My Yours Clothing Spring Wishlist

Good morning!

So last week I attended the Spring/Summer 2015 press day for Yours Clothing and I fell head over heels for so many of the gorgeous pastels pieces. The collection, if you prefer something brighter, some of which is online now has something for everyone - there a bright colours, gorgeous prints and a real mix of style so it's definitely worth checking out. I love how so may of the pieces will be great for both work and going out too!

1. Pastel Pink Chiffon Sleeveless Tunic - This tunic is gorgeous and perfect for Summer!

2. Nude and Pink Floral Skirt - This skirt is a scuba material and the fit is amazing!

3. Orchid Print Blouse - A gorgeous blouse in such a beautiful colour.

4. Nude Pink Scalloped Cuff Top - The scalloped cuffs on this top are gorgeous and I think would look amazing tucked in to the floral skirt! Outfit done!

5. Pink Chiffon with Pleat back Top - The back of this top is incredible and would look so great with leggings and heels.

I can't wait to get a few of these in my closet so I can wear them out and about in the sun!

Do you have any new favourites from Yours Clothing at the moment?

#WeAreTheThey and We Don't Play by the Rules

Hello my lovelies!
Today I bring you a refresher course on breaking the rules and taking control of your own body and looks. The amazing and inspiring #WeAreTheThey campaign started by Debz of Wannabe Princess has become a phenomenon and is pushing people everywhere to take back their right to look, dress and feel how they want about their bodies. I am tired of being reminded day in and day out about what I, as a fat woman should or should not wear because of my size.
Here are my top 5 fashion tips to ignore regardless of your size:

1. Cover up your arms - No, it's hot outside, and your shoulders have every right so see the light of day, as do you arms regardless or their size, colour, texture etc.  Anyone who tells you otherwise is projecting their own discomfort and body imagine issues on to you and you owe it to no one to explain. Your body, your rules.

2. Crop Tops are a no-no - No! Crop tops are cool and I want to wear one. End of discussion. Take your anti-crop-top talk elsewhere or waste your energy fighting something that matters, which is not the state of my midsection.

3. Horizontal stripes are not a good choice for bigger people. For me, if I like the clothing and it has horizontal stripes, so be it. This idea that avoiding a certain print or colour will make you smaller is silly.  You are the size that you are so wear horizontal stripes and enjoy every single one of them!

4. Wear all black or muted colours and no exagerated prints.  This rule has always baffled me since plus size retailers since the beginning of time have seemingly only produced what can be described as floral tents, completely disregarding this rule - thank goodness! Guess what - prints are great and colours too - they accentuate other lovely parts of your body like your eyes or gorgeous skin tone or hair colour - prints and colours don't reserve themselves purely for comments about your size. Prints and colours don't care because they know they are fabulous.

5. Big bodies shouldn't be seen at the beach or pool. Guess what, a great swim suit can change a person. Get a great suit or a fatkini and get out there. The sun and the water don't care what size you are, they just care that you are having a nice day out enjoying their fruits.  Stand tall, feel good and know that your body is the same as anyone else's - beautiful!

So there you have it - regardless of the time of the year or your size, you have the same right as anyone else to wear what you like and feel great in it.
Don't let other people's insecurities be the deciding factor of how you dress - you are your own person.
This post is one of many in this blogging challenge so please check out the other gorgeous babes participating below and hit up all social media with your pics and tips using #WeAreTheThey.

http://www.wannabeprincess.co.uk

www.coffeeandcosmetics.com

http://prettybigbutterflies.com/

http://www.bumpandbeyondblog.co.uk

Hosting Your Own Blogger Event!

It’s always fun to go along to a blogging event, you get to meet other bloggers, make new friends and if you’re lucky, get your hands on some fantastic goodies.

For me, one of the major benefits of living in London, aside from having access to Oxford Street and Westfields, of course, is that there are always blogging events going on. But, sadly, for many bloggers living in more remote areas, blogger meets are few and far between.

Photo source

However, there is no need to miss out. If there are no blogging events being held near you, why not create your own? Organising a blogger get together might seem like a lot of hard work, but with the right organisation and planning, it shouldn’t be too tricky.

I haven’t organised a blogging event myself yet, but I am hoping to do so in the next few months (watch this space). Here are a list of tips and ideas I have come across when research and preparing for organising my own blogger meet up.

Ask yourself who you will invite

There are millions of bloggers out there; obviously you can’t invite them all. So you need to have a think about which bloggers you want to invite to your event, is there one group of blogger you could cater your event to?

For instance, I am hoping to organise a blogging event for plus size fashion bloggers. I would love to invite along some other bloggers too, but too many bloggers and the event could easily get out of hand. At a maximum, I would say invite 15 bloggers to your first event - you can always invite more bloggers to the next one.

Choose a location for the event

While you could hire out a venue, that’s going to be quite pricey and probably not possible if you plan on organising the event by yourself.

Instead of hiring a venue, why not hold the meet up in a trendy cafe, bar or restaurant? You won’t need to pay to book a table, each blogger will just need to pay for their food and drinks on the day. Another option could be holding the event in a local park - this is an ideal location if you plan on holding your event during the summer months.

Set a date

One of the most difficult parts of organising a blogging event is setting the date. It can be hard to work out a date that is good for everyone. However, there are ways to get around this issue. I found doodle.com to be an amazing resource.

A free website, doodle.com is an amazing resource that lets you create an event and allows the people you invite to suggest dates that work for them. The site will then give you an idea of which dates will work best for the majority of guests.

Make it special

With so many blogger meet ups around, it is crucial that you make yours stand out. Think of the different ways you can add something unique to your event, get creative and see what you can come up with.

Perhaps you could arrange limo hire for the bloggers, pre-event makeovers or a post-event pampering treat at a local salon? Think about how you can make your blogging event as fun and enjoyable as possible. Whatever you do, just make sure your event stands out.

Arrange the goody bags

As I mentioned earlier, one of my favourite parts of attending a blogging event is the goodie bags. I just love seeing what little bits and bobs I’ve been given - so exciting.

Image credit

Of course, when you are arranging your own event, the idea of having to pay out for goodie bags might put you off. But, don’t let it. You don’t have to buy the goodie bag gifts yourself, get in touch with a few brands and ask them if they would be willing to sponsor your event.  Most larger brands are happy to do this, and only ask for a few product reviews in return.

To plan a fantastic event, be organised, choose an affordable venue, and most importantly, make it special.

Mixing Prints at the Market

 Good morning my lovelies!

Today I bring you an outfit inspired by one of my absolute favourite bloggers who I have followed since the beginning -  Chastity of Garnerstyle. She is the queen of mixing prints and has the best collection of skirts that I have ever seen.

If you don't know her, please check her out - she is a true style icon.

I received this gorgeous candy stripe blouse from George at Asda this week and my first thought was to head to my closet in search of my favourite midi skirt and I think it really works. 

Blouse c/o George at Asda, Skirt - handmade by unknown, Flats - Primark

I think this will be a definite go-to outfit for Summer and those warmer Spring days ahead. I love all the colour and print mixing - it just makes me feel fresh and alive again!
If you want to try your hand at mixing and matching prints, then check out this handy guide from GarnerStyle.

#WeAreTheThey & #PlusSizedWars | A Week Of Plus Size

This week in the world of plus size fashion and body positivity has been crazy. From the ignorant comments made by Jamelia on Loose Women to a very good documentary on Channel 4 called Plus Sized Wars.

I couldn't ignore what was going on and say nothing, so here are my two cents.

Jamelia thinks that people who don't fit society's idea or standard of normal should not only shop exclusively in shops for them (like a plus size clothing store) but also be made to feel uncomfortable whenever they do shop in standard sized stores.

I think the main thing that upsets me is that she somehow thinks that by making someone feel uncomfortable about their size, that it will motivate them to change it. Along with this, comes the idea that she or anyone has the right to deliberately make another person feel uncomfortable in order to force them to fit an ideal that they think is correct or normal.

It really is a sad and upsetting thing to hear and even worse to see so many people agreeing with it.

It shows a true lack of understanding and empathy for our fellow humans and should pose a real concern for young people growing up now.

I think back to my overly self conscious 13 year old self, out shopping on the high street, which at the time really didn't make me feel welcome at all, and if I had heard someone like Jamelia say what she said on television this week, it would have really upset me and left me feeling like no where is safe for a body like mine.

If at 13 you begin thinking that you are nothing and unacceptable, how do you find the strength to do all that you are capable of and to live your life to the fullest?

Young people are fed a line which can stick with them forever and damage them so easily. We should be encouraging those around us to be/do/achieve anything they want and not focus on their size. With encouragement, self love and confidence comes success and that should be the ultimate goal.

Everyone, regardless of size deserves to feel good in something they wear. Fashion isn't a size and style is not a number - it's a feeling and an expression of who we are as people. 

I wish that Jamelia and all those who support her comments would think for a second to what it's like to be told you are no good - not in relation to size but in relation to a time that it's happened to them and how easily confidence can be knocked and damaged and how building it back up again can be near impossible for some.

Using your platform as a television presenter to spread these terribly articulated thoughts and ideas is damaging and irresponsible. You do not decide for others - you do not have that write.

I am so pleased to be able to close this post by saying that the lovely Debz of Wannabe Princess started a movement #WeAreTheThey as in the people that wear above a size 20 etc. and we are just that  - people. Women and men posted photos under the hashtag of themselves looking fabulous and declaring that each person has their own right to decide what they want to wear and where they want to purchase it.

There were so many fabulous photos and inspiring words and it made me so grateful to be part of such a wonderful community. I hope that the incredible coverage of Debz's movement has introduced our world to those who felt without a community.

My final thought, comes back to the Channel 4 documentary mentioned at the top, which was really great and for the most part did a great job of showcasing plus size fashion from bloggers to brands. The question it left me with is why when it comes to plus size can it never just be about fashion?

Why must we always talk about health, lifestyle etc when in standard sizes we say nothing but comment on the actual clothes? Why can't we have fashion for the sake of style and not size?

Introducing Kiabi - French Curves Fashion!

Good morning my gorgeous readers!

Today I am introducing you the French brand Kiabi who have an international website and have some really lovely pieces. I am wearing a long khaki duster style coat, an item from their French site that I was very kindly sent but hopefully it will appear on the international site soon.

Bonjour mes amies!

Aujourd'hui, je vous présente la marque française Kiabi qui ont aussi un site international et vendent de très belles pièces. Je porte le veste longue kaki, que j'ai reçu comme cadeau de Kiabi et qui est vendu sur le site français  mais j'espère que ce sera sur le site international bientôt.

Kiabi has so many great basic pieces and plenty of great statement pieces too! I am wearing a size Eur 52 to give you an idea of sizing. I wear a UK 20 and I would say that it is true to size.

 Kiabi ont une collection très varies avec pleins de jolies pieces. Je porte une taille 52 Eur pour vous donner une idée de taille. Je porte un UK 20 et je dirais que c'a taille bien.

This vest is part of the new "Wild" collection and is so cool. It has great little pockets, decorative shoulder straps and an exaggerated collar. It just oozes style. It's a great lightweight coat and will be a staple in my closet through Spring.

Cette veste fait partie de la nouvelle collection «Wild» et est tellement cool. Le veste a des super petites poches, bretelles décoratives et un collier exagérée. C'est vraiment une piece géniale et sera une de mes pieces préférée dans mon placard pour le printemps.

Coat - Kiabi, Top - #Effyourbeautystandards (Unavailable), Jeans - Primark (Size 20)

Necklace - Primark, Flats - Primark, Glasses - Crap Eyewear

And here's a cheeky shot of my new #Effyoubeautystandards shirt which I love.

At the moment they aren't for sale so you will have to sit tight if you want one.

Et voila, une petite photo de ma nouvelle t-shirt #EffYourBeautyStandards qui ne sont pas en vends a ce moment, mais surement bientôt.

Thank you to Kiabi for the lovely coat - be sure to check them out!!

Merci a Kiabi pour ma nouvelle veste!

Getting Creative with Black Heart Creatives

Good morning my loves!

Last weekend I attended a jewellery workshop in London with the amazing Black Heart Creatives acrylic jewellery company. If you are a long time reader of my blog, you will recognise the name as I have featured them several times, but the most popular moment was when I wore my giant mermaid tail necklace to the British Plus Size Awards - read about it here!

I love my mermaid tail, so when the lovely Charlotte from BHC said she was running a workshop to make one in London at Barsmith I thought it would be a great opportunity to show you all what they do!

The workshops are held at different times and not just in London so be sure to follow BHC to see if they are near you. The venue was a lovely bar in the city with a great big work table at the back. Charlotte had trays all set up with kits and tools ready to go when we arrived.

We were making both an ocean themed bracelet and tail necklace so you end up with a complete set!

With Charlotte's guidance, we hooked together all the pieces - using our own design and ideas for what pieces we wanted and it wasn't too hard and of course really good fun!

We enjoyed lovely fruit cocktails as Barsmith do a 2for1 deal and they were super tasty!

When we moved on to the necklaces, we hooked all the pieces together, chose all our rhinestones and appliqués and then were shown how to stick them all down using acrylic glue. I kept my mermaid tail classy yet blingy - which I think it says a lot about me - ha!

Please see this super glamorous photo below of my cat modelling it for you:

The workshop had a fantastic atmosphere and was such a great time. I met some really lovely ladies and saw a few good friends too so it was a really fantastic way to spend a weekend afternoon.

If you love Black Heart Creatives' jewellery then you should definitely attend one of their workshops the next time they run them - you will not be dissapointed!

For those of you who don't know BHC, check out my top picks from their new new "Meet the plastics" collection!

Lilac Heart Pom Pom Earrings

As If Candy Heart Collar Clips

Lipstick Brooch/Ring

If you have attended a workshop please tell me what you thought in the comments and share your pics! I want to see what you made!

Monopodolla dolla bills!

Good morning!

So last week I spent a really great evening with plenty of other bloggers at the Joe Blogs Network HQ and Legal & General to promote investments. Joe Blogs very cleverly took us all back to our childhoods by letting us play a very heated and fun game of Monopoly - which would have, at least for most of us, been the first time that we ever encountered the concept of investing and such.

I am not a massively competitive person, but I still got very into the game - My table had some serious Monopoly players so it was definitely a good time!

Despite being broke very early in, I held on to my Mayfair right to the end.

The evening was full of laughter and of course Prosecco and pizza!

Someone let me be banker and I managed to conceal the fact that I am terrible with quick maths for most of the game.

I think I may have been in the top three losers but the lovely Claire from our table ended up taking home second prize which is amazing!

I'm sure you will recognise a few familiar faces on my table like the lovely Hollie (Pretty Big Butterflies) and Stephanie (NerdAboutTown) and lots of new ones too! It was so great to meet new bloggers and have such a lovely evening!

Thanks  Joe Blogs Network and Legal & General for the super night!

Check out #LandGGamesnight on social medias to see more from the night!

Affordable and Memorable Stay At Home Date Ideas!

In a perfect world, couples would get away from home for a couple of nights to a romantic location. Sadly, the reality for most lovers is that their busy work and social lives means they seldom have time to go off the radar for a couple of days. Yes, even on weekends too!

But all is not lost. Even if you’ve got kids in tow, it’s still possible to share some "alone time" together. After all; that’s what babysitters got invented for! Plenty of couples can spend some romantic time together at home.

Even if money is tight, it’s still possible to keep the magic of love in the air for you both. This handy guide will give you some helpful tips for inspiration:

Source

Hire a hot tub

If the weather is good, there’s nothing better than to soak yourself in a relaxing hot tub outdoors! Imagine the scene. You and your other half are enjoying each other’s company in a hot tub. You're both drinking champagne and toasting your relationship together and having a great time.

You don’t have to worry about kids or other people disturbing you both in your garden. And you can just sit back and relax, thinking about how brilliant your home date is going! Hot tubs are cheaper to hire than buy, and it sure beats sitting in front of the TV together not talking much to each other!

Prepare a romantic meal

Before you both enjoy a soak in the hot tub you’ve hired, you’ll want to have a bite to eat. Here is your time to shine! Start by preparing the meal area. You should set the table with your best cutlery, napkins and so forth.

Create a meal that both you and your partner will love. If you need help, there are plenty of online recipe websites you can look at!

You could cheat and cook ready-made meals, but proper home-cooked ones taste much nicer. Plus, you can be more creative with how you craft each course!

It goes without saying that you shouldn’t forget the wine and champagne for your romantic meal. I recommend buying your drinks from an online wine store as they are much cheaper than grocery stores. Plus, you can buy in bulk and save some bottles for future meals together.

Turn your bedroom into a love nest

Another neat idea is to convert your abode in a love nest for you and your other half. Fit your best silk sheets, tidy your stuff away and cover your bed with rose petals. You could also install a canopy over your bed to be extra romantic!

Instead of using electrical lighting, consider adorning your bedroom with scented candles.

Not only will it add to the ambience of your evening together, your bedroom will also smell nice too!

As you can see, these are just some of the many ways you can have a romantic date at home together. And you don’t have to spend big bucks on a trip to Paris either!

This post contains affiliate links

French Curves | Couleurs Pastels

Bonjour!

(English below)

Le 16 du mois est déjà là et le thème du mois c'est les couleurs pastel. J'adore les couleurs pastel et je suis si heureux qu'ils sont de retour cette saison. Ma tenue a été inspiré par une combinaison de milk-shake et des guimauves. Je pense que porter les couleurs pastel est une bonne éxcuse pour dire au revoir à l'hiver et bonjour au printemps et l'été. J'ai hate de porter des chemises et des pantalons pleins de couleurs tous les jours et me sentir fraîche et renouvelée!

The 16th of the month is here already and the theme of this challenge was pastel colors. I love pastel couleurs and I am so happy that they are back in style this season. My outfit was inspired by a milkshake and haribo marshmallows. I think pastel colors are a perfect opportunity to say goodbye to winter and welcome the Spring and Summer. I can't wait to put on colorful tops and trousers everyday and feel fresh and renewed!

What I am wearing:

Cardigan: Primark

Dress/Robe: Yours Clothing

Flats: New Look

See you next month! 

À bientôt, les amis!

My Spring Favourites From Evans

Good morning lovelies!

So today, since it has been a while since I shared some of my online favourites, I thought I would do a sort of wishlist/favourites post. I chose Evans because I am well and truly impressed with how well they have been doing as of late with their new collection and Spring trends.

These are my top 6 things that I am considering as must haves in my wardrobe this year.

1. Collection Black High low Hem Top - Evans - This top is so feminine and sophistacated and will look amazing with shorts or leggings for when it's nice out.

2. Collection Cobalt blue Bralet Top - Evans - I am obsessed with this bralet and the fact that Evans are doing a bralet - I need this to go with my ever growing collection of midi skirts!
3. Blue Denim Longline Shirt - Evans - Denim is always an easy go to and this tunic will be so easy to throw on with leggings and cute flats or sandals and jazz up with great accesories. It's also perfect for this weird in between weather too!
4. Ultra Stretch Skinny Jeans - Evans - I haven't had a chance to try these jeans yet but everyone says they are amazing so they are on my list to test out. Evans here I come!
5. Blue Cloud Print Tunic - Evans - I am in love with this tunic - it reminds me of the new Cath Kidston collection which is all cloudy and such, however all too small for me so I am super excited about this!

Brown Leopard Print Sandals - Evans - These sandals are cute but comfortable and will be great for weekends walking and visiting markets and hopefully sitting in the park!

I find this the hardest time of the year to get dressed in the morning because I start off wanting to be cozy but by the time I arrive at work it's sunny and I am too warm.

What are your go to outfits for Spring?