Thursday, September 26, 2013

"Sasha, where do you shop?"

Hello all! I hope this blog post finds you all doing well. I've been busy attending events (more to come on that in upcoming posts), being busy with work, and trying to stay healthy. It seems like the turn of seasons is causing many to get sick here in New York City! Anyhow, I wanted to answer a question I've gotten from many people. I've lost count of how many times people have asked "Sasha, where do you get your clothes." Well, it's no secret that my figure is large and curvy (52-40-58), so I have to be pretty creative and "on watch" to keep my style trendy. Sometimes, I make my own stuff. I learned how to sew when I was younger (thanks to my mom!), so instead of spending hours and sometimes days going to stores to look for something, I head to the garment district, go fabric shopping and then get to work at home. I also have a few friends that are amazing seamstresses/seamsters and so I can take them a sketch I've made and together we bring it to life. This, of course, requires a lot of time and patience. I can't emphasize enough the patience part. There have been many nights where I've ruined fabric, broken sewing needles, and cursed my sewing machine.

When I don't have time to sew, there are a few places I like to go to buy things. Some of my "go to" stores (especially if I have an outing) include Ashley Stewart, Fashion to Figure, Torrid, and DOTS. In all of these stores you can find cute outfits, handbags and purses, and accessories. For me it's usually the concept of mixing and matching. Warning: just because it looks good on the model on the website or on the mannequin in the store means it'll look good on you! It's important to know your body type and what features you want to accentuate and which parts you want to minimize (or not bring much attention to). I have curvy hips, am top heavy, and have broad shoulders, so I take all of those things into consideration when picking out an outfit. Because of my exposure to indie designers and boutiques during Full Figured Fashion Week, I've also begun to shop at plus sized boutiques. I've gotten a few things from some boutiques and will continue to keep an eye out for more boutiques. If you are a indie designer or own a boutique, please drop me a line! I must also admit that as of late, I've been on a kick with thick belts.

The other question I get is "where do you get your shoes?". This question is usually asked because I wear anything from a size 13W to a 15 (or sometimes 16) in shoes, and you will rarely catch me at an event in nothing less than 4-inch heels! When it comes to larger sizes, you have to look for brands rather than stores. It's also unlikely that you will find shoe stores that you can walk into that will have a section with shoes that big. Some of the online places I like to shop for shoes include Snaz75, Pierre Silber, and The Highest Heel. The brands that I tend to rely on are Bordello (by Pleaser), Dallas Heights, and Elie. Again, searching for these brands and on the aforementioned sites can be a hit or miss, but I usually find something I like, and if there are a pair of shoes I like, I'll buy a few pairs in multiple colors (I've actually lost count of how many pairs of Bordellos I have!).

More than anything, I guess the key to my looks is to constantly be aware and on the lookout for places that may have a thing or two here or there than you can use for an outfit. You'll be amazed at what an outfit can look like if you piece it together with items from various places. If you liked/loved this post, please comment or drop me a message and feel free to show me what styles you've come up with by piecing together things from various stores. Remember, being beautiful is not just about what you wear!

Until next time,
Sasha
Me @ Full Figured Fashion Week's All White Cruise in a dress I designed.
Dress (made by): Planet Pepper, Shoes: Bordello (amazon.com), Purse: Target

At the club taking a selfie of the dress I designed and made.
Jacket and Belt: Ashley Stewart, Bracelets: DOTS, rings: garment district NYC

Outside of a restaurant in NYC during a night out with friends.
jacket: Ashley Stewart, corset: Amazon.com, pants: Disco Pants from American Apparel, Shoes: Bordello (snaz75.com)

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Plus Night Out 2013: A Night of Glamorous Full Figured Fashion

It's the middle of Fashion Week here in New York and the city is crawling with more models, designers, and personalities than ever, but the event that I'm looking forward to is on Friday the 13th. That night at the Hotel Pennsylvania (401 7th Ave., right across from Madison Square Garden) will be the 3rd Annual "Plus Night Out." It will be hosted by Joanne Borgella (from American Idol and NUVO TV's "Curvy Girls")The event, started by Jovanna Reyes, will also sponsored by plus sized retailer Ashley Stewart. It is guaranteed to be an amazing event and the who's who of the full figured community will be there. There will be a showcase of design from the likes of Ashley Stewart, Igigi, The Cotrice Collection, Intimates Plus, and many others. The night will also include the announcement of the Plus Night Out Model Search winner, to whom a contract with True Model Management will be given. So, find something trendy, fashionable, and come on out to Plus Night Out. For more info on the event, check out Plus Night Out. Be sure to also check out the NY Daily News' coverage of Plus Night Out (featuring model Na'imah Terry) here: 



Saturday, September 7, 2013

Welcome to "The Glamazone"




Hello all! I want to take a moment to officially welcome you to "The Glamazone"! I'm Sasha and I'm known as the ebony glamazon goddess. I'm a full figured, plus size entertainer, and aspiring model. I've been on stages for years and women constantly approach me and ask questions. I found myself answering the same questions time and time again, so I've decided to dedicate this blog to Full figured/ Plus sized women and women of color. "Why?" you may ask. Well because those are areas that specifically pertain to me and what people often ask me about. My idea to start this blog was confirmed this past summer while I attended Full Figured Fashion Week. I want to give a special thanks to all of the bloggers, models, agents, and attendees I met that week that gave me feedback, advice, and encouragement. I hope that you enjoy reading my posts and hope that you find them to be relevant and useful. If you have any questions or topics you'd like for me to tackle, please feel free to drop me a line. Thanks for reading. Remember, being beautiful is not just about how you look!
                                                                Sasha