Reviewing Kiyonna's Stella Cinch Top

There's still no sign of spring here, other than some blooming flowers and trees.  It is so cold and rainy, cloudy and dreary.  This is all normal for the Pacific Northwest, but I am ready for shorts and sandals/capris weather.  I'm ready to not be freezing and to not have to worry about the rain messing up my hair or dampening an adventure out of the house.  Sean and I are planning a little vacation for our 10 year anniversary.  I cannot tell you enough how ready I am for that!  In theory, the weather should be gorgeous for where and when we are going. *fingers crossed*
(Update: As this post is being published, the weather is lovely and sunny.  I just found out it is going to be sunny or partly sunny for the next 10 days.  Progress!)

Until then, I have been working around the weather and taking advantage of sun when I can.  Last week we had two random days of sun, so we made a beeline for local parks and shot a variety of looks I needed for upcoming posts and a secret project I can't disclose yet.  One of the things I can share is this look featuring Kiyonna's Stella Cinch Top.  I haven't tried this silhouette from Kiyonna before, so I was excited when they sent this top for me to try out.  Read on for all the details...

What I Wore: We're born naked, and the rest is drag.

Last week, I attended Bianca Del Rio's Blame It On Bianca tour in Portland with friends.  We had a really fun time, though I wasn't okay with the stereotypical fat jokes that were made.  While Bianca is an equal opportunity offender, I thought she was really shining when she poked fun at herself and her experiences.  I'm never fond of fat jokes, but I am vehemently against the unoriginal, thoughtless kind that want to assume stereotypes are always true.  There were a lot of fat women like me in the audience.  I hated the idea that these kinds of regurgitated put-downs could reinforce negative feelings for any of us.  And I was appalled at how loud the laughter was for these particular jokes.

All that aside, I am here to show you my outfit.  I've been looking for a prime opportunity to don my sequin bomber, and seeing a sparkling drag queen seemed like the perfect time to do it.  I first talked about this bomber in a recent At Home Fitting Room post, but now you can see it in action.

Tips for Elevating a Casual Ensemble + KATU Afternoon Live Show

Yesterday I had the pleasure of being a guest on my local news station's afternoon show, KATU Afternoon Live.  I've been prepping for about a month, narrowing down topics and trying to find just the right pieces to present in my segment.

I chose to talk about elevating a basic jeans/tee/sneakers look because so many of us are just casual folks.  I am a very practical girl that likes to be comfortable.  Casual fits my lifestyle.  But I also love adding color, sparkle, fun and personality, feminine details like ruffles and lace, and other interesting embellishments to my ensembles.  I always have people ask me how they can be more fashionable and look cute, while still being comfortable.

I hope you enjoy the video and find my tips for elevating your look helpful!

Welcome to Discourse of a Divine Diva!

Welcome!

I just wanted to drop a quick note to say hello.  If you are stopping by the blog after seeing my segment on KATU Afternoon Live, I will have another post coming up with links to items I talked about during the segment and more examples of the tips I presented in the show.

If you'd like to check out previous outfits presented on the blog, you can scroll through posts here or check out my Pinterest board for easier viewing.

I hope you enjoy the blog and look forward to getting to know you!

What I Wore: Sparkles, Please!

Today's post features a couple of new pieces to both myself and the blog.  I'm happy to announce that I will be on a local news program next week talking about how to elevate a casual look.  I'm really excited to talk about what I love, and terrified to be on television and do something so new to me. (But also really excited about that too!!)  I'll keep you posted via social media and here on the blog for all the details and video.

If you have been reading the blog for a while, you know how much I love being casual and comfortable. You also know how much I love color, sparkle, and pulling together looks that make me feel super cute.  So today's post is a prime example of how I like to elevate a jeans/top/sneakers ensemble, while keeping true to my personality and need for comfort.

What I Wore: The Oversized Cardigan

I've had a cold for a week now, but finally started feeling more like myself today.  I am seldom sick, so when I am it is so frustrating.  I hate not feeling productive, but Sean made me rest and be still.

It is still sweater weather in my neck of the woods, so today I'm talking about trying out the oversized cardigan trend.  I first saw this particular sweater on Amanda of Fashion, Love, and Martinis.  We wear similar sizes even though our bodies are shaped different, so I figured I would give it a try.  I'm not a huge fan of oversized pieces.  As you know though, I am always pushing you to try everything on and keep an open mind.  I practice what I preach.  So read on for my review of the various elements of this look and my feelings on the oversized cardigan.

Reviewing Kiyonna's Weekend Wrap Dress

After almost a week in Seattle for Emerald City Comic Con (which thoroughly exhausted me), I'm back with another Kiyonna review!  I chose the Weekend Wrap Dress for this month's review because I love the colorful print and kimono-style look of the dress.  Kiyonna is always offering the classic wrap style in a variety of colors and prints, with lovely added details.  This dress is no exception. Read on for my review of this spring must-have!

What I Wore: The Best Anti-Valentine's Day Gift

The weather has been total poop lately.  We had decent weather (sunny but cold) until a couple weeks ago.  Since then it has been rainy and gross, snowy and icy, and back to rainy.  I try to schedule my photoshoot days for less wet weather days, but Mother Nature is not cooperating with me. And surprisingly, there aren't a whole lot of covered locations to shoot up here. #BloggerProblems

I say all this to preface my out-of-the-norm outfit photos from the comfort of my dressing room, instead of in some outdoor location.  I didn't want to wait to show you this outfit because this top is on clearance already. Plus, I wanted to show off one of my Valentine gifts from Sean.

At Home Fitting Room: Dresses & Jackets

It has been much easier for me to do these smaller groupings of At Home Fitting Room posts.  I still have tops and pants to shoot and show you, but for today's posting I have dresses and jackets!

The usual spiel: I shop too much and want to use my experience to help you navigate brands and sizing. Let's get to it!

What I Wore: Jersey Dress Dreams

We had a short bout of sunshine a couple weeks ago, so I ventured out to take another round of outfit photos.  Snow is falling down incessantly as I write this, so to say I am looking forward to spring (or more likely the case here - summer) is an understatement.  Still, it is nice to have an excuse to stay home and work inside without feeling guilty about it.

Today I am bringing you some floral jersey goodness in the form of this button front dress from Torrid.  I saw it, had to have it, and couldn't wait to wear it - even if it was a bit cold out.