Summer Wishlist

I feel that I have not talked about fashion for so long!  So to resolve this, today and tomorrow's post will be all fashion focused with favourite items in my most recent purchases and my current wishlist today and tomorrow, I am talking about how to work the sales when you are plus size.

I have always been big on patterns and bright colours.  So today I wanted to share a few pieces that I love that celebrate pattern and colour for the summer months.  First off is a recent purchase of mine, a jumpsuit that I bought from the Joe Brown Collection.

When you are plus size, finding the perfect jumpsuit can be an impossible task depending on your height, shape and the style that you are looking for.  This jumpsuit is perfect for me.  I love the bold pattern.  At 5ft 5 I had to have the length adjusted so that I wasn't falling over the hem and I also replaced the button fastening at the back with a press stud.  It is very easy to get on and off and I love it!

Next up is the dress for all occasions.  This is on my current wishlist as it is the perfect hardworking dress that can cover you for many occasions.  Again, this is a Joe Brown dress from Simply Be 

This dress will cover you for everything from going to work in the summer months to that after work drink with the girls (that turns into a few cocktails on a Friday!) simply by a change of accessories and shoes.  I would also wear this on a weekend for going out to lunch.

In September I am going to Grassington for their annual 40s weekend.  After going last night and loving how everyone had dressed up, this year I decided to do the same.  This is a dress that I have just purchased.

I love the dogwood print (which I confess I thought was cherry blossom when I first saw it).  The fit is just right and I will share photographs of the weekend after the event.  Now I just need to find the right shoes!

Lastly is a dress that is on my current wishlist from the Hell Bunny collection. 

I really like the 50s style with a sexy twist.  The length looks great and I am always a sucker for sweetheart neckline!  This is on my wishlist for the moment as I do not (yet) have the right occasion to wear it.  I may have to create one!

What are your favourite items at the moment?

Fashion Is Your Friend, Not Your Enemy

Pexels At: Unsplash

There are times where even the most confident fat girl feels society thinks she’s not thin enough for fashion. Hell, we just don't feel it, we experience it and sometimes, that can really affect our confidence.

For years, numerous articles warned fat women off wearing vertical stripes, tight dresses and short skirts to make their weight less noticeable. In turn, this had led to thousands of women feeling ashamed, and alienated by their bodies as they hide impressive figures in baggy jeans, sweaters and T-shirts in a desperate bid to fool people into thinking they’re smaller. Enough is enough. We are done hiding away because that is what some in society seem to want.

Over the past few years, things have slowly started to change thanks to an army of body positive beauty bloggers, plus-size bloggers and healthy, but curvy fitness followers! Fashion is no longer about being thin or the door is closed to you, people no matter what size they are, are beginning to realise being happy is far more important than fitting into a certain dress size.

Earn Your Stripes

How many times have you seen a fashion article talk about suiting vertical, horizontal and diagonal stripes depending on your body shape? Thinner girls were given carte blanche to wear whatever they liked, while those of us with more shape we told, almost covertly, avoid horizontal stripes as they’ll accentuate your figure. Well, so what? Now’s the time to embrace your curves because it’s not just possible, horizontal stripes look downright amazing on someone who looks like a woman and if a striped knit dress clings in all the right places it can look super sexy too!

The Right Fit

There is no "right fit". If you want to wear baggy clothes, then rock them. If you want to wear a skin tight dress, you wear that dress with a swagger. I found it quite helpful to look at tips to shop for your shape. Working out whether you are an hourglass, pear, apple etc shape can assist with some of your earlier decisions when you are changing up your style.

Pexels At: Julian Jagtenberg

Stick To The One Piece

Up until very recently, even the most progressive fashion magazines have struggled when it comes to swimwear season and advising women on what to wear if they’re over a size 16. Look, it’s simple.

Wear what you feel great in.

If that’s a swimming costume great, but if it’s a fifties style halter neck bikini or tankini with flamingo fashion jewellery then that’s awesome too! Stop worrying about what everyone else looks like in their swimwear and just focus on having fun. Most people will tell you the most attractive thing about a woman is when she's just being herself and feeling confident.

Out Of Print

Who says you can’t mix colors, fabrics and prints? Sometimes the most fashion forward, on trend outfits are a color clashing whirlwind of gorgeous shades, luxuriously soft material and to die for tropical prints. Anyone who knows me, knows that I wear print every single day and I love it.

Looking for some inspiration? Just check out the #psbloggers tag on Instagram or start following plus size fashion bloggers because when it comes to amazing street style looks these ladies aren’t afraid to push the envelope!

I would highly recommend that you check out Danielle Vanier, Callie Thorpe and the gorgeous George from Fuller Figure Fuller Bust for some great style and confident tips for wearing exacting what you want, when you want.

Pexels At: Unsplash

Plus Size Bras

As someone who has had the need of a bra since the age of twelve, I am well aware of the trials and tribulations that you can go through when purchasing a bra.  

What I increasing found as my bra size went up over the years was the increasing lack of options that were available to me.  Pretty colours and patterns became less and less available with only the boring options of black, white and nude (if you were lucky) on display; the look of which was less based on style and more like your grandmother would wear.

As for a fitted bikini top or a sports bra in a larger size, don't even think about it!

If I wear to go on the highstreet to find a pretty bra in my size today, I would still be hard pressed to find what I wanted but happily, online is now a different story.  There are many websites which store the larger sizes of bras, sports bra and swimwear and I am happy to discover that colour, style and print are back!

Here are some of my favourites, with some of the ranges sizing up to a 46J.

1.  Elomi Swim Kissimmee Bikini Top up to 44HH  £42.00

2.  Underwired Moulded Sports Bra from Freya Bras up to 40H £38.00

3.  Pansy Print Balconette Bra from +Yours Clothing up to 46E £16.00

4.  Sculptress Green Sequin Bra from Evans up to 46J £39.00 

5.  Berry Red Pleated Bra from Evans up to 48F

Which one would you buy?  Personally I would have all of them!

Interview with House of Fraser

I was recently given the opportunity to interview Sheila Toor, Senior Designer for the Therapy Brand at the +House of Fraser The Therapy line aims to interpret catwalk trends, being fashionable, but not too fashion forward at an affordable price. 

Here is what I asked:

What inspired you to get into fashion design?

From a young age, I have always been fascinated by clothes. My love of fashion design, however, started when I was 11 years old, after I made a pair of jodhpurs as part of a project. I made them from a horrible scratchy fabric but I didn’t care — I was so proud and I thought I looked great!

That’s when I knew that fashion design was the career for me. Even today, I’m still as passionate about crafting clothing as my eleven-year-old self was back then. The only difference is that I now steer clear of those dodgy fabrics!

If you had the chance to be able to dress anyone, who would it be and why?

Now this is a really difficult question! I’m always most excited to dress those who are similar to me and have a real passion for fashion. Someone who has their own unique style and whose eyes light up as they spot the rail of clothes are the most enjoyable to work with. 

Vintage-style prints and shaping are becoming ever more popular.  What trends from the past would you like to see return and which do you wish had never happened?

I think we’d all rather forget the questionable styles of the new-romantic era in the late 1980s. I mean seriously, what were we thinking!?

Personally, I would love to see a revival of 1940s fashion. The era’s flattering, feminine dresses perfectly enhanced a woman’s hourglass shape, while the beautiful floral prints were just to die for. Ladies always looked effortlessly elegant and, of course, drop-dead gorgeous!

The plus-size market is quickly growing momentum with more people than ever wanting the same fashion available to them as the straight-size ranges.  Do you think more fashion brands should incorporate a plus-size range?

Totally! Ladies should be able to express their individual style however they choose and should not be limited by something as silly as a garment’s size label. As attitudes change, I’m certain we’ll see more and more brands including plus-size clothes in their range as standard.

There are many rules that women obey when it comes to fashion, especially when you are a size 16 plus.  Do you believe that fashion rules should be obeyed or is your own sense of style more important?

I’m all for individuality and the beauty of fashion is its versatility. Life would be boring if everyone dressed the same, so I definitely rate individuality over style rules.

I live by the mantra that as long as you feel great, you’ll look a million dollars. Choose items you like, prints you adore and clothes you feel comfortable in. After all, confidence is the most important part of any outfit.

My First Vlog

Hello all, posting my first ever vlog today.  Please excuse the scared rabbit in headlights look!

The vlog can be found on YouTube here!