I’ve thought about making this post for a long time and this week seemed like the perfect time to do it. The nature of a blog lends itself to always talking about oneself, and that’s awesome. However, blogging is also about community.

Not to make this too sad, but a few years ago a well respected member of the plus size fashion community, model Mia Amber, passed away and one of the first things I thought was that I never even told her how wonderful I thought she was. That was a personal lesson in expressing love for people who are important in my life.

Blogging would be no fun without all those who read this blog and all the blogs I read. I’m sort of an introvert and haven’t met many bloggers in person. However, the fact that I admire each of these women is undeniable. This year, I’m thankful for the plus size & curvy blogging community. 

Click below to read lots more blogger love! 

Nicolette Mason – Where do I begin? The first thing you notice about Nicolette might be impeccable taste. Some women’s lives are just… beautiful; made for instagram. And Nicolette is one of them. Beyond that, she is one of the most professional women I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. She pours a lot of time into creating wonderful content and you can see it in her blog, her writing, and photography. She inspires me because she holds herself out as a blogger of fashion, period. Thus, she reminds us that it’s ok to step outside the lines because hey, maybe those lines are imaginary anyway. Besides having a dream closet, she is also a wonderful person and friend. Oh yea, her column at Marie Claire is perfect. I love you, Nicolette!

Chastity Valentine – I don’t know anyone with a prettier name. Chastity Valentine is a model-turned-blogger/author/stylist. She has this sweet southern charm to her that is sort of irresistible. I remember her early posts filled the most beautiful voluminous skirts. Just super ladylike. Her recent posts truly highlight the range of her style, wearing some of the most inspiring outfits I saw this year, including one amazing jumpsuit. I think Chastity is the first plus blogger to do celebrity-style-capture themes and every time she makes a new one I have to check it out, they are so much fun. Chastity blogs about topics that I don’t see very often on other plus size blogs and I love that she supports indie designers. Everytime she shares a find, my curiosity is piqued.

Tanesha Awasthi – I remember I first saw Tanesha on my tumblr dash and thought wow who is this beautiful woman! Aptly named, Girl With Curves highlights her classic, elegant style for curvy girls. Tanesha is such a smart blogger too (and a fellow Cal alum!) I don’t know a plus size blogger that has a better pinterest account—one of the most dynamic ways of creating and sharing content. She clearly has great insight and foresight as a fashion blogger and that is something to admire. I love that her style emphasizes her curves through super tailored pieces but that she also breaks rules about what curvy women are supposed to wear. Tanesha is a soon-to-be mother and her maternity outfits have been stunning. Congratulations, Tanesha!

Franceta Johnson – I have never been to Canada and never think about Canada, but Fran makes me want to visit just so I can meet her. She is one of the most hilarious people I follow on twitter. Her style is amaze. She has a background in fashion and you can see in her style. Her personality really shines through too – just read her FAQ about why she doesn’t do ads on her blog. Or read her creative post titles like “Bank Robbing Attire.” She also designed a gorgeous jacket for MYNT1792 that I have to have! Her blog feels like that one blog you liked just before it blew up. She does really great things with photoshop that I don’t understand but love looking at.

Allison Teng – Allison has an adorable style that exists somewhere between classic, girly, and on-trend. Some bloggers have a very consistent style from post to post. But what I love about Allison is that I never know what she’s going to wear. Sometimes it’s a pretty dress, something denim and boots, and sometimes a full leather-on-leather look. Her most recent print mixing outfits may be my favorite to date. Seriously, how many jackets does she have? It’s an awesome collection! When I see her I think of California and I know that sounds weird but I’m sure Allison gets it. There a laid back quality to her style that I love. I also have to give her props on that amazing zip off jacket that she recently designed in a blogger collaboration with MYNT1792. So creative.

Monique Frausto – I admire Monique’s blog for its ability to blend fashion, home, beauty, travel, culture, and more! She’s at the forefront of blogs that integrate plus size fashion and Latina culture, and has thus grown her blog in two distinct directions. Monique’s work is also inspiring because she’s such a pro blogger. She’s always at some awesome events and has used her blog to build great opportunities. Like that one time she got to test-drive a car on a fabulous road trip or that time she took her mom to the Grammys. Not only does she share her great style, but she’s also super smart about the potential of blogging and that makes her a great resource. When I met her at a blogger event for the first time we hit it off discussing the finer points of mommy blogging. If you have enjoyed some of the mommy writing I’ve shared on my blog, it’s due in part to feeling inspired by that conversation with Monique.

Gabi Gregg – No list is complete without Gabi Gregg. Doesn’t that say so much about who she is? A visionary, she was the first plus size outfit blogger. She always holds her work up to high standards and by doing so she elevates plus size blogging. People who aren’t even plus size read her blog and that speaks volumes. Her style is flaw free and nothing can make me not love her. Despite years of exchanging messages and becoming in-real-life friends, I wonder if she knows how much I truly admire her. She’s the reason I started blogging. I don’t mean that figuratively either. She basically said “you need to start a blog” and I did. So not only is she my friend and inspiration, but someone to whom I must say: Thank you.

Stephanie Zwicky – Talk about dreamy fashion. Stephanie reigns as France’s top plus size blogger and it’s simple to see why. She’s the epitome of French fashion: cool before we know what’s going to be cool. Her style is often ahead of trends and ranges from sweet tulle to sharp mod. I go to bed easier at night knowing that Stephanie is traipsing all over Paris in a fabulous coat and huge sunglasses. She reminds me of a starlet from the 50s, that same coquette and glamour. She is also a new mother—which is inspiring as well because she manages to balance so many distinct projects. Ask yourself: what would Stephanie wear? Then reach for something elegant.

Nadia Aboulhosn – Who saw Nadia coming? I know Nadia rejects labels and I’m not even sure if she wears plus sizes, but she is super curvy and an inspiration to so many curvy girls. But seriously, how amazing is Nadia? She has one of the most daring styles of any blogger I’ve seen. Her style kinda reminds me of Rihanna except I think Rihanna has a stylist whereas Nadia styles herself. It’s young, irreverent, sexy. Have you ever wanted to wear a see-through skirt so much? She’s also gorgeous and often writes about not being afraid of your own path and standing apart from the crowd. I don’t know how to twerk but I imagine Nadia could teach me a thing or two… I’ve never even met her but like everyone else, I can’t help but be captivated by la bella Aboulhosn.

Margie Ashcroft – I’m fairly new to blogger Margie but her style is so good: young, on-trend, and a little tongue-in-cheek. I love all her mini skirts worn with long jackets. She also makes me want to scour my local vintage shops much more because she finds the most amazing pieces. Margie has a column over at Lucky Mag, so she has the inside scoop on some amazing plus size fashion and how to wear the latest trends. She inspires me to keep things fresh, vibrant, and to test my own fashion boundaries. Margie sports so many different looks but somehow manages to convey a strongly identifiable style that is all her own—a mark of a great blogger.

Marie Denee – If you want to talk about passion for blogging, look no further than Marie Denee. She. Blogs. Every. Day. How does she do it? She is one of the most consistent bloggers out there. Her blog has grown over the years and become what remains elusive to so many: her site is truly a destination. Marie covers trends, reports, new shops, plus size issues, outfits, must-haves, interviews. All things curvy. While Marie has grown her site to be one of the most established plus blogs online, she remains humble and accessible. I love that on her site you will find branded posts alongside musings that range from lighthearted to deeply personal. She shared a photo from her college days once and I thought it was so risqué and unexpected! I never told her that. I think I viewed her style differently from that day forward. There is more there, just beneath the curvy.confident.chic. surface. (Marie, I had to!)

Christina Lewis – OK I know Christina is reading this and may be thinking she is no longer a blogger. Christina was one of the first plus size fashion bloggers I ever followed, back when the only other blogger I knew was Gabi. Her blog was the place for edgy fashion as worn by a plus size woman. I’m talking leather, chains, mesh. Her style is amazing. Xtina doesn’t keep a regular fashion blog anymore, but she continues to share outfits on Instagram and I always love seeing a new one pop up on my feed. She’s one of my closest blogger friends and one of the few people I know who can speak so intelligently on the intersection of fashion and design. She’s secretly a sweetheart too, though I know she hates me for saying that. I’ve loved her for a long time and our friendship is proof of how blogging enriched my life.

Kellie Brown – I was first introduced to Kellie via tumblr. Kellie is the definition of New York cool, and you can see in every post. First, can I say how much I love her layout? She makes it so easy to navigate her site. When she makes wish lists or product posts, they look so pretty—and that is something I really love in a blog because not everyone takes the (painstaking!) time it takes to make image posts look crisp and beautiful. She’s also incredibly kind and we just recently started to get to know each other more on social media. Kellie stays on top of the best trends too, whether it’s printed suits, leather looks, or edgy details, her style is totally inspiring. I love her varied posts and the excellent quality of her work across the board.

*Please note, by no means is this list exhaustive. There are SO many plus size bloggers out there that make this community wonderful.

**Photo credits available at each linked post.