Brought to you by The Dress-Directory , Guest Contributor to Elegant Plus Magazine

It’s the time of year when the wedding invitations start coming in from all those wonderful Christmas, New Year and Valentine engagements.  If you aren’t asked to be a bridesmaid or maid-of-honor, it’s up to you to find the perfect dress to flatter your curves.

What You Need to Consider

The first thing to think about is the color.  Many full-figured women like to reach for safe, reliable black for special occasions, afterall there is a reason “the little black dress” is considered a classic, right?  Well, as a wedding guest consider breaking out some color.  In many social circles solid black, along with red and shades of ivory or white, is considered inappropriate and even insulting to the bride.  

Instead, choose colors that brighten your complexion, add sparkle to your eyes, and bring out the natural bloom in your cheeks.    This spring, for the more adventurous, bold colors like cobalt blue, vivid pink, bright orange, sunshine yellow and greens are available in solids, graphic prints and splashy florals.  For the more demure, try sandy neutrals, soft pinks and classic spring pastels.  Remember to keep prints and accessories in proportion. Fuller figures look best in larger prints and accessories, although shorter plus figures need to moderate that rule of thumb to accommodate a more petite stature.

The second thing to take into consideration when choosing your dress is the time of day and location of wedding and reception.  Is it indoors or outdoors? What are the average temperatures and humidity for the region in the spring?  Is the event in the it afternoon or evening?   Those choosing skimpier fashions might want to be sure to include a wrap or opt for a less skin baring style like a jacket dress or church suit for outdoor weddings in an area or climate that can be on the cooler side in the spring.

Finally, the last thing to consider is formality.  Did the invitation indicate a formal or black tie affair?  While most weddings are very formal for the bride, groom and wedding party, wedding guests are usually not expected to dress in full length gowns unless the invitation specifically states so.  Formal weddings and receptions are much more common if scheduled after 6pm in the evening.  Far more common attire is something appropriate for a special dinner out or your Sunday best.

Our Wedding Guest Dress Picks for Spring 2008

Young and Trendy

London Times Spring Green Silk Cap Sleeve Dress; Sizes 14-24W; $129.00; Where to Buy

Choose this pretty and vibrant spring dress in floaty silk chiffon that gently skims your curves without being clingy.  Gathered straps are bra friendly while the empire waist, above the knee styling, and on-trend color add just the right fashion forward pizzazz.  Add a simple bolero (or go bare if you dare), sparkly clutch and metallic strappy heels for a look that might just catch the Best Man’s eye!

Pretty in Pink

 Tiered Chiffon Jacket Dress; Sizes 6-24W; $139; Where to Buy

For the more mature wedding guest who likes modesty, choose this pretty tiered chiffon ensemble with delicate beading, organza ribbon trim and embroidery.  Baby pink is a classic spring favorite that can be spiced up with bolder, deep pink accessories or kept soft and feminine mixed with white.

Dance the Night Away

  Ruffled Surplice Dress; Sizes 6-26W; $99.99; Where to Buy

Kick up your heels and dance the night away in this deep teal green chiffon dress.  Faux wrap styling accentuates your curves while feminine ruffles add a little salsa va-va voom.  Mix in metallic accessories for extra spice. You won’t be short of partners at the reception in this number!

Designer Diva

 Lewis Cho Silk Jacquard Dress; Sizes 14-24W; $298; Where to Buy

Simple, sophisticated designer style is always chic at special events.  Choose this periwinkle jacquard shift dress by Lewis Cho for a subtle look of luxury.  You are sure to appreciate the fine tailoring and extra details like a back tie to keep the look sleek and flattering.

Black-Tie Wedding Guest

 Alyce Designs Black Label Dress 5146, Off the Shoulder Lace and Silk Chiffon; Sizes 4-28W; $398; Where to Buy

Black tie weddings require sophistication and elegance in your attire, and grown up styles are a must.  This gorgeous off the shoulder silk gown in rich navy blue is subtly glamorous.  Remember formalwear frequently must be ordered four to six weeks in advance, so plan ahead.

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About the Author

The Dress Directory is an on-line comparison shopping engine listing dresses organized by occasion (from casual to career to special occasion and formal dresses) and size ranges, offering options for juniors, misses, petites, talls and plus-sizes.

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For more plus-size dresses appropriate for wedding guests, check our sister plus-size shopping website Elegant Plus.

Popularity: 16% [?]

Think you know all about style?  Share your style secrets and you could win a spot in a national ad campaign for K-mart!

 STEP 1: UPLOAD YOUR PICTURE AT THE OFFICIAL K-MART WEBSITE

Choose a picture that showcases your style and send it in.

STEP 2: MAKE A STYLE STATEMENT

Tell them the secrets to your style success.

STEP 3: SHOW IT OFF

The judges will decide who’s got what it takes.

Contest ends April 27, 2008

Visit the K-mart website for more contest details and enter to win!

Popularity: 9% [?]

How To Take a Small Step Towards Your Goals and Achieve Your Dreams

by Veronica Parker of Goal Setting That Works for Elegant Plus Magazine

Not happy with your current state? Want more cheer, a better house, a stronger relationship, a job where you are respected and valued, or want to earn more, close more sales and buy that dream car?

Well, Quit dreaming. Just thinking about them and not taking any single step towards your dreams, your aspirations, and your desires is not going to bring them to you. That’s just wishful thinking.

The moment you decide that you want something, and surge ahead to take the next step in that direction, then providence moves too, in your direction. And the object of your desire comes a step closer to you.

Rather than just dreaming, when you focus on what you want, and take the time to write it down, it becomes permanently imprinted in your subconscious. Our brain has a problem solving mechanism. You give it a problem, and it starts to find a solution all the time, even when you don’t know about it. The power of the subconscious mind is limitless. The human mind has not been able to completely comprehend what our brain and our subconscious is fully capable of.

What is Goal Setting?

Goal Setting is a formal process of writing down what you wish for, what you desire, and what your truly want. Whether you want more money, or a better relationship, a new car or a better paying job, each of these is a goal. But just saying “I want more money” is not enough. The brain does not understand “more”. You must tell it how much more, by explicitly describing it.

Imagine if you were to asked to find a red house in the city. Without the suburb, the zip code, the address or location, you could roam endlessly till the evening, and not be any closer to your destination. But if you are given sufficient details about the location, suburb or address, sooner or later you will find it.

The better you define the object of your desires, the better it will be for your subconscious mind to be able to find it. So the first step in achieving your goals is to define them clearly. Write them down, break them down into smaller chunks, and divide them into categories.

For example you may have financial goals or career goals. That’s a category by itself. Similarly, you may want to organize your goals into these or similar categories.

Financial / Career
Social / Cultural
Family / Friends
Health / Physical
Personal Development / Educational
Spiritual

Once you have written down your goals in each category, group them into short term goals and long term goals. For example if you are earning $50,000 a year, and your goal might be to get to 500,000 a year later. Now I am not saying that it is impossible. Nothing is impossible! Unless you win the lottery, it will require a Herculean effort on your part to get to that figure in an year.

So chunking it down helps. Maybe, get to 80,000 in the next year,150,000 the year later, and get to 500,000 by the third, fourth or fifth year. Based on your goals, and how deeply and intensely you want those goals, work out your own blueprint to success.

Once you break it down to short term goals to attain in the next 6-12 months, you could lose 10 pounds, save $5,000 or plan for a vacation cross country. Take small steps, and get successful at doing the smalls steps. Nothing succeeds like success. As you attain small successes, you will get more confidence and more faith in your ability to attain your dream goals. Your motivation and inspiration will increase manifold, and you will be on a roll… going from peak to peak to reach your dreams.

Goal Setting Tips

1. Make sure your goals are SMART goals. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time bound. This gives them power and clarity.

2. Take your 5 year goals, and split then into year by year goals. Then take your first year goal and split further into 6 months goals. Then work on the month by month increments. Work on how you will start updating your resume, or start saving $200 dollars each month, or find a book or video on Yoga or aerobic exercises.

You can even start jogging for 15-20 minutes a day, and then gradually increase it to about 30 to 45 minutes, and eventually take it to an hour of exercises. 6 months is not a very long period. You could have lost a few pounds by then, become a lot trimmer, and will have a new wardrobe of nicely fitting clothes that will give your personality an extra edge.

3. Use a Daily Checklist to remind yourself of the actions you need to take each day to achieving your goals. Don’t skip a single day. Even if you can spare only 30 minutes towards your goals, doing so consistently will soon add up, and you will begin to notice the difference it is making in your life!

4. Do a periodic Review of your long and short term goals. See what is working, and feel free to make amends to reflect what you want to change, and what you have already achieved. Keep in mind that personal goal setting is an ever evolving exercise. Your goals evolve dynamically based on the changes in nature, your self and your environment. So keep reviewing them regularly to stay on course.

What are you waiting for? Go ahead, get started now. Write down your goals now. When you look back in a few months time, you will cherish this moment of decision. It will take you towards getting that house, the car, be mortgage free, or find the loving relationship you are looking for.

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About the Author

Goal Setting That Works is a Free Goal Setting service that automatically sends you your written goals on a weekly basis. Keep yourself focused on your goals, and achieve them faster. For more articles on Goal Setting, visit the Achieving Goals Blog to get started in achieving your goals now. This article is written by the editor of GoalSettingThatWorks.com, Veronica Parker.

Popularity: 8% [?]

  Meet Tim Gunn, Plus See Great Fashion Come Down the Runway from Liz Claiborne

by Elegant Plus Magazine

 This just in from our friends at Liz Claiborne…….

One of our favorite fashion celebrities and the Chief Creative Director of Liz Claiborne, Tim Gunn, is bringing his fabulous eye for style to a town near you!  Meet “the man”, see a great fashion show and get Spring style tips to freshen your wardrobe.

So grab your best girl pal, sister and Mom and get yourself to one of the hottest fashion events to hit your town!

Popularity: 8% [?]

  Lane Bryant Contest:  Win the Closet of Your Dreams

 by Kristyn Wilson as a guest contributor for Lane Bryant to Elegant Plus Magazine

Got a crowded closet? Who doesn’t! I’ve got a hot tip for Elegant Plus Magazine readers!

Starting March 10 through April 1 Lane Bryant is sponsoring a contest to win a closet and wardrobe makeover. The contest is called “Closet of Your Dreams” and the grand prize winner gets a ClosetMaid closet makeover valued at $2,500 and a Lane Bryant wardrobe valued at $2,500. LB will even hook you up with a personal shopper. Not bad!

Who couldn’t use a new wardrobe and a new closet with spring right around the corner? I’d hate for people to take a peek in my closet – it’s a mess!

Additional prizes will be awarded too. The first place prize winner gets $500 in ClosetMaid products and a $500 LB gift card. Second place winners (10 total) get $100 in ClosetMaid products and a $100 LB gift card. Third place winners (150 total) get $25 LB gift cards and 1,000 other winners will get $5 ClosetMaid canvas organizers.

To  learn about contest rules and how you can enter check the LB website, plus click here for secret Elegant Plus savings!

Popularity: 15% [?]