Why can't my bank balance be unlimited and the storage space never ending?

It's probably best that neither of things come to fruition any time soon, I most definitely don't have the space for any more clothes (Self, set a reminder to set up a blog sale to make more space for new stuff!) and if my bank balance had a face I'm sure it would be throwing me some seriously evil glances every time I use my card!

What else is a girl to do when funds don't permit... WINDOW SHOPPING!  Well proverbially of course, cos I'm doing it online, but come with me and check out some of the bits I am "throwing" in my basket this week...

I have been quite partial to a bardot this summer and this Limited Collection stripe and multi floral print top from Yours Clothing has caught my eye.

I envision wearing this with a pair of skinny jeans and some comfy wedges, cross body bag and a cute choker for a weekend look which could carry from day to night easily.

I'm a sucker for a pretty dress so this skater dress is deffo getting thrown in the basket.  As you know I'm not particularly a fan of a cold shoulder but this dress is super cute.

I adore the floral print against the pale blue it's got a very spring/summer vibe and that's just what I am looking for to brighten these dreary summer days!

Viva Voluptuous had me hooked from their launch party fashion showcase in January.  They dared to inject sexy and stylish lingerie into the plus size scene.  

Images courtesy of Viva Voluptuous

I recently wrote a piece for the Yours Clothing blog talking about the need for women to be more supportive of each other.

As you may know I compete in pageants and I wanted to show that even in an situation where a group of women are physically competing against one another,  it is still possible for them to uplift and support each other at the same time.

In my opinion pageants have a bad rep for catty behaviour yet I have experienced such positivity and community from each one I have taken part in.

Head on over to the Yours blog to read the comments of a few of the contestants from the recent finals of Miss British Beauty Curve.

Read the Full Post here

Entries are open for 2018... Enter NOW!

xXx

I've never really been one to conform to rules, so when "they" say I should wear this and that to suit my body shape I very rarely listen.  This is mostly because, I feel that everyone's body shape differs as do people's tastes and styles.  Telling me to find clothing to "flatter" my figure (which usually means hide my curves) just doesn't work for me and I am a firm believer in wearing whatever the hell you want to if you like it.

All that being said, I understand that people who struggle with finding clothes to fit them look to us bloggers for advice on how to find clothes that allow us plus size girls to accentuate and compliment all our jiggly bits whilst keeping on trend.  So, I'm gonna show you some of the struggles I encounter when shopping instead and tell you how I shop with these things in mind.

Firstly...

My height

I am 5ft 4 so finding trousers that aren't too long and don't end up needing me to take a trip to the tailors to make them wearable is real chore.  I am too tall by one inch to be classed as "petite" and regular is usually still that little bit too long to wear without alteration. This often results in me sticking with trousers like harem pants or tapered legs. As they are gathered at the ankle I don't need to have them taken up and even if they are on the generous side it matters not as I prefer these types of trousers to have a little slack in them (I like the baggy leg look)

This usually extends to my choices for jeans too.  When I was younger, I often listened to what "they" had to say, followed trends in mags and on TV and opted for boot cut jeans. This only resulted in gross frayed and dirty edges to all my denim, I hadn't cottoned onto the wizardry of Wonderweb so all my jeans were ill fated. RIP bootcut jeans!

Nowadays - bootcut is a firm thumbs down for me. The wide bottom just does nothing for my short legs, just making them appear drowned in fabric and inches shorter than they actually are. When inches are so precious in the height department, I have none spare to give, so I have forged a firm alliance with the skinny jean and straight leg boyfriend jean.

One trend that I adore but with my legs being so short I struggle to pull it off - Culottes.

This literally makes me soo sad! I love this jumpsuit and would love to rock it with some flat sandals or converse type pumps but alas, inches say no!  Shorties like me - fear not, there is a saviour.  You may not need to rule out these bad boys if you can just accessorise with a pair of killer heels or even a wedge heel!  The ONLY way I can gracefully pull of culottes is by offering the illusion of longer legs by adding heels. I usually opt for a bold colour heel to really make the outfit pop!

I like to accentuate my waist so I add waist belts to relatively simple tops to nip it all in.

Dress wise, I often opt for a bodycon. I refuse to be ashamed of my tummy, so I never shy away from a tight fitting dress.  I do like to create to smooth silhouette so I choose good supportive underwear and shapewear to accompany these dresses.  I love the way skater dresses taper in at the waist and often chose these too.

I hope these picks will make you see that I very rarely stick to what the media says I should and should not wear.  I wear what I want and what I think looks good on me. The opinion of others about what I choose to wear doesn't phase me.  My Body My Rules!!

So do you know what that means for you?  You can do it too...when you shop, perhaps instead of looking for things to "flatter" your figure - why not decide if YOU like the item...if you do, into the basket it goes.  You will never know if you like something or not until you've tried it.  Just do it - if you don't love how it looks on, you can always return it.

Step out of your comfort zone - wear what makes YOU smile.

xXx

Gladiator Sandals//Backpack

If you’re feeling the pink vibes too – show me what your fave pink picks are…

Denim is a staple in my wardrobe. I probably own more pairs of jeans or denim variations like jeggings than I do shoes (and I have  A LOT of shoes!)  Being 5ft 4" I always struggle to find jeans that work for me lengthwise as well as hugging my figure in the right places.  

In Summer months, wearing heavy weight denim is a chore so I opt for lighter options which aren't gonna make me break out in a sweat.

I'm constantly on the search for that perfect pair, you know the ones...the ones that make you wanna bust out a chorus or two of Ginuwine -"In Those Jeans."  To be honest, a lot of jeans fall short of my expectations making me feel like an utter retail failure.   I've been burnt by so many pairs before, it's hard for me to build up to that level of trust with a pair enough to make me say these are in my faves list.  I know I sound like I have a denim commitment issue but I'm serious, they have to tick so many boxes;

When looking for a prospective pair of jeans, they gotta meet the criteria or they simply get shoved in the pile of "maybe somedays" that sit at the back of the jeans shelf.

I chose a couple of pairs of jeans from Yours Clothing recently and I think it's only right that we see if they make the cut together.

First up are these Bleach Wash Skinny Jeans. These retail at just £19.99 and are a lightweight denim. They have some elastane in them, so definitely have some stretch in. I am wearing a size 20 and are true to size, no need to size up or down here.

The fit on the bum and waist is good, they don't dig into my waist/hips and there is no huge gaping space they fit snug. Nice curve hug :)

The exact length of these is 30" inside leg so on my 5ft 4" frame they are a little on the long side for me.  There's a few gathers at the ankle which is pretty normal for me with skinnies, but would definitely fit someone who is around 5ft5/6 better.

These jeans have quite a bit of excess fabric in the front, so for those of us with a considerable apron/pouch, these should stretch to accommodate that, but after a while they seem to appear saggy in the front which is a shame.

They stood the crouch & squat test with ease.  Nothing is more heart-breaking then feeling the inside leg rip on your fave pair.

Sitting wasn't uncomfortable at all, they didn't feel stretched too tight or restricting.  I styled the jeans with a slouch "Brooklyn NY" tee also from Yours which is currently on sale for £11.25 but minimal sizes left.

The second pair of jeans I wanna talk about are these Super Stretch Skinny Jeans in black.

These are a little more expensive at £21.99 but in my opinion these jeans are worth the extra.

I'm wearing a size 20 (28" length) in these jeans and they are a perfect fit.  They tick every box for me and they are super soft and comfortable too.  The wash well and really don't lose their shape or soft feel.  I have absolutely nothing to add to these jeans to make them better...they really are awesome. 

The jeans are available in three lengths; 28", 30" and 32" too so there's more chance of finding a better fit lengthwise.

I am in love with this #LimitedCollection Black Floral Top with Slashed Back. I bought this in a size 18 and it's really generous, I could have even sized down further in this top. It's really long as a top and could even be worn as a dress I reckon.

The floral print detailing has been designed to look like embroidery and it's quite authentic for a print!  The colours are beautifully eye-catching.  It's currently reduced to £14.99 in limited sizes - so go now...pick one up. 

  

I adore the slashed back of this top though, giving the top that unique customised feel. Slashes and customising tees is something that I used to do to my tops all the time in the early 00's so I'm so glad the trend is back, it means I can crack out all my old designs :)