Design Bitch

I am a plus size woman and I work out. If you’re surprised to read that plus size women can also live active lifestyles, then this article might not be for you! But if you are a plus size woman who does hit the gym, or would like to, then I’ve got a few pointers on what to wear.

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plus size workout clothes at Beso.com

When I first started going to the gym several years ago to get more toned, I was very insecure about my figure and the fact that I was larger than a lot of my fellow gym goers. I used to wear huge oversized t-shirts and sweatpants to hide my body. But it’s sort of hot and uncomfortable to wear clothing like that. These days, I may not be rocking a sports bra and bike shorts to work out in, but I definitely wear more fitted, flattering gym clothes.

Number one most important gym garment for a plus size woman is a sports bra! Most plus girls are blessed with larger than average busts, and they will need support when you do your cardio! JustMySize.com carries a large selection of plus size sports bras in all shapes and configurations.

Another incredibly important part of your gym outfit is a great pair of sneakers. I am very loyal to New Balance shoes; they gave great arch support to my very flat feet and make walking and running quite comfortable.

Now that we’ve covered support for your feet and chest, now we’ve got to talk clothes. I recommend a cotton tee and a pair of moisture wicking pants. I wear a legging with a boot cut bottom, so it’s fitted but has a bit of a flare for style.

Sports bras

Just my size

New Balance

When you find a fabulous handbag, you know it immediately. You don’t need a second look, or a second opinion – you know a great thing when you see it. Love at first sight, and you’ve got to have it. Well, I’ve fallen in love with three gorgeous bags and I can’t decide which I love best! All have really great qualities and exquisite soft leather, so it’s making my decision very difficult. If my wallet would allow (or I didn’t need to eat for a while), I’d have all three.

Which one would you choose, if you could pick only one?

MARC by Marc Jacobs Grape Juice Leather Handbag

Chloé Marcie Large Leather Bag

Sara Berman Decca Midi Studded Shoulder Bag

If you have sensitive skin, you probably avoid bath and body products with fragrance. You don’t have to. The new line of Aveeno Positively Nourishing body care is gentle enough for sensitive skin but also smells great! All of the body washes are formulated to be extra-moisturizing and the coordinating lotions help seal in the softness. Aveeno is my go-to line for body care products to treat dry, sensitive skin because their use of oats really does calm and moisturize upset skin (without use of steroids like cortisone) and the products are affordable (under $10 each) so you’ll feel free to slather your feet in the delicious smelling Ultra Hydrating Whipped Souffle every night. They’ll need it this summer to recover from long days in sandals.

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With every pair of TOMS Shoes you purchase, the company will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need, “One for One.” The movement is growing rapidly and gaining national exposure. More and more fashionistas and celebs have been seen sporting these cool shoes. Here are my favorite glitter TOMS right now:

TOMS Glitter Slip-on Shoes in Gold, $42.00 at 80′s Purple

Tiny TOMS Glitter Slip-On in Silver, $44.00 at Neiman Marcus

The classic styling of a T-strap sandal kicks up the retro-chic sexiness of a pencil skirt or sheath dress and is the perfect summer work shoe.

DKNYC Zahra Peep-Toe
The DKNYC Zahra peep-toe heel is a great shoe for work. With a tiny peep-toe opening, these heels would look great with fishnet tights and a knee-length skirt.

Seychelles Trip the Light Fantastic T-Strap Sandal
Another great option for the office, the powder blue shade would look pretty and airy with a short floral dress, like this BCBGMAXAZRIA one.

Naturalizer Princeton T-Strap Sandal
This Naturalizer sandal is laid-back and the bronze would spice up a neutral dress and chain-strap handbag.

J. Renee Gyser Sandal
Looking for something for evening? The Gyser sandal has a 3.5 inch heel with a teardrop cutout. We love interesting details.

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Sexy lingerie! Don’t be shy ladies, this season’s trend is all about baring it all…or not really. Being sexy and pulling off these items doesn’t take an exhibitionist. It’s all about tiny details; a lacy bustier slightly peeking through a button up, a pretty bra-let underneath a slouchy tank. Balance is key here because you don’t want to end up looking trashy or unkempt. Here are some great options I found on beso.com:

A pretty lace bralette in lavender pastel from Ann Taylor, $28.00, to pair with a sheer button up top for a demure, sophisticated sort of sexy.

A sheer tank shows off the perfect amount of skin as well as a little bit of your cute lingerie underneath. This one from LnA, $20.70, has a cute front pocket detail and scoop back. Leave the rest up to the imagination!

Don’t worry if your bra straps are showing. In fact, show them off with this cute American Eagle ruffled bralette, $14.95. You could even pair this with a tube top to add some polka dot ruffled goodness to your bare shoulders.

Earth day is only once a year, but let’s keep in mind that it’s also great to make earth friendly decisions every day. So what better way to celebrate mother nature than an eco-friendly brand of beauty products by KORRES. Korres focuses on highly natural ingredients so there’s none of that ethyl-propyl-something or other found in a lot of the products out there. If you’re looking to make a small change to help the earth this year switch up your beauty drawer and try a new Korres lip balm or moisturizer, or whatever you might happen to be running out of and need to buy soon. All of Korres’ products are natural and well priced, so you can feel good about your purchases while feeling great about all the delicious and nutritious all natural vitamins going to work on your skin. (Not to mention the gorgeous packaging and colors everything comes in.) Mother nature never looked so pretty. Wild rose, evening primrose, white tea, quince, need I say more? I can smell all the pretty products already. Here are some of their best sellers:

Moisturizing shea with a tint of color to keep your lips pretty. Comes in a wide variety of shades and scents. Korres Quince Lip Butter, $10.00.

I have an extra sensitive eye area, as most of us do, so I only trust the best and most natural of liners to put around my eyes. Try this one with natural cedar and vitamin E.
Korres Eyeliner Pencil, $16.00.

Can’t say no to anything guava scented, and everyone always needs a good moisturizer. Nourishing and packed with rich avocado oils.
Korres Guava Body Butter, $15.50.

Ditch that dowdy beach bag you’ve been lugging around since who knows when, and pick up one of these happy printed beach bags for the summer. I can’t get enough of the lovely prints and bold patterns all over the place this season. They come in every color under the sun. Check out beso.com for the latest finds in beach totes this season. Here are a few to tempt you…

This Juicy Couture Lemon-Print beach bag, $98.00, is adorable. Roomy enough for all your beach gear, and it’s waterproof!

For a sophisticated beach tote with a twist of the nautical look, try this Diane von Furstenberg Knot print beach tote, $75.00.

Lastly, this Volcom Staycation Beach tote, $36.00, has got a great rainbow leopard print that’s bright and fun. Hope you enjoyed these picks and have fun picking out your own beach bag!

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As the weather heats up, we begin to hear the siren call of the beach. While you are shopping for a cute new bikini and sunglasses (I’m currently loving these Betsey Johnson Wayfarers), grab a sunscreen for your hair. The sun’s rays will wreck your highlights and chlorine from pools can give hair a green cast. Apply one of our picks to hair and dab some of your regular face or body sunscreen on the scalp along your part for extra protection.

Phytoplage
All of the Phytoplage products are formulated to protect hair from sun, salt and chlorine. Castor Oil moisturizes while UV filters keep hair from getting brassy. Try the Protective Sun Veil ($20) or Protective Beach Spray ($18).

Kerastase Soleil
Kerastase Soleil Creme UV Defense Active ($29) has an ultra-moisturizing formula that coats hair to block out environmental hair foes. Silicones and ceramides keep color true. This is the perfect leave-in treatment year-round for redheads, whose color fades fastest.

Oscar Blandi Sun Shield, $20

Oscar Blandi Sun Shield is light and non-greasy. Great for curly, colored hair since it detangles damp hair, helps to preserve the curl and protect color.

Warren-Tricomi Organic Hair Shield, $15
Warren-Tricomi Protect Organic Shield contains extracts of organic Sea Algae, Cactus, Chamomile, Comfrey, Nettle and Lavender along with Panthenol to moisturize hair while SPF shields hair and scalp from harmful rays.

If you are going to be spending an entire day in the sun or are planning a beach vacation, you should grab a pretty hat or two to make sure your scalp and hair are fully protected. They’re also a great way to protect skin when you are in a rush. We like this Eugenia Kim floppy hat and this Juicy Couture wide-brimmed hat.

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