They walk into a bar right....
Wrong it's not that kind of post. I mean it could be, but nah- too cliche.
The Duchess. The Duchess loves clothes. I mean I LOVE clothes. I love buying shiny new outfits that will sit in my closet and collect dust after I wear them that one time. Oh yeah sure, like you don't do that too. Pftt. Like I was saying, I love clothes. Give me a pencil skirt, a button down blouse and a blazer any day. I'll make that shit work and not just work but be fabulous while doing it. You're welcome in advance. Don't even get me started on accessories. My motto on earrings- the funkier the better. I love a nice funky earring, they're just so much fun! I can take on the world with the right pair of earrings.
I like dressing up and looking pretty. But I also love not dressing up and looking practically homeless. As my sister constantly points out- Duchess has no in between. Well life doesn't really have an in between either if you ask me so why should I? Back to the clothes. I like to do this thing called Power Dressing. It's exactly like it sounds. No. I don't dress-up like a superhero. I dress to impress, myself and only myself. I mean, I ain't mad when the hater-ators show up neither.
I heard this saying once and it stuck with me. "Dress for the Job you WANT, not the Job you HAVE" Some real shit right there. See I've also learned if you look like a Boss Bitch, they will treat you like one. Think My spirit animal- Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada. Bad Bitch. Bad Mfkin Bitch.
Of course you also have to have the ovaries to back it up. Thankfully, The Duchess has some steal coated Big Ol' Ovaries.
What's the point right? Well, It kind of explains how I got the whole Duchess nickname. I got it from my clothes. Ok, not completely but I've explained the whole Prince Harry & Photoshop thing already- if you're new go here. But what I haven't explained is that (purely by coincidence- thank you very much) Meghan and I wore the same outfit. Albeit two days apart.
I wore it first. Get that straight right now. I wore it first. She stay stealing my style. And my life, but she's cool people's so Ima let her be. Well, to show my good sportsmanship- I dressed up in that same outfit for halloween, because I'm that kind of person. Duchess' must stick together and support each other after all- even when we usurp each other. Ok, so which outfit am I talking about? Well, It's the Red leather Pencil Skirt and Red top one. She wore it at Windsor for the Roundtable with the young folks? Oh? Still not sure. That's ok.
Here we are , together, in OUR Outfit. You can say it. I did it better. It's ok. I wasn't even wearing my Spanx for this one.
Ok. It's not the SAME outfit. But it is. And ok, maybe it wasn't exactly the first time we had dressed similarly. This was the first time it was seamless however. She got good style I'll give her that.
Look, the first time it happened I will admit- I bought the piece needed to complete the matching outfit. In my defense however, I was going to buy it anyways. I just bought it one size smaller because they had sold out of my actual size. Wanna see it? Well, you technically already have.
See? Told you you've seen it. Oh? not sure when she wore this. That's ok- I've got a Side by side comparison:
As a Plus size Duchess, let me tell you how absolutely thrilled I was to discover that my plus size self owned the same outfit as Meghan did. Do you know how hard it is to find clothes for plus size? Like- NICE- clothes. Clothes that don't look like you took a bedsheet, cut head and arm holes in it and went about ya day? Let me tell you the body revolution/movement is making changes and I, for one, am HERE FOR IT. I was so damn thrilled I temporarily forgot we are rivals. Obviously its not the same designer clothing. My looks came from more wallet friendly places. The red outfit was a combination from Loft & Nordstrom Rack.
I'm going to put you on to some of my favorite spots and my ultimate go to clothing blogger because her finds are amazing and it's like a one stop shop for trendy, Chic, stylish plus size clothing. She styles it, and tells you where to get things, with price friendly alternatives even. I freaking LOVE her. Every aspiring Duchess needs to have the right tools & the right connections so she can power dress. And hey- If you Jus-a-so happen to wind up looking like a real life Princess, well thats the Ultimate form of power dressing.
I'm going to give you the low down on the red/ burgundy outfit. What I love about it, and I wore it first, remember (you m'ember), is that it's a great work outfit, night out outfit and if you do this kind of thing- date night outfit. Apparently Date Night is a thing? Weird but ok. Point is, it's sleek, it's clean, its sexy, its classy and its functional. Oh and my absolute favorite of all... COMFORTABLE.
Here I am wearing it at work right before the 'Rona Quarantine. I look amazing, yes thank you. That's my girl KD with me- mind your business her privacy is her privacy (Love you KD! We were matching Burgundy gals that day). I paired this with my knee high boots. No. I don't wear my 4 inch heels at work, I actually have to walk around sometimes. I actually always switch out of my sneakers, into my work heels. I'll wait as you gasp and cringe at my working woman shoe game. Seriously, I wanna see you run to catch your morning train, then run through the Times Square Train Station herd and THEN battle the tourists who need to stand and gawk at the sky in the middle of the street-in 4 inch heels. Yeah, Didn't think so. I didn't think so Bitch.
Like I was saying, It's a functional, versatile comfortable outfit. The top- is actually a bodysuit. I have it in two colors, black and this burgundy. Psst... Psst... did you know LOFT is doing plus size now? Oh yeah- That's where I got this bodysuit at. Ok, I got it on sale- and I don't think they have it anymore, BUT, an alternative would be a simple wrap long sleeve top you can tuck in nicely. Adapt and make what you have work for you. Same goes with the skirt- which I got at Nordstrom Rack and sadly also is no longer available (I swear to you dear reader that I did not do this on purpose). Alternatives? Yeah I gotchu- try this one, this one, or this one.
Seriously, don't even go for the straight copy. A good pencil skirt or wrap blouse are great additions, if you're looking, for a capsule wardrobe. I don't have the control to go with a capsule wardrobe- I like shiny new outfits too much to do that. I'm trying people, I'm trying! So I completed the look with a sleek pulled back hairstyle- I just love the clean look of it, and some sparkly earrings. Remember what I said about earrings? Love a tastefully sparkly earring. The next outfit all I did was buy the blazer. Seriously I had everything else. And I can pretty much guarantee- you do as well.
Favorite pair of dark wash jeans? Use those. Favorite black tank top? Use that, pointed toe flats? Wear those. Fedora sunhat? Must have. Favorite pair of black sunglasses? Boom You're a Duchess look a-like. Not like me... but you'll do. Confession time... I did buy a dress, because it was similar to Meghan's.* I'm not ashamed. I rocked that Duchess dress too. I don't have no pictures but that's ok. It's one more thing that makes me like her more. We have similar style. Grrr.... girl needs to give me a reason already.
Princess Meghan however isn't the only Princess I copied. I have to point out here- those are not their titles. Do not, I repeat, do not refer to them as Princesses. I will school you on that another day but not today. Kate has a classic sleek style I absolutely love as well. Her color palette is a little too on the bright-side for my taste but- that Blush suit she wore recently on a visit with William to the Emergency Services Call Center Headquarters- beautiful. So beautiful in fact I had to have-it. Oh yes, my love. I got my friend back in the UK (Duchess is international, she got friends everywhere) to get me a Blazer before it sold out. Shout out to my Love Chloe for that- Love you babes! If you don't know - my girl is a big deal. Go follow her for any and all things Royal. She's a freaking genius and none of you are worthy of her. She's even on TV and shit. Beautiful inside and out. Duchess Command. Go NOW.
Back to the Blazer. Best part- other than it was in my size? (a Duchess keeps scoring bitches- Yassss) It was affordable. You can get it here. Seriously $175 is about what I pay for a good Blazer. I mean I like to wait for sales- but like, how long is that going to be there before it's sold out- yet again. I'm on a waiting list for the trousers. Oh I'm sorry? Is that judgement I sense? I don't care because it's a nice suit and I do what I want. So yeah, Go get you some Duchess style. I promise to bring you some more gems as we move forward.
With Some Type of Love,
The Duchess
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