Fashiola

I was recently told about a new fashion search website called Fashiola   Now usually when I hear about this sort of website I immediately discount it as I have been used to these sort of search engines previously which have either had no plus size section or alternatively a very limited choice.

 

In this case however I was given the website information from a PR whom I have worked with regularly so I decided to check it out.  What a pleasant surprise it turned out to be!

 

The site is well set out and easy to use.  As well as being able to search for clothing there is also a handy discount code section and another which shows the current trends for 2014.  Additionally there is a style book section where you can browse through collections that people have put together or alternatively make your own.

 

The main feature of the site enables you to search for fashion, shoes or accessories in womens, mens and childrens sections with brands available from sites like BooHoo right up to D&G and Alexander McQueen.

 

The search facility gives you many options in order to filter down exactly what you are looking for.  I was searching in particular for a dress for a wedding and found that it was very easy to navigate. 

 

 

I am happy to report that the plus size community have not been an afterthough with this website as with so many others.  There are at present over 1400 items of plus size clothing in the women's section which is very impressive but I also found that there were many more items available without having to pre section the plus size option.  I searched in the main section for dress in a size 24 and it brought me over a 1000 options!

 

Here's what they have to say about themselves:

 

"We’re excited to have arrived to the UK and into such a strong online fashion market. The strength of our brand is evident in our fantastic fashion brand partners in the UK. There are thousands of online fashion shops, but how are shoppers able to search for a particular piece of clothing quickly online? We have solved this problem by giving a complete overview of all brands, prices, styles and availability of the goods in the correct size and for the best price in the market.

 

 

Have a look for yourself!

 

 

*Although I was given the information about this website I was not asked to write about them and was not paid to do so.

A New Look

I was recently contacted and asked if I would like to review a couple of pieces from the +New Look Inspire Range.  What I decided to do was to choose things a little out of my comfort zone so in other words; not a dress!  

What I have been absolutely loving lately are the beautiful kimonos that I have seen people floating around in and I was dying to try one for myself.  The trouble with kimonos is that I already know that they won't suit me.  Big floating sleeves and the cut means that they just won't work with my body.  I decided that the White Floral Waterfall Blazer * would be the perfect ode to the kimono as I wanted something fitted but with short beautiful draping detail and of course a gorgeous print.  

As I was already out of my usual comfort zone I decided to team the jacket with a bright blue top and some black skinny jeans *.  Here is how it all worked together.

The waterfall blazer is gloriously soft to the touch and doesn't crease.  The fit is true to size and I wore it comfortably all day.  The skinny jeans fit well and I went with the 30 inch length which was just right for me at 5ft4.  

The blazer styled with the jersey top with mesh insert from +Marisota gives a more formal look but it would also be perfect with a simple camisole.

What do you think?  Are separates my thing?

* Denotes a gifted item 

Yes All Women

When you look 20 or 30 years into the future, what do you envision?  Flying cars?  People living on other planets?  Teleportation?  Well if you look back at the movies of a few decades ago, this is the kind of thing that they expected us to be doing.

Next year we will hit the year that Marty McFly travelled to in Back to the Future 2.  I don't see many hover boards floating around but they are a few things that they were pretty spot on about; like video calling.

In essence, when you look towards the future, you see progression, things that are better than the way they are now.  

29 years ago "The Breakfast Club" was released.  Here is a quote from the movie when talking about women and sex:

Wow, you think, what backward thinking I'm so happy times have changed!  Oh wait......  Actually that thought process is still as much in play today as it was then.  

Girls are sent home from prom because their outfits are "causing young men to have impure thoughts".  In rape cases victim blaming is rife not only in the media and on the social network sites but also in Court (this is only one example of many out there).  Songs like Blurred Lines become bestsellers.   People like David Starkie get to go on Question Time saying things like "Violence, not consent, should be the classification of rape."

We still live in a society where when you get unwanted attention from a man "I have a boyfriend" works better than "No".  

The hashtag on Twitter #yesallwomen which has followed after the killing spree of Elliot Rodgers has done much to highlight what attitudes women face on a daily basis.  

My own experience is of men thinking that because I have large breasts, I am automatically "up for it" or I'm "easy".  I have been grabbed in bars more times than I can count but the thing that scares me the most is the perception of others that this is somehow acceptable because "well they are so big".  It is NOT alright to touch me without my permission.  It isn't okay; it's a sex crime and I shouldn't be told I am overreacting if I label it as such.

It doesn't matter how far we have progressed in other aspects of our lives, like with the technological example.  A woman may be able to give testimony in a rape trial by way of video link, but until what she was wearing or how much she had to drink is no longer relevant; we are still living in the stone age.