Recently, a friend visited my home and I revealed to her some of my work (No one has seen what I'm working on). Completely apprehensive about showing the world what I'm working on, I tried it on. Her expression spoke volumes. Not only did she like it but she was ready to put her order in.

Last night Diner en Blanc came to Atlanta. Not only did I attend but I was also one of the many fantastic volunteers involved in the event. It was there that I decided to wear a piece from my Fall 2015 collection. It received great reviews from men and women. The collection is classic with a few simple trendy pieces. Of course Diner en Blanc is an all white event so of course I adapted the design to fit the evening. What isn't shown is the pearl draped detailing in the back over a deep revealing v cut.

Not only did I get to wear one of my own designs but I of course enjoyed myself with my now world famous travel group Nomadness Travel Tribe, which is led by none other than +Evita Robinson. I love the tribe and the additional support I receive from them.

So today I'm grateful for God's guidance. I ever so thankful for those who have encouraged me near and far. I'm even more grateful for those who were and still are skeptical. Everyone starts somewhere and I am glad I decided to start in 2012 and began walking into my destiny last year.

So I'll just say what everyone is thinking. Who the HELL answered that question in the +Oprah Winffrey O Magazine article? Why were her narrow views given a voice? And who approved that ish? Motha Oprah?

Here's a re-post from @tamaranitai

My initial post (which most you will still read) is pretty positive but I had to address yesterday madness. When are people going to learn to mind their own business? Yes, we are all entitled to our opinions. However, if you have no relevance, expertise or actual substance to add to an issue, it's best you stay mute. Nowhere and I do mean nowhere in the Book of Beauty does it say that "if (and only if) you have a flat stomach" should you be allowed to SLAY. To whom ever decided that their sage advice was needed, I'd like you to look in the eyes of your fluffy daughter, favorite niece, little cousin or best friend and recite those exact words. Imagine the disappointing look in their eyes as they come to grips with the reality, that the very person whom is supposed to love and encourage them, is dismantling their form of beauty. Doesn't feel good does it? This is exactly what most women felt when reading your comments. Disappointed and hurt, not because of what you said but because you represent a great majority of consumers who probably share the same sentiment.

My good friend in beauty +GabriellaGlamour (and she's even more beautiful in person) is serving so much life with her crop top slay.

But OH do my Kurvy Girls bounce back! +Twitter, +Facebook, +Instagram, and a multitude of other social media sites were flooded with copious crop top wearing beauties. I couldn't have been more proud. From the smallest of the smalls to size 32+, these ladies rocked their crops. The world is definitely taking note that no longer will larger ladies be the brunt of fat jokes and shady fat shaming covered in "expert fashion advice". The jokes on you this time!

Drops Mic...

Now Back to our regularly scheduled program before I was so rudely interrupted. The VBL

Who would have thought that the visible belly line (better know as VBL) was a thing? Recently I have noticed more women; curvy and straight sized, talking about the VBL. ~~And apparently that one 'O Magzine' staffer felt the same way~~. Go figure. As some of you may know, in recent months there have been several articles and discussions about the acceptance of diversity within plus sizes. Fat Girl Flow recently pinned an article about this very subject. I'll say this as plainly as possible. We need more variety Period! That really should be the end of this post. Sadly it isn't.

Like many curvy women I was raised and incessantly told how beautiful I was and that still continues to this day. I dressed and wore the clothes I felt were beautiful and complimented my shape. I never really fussed over how big my belly looked under my bathing suit or how giggly my arms were while waving good bye. All I knew and still know to be true is that I am beautiful. Never has my size gotten in the way of feeling beautiful or even determining what I will wear. If it fits and looks good on me then hey, I'm wearing it. It's such a relief that designers such as self are beginning to produce better quality plus fashion and what's even more exciting, it's sexy!

Why is my tummy such a BIG issue? No, really. Why? I'll wait...

Every woman wants to feel beautiful and sexy in the clothing she wears. For so long the curvier woman was encouraged to cover up, maybe show some cleavage, a little thigh but you dare not share that mid section. It is far past time for mainstream media to come to grips with our "over sized" midsections. The reality is most women have tummies, either from over eating, child birth, just being all out amazing at life, or simply breathing. Almost all of us have them. So why are we covering up? We're in the majority. So rock your curves. Wear that crop top. Strut in that new Bikini. It's OK let them stare.

On a lighter note, it is very refreshing to see more positive images of larger women and men in the media these days. In years past fat was always associated with lonely, lazy, funny, but definitely not fashionable. So I love seeing the SEXY images being displayed in the media today. Unfortunately, we still have work to do. I still have work to do.

Below are but a few images of beautiful women large and small displaying their beauty in all its crop top glory. Take a peak if you will.