"They" Can't Wear That!!

Debz of Wannabe Princess has had another brainwave to add further value to the #WeAreTheThey statement.
Today we are hitting back again but this time we are dispelling all the "THEY shouldn't wear that" rumours.

Well guess what... #WeAreTheThey and We will NOT be told what NOT to wear!

1. Tight Clothing/BodyCons
Up until late 2014 I had never dreamed of wearing a body con dress but with the right shapewear & a spoonful of self confidence I have embraced the Body Con with both arms!  



2. Leggings
Leggings are my go-to on the weekend and they can even be dressed up so why would we not want to wear them??


3. White
White can be a tricky one as sometimes it can make me look wider but it's one of my favourite colours so I'll be damned if anyone is gonna tell me to stop wearing it!


4. Bright colours
I have always worn bright colours - they really brighten up a day. I don't even understand they theory about not wearing them!?



5. Bold patterns
I personally think they distract attention away from my lovely lady lumps!


6. Horizontal stripes
Why ever not - I always wear stripes without a care in the world!


7. High heels & Skinny Jeans
I am short - so without heels I feel so small!  I will never stop wearing heels and as for skinny jeans - I live in them!


8. Bikinis
Daniella & Sian have amazing bodies and I think they look fantastic!!


9. Crop tops
 Here we have Sheivelle, Sian & Daniella proving that any size girl can rock a crop!



10. Short skirts
Most of my work dresses are verging on indecent! But hey, I think I look pretty damn good!!



11. Shorts

...BUT WHY NOT DAN LOOKS HOT!!!

12. Fishtail Dresses
This dress made me win the +Scarlett Jo Selfie Competition - It's a winner in my eyes!


13. Dresses with side splits
I personally love this dress - it's girly and makes me feel fantastic!


14. Make up
This is the silliest of all - cos what woman doesn't feel fantastic with a splash of lippy??



15. Pencil Skirts.
I do love a pencil skirt, me.. what exactly is wrong with a pencil skirt anyway?



All in all - I say, if you feel fab in it - where whatever the hell you want!

#WeAreTheThey and we EMBRACE fashion!!

Big love and thanks to Siân Yapp, Daniella Smith & Sheivelle Ofori for letting me share their pics xx

#WeAreTheThey

When Debz of The (Not So) Secret Diary of a Wannabe Princess created the #WeAreTheThey hashtag to stand up to Jamelia's harsh words on Loose Women last week, I never in a million years would've thought we could make it trend on Twitter. I am astounded by the strength & resilience we as a Plus Size Community have together. Standing proud we hit back at the statement from Jamelia in which she stated,
 
“I do not think it's right to facilitate people living an unhealthy lifestyle."
 
“They should be made to feel uncomfortable when they go in and can't find a size.”
 
Whilst I believe that everyone is entitled to an opinion how you share that opinion should be considered.  To make someone feel ashamed, hurt or embarrassed, segregated or unworthy is really not okay. It is a form of discrimination.
 
We are Human and funnily enough we are all unique. We come in different shapes & sizes, so why can't we all just accept that and not seek to shame each other for our differences.
 
So in revolt the plus size community took to social media putting a face to the "They" that Jamelia was singling out. The "They" is not a faceless embodiment of beings in society... we are real people...
#WeAreTheThey
 
Here was my 2 pence worth....
 
We are nothing to be ashamed of, we are strong, we are not the minority, we can be happy, we can be healthy, we come in all shapes and sizes, we are beautiful...we are women...
 
#WEARETHETHEY
 
I am 31, 5ft 4, size 18/20.  I have been a size 12 and I have been a size 28 and I have worked my ass of to get to where I am now.  I am a happy, confident woman, I am a mother, I work hard, I support my family, I am a signed Plus Size/Curve Model & Fashion and Beauty Blogger. I am beautiful and I deserve to be happy...I strive to be healthier but I am not ashamed of who I am.
 
#IAmMe
 
#Stophating #nohatezone #wearethey #bodyshamingisnotok #itsdisrimination #everybodyisbeautiful #allgirlsrock #effyourbeautystandards #psbloggers #thepsbloggers #empowerment #bodyconfidence #selflove #loveyourself
 

Forever Unique Greta Dress

I simply adore this dress, I love every single thing about it from the cut to the fabric to the way it goes "swoooooosh" to the way it makes me feel!


This infamous dress has sparked the biggest dilemma in my 32 years on this planet! #FirstWorldProblems

I bought the dress from +Simply Be store on Oxford Street in the hopes of wearing it for a recent photoshoot but it wasn't really in line with the vibe of the shoot so it was not worn :(  


This dress is a statement dress and as it retails for £195.00 it's not something that I could warrant as an impulse keep. 


The dress is impeccably made and there is no doubt in my mind that it is worth every penny!  The colour is a gorgeous shade of coral/peach and the fabric is quite light but it is well lined underneath so it's quite a heavy dress. 

The cut was what I loved the most, it really flattered the chest area although it called for the lowest plunge line of a bra possible.  It really made me feel like a princess, so much so that I want my future wedding dress to have similarities to the cut.


As I loved the dress so much I thought I would get Mya to take a few pics of me in it for memories sake...I posted the pics on facebook & insta and I was not prepared for the feedback I got.  It very quickly catapaulted to my most liked & commented on photo, people were really loving the dress offering so much praise that it only made my predicament worse!

I have until 7th May to decide whether I want to keep the dress for a special occasion, I have a ball in July and the British Plus Size Awards in November but as I plan to continue with my fitness levels and have just embarked on a "drop a dress size" challenge, it could end up being too big come those events.

Help me people - do I return it or keep it?? 

What would you do??

Why I love being part of the Plus Size Community

Today has been an extremely busy day on social media with all the hype surrounding the Channel 4 documentary; Plus Size Wars.

I watched it  & instantly felt so empowered to see blogger friends and idols representing ladies all over the world.

In this debate I sit firmly in the PRO CHOICE category; Every BODY is beautiful and you should be free to live your life how you want to regardless of what size/shape you are.  

As long as you are happy & healthy that's all that matters in my opinion.  Now I find that health is not just about how fit you are but it also extends to your mental health too.    I have struggled with yo-yo weight all my life and have had my fair share of health issues and suffered depression due to my weight too. I strongly believe that happiness starts from within and if we can promote confidence & love for the skin you are in then anything is possible.

You may reach a point where you feel you want to become fitter or drop some weight or tone up or gain a few pounds or lose a few inches or change any other aspect of ourselves that we may not be happy with and you know what I think that's positive because it acknowledges that we are always changing and we are all unique.

Some people are happy the way they are....some people want change...and both are just as beautiful in my eyes.

I am so pleased to be surrounded by people who empower & support others, a family of strangers who are infused by common interests whether it be fashion, beauty, food, hobbies...we are all wonderfully creative & gorgeous individuals.  I love that you are not judged for being you, that you are accepted and loved regardless of what size you are.  I love that you are welcomed with open arms, that you are supported through rough times and celebrated through the good.

I am proud to be part of this family!

Xx


Warrior Goddess Fantasy Beauty Shoot with Chiara Aprea

Yesterday has gotta go down as one of the most memorable days in my life!

I had the pleasure of being made up & captured by Chiara Aprea of C.A Photography

I was petrified as this shoot was set to throw me head first outta my comfort zone and it really did do just that!

Chiara is fabulous, she exudes confidence and her artistry skills are fantastic.  I had been admiring her work for some time and I knew that she would be the perfect catalyst to explore a more unique side of me.

She instantly made me feel at ease with her warm personality, I wasn't afraid any more but just eager to see how her vision of what she wanted to achieve could be portrayed using little ole me!

The poses were tough but she gave impeccable direction and I felt like an utter muppet doing it but gee whizz did they photograph well.

I will totally be booking up with her again and exploring as many looks as I can cram in before she makes it big and becomes completely outta my price range! (with her talent this is inevitable!!)

If you are interested in stepping away from the norm and trying something fabulously creative then give her a call - she will NOT disappoint!






You can sample some more of Chira's amazing work on Instagram; https://instagram.com/ca_muartistry

Would you nominate me for "Best New Blog" ?

Ladies & Gentlemen... I ask one small favour of you...

If you have 5 minutes spare would you consider nominating me for the "Best New Blog" award?

I have had the most amazing ride since publishing my first blog post on 22nd October 2014. In the last 6 months I have achieved so much and my confidence has been boosted tenfold and that is simply down to two things; YOUR Love and YOUR support. I couldn't have done it without you.

It would mean the world to me to be nominated...so if you can...please do!

My blog Name is "The World Through Kat's Eyes" and the blog address is www.henryskat.blogspot.co.uk

http://www.britishplussizeawards.co.uk/categories/nominate/

Much lovage Xx

Charity Fashion Show in aid of St Catherine’s Hospice

Last Wednesday I attended a local fashion show hosted by the Tandridge Friends of St Catherine’s and Catwalk Connections Ltd.  It took place at Caterham School and your ticket price gave you a free glass of wine and nibbles alongside a prime seat to enjoy the show and browse the fabulous items on sale whilst raising money for a very important cause.
St Catherine’s Hospice is a charity providing care, support and housing to people with progressive, life-threatening illnesses.  They also provide support to their families, friends and carers.  The charity has been established for well over 30 years and this particular arm of the charity focuses on people within the areas of Crawley, Horsham, Mid Sussex and East Surrey.

Hospice care is based on the belief that each person is more than their illness, and that each of us has unique physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs.  St Catherine’s responds to the needs of each individual, helping people achieve the best possible quality of life.
Many of the people who I had the pleasure of speaking to at the show had a personal reason for supporting the charity and it was abundantly clear that they value the work that this team provide but like all Charities, they rely heavily on the support of the public to keep this core function running.

The show was hosted by a very talented and animated lady who really engaged the crowd.

It was lovely to see that the models were real women of varying shapes and sizes.  They were beautiful ladies who walked with style, grace and confidence, whilst showcasing the beautiful items on sale.  All items showcased were on sale at the event along with many many more at a small fraction of the RRP.  Some discounts varying from 10-50% off making it very difficult to not walk away with a basket full of new garments.





The many sponsors of the night provided a wonderful array of raffle prizes and Waitrose provided the refreshments.  Barclays Bank promised matched fundraising, doubling the money raised on the night.

All in all I had a fabulous time and I even got the chance to meet some of the team and talk to a couple of the models about pursuing modelling opportunities.
It was quite an honour to be sat amongst such strong women; thank you for having me!


I have been graciously given all images by St Catherine’s Hospice.
All photo credit to Robin Lord/St Catherine’s Hospice Charity


Please take the time to browse the website; http://www.stch.org.uk/