I'm so not letting this no-fear, showing myself, ensemble photo series slide! Oh no. I just have delays. And laziness (I even have bangs since I took these, sorry!). And major major lack-of-photographer issues /frustrations. But it'll come more and more often. I now have plans to take pictures of clothes sans moi, so that I may do it a lot more frequently. (I'll try to include more of myself though, too.) This was my second fairly successful attempt at a personal photo shoot. Part 1 has photos so different from part 2, that well that's why there will be two parts. If I do have time to keep practicing, I may be able to actually have more photos of myself eventually. Sigh. On shoot day, it was a very frustrating afternoon! On to the photos, credits below.

OK, first of all, yeah I accidentally cropped my feet out of all these photos. Timer photography needs major work. Also I look fatter in a belt-looped / under shirt belt. *whine* Not sure what I can do while I'm not perfectly a full lower pants size.

I'm almost shocked I could get a lot of pictures of my face. Goodbye Ella in shades? Nah, course not. ;-)

OK, goofy giggle. Whatcha gonna do? It's still fun & cute. And here they are, it's the piece de resistance...

My new(ish) Bandolino pumps. Hello?! Don't they look like they cost $1,402 and not on sale for $42??? More photos to come of these (they're not online).

Credits:

Cropped jacket: Perameter (Bluefly.com find)
T-shirt: Really old Delia's??? *update* Old Navy???
(Getting less) Skinny jeans: Mossimo for Target
Bag: Hollywood Intuition @ Target w/ crafty strap
Jewelry: Indie/handcraft designer, local to South Florida. Don't shoot me if I'm wrong, but I think it's GMS Jewelry Co. I need to take close photos; great stuff!
And of course the shoes: Bandolino

To a true Targetista, a Targé-loving budgeted fashionista, Zac Posen's upcoming capsule for the mart may not be entirely affordable. For example, there's a peplum-esque dress that is absolutely lovely, but $75. (Noooo! Whyyy?)

But one other piece is also superb, well-designed and more unique than... OK well unique is a perfectly fitting word for superlativism, obviously.

It's this pink colorblock tie-neck top - don't you just want it?

Just a head's up to budget it now, because Targetistas need to do so.  ;-) If you want more from the collection, you may also need to save some extra pennies.

You're welcome.

Somewhere along the years in my fashion blogging, successful types of posting went from shoes on sale and humorous commentary to "look at how fabulous she is in her style". Of course it seems the truly popular blogs have bloggers both flawless and who possess their own professional photographer who does nothing but stalk this apparent model who just happens to run her own website. Well I am not flawless, and when one is not perfect and one lacks a photographer and necessary professional accessories, it's daunting to run photo sessions. And when my flaw is weight, in the fashion world it's hard to show my body. And when I used to be model-thin, it's really hard to even show my face on Facebook. Le Sigh. But I need any shot I can take at getting some more success, and it's just plain good sense to show you my style ... if I can't yet show my sewn designs, at least I can show my sense of dressing along with all my, so many, posts that critique. It's fair, it's right, and it should be helpful in a way. So here are a few shots back when I was first really trying. It's been a while! This ensemble was for a Between-Thanksgiving-&-Christmas potluck party, hence the kitchen theme.

"Why am I so lazy with my hair? LOL. Something I need to work on but I'm growing it out so I can sport a side braid."

More curvalicious than the F word, yay!

Yeah it's been that long. Thing is at first I thought these photos stank, but it turns out I'm just too picky for my own good. So yeah, I'm still working on improving my session sets & such, and I'm not at the level of those bloggers who get all the attention, but maybe I'll get there, and maybe just this will get me by. And you know what, I don't look that big. No photo-shopping my waist necessary ... oh wait, let me check! ;-)

"Also yay, what looks big is something ... good to look that way. ;-)"

I clearly need to work on where my crazy eyes are pointed! Haha.

"OUTTAKE: Setting up the shoot before getting dressed. (This is some ugly old thing barely worthy of PJs, sorry.)

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And if nothing in the photos impresses, I at least want my own coming-out to set an example for all the non-sample sizes!

Credits:

Flocked Sweater: Express
Boot-Cut Dark Blue Uniform-Color Jeans:
Calvin Klein (hemmed by myself, btw)
Ribbon as belt: Online craft supply store (I think M&J Trimming)
Ribbon in hair: Another craft supply, possibly JoAnn.
Black Ruffle Flat Shoes: Self Esteem - One of my finds at Ross (I love these, just added inserts)
Purse: Merona for Target (Targé)

Our budget for movie-going is very low, so I have not been able to catch onto "Alice" fever like most fashionistas, but when I saw this blue/red combo Melissa heart pumps, I was very inspired.

I knew this spread needed to be gorgeous and artful and I know I'm personally limited somehow on Polyvore.com set making, so I opened up Paint Shop Pro and went to work, old-school-style. (OK old-me style, for this is not low tech!)

I had to leave the top left corner blank, for I find it so beautiful. If you want to see the background image I made on its own, keep reading the post - but here's the shopping info!

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Before you read this piece of beauty-equality fabulosity, note it comes from the blogger from Already Pretty. It's not just esteem-boosting and not just pretty, but beautiful writing!

If you hate skinny jeans and prefer bootcuts because they balance you out, wear 'em and screw the trend-hounds. If you want to wear foofy vintage dresses every single day because you feel fabulously feminine in them, do it and screw the buzzwreckers. If you think your collarbone is the sexiest thing ever created, wear scoop necks and boat necks and square necks and never ever don a collarbone-masking scarf, and screw the naysayers. Whatever you dislike, avoid it. Whatever makes you feel delighted to be alive, wear it.

And here are some of the bloggers' style shots from AP's piece. Their individual links below.

Casual Converse Chic! It can be done. Yay. I was thinking so with this style of sneaker's non-bulk, so I bought a cute inexpensive version - but I'll show you those shoes later! (They're in the mail.)

Be sure to read the entire, lovely, post on Already Pretty.

Women's blogs in the photos, respectively: Yammering Muse, Jeremy & Kathleen, Eek!

Click here to read more about Fashion Fantasy Game and how to visit my showroom.

Most people on this fun website design entire ensembles, doing both some design play and a lot of styling. I though prefer to nitpick every last aspect of one item and stick to piece elements more like the real world (as in one retails a sweater, not a sweater + tights + ...). I feel I do focus more on creating more detailed pieces however I don't hesitate to use simpler items I love especially if from a limited edition template but also I sometimes publish designer inspired pieces.

Since I can't sell complete outfits from already created designs without laboring over each individual object all over again, I'm just styling my own "diva" and will publish here, hoping for a little game-play exposure and other fun stuffs. ;-)

Some of the elements I design I do find difficult to piece with what else I have on FFG to fit into my personal style. Even if these ensembles go wackier than I would ever wear, something like this is typical in fashion from runway to lookbooks, and I think others may appreciate a whole styling of my pieced elements.

Enjoy doll #1: Color Diva!

I will be pairing these with shopping "tips" on how to find perhaps similar pieces for the real world...

Fashion is visual. Duh. Sometimes I "read" my favorite blogs just ogling the pictures and scrolling. I never read a whole magazine, and my favorite part of Vogue is the ads. Oh yes and I tend to actually read Lucky, but anyway..

Yes, I do write quite well and I love well-formed language, but there's much more (and I'm not getting into designing, no I don't mean that.) So many blogs do well with lovelies draping the center column and so so so many ladies love Polyvore.

I just got back into it, and am starting to get the hang of this stuff. So much fun. Plus it might spread my link out there. I figure. Correctly. The BF will believe it, won't you? Sure, of course! You do it too.

...of the paper gal I named Sophie by DesignerElla featuring Miss Selfridge

Cheep cheep cheep? Talk a lot, blog a little.

Anyway, Polyvore probably has something for everyone - but I think I'm way more drawn into the very expensive items. Uh oh!

See ya girls, and here is the shopping info below.