Fat, Femme and Formal

Outfit first conceived in the 
Simply Be store in the MetroCentre

Sometimes an outfit just sits in your wardrobe, waiting for the perfect occasion to throw it on and be awesome in it. 

Sometimes that occasion never comes, and your clothes are sad. 

This time though, I thought PAH! And just threw on the awesome clothes for the office this morning.

It is a pastely, floral, lace, summer assault on the eyes. It is a mix match of print, material and styles, but I love it!

I've been lusting after the Look skirt since I first spotted it, but I am so glad I tried it instore first, as this is the 26 for comfort at the hips. 

I paired it with the Alice and You Lace Shell top out of changing room convenience - so I could try two items on and go out to show the fit on them both, without being topless or bottomless! And ended up LOVING the combination.

I often hear those with short hair struggle with their femininity - I actually find it the other way round. I find it very easy to be feminine with the shorter hair, as I feel the two balance each other out, whereas if I go for a bit of a slouchy outfit, I feel I lose my femme edge. 

What am I prattling on about? Outward showings of gender identity are going to be always a complicated area to bring into the blogging arena, but when the baring my unshaven legs (not as an act of rebellion, more as an act of comfort!) did not cause the world to end, when I blogged about it a few weeks ago, I thought I would venture into this a little bit more!

So, fat, femme and formal seemed to sum up my style today, and the office hardly blinked an eye!

Just remember: Like Clothes, Wear Clothes!

Much love my lovelies,

K

Suits You - Felicity Hart

Felicity Hart

Twitter

The premise to this challenge is style, to trawl through gorgeous pictures of lush bloggers and then go on a hypothetical shopping trip for them! Simple and so much fun!

For our first month, I have the beautifully ethereal Felicity to style. 

Her blog is full of pastels and florals and pretty dresses. The above dress gave me an idea for something a little bit different:

ASOS Curve Cami Lace Prom Dress

Biker Boots

Simply Be Look Duster Jacket

Sugar & Vice Necklace

Vivienne Westwood Tartan Clutch

What do you think? A etheral gothic Felicity?

I was lovingly styled by Steph this month - go have a look, as I'd love to know what you think!

The other wonderful ladies who are styling each other are:

Patricia

Nikki

Katherine

Vicky

Steph 

Felicity

Sally-Anne 

Lisa-Marie

Kitty

Leah

Much love my lovelies,

K x

Simply Be Store Revisited

I've written about the lovely staff and selection at the Simply Be store in the Metro Centre before, but felt I needed to revisit the store and it's wonderful staff - it had simply been too long!

I was met by the lovely Ruth, who I knew from past shopping sprees in store, that was a great enabler, and I was not wrong!!

With a rack full of clothes ready to try on, I headed into their boudoir style changing rooms, and fell in love with the above Ax Paris skater dress. I've seen it on a number of other gorgeous ladies, and knew that if the lace sat right, the dress would be a strong addition to my wardrobe. It looks right at home!

They only had a couple of items left from the Look range, but jumped (sorry) at the chance to try the jumpsuit:

I'm squatting a little in this to give the impression of good length but too short in the leg and the body unfortunately.

PERFECT SUMMER OUTFIT ALERT!

The Look skirt paired with the Alice and You crop top, which is the cutest combination I've stumbled upon in a while! If you're interested in the skirt, SIZE UP! I ended up with the 26, and in the 22 for the crop top.

Ruth wonderfully persuaded me to try this 2 in 1 dress:

WHich really didn't look that great on the hanger, but the green caught my eye.

And I'm rather glad she did! This is also sat in my wardrobe!

Oh, neon floral print lantern skirted, sweetheart neckline of clubbing dreams!! On the website, it is a much more muted colour scheme, but in real life, it is just a beaut:

So much so, I made Ruth try it on too and look babely in it. I resist the calls of this dress this time, but who knows how long I'll last!!

This Alice and You Swing Dress could not be resisted though. And I am so glad it is sat in my wardrobe right now - imagine with biker jacket and boots in winter, or just as it is with a collar necklace. See, just a corker!

Other than the Ax Paris dress, and maybe the Look skirt, none of these would have made it into my online basket, but here? In store? So much easier to try on, to swap for different sizes, order in EVERY COLOUR, and get opinions (if the magic mirror is working). 

Ruth, and all the staff, were so welcoming and supportive and encouraging, and 2 years after they opened, I still recognise most of the staff - quite an achievement!

If in doubt, head to the store!

Much love my lovelies,

K x

Bare Legs - A How To Guide

I've been a big promoter of "See Clothes, Wear Clothes", in a F**k Flattering, F**k the Fashion Rules kinda way. 

I do understand these things are not as simple for others though. I work in a small office (about 100 staff on our floor), and I would class this as a safe place for me. Baring my arms over the past few weeks as the weather got warmer was not something I thought about. I was hot, I took off my cardigan. 

I know that I am privileged in feeling safe to do this. 

When it came to this week, as the heat seemed to ramp up yet again, it was time for my war on the tights! As in, they were put away for a few days. 

I have never shaved my legs, and as a natural blonde, I have never felt I needed to. Again, a place of privilege, I know, but my bare legs are not a silky smooth feat of epilated effort, but from throwing some lovely smelling moisturiser on every day. 

Hell Bunny dress from Hello Holiday - reviewed here

They are pasty white. I've an 'English Rose' complexion, so white is my default colour!

Lemon print dress from Simply Be

I have a tattoo of an owl on my ankle. No f**ks given though.

Happy TShirt from Look for Simply Be reviewed here, 
Collectif Liesel Skirt reviewed here

The only thing that concerns me about the 'bare legged' outfit is the dreaded chub rub. I've seen a number of things out there to help, including shorts. Erm, I wanna be cooler with bare legs, not add MORE layers thanks!

Yours Clothing dress reviewed here

I reached for my anti chafe balm on Monday, and accidentally applied my strong deodorant (saved for extreme heat waves), and liberally applied. And it works just as well as the balm. Good to note, I'm sure you'll agree, that Mitchum roll on stick works too!

If you feel comfortable and safe to go bare legged, go for it you gorgeous lot! Start small and know you're awesome for trying.

Much love my lovelies, 

K x