Plus Size Style and Fashion Blog
Brah, I feel ya. 2020 has been such a wild ride. And thanks to staying inside most of the year now, jersey is my preferred fabric of choice. My other clothes are just so uncomfortable in comparison! So today’s style post goes casual to show you how to style a plus size t-shirt dress, with thanks to Topsy Curvy!
Let’s party! Okay, now that’s out of my system and early 2000s kids worldwide have the song stuck in their head, it’s time to talk shoes! Today we’re not talking about impracticality because this post is all about beautiful comfortable shoes from none other than Ruby Shoo!
Three posts in one week?! Who IS she? Well hello again friends, and welcome to the ultimate in last minute Halloween looks! Hell Bunny sent me some amazing Halloween goodies yesterday, and since Friday is the UK’s last chance to get next day delivery, I thought it would be a good idea to get some last minute Halloween outfits together that you can buy in a rush. So let’s get cute and spooky guys!
How are you doing, guys? To be completely honest with you, I’m feeling really low. London has headed into Tier Two Lockdown, which means that we can’t meet people indoors. And it happens to be raining most of the time, so things are sad AF at the moment. So I do hope that things are a bit better for all you guys! So I wanted to keep it light for today’s post and show off some more incredible feminist tshirts from The Spark Company for your viewing pleasure!
It’s been a rough few weeks, hasn’t it? But at the same time, full of so much social change, which is incredible! With anti-racist protests happening all over the world and positive change against idolisation of slave traders — what a world to be in at the moment. I’m a little exhausted considering I’ve been preparing things for the reopening of my shops, and boy am I not used to that amount of work yet! But on the up side, there’s some plus size alternative fashion for you to look at today!
Hey friends! Hope we’re all doing well? I’ve managed to wind myself up these last few days and have developed the most almighty eye twitch. The joys of a stress person who accidentally is off their meds, right? But luckily I managed to drag The Boyfriend® out into town one day this week to have a bit of a date! And this Day Date Style is brought to you by Lindy Bop!
This item was gifted in return for a review and images. Opinions are my own, I’m not paid to say anything in particular. Some links may be affiliate links, it just means I might get a few quid if you buy through my links. You can read more in my disclaimer.
Had a good week by any chance? I’m tired, but it’s also been a productive sort of week. I happen to be off on my first foray into commercial modelling today, actually! I’m excited for a lot of what is coming on at the moment, especially after the recent diagnoses of CFS. But we’re up and fighting as usual, and travelling south today for some plus size 70s style in Somerset!
This item was gifted in return for a review and images. Opinions are my own, I’m not paid to say anything in particular. Some links may be affiliate links, it just means I might get a few quid if you buy through my links. You can read more in my disclaimer.
So me and The Boyfriend® travelled to Bridgwater at the weekend. We were up in Somerset for a gorgeous wedding on an organic farm. That bit was wonderful, but Bridgwater itself wasn’t really worth the early morning coach there! It was also really strange to see people looking at me with confusion or ridicule. I’ve not lived in a small town for about 7 years, so I’ve forgotten the looks you get when you have bright hair and eyebrows. Such a stark contrast from London, where no one bats an eye!
But I digress. This post is all about this dress — the Lindy Bop Ivory dress in blue! I’m going to start the review off by saying one thing; this really isn’t a ‘me’ dress, if you will. I loved the look of it, and the colour is absolutely beautiful. But after talking to Lindy Bop again, I probably just needed a size down to make it perfect. I often make the mistake of throwing the tags off clothes before I shoot them, so the sizing is my mistake rather than the dress’!
This dress is an adorable tea-dress style with massive cuffed bishop sleeves! I don’t often go for this style since it’s more of a 70’s style in my opinion — hence my styling is a bit more toned-down and 70’s-esque. I loved the option of trying a new style out that I ordinarily wouldn’t, which is something I love so much about this whole blogging thing.
It’s made from polyester, but a soft one at that, with textured “polka dots” running through the shell fabric. It’s got a bit of stretch to it, with a stretchy lining. Which is great when you have bigger hips like mine! It caters to them very well, especially with an elasticated waist.
I took my usual 22 in this dress, and the sizing is a little large, honestly. As I said above, this would look a bit better on me if it wasn’t so blousey up top. If you’re busty, go with your regular size, but size down if you’ve got a smaller bust. The waist is really forgiving, so that bust measurement is the only one to go for!
The Lindy Bop Ivory dress is incredibly comfortable. I mean sitting-on-a-coach-for-hours comfortable. (Which is also why it’s a bit creased — oops) Soft fabrics and stretch make a real difference with dresses, and this one would be perfect as a day dress, or even one for the office! Personally, I wish there was pockets in it to make it perfect for all occasions.
I love the sleeves so much — the one downfall this dress really has is that the cuffs are just a bit too wide. Not sure if that’s with the sizing or the dress itself, although it won’t take much to alter, honestly!
Dress; C/O Lindy Bop (Disclaimer)
Earrings; Bow and Crossbones
Shoes; Yours Clothing
Hat; Primark
Hope we’re all doing well! Mercury is in retrograde and things are a bit weird, don’t you think? I’m not a massive believer of those such things, but hey — any excuse to blame something else, right? Anyhow, today I’m switching things up with some plus size alternative style!
Now, I’m not suddenly turning all alternative on you guys, don’t worry. I love my vintage and pin up style a lot, and it’s not a style I’ll grow out of any time soon. But I’m also a massive emo kid inside that loves heavy rock music, getting drunk in fields at pop punk festivals and spending her birthday at post-punk gigs. And sometimes I just want to show that side of me off!
What I will say is that plus size vintage/retro/pin up style has it’s privileges, it really does. As much as being plus size can allow, honestly. Because at least if you’re in the UK18-UK26 bracket, it’s fairly easy to find vintage styled clothes that fit. If that’s not a style you go for — lord, it’s a difficult one. Recently I’ve been to a few gigs and festivals in which I’ve been my emo self outside as well as in. And my basic outfit really is just a band shirt and a midi tube skirt, since that’s all I can really find that fits.
I recently spent an entire day trying to find a denim skirt, or a dungaree dress on the high street. Fairly easy, right? There’s an array of these in fashion right now, so surely I’d find something on the high street that would work? Wrong. Oh. So. Wrong. In my years of wearing vintage-styled clothing, I’d completely forgotten how horrendous shopping as a fat woman was. I’d forgotten the pain of trying every item in every size, just to be disappointed when it doesn’t go up past your knees. And I’d forgotten how frustrating, flustering and frankly gross, trying on clothes is. My plus sized friends wearing non-vintage styles — my heart goes out to you, my friend.
So I never found a denim skirt or a dungaree dress. Even in a plus-sized-specific store — I’m looking at you, Yours Clothing — the cuts were just awful. Where the fuck are the waists? I know some bodies aren’t as hourglassed as mine, but when the waists are clearly bigger than the hips, who on earth are you catering for? Having to size up for my hips whilst having fistfuls of fabric at the waist is just not the one.
So here I am in my trusty midi tube skirt — I have a few, but all of them are from Boohoo Plus, since you can’t beat the price, sizing and quality really. Wearing an Alexisonfire t-shirt that was a birthday present from myself at their show last month. And of course, my trusty Alice Brown’s Cupboard turban. I wear this thing constantly and I LOVE IT. Makes me feel fancy even if I haven’t bothered doing anything with my hair that day.
Tell me your go-to brands and style in the comments!
Top; Alexisonfire
Turban; C/O Alice Browns Cupboard (Disclaimer)
Skirt; Boohoo Plus
Boots / Belt; Old Primark
Bag; Vendula London
So unless you haven’t been on my Instagram recently, you might not know that I moved! I’m finally out of my share house, which I’m pretty happy about. It wasn’t an awful place to be, but to say it became toxic at the end was an understatement. But now the past is the past, and I’ve been settling into my new place with my boyfriend nicely. It feels so good to feel comfortable at home again. And I’m stupidly excited to get straight back into sewing. So what a better way to celebrate than with this Miss Fortune Stitch in Time Jumper!
This item was gifted in return for a review and images. Opinions are my own, I’m not paid to say anything in particular. Some links may be affiliate links, it just means I might get a few quid if you buy through my links. You can read more in my disclaimer.
I’ve never had the pleasure of wearing a Miss Fortune jumper before, which is honestly a shame, since they’re just amazing pieces. So I was pretty excited when Miss Fortune herself asked for some photos of this the Stitch in Time jumper at my sewing desk!
Since we’ve just moved in, I’ve been playing around with where to put my sewing desk in the living room for the last two weeks. It actually hasn’t stayed in this particular place, but hopefully I can start putting up art, a pin board and some shelves around it soon to beautify it! So for this particular post it doesn’t seem too exciting, but hey — this is where clothes are made, that’s pretty cool, right?
So let’s talk about the jumper itself. One, it’s cute as hell. Two, it really is cute as hell. And three, you guessed it — cute. as. hell. I loved them on sight back when the owner, Laura, posted the possible colour ways back in March (And I still mourn the black/red option). Sewing-related clothing and accessories just make me so happy. I chose the blue over the pink, since this turquoise just pops so well with red!
The jumper features a spool and needle on the front, with a reoccurring stitch detailing through the front and back. I really appreciate when thought goes into the back of an item. So much so that I was slightly amazed when I opened the package!
So as for sizing, I gave Laura my measurements and she sent me an XL. In relation to the size guide on the product page, it is absolutely bang-on! My measurements are practically exact to the size guide, and this jumper is a wonderful fit. It went over my chest without stretching out, the waist sits flush without being tight. And the arms — a plus size nightmare — was literally just right. I barely feel that I had sleeves at all, they fit so well.
Miss Fortune jumpers are generally all 95% acrylic and 5% elastane. But the acrylic wool shouldn’t bother you at all — I didn’t find this jumper to be itchy at all, and my sensitive skin usually picks that up easily. It’s super soft, and it’s kinda mid-weight, which means it’ll see you through spring and autumn, and great for the non-sweltering days in summer!
True to size! For a larger bust, size up. For a tighter fit, size down. But certainly do go by the size guide on the product page. In sizes XS – XXL, too!
It’s a lovely jumper — I’d still prefer to have the black/red version of course, but I do love the colour of this. I just wish I had some brighter blue accessories! I’ve not got my eye on some of Miss Fortune’s other jumpers; the Space Age in blue and in black, and the Switchblade Babe in red for example. AND they’re made in England, so it’s great to be supporting a female-run business keeping British-made clothing alive!
You can get the Stitch in Time Miss Fortune Jumper in both blue and pink on their website. And if you hurry, they’re having a sale! So head over before Monday 8th July to get up to 70% off!
Hair flowers; Lady Lucks Boutique
Jumper; C/O Miss Fortune
Earrings; Bow and Crossbones
Necklace; Second hand
Bangles; Splendette and Vintage
Skirt; Handmade
I hope you’re all doing well? I’m still overwhelmed by life at the moment, but it’s starting to ease off a bit with the help of some new coping mechanisms I’ve put in place. But I digress, that’s a post for later! Today, however, is all about the gorgeous Mona skirt from Dearcurves!
Have your heard of Dearcurves before? Because you REALLY should have! They’re a plus-size-centric brand started by Ojoma Idegwu back in 2013, and cater to sizes 14-24. I love brands that only do plus sizing, because it makes me feel a bit special that my straight-sized counterparts can’t get the things I can. It’s a bit selfish, but hey, I’ve been fat and excluded from clothing my whole life! I really hope that in the future we see even more sizes added to the Dearcurves’ range, actually.
I came across the brand thanks to my personal icon, Miss Anna Stomosis, who has worn this same skirt in blue a while back. It got my attention for being so simple and yet so elegant. And I have a lot of love for pleats, so the waist detailing makes me so happy!
In the Mona skirt, I chose the UK22 since my waist size was in between the 20 and 22. I always err on the side of caution, and I really shouldn’t have! This skirt is just a touch too big for me, actually! So my first tip for sizing is; order the smaller size if you’re between sizes.
I could’ve pushed it into the 18 if I really wanted, since this skirt has a bit of give, too. You can see in the photo below that the waistband is a bit floppy because of the sizing, but that’s certainly my fault, rather than the skirts!
I really adore this skirt! It’s so beautiful and colourful, and wearing it got so many compliments. A few saying I looked like Christmas (the perils of wearing green with red hair!), but mostly everyone loved how bright and structured the skirt is. Literally my only issue with it is that there’s no pockets!!
I’m wearing it with my trusty Banned petticoat here, but I don’t think it necessarily needs one. It does come with a lining that sits closer to the body, although as per usual, I cut that out to allow more room. I like really full skirts, so these linings don’t help me too much, honestly!
How would you wear this skirt? I love seeing the different styles people have on the Dearcurves Instagram! You can get your own Mona skirt – in royal blue or emerald – at Dearcurves here!
Hair flowers; Handmade
Top; Old Collectif
Skirt; C/O Dearcurves (Disclaimer)
Tights; Snag Tights
Shoes; Old Swedish Hasbeens
Handbag; Old Collectif
