Autumnal changes...

Hello you lovely lot!!

A while back I did a couple of reviews on Simply Be's Glamorosa range - looking at the tunic and the long line top. I was also sent this top:

The colour tones screamed autumn to me, but with the weather we've been having recently, it didn't seem appropriate, but now the weather is 'closing in', and the nights are getting darker, it seemed an ideal time!

And here it is! I teamed it with my Simply Be green skinny jeans to pick out the green in the design

And this is 'money' shot, showing the cut and fit of the Glamorosa element of top. It fits the curve of my bust perfectly, and skims over my bloated tummy - what the top lacks in 'pretty', it makes up for fit! 

 I don't quite know what I was doing in that photo! Pulling my ear for some reason or other I'm sure! 

The observant readers amongst you will have noticed my old hair - these photos were taken a few weeks ago, in the middle of an 'autumn' spell, but then the heat came and it, well, didn't seem appropriate!

As you can see, the V neck isn't too revealing, and the button detail doesn't gape - and if it happened to gape, there is a modesty panel under the buttons: 

 This top isn't to my usual taste but for fit and comfort, you can't go wrong with the Glamorosa range. This A/W sees them bringing a new selection in:

This seems to be their 2012 take on the top I've just reviewed, and in this top I'm wearing the Very Voluptuous, and as you can see, it is a perfect fit on my 36H.

Go forth and check it out yourself!

Much love my lovelies, 

K x

Please note: this dress was given to me to review, however my opinions and comments are my own.

We are the MODs!

As you might be able to tell from my love of all things Vintage, as a teenager, and into my early twenties, I wished I could be a mod. A proper, modern gal, with vinyl, short hair and fierce dancing skills. I read things like Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, Kes, and Clockwork Orange. I listened to Nuggets, mix CDs with obscure cover versions and B sides. We regularly went to 60s club nights, and every month you would see me at a club night called Brighton Beach. 

Why am I telling you all this?

Because, even with all my dedication to the 'cause', I couldn't get the look right. And in Mod terms, the look was the whole sch-bang! Mod fashion and boobs didn't mix.Mod fashion and curves didn't mix either for that matter! It was all shift dresses and mini skirts. 

My outfit yesterday is the kind of outfit I **wish** I'd have worn 8 years ago. But better late than never:

Top: Wardrobe for Simply Be Contrast Jersey Top

Skirt: Domino Dollhouse Full Skirt in Back & White Stripe

Belt: Gifted from Caroline

And look - NEW HAIR! Since I was 20, and my short hair grew out, I swore I would not go down this route again. But to even my hair out, and to combat the humidity we've been having lately, I took the step! 

And this is the finished effect! 

I had an amazing night in Durham with my very good friend JM, with a lush tea in Chiquito (this is their Apple & Elderflower virgin cocktail), and wandered up to the Cathedral to see a band very close to my heart, the Futureheads play:

This was taken before the rains came, and the two photos below were my views in the Cathedral: 

Such a power venue, and two great 'support' acts in Natasha Haws and The Lake Poets.

Truly a night to remember on that score.

Much love my lovelies,

K x

Ain't Nothin' But A House Party!

Well, my sweeties, hellooooooo!

Last week I was at a good friend's house warming. It was very humid and muggy, so I was baffled on what to wear! Then I remembered this little number was in my wardrobe:

Sleeveless, and an appropriate length, meant I could be bare legged, and bare armed, and still be comfortable.

I styled it with my gold woven belt (Simply Be - seen modeling on the catwalk at Plus North), and my gold studded clutch from New Look (this season). I threw on my black pumps and I was ready to go! 

I'd slicked my hair back and went heavy with my eye liner - not too heavy, it was just a house party after all!

Fun times were had (sober times as I was driving), the highlights being: Maid Marion?!; Choc Ices; Day of the Dead; and flares!

When I got home, I managed to take these photos - the dress needed more attention!

The military style has always been one I've swooned over, but not one I feel I've ever embraced fully. Now, I might just do that!

The gold detailing: the buttons and the epaulettes, allows you to get the military vibe without being too 'fancy dress'

This is the 22, and as you can see, especially on the picture below, it is a 'snug' fit on my 36H chest.

I felt the placing of the waist on this dress was a little 'off' for my shape, so added the belt for a little more oomph. Just for you though, I've taken these without the belt:

I personally don't like waists with the 'folded over' effect, I feel like it adds to me at my narrowest.

This is a great little black dress with a military twist, which, if I was the kind of office worker that went straight from the office to the bar, this would be ideal - wear a blazer and tights at work, add heels and the belt / clutch combo and POW!

If you want to have a closer look at this dress, available in sizes 8 - 22: 

http://www.clothingattesco.com/dresses/f+f-military-shift-dress/invt/bd220150/&bklist=icat,4,shop,catgwomens,womens-dresses

Much love my lovelies, 

K x

Please note: this dress was given to me to review, however my opinions and comments are my own.

Remember me?

I'm feeling rather bashful at the moment, and just wanted to say hey, I'm still here, mentally writing posts in my head, but not getting round to actually typing it out!

I'm subdued, shy and timid at the moment, so very not me. As you can guess, this is manifesting itself in my outfit combinations a little. 

I have posts & outfits I want to share, and I will. Just needed to take a breather. 

Much love my lovelies,

K x

Shrugs in stripes

I love it when the post office brings me pretty deliveries! And when this latest delivery arrived, I was giddy! COLOURS! SO MANY COLOURS!

But then I was debating how to show my delivery to the best advantage! Other than 9 photos with the same dress (only fair) or one featured each week for 9 weeks - not a bad idea actually... - but I'm too excited to share this with you! 

The lovely team at Excite Clothing had noticed I was a little obsessed keen on their range of shrugs, averaging buying one a month! 

I first featured them here, and most of the outfits I tweet seem to feature them in some fashion or other! The folks at Excite asked me if I wanted to review their range, I was not expecting the complete set to arrive on my door!! 

Look at them all! So bright and pretty on my Primark bed spread! 

These at the short sleeve shrugs in white, chocolate, cerise and peach. I already have them in cobalt, red, black and purple, and wear them almost every other day!

And these are the long sleeve shrugs that they kindly sent over. In white, black, cobalt, red, cerise and peach. I love these! It will greatly help my wardrobe transition over to A/W.

I then had to ponder on how to store them - either another extra coat hangers in my wardrobe, or I reclaim a draw from somewhere. I do find though that if something is out of sight, it is out of mind, and easy to forget, however much of a wardrobe-God-send they might be!

TA-DAR!!!!!! I have my winter long sleeve shrugs in the bottom, with the short sleeves easily accessible! 

It now sits on my desk top ready to be grabbed at the last minute as I head out the door (or grab my phone for the photo shot, before I walk out the door!!)

Be warned, you will be seeing a lot of these in the coming weeks and months, and I bet you'll be buying some yourself! I got all mine in 20-22, and it's a perfect fit across my back / arms:

There are some dresses which require a quick pinning with a badge or brooch. 

Other than that, they sit wonderfully on me:

They can be found here: http://www.exciteclothing.com/long-sleeved-bolero-shrug.html and honestly? I'm not sure where my wardrobe would be without them!

These shrugs were gifted to me, but all views and opinions are my very own and I have not been paid to promote it favourably.

Much love my lovelies, 

K x

When clothes DON'T work...

It happens. They don't work. And they get returned.

Sometimes I'm bashful that I even tried it, sometimes I'm relieved that I can return it and sometimes, well, I love it so much I want to MAKE it work!

These are from the A/W12 collection from Simply Be, the hi-lo hemmed skirt in wine, and the black top with removable embellished Peter Pan collar.

The black top was just too heavy for my liking. Yes, great for the winter, but for me, I'll just melt! I'm much more a 'layers' girl, not a thick jumper type! I was tempted to keep it for the collar alone, as the detailing was so delicate. Sadly, not for me. Also, this was the 20, and it was rather baggy and loose for my tastes. 

The skirt on the other hand, was tight in the 20, and I was tempted by the 22, but I realised that it would lose the fit at the waist, and possibly still not fit on my rear, but this is just a guess.

The gathering at the front is a nice touch, but I felt like to added to my size. I didn't mind this, but if you want something to skim, this skirt isn't it. 

The reason I gave up on this item was I looked in my wardrobe and tried on a number of tops I already had, but nothing seemed to work with it. Either the length was wrong, or the colour. 

Not for me I'm afraid.

This little beauty was from, you guessed it, Lady Vintage London and their 'plus size' range. This is stocked by a number of different companies, but as I was also placing an order with them for a swing dress, I wanted to give this a try as well.

I've ordered from this range before, or so I'd thought. This dress is sold at the larger end, in dual sizing. I opted for 22 - 24 as I knew the 18 - 20 would be asking too much! 

This dress fits across the bust perfectly, but is rather 'loose' everywhere else in the top half. I was massively tempted to return the dress, but the print, cut and style were too tempting to pass up!

I'm hoping my Grandma will be able to dart it, or work some kind of magic and make it the 'perfect' dress!!

So, what do you do if the clothes don't work? Hoard? Return? Or make it work?

Much love my lovelies, 

K x

All the Clothes

I've recently worn a lot of clothes. Okay, so that doesn't means anything as we all wear clothes, but I've been kinda avoiding the blogging sphere as I've been buying / coverting a lot recently.

I got a bonus from work, and stupidly, I aimed to satisfy some of my 'lusting after' urges! I got a haul from ASOS (Florida skirt, geometric midi dress, a skater dress I've yet to wear!). I'm waiting on an order from Domino Dollhouse, but I've asked to combine the shipment of the first batch with this dress:

Bone print. Skater cut. MINE!

I've also placed a sneaky Lady Vintage order which I'm waiting on. 

I need to stop. 

So, I'm going to use my blog to help. 

I'm not talking about any challenges or spending bans, just a limit, as it were. A 'blog every outfit' affair, so I can keep track of how many 'this is new' and the like. Hopefully, it'll just mean that I work hard on my styling of the items, rather than relying on new things to liven my attire!

First of all, I've some outfit combinations to share with you all:

Beatles tee - looks great with my Simply Be green skinny jeans!

  New Look black Skater dress - again, I love it with my Simply Be green skinny jeans! (also, much prefer my swoopy side fringe to my full on full fringe)

Dresses for the office! My Dorothy Perkins bike print dress - a 22 but those buttons stand NO chance of fastening - thanks to my cheeky ASDA vest though, it looks like it's meant to be open! And my much loved (but not over worn) ASOS dress from this post (good, I've changed so much in a few months!)

Now we have my black Glamorosa top - a perfect pairing with, you guessed it, the green jeans! I'm over the moon that the Simply Be A/W collection features new items to the Glamorosa range, and I can't wait to try some of them out! (and see what I mean about the full fringe v swoopy fringe battle? Swoopy wins). 

Another item my Mam hates - this ASOS tee - but I don't wear it for her, I wear it because it reminds me of when I was younger and a wannabe rock girrrrrrrl. I think she disapproves of the arms being ooot as well, but who cares! I teamed this with my black skinny jeans, and my leopard print ASDA shoes... Perfect!

So there you have it. I've been wearing a lot of new clothes recently. Some I've bought, some were gifts as thanks for modeling (Hellooooooooo jeans) and some were old favourites!

Thank you for looking / reading - and I'll keep things more updated in future. 

Much love my lovelies,

K x