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!
Stand Up To Beauty Standards 