The Plus Sides of Plus North

I started plus size fashion blogging with the idea of improving my confidence in myself, in what I wore and hopefully finding some inspiration and new places to shop.  What I ended up finding was myself.  I know that sounds corny as hell, but it’s true.  It has taken so very very long but finally I have the confidence to be exactly who I am, with no apologies.  I wear what I want and I am happier now than I have ever been in my life.

In a very large part I have the plus size blogging community to thank for that.  The encouragement, the comments and the friends that I have found within the community have helped to support me and hold me up when I was at a low ebb.  They were my backbone before I grew one of my own.

No matter what your confidence level is, a place where you can feel comfortable enough to be completely yourself is a very special thing.    That for me is what Plus North turned out to be.

When I first bought tickets I was more than a little scared about meeting so many people I didn’t know.  Add the fact that I had been chosen to be one of the models and I was fully expectant of being a nervous wreck on the day. 

The plus size blogging community has from the start been an accepting and friendly place.  Everyone I have spoken to has been brilliant and supportive, but when everything is online, you can’t help but wonder what will happen in real life.   In turns out, in real life, everything was even better.

I met so many wonderful people and made a lot of great memories.  Kathryn's amazing hugs and how much she cheered for everyone, the fabulous Nikki who was my co-model and who I laughed with all day; particularly when getting ready for the Evans catwalk and I took seven attempts to get one top on.  

It was brilliant to meet Becky, Emma and her husband Chris, Kaye and her husband Andy, Beth and Steph and the lovely Sel Walker to name just a few.

What Becky and Toni have achieved in Plus North is nothing short of amazing.  It was a day that I don’t think I will ever forget.  Happiness, excitement, pride in how far I’ve come and sheer joy were only a few of the feelings I had whilst walking down the catwalk for the first time.    

I didn't manage to take any photos at the event, bad blogger, but here is one of me in the dress I bought from Sorrento Clothing which I wore for the after party.

Roll on next year!

Magnificent 7th - Animal Print

We will be posting on the 7th of each month, and the aim of the challenge is to create an outfit to fit the theme, using clothes from our wardrobes, and yes that does mean digging deep into the depths and finding those long lost clothes!  Hopefully one of us won't end up in the Narnia, but you never know with a blogger's wardrobe!

This month's theme is animal print, any animal you like!

Apologies for being late this month, I caught myself up in Plus North preparation and completely forgot! Bad blogger!!

Please check out the other ladies!

Beth

Becky

Nicola

Gail

Kirsty

Kaye

Mary

Kathryn

Steph

Charley

Rebecca

Nikki

Lindsey

Christiana

Averting a Fashion Disaster

Ok, so I’ve had a fashion disaster. 

You plan the perfect dress for an event that you have been looking forward to for months.  You store it away, pick the perfect shoes; get the right jewellery; all is well.  You have the perfect flesh coloured bra to go under it that is practically new so you don’t need to buy a new one.

 

Two days before the event you try on the entire ensemble to make sure that everything looks right.  Then, the disaster.  The bra.  Something’s happened to it in the washing machine.  It’s broken.  Panic.

 

So the red lace dress I was going to wear is now in the back of the wardrobe.  Nothing else looks right under it and I don’t have time to get a replacement before the event.  Time to improvise.

 

Luckily for me I have been on a bit of a buying spree this week.  One dress that I hadn’t thought would be suitable for Plus North now turns out to be the one I am going to wear.  It’s a magic dress.

 

Why magic?  Because I feel amazing in it.  You know when sometimes you try on a dress and the moment you look in a mirror, a massive smile appears on your face?  This dress did that for me. 

 

So whilst I am not wearing my confident red dress that I wanted, I have something else that makes me feel even better.  Also, wearing this dress (black and grey leopard print); it gives me the ideal opportunity to wear the one thing in the world that my heart truly belongs to.  Red shoes.

 

 

Looking forward to meeting you all at PlusNorth!