Stand Up To Beauty Standards

Category: shopping

  • Too Cool For School: With rue21

    Too Cool For School: With rue21

    “Lizzie McGuire, you’re an outfit repeater!”,Okay confession time! When I saw the Lizzie McGuire movie in theaters in 2003 at the tender age of 11, just at the end of 5th grade, i was shook by that line. Kate Sanders, Lizzie’s arch nemesis, exposed Lizzie for repeating an outfit at their 8th grade graduation and I remember thinking “wow, how embarrassing! I’ll never let that happen to me!”. From then on I made it my mission to be the most fashionable girl in the room and to never let anyone catch me repeating the same exact look twice! As a matter of fact, in 7th grade a kid in my math class said “I dont think I’ve ever seen you wear the same thing twice.” and I was SO proud. That wouldn’t be the last time I heard that! Obviously I know now, there’s nothing wrong with repeating an outfit, but try telling that to a little tween fashionista like 11 year old Lexi! 

    Lizzie Mcguire was a huge fashion inspiration for me for so many years, so I decided to create some looks inspired by the characters with rue21 pieces! Can you guess who is who? We’ve got Miranda, Kate Sanders,, and of course, Lizzie! They all had some overlapping style throughout the show and film, but in general, Miranda was spunky and edgy, Kate was preppy and girly, and Lizzie was groovy and sweet! So, for my Kate look, I choose this blue and grey argyle polo dress and little pink purse with butterfly chains! For the Miranda look, I opted for some black cargo pants, this red and black dragon top, and these badass sunglasses! Finally for Lizzie I channeled her style that I always felt reflected her personality the most, and choose a cream tank with ruching on the sides, printed flare pants, daisy earrings, and silk daisy bandana! I also styled a look that I feel represents my own style, with a pink bandana print dress and two tone denim jacket. I do think my “Lexi Look” has Lizzie vibes! You’ll notice I wore a pink tattoo choker and black slides for each look because those are both universal go-to staples for any early ‘00’s babe! 

    Gosh, highschool feels like a lifetime ago! And yet somehow, every year when August rolls around, all of those back-to-school memories coming flooding back! I remember shopping for my freshman year of high school and thinking to myself “who do I want to be for the next four years? I don’t know exactly what I was going for, but I decided on a denim mini skirt, black leggings, a black victorian-style top, and wedge sandals! I was convinced that this look was so mature and stylish, it would transform me into the very grown up highschooler I was trying to be. 

    But I learned eventually, that I would be a different person each year! In a lot of ways that’s still true today, because every year I grow older I learn more about who I am. My fashion choices may change with the times, and I’ll keep getting wiser and more confident in myself, but I’ll always be Me! And that’s exactly who I want to be! I wish I could go back and tell my younger self that she doesn’t need to try to be someone else, just the best version of herself! So whether you’re preparing for a new school year, a new job, or just a new season of life, I hope you remember that fall fashion statements are great, but being authentically yourself is that best statement of all! 

    rue21 has me pumped for fall! Y’all know I’m a summer queen, but if there’s one thing that can get me excited for fall, it’s fashion! I love that rue21 has all the newest trends and I think it’s so fun to try new things! rue21 is super affordable too, so I definitely recommend checking them out for all your back to school, fall wardrobe transition, or just closet refresher needs!

  • Tie Dye Summer: with rue21

    Tie Dye Summer: with rue21

    Tie Dye Summer: with rue21 

    Summer is here! Well…basically! Regardless, I’m in full summer mode and right now I’m on a major tie dye kick! Tie dye just screams summer to me. I don’t know if maybe it’s because I always made tie dye t-shirts at camp every summer or if it’s because it’s the ultimate fashion statement for a laidback, I’m-here-to-have-fun vibe. Whatever the reason, every summer I am decked out in tie dye everything! Last summer it was all about the matching tie dye sweatsuit sets because we were all stuck in the house watching Tiger King, making whipped coffee and trying to figure out Zoom. But thankfully this summer is full of hope and fun plans! So, while I do still love the matching sweatsuit sets, I’m excited to kick things up a notch! And rue21 is a one-stop-shop for all our tie dye needs at crazy affordable prices! 

    This first look is simple, comfy, and to the point! A sweet, little tie dye dress is an extremely underrated statement piece! This dress is super light weight which is perfect for the unbearable heat down here in the south. Even though this dress is comfortable and weather appropriate, making it a practical choice, the hot pink makes a bold statement! The tie spaghetti straps, ruching at the bust, and ruffle at the bottom of the skirt all give off a retro, early ‘00s vibe. I added white platform slides and pink, heart shaped sunnies, and now I’m getting major Elle Woods vibes from this look! A pink lemonade isn’t required to complete this look but, hey, it doesn’t hurt! 

    This next look is a game changer and a bunch of fashion firsts for me! This is my first matching denim set, and my first tie dye denim. I know this sounds dramatic, and maybe I feel dramatic because this look screams Sharpay Evans, but this outfit has CHANGED ME. Like, wow, who is she? Is this a practical, mature outfit? Yeah, no, not really. But I couldn’t care less! This is exactly the whimsical, vibrant statement I’m trying to make! When I wear this fit out in public, I want everyone to be like, “oh she definitely had a pink Razor flip phone in highschool and probably still owns roll-on glitter.” By the way, both of those statements are true but I’m sure none of you are surprised! A simple white tank and the same white platform slides and heart sunnies, and *boom*, instant Disney Channel “it” girl. Also, low-key, maybe high-key, feel like barbie in this ensemble. Y’all, rue21 has done it again and I’m fully obsessed with this fit. It’s officially going in my favorite outfits hall of fame! 

    This last look is all about color and comfort! Which, honestly, is probably a great way to describe my personal fashion philosophy. You might remember this blue bikini from last month’s vacation looks! Choosing a favorite suit from last month is tough, but I really think this one takes the cake. I love the full coverage of the bottoms, and equally love the less-than-full coverage of the top. Hey, what can I say? If you got it, flaunt it! The fabric is soft and stretchy which is always a plus when you plan to wear your swimsuit all day long. Which I definitely do, because I’m a total water baby! But those early summer nights get chilly and if you go inside for a drink or snack the air conditioning can be freezing, so I love an oversized, zip up hoodie as a cozy cover up! That may be a bit of an unpopular opinion, but don’t knock it till you try it! Those crochet dresses and sarongs are cute and perfect for midday heat. But when the sun goes down, you’ll be wishing you had a snuggly hoodie to wrap up in! Especially on those unseasonably cold days that randomly pop-up sometimes or if you live somewhere it doesn’t really get hot until later in the summer! Anyway, now that I’ve made my case for summer hoodies, rue21 has a great selection of tie dye sweatshirts, sweatpants, and shorts! You can mix and match, which I think is so fun! I guess we’ve kinda come full circle now with the tie dye sweats! 

    Tie dye is a fun and timeless trend that never really goes out of style. Summer is about having fun so don’t shy away from wearing fun clothes, even if it’s silly or “childish”. Life is short and summer is shorter! Check out the rue21 blog for more summer fashion inspo! Which look was your favorite? 

  • Plus Size Pool Days: with rue21

    Plus Size Pool Days: with rue21

    I know, I know,  it’s technically still spring but I’m teaming up with my friends at rue21 to bring you all the summer vibes! I don’t know about you but summer is my “thrive season” and I’m so excited that it’s almost that time! Summer for me feels creative, electric, and free! It’s crazy because, for a long time, I dreaded summer and all the different scenarios where I’d have to figure out a way to cover my body. I was too self conscious to wear shorts, bathing suits and tank tops and I would literally wear jeans and long sleeve shirts in 90º weather! I was so consumed by my insecurities, I could hardly enjoy fun activities like going to the beach. My negative body image even distracted me from spending quality time with friends and family. Looking back on that time makes me so sad because we all deserve to feel comfortable in our own skin, as well as comfortable in the summer heat! Well, those days are behind me! Good riddance! Now I’m super pumped to wear all the crop tops and bikinis my heart desires (and the heat requires, lol)! 

    Okay I have to start with my absolute favorite outfit because I’m too excited to save it for last. When I say favorite outfit I don’t just mean my favorite from this post, or even from rue21. This is literally and actually my ALL TIME favorite outfit i’ve ever owned. Am I being dramatic? Probably! But i mean, come on does this not just scream “Lexi”!? First of all I love a matching set, right off the bat we are winning with this fit. I’m a huge fan of the ultra femme, romantic, floral and ruffel trend that is going around, so this set is right on the money! The sizing is generous, with lots of stretch, and the fabric is lightweight so this set is extremely comfortable! It just makes all of my preppy, princess dreams come true and you can catch me wearing this for….ever! 

    Now that we’ve gotten all the drama out of the way…HAVE YOU SEEN THIS STRAWBERRY DRESS?! Okay, okay, I’ll try to stay calm this time. But, come on! The powder blue, the mesh overlay, the embroidered strawberries! This dress is a total dream! I’m a huge lover of whimsy, and I think fruit prints and details are the perfect whimsical touch for summer pieces. I could see myself pairing this dress with a denim jacket for chilly evening weather or even a white button down shirt tied in the middle. I feel like this dress could easily be dressed up with heels and a clutch and just as easily dressed down with tennis shoes and a mini backpack. Either way, this is a statement piece that says “I’m the cutest person in the room”! I finished off my look with a silky, stretchy headband for an extra cuteness factor! 

    On the topic of dresses, this daisy sundress is an absolute necessity. If you’re well acquainted with me, you know I’m kind of the queen of wearing clothes in settings they weren’t intended for. I wear lingerie as tops, swim cover-ups as outfits, and I consider athleisure appropriate for practically any occasion! I love this dress because it’s lightweight fabric, adjustable straps, and smocked waist make it super versatile! I’ve now worn this one dress to the pool as a swim cover-up, to a restaurant as an outfit, and to bed as a nightgown. It’s so cute and comfy I could wear it everyday! And obviously I had this scrunchie on my wrist the whole time because that’s an accessory that is always appropriate! These platform sandals are also insanely comfy and, may I say, the velcro is such a fun throwback moment.

    Let’s get into these adorable swimsuits! This white one piece made me feel like a goddess! Something about a solid white swimsuit is just so elegant to me. The off the shoulder sleeves and the lace-up details add some flare and it’s such a moment! I’ll be totally honest, I was a little worried about this one piece ebing long enough to accommodate my chest, bum, AND belly. So many plus size one pieces are way too short and at least one curvy area of my body ends up popping out! But I was totally pleased with this fit! It was plenty long and true to size so I felt totally secure and comfortable. 

    I was also a bit worried about this tie dye bikini because my chest is pretty full and this bikini top connects at the front and laces up. I was pleasantly surprised with how perfectly it fit and how easy it was to adjust the fit by loosening and tightening the laces! I love tie dye and I think it’s such a fun look for summer! The side cutouts and lattice details make this suit a bit sexy and that never hurts!

    This blue bikini looked really comfy when I ordered it and I was very excited to find out that it is, in fact, really comfy! You know when you love a suit so much you’d rather put it on still wet, than put on a clean dry suit? It’s that good! The fabric is soft and the fit allows for a lot of stretch but also a lot of space. Sometimes suits will be a little tight in the band or the leg holes, even when the size is right. Kind like how bras and undies can be exhausting to wear at the end of a long day. In the same way, some suits can feel restricting after a full day at the pool or beach. But this suit is cut just right and I could wear it all day long (and I did…twice!). I also love solid color bikinis because you can mix and match with other bikinis! You can put two solid colors together, or combine a solid and a pattern! This is a great way to switch things up when you only have room in your closet or suitcase for a few suits! 

    I think the common theme here was comfort and that just super on brand for me. Life is too short to be physically and emotionally uncomfortable if you don’t have to be! If you’re hot and sweaty and wanna wear less, wear less! If you want to swim all day without anything holding you back, prioritize a comfy swimsuit over a fancy one! Whatever you want to wear is your decision, so do you and have fun this summer!  You can see more fat fashion over on my Instagram and Tiktok pages! For even more summer style inspo check out rue21!