But in this modern time,  full figured women will no longer worry because they rest with the thought that the market is teeming with stores of plus size clothing for women.   My cousin Libby swears that since she order her dresses online, there are no more nightmarish experiences when it comes to shopping for her size and dressing up with chic and fashionable dresses.

Excitedly, she announced that she is going to be a plus sized bride soon to a man who finds her very sexy inside and out.   Indeed, my cousin is fat and proud!

Jessa would not stop blabbering… that Sheryl’s LV is not the “real thing”.. not authentic…and yet she displays it as if it is or maybe she is not aware that it is only a cheap imitation.  Apparently she bought it from her Hong Kong trip last month and the other fashion conscious ladies in our circle would swear that her LV is fake and that genuine bags cost thousand of dollars.

Lol.. the ladies would say that maybe Sheryl thought that they will drool with envy  but doesn’t she knows that they can’t be deceived even there is LV monogram…just because it has an LV monogram doesn’t mean that it is..  They don’t like Sheryl.. obviously!

Of course, I can’t relate because I don’t have any plan or means to buy one so I don’t bother to

found this pic on the web showing the difference of both bags

browse on how on to spot a fake LV.   However, on second thought, best to have hints or tips  so that if someone would be parading before me with an LV and would try to belittle my bag, I can just raise my eyebrows.  Oh dear, I think I have unconsciously learned that from the ladies…

BTW… my bag is also LV…. Local Vag…. yay!

Even the Pediatric nurses that almost everyday I have lunch with, surprised me when they showed up in the hospital dining area all too proud with their medical scrubs . Their scrubs suits are with fun character prints they claimed that can amuse any nervous child in the clinic.  Exaggerated it may seem but they swore that it really worked with kids who loved cartoon characters and their latest fashion find always do the trick (of taming them for sometime).  And they excitedly divulged that the OR male nurses are beginning to notice not only their stylish scrubs but how pretty they are… (oh gee.. where is this so called  humbleness?)

Not to be outdone is our lunch mate Dianne who is  fashionable as ever and was wearing a very flattering cut, style and color of nursing scrub suits.  We were told that it was the latest and highly commendable Baby Phat Scrubs she bought online with which she loved to display.  Well, it elicited some buzz from nurses not far behind but straightforward Jane couldn’t care less.   She quipped that it’s about time that they should search the web and change their drab uniforms!

Nowadays, it is much easier to be fashionable even while on duty for  they can search, choose and buy online for their medical uniforms so no nurses will be seen outdated….

Dianne ordered her stylish medical uniforms from http://medicalscrubscollection.com

In my circle of friends, I think I am the only one who doesn’t have any branded or signature bag to brag about.   I would see them proudly displaying an LV bag, Coach, DKNY, et al, either they bought or given as gift.   Well, I know that those signature bags are to drool for … good quality bags but very expensive.  But I am not jealous!  Maybe because, I have other priorities… that’s already a luxury for a mom like me who still have 3 children in college.  I will buy one if my budget permits and if maybe 1 or 2 of my children had finished their schooling.  Signature bags of those kind are usually seen in glossy magazines used by the rich and famous who could afford hundreds and thousands of dollars just for a bag.

dream signature bags….

For the meantime, I just will just expand my collection of signature bags…. Yes, my collection below are something that I can also brag about. Reusable, recyclable and cheap…  It comes with small purchases I made.   You may call it cheap collection but that’s how I am.   I am just being practical.    If I have spare money to splurge on branded bags.. certainly and without any hesitation I will buy one for myself.

lol… it’s not what you think… these are my signature paper bag collection

Good for my girlfriends…. they can afford to splurge on signature bags….how I wish they will use their credit cards wisely… heard that there’s a lot of card swiping going on these days…..

Anyway, I know that their bags are no match to my signature bags… (just kidding!)

Well, if that is my line of thinking… surely, my worrying will be endless considering almost every month we have party invitations.  Sometimes, due to lack of proper attire I have to turn down some.  Buying gowns is somehow a dilemma for me because my body type sometimes don’t conform to the standard US and EU sizes.  So, if I buy one, it will need repair and adjustment especially  the bust and length size.   I  have also considered having a gown customized but to my dismay, sometimes the couturier can’t get the exact style and design of gown I prefer.   Or even how professional or how good the seamstress is, the fabric really is very important in having a customized dress.  If you will just go for cheap fabrics, sometimes, the outcome is “run of the mill” dress.

Not everyone can afford a personal designer but it really depends on your budget.   Personal dress designer will see to it that the cut, pattern and color of the dress is to one’s satisfaction and it carries a label that command a high social status value.  Usually, it is mostly for the large segment of the rich because, you can be assured of dresses produced in fewer numbers (not mass produced) so there is slim chance of bumping into someone in the party with exactly the same dress you are wearing.   If it is  personal styled dress, you can expect an original and unique one but be ready to spend so much more.  I must say that only those that belong to the high profile names in the society can really afford to have a personal dress designer.   Yes.. true.. count me out….

Since, I can not spend afford to have someone design a dress for me for a particular event only, I would rather patronize our local seamstress.   Her long years of experience in customizing dresses commendable.   Just need to make sure to that the fabric I will give her will be A1 quality and not cheap if you really want something grand looking and will make you stand out from the crowd…. for your gorgeous and elegant gown not because people will talk about how cheap your gown is…  I hate the thought of it…

But be reminded that even how expensive and gorgeous your gown is, it is your posture and how you carry your outfit with confidence matters.   For sure, if I will have the proper party attire, it will give me a five star presence in the party…

Grand entrance huh! (just dreaming!)

taken in a JS prom but I am showing only the style of gown…ladies are too shy to reveal themselves in this pic.

can you spot the  RTW (Ready to Wear) from the Customized one?

Hubby was gracious enough to drive me to the city and allow me to made rounds of shops for gowns.  With vast array of gowns to choose from, sometimes it is hard to decide… some are too frilly, some too sexy, overdecorated and very expensive.  Usually, those that made me drool are gowns that are tastefully designed,  with good fabric and expensive.  And for me who have a budget  to consider, I have to settle for the lesser ones.  And if  I don’t want my husband to lose the smile on his face, I’ll better stay away from that shop.  Oh yes, I am aware that we should be practical these days!

I’ve found simple gowns with fine lines and reasonably priced but this will be best carried by ladies with long lean bodies.   So, what a shame if I will insist on buying it.   I will only be fooling myself hoping that it will look good on me.  I have to be realistic… I need to be in tip top shape before I can carry such stylish gowns.  And when and how?  It will take a lot of determination..  Since till today, I haven’t got a new gown yet, I will  just settle with my favorite gown.  Never mind, if I had worn it  last time in a debut party, I will just add some accessories and wear few conversation pieces of jewelry which I have invested on.   That would complete my look!

After tomorrow’s big event, I have to re- assess myself.   I don’t really like what I have been seeing lately…. Actually the running joke in the house ” I was a coca cola body before but now a coke in can”.   That means the curves are no longer in the right places.    Ouch!   That would be a wake up call!

Definitely, she needs to shop now for  maternity dresses to drape her growing belly and let her old suits rest for the next  6 months.   There are fashionable sets in malls and I am sure that she will be able to find suitable pieces for office use.   She too can shop on line so that she will not have a hard time looking around and to minimize her physical activities that tire her most.   We  advised her that to select comfortable pregnancy clothing that will expand and will let her body breathe.   Comfort is first and foremost because most pregnant woman are fastidious and irritable due to aches and pains and next to consider is  the type of maternity dress she will wear.  She is very particular now on what to wear because she felt that her appeal becomes less attractive .  Yes, vain!  There are a lot of pregnant woman who feel insecure with their looks and she is one of them, so we stressed that she needs to change her hairstyle to look different or to compensate it with wearing attractive dresses that will look good on her.   There are designs and styles that are made to look belly less bulging.  And we all believe that when you are pregnant you can still be hip and fashionable and she too agrees!

Oh well, I think with all the browsing she had done in the web, she had picked up a lot of tips and information on how to select best maternity dresses and for sure she had bookmarked those useful sites for reference.   That’s the wonder of technology…. there are ready information….

.

It s  a silver bracelet!   This pretty bracelet will be added to her many collection of jewelries and accessories.  The bracelet has its modern and trendy design and I told her I also would like to have one for my daughter.   It would be a respite from wearing gold jewelries all throughout and this silver jewelry will make a difference.  It can perfectly match our office outfits.

Pretty indeed!  Now, our next assignment is to browse how to take care of silver jewelries because I will be ordering one for myself and my daughter.

Budget?  Check and balance tonight….

There is one “Barong Tagalog” (an embroidered formal garment of the Philippines), I’ve come to like which I believe will look good on my husband.   However, I am having second thoughts because it is pricey and my husband might not pay me back. (just kidding).  The wedding is  a month away, I think I have to make up my mind if I will go for that pricey garment with eyes closed.   For me, I am still thinking if I will just buy fabrics and have it custom made or look for  RTW (ready to wear) dresses.  I am counting on my 2 friends who are painstakingly looking for my gown and hopefully, I will be able to spot a dress on pictures that they will post.  Another good friend whom I have talked to through YM chat would gladly accommodate the dress on their return here.

Running errand is already high-technology.

Elegant designs!

No, he is not worried about how I handle our finances because he knows that I only shop if our budget will allow my expenditures.   It only annoys him with the time wasted waiting because I love to try on every pair of shoes before deciding whether to buy anything.  I can’t help but go in a frenzy hopping from one mall to another to glance upon fashionable clothes that is also as similar as in the other shop.   And I will end up going back to the first mall where we’ve started to look around.

The thought makes him sick and wonder why do women love to shop?  He doesn’t really have much of a choice but to cool his heels while sitting in a comfy sofa in the waiting area because he sensed I will “shop till I drop”.   We are in contrast when it comes to shopping, when he needs to shop, he knows exactly what he’s looking for, head straight and buy what he needs without wasting time.

Oh well, my husband is the typical type of man who wants to get out of the mall minutes after he gets in.