The Public Butter

Summertime Simple

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 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!

Have you LIKE’d the Petite Plus, Meow’s Facebook Page yet?

LIKE. Share. Tell A Friend, friend 🙂

Graphic Tiki

Nothing screams summertime like tiki prints!

I picked up this graphic tiki dress from Forever21 recently — with full intentions on saving it for the Toronto Vintage Society’s annual Tiki Party this August. (Check it out this year friends….super fun times…add it to your summertime fun calendar!) 😉

Buuuuut I couldn’t wait!

Since my toes are a bit of a disaster and badly in need of a pedicure… I pulled the tags off this sucker and paired it with my black high-tops that I’ve been dying to break in since my Cross-Boarder Shopping Extravaganza .

This dress (in 2x) was a bit big on me – the length and the shoulder weren’t the best fit, plus turned out that all-day wear made the neckline of this cotton dress pretty droopy & wide. Not cute.

But since these pictures, I’ve put it in the washer/dryer and am happy to report it’s a much better fit and has shortened up nicely. HAZZA! 🙂

Farewell lovely cat-eyed sunnies. Sadly, I’ve since misplaced these gorgeous sunglasses…sigh. Ya’ll know what that means….an excuse to buy new ones!!!! 🙂

How I Got The Look:

Graphic button up Tiki dress, Forever21+ (Eaton Ctr); Black hi-top platform kicks, Torrid (Walden Gallery, Buffalo); Vintage Cat-eyed Sunglasses, The Public Butter; Grey cross-body purse, Michael Kors

Have you LIKE’d the Petite Plus Meow Facebook Page yet?

LIKE. Share. Tell A Friend, friend 🙂

Dog Days of Summer

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 worshiping

These Orange Italian Leather sandal’s life came to an end…sigh

Have you LIKE’d the Facebook Page yet? You should!!!! 😉

Gussied Up & Tess Munster!

Gussied Up, a plus size clothing boutique owned by the lovely Victoria McGroarty, celebrated the store’s 3rd anniversary this weekend – with a Meet & Greet with Miss Tess Munster!

This delightful Bathurst boutique has classic pieces and Canadian designs in sizes X-3X. With versatile pieces like day-to-evening dresses, casual blazers, leggings and cute but practical undergarments.

This past visit I had my eye on the vintage-inspired bathing suits — any era with fashions that celebrates hips & tits wins my heart every time! The feminine details for belts and bling is what I go weak in the knees for (ended up buying a sweetie-pie one I’ve had my eye on since seeing it on Instagram).

With the weather oh-so gorgeous, I walked up from West Queen West (a significant distance) – so I decided to dress down cozy and comfy with my navy faux Toms (Airwalk from Payless), pink stripped maxi (from AdditionElle), cat-eye sunnies (from The Public Butter), pink moustache scarf (from Winners), faded denim-hoodie jacket (Jessica Simpson from HBC) and my MK grey cross body bag to make my Saturday afternoon stroll to meet Miss Tess Munster!

The line up to meet Tess nearly wrapped the corner of Dupont! Lucky for me….Rebecca (of Rebecca Northcott Photography) and I had a “tag-team approach”… and who ever got there first would save a spot for the other, regardless of the dirty looks to come our way by fellow-in-line fans! 😉

Tess is a Plus-Size Model, Make Up Artist, Body Positive Activist and Blogger based in L.A., who turned her hobbies into a successful career. She is a petite woman with an amazing smile that truly does light up a room!

She recently founded the #effyourbeautystandards movement which has over 65,000 shares on Instagram alone, that changed her life. She receives letters and emails from different women every day thanking her for empowering them to love their bodies, and to not be ashamed of being short, pale/dark, or dare I say…Fat.

The features that Tess was bullied about in her youth, that she now embraces, that has led to her success. She really is an inspiration, encouraging other women to embrace and accept who they are, as they are.

Tess hopes that girls who are bullied, and women who lack confidence will begin to see their inner and outer beauty at whatever size.

For everyone that says we can’t show our tummies, wear a pencil/form-fitting skirt, wear a bikini, wear sleeveless tops… YOU can!

That’s the main message of the #effyourbeautystandards campaign — Tess wants YOU to join her in wearing “daring” fashions & stop hiding your body because society tells you to.

BE a total babe regardless of our size..big OR small we all deserve to feel beautiful.

Take a look at some of the beautiful shots Rebecca captured at the Meet & Greet with Miss Tess Munster at Gussied Up:

Tess was a delight to meet! A genuinely nice person — happy to give hugs, pose for pictures …even TAKING SELFIES with her adoring fans!

I’ve got a massive #girlcrush on this woman – even more now that I’ve met her!

10255049_10152291511960376_5493591035417597110_o — Tess with Rebecca, of Rebecca Northcott Photography

Tess is proof that determination, relentlessness, and positivity can look beautiful on anyone, and that there is a wonderful life past a size 20.

Gussied Up located at 1090 Bathurst St (at Dupot) in Toronto, Ontario. You should def make a visit to see what fabulous fashions finds need to be yours!