I Absolutely Love Meghan Trainor’s voice! Her 4-track album is terrific. But, my heart belongs to this catching tune “All About That Bass“.
If you’re looking to add this BIG Tune to your karaoke repertoire, like I am 😉 ….here are the lyrics:
Because you know I’m all about that bass ‘Bout that bass, no treble I’m all about that bass ‘Bout that bass, no treble I’m all about that bass ‘Bout that bass, no treble I’m all about that bass ‘Bout that bass
Yeah, it’s pretty clear, I ain’t no size two But I can shake it, shake it Like I’m supposed to do ‘Cause I got that boom boom that all the boys chase And all the right junk in all the right places
I see the magazine workin’ that Photoshop We know that shit ain’t real C’mon now, make it stop If you got beauty building, just raise ’em up ‘Cause every inch of you is perfect From the bottom to the top
Yeah, my mama she told me don’t worry about your size She says, “Boys like a little more booty to hold tonight.” You know I won’t be no stick figure silicone Barbie doll So if that’s what you’re into then go ahead and move along
Because you know I’m All about that bass ‘Bout that bass, no treble I’m all about that bass ‘Bout that bass, no treble I’m all about that bass ‘Bout that bass, no treble I’m all about that bass ‘Bout that bass Hey!
I’m bringing booty back Go ahead and tell them skinny bitches that No I’m just playing. I know you think you’re fat But I’m here to tell ya Every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top
Yeah my mama she told me don’t worry about your size She says, “Boys like a little more booty to hold tonight.” You know I won’t be no stick figure silicone Barbie doll So if that’s what you’re into then go ahead and move along
Because you know I’m All about that bass ‘Bout that bass, no treble I’m all about that bass ‘Bout that bass, no treble I’m all about that bass ‘Bout that bass, no treble I’m all about that bass ‘Bout that bass
Because you know I’m All about that bass ‘Bout that bass, no treble I’m all about that bass ‘Bout that bass, no treble I’m all about that bass ‘Bout that bass, no treble I’m all about that bass ‘Bout that bass
Because you know I’m All about that bass ‘Bout that bass, no treble I’m all about that bass ‘Bout that bass, no treble I’m all about that bass ‘Bout that bass, no treble I’m all about that bass ‘Bout that bass ‘Bout that bass, ’bout that bass Hey, hey, ooh You know you like this bass
If you’ve been following PPMeow! for sometime now, you’ll know that I’ve fallen head-over-heels for Lindy Hop and Swing Dancing! So much so that all summer I’ve tried to attend as many free, outdoor swing event around the city (click here & here), and nearly every Saturday (since the completion of my lessons with Lindy Hop Revolution), I’ve been at The Dovercourt House where Toronto Lindy Hop hosts weekly live bands and dances (with lessons).
Well friends, the last Saturday of every month, Toronto Lindy Hop has a fantastic theme night – and August’s was: SWING PROM!
Which means, this chick had an excuse to get extra all dolled up in vintage-esk duds AND dance the night away in a tiara – duh!
I picked up this teal dress from a Plus Size Consignment Sale I participated in last year — its an ASOS dress — and this is the first time I’ve ever worn it. The long strand pearls were picked up from the Toronto Vintage Clothing Show a earlier this year and shoes (from Naturalizer) and tiara were from my wedding. Thrilled to finally have an excuse to wear this prettiness out again!
To my surprise….making these corsages and boutonnieres were uber simple.
All you need are some love faux flowers and leaves, a bit of felt adhere the flowers down to, elastic to secure it to your wrists and a hot glue gun to stick everything down into place. Easy. Peasy. Lemon. Squeezy. 🙂
These were the ones I created!!! I’m not at all crafty…and was thrilled and how great these turned out! Yay me!Tah-Dah! Corsages totally make these prom dresses….don’t you think?Swing dancing in poofy frocks just makes your heart happy…. at least it does mine. 🙂Gentlemen readers … if you’re looking to meet beautiful chicks in the city…clearly SWING DANCING is where you’ll find them! Meow indeed! 😉The Pre-Prom Crafty Team … 50s, 60s and 80s themes represented
Ok friends… I’ve been working on this post for a little while. I was worried about what the backlash would be from readers. So I feel I must write this preamble first:
I believe there is not ‘right way’ to have a body. You can be the healthiest version of yourself and never come close to being model-skinny. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. THIS is the body I was supposed to have, and I’m determined to actively celebrate it …. now …. and as I see fit!!! It’s taken me a long time to get to this level of self-acceptance, it’s a work in progress, but I’m thrilled to finally be here. After all, isn’t owning your body the healthiest thing of all?
Having said all this, I am a huge fan of foundational undergarments that help smooth bulges and hides the lumps & bumps under clothes so that they lay more smoothly against the body. Corsets have been around for over 100 years and many have rediscovered the corset’s versatility to not only accentuate a woman’s curves, but to provide relief and support for the back, in fashion, in costumes worn either under or over clothing, and in waist training to help achieve a different waist shape over time.
Recently I joined the #measuremebeautiful campaign and measured myself: 48 – 40 – 48. My Bust. My Waist. My Hips. Turns out I’m a natural “hourglass” shape. But regardless of what your natural shape is, if an hourglass shape is what you want, you can have it … by getting yourself into a corset.
CheChe of AlterEgo Clothing reached out to PPMeow! to help a newbie – ME – with all the ‘need-to-knows” before buying a corset.
Types of Corset – which is best for You?
There are two main styles of corsets: Over-the-Bust and Under-the-Bust. Under-the-bust is probably the most wearable as it can be worn like a laced belt to tighten and tame the waist. It’s basically a large belt. The two most popular styles at AlterEgo are the “Waist Cincher” (i.e. without hip flare recommended for those who have a more straight physique) and the “Waist Trainer” (i.e. with a hip flare recommended for those who are hippy-er….like moi).
The Waist Cincher (left) vs. The Waist Trainer (right)
What Makes a Quality Corset?
A Real Corset will have steel-boning. The boning in corsets is necessary to keep that taut design that stops the corset from folding with your body. Bodices, which look somewhat like corsets, will be much cheaper in both price and quality, and they will not have any boning of any kind in them. True corsets need to have strong fabric, such as heavyweight canvas or cotton, which supports the structure. You should be able to yank on a corset’s fabric without anyone worrying that you’re going to rip it apart. This is not necessarily the outer layer that people see, there is usually a fashion layer that has “prettier” fabric. 🙂
The inside of this corset: Notice the double steel boning and modesty panel (this is the extra flap of fabric to hide the strings once tied up)
How Much Do They Cost?
Corsets are investment pieces. Translation: a good quality corset is expensive (upwards of $100). When buying a corset you have to think about how often you want to wear it. Everyday? Once in a while? Very occasionally? Go for an affordable make with steel bones to keep you rigid. Remember: you get what you pay for, so be prepared to get the type of corset you are willing to buy. A high-quality corset will last for years. If you are not willing to spend, chances are you are not going to get anything of a decent quality. AlterEgo’s corsets begin at the $130 price point.
What Size Should You Buy?
You should buy a corset which will reduce your natural waist by 4-6 inches. So if your natural waist line is, say, 40 inches, you should buy one that is 34-36″. Incredible, but true!! Now, the length of your torso is of great importance, so be sure to check all measurement charts and carefully compare them with your measurements when selecting. Plus, so much can depend on personal tolerances for compression, your goals for your corset, what you wear under your corset, the “squish vs firm” factor. AlterEgo will help you with the math and measurement – there is a bit of science to it. 😉
Same corset just with modest panel flipped to reveal lace-up. This one measures 32 inches.
How to Wear a Corset?
Traditional corsets have a busk front (a stiffened section with fastenings like hooks and eyes) and a lace-up back. The strings draw together in a bow at the centre of the garment (not the top or the bottom as I assumed). The idea is that you hook the front first then tighten the back (with help, if necessary) to your fit. Don’t worry if the edges of the garment don’t meet at first. Eventually they will, I’m told. 🙂 There’s a ‘modesty panel’, which is an extra flap of fabric that can be folded in (like I’ve done in the photos below) so that you’re able to see the lace-up back more clearly.
How to Care For & Clean a Corset?
If you’re going to be wearing your corset underneath clothing, you might want to consider wearing a thin tank top, rather than have the corset against your body, to maintain the life and freshness of your piece. This will help prevent having to clean your corset often. For spot-cleaning you can use a mild detergent and/or use a fabric freshener like Febreze. NEVER use the washing machine. From time to time you might want to have your corset professionally dry-cleaned if you wear it often.
I’m wearing a 32″ cotton Waist Trainer style above… Tummy be gone! 🙂
Being top-heavy/busty/a member of the-big-titty-committee, I constantly deal with lower back pain. I was pleasantly surprised at how much pressure it relieved off my back instantly, while improved my posture and making me look taller! I have to admit, I was and still am a little overwhelmed at the amount of boob that seemed to be at dangerously suffocating levels whenever I sat down..LOL (sorry for the blurry pics below). BUT overall, wearing a corset made me feel like a sexy, brown Jessica Rabbit …. MEOW indeed!!! 🙂
Sitting in a corset isn’t the easiest thing to do….lifting the boobs to suffocatingly dangerous heights!
Personally, wearing one of these on a regular basis isn’t for me. I have no interest in wasit-training. Nor do I have an extra hand in-house to help with the lace-up back … and I’m wayyyy too impatient to learn to do it myself. But, I could totally see myself changing the look of an OOTD by wearing a corset overtop of it. And for those sung-fitting outfits I’ve been avoiding, wearing a corset underneath would put them back into my closet rotation. PLUS, with all the fun-filled events with the Toronto Vintage Society, I can totally see myself wearing a corset for an event or two!
With Cheche’s help, we spent a fun afternoon playing dress-up and finding a perfectly fitting corset, just for me.
The photos above were of a simple cotton “Waist Trainer” style corset. But there are a ton of customizable options for you too!!! AlterEgo‘s corsets are made in Canada and custom orders takes approximately 2-4weeks to arrive. AND they can be shipped directly to your home! I can’t wait for mine!
There are tons of customizations available too (L to R): Gold satin, Black lace, Black Leather halter and Black PVC with laced up hip flare. There are also Bridal options too – just ask!Talk about WOW – this custom black lace floor-length tail corset is amazing!
Stayed tuned to PPMeow! for an upcoming post showcasing previous OOTDs Before vs. After THE Corset – where I’ll recreate some of my previous Outfits of the Day pictures, only this time WEARING my new AlterEgo Corset to showcase the transformational differences. Weeeeeee!!!
Thinking of getting a corset of your own? Mention that Irene from Petite Plus, Meow! sent you — Cheche at AlterEgoClothing will take extra special care of you 😉
Summer in Toronto is not complete without attending at least one Shakespere-in-the-Park ‘pay-what-you-can’ event! Pack a picnic, a blanket and a friend or two and it’s a perfect night of outdoor theatre. This year, CanadianStage is offering both comedy and tragedy in High Park. The shows will be playing on alternate nights through the summer. Last week, a gf via Facebook invite with a whopping 20+ of us who RSVPd a solid “YES, I’M IN”, were due to go. Which only yielded a total of three persons who – actually – physically – showed up to see the light-hearted As You Like It under the stars. (Why do people suck? Let’s leave that difficult to answer question for another day, shall we?) 😉
Witheth me doth be the most loveliest of maidens; healthy and svetly Sara and lusty and strong Natalie and in the bushes did lurk musical talents of a local school of young violinists. We were merry and gay and mosquito burdened. It was a joyous night had by all.
The performance doesn’t begin until about 8pm (dusk-ish). I got there an hour earlier to secure seats whilst the others were en route from their offices. The three of us managed to get fabulous dead-center seats of the graduated earth seating – cleverly lining our sit-on blanket with a $1 shower curtain to keep the damp out.
Dressing for summer evenings in Toronto hasn’t been easy this year with unseasonably cooler nights. Which means one must think about serious versatility when outfit planning to sit on one’s ass for 2+ hours, while the sun disappears and you’re left shivering cuddled under a blanket, while trying to stay cute. Plus, we can’t forget the inevitable use of a portapotty – dun dun dunnnnn.. 🙂
Keeping all of this in mind, here’s what I came up with to help keep me summer cute & comfortable while the sun was in full-force ,while protecting my freshly washed hair from bugs…
How I Got the Look: White patterned crop top and Tribal pants both from Forever21; Pink leather floral sandals (uber old from The Bay); Aviator sunnies from ElleHardware; Headscarf is vintage, picked it up at the Toronto Vintage Clothing Show earlier this year.
My headscarf was a last-minute addition to my outfit of the day. Since much of my outfit was a simple black N white colour scheme….I made sure that the scarf had loud vibrant colours in it – a Summery punch, if you will. With light rain threats in the forecast that evening, I simply wanted to protect my hair…but didn’t want to wear a hat and possibly be an irritating obstacle to another play-goer with the unfortunate luck of sitting behind me in the park. So this seemed to be the best solution.
I wanted to do wear a more sophisticated head wrap but alas, none of them looked right on my pea-head. Maybe, with practice, I’ll rock a few more of these techniques in the near future — thoughts? 🙂
Shakespeare isn’t everyones cupa tea … I never read/studied this particular play in school before, and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it…and I didn’t even need to read the Coles Notes before hand. 🙂
There were some fantastic lines in this one…with some hilarious female characters, one of whom is AUDREY who won me over with the following line:
I am not a slut, though I thank the gods I am foul.
Over the past few years, I’ve been more of a “skirts and dresses kinda gal”….but for sitting outdoors at dusk with bugs and cool temperatures, and the possible use of a portapotty at some point in the evening, made pants the best option! These are lovely and light for summer-daytime, keeps your legs from getting bitten by bugs in the evening and comfortable enough to be sitting crossed legged cuddling on and under a blanket.
Are you a fan of theatre – outdoor theatre?
Which ones have you been to….any recommends for me?
I was on the verge of uttering “I have nothing to wear” one morning last week, as I tried to plan my outfit for the day.
All I knew was that I wanted to wear these gold open-toed sling backs (Nine West) no matter what!
I bought them last summer for a wedding I was to attend, but last-minute decided another pair worked better with my outfit instead. So these babies were yet to be worn! AND today was the day! 🙂
Also, I was determined NOT to brush & do my hair…so whatever outfit I was gonna wear needed to go with one of these floral claw clips …
I picked up this cotton polka dot open-backed tank from Old Navy ($10) from their colossal summer sale a few weeks ago.
The aqua/turquoise pencil skirt from Forever21+ ($6) …. both perfect separately, but something was missing when I put them together…
And then I belted it! And Tah-Dah! It became awesome!!! 🙂
Sadly, try as I might there is no escaping the ‘bra-strap-peek-out’ situation. Sigh…
All I hear in my head is that Bubba Sparxx song……..“Booty booty booty rocking everywhere” as I write this post. 😉 LOL!!!
Sparkly gold flats work well with this outfit too (and is what I switched to for my Lindy Hop lesson at LHR that evening)
How I Got The Look:
Aqua Pencil Skirt, Forever21+; Open-back Tank, Old Navy; Sparkly flats and Gold drop earrings, Payless; Open-toed sling-backs, Nine West; Wide Brown Belt, Lane Bryant; Hair Flower Claw-clips, Ardene; and a Suede vintage purse gifted
What do you think? Do you prefer the flats or the heels with this look? Belt? No Belt? Tell me your thoughts in the Comments section below.
BBQ invitations are in full force … and I’m lovin’ it!
So fun, flirty, light-weight summer dresses is what I’m all over when it comes to going from the heat of daytime sun into the wee hours of late night drinking in someone’s backyard or balcony.
Like this easy-peasy summertime look I put together the other weekend:
Waddya think of this cute lil’ cherry tote I picked up from Forever21? Not only is it oh-so cute…. It’s perfect for BYOB and for carrying along pot-luck contributions to shindigs 🙂
Depending on what time these BBQ get-to-gethers take place have ultimately been the determining factor on whether I’m bringing along sun-protection aka a HAT!
I picked up this simple wicker fedora from The Public Butter (vintage shop on WQW) and it has worked with basically ever summer outfit I’ve thrown together.
Don’t believe me? Take a look at Exhibits A, B and C below:
Exhibit A: Best Summer Fedora Ever!Exhibit B: Best Summer Fedora Ever!Exhibit C: Best Summer Fedora Ever! (Too much sun & sangria this day) 🙂
How I Got The Look:
Layered strapless dress from Old Navy; Navy peep-toed flats from Payless Shoes; Wicker Fedora from The Public Butter; Cherry Tote from Forever21; Seashell necklace, earrings and bracelet souvenirs from Dominican Republic, Cuba & Halifax, respectively 😉
What’s your easy-peasy Summertime BBQ outfit of choice friends? Tell me in the comments section!
It was a gloomy partly cloudy day in Toronto … and surprisingly chilly for a July day.
With an afternoon full of meetings in the downtown core (yuck), my mood needed some lifting. So I decided that my outfit needed to be bright, loud and fresh.
Here’s what I came up with:
I’ve been searching for “the perfect yellow” – very difficult to find. Found this lovely light-weight sweater in the clearance rack ($14) at Reitmans in The Duffrin Mall the other day, figured I’d be saving it for the Fall, but today was just cool enough to unveil it.
My favourite parts of this outfit are the shoes and purse!!! Picked up both pieces LAST summer…..when I was totally obsessing over this amazing turquoise colour. Even my earrings match in this outfit. Aren’t these shoes just fantastic!!!! Gawd! I love them! 🙂
So….Waddya think?
Multiple patterns! Loud colours! Too much for an afternoon in the office? Maybe…..buuuut I don’t care.
I like it! It totally lifted my mood – and I’m ready to face these meetings with a “passionately neutral” approach 🙂
How I Got The Look:
Yellow & white stripped summer sweater from Reitmans; Grey checkered pencil skirt (click here to see skirt in other posts), Dorothy Perkins from The Hudson Bay Co.; Fabulous patterned peep-toed pumps from Nine West; Turquoise purse from Aldo Accessories; Earrings gifted.
I have to say that I’ve been really, really good about NOT making too many additional outfit purchase since my Cross Boarder Shopping Extravaganza earlier this summer. Buuuuuuut, every now and again, usually when I finally make it into the office downtown, I maybe find an amazing piece or two that is simply too lovely to pass on.
Like this amazing sleeveless deep-V faux-wrap dress I saw hanging in a Winners rack just as I was leaving. There isn’t much of a plus-size selection at many of the locations in the downtown core, or so I’ve found. This dress that I fell in love with for instance, was a XL in straight sizes. Dun dun dun…..
I didn’t even have time to try it on – just held it up against my body. I decided that the DBA (designated-boob-area) was ample enough, the pattern and fabric forgiving enough, that I just ran it over to the checkout and hoped for the best.
Later that week I found myself running errands in The Duffrin Mall (who, I must say, have really stepped-it-up from the frightening array of shops it housed from my memories as a teen), and discovered these fab booties on sale at Reitmans…… regular price $60 — marked down to $14.99!!!!!!
A little accessories love: Suede Booties from Reitmans; Jean jacket from Old Nay; Bow earrings and vintage purse were gifted & thrifted.New Sunnies!!! My first Aviators…from ElleHardware
And like that a country line-dancing outfit was born! 🙂
I rocked this outfit and made my way to Boots N’ Bourbon for their Thursday Night lesson + 1/2 priced appies and $5 beers!
Happy to say I wasn’t a complete disaster on the dance-floor. Thank goodness for all the vid clips from my previous blogpost: Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy!
Giddy Up!
How I Got The Look:
Dress from Winners (Wellington/Yonge); Jean jacket from Old Navy; Booties from Reitmans; Aviator sunglasses from Elle Hardware (West Queen West); Bow earrings were a gift and vintage suede purse thrifted/gifted.
I’m a total city girl. Growing up cottage-less, I’ve never really got to enjoy “the great outdoors” much as a kid…and have only really started to appreciate being out in nature as an adult.
Before moving into a shoe-box sized condo, I owned a house in the East York/Upper Beaches area of Toronto with a standard mini-backyard with just the right amount of grass and greenery to lounge and laze about a summer afternoon, with the pup.
Sigh … I miss that lil’ green space. Nowadays, I’ve taken to keeping a picnic blanket, book and bottle of water pre-packed in a beach bag at my door so that when the mood strikes, me and The Bertso (that’s the pup) can re-create that zen-like lazy feeling in Trinity Bellwoods Park instead. Here’s what I wore on a recent lazy weekend afternoon:
How I Got The Look:
Orange Italian Leather sandals from Hudson Bay Co.; Lime floral tank from Lane Bryant; Jean skirt (with built-in shorts) from Reitmans; and a ridiculously large floppy sunhat from The Public Butter (vintage shop on West Queen W/Duffrin)
Moi, looking a lil’ dopey after 5-hours of sun worshipingThese Orange Italian Leather sandal’s life came to an end…sigh
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PPMeow! 