outfit: seeing double

calivintage + hackwith design house hdh basics plus

it’s been a little while, but my sister erica is finally making another appearance on the blog! it took a bit of coercing on my part, but i was really excited to do this shoot with her to talk about hackwith design housethey recently updated their hdh basics line to include even more of their classic styles in a larger range of sizes from xs to 4x. a common complaint that my sister has is that plus sized clothing offerings aren’t the same as the cute stuff you find in straight sizes. i know it’s not easy, but if more brands would hire multiple fit models, they could scale their sizing up or down to fit a broader range of people, so that everyone can enjoy the same garments instead of being relegated to only one section of a shop.

case in point: we were both able to get this easy wide leg jumper and be twinsies haha. no, we don’t match like this every day, but it is great that no matter who asks us where we got our jumpsuit, we know that they can go online and find it in their size. and that’s exactly how it should be!

i’m wearing: hackwith design house wide leg jumper, vintage blouse, vintage handbag, maryam nassir zadeh sophie sandals, steven alan bryce sunglasses in peach crystal

erica is wearing: hackwith design house wide leg jumpereasy kimono in white, pons avarcas, clare v. petite kenya bagg-star raw caramel crystalline sunglasses

calivintage + hackwith design house hdh basics plus
calivintage + hackwith design house hdh basics plus
calivintage + hackwith design house hdh basics plus
calivintage + hackwith design house hdh basics plus

new attitude

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remember when we wrote about the new hdh plus collection? well, erica got her hands on the new cole jumper for her very first outfit post, and we are both super excited. but i don’t want to do her talking for her, so here is what erica has to say about her look:

“when i first heard about the collection i was basically counting the days till i could get my hands on a piece. the plus size market is still something that is emerging and it is really exciting to see what designers are starting to offer. hackwith’s mission of creating timeless and special clothes made almost specifically for you is a rare find in a market saturated with the latest trends. when i saw the cole jumper, i knew that it was something i had to try. my sister’s jumper obsession had me intrigued. they offer such versatility and ease of wear.  i had seen a few on the market, but none that called to me or seemed like something approachable.

it was a little intimidating slipping into the jumper for the first time. my mid-section is always a place i tend to cover up with multiple layers – there was no hiding in this garment.  as the moment of truth approached, those tiny little butterflies in my tummy started flapping, the tension was building…. all for me to be over-joyed at the wearability! the fabric draped nicely. i didn’t feel the need to constantly cover my major trouble area. the belt gave me the flexibility to highlight my waist for a more feminine feel. i felt really pulled together with my hair down and a little lipstick. and once i rolled up the sleeves a little and tied up my hair, it felt like one of those great pieces i could throw on to run errands or grab lunch.

overall, i know this piece will become a wardrobe staple.  and i learned a few things along the way. one, no matter what you may think your trouble area is, it’s worth it to take a chance and try something new. if it doesn’t work, hey, at least you tried and you just might be pleasantly surprised. two, for a long time being plus-sized really held me back. i shied away from photos, and limited my time spent in a mall or looking for clothes. shrinking from style instead of embracing it. but doing something out of your norm is always good. life is short, too short for anything to hold you back from living it!”

erica is wearing:
navy cole jumper courtesy of hackwith design house
clare v. kenya bag
sandals found at marshalls

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a slightly more casual version of the look. a top knot and rolled sleeves because we shot these pictures in 100 degree weather!

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hdh plus

Photographed by Eliesa Johnson for Hackwith Design House

last night while browsing through pinterest, i came across the new hackwith design house plus lookbook for fall 2015, and i am super excited!  it could not have come at a better time since i just joined the team here at calivintage earlier this week, and i already have a new collection to write about! both erin and i are dedicated to supporting independent designers, but unfortunately, when it comes to plus size offerings, there are a lot less options out there. so this new collection of minimalist designs is a pretty big deal. not only is the collection a filled with incredibly wearable options, but each piece is hand-sewn in small quantities using high quality fabrics in their design studio in minneapolis.

i love that the focus is on timeless designs that can be worn season after season rather than hitting on whatever is trendy at the moment. they’re the types of clothes that you can use to build the foundation of a really solid, versatile wardrobe. using interesting shoes and accessories, you can create your own unique look. the collection will be available september 21 and lucky me, that’s three days before my birthday!

photographed by eliesa johnson for hackwith design house

Photographed by Eliesa Johnson for Hackwith Design House
Photographed by Eliesa Johnson for Hackwith Design House
Photographed by Eliesa Johnson for Hackwith Design House
Photographed by Eliesa Johnson for Hackwith Design House
Photographed by Eliesa Johnson for Hackwith Design House
Photographed by Eliesa Johnson for Hackwith Design House
Photographed by Eliesa Johnson for Hackwith Design House
Photographed by Eliesa Johnson for Hackwith Design House
Photographed by Eliesa Johnson for Hackwith Design House
Photographed by Eliesa Johnson for Hackwith Design House
Photographed by Eliesa Johnson for Hackwith Design House
Photographed by Eliesa Johnson for Hackwith Design House

the new kid on the block

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for the first time since i started the blog way back in 2008, i am very excited to announce that i’m finally adding a new member to the calivintage team! and if she looks familiar, that’s because we both share the same genes! that’s right, it’s my sister, erica! i’ve written about her a few times before, and she’s actually made some behind-the-scenes appearances on my blog. most notably, she helped me out with a series of family recipe posts and holiday d.i.y. projects. but today, she’s officially joining calivintage to share plus size style tips and to help me expand my little vintage shop. in particular, she’ll be helping me to increase my plus size vintage offerings and helping to introduce housewares to the shop.

i am so incredibly excited to have her onboard with me, and i can’t wait to see what she adds to the mix. so please join me in giving her a warm welcome to calivintage!

erica is wearing:
vintage dress
vintage coach doctor bag
brookes boswell boro in black panama straw