Sex And The City Chic - A Lane Bryant Review

*This outfit was gifted

Anyone feeling festive? The time of year has come when everyone is in the holiday spirit. The streets are adorned with beautiful lights, fun activities are available for an afternoon of family fun and many people are getting ready for their office party to end the year with a bang! I like many other women out there try to make the most of the season. The events calendar is getting booked up, and our party looks are starting to come together following some amazing sales and offers over the Black Friday weekend. I am happy to say I have some fun, festive and sexy looks this December and I can't wait to rock them!

Those of you who are familiar with my style will know that I love to dress up and get girly from time to time. More often than not when I want to tap into my softer side I'll wear a 1950s swing dress, tailored bodycon dress or I'll mix it up and go all out in a tutu! One of my all time favourite television shows, which just so happens to be a cult classic is the amazing Sex And The City! I was hooked on this show back in the day and find myself watching the entire collection of episodes every year around this time. My favourite character on the show was and is still Ms Carrie Bradshaw. I loved her style and sense of dress. She always managed to look sexy in an understated and feminine way with a bit of an edge. From the very first episode, right the way to the 2nd movie we saw Carrie rocking tutus in sleek and stylish ways...

Speaking of my love for tutus some of you may remember this look of mine from the summer...

I really enjoy big puffy skirts and usually they come at a midi length which is just the perfect length for me. I'm not a huge fan of how short skirts look on me and as I prefer to go bare legged, midi length skirts are perfect on my 5'5 frame. Recently I was given the opportunity to review some amazing clothes from Lane Bryant and they have a variety of winter looks to suit every shape and style. When I first saw their Metallic Layered Tulle Skirt I knew it was an item I just had to try! Once again I had an idea of a Carrie Bradshaw inspired look with a twist and this skirt was just perfect for what I had in mind! 

I'm wearing this skirt in a 22/24 and I have to say the fit is amazing! The length gives a nice amount of coverage and feels really warm, especially for this time of year. Soft layers of chiffon on top of a lining in a soft gold, the ruffled layers and cut make for a really nice and stylish piece. Unfortunately this skirt is currently out of stock, hopefully they get more in, it's such a gorgeous one! Usually this time of year I end up wearing dark colours with one burst of colour for fun. With this look I wanted a soft and girly look so when I saw the Metallic Ribbed Turtleneck I thought it would go really nice with the skirt. 

I'm wearing this turtleneck sweater in a size 22/24 and I have to say I absolutely love this one! I have worn this top with jeans and wet look leggings and it works every time! The soft blush coloured fabric has soft touches of glitter and would be great for a casual yet festive item of clothing. To finish off my look I knew I wanted to wear my usual make up. I don't really play around with my eye make up but I do like to try out different shades of lipstick. Hanna borrowed me one of hers to try and I absolutely loved how the deep plum colour contrasted with the blush and gold tones of my outfit. 

I originally had planned to finish off this outfit with a pair of black heels but Hanna had pulled out a pair of cranberry heels that she had and thought would look great on. These are from New look but are unfortunately unavailable. The good news is that they have a new pair that are really similar so I may have to pick them up! I pulled on a sparkly black hair scarf to compliment the black on the heels and finished off the look with a rose gold clutch.

I look for fashion inspiration all the time and everywhere I go! Women all over the place have some amazing looks and really showcase their personality through their sense of style. It might be a TV character or someone down the street. I look for things I like and try to find ways to bring that into my personal style. You know what I always say, have fun with your look!

Remember whatever you wear, feel fabulous in it and wear it with a smile!

The Perfect Coat - A Curvissa Review

*This coat was a gifted item

The hardest part about this time of year is the randomly changing weather. Now anyone who knows me will know that I'm a true summer baby, not only was I born slap bang in the middle of July I absolutely adore hot and sunny days. I'm really not a fan of the winter, I'm one of those people who pretty much feels the cold before everyone else and I always struggle when it comes to finding fun and comfortable winter clothes that are practical.

Recently I was contacted by the lovely team at Curvissa. They were running a campaign about winter coats and when they offered me the chance to review one I jumped at it! Now when it comes to my outer wear I usually have two primary thoughts, can I wear this coat with thick and warm jumpers, and will I be able to zip it up over my bust and still maintain a tailored fit? 

I tend to look for black winter coats when shopping this time of year. I love to bring colour into my winter wardrobe but I feel with jackets and coats I prefer simple staple colours that can work with the majority of the items in my wardrobe. What first caught my eye when I saw the Belted Short Coat was the contrast in fabrics between the sleeves, collar and main bodice of the coat. I find that this gives a little added edge to a simple silhouette and is in keeping with many of the styles out on the high street at the moment. What I really like about this one is even with sweaters and such, my curves are still accentuated in this coat and that with layers it doesn't look bulked out and tent-like. 

Winter is well and truly here so be sure to stay warm and wrap up well! There are some amazing new options out there so take a look at the coats available from Curvissa, there's something to suit everyone!

  Remember whatever you wear, feel fabulous in it and wear it with a smile!

Casual Chic - A Junarose Review

*This Dress Was A Gifted Item

Every now again you find the perfect item of clothing that you can wear in several ways that suits your style down to the ground! Recently when I was given the opportunity to check out the current collection from Junarose clothing, I was given several items for review. Junarose has fast become a brand that I wear pretty much all the time. The slick and modern styles, amazing quality and super flattering garments that they produce are second to none! 

When I first saw the drapy dress, I was first taken by the strikeout pattern and soft jersey fabric. I'm a huge fan of t-shirt dresses as I like stylish items that sit comfortably and have plenty of stretch. What I love about this dress in particular is that it seems to have 3 different styles rolled into one. To me, the drapy dress is a combination of a shift dress, bodycon and t-shirt dress. 

I'm wearing this dress in a size M and as you can see I have plenty of room and comfort. What I love is that this dress doesn't cling anywhere, yet it drapes perfectly over your curves, still allowing you to showcase your shape. A feature I really like about this dress is the round neck detail. Often dresses of this style would have a wrapped front of plunged neckline to showcase some cleavage. Now I'm no stranger to cleavage and I enjoy showing mine every now and then but, I do like that because my chest is concealed I can wear this dress pretty much anywhere and could take it from a casual day look, into an evening look simply by changing my accessories. 

I used to pretty much live in black clothes and mostly wore the colour because I was listening to the age old theory that black is best because it's slimming. Those of you who are familiar with my blog will know how much I love colour and that I try to embrace it within my style. With all that being said I still own a ton of black clothes as I find they make amazing staple pieces which work well when combining your outfits. This dress does something that I love! The colour allows for a cool monochrome look or you can match bold and striking colours in for a more playful finish.

I wanted a casual and sophisticated look when I took these photos. I thought I would go for monochrome styling and so it was an easy look for me to pull together. A simple pair of black leggings, my gold chained black boots, black beret and my signature hoop earrings. As winter is well and truly starting to set in I thought I'd pair the look with my cream boucle coat also from Junarose. This one was a sample that was given to me again in size M. I don't think it's currently available as I was unable to find a link on their website. My box grid necklace was a must for a little added sparkle and Hanna's monochrome pallet clutch which she let me borrow. 

I don't deal with the winter months too well. I'm really a summer baby and enjoy the heat and everything else that comes with it. I try to find ways to incorporate some of my summer clothes into the winter wardrobe. Due to lack of space and my need to be efficient I find that this gives me more wear out of my outfits. Have a look in your wardrobes, you may be surprised what items can be switched between seasons. Luckily for me the need for hats is becoming more evident with the cold chill in the air. My obsession with beret hats has gotten worse and I have just bought several in some interesting and fun colours, I'm sure they will make an appearance on the blog in the near future. Have fun out there everyone and stay warm! 

Remember whatever you wear, feel fabulous in it and wear it with a smile!

Leather And Lace - A Junarose Review

*This Dress Was A Gifted Item

Sometimes you see an item of clothing that you just have to have! It's your ultimate style, great colour and detail and something you know you can style up or down. Recently I was given the opportunity to check out the latest collections from Junarose with Hanna and we were both given the chance to leaf through some samples and take a few bits. 

 I had previously bought into the lies about white being a colour big girls should avoid because it makes us look larger. I'm also the sort of person who would happen to eat something containing tomatoes and end up wearing half of it down my front lol. Over the years I have changed my mind set about white clothes and now I own tones of them! I chose this gorgeous white lace dress because I instantly liked it after seeing it. I'm wearing this in a size M and I absolutely love it! The fit is just perfect for me, moulding against my bust and behind to enhance my curves and stopping just above the knee. 

If anyone is considering purchasing this one I should note that the lace is a really soft stretch lace that is really comfortable to wear. Unlike some lace items I have worn in the past this one doesn't cling or pinch anywhere, especially the arms. As you all know my arms a little on the chunkier side and I have had issues with some tops and jackets in the past because of this and have had to up-size from time to time for more comfort. 

I chose to wear this one with leggings. As I have a fairly sizeable behind the dress hitches up just a little too much for me to wear this as a singular item but that of course would be different from woman to woman. One thing I love about this dress is the lining, a really soft material I believe to be Toulouse. I really like that you can wear this dress with pretty much any bra you like without having the straps on show. 

I have worn this dress a few times now and each time has been different. You can really dress this one up with some pearl jewellery, heels and a really sweet jacket. I thought it would be cool to put it with black leggings, leather boots and top it off with my biker jacket. You all know I love my beret hats as they are so comfortable and can also be added to really casual or dressy looks. This one is a really old one from Simply Be but the colour was just perfect to work alongside the dress and an easy option for me to just slip on. Hot pink lipstick and some silvery jewellery and I was ready and set to go!

I love how some items can be right up your street but have a little bit of a twist. If you like this lace dress you'll be pleased to know it's currently available on the Junarose website along with some other lace items that are amazing! I have seen some of the upcoming collection and I have to say you're in for a treat ladies, stay tuned to see what's coming!

Remember whatever you wear, feel fabulous in it and wear it with a smile!

Pineapple Express - A Collectif Clothing Review

When it comes to vintage fashion most people to tend to go all in! whether you're a pinup princess or rockabilly chick, the outfit selected tends to be only a small part of the the overall look. I see girls dressed to the nines with victory rolls in their hair, winged eye-liner and countless tattoos to achieve the look they want. In my case I take a different approach when I wear vintage items. 

Luckily for me many things that are typical of the style feature in my personal style. I don't remember the last time I went out without my eye liner winged or when red lipstick wasn't my preferred shade. When it comes to styling vintage outfits I, like many other women consider every element to my look. A few weeks ago I bought a new Doll dress from Collectif. When I first spotted the Fairy Pineapple Print Doll Dress on the website it simply had to be mine! Admittedly I don't tend to buy clothes that have food images or prints on them but something about this one caught my eye. I usually purchase the Dolores Doll in a size 20 but I thought I would opt for a size 22 in this style for a more relaxed fit around the bust and a little less cleavage. 

I really wanted buy a bright and fun dress for the summer and was thinking about what sort of dress I might take with me if I get the chance to reach a sunny destination on holiday. Not only were pineapples a really popular feature in summer fashions this year, they also happen to be one of my favourite fruits so I figured I should make this dress my first ever food print item lol. 

The spaghetti straps are a really nice feature and make this dress really comfortable to wear. If like me you enjoy that little bit of extra coverage then a cardigan or jacket would be a nice addition to the look. I'm wearing a jacket that I borrowed from Hanna. This one was available in a previous collection by Old Navy. In keeping with the white of the dress and the choice in jacket I wanted a pair of white shoes. This pair of white brogue style shoes from a previous collection by George were my choice as I wanted something breathable and flat. 

What I really enjoy is taking an item and putting my own stamp on the look. I love getting dolled up like a pinup princess but I wanted a more casual and easy look for this dress. I wanted to bring in elements of my usual style and keep things simple. I wore my fringed black hair scarf, signature hoop earrings, and my usual style of makeup. Hanna being the queen of lipsticks borrowed me a burnt orange shade from her collection to match the colours of the dress. 

If you like this dress and want to try it out for yourself I have some good news, it's currently on sale! This dress is now just £14 reduced from £55 and I have to say it's an amazing fit and such a nice one to wear! There are some other pineapple print items from Collectif too have a look and see what you might fancy!

Remember whatever you wear, feel fabulous in it and wear it with a smile!

A Sailor's Sweetheart - A Collectif Review

*This dress was a gifted item

One of the best things for me is to get dressed up. When you're a bigger girl living in London the way you view yourself and fashion may be slightly different to the view of the average person. For years we have been limited with our options and it's only been the past few years that has brought new changes and opportunities to the forefront. The fashion industry as a whole has started to embrace the bigger girls and with it we have been awarded the chance to freely express ourselves. 

What I love about Collectif is that they create their dresses in sizes 6-22. I have to say I love that the brand has the same set of clothes available for standard and plus size women. So many brands have a separate range of clothing for us bigger girls and, more often than not the choices aren't as edgy or experimental. The good news is that the options that are coming from brands all over the place are becoming more stylish, edgy and generally more fun to wear.

Collectif recently contacted me and gave me the chance to review a dress. When I saw the Ginger Sailor Wing Bust Dress, I knew I instantly wanted to try it. My Sindy Doll sailor dress is one of my favourites and I absolutely love wearing it. As the shape of this dress is very similar, I knew it was one I could have fun with. I've selected this dress in a size 22. 

I love nothing more than slipping on a fun vintage dress, putting on a petticoat and really going all in with my look. When I was styling this dress I imagined being back in the 1950s. I pictured myself as the wife of a sailor in the Navy on my way to meet my husband whilst he came back from his tour. Funny I know but it's fun to play a character sometimes lol. 

I say it all the time, I love blue, any shade of blue and so this dress was one I was determined to have fun with. A great feature is the adjustable straps. These can be worn in a criss-cross fashion, in a halter style or the dress can be worn as a strapless number. In these pictures you'll see that I have taken pictures in both the criss-cross and halter-neck style. 

I should note that the belt of the dress has no loop holes for you to have a fixed closure. I found that from time to time when walking or moving the clasp would slip open. This to me was the only flaw in the dress but can easily be resolved by using another belt if you really want to wear the added accessory.

Hanna and I were taking full advantage of the hot London sun and so we decided to spend the day taking a ton of outfit pictures this previous Saturday. Whilst I was getting my dress together the lovely Diana was really sweet and borrowed me a few things to try with the dress. This gorgeous fascinator by Pearls And Swine was something I fell in love with at first sight. I love the gorgeous collection of white roses and the net detail attached. At first we weren't sure how this would look but I thought it completed the outfit beautifully. A simple white bolero was added and in some of my pictures a necklace of a ship was worn. Definitely in keeping with my sailor theme!

I of course selected my Michelle shoes from Hotter as my given footwear! It's no secret how much I love to spin and swirl in my pinup dresses and so I needed shoes that were perfect vintage styling and pain free. If you love to swing or jive dance I cannot stress enough how incredible these heels are! 

In keeping with usual style I wore my small hoop earrings for added jewellery. Applied some deep red lipstick to my usual vintage style makeup and I was ready and set to go! I always say it, have fun with your clothes. If something makes you feel amazing, wear it! Don't apologise for expressing yourself through fashion, that's exactly what fashion is all about! 

Good news ladies this amazing dress is currently on sale! The price has been slashed in half so if you want to try this one out for yourself be sure to pick one up now! Also any of you who do get this one I'd love to see your pics and how you styled it!

Remember whatever you wear, feel fabulous in it and wear it with a smile!