That Little Black Dress (LBD)

#betheblogger
I love how a simple black dress can create a multitude of different looks just with a little style twist. The Yours Clothing team challenged us to all take the same dress and style it our way. Knowing these girlies, I am sure that every look is going to be seriously unique.

Click the photo below to shop this dress

I was torn between styling the dress for a night out and keeping is casual so I figured, why not show you how I would wear this little black dress both ways!

Leading such a busy lifestyle, I often struggle to find the time to get back home to change outfits so it's really important to find clothes that are versatile enough to be styled from day to night with the addition of a few items.

So here is my first look, the casual weekend day time look.  I went for a more urban grungy look by adding a plaid long sleeve shirt around my waist and kept the feet comfy with a pair of white high top converse.


This plaid top is from Marisota and is a fair few years old, but Yours Clothing love a plaid shirt so here is a alternative shirt option >>  Navy, Pink & White Checked Boyfriend Shirt << but they have so many on offer you can choose whichever colour tickles your fancy.


This outfit would work with any kind of shirt really, even a long sleeved denim shirt or denim jacket like this >> Denim Jacket  <<

Yours have a pair of low rise canvas pumps which would complete the look  >> Canvas Pumps <<


The trumpet sleeve makes it quite unique in it's own right, almost statement enough to rock on it's own but for my evening look I opted to accessorise it up.

Here's my second look, which is way more of an night outfit. This would be perfect for a concert or out for drinks.


I am wearing the "Seductive" harness from Vixen Curves which is still available from their website.  I picked a silver and black clutch to match the harness which is from Simply Be, again a few years old but any clutch would work with this dress. You could even go for a statement clutch in a bold colour for a contrasting look.


These lace up boots are from Yours too, they are sooooooo comfy. I have extremely wide calves so getting these boots to fit round them is a huge achievement.  The heels aren't high and the soles are cleated so they're super grippy.  You can grab yourself a pair here.

The dress itself doesn't have a lot of shape in the body, so I nipped in the waist with a simple elasticated belt.  


The trumpet sleeves are really cute and very on trend this summer. The upper sleeves of this dress are very snug, I actually had to size up in this dress to a 22, as the 20 was too tight on the bicep. By sizing up the dress fitted looser on the arm and there was definitely more give on the tummy area. The neck line of the dress is a V-shape, not particularly low either. The trumpet flares out from just above the elbow.


The length of the dress without any belts or anything tied around my waist comes to just above the knee on my 5ft4" frame. Adding a belt or anything of the like will cause the dress to rise up a little, so for my taller friends, perhaps consider going belt-less!!

I'm so excited to see how the ladies style their dresses, why not give them a cheeky little follow and perhaps you might be inspired by their looks.


I am really interested to know how you would style this dress too, why don't you show me?

Photos by QR Photography

Disclaimer
This item was gifted to me for review purposes.  The review above is based on my own opinions of the products and I own all creative content of this post.

xXx

My Body My Rules; Introducing OBD Clothing

‬ #plussizeactivewear
Finding decent activewear as a plus size woman these days is a hell of a lot easier than it was a few years ago. Don't get me wrong, it's not a piece of cake or nothing, it's still a ball-ache trying to find leggings that stay up when I jump or a sports bra that doesn't eventually try to pierce my heart with it's underwire, but there is definitely more choice out there with more brands widening their size ranges.  

 Hollie of Pretty Big Butterflies suggested I check out OBD Clothing. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they too had chosen to extend their sizes up to a size 28 with their new Curve range.  
OBD offer a range of gym apparel mainly tees and vests at the moment. They start from a size 10 and go up to a 16 in their regular range but their Curves range starts from an 18 and currently goes up to a size 28.  They appear to want to extend their range further if the demand is there too, which I think is a really positive move.

 I go through a lot of activewear, many t-shirts are too heavy to workout in, especially the ones with catchy slogans on them, so it's nice to have a lightweight and breathable tee that will keep me cool during a class.

 Sizewise I ordered a 20 and it's a great fit for me, lovely and loose on the arm and not to clingy on the tummy. 

I teamed it with these awesome distressed joggers from Yours Clothing which unfortunately are no longer available.


The slogan I chose is "My Body My Rules"  This phrase is crucial in my opinion to living a "zero fks given" lifestyle and in the fitness industry especially as a plus size girl I think that's really important. The looks I get when I tell people that I am a +BOOSTfit fitness instructor are priceless. Some just look at me with a "yeah right and I'm the Pope" look others do the whole, "but you're not exactly fit" thing. The best one is the pitiful look that I get as if they think I'm lying. The thing is you cannot judge my health or fitness level just by looking at me. This body is strong and capable of some amazing things, I don't exercise to lose weight, I exercise because I enjoy dancing, it makes me happy and that boosts my mental health as well as improving my fitness. I never wanted to conform, I've never been one to stick to the rules. We were born to be unique and this t-shirt really reinforces that fact. So I wear it and shout even louder, it's my body and I will do with it whatever makes me happy.


Why don't you head on over to OBD's website and check out some of their other slogan tee's and if there is something that tickles your fancy you can use my discount code KAT20 to score yourself 20% off at the checkout.


Overall Summary:  I love this t-shirt, the fabric is breathable and it's super lightweight.  I like the ability to pick the colours of your tee's for a fully customised feel.  The slogans are catchy and positive which is refreshing in this ridiculous culture of shaming others for fun.
Rating: 9/10

Potential improvements: More body posi slogans, introduce crop tops and vests into your curve range and if you ever branch into full activewear, hook a sister up!!

Would I recommend this?  I would thoroughly recommend these tee shirts to any one looking for activewear that is not restricting and doesn't leave you feeling hot and sweaty.

Photos by QR Photography

Disclaimer
This item was gifted to me for review purposes.  The review above is based on my own opinions of the products and I own all creative content of this post.

xXx

Amber Riley: Steal Her Style with Yours Clothing

#betheblogger
In my opinion Amber Riley is an utter babe and totally one of my celeb style icons so clearly it was a given for me to pick this chick to "steal her style."

When someone has such serious style it's kinda hard to pick just one style from Amber's wardrobe. 
So I've picked a couple of looks and have found you guys similar items from Yours Clothing so you too can look as awesome as Amber.

The Casual Look
Khaki Jacket//White T-Shirt//Wet Look Leggings//Oversized Scarf//Tote Bag//Open Toe Heel Boots
I love this outfit, I would be seen wearing this ensemble of a weekend or a casual night out. You can shop Amber's style using the links above and you can pick up this entire outfit for just over £100.00!

The Daytime/Red Carpet Look

Pink Skater Dress
If the arms on this Sienna Couture dress were just a tad longer, this dress would be identical to the dress Amber is rocking.  I have this dress in other colours and I love dressing it up with killer heels for a day event.  You can pick up this dress using the link above for just £25.00.

So all in all you could be blazing up the style trail like Amber in both these outfits for under £150! That's a bargain in my books!

Which Celeb style icon inspires you?

xXx

Introducing Quiz Curve - Pink Bardot Tunic Style Dress

#psbloggers
I adore Quiz Clothing's evening wear range and have always looked at their standard size fashion wear range longing for them to just extend their sizes to accommodate us plus folk. So when I heard that they were launching a #Curve range, I knew that I had to try a few pieces out.  


I could have literally added the entire collection to my basket, just through sheer love at first click but this pink bardot cut tunic style dress caught my eye first.


In Quiz evening gown world I fit comfortably into their size 20, so I stuck with what I knew and drew for the same size in this dress.


The dress is a pale/dusky pink shade and it's made of 100% polyester. It has a bardot style neck line, with 3/4 length frill detail sleeves. The front bow detail is purely aesthetic. As it is a tunic style dress each side is split.



Ok so let's talk about the sizing and fit of this dress in a little more detail shall we...
Firstly the size was accurate in my opinion. If I had've sized down to an 18 it would have been too tight and restricting whereas as a size 22 would have been far too big.  Measurements wise I sit between an 18 and a 20 so if you are like me I would suggest you opt for your higher size. The dress itself doesn't have a structure to it, it hangs freely. There's no under-layer.

Lengthwise this dress measures just under 80cm long.  I am 5ft4" and this dress sits just above my knees.  The dress has two deep splits on either side of the garment which makes for more of a shirt style.  The deep splits are quite revealing. It was super windy when I took these photos, rendering the outfit marginally indecent in a sudden gust of wind.  Hilarious for any onlookers - not so funny for my dignity!


The bardot neckline is fully elasticated so would easily fit to either larger or smaller shoulder widths. In the stock photo, the sleeves appear full length with a the cuff falling at the wrist but when I tried this on it only seemed to stretch to 3/4 length.  The frill cuffs are also fully elasticated.

I styled this for a spring/summer occasion with matching platform heels. You could easily style this differently, perhaps with a pair of flat sandals for a picnic in the park, or even with jeans and heels for an smart/cas girly night out.

This dress retails for £26.99 and is available to buy online.  
The dress is stocked from a size 18 to a 28 and is available in both this colour and a powder blue.

>> Shop Quiz <<



Overall Summary:  I still love the style of this dress. I was disappointed that the dress didn't have much of a structure or shape. The colour is quite pale in comparison to the stock photo. I like the fact that the dress/tunic is versatile.  I plan to style it with jeans next time to see if I prefer it as a top. As the first product I tried from the Curve range I am eager to try more from the collection.

Rating:  7.5/10

Potential improvements:  Perhaps the addition of some structure to the dress so it has more of a shape to it. Slightly less of a deep split, to protect your modesty on windy days ;-P

Would I recommend this? Yes. The dress is beautiful and would be a perfect addition to your spring/summer wardrobe. Invest in a decent strapless bra to get the full bardot effect or where a complimentary coloured bra with straps visible if you prefer.  If you are taller than say 5ft6" you may struggle with the length of this and prefer to wear this solely as a tunic.

Photos by PK Photography

Disclaimer
This item was gifted to me for review purposes.  The review above is based on my own opinions of the products and I own all creative content of this post.

xXx

What's it like to be the #FaceOfYours?

#betheblogger


Yours Clothing have only gone & shortlisted little ole me in their recent #BeTheBlogger competition. I am over the moon, but I wanted to delve a little deeper into the world of Yours.

I hooked up with some of the ladies of The Rubenesque Effect to talk all things Yours, especially as two of them were selected as finalists of their #FaceOfYours competition to find the new faces of the brand.
Photo Credit - Tendai Pottinger - The Rubenesque Effect -  Left to Right - Claire Hynes, Kat Henry, Daniella Smith & Sian Yapp
Meet Claire & Daniella;

So ladies congratulations on being shortlisted I thought I would ask you a few questions to get the inside scoop on what it’s like to be behind the scenes with one of the UK’s largest Plus Size clothing brands.

Firstly how did you feel when you found out you had been selected?
Daniella:  It was very much a shock! I really didn’t expect to be picked out of hundreds of ladies for this as I knew there would be a lot of stiff competition but when got the message from Yours I was elated. I was even more so ecstatic when I got the email to be told I was picked to model one of their trends, it definitely was a dream come true.
Claire: I felt completely shocked too! I had applied to quite a few similar competitions for similar brands and had never been picked before. I couldn’t quite believe it, I've been wearing their clothes for years, half my wardrobe is from Yours.  A couple of their stores are near to me in Basildon and Southend, so I was truly over the moon.


You were each given a trend to showcase, what line did you model?
Claire:  I wore their party wear and Christmas range.
Daniella:   I modelled the Athleisure wear, which I was happy to model as this suited my every day style.

How did you find the fit and feel of the items you wore?
Daniella: I found the items to be very good quality and they seemed to fit me well.  I personally think that the items were true to size.
Claire:  I loved all of the items I wore, the fit of the party/evening dresses were great and really accentuated my curves. I especially loved the Christmas jumpers, they were really fun, and for someone who is tall, jumpers don't usually come down to my bum and these ones do, plus the materials were really soft.

How was the modelling experience overall?
Claire:  Overall, It was a great experience, very nerve wracking but everyone made me feel super comfortable and I came away with some great pictures, I'll remember it forever.
Daniella: I agree, the experience for me overall was great. The team at Yours were lovely and helpful, they made me feel so comfortable and at ease. From the stylist, to the photographer, to the hair and make-up artist and all others involved, they truly made the experience one to remember.

If Yours were to run another competition like this one – what would you say to women who were thinking of entering?
Claire:  I would just say to go for it! People can sometimes doubt themselves and over think stuff but I would advise to just put yourself out of your comfort zone and enter! The Yours ladies love people of all shapes and sizes and this is reflected by the people shortlisted in the #FaceofYours competition.
Daniella:  Everyone should take a chance in life, I did and it paid off, you never know what could happen. When given these opportunities just grab them with both hands and just try your best. They didn’t have any rules or regulations when entering so you didn’t feel like you couldn’t enter either because you’re not the right height or size. If they run something similar, hopefully it will be open to all again.

Thank you ladies, for taking the time to speak to me, just one more thing before you go.  Can you create me a look from Yours which you feel represents elements of your style...

Claire: Sure we can and while we’re at it – why don’t you and Sian get involved too? Here’s mine, I've chosen these items as its winter.  I went for a warm turtle neck jumper with long sleeves and I would usually tuck this into the skirt.  You could wear this to a casual day outing like lunch with friends or a day out shopping! You wouldn't have to worry about wearing heels all day because the Yours heeled boots are super comfortable!    
Shop Claire's Outfit >> Turtle Neck//Ankle Boots//Tights//Skirt
Daniella: So I have paired together a late spring/summer day time casual look.  You could wear this to go shopping, lunch with friends/partner or even a family party.
Shop Daniella's Outfit >>Jeans//Faux Fur Gilet//Longline Tee//Plimsolls//Tote Bag//Jewellery

Sian: Well hey there ladies, I’ve chosen this little selection which I think is super cute and I would totally wear this for a date night or perhaps even out to dinner with the girls.

Thank you ladies, here’s what I would pick;

Shop my outfit >> Coat//Scarf//T-shirt//Jeans//Boots
This outfit is very “Kat” I would wear this for a weekend shopping trip or out and about for lunch.  It’s versatile enough to dress up with a cute clutch & some heels for a night out too.

I also reached out to a couple of ladies who really lived and breathed the ethos that I believe Yours Clothing stands for; fun, fearless and trendy clothing that embraces and enhances the woman’s natural curves, regardless of their shape or size.  They both chose to rock outfits in national beauty pageants.  I watched them both strut their stuff with pride and confidence on the stage so I wanted to know why they chose Yours for their outfits.

Meet Aisha & Alexandra...

 Alexandra:  "I entered Miss British Beauty Curve pageant for the first time last year. I was a bit of a late entry and with only a month to get all my outfits sorted in time I was panicking!! I work in one of Yours Clothing stores so they were my first choice. I absolutely love their clothes!! There is such a range for woman and men of all shapes and sizes and they keep up to date with the latest fashion. I managed to find 2 gorgeous dresses as well as a swimsuit, kimono and 2 pairs of shoes. When I walked on stage in my outfits I felt confident. I had found clothing that fitted me perfectly and was comfortable. Especially my final Chi Chi prom dress I felt like a princess which has got to be every girls dream."

Alexandra - Photo Credit - Paul Carroll
Aisha: "I chose Yours Clothing because as a plus size fashion retailer they do more than just give us fabrics to put on our bodies. They consistently present lines that a woman can be proud to be seen in they represent a fun and fabulous edge to fashion that other high street plus size retailers lack. They have in many ways changed the face of plus size fashion and I was proud to be able to showcase their clothes in a way that they may not have been worn before. I rocked the bikini with no cover up because quite frankly when a bikini makes you feel like a goddess why on earth don't you want the world to see it! The full length shirt I styled with some Afro-centric Nubian styling, with its palm print it was the perfect way to show some Afro-centric sass by mixing with the head wrap and showing a tiny bit of tum to help ladies see that skin is not just for the thin! I chose yours because they are a brand I wear, a brand I believe in and a brand that's accessible to all!"

Aisha at Miss Plus Size UK - QR Photography
I really do think that Yours have found a way to market clothing for plus size folk which is appealable to all different body shapes and sizes and even skin tones.  Speaking to all these ladies has really made me see how much an impact a brand can make, their competitions show inclusivity and diversity whilst their trends breathes an air of sass and versatility.  All these things just really reinforce the reasons why I would love the honour of joining the Yours Clothing Blogger Dream Team – it sounds like not only would it be a tonne of fun but maybe I could reach out to more people with their help to show that fashion is accessible to ALL and not exclusive to any particular size.

xXx

Evans Giveaway PLUS Exclusive Discount Code Just 4 U...

#evansclothing
What a better way to start off 2017 than giving you amazing folk the chance to be rewarded just for being kind...

Early in December I won a fantastic prize from Evans as part of their #EvansBlackFriday blogger competition which included two things which I think might interest you way more than the items of clothing that I chose. Of course it wouldn't be right to not show you what I got but that's not the purpose of this little chat here (bear with me, that post is coming soon)

So in the meantime, who wants some "free"ness?


I would like to give one of you beautiful kids a £20 gift card to spend at Evans Clothing but as it's new year I want to kick it off with nothing but kindness. So in order for you to win I want you to head on over to Instagram and post a photo of you doing something kind for someone else this week, a random act of kindness if you will.  Post your photo, tag both @evansclothing & myself @kat_v_henry in your photo and make sure to use the hashtag #KindnessComesForFree so I can see it.
At 8pm on Sunday 8th Jan 2017 I will pick one of your photos to win this awesome prize.

BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE...

Just for you guys I have been given an exclusive discount to share with you so you can grab 15% off all full price items on the Evans website between 1st January 2017 and 7th January 2017.  Just use the code KAT15 at the checkout.

If you use the code, don't forget to tag me in a pic of what you buy...I'm proper nosey and I wanna see what you buy plus I wanna live vicariously through your purchase cos Christmas got me BROKE as hell!

So - don't delay, go get your kindness on and happy shopping!

 http://www.evans.co.uk/

xx

#EvansBlackFriday Sales - Day 1

#ad
Black Friday sales have arrived and @Evansclothing are kicking things off with a few fabulous offers to get the ball rolling on their week-long sale period.

Every day this week Evans Clothing will feature a new deal online on their website as part of their #EvansBlackFriday sale.  The deals are only valid for each 24 hour period.

Today’s offers are;

Up to 30% off Festive Gifts – including Christmas jumpers, soft cuddly knitwear, sleepwear, accessories and lingerie.

They also have a “Deal of the Day”  Today’s deal is 50% off this Navy Blue Robin Jumper which reduces the price from £35 to just £17.50!!

>> Click here to BUY<<
The item today that has most caught my eye is this saucy little thing…and at reduced price of £38.50 I may just have to make a purchase…or three….

>> Click HERE to buy<<
Make sure you head on over to Evans online and keep an eye on their sales each day – there’s bound to be some amazing offers to come…

Has anything caught your eye so far?  Share your pics with me, tag me,  I wanna see, just don’t forget to use the #EvansBlackFriday & #IAmFestive hashtags too!!

#ad