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Monday 22 December 2014

What I Wore to Wedding of the Decade

Oh I was flapping! I was in full on panic mode come Friday morning. I don't know if I thought the other outfits I'd put together worked better, or because I was trying it on with no instant feedback (i.e. in an empty house) - but I had made my wardrobe decisions and I had to live with it.

I had planned ahead, ordering this beaut of a dress back in April from Polka Dot Polly:


The perfect print, in my eyes, for a winter wedding - and as it was made to measure, I knew I would have no issues with fit!

When the gorgeous Rockin' Rockette shared a picture of a pair of shoes in the exact same print, I messaged her to see if she could work some magic for me and here we have the most perfect handbag:



My only concern was a cover up and my shoes. I fretted and fretted over what would match it, complement it, clash with it... 

And settled with this:


And felt comfortable, dressed up, and wedding appropriate. I wasn't pulling or adjusting anything other than the bra straps which kept slipping from my shoulders - but once Them Beatles started, I was too FanGirly to care!! :D

Everything, the whole day, was perfect day, and I can't believe I was so worried over this! Not when I was reading in Durham Cathedral - no biggie!


Much love my lovelies, 

K x

Thursday 11 December 2014

Winter Wedding - MissGuided

                                            
Having played it a little safe with the Winter Wedding outfit in this post, I fancied putting together an alternative look, and where better to get my inspiration from, but from MissGuided.

Now, lets take a moment to say: Missguided did GOOD with their new Plus Size range. I've yet to try any thing, but if I did, it would be this tartan two piece!





I'd love to add a fancy hair piece, and brooch to the jacket to make it a little more Wedding appropriate (which MissGuided don't seem to do!), but with these dancing shoes, no one can question it's a special occasion kinda outfit!




A winter wedding just called for feathers and this clutch has the perfect muted tones for the tartan, as has the pom pom texture necklace.

What do you think? Too understated for a wedding?

Much love my lovelies, 

K x 


Wednesday 10 December 2014

Winter Weddings - Evans



I have the great pleasure to be attending a winter wedding next week, and, whilst I have had my dress since Easter, I am still open minded as to whether it will be my actual dress for the day! 


Here I opted for Scarlett & Jo Prom dress as my starting point, and as it's on the 19th December, a jacket is a MUST.

This crochet shrug has the potential to be lacklustre in real life, but the images on line give it a bit of something

Now, shoe wise, I know we'll be dancing all night, so went for these contrast loafers. Add these cute 3D Dot Design tights - for prettiness and smartness!

And finally, this snowflake look-a-like White Flower necklace to stand out against the black sheer neckline.

Cute combination, making me a little rueful that I've already made my outfit choices!! 

               

Much love my lovelies, 

K x

Thursday 27 November 2014

Life Hacks

There is the click bait that you just roll your eyes at, and then there is the click bait that just have to click. 

For me, anything with the idea of #lifehack in it is BOUND to get me clicking - can I make my 'Living alone with all the house work to be done' life any easier?!

And frankly, I find them either very American, or unrealistic. I mean, who has left over coffee to freeze to make frozen coffee that doesn't get diluted? (Not me, but then I don't drink coffee anyway).

Who here has such a thing as left over wine as well?! I don't drink wine either, but if I did, no left overs here!

And so, I wanted to share with you some hacks I do - which may not be right, or ladylike but I certainly find them useful for my pocket, and my time!

  • I have been known to just add more cat litter to the tray if it needs changing - which I usually realise as I'm running out the door in the morning!
  • Buying the budget meal for a family of 4 and eating nothing else for the rest of the week (£6.50 for at least 3 portions of tea? SCORE)
  • Buying new knickers instead of putting a load of washing on - I had a fault with my washing machine - okay!!
  • Using hair straightners to iron a collar 
  • Charity bags (I swear I get 3 through the door a week) as a bin bag - I've saved a pretty penny on bin liners!
  • I clean the shower while I'm in the shower

I'd share more with you but I'm scared I may have lost any respect you may have had for me!

Much love my lovelies, 

K x


Wednesday 26 November 2014

Dare to go without?

This past year, my battle with the red hair dye shifted. 

It is no long a case of the colour had faded, or that my dirty blonde roots were coming through that had me grabbing a bottle of red. 

It was the battle with the white roots. Not the grey ones, no, I think I missed that step, but white. 

So this New Year, I'm actually have a resolution - the resolution to let the red fade, to let it grow out, and to see what shocking shades of grey / white lurk under the cherry red!

I might be 30, but that doesn't mean I can't be grey too!

My reward? 

I have a blue rinse waiting for me - not really, but I do have a box of lavender hair dye waiting for me!

Wish me luck!

Much love my lovelies, 

K x

Monday 24 November 2014

"Lipstick on your collar

Told a tale on you...!"


No, not the 1959 hit by Connie Francis (above), but the Lip Print shirt from Simply Be:


Which was just the right amount of whimsy and bold print - perfect for the office!

Queue a dull Thursday, when the shirt made it's first outing!


I sized up to a 24, anticipating the need for bust room - I was right - I even needed to use an earring to pin the gape shut! 

What I hadn't anticipated was the material. With it being polyester, it moved - A LOT - which meant as I wore it tucked into my skirt, I was constantly adjusting it at the waist, as well as the bust. 

When I next wear this, and there will be a next time, I'll be wearing a cotton tee shirt underneath to see if that eases the sliding! 

Styling wise, I pinned my fringe back in a mini curl, in a homage to a victory roll. Bright pink lips were a must, and it was a no brainer that I would be adding my Collectif Liesel Skirt:



With brogue for a little land girl feel - and for all the draw backs of the shirt, the plus points of the print make it more than worth it!

Much love my lovelies, 

K x

Sunday 23 November 2014

Suddenly Braless, and in need of a lift...

This time two weeks ago, I was happily minding my own business when I suddenly found both sides of my underwire had attacked me. I was covered in small red marks where the little bits of metal had escaped the centre gore, and was rubbing on my skin. 

On taking it off, it looked a little something like this:

Image taken from a Google image search

"Ah, that's okay", I thought, I can just push them back in and that'll be that. 

Work the next day, cue repeated trips to the loo to take the bra off, push the wires back in, and put it back on again. No go there then. 

And so, my one good bra (I have a white one that hurts, a comfy one that doesn't really support, and a 'going out' bra which offers added Ooomph, but doesn't fit), went to the bra haven in the sky. 

After scraping through last week wearing an assortment of the above bras, something needed to be done!

I hunted through my many bras (most worn a couple of times and given up on for one reason or another), and came up blank. Until I remembered, in some odd moment, I had purchased a baby-doll, which was languishing in a corner somewhere.

In this weather especially, this baby-doll has worked a treat, adding an extra layer (without anyone being any the wiser), as my bank balance crept closer and closer to payday. 

Why did my underwire break free in the first place though? Why was it so cruel as to leave me in the lurch like that. I machine washed it. 

I usually don't. I'm good like that - and after paying £27 a pop for a bra, I don't want to waste it to too high temperatures and vigorous spinning. But in a fit of pique, I threw it in the machine non-pulsed. And paid the price. 

Although I now have 2 new bras on their way to me (thanks to Amazon - I was doing my Christmas shopping anyway!), I mustn't forget my baby-doll - bra first, cami second!

Much love my lovelies, 

K x

Wednesday 29 October 2014

Hallowe'en Outfit Woes

I've always struggled when it comes to Hallowe'en, put off by most things, from the sexy doctors (because being a doctor isn't sexy enough) to the down right offensive outfits (anyone remember the outcry (rightly so) about the Mental Patient outfit being sold at ASDA?)

But this year, I thought I would get into the spirit of the day (geddit?) - whether down to my time in the US this autumn, where it is all about Hallowe'en, or due to the fact it's an awesome pal's Hen Weekend this weekend, I don't know, but I was ready to get my horror on!

After some changes to themes, we settled on the scarier the better - and so I hunted out a good basis for a costume, and hoped for the best:

Sadly, I received an email yesterday to say this was out of stock. Leaving me with the panic of WHAT DO I WEAR! 

I've found the same outfit on a different site, which may get to me in time (so ordered that one), and I've ordered a back up dress in black. 

I'm toying with the idea of going as a zombie Velma from Scooby Do (already got the pieces from last year):


Add blood, and we're ready to go!

And this is when Hallowe'en becomes a challenge - this is a Yours Clothing top, a New Look skirt, and my own hair and glasses - not a costume, but clothes from their standard lines. 

Yes, there are jumpers with Hallowe'en slogans on, but that isn't what you what to go DRESSED UP AS, it's what you wear before the night out!

By popping onto Amazon and typing in Plus Size Hallowe'en, it brought up the following:


Nothing really very 'Horror-ific' about these, except that number 2 is meant to be a sexy nun, and number 3 is a witch. 

Here's hoping that I can pull something together for Friday, and that soon the Fancy Dress industry will realise the untapped market for good costumes that don't take months to plan / create and that go beyond a size 22!

Much love my lovelies, 


K x

Monday 27 October 2014

Where is my head at?

This is a very self involved post, so please indulge me!

Most of my dating encounters have been one offs. I have so many dating horror stories I wouldn't think to bore you with them (although I am happy to put these, frankly, raw thoughts down for all to read, which seems a little backwards frontwards) so much so, that I'd signed off the on line dating scene some months ago, after a particularly awful situation which could have been a lot worse. 

What that led to was a very sweet - and organic - relationship starting, one that seemed to have something the other dates didn't - a second date, and even a third!

And then nothing. It just ended. No drama. No reason given. Just ended. 

And I don't know why. 

I'm now not sure if, a week on, the reason I'm writing this is to get an answer, or if it is just to vent and scream and cry. 

It does seem a ridiculously melodramatic reaction over something that barely lasted a month (and I'm including my 2 week holiday in that time frame), but the thoughts will not stop whirling around my head. 

I am finding it hard to get past this one - whatever the reason. 

If anyone needs me, I'm under a blanket on my settee with the ice cream.

Much love my lovelies,

K x

Wednesday 15 October 2014

How the other half live...

I've often lusted after clothes on US websites for their prettiness, their edginess, their, WOW-ness:



So on my recent visit stateside I was hoping to be wowed by the options as I wandered the streets of Boston and New York. 

I was very disappointed. I was keeping an eye open for a Torrid store and a Forever21, but didn't see any until my last few days in New York, but as we were hitting the touristy joints in New England, it's not surprising.

I was even more disappointed by what met me in Macy's Woman section. An entire floor for the plus size ranges and the petite section - a DREAM I thought! 

I was able to look at the Jessica Simpson collection - but it was full of nasty cheap material. As was most of the floor if I'm honest - it was an absolute fire risk - the amount of shiny polyester blends was just not necessary!


An expensive price tag, but a cheap material. I didn't try this on as I was sweating as soon as looking at it! Also, wrap dresses. I have some in my wardrobe, but the entire floor seemed to be variations on the wrap dress theme. I was bored of them by the time I got to this one!

But there were some gems though, including this Calvin Klein skirt:


And this entire outfit, from the tweed cape, the lace collar effect ruffle Victorian top of WOW, to the leggings. Ralph Lauren just created my top of dreams there, and that cape is **kiss emoji** (ie: I have no words!)


We did venture over to Old Navy after Macy's, from the designer to the high street, just by crossing the street!

The Old Navy store on West 34th Street is possibly the flagship store, given the size, and sheer volume and range of stock. I was surprised to see such a large about of 4X's on the rails, along with the XS's - and so, armed with an armful of options, I headed into the changing room. 

I was hoping to pick up a few pieces, and was hoping for this to be a loose fitting shirt dress:


And if it hadn't been long sleeved, I would have snapped it up - no gaping to be seen, and a really nice length on me too. Shame about my weird always hot thing - otherwise it would have crossed the Atlantic with me!


Now, looking at this shirt as a jacket combination, I did have to spend a little bit of time thinking why I didn't get it - and I think it was down to price - and for a lumber jack shirt, I did think the price was a little steep.

In the end, I came from my awesome holiday with 2 pieces of clothing - my Boston hoodie, and an awesome Human Rights Campaign T Shirt from Provincetown.

The amount of stylish fats I saw in the NYC was rather few, and I was a little disheartened. I was expecting the streets to be full of fashionable fats. 

Seems like the clothing options are NOT always better on the other side of the sea!

Much love my lovelies, 

K x

Tuesday 14 October 2014

Fatty Bechdel Test

One of the greatest things that has come out of me writing irregularly on the internets, is being a part of the wonderful plus size community. Most of this is based on the shared frustrations of the plus size fashion retailers (which is getting WAY better in recent years), and the anger in how fellow fats are represented in the media. 

I've not really used this space to talk about these kinda issues, and I'm not really sure why!

I'm lucky enough to be a part of a community, where when the hive mind has an idea, there is a wonderful person who can put these ideas into practice: which is what we got with the Fatty Bechdel Test

The Bechdel test itself works on the premise that some (most) female characters are just a plot device to talk about the male characters. 

Take the strong female pairing of River Song and Amy Pond. Two strong women who seem like good role models. Right? Wrong - when you look at it, they spend most of their time on screen together talking about The Doctor. So are they just a plot device? 

And that is what the Hive mind wanted to look at in terms of plus size characters in film and TV: are they just a plot device, or do they have a purpose. 

Now, the idea behind this is new, and relying on the Hive mind (us) to suggest plot devices, characters, films, and TV shows to 'rate'. We are then able to vote as to whether we feel a character does or doesn't meet certain standards - and therefore whether that show passes the Fatty Bechdel test. 

I have suggested and rated the character of Sookie St James in the Gilmore Girls as a character who passes the test, from my point of view, but having just checked, I've seen other ratings which someone else does not feel that she is as perfect an example as I might think. And that is okay. 

So go, check this website out, join in the rating and suggestions process and let me know what you think.

Do we even need a Fatty Bechdel test? Or is it long over due?

Much love my lovelies, 


K x

Friday 26 September 2014

Suits You... Nikki

For this month's Suits You challenge, I have the adorable Nikki!


I had the pleasure of meeting Nikki at last year's PlusNorth, and know for a fact she could wear ANYTHING!

I would, however, love to see her in something like this:


Now, jumpsuits aren't something I get away with and I feel a bit mean putting someone else in one without rocking one myself (bending my knees so there is no bunching in my crotch!


Anyway, enough about me, how awesome would Nikki look in that ASOS jumpsuit? I wanted to see her with her hair slicked back, with stilletos and an 80s blazer - a killer power dressing vibe!

But then I spotted this blazer:


And felt this, with Nikki's natural assets, this would would BANGING with that monochrome jumpsuit! 

As always, check out the other styling efforts of our little group:










Leah - who is styling me this month

What do you think? An outfit worth lusting after? Or a miss?

Much love my lovelies,

K x






Sunday 14 September 2014

Suits you.... Lisa-Marie

Sorry for being ridiculously late in posting this months (August) Suits You Challenge, but I think it might be worth the wait!!

I've trawled through the lovely Lisa Marie's Instagram feed, and spotted a lot of jeans and T Shirt combinations - which were all as good as this one:


Oooh, I'd love to see the lovely Lisa Marie in something like this Ax Paris Neon Shirt Dress:

With black skinny jeans it's not too far away from her usual style, but still think that it's a bit of a departure!

To keep it cool, black jeggings or jeans, with this fluorescent satchel:


And some biker boots for good measure!

The other wonderful ladies who are styling each other are:



Katherine - who is styling me this month








What do you think? Would you wear this? Do you think Lisa would Suit it?

Much love my lovelies, 

K x


Bloggers versus...

A few things have happened this week which has-a-got me thinking.

Are plus size bloggers a breed apart?

What I mean to say is, are we so different to what the mass consumers want from fashion brands?

Events like Plus North brings brands and bloggers and non-bloggers together to talk about collections, about our gripes and our loves and our wishes. And I left with an idea that brands were understanding our hopes for the future of fat fashion. 

But this comment on Facebook made me wonder if we were alone:


This was over the Kelly Brook range stopping at a size 26, and only having 5 items available up to a size 32, all of which were black or a darkish print. 

Is it just that our voices are the loudest, shouting for people to bare arms, get the VBO out and wear what on earth they wanted? Are we a minority? If we are, then we need to shout louder, and have more people wanting to wear this beaut in a bigger size than a 26:


Fighting the fight is all well and good though,but we need to drown out voices like those behind this DeBrief article, which perpetuates the ideas that there are rules to follow when it comes to shape, and size and confidence. 

It just keeps the voices in our heads telling us that it doesn't suit, or it's too short, or the wrong colour for our complexion, or or or the list goes ON. The voices are loud enough without articles like this adding to the angst and anguish. 

Come on everyone, we need to make our voices louder and make people listen.

Much love my lovelies, 

K x

Friday 12 September 2014

Fat Swap Spoils

The final part of Plus North this year was a community day - where we were able to talk to people we hadn't been able to spend much time with so far. 

As part of this community day was a Fat Swap. I'd heard of these awesome things, but not had the pleasure of going to one. 

I took 8 items, and left with 8 different items. It is that simple. But it's a first come first served basis, so my elbows were sharpened and ready to dig out the best and brightest!


A New Look Inspire dress, and Next jersey blazer - all new to me, and a great look for the office!


A Matalan tunic with an owl print skirt - I paired with my black jeans for a relaxed office look!


HELLO Leaf print skirt of tropical dreams.

I also came away with some Clements Riberio, a couple of tshirts and a waist coat. I also spotted this picture of Emma, so I know my clothes have gone to happy new homes:


Much love my lovelies, I wouldn't swap you lot for the world though,

K xx

Wednesday 10 September 2014

ModCloth Convert

I've known about ModCloth for a over a year now, but it is one of those websites that once you enter, you fall down that rabbits hole and end up spending FAR too much on lots of pretty things, like when I first found Domino Dollhouse!

So I warn you now - enter this website at your own risk!

My first purchase was from the lovely Boo Brown's Blog Sale, but I've not worn it properly yet, so in my mind, it doesn't count!

I bought this beaut from Lolly's eBay, but collected it at Plus North last weekend:


A bit of a weird fit over the bust, if I'm honest. It's room up top, but the  buttons still gape - I'm thinking a running stitch to stitch the buttons closed may fix a little of that issue, but the print, and fit else where, is just too lovely!!


And a cheeky little owl for good measure!! The sad thing is, it doesn't seem to be available online any more. Sorry my lovelies!

I also caught the lovely Elena selling this beaut at Plus North, and fell for whole dress. I even coined the word 'dress-gasm', it was that awesome!!


The collar, the print, the POCKETS! Honestly, pockets in dresses make me beyond happy!

Yes, I might be a recent ModCloth convert, but I'm trying to stagger my obsession a little, but I mean:





Much love my lovelies, 

K x