Just Another Blogging Challenge

Today's Challenge is the January sales! 

I have been very good this January and have only bought one dress which I found in the sale at +Very.co.uk which is the zip floral dress

When it comes to floral patterns, I love to wear them but just as Leah said in one of her recent blog posts, I don't want to look like a walking pair of curtains. 

This a very heavily patterned dress and I was a little wary of the curtains look happening but for the bargain price of £17.00 I decided to take a chance and, I love it!  The floral print is so beautiful that I feel like I am wearing an eighteenth century painting.

The zip which runs from the waist to neck helps to add a little edge to what would otherwise be a very girly dress and like many dresses I buy, I will be as comfortable wearing this with a cardigan and tights in the Winter as I will with bare legs in the Summer.

I will add a photograph of me in this dress at the weekend!

Source

Dressing in the Name of

This week has seen more troll activity than usual on the various clothing brand Facebook pages as well as some personal attack on one of my favourite bloggers Kathryn from Miss Kathryn's Misstakes.

I don't pretend to know the reason why people think that it is ok to insult others.  The rule of thumb is, or at least it should be, if you wouldn't say it to someone on the street, don't say it online.

I was reading Becky's post yesterday on the ace MrsBebeBlog talking about this very subject and one of the comments in response caught my eye.  T from UandMii said "I'm now in my mid forties and have the attitude, "Fuck you, I won't wear what you tell me." 

This immediately made me think of the Rage Against the Machine song, "Killing in the Name of" 

(if you haven't heard it before, listen here as the rest of this post will then make sense, and if you don't like that sort of music, go straight to 4 mins 12)

I'm using part of that song and changing it up to what I actually want to shout at trolls, haters, people who tell you "you shouldn't/can't wear that", the people who want to keep you wearing a black tent, here is what I am singing when I see or hear these comments:

Fuck you, I won't wear what you tell me.

Fuck you, I won't wear what you tell me.

Fuck you, I won't wear what you tell me.

Fuck you, I won't wear what you tell me.

Fuck you, I won't wear what you tell me.

Fuck you, I won't wear what you tell me.

Fuck you, I won't wear what you tell me.

Fuck you, I won't wear what you tell me.

FUCK YOU, I WON'T WEAR WHAT YOU TELL ME!!

FUCK YOU, I WON'T WEAR WHAT YOU TELL ME!!

FUCK YOU, I WON'T WEAR WHAT YOU TELL ME!!

FUCK YOU, I WON'T WEAR WHAT YOU TELL ME!!

FUCK YOU, I WON'T WEAR WHAT YOU TELL ME!!!

FUCK YOU, I WON'T WEAR WHAT YOU TELL ME!!!

FUCK YOU, I WON'T WEAR WHAT YOU TELL ME!!!

FUCK YOU, I WON'T WEAR WHAT YOU TELL ME!!!

Viva the fucking revolution.  

Cardinal Coat Review *

As a teenager and into my twenties I was never a fan of coats.  Maybe it is something to do with being a Northern girl, but outerwear and I never really agreed and I could never find a coat or jacket that enticed me to wear it.

Now I’ve reached my thirties my attitude has changed.  Quite possibly due to the number of years I have stood shivering at bus stops but these days, warm, cozy and stylish coats are always at the top of my wish list.

Today I have to show you a new grey and black speckled coat from Taking Shape.  I tend to wear a lot of different colours and patterns in my workwear and so was looking for a coat that would go with everything.

The Cardinal Coat has a large collar which keeps me warm in the cold months and the fabric is just the right thickness to be neither too cold or too warm.  The fit comes up a little bigger on me than usual but that said, I always like a little more room in my Winter coats to allow for the inevitably needed extra layers of clothing.

I am 5ft 4 and as you can see the coat falls to slightly below the knee.  There is stitch detailing to the sides and around the pockets and it has an asymmetric hemline.  For some reason every coat I have liked this season has not had pockets so it is a relief to have somewhere to put my gloves and MP3 player; essentials on a cold trip to work!

The only small downside that I have noticed about this coat is that there is only one large button to fasten it and on a windy day the coat does tend to fly open.  Also, due to my large bosom and very short waist the placement of the button doesn't sit well on my body.

I'm a firm believer that fashion should work for you, not the other way round.  I love the coat and would not let the placement of a button stop me wearing it so I decided to see what I could change.  The coat looks fantastic unbuttoned but also I found that by closing it at a lower point, this suited me much better.   As such, I have removed the button and have attached two inside press studs which close a few inches lower.

The result is as you see below.  The Cardinal coat works perfectly for me and I feel brilliant wearing it.  It goes with everything I have worn it with and have had compliments on how it looks.   

I'm sure on a different body shape the coat will look perfect off the rack, but this is how it worked best for me.  You can find the Cardinal Coat here priced at £125.00 which for at coat that will go with everything and is a timeless shape and colour, is a good investment piece.

* This coat was gifted to me by Taking Shape however the opinion and review is my own.