MarketPlace: Handwork of India

The other day I was contacted by a company called MarketPlace: Handwork of India with the offer to review one of their products.  I had never heard of this company so I did a little research and they’re pretty amazing.  They are a nonprofit Alternative Trade and Development Organization that works with 480 women artisans around Mumbai, India, to produce clothing and home décor items showcasing authentic techniques such as hand batik, ikat and hand embroidery.

The women work in supportive, non-exploitative work environments in the form of 14 cooperatives around Mumbai, which the women organize and manage.  And, addition to the much needed employment, MarketPlace works in conjunction with another nonprofit organization in Mumbai, SHARE, to provide social programs to the artisans.  And the women in turn use their own social program, Social Action, to get involved in their communities, tackling everything from garbage collection to domestic abuse.  

So, yeah, pretty amazing.

And so are the items they produce.  Like the Majuli Tunic:

Here is a close-up of the hand printed pattern and the hand embroidery at the yoke:

I don’t wear a lot of purple, but I love the dusty plum of the tunic.  And I love that the embroidery inspired me to pair the tunic with a mustard scarf:

Really, what's not to love about a company that empowers women and inspires the wearing of mustard?!  That's right, nothing.

To share in the love and learn more about MarketPlace: Handwork of India, please visit them here.

And have a Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Size Up and Get Sweaty – Marika Tek Review

Some time ago, the lovely people at Marika were kind enough to send me some of their Marika Miracles workout pants.  I love those pants; they are my go to workout pants (you know, when I work out).  So, I was absolutely thrilled when they offered to send me this workout tee*:

My fame-scoffing nephew took this.  He cut off my feet.

Image via Marika

It is the Venus Crew Neck Dry Wik Short Sleeve Tee and like the pants, it helps keep my oh-so-very-sweaty self comfortable when I’m working out.  Even having previous experience with Marika’s Dry-Wik technology, I was a little apprehensive about this review because they sent me purple and I prefer working out in black, to hide the sweat.  But, I gave the purple a shot and I am pleased to report it was only a little discolored by the end of my workout:

Yes, that's a picture of my sweaty back.  You're welcome?

Really, my only complaint about this tee, and it’s a minor one, is that it seems to run a bit small.  But, that could just be because while I don’t mind working out in tight pants (as is obvious in the photo above), I try to avoid tight shirts.  If you feel the same, I’d definitely recommend sizing up.  For reference, I’m wearing an XL.

I can honestly say that the Marika Tek line is pretty great.  And, if you want to see for yourself, you can get 20% off at Marika by entering the code TEK20 at checkout, now through the end of September.

Happy Shopping!

Gracey

*Yes, Marika sent me this tee for free, but the opinions in this post are mine because you know I love my opinions too much to let someone else dictate them.

Winners! Yes, I Chose Two

So, I chose two winners for my Already Pretty book giveaway because I was so thrilled with the interest and because I really do think this is a great book.

Wanna know who the two winners are?  Of course you do!  Well, they are Jess and Beth S. 

Congratulations, Ladies!  I'll contact you via email this week to get your mailing addresses.

Gracey

Saturday Stuff and Things

I've decided to post (probably infrequently) a list of stuff and things from the week that didn't make it into my daily outfit posts.

And so, without further ado, welcome to my inaugural Stuff and Things post!

Thing One: eShakti is having a huge sale, offering items up to 40% off and they've given me a code to share with my readers for an extra 10% off of the 40%!  Just enter code FA26KEY at checkout through July 31st..  The sale includes dresses, skirts, tops and even some handbags, so go take a look.

If I were shopping, here are my picks:

The Striped Pleats Dress

The Undulation Skirt

The Bow Ties are Cool Dress

Yes, you've seen the Bow Ties are Cool dress on here before; what can I say?  I love it.

Thing Two: This is Sally's Already Pretty Book:

If you don't already know, I am in this book.  And I am giving away a copy to one of my lovely Reader Friends.  My giveaway ends tomorrow at noon, so don't forget to enter here.

And that's it.  Happy Saturday, All!

Gracey

I’m Famous, Y’all!

I have been telling my nephews since they were babies that I am famous.  They were skeptical, even as swaddling infants.  Now, however, I have proof.  You see this book?

My friend Sally, of Already Pretty, wrote this book.  And it’s fabulous.  It’s all about dressing the body you have but with your style, not someone else’s.  However, the best part about this book, at least for me, is that I’m in it!  That’s right, Sally included photos of some of her fellow bloggers in her gorgeous book and I’m one of them!  Which means that finally (finally!) my nephews are being forced to recognize my famosity (totally a word, I don’t care what spell check says).

Here's a sneak peek:

Look!  It's me!  I'm famous!

Want to see more of me doing my thing (you know, standing in front of a retaining wall with a huge smile on my face) in Sal’s book?  Well, I ordered an extra one just for one of my lucky Reader Friends!  All you need to do is leave me a comment letting me know you’d like to be entered and a way to contact you.  I’ll choose a winner in about a week or so.

And, if you don’t like contests for some reason or can’t wait to see if you’ve won in a week or so or want a copy for your best friend (I ordered all of my friends copies) or your sister (and my sister), you can order a copy at Amazon here.  The book is even available for Kindle!  (For iPad users, see Sal’s post here).  

Bon Chance, Friends!

Gracey

Just a Small Town Girl

I’ve been slow getting on the “statement necklace” train because while I like the look on others, I wasn’t sure if I could pull it off.  So, when the lovely people at Maurice’s offered me the choice of an item to review, I figured it was as good an opportunity as any to try a statement necklace.  This statement necklace, in fact:

   

Although I’m not much for neutrals, I like this necklace because it is neutral.  It offers me a nice, subtle way to try this trend and I played to that by pairing the necklace with a terra cotta-colored dress (Target) and adding other neutral accessories.   I do think it will provide a nice pop in an all-black outfit as well.

When Maurice’s contacted me, I was pretty excited being as my mule’s name is Maurice and because we have one of their stores here in Salem.  That second fact makes Maurice’s feel local to me, even though they are a national chain with over 800 stores nationwide.   And I like that feeling.  I also like that they carry cute, on-trend clothes in up to size 26 and shoes up to size 11.

And I like that they provide “fast fashion” for my small town. Now, I know a lot has been written lately about fast fashion and how it rots your soul.  Luckily for my soul, I’m not much of a fan of fast fashion; it’s often too young for my tastes.  But, when I do want to try something out, fast fashion stores like Maurice’s come in handy.

But, if I do shop for these trends, I like to do it in person, because it completely defeats the purpose to buy something inexpensive and then have to pay shipping on it.  Unfortunately, because I do live in a fairly small town we don’t have access to a lot of fashion here, fast or otherwise.   We don’t have a Zara or an H&M or even a Gap (we had one; it went away).  But, we do have a Maurice’s and luckily for me, they carry easy, affordable, on-trend items like this necklace.  

I bet you have a Maurice’s too.  And if you don’t, you can shop them online where the shipping costs are manageable and the selection is large.

Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

And We Have a Winner

According to the trusty Random Number Generator, the winner is comment number 17:

And comment number 17 belongs to Shelley Gajus.  Congratulations, Shelley!  I'll be putting Shabby Apple in touch with you via email.

For the rest of you, I have another giveaway coming up this weekend; I hope you'll enter!

Gracey

Shabby Apple Giveaway - CLOSED

Hi All!

Have you guys noticed all of the fabulous Fourth of July sales going on everywhere?  Not the best time to be on an expedition in the Land of Nosh Opping, but Maurice and I shall persevere.  However, even though I can’t shop, that doesn’t mean you can’t.  And if you’re going to shop, may I suggest Shabby Apple?

I’m giving away a $50.00 gift card to their site and trust me, you want this.  They have adorable, vintage inspired clothes in up to a size 16.  I’m currently madly in love with their Twin Palms Collection:

One for My Baby

Raquet Club

See?  So pretty.

To win the gift card, all you need to do is the following:

• Have a US mailing address and let me know in the comments that you’re following Fashion for Giants and that you’ve “Liked” Shabby Apple on Facebook.

• And for an extra entry visit Shabby Apple and let me know, in a new comment, what you’d spend the $50.00 gift card on.

Even if you don’t win, they’re offering my lovely Reader Friends 10% off through July, so go check them out.  To get the 10% off, just use code: fashionforgiants10off at checkout.

Happy Monday, Everyone!  And bon chance!

Gracey

Philomena's Sunny Day Giveaway

This is Philomena the Foam Head:

Philomena is wearing a lovely sunhat sent to us by Dorfman Pacific.  The hat has a four-inch brim that provides UPF50 sun protection, which is doubly important to someone as fair as Philomena.  Philomena also appreciates that the hat is very lightweight and can easily packed into a bag or suitcase for vacation. (We really can attest to this; it was mailed to us folded up in a large envelope and unfolded just as lovely as you please).

It also comes adorned with a little bow:

And that little bow isn't just for decoration.  It is actually a functional sizing tie, in case your head isn't the same size as Philomena's.

That's right, this hat can be yours.  Philomena and I are giving away this very Dorfman Pacific Scala Collezione hat to one lucky reader.  All you need to do is leave me a comment, by midnight on Sunday, June 17th, letting me know where you'd take this easily-packable hat this summer.  Oh, and leave me a way to contact you if you win.  And, just in case you don't win, you can get a Scala Collezione hat of your own, here, at 20% off, using the code: SunHatSave20.  The code is good through June 30th, 2012.

Good luck, Reader Friends!

Gracey (and Philomena)

Wimpy Webbing and a Smartdogs Review

Last week we talked about the fact that I don't really wear pants (preferring skirts, not nudity (thanks, Chelsea!)).  Today we're talking about the fact that I also don't really wear flip flops.  Or even sandals that that come between the toe.  It has nothing to do with Tim Gunn saying that women shouldn't wear flip-flops because they're so hard to look graceful in.  Though I totally agree with that point.  No, I don't wear flip-flops because I have wimpy webbing between my toes.

I can't wear something between my toes for very long before it begins to hurt.  And its still sore the next day.  Of course, if I wanted to, I could force my self to wear flip-flops and build up a callous there.  But, as sexy as a between-the-toes callous sounds, I just generally forgo thong-style sandals.

That is, until I received these slippers from Smartdogs:

Image via Smartdogs

They are the Uplift Women's Thong Slipper and they are fabulous.  The mesh on the foot bed is soft and comfortable and antibacterial.  The sole of the slipper is both cushioned and grippy (totally a word) making them perfect for wearing inside and out.  And, for extra comfort, the heel is gel padded.  I especially like that aspect as I tend to strike with my heels when I walk.

Most importantly though, the thong doesn't irritate my wimpy webbing at all.  I can hardly even tell that it's there, even when I walk.  And I love that.

The slippers come in creativity blue (seen above), strength red, love pink and compassion green.  They are available in sizes 6-10 in department and specialty stores around the country where they retail for $45.00.  However, until July 31, 2012, you can get 15% off a pair when you order them through Smartdogs using code SUMMER12.

I hope every one is having a fantastic weekend!

Gracey

I Get a Four-Day Weekend, You Get a Giveaway

As I've mentioned about 72 times (that's only an approximation, of course), I have a four-day weekend this weekend.  But, I couldn't leave my peeps (that's you all) high and dry, so I'm hosting an eShakti giveaway!

Now, you may have already entered an eShakti giveaway on another blog.  That's okay, you can enter here too.  And it's sooooo easy.

1. Follow Fashion for Giants.  It's usually a pretty good time.
2. Visit eShakti and decide which one item you'd choose if you won.
3. Like eShakti on Facebook
4. Don't have Facebook?  You can follow eShakti on Pinterest instead.

After that, just leave me a comment letting me know which item you'd choose if you won.  And if you chose the Facebook or Pinterest route for liking/following eShakti.  See?  So easy. 

What's that?  You'd like to know what I'd choose if I won?  Well, kids, lemme tell you.  I'd personally choose one of these four dresses:

The Swan Song Dress

I'm obsessed with this one.  From the print to the neckline.  Obsessed.

The Bow Ties Are Cool Dress

Check out the keyhole detail on the neckline; j'adore!

Heart Mints Shirtdress

Hearts!  Yellow buttons!  Shirtdress!  Yay!

 Make a Beeline Dress

The back of this dress is plain gray; so fun!

These are my favorites, but eShakti has dozens and dozens of dresses to choose from as well as skirts and blouses.  They carry up to a size 26 and most of the items can be customized to your measurements.  Basically, they're pretty great.

So, I hope you'll enter.  Unfortunately, it's only open to US and Canadian readers, but you have until midnight PST on May 31st to enter.  And I'll announce the winner on June 1st.  And remember, if you do win, you can even have the garment you choose customized!

Bon Chance!

Gracey