Luscious Lexi - An Elomi Review

Hi everyone I hope all is well and I hope you had an amazing Christmas with the people you love. The past couple of weeks has been crazy for me with long and tiresome work demands and the run-up to the holidays. I'm sorry things have been quiet here on the blog recently. I have some cool looks to share with you and some interesting developments which are happening with the blog behind the scenes, all will be revealed soon.

I was recently sent the most gorgeous lingerie set to review, the lovely team over at Bras and Honey sent me the gorgeous Elomi Lexi; I have to say as this is my first time wearing Elomi Lingerie I was really impressed with the quality of the fabric, the fit and the comfort in the set. 

Set modelled by Denise Bidot For Elomi

What first caught my eye about this set was the interesting print. It reminded me of a pine cone with a slight leopard print feel. The lace topped cups also add a little sexiness to the set. The available sizes in this range are M-4XL (Knickers) and bra sizes  34G-HH, 36-42D-HH, 44D-G and 46 D-DD. I find that when you wear sexy underwear you tend to have a different level of confidence when doing your daily routine. Even though no one can see your undergarments beneath your clothes the extra confidence boost can really help throughout the day. 

I got this set in 40HH bra and size 4XL knickers, I could have gone for a 3XL in the knickers but as this was the first Elomi set I was trying I thought it best to go for the 4XL just in case. I have to say that often when I get a new bra set it can feel uncomfortable the first couple of times I wear it, with this set I was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable I felt. The silky soft fabric feels so light and smooth against the skin and my breasts felt secure and supported. 

Stock Image Courtesy Of Elomi

A nice thick back band  makes for a really easy wear with 3 different hook and eye clasps. The thick straps sit nicely against the shoulders and have a soft stretch material which doesn't dig into the skin. I was really surprised about the lace detail on the bra and knickers, the stretch lace looks amazing on and is really soft to the touch. Most lace additions for lingerie carry little or no stretch so this was really nice inclusion not only on the style but the fit. As we women come in so many different variations with shape and size it's nice to see some of the brands really thinking about the smaller details when designing their garments. 

I have worn this set a few times since receiving it and I should note that after several washes the colour is retained with no fading or bobbling of the fabric. I recently previewed the up and coming spring and summer range for Elomi Lingerie at a press event and this set was showcased with the same print but in blue with pink detail it looked amazing! I shall be keeping my eye open for this when it comes out. 

If you would like to try out a set of Elomi Lingerie check out these amazing sites:

Bras And Honey and Elomi.

Gold Dust - The Perfect Duster Jacket - A Boohoo Review

This year a huge fashion item has been the duster jacket. Tons of brands have had these available in an assortment of colour and print variations, different fabrics and interesting cuts. When it comes to my jackets and coats I like to select items that I can picture wearing with existing items in my wardrobe. A few weeks ago I had a bit of a shopping haul on Boohoo, they had an amazing offer which took 20% off all of the items in the plus range. I had been looking for a duster jacket that would act as a staple and work with many of my favourite items. I like wearing shrugs, boleros and cool jackets as my cover ups and when I saw the Natasha Checked Duster Jacket it had to be mine! 

The interesting pattern reminded me of a top that I have from Lane Bryant. As I have been able to work that into several different looks I knew this would be the same. The length of the garment matches loads of my bodycon and t-shirt dresses and the simple black and white colour makes this an adaptable item that works with pretty much anything. 

I picked this up in a size 24. I always buy my jackets and coats in a larger size so that they hang nicely with the clothes underneath. The 3 quarter length sleeves are a really nice touch especially if this is worn with a dress or short sleeved top. Short lapels and no pockets make this one a really nice cover up.

I paired this with the Cream Contrast Powerfit dress (size 22) by Scarlett & Jo. Check out my full review of my favourite bodycon dress that I have in 5 colours! All Scarlett & Jo Items can be purchased from Evans. Unfortunately the Powerfit dress isn't available at the moment but stay tuned as there are some gorgeous new lines from the brand! 

When putting this look together I was thinking about the amazing events that are happening this time of year. Christmas dinners, drinks, new years celebrations and I wanted a casual/sexy outfit that had that little something extra and showcased my curves in an understated yet chic way.

I decided to keep this look very simple with my usual makeup of black winged eye liner, mascara, brows and foundation. Accessories I kept to a minimum wearing only a pair of twisted hoop earrings and a black diamonte heart pendant. I finished up the look with some black platform heels and I was set. 

Wearing this jacket as part of a monochrome look really works but if you wanted a shock of colour you could pair it with black or white skinny jeans and then a coloured top. I would tend to gravitate towards something blue personally but any would work. Alternately fun statement jewellery or coloured acrylic accessories would look really cool. 

This Jacket is still available from Boohoo in sizes 16-24 so if you like it and want to try it out it's just been reduced in price and is only £25! 

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

Inbetween The Red And Black - An Ann Harvey Review!

*This Dress Was A Gifted Item

When it comes to looking good we all have an idea of what makes us not only look good, but feel amazing too. I dress according to my mood and sometimes I wanna get dolled up and seriously girly. When it comes to appropriate work wear I tend to gravitate towards nice blouses and trousers or smart and sophisticated dresses. As I work in a showroom my style has to be appropriate yet smart. I like to still bring a little of my personal style to my work look.

Recently I was contacted by Bonmarche and they gave me the chance to review a dress from their current Ann Harvey collection. I took a look at the collection and was most drawn to the Baroque Print Dress. The intricate pattern of red and black swirls really caught my eye. The colours were nice and rich and the wrap style of the dress was a shape I knew I could pull off. I liked the length of the dress stopping just at the knee and the short sleeves. This to looked like a really nice piece to just hug the curves in the right places and hang nice and loosely in the areas where you want more room. 

I got this dress in a size 22 and the fit is really comfortable. I should note that I do wear this dress with shapewear as the fabric can cling a little to your behind and stomach. If like me you have a large bust this dress will showcase a generous amount of cleavage. I pin down one of the panels to reduce the amount of cleavage shown. If I am to wear this dress out for a dinner or something I most likely won't pin it as I feel comfortable with my cleavage exposed but for work I will continue to pin it to make it a more appropriate piece for the work environment. 

I really like the fit of the dress as the under lining it a really lightweight material that is silky soft to the skin. This also helps the top layer of fabric stay in place. Some dresses are known to shift upwards at times and can rise at the back or around the knees. This dress is a comfortable piece that you can wear without having to be concentrated on keeping the hem line in it's rightful position.

There is a slight gathering under the bust line which serves as a built in cinch and is held in place by a metallic buckle. If you have a larger bust like I do then the buckle may shift in place; it didn't bother me though as it's such a small detail which is really comfortable and doesn't dig into the skin.

I paired the dress with my Legroom boots from Fashion World. As I spent a lot of my day on my feet I tend to reach for flat footwear more than heels although a pair of nice black or red patent shoes would go really nicely with this dress if I was wearing this for a dinner engagement. I kept my jewellery to a minimum wearing only my hoop earrings and a black diamonte pendant necklace, both from Primark. 

Sometimes I like to keep things simple and not wear too many accessories with my clothes. I think that it's nice to let the clothes do the talking and keep the adornments to a minimum. 

If you like the look of this dress and want to pick it up yourself or you would like to see the rest of the Ann Harvey collection at Bonmarche click here.

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

Mixing It Up - Casual, Sexy, Oversized And Skinny!

This year my style has once again expanded. Last year was all about pushing myself out of my comfort zone and doing things that would lead me to open my eyes and try new things. The past few months I have been drawn to items for practicality and style. I have considered more where I might wear certain things. I have been playing around a lot with clothes that have interesting cuts and shapes. One of the things I have enjoyed doing lately is wearing fitted items with oversized ones. I really like the contrast of doing this and the overall look that's achieved. 

When I play around with items that are mixed fit I tend to want simple colours especially if there is a bold or brashy print in the outfit. With this look I paired a sleeveless graphic tee (Size 22/24) with a metal stretch cinch belt from Lane Bryant. The stretch material of the tee is extremely comfortable and moulds really nicely to by bust. The looseness of the neckline provides a slightly ruffled look which gives the overall tee a really nice shape. I have always been a fan of cinch belts and I tend to wear them more with bodycon and vintage dresses but everyone now and again I find a way to bring them in to a more casual outfit. 

 I knew I wanted to pair the top and belt with some pants so I went for the Black Ultra Stretch Skinny Jeans from Evans (Size 28s). Jeans can be tough to get right for me because of the fact that I have a belly and a large behind, because of this I tend to wear different size jeans in all brands and often have to try out loads of them until I find something that looks OK. I tend to have troubles getting jeans that fit well on the leg and that fasten comfortably around the belly. Often the legs are too baggy and aren't so flattering. I should state that these jeans are AMAZING! The material is supper stretchy and they mould to the leg showcasing its curvature. Anyone who has had their eye on these I would recommend buying a pair, you won't be disappointed. 

To finish off this look I wanted an oversized jacket or cover up so I went for the Black Knitted Long Length Cardigan from Yours Clothing (Size 26/28). I tend to wear size 22 clothes when I buy from Yours but as I have large arms in order to have an oversized look I often have to up-size by a size or 2. I really like the length of this one and the way it compliments the rest of the outfit. You can't go wrong with an item like this; it serves as a great staple piece which can work with countless outfits. Lightweight and warm this one works really well this time of year.

A simple black clutch, black ballerina pumps and minimal jewellery were my final additions with my signature hoop earrings and my Crystal Detail Stack Ring. This winter I am really into my hats and so again my Beret from Simplybe was also a must have item in this look. I find that hats not only give an outfit a different feel but serve as an amazing safety tool when you are suffering from a bad hair day!

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