#FFFWEEK Final Thoughts

The past few weeks have been absolutely amazing. If you have been following me on social media, you see I have been a very busy girl. With that being said, I wanted to wrap up #FFFWeek so I can catch you up with what's been going on.

#FFFWeek was like the reset button on my year. Prior to my attendance, I had been in sort of a blogging rut. I couldn't find my voice and I was honestly a little lost. Over the past few months, I had been so busy focusing on other people that I completely lost sight of myself, and what I was about. #FFFWeek was just the surge of energy I needed to get back on track.

Although I was unable to stay the entire week, the time that I was there was amazing. Everything wasn't perfect, but we all experience growing pains on the journey to greatness. I can honestly say that this year was better than last and I know that things will only continue to progress in a positive direction. I had such an amazing time attending the various events, and finally meeting some of my blogger icons, old buddies and new friends.



Aussie Blogger & Model @curvysam

 NYC Blogger @tinyredshoes

Aussie Blogger & Online Boutique Owner @ohscorpio

Aussie Blogger @danimezza

Being around a group of positive, like-minded women was so inspiring for me. I got some great advice on ways to improve my blog as well as observe what makes the other ladies so amazing at what they do. I was able to be myself and rediscover what made my blog great to begin with. The highlight of my visit was definitely attending the Lane Bryant Blogger Conference.

I was so honored to be chosen to attend as well as be privy to the newest and hottest trends Lane Bryant will be releasing later on this season. I was also interviewed by the #fab Marcy Guerva of The Marcy Minute and scored some amazing swag just for being in attendance.

TV Personality @marcyguerva 

I also enjoyed cutting up with blogger buddy Georgette of Grown & Curvy Woman at the Bloomingdale's fashion show and meeting some new blogger besties from The Dollillama! After the show, Georgette & I had one last hurrah with our fave #AussieCurves blogger Olivia  of Wait Until Sunset and partied until the wee hours in the morning sipping Veev #vitafrute cocktails!

Blogger Buddy @grownandcurvywoman

One half of blogging duo @the_dollillama

@grownandcurvywoman @waituntilsusnest & me with my fave @veev #vitafrute cocktail

This year at #FFFWeek I showed everyone who I was, and what I had to offer. I hopefully made a positive, lasting impression and will continue to nurture the relationships that I garnered while in attendance. If you are a curvy girl, I recommend you at least attend #FFFWeek once to gather your own opinions and chart your own experiences. It is an amazing platform to make an impression as well as learn some valuable lessons.

I would like to give a special thanks to Gwen Devoe for being the visionary behind Full Figured Fashion Week as well as to the teams at Sonsi & Lane Bryant for being so amazing and generous. I hope you enjoyed my coverage of the #FFFWeek events! For the latest on what I'm up to, follow me on Instagram @everydayrunway! Until next time...

"Make the world your personal runway and I'll see you on the front row!"

<3 Parker S.

#FFFWeek Creator Gwen Devoe

#FFFWeek Curves At Sea

As soon as I confirmed my #fffweek attendance, the very first thing I did was purchased my Curves at Sea White Party Ticket. Now that I was armed with the "golden ticket" what should I wear? Normally finding and awesome white ensemble for a local event in Atlanta would be easy, but how do you stand out on a boat full of curvy women from all over the world and not see yourself duplicated???

Because this was going to be my 2nd time in NYC in 2 weeks, my budget put the brakes on a custom made ensemble. Therefore, an "off the racks" look was what it was going to be. But again, what could I wear and put my own unique spin on it? After weeks and weeks of searching, It finally dawned on me, don't reinvent the wheel, just KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid)!

Since I couldn't find anything white that took my breath away, I decided to let my accessories do the talking.  Whenever I want to make a scene, I always reach out to one of my favorite jewelry designers, Rean "Enjeanious" Fisher. I explained my situation to her and she created a one of a kind neck piece for me wear to this event.

Special thanks to Rean Fisher for loaning me this lovely necklace! 

I styled the "Destiny" necklace with white, JCP Collection jeans from JC Penney, basic white Talbot's shirt, Henri Bendel cosmetic's bag as a clutch and K-Mart sandals. Because the water was a little choppy, I'm glad I wore flats. I had such an amazing time viewing NYC from a different perspective as well as capturing some inspiring candid moments! I hope you like my look and enjoy some of my favorite pics of the night!

See you on the front row!

<3 Parker S.

My cab mates Marisol & Gabi

Jewels Hay's outfit gave me life! Check out those fab red shoes! 

The always fun & fab @margieplus. This girl is like her own personal party! :)

@paula_lawrence  of Full Blossom Magazine interviewing @rosiemercado

#FFFWeek Creator Gwen Devoe unwinding before we set sail. 

@thickgrlscloset in an amazing Sophistafunk Gathering Skirt

@jibrieonline twins @mariedenee of The Curvy Fashionista & @philliiosity of The Curvy Spot

One of my new Aussie #BFFs  Jen from @ohscorpio & her friend doing a #selfie

Mr. Everything Marco Mays just being him... #fabulous

My ATL girls Nikki Patterson, Telethia Penn & Nedra Phillips all dressed in Lavender's Jungle

IDK who this Betty is, but her look gave me life! #oldhollywoodglamour

Two-Way Tuesday #FFFWeek Edition

As you saw here on my blog yesterday, my first #ootd last Wednesday was a #colorcraze ensemble I created for the Lane Bryant bloggers conference. This look will be the topic of today's Two-Way Tuesday look. If you have been following me for a while, then you know I'm obsessed with color blocking. I originally styled my Lane Bryant Lane Collection Scuba Pants with a Lane Bryant Leopard Shirt & Floral Blazer .

During the Fashion Style-Off competition, several bloggers chose this very jacket as apart of their finished outfit, therefore I decided to switch it up for the actual blogger breakfast. Staying true to my personal style, I still color blocked the look, except I used a cobalt blue Lane Bryant jacket  & a vibrant orange JC Penney silk blouse . 

After the blogger conference, I decided to do a little shopping, which meant of course changing into something a little more comfortable. Because the weather was pleasant I decided to keep on my silk blouse and switch my look up by losing the jacket, pumps and pants and adding a Simply Be floral sarong skirt from Gwynnie Bee. 

 

 

I hope you have enjoyed my looks of the day! Stay tuned for more of my #FFFWeek adventures! I can't wait to tell you about the fabulous Curves at Sea cruise!

 

 

 

See you on the front row!

 

 

<3 Parker S.

#FFFWeek Day 2 Lane Bryant Blogger Conference (Part 1)

Early Wednesday morning, fellow Atlanta Blogger Nikka Shae and I,  hit the streets of NYC headed to the Lane Bryant Flagship store for an invitation only Blogger Breakfast. Both of us, along with several other bloggers, models and stylist from all over the world were chosen to style a look for Lane Bryant and attend this conference. After a mini-photo shoot at the hotel, we were off.

Me & Nikka Shae of Oh! Nikka

Lane Bryant Jacket & Pants, JCP Blouse, Nine West Shoes

Cayetano Legacy Necklace & Enjeanious by Rean Fisher Ring 

As you can see, the heels were very short lived! lol!
 K-Mart Sandals, Henri Bendel Handbag & Kate Spade iPad case

Of course since we were on "Parker Time" we arrived at the store 40 minutes early, lol! We took a few more pics as the other ladies began to arrive. All of us curvy girls taking over the streets of NYC was truly a sight to behold. People stopped, stared and applauded the beautiful array of diversity outside of Lane Bryant.

Fabulous Fashion Bloggers

Jessica of Tiny Red Shoes

Once inside I was taken aback as to how beautiful the store was. The whole top floor was reserved for Cacique #seriouslysexy Lingerie and felt like you were stepping into an entirely separate boutique. While inside the store we noshed on tasty treats and chatted with industry insiders on the new look of Lane Bryant and the direction of the A/W 2013 line.

#seriouslysexy Cacique Lingerie

Enjeanious by Rean Fisher Ring

Myself, Kate Doerge of Paul Wilmot Communications, & Nikka Shae

Linda Lewis of Cacique, Kate Doerge of Paul Wilmot Communications & Aussie Blogger Olivia of Wait Until Sunset

Lane Bryant Style-Off Winner Farrah Estrella of The Estrella Fashion Report and Moi

Georgette Niles of Grown & Curvy Woman & Plus Model & Blogger Colleen Stovall of Short Curvy Fierce

As you can see, we had an amazing time. It was so fun meeting so many new people and experiencing the VIP treatment at Lane Bryant. Stay tuned for Part 2 of the Blogger Conference, where we got a look at the inspirations for the A/W 2013 collections from Lane Bryant and Cacique!

See you on the front row!

<3 Parker S. 

#FFFWeek Day 1: Crazy for Cayetano Legacy

Hey Guys! If you have been following me on social media, I'm sure you know that I was in NYC last wee covering Full Figure Fashion Week. I'm sorry for taking so long to get a post up, but I have been a very busy girl. The first day I arrived I had an amazing treat. Jessica D'Andraia, the NYC Sales Rep for Cayetano Legacy took time out of her busy schedule to come to my hotel and give me a special viewing of the collection.

Me & Jessica D'Andraia of Cayetano Legacy

All I can say is WOW!!! I was introduced to Cayetano Legacy last year while attending the Chic Boutique Tour . They were having a trunk show at Bouchic Boutique  and I had the honor of meeting one of the founders of the company, Karen Cayetano Leano. Little did I know, that a year later, that chance meeting would blossom into a budding friendship.

Karen Cayetano Leano last year at Bouchic Atlanta

One of the things l love about Cayetano Legacy is that the company is run by 3 sisters. Scattered across the US, Karen, Gail & Christine are First Generation Filipino Americans who saw the need to create unique accessories with materials sourced from their native Philippines. Exclusively using female artisans, this amazing company not only empowers the women who create these amazing pieces, but the women who wear them, too. Whenever you wear a piece of Cayetano Legacy, you are cloaked in a piece of understated luxury that is both captivating and awe inspiring.

The Cayetano Sisters

My visit with Jessica was by far one of the highlight's of the week. Her love for Cayetano Legacy and her desire to empower women speaks volumes of her character and to the company she represents. What was supposed to be a short preview turned into a few hours of great conversation. I think we solved all of the worlds problems and I made a new friend ;-).

I had so much fun playing dress up and can't wait to share the pieces with you that I scored on her visit. Those of you who follow me on social media were able to see some of the pieces and also make some purchases. But, if this is your first time visiting, I hope you enjoy the photos below. I encourage all of you to visit www.cayetanolegacy.com to experience the pieces for yourself. Until next time...

"Make the world your personal runway!"


<3 Parker S.

Last year at Bouchic Atlanta in Cayetano Legacy

Last Year in Cayetano Legacy

#FFFWeek 2013

JCP Duro Olowu Skirt, K-Mart Jaclyn Smith Shirt, Henri Bendel Tote

Hello Fatshionistas!!! I'm back from NYC and compiling all of my footage to bring you a week of recaps from Sonsi FFFWeek 2013. Stay tuned!

xoxo-

Parker S.