The other week was just absolutely a great way to start my weekend off just right. I enjoyed the 2nd Annual Fashion-A-Ball that was hosted by the W Scottsdale.  A great way to end the MLB Spring Training games here in lovely Arizona with a fashion show that welcomed baseball stars and models. Who doesn’t like that combo? Okay, I think I had you at W Scottsdale because anybody who is anybody was at this fun evening that supported the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  All seats at this fashion show were bought and donated to charity.  Of course it was a no-brainer for Beyond Beauty Basics to get involved and purchase a seat for a great cause.

After mingling, meeting and greeting people in the area the W calls, Wet, I was more than happy to see the runway shaped as a W in the pool. This made a lot of sense since most of the pieces were swim suit attire and it was held at the W Hotel.  The idea behind this cat walk in the pool area was no other than the Runway Director and stylist herself, Arianna Sinclair, who I had the pleasure of meeting.  She is an L.A. based stylist who had the right idea that rocked this show!   It was a pleasure to meet her and talk about all the great pieces that was featured.

Lights dimmed and then it was bright lights as the pool lit up and music began to play.  Put me in coach! I am ready to play! All models in the first part came out in bikinis and baseball attire with mitts and bats as their props which I liked because it tied into the theme of the night. Bikinis worn by these beautiful models were by Sinfully Suited Swimwear.  I loved the uniqueness of the suits, colors and how it looked amazing with a pair of stripped pants!  But the one that slid into home plate would be the black knitted crochet one piece.  Love, Love, Love It! Take a look for yourself and you can be the judge.

The next section was all male models that showed off a little skin in Alastaire Grey Clothing. From evening to hanging around the pool, they all looked smashing in black and white shirts, muted tied dyed shirts, suspenders, shorts and easy relaxed pants. These trendy models really knew how to pump up the volume for this crowd that’s for sure!  You should have been there!

The third section of the fashion show was the ladies again with a collection that had me wanting to see more. They were wearing spring styles for women from Deegie’s Carma. Lovely dresses and cover-ups for this up coming summer or your next vacation at the beach! I tell you, that I wanted a couple of outfits for myself!  One would be the blue jump suit that looked so effortless but so elegant at the same time. With some sandals to dress it down or heels with a fancy chunky necklace from Isaac Jewelers for the evening.   Many of us women are always looking for a great white spring dress and ladies I found one tonight. It was a Deegie’s special!  I loved the simplicity of this mid thigh length, short sleeve dress that is cool as its color. The next model that came out had on a gorgeous black and white hat!  Oh boy….me and my black and white wardrobe! By the way, big hats are in again and it’s a great accessory this spring/summer! Yay! I love the brown one as well because it looked so chic! Take a look at the pictures and pick out your favorites. I can’t seem to decide because this show had something for everyone! It made me want the 100 degree weather to come back really soon! No lie!

Beyond Beauty Basics would like to thank Katie Brashear from the W Scottsdale and Gina Ferrari from Triyar Entertainment for a great evening! Also, Cedric Jones Photography for taking all of these wonderful pictures.  Until the next time Arizona! I have that passion for fashion!

Whether it has happened as a welcome symptom of the recession, or it is a result of pressures inside and outside of the industry, one thing is for certain – plus size fashion finally seems to have been welcomed in from the cold. The wave of interest which was sparked when plus-size model Lizzie Miller appeared in American magazine, Glamour, almost two years ago has continued to grow. Fashion is being more inclusive of all shapes and sizes than ever before and this is undoubtedly a positive sign.

Larger models are increasingly being seen on the pages of mainstream magazines. UK’s weekly Look now features larger models regularly, as does housewives’ favorite, essentials, and last year fashion bible, Elle, featured plus-size models on their cover. In addition, British designers, such as Mark Fast, have started to use larger models to showcase their collections on the catwalk. The message that women come in all shapes and sizes seems to be getting through and in turn designers and retailers are stepping up to the mark.

Although it may be some time before catwalk shows featuring all sizes are commonplace, there are some retailers out there who are already providing fashionable on-trend clothes in larger sizes. One such retailer is online brand SimplyBe. Their present collection successfully taps into the coming season’s biggest trends, including 70s chic. This selection features fantastic floral print maxi dresses, peasant-style tunics, jumpsuits and tassled bags. With reasonable prices and free delivery and returns they offer great every day and special occasion outfit solutions.

This post was provided by Simply Be women’s plus size fashion offering sizes from 10 to 28

Hey American Idol fans, Alum Kimberly Caldwell has just released her music video for “Desperate Girls & Stupid Boys,” the first single from her Vanguard/Capitol Records debut album Without Regret! It’s set to hit stores this April, and she’s put together a series of clips that show fans how to easily and affordably recreate the hair, makeup and fashion in her videos. Wow, Kimberly is certainly keeping it real and we just love celebrities that make us feel that they are just like us! Kim styled herself for the video shoot and found most everything at vintage stores, but she went to Express the last the time she was in NYC and showed how you can buy and style an almost identical look in the first of the series.

Adriana Marie Co is a vintage-inspired driven tee shirt line that takes pride in quality, comfort and purpose.  The designer, Adriana, carefully selects each shirt staying loyal to her customer base and design aesthetic.  Each shirt she designs is based on  positive outlooks, motivational thoughts, and giving back to the community.

Q. How did you get started in fashion? What sparked your interest?

A. My interest in fashion was sparked at an early age. My parents actually used to let me and my sister pick out our own clothes when we were children. Their thought behind that was to instill self-belief and confidence in our own choices. I got a good fashion sense from it. As an adult, I knew that fire for fashion wasn’t fading, so after business school, I went to design school. A year later, I created my brand.

Q. Who, or what, influences you as a designer?

A. My influence actually comes from my upbringing. My family is where I get all my ideas. Then I take that, look at the world, and start creating. I grew up with positive affirmations and a holistic lifestyle, and that certainly plays a role in the messages in my designs.

Q. What is the inspiration behind your collection? What message are you trying to convey through your designs?

The inspiration behind my brand is that I want to give back to society something we are in such lack of. All of the t-shirts we create have a motivational, inspirational, and uplifting saying or quote on them. I feel that our society, as a whole, is so engulfed in the negatives of the world, and there is so much to be thankful for, and so much to live for. I think that children at an early age should be surrounded by such positive messages and be encouraged to follow their dreams, and not shut down. Because we all have boundless potential, we just need to recognize it and embrace it. We all have the power to be great.

Q. If you had unlimited resources, what would your dream collection be that you would design?

I am designing my dream collection each time I come out with a new collection. I couldn’t be happier. I have had such wonderful success since the Brand’s inception, and I am so excited to get more buzz out there for everyone to be a part of something so wonderful and positive.

Q. Do you have any tips or words of advice for someone who may want to pursue their dream of being a designer?

A. My advice for anyone pursuing their dreams in general is GO FOR IT! Nothing can stand in your way except yourself. Share your dreams and goals with people that have been there, and done that, because most of the time, others will knock you down and put you down. Have a tough skin and smile. Be nice to everyone, because you never know who you are surrounded by. Plant yourself where you want to flourish, and never give up!

You can find Adriana’s collection on her website adriana-marie.com. You can also find her on Twitter, and on Facebook.