Picture perfect in ASOS Curve

We appear to have sunshine! 
I am so glad because I bought the most beautiful ASOS Curve dress before getting ill and was scared I'd missed my chance to wear it.  I hated the thought of saving it for next summer cause it is one of the most beautifully fitted dresses I have bought all year!

Regency style in a Studio 8 Mac*

A few weeks ago I spoke about my complete love lust of the new Studio 8 collection, a luxury fashion range for the plus sized woman launched by the amazing Phase 8.  
I was lucky enough to be offered a piece to review from this really quite beautiful collection and spent ages trying to decide which item I love most! The Sonia, Becky, and Pippa were all strong contenders but, with a wardrobe of pretty floral dresses, I thought I would try something a little different.  

Plus Size Occasion Dress from Marks & Spencer

Did you know that Marks & Spencer have a plus size clothing range?   I sure didn't and was pleasantly surprised when browsing the website to stumble across a beautiful little kimono dress that comes in sizes 18 - 32.

Breaking all the *ahem* rules!

Just a short post from me today where I break all of the rules - I wear short shorts WITH stripes! 

Enter Studio 8

I'm a little giddy about Phase 8 - I have long lusted after their Collection 8 ball gowns and their jersey dresses are favourite go-to for smart, luxurious dresses perfect for throwing in a suitcase (they don't need ironing!!!!)
But my giddiness have gone stellar since I heard whispers of the brand launching a brand new line of stylish clothes exclusively in sizes 16- 24. 
Enter Studio 8!

Sonia Dress

Holiday Five Way with Curvissa*

I have been asked to join with four other wonderful bloggers and review a piece from Curvissa's extensive holiday range as part of their five way challenge. 
Rather spoilt for choice, I spent simply ages trawling through their range and finally decided to try something that just screamed summer!

The Summer LBD

I have recently promised to make better use of my wardrobe.  Its part of my #PlusSizePromise and I do intend to keep them all - so, last weekend, when stuck for something to wear for meeting some completely amazing blogging gals, I decided to trudge to the back of my wardrobe and choose a piece that I don't wear very often!

I sincerely promise to wear white ...

In my recent #PlusSizePromise post, I pledged to wear white more.  It's summery, elegant and sophisticated - yet I scarcely wear it for fear of dropping coffee down myself.    I've also been conditioned into thinking that fat girls can't wear white - cue throwbacks to the barbed 'Thunder-thighs' comment when first braving white jeans. 
Well, here I am wearing white - and not a thunder thigh in sight!

#PlusSizePromise

Inspired by the amazing Katt of A Curvy Cupcake, the wonderful Debz of The (Not So) Secret Diary of a Wannabe Princess suggested a group of us plus size bloggers make five promises to ourselves for the coming summer. 
I thought this was a wonderful idea - mostly as publicly announcing my promises means that I may just keep them.  It also gave me a chance to reflect on what I wear and what I avoid wearing due to societies "fashion rules", especially when those rules relate to size. 
Now some of my promises, okay - most of my promises, are fashion related - but I've thrown a few lifestyle goals in there too.  I mean, I can't be completely fashion-centric, right?

1.  I sincerely promise to wear white ... and not just pretty blouses ...

Source: Girl With Curves; GabiFresh; Girl With Curves

Wearing white in summer

Apparently, fat girls don't look good in white!  
I find this statement laughable - I think I look pretty damn hot when walking down the aisle in white and I wear white blouses all the time (they're basically a staple of my workwear wardrobe).  
Now, I have often shied away from white trousers, mostly as put in my white trousers and I will spill coffee ... but does that mean I don't look good in them?  
I think fat girls look just as good in white as any other kind of girl, which is why I simply couldn't resist this beautiful ASOS Curve dress with waffle texture. 

70s vibes with Yours Clothing

The 70s are quite awesome - bell sleeves, flares, mini skirts, floppy hats and blunts fringes.  What isn't great about all these things?  

So when I saw this Yours Clothing Black paisley print wrap over dress, I just had to have it!

Closet Curves - Floral Print Skater Dress

If you haven't noticed, I'm obsessed with florals at the moment!  
I think it may have something to do with my new gardening obsession - those of you following my on Pinterest & Instagram have been bombarded with images of my latest, and rather muddy, hobby! 
With this new fancy of florals comes another really quite wonderful dress!

Bitter Lollipop - Freya*

As a girl with big boobs and a small waist, I frequently have problems finding dresses that fit beautifully on the waist and across my chest.   Most dresses get cinched in at the waist with a belt come in stretchy materials that allow for substantial give over the chest. 
Luckily for me, there is a wonderful new designer on the scenes who makes dresses that more accurately reflect a curvy girl's figure. 

What I would have spent .... Topshop

When I was 16, Topshop was the hip and trendy place to shop.  
Unfortunately, aged 16, I was already a 14-16 and so couldn't shop there.  Aged 25, sized 18 in most shops, I still can't shop there!  But if I could, if they deemed my fat body worthy enough of their clothes, then this is what I would have bought!

Judo Wrap Dress by Boutique

Joe Browns - Brazilia

I'm in the midst of a floral obsession - my weekends and evening are spent planting primroses in my garden and this love seems to have seeped into my wardrobe too.  
I'm perfectly happy in my floral bliss of la-la-land and fairies and cute little honey bees.  Perhaps that is why I feel head over heels with the amazingly vibrant Joe Brown's Brazilia dress from Simply Be. 

#PSInternationalWishList‏

The US seems to have it down when it comes to plus size fashion, which has often left me rather despondent and slightly annoyed that I can't get my grubby mitts all over their delights.    Places like Pin Up Girl and ModCloth seem to churn out amazing collection after amazing questions and smother my Pinterest wall with inspirational looks.  Both places ship to the UK, but the cost of shipping isn't cheap - nor are the hefty customs you get slapped with the moment the parcels hits British soil.   So when the wonderful Debz of The (Not So) Secret Diary of a Wannabe Princess suggested that us plus size bloggers do a post about what we would have bought if it weren't for the shipping/customs/general hassle that comes with buying from international chores, I couldn't help but jump at the chance.  So heres what I would have bought ... 

The Ultimate Jessica Rabbit Dress 
(swoon)

Mid-Season Sales

The sales are on! And just they're just in time for Easter - does anyone else ask for money instead of chocolate?

I'm currently heading home from a weekend of food, booze, and bickering with the family so thought I'd share my sale picks with you in case your crashed on the sofa with a chocy-hangover and in need of some light browsing! 

The Kelly Brook - Zip Front Jacquard Dress from Simply Be

Who doesn't love Kelly Brook?  I mean, the girl is sheer beauty and her fashion sense is to die for!  So naturally, I got a little bit squiffy with excitement when Simply Be released another fashion range by the lady herself. 
The collection is swoon-worthy and it took me a long time to decide on that one piece I could buy - unfortunately, my bank balance doesn't allow me to buy the entire collection! 

Wedding Guest Edit

My brother-in-law is getting married in June.    They plan to wed in a truly English church before a whimsical reception at the beach front restaurant.  
This poses one problem - which one do I wear?

Clockwise from left:

Rose Vine Vintage Dress - BBW Couture 

Fairy Summer Bouquet Print Doll Dress - Collectif Clothing

Violet & Green Rose Print Hepburn - Lady Vintage

Floral Skater Dress - Simply Be

Bonmarche Blogger Swap Challenge*

I was recently contacted by the lovely Marie from Bonmarche about taking part in an exciting and unique challenge to compile an outfit for fellow blogger Sarah from Always a BlueSkyGirl. In return, Sarah would chose an outfit for me.  I have to say, I had some concerns.  I'm a funny onion and terribly fussy over what I like and few people get it right when making suggestions on my style.   I also had concerns that there would be little on Bonmarche that I like - I was steeped in the preconceptions of my Grandma shopping there and worried that the styles on offer would be a little too mature for a girl in her 20s.   I needn't have worried!