SKORCH MAGAZINE APRIL 2013

april 2013

THE

LONDON ISSUE

BPSFW

A SKORCH JOURNAL

PREVIEW

WET SEAL+

COVER PHOTO CREDITS Photography by Mandy Allen www.instagram.com/mandysview Dress by TORRID Coat by Joe Brown’s for SimplyBe Model/Hair/Makeup - Jessica Kane

#honormycurves by honor curves

This month I feature three women who inspired me each with their fashion, beauty, and confidence.

As my own self-love journey has evolved over the course of this movement, I have continued to be enlightened by women all over the world, who bring unique flavor to the act of loving oneself. These women embrace who they are, and encourage us to do the same through their images and words. Oh, the joys of Instagram and the power of inspiration we can find there each day!

These three women have been inspirations in my life for so many reasons: APRIL 2013 \ PG6 \ WWW.SKORCHMAG.COM

Penny, with a transformation that led her to a shining confidence, Toya, with a mindset that creates a self-love ideal meant to continue on for generations to come, and Beck, with a fashion sense that emulates pure class and style at every size.

View their Instagrams to read their full stories and peruse the #HonorMyCurves hashtag to see countless others whose stories inspire us to love ourselves more and always HONOR OUR CURVES. When you shine, we all shine.

Own your curves, accept yourself, and never apologize for your beauty.

Xoxo Honor Curves

#honormycurves beckdelude New York City, NY IG Handle @manfattan Beck, beautiful blogger and creator of The Manfattan Project, http:// manfattan.com/, is a statuesque force to be reckoned with. At 6’3”, she still rocks her heels and owns all her looks with a certain glamour we can all admire. Beck says: “Honoring your curves means wearing whatever

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you want no matter what society thinks. It is having the courage to be outside of the accepted norms and loving yourself while doing it. For some that means wearing a bikini while for others it means adding some bright colors to the wardrobe.” Wise words from a wise woman!

#honormycurves toya tenice thomas Austin, TX IG Handle @missrayasunshine I only came across the stunning model Toya recently and I was so thankful I did. She struck me with not only her exquisite photo, taken by Sederiya Thompson Photography, but also with her inspirational words regarding loving ourselves for the generations to come. She says: “Do I meet everyone’s standard of beauty? Certainly not.

Does this bother me? Not

at all. I know that there’s a little girl out there, someone’s daughter, sister, niece, or friend, who will grow up one day to have a body that looks like mine.

When she looks in the mirror I want her to know and believe she is nothing less than beautiful. So today I honor my curves because I know that I am wonderfully made.”

Amazing!

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#honormycurves pennytselikis Carmel, Indiana IG Handle @ptselikis Penny is a fashion blogger, http://ptselikis.tumblr.com/, who has undergone a major transformation physically and mentally in the past year. I have been following her journey and find inspiration in all of her fashion posts along with the changes in her life that have created a confidence that emanates out of her. Penny inspires everyone who comes into her path, and for that I salute her.

She says: “I’ve come to realize that self-love does not just happen overnight, but is a long, winding trail of uncertainties.

Last year, I reached a point where I was extremely unhappy with my life. I decided to take control of my life and my happiness. I started eating healthier and working out regularly. I APRIL 2013 \ PG12 \ WWW.SKORCHMAG.COM

turned to social media to share my progress, and realized that there was a great body-positive community of plus-size fashionistas. I figured out that the key to happiness was being at peace with myself at a size 24 and also at my new size of 14.

I honor my curves by focusing on my happiness, as well as by stepping outside of my comfort zone in all aspects of my life.

If I don’t put myself out there and take emotional risks, I will never evolve into the strong woman I desire to be. It’s been a struggle, but I now know that the only way to truly combat any amount of crushing selfhate is with an overwhelming amount of self-love.” That last sentence gave me chills!

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EDITORIAL CREDITS Photography - Michael Anthony Hermogeno of 8x10proofs.com Hair/Makeup - Brittany Sullivan Clothing - The Wet Seal Jr. Plus Model - Summer Wayans

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skorch journal

a personal journal of british plus size fashion weekend #BPSFW by jessica kane

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skorch journal BRITISH PLUS SIZE FASHION WEEKEND Press Event Press day started at 4am. Even after going to bed by 8pm the night before to adjust our clocks, my body was up and ready to work by the crack of dawn, which usually does NOT exist in my world. The morning was relaxed and enjoyed a classic English breakfast at our hotel restaurant. I took my time getting ready and got some Instagramming done for Torrid (I took over their twitter and insta-

gram for the week!).

Then, we headed over to the British Plus Size Fashion Weekend Press event around 1pm. The event took place on the 3rd floor Gallery space of the Beach Blanket Babylon. The bright white space perfectly showcased the vibrant colors and textures of the fashions being shown to the press.

Be sure to check www.bpsfw.com!

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PHOTOS BY MANDY ALLEN

This outfit was absolutely my favorite from my entire trip. I was SO comfortable (aside from the shoes, lol). The top was actually an Alfani dress I found at Macy's, I just cut the skirt off and presto had the perfect black peplum top with a built in buckle! The skirt is courtesy of Torrid and is the most perfectly shaped skirt for my body especially since it has pockets!

Accessories from Forever 21.

Dress by Torrid Coat by SimplyBe

skorch journal #BPSFW Production Dinner

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skorch journal #BPSFW PANEL DISCUSSION Had a blast on the panel discussion with fellow industry pioneers; Anna Scholz (PlusSize Fashion Designer), Myself, Anna Shillinglaw of Milk Model Management, Rianne Ward of Evolve Magazine and BPSFW and Velvet D’Amour of VOLUP2 Magazine. I was so delighted to see how packed the room was and the thoughtful discussion that came of it. It was an honor to be included with women I look to as inspiration.

Then, right after I was wisked off to chat with the Today Show for NBC! LOL If I had known that, I would have definitely not worn my “drag” lashes! I had a quick change before the finale fashion show, so I went with the night time lashes *hangs head*. A good problem to have!

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// top // What a great shot of the crowd!

The hall was packed and so many thoughtful questions were asked. // right // Photos with Skorch readers. My outfit Red pants by Torrid, Blazer was a clearance find at Macy’s.

Dress and Shoes courtesy of Torrid, belt from Asos Curve, Bracelet from Forver21.

skorch journal #BPSFW FINALE FASHION SHOW

This night was so much fun and so empowering! The models from Milk Management were absolute perfection and the guests were so excited to see a great show the first ever British Plus Size Fashion Weekend delivered!

I sat front row with good friend and mentor Velvet D’Amour and we snapped pictures the entire time! I wish you could her in the picture to the left better (in the veil with head piece), because the head piece she’s wearing was actually hand made from our very own Managing Editor, Courtney Mina, for her online store called Glitter Thread Flower Crowns.

Check her shop out here: www. theglitterthread.bigcartel.com.

So here are the pictures from the finale fashion show by Mandy Allen!

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// photos by // MANDY ALLEN BRITISH PLUS SIZE FASHION WEEKEND FOR © SKORCH MAGAZINE APRIL 2013

// photos by // MANDY ALLEN BRITISH PLUS SIZE FASHION WEEKEND FOR © SKORCH MAGAZINE APRIL 2013

// photos by // MANDY ALLEN BRITISH PLUS SIZE FASHION WEEKEND FOR © SKORCH MAGAZINE APRIL 2013

CURVY CHICK SPOTLIGHT

BY CHARITY LYNETTE, HEALTHY CURVES EDITOR

Bravo Network Star “Robin Kassner” Looking Forward to Being a Fit Curvy Chick!

class from Brandies University with a major in American Studies, a minor in journalism, and a law degree from Cardozo. She tried working as a lawyer but didn’t like it. She started writing beauty reviews and it was a wrap from there. Robin went on to be beauty editor and in 2006 was asked to do PR for a hand bag line. Not sure if she would do well since she had never done it before, she worked hard and it turned out great because Haute PR is currently booming!

If you had the opportunity to see Robin Kassner on Millionaire Matchmaker don’t be fooled into thinking that she is a airhead that can’t get a date. I recently got to sit down in the pink Hello Kitty inspired apartment with Robin, Bruiser, and Paris Hilton, two of the most fluffiest dogs I have ever seen, to talk about Robin appeared on Millionaire Haute PR, her appearances on the Matchmaker twice. Not excited about Bravo channel, and her exciting life. how things turned out the first time she decided to go back to see what Robin is the CEO of Haute PR which Patti could do for her. She had a litis the top public relation firm for tle more success this time around but beauty and fashion in New York City. was not happy about how she was She has built this multi-million dol- portrayed on the show. It’s T.V and lar company by creating great busi- understands that things are made to ness relationships with beauty editors, look a certain way no matter what fashion magazines and newspapers to the original intentions are. Bravo name a few. Their trend setting ways has seem to take a liking to Ms.Kasshas Haute PR with a list of satisfied ner because since the first appearclients from across the country to ance on Millionaire Matchmaker, she London and Paris. PR wasn’t always has made appearances on The Soup, her thing she graduated top of her

Chelsea Lately also on The E! special 50 Super epic TV Moments and Mob Wives on VH1. She also was awarded a Soup Award in Hollywood honoring the best in Reality T.V. and Pop Culture and named one of the

Robin admits that she is not the most fitness conscious person .... Curvy Chick Fitness to the rescue! I will be working with Robin on a regular basis to encourage a healthier lifestyle for her., Robin loves the approach and how I interact with her. I feel Top 10 Reality Moments of 2011 along very flattered that I have made the with Kim Kardashian, NeNe Leakes, cut to work with her, Robin is a popand Kate Middleton. Robin also re- ular girl that everyone wants a piece corded a song with rapper Hungry HD! Go to youtube and check it out. of! She is staying humble through her With Robin being a fellow curvy chick we naturally brought up the topic of working out and eating lifestyle. Being in front of the camera more has brought the topic of health and wellness to her attention and

fame which is going to last way longer than 15 minutes. She is inspired by the mail that she gets from fans that encourage her as well as put her down, but she doesn’t let that get in her way. She personally doesn’t care what people think it has no direct affect on her life and what she chooses

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CURVY CHICK SPOTLIGHT

BY CHARITY LYNETTE, HEALTHY CURVES EDITOR to do. That is her advice to anybody out there that is going after something they believe in. “You aren’t going to please everybody” she says.

What’s next for Kassner?

She is currently filming a pilot to a reality show that she can’t quite talk about yet.

She would love to do more T.V. She feels that there are not enough curvy actresses on t.v. or in film. Especially not shown with confidence, sex appeal or in positions of power. Hopefully a husband and children are in the cards for her. She really wants to add to her family one day Bruiser and Paris Hilton need little kids to play with!

To keep up with our fitness journey follow us on Twitter @CurvyChickFit & @RobinKassner.

Bravo Network Star “Robin Kassner” Looking Forward to Being a Fit Curvy Chick!

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