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A Year of Lockdown — Dressing Up For No Reason

It’s been a whole damn year and people still aren’t wearing masks correctly somehow.

Hello! It’s your friendly neighbourhood fatty gracing your screens once again to show off an outfit no one asked to see! Oh, and talking about a year of lockdown, since the UK reached it’s lockdown-iversary. We even had a moment of silence to mourn those that have left us, and to a much lesser extent the end of our social lives. Because us British folk basically ignore things other than for a minute’s silence once a year. Feels weird posting up windswept photos of myself whilst talking about something that has impacted the world horrifically. But also I need that #content — so plus size style you shall get, friends! We’re dressing up for no reason today!

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Converting a Dress into a Skirt — Hack Your Wardrobe!

Trying to dress when your clothes no longer fit is balls.

Hey friends! Hope we’re all doing good? Today I’m going to show off a little hack I realised the other day to make your existing wardrobe work for you after the lockdown weight gain. Clothes not fitting right? I feel ya. I’ve gained a fair bit over lockdown as we’ve talked about before. And it sucks, clearly, because now about 80% of my wardrobe is just a bit too tight on me. Not the greatest feeling when you’ve mostly got a wardrobe of handmade clothes, I’ll tell you that! So we’re converting a dress into a skirt today to hack your wardrobe!

melody mae
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London Calling — A Plus Size Vintage Sewing Project

So hey guys! Happy Valentines Day for yesterday! I hope you all had a lovely day regardless of what you were doing or who you spent it with. Personally I went to work and then came home to watch QI before getting an early night. The joys of having a partner that works nights! But it’s not so bad, we celebrated our 2nd anniversary earlier in the week together which is much more important. And we also took some photos of my latest plus size vintage sewing project, too!

plus size sewing
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A Week In Outfits —

Happy… Tuesday?

Hope you all had a good weekend? We’re a day late with this post because, well, life happened a bit. But it also included meeting new people AND socialising, so that’s a win for me! So let’s get on with the weekly roundup, right? Pin up style abound!

melody mae

Turban; Alice Brown’s Cupboard
Necklace; Animal Hair
Top; Primark
Skirt; Handmade

They call September the “Back To Life” part of the year, and honestly it’s a hard one. I’ve been moments away from a breakdown for a few days at this point, which sucked.

pin up style

Dress; Handmade
Bolero; Collectif

Second day of gingham? Yes please! I’m honestly considering making this dress in every colour gingham known to man.

plus size pin up style

Dress; Handmade
Cardigan; Banned
Bag; Vendula London

Third gingham in a row! But after a few days of crying and feeling like hell, I dyed my hair and felt like a new woman. Fickle, I know, but that freshly-dyed-hair confidence it something else! Look how goddamn happy I am!

pin up style

Dress; Lady V London
Cardigan; Collectif
Bag; Vendula London

Pin Up Style

Looking good and feeling good! This was the day after I did some modelling for Bow and Crossbones, and I’ve clearly got some of my mojo back. Doing my hair is a lot of effort these days, so it’s nice when re-setting it goes so beautifully. Annoyingly it’s better hair than I had on the shoot — typical.

plussize pinup

Dress; eShakti
Cardigan; Collectif

Someone’s feeling their oats! A typical pin up pose for some typical pin up style. I love this dress so bloody much, it’s possibly my favourite dress I’ve ever had. Actually, I’d say this is one of my most worn outfits since 2014. This baby got me laid so many times in my single days, haha!

What have you guys been wearing this week?

melody mae

A Week in Outfits — Casual Pin Up Style

Why, Monday, Whyyyyyy.

Guys. I’m not feeling this whole Monday thing at the moment if I’m honest! I’ve been feeling a bit vulnerable the last day or so, thanks to my body not doing its job of moving very well. So for today I’m going to be sulking, but that doesn’t stop me from being a show-off! My daily outfits are below, bringing you some real casual pin up style, plus some bonus “can’t-be-arsed” style too!

plus size style

Top; Primark
Skirt; Lindy Bop
Shoes; Primark

Do you see this face? This is the face of a woman who frankly has had enough! I was only really dressed because I had to do a few interviews, otherwise I might of worn my pyjamas to work. One day, I say, one. damn. day.

curve style

Cardigan; Old Collectif
Necklace; Punky Pins
Dress; Boohoo

And we’re back to “can’t be arsed” camp, however I will always love this combo dressed up or down. Fun fact for you all, this Collectif cardigan is my favourite thing in the world. I don’t buy from them anymore, but I’d sell my soul for different colours in this! Five years later and it’s still going strong — no other cardigan can survive me for that long! Also; coffee.

plus size pinup

Top; Primark
Skirt; Handmade
Brooch; Luxulite
Turban; Alice Brown’s Cupboard

I’m sad summer is ending, however there’s one incredible thing to look forward to; Turbans! I’m not sure if you’ve ever noticed, guys, but I love a turban. I also love this Luxulite brooch paired with my tanuki skirt, because matching. Anyone else matchy-matchy here?

casual pin up style

Dress; Lindy Bop
Bolero; Collectif
Brooch; Luxulite

Casual Pin Up Style

casual pin up style

Top; Primark
Skirt; Boohoo
Shoes; Vans

This one is a sad one — I went out after a photoshoot to say goodbye to an old friend and second home to me, Big Red in Holloway. Vans might not be your first thought for an outfit like this — but believe me, it was necessary. In other words, these sticky, blackened, beer-drenched shoes are on their way to the bin.

casual plus size

Top; Coheed and Cambria Merch
Skirt; Boohoo

Fun fact; I have four of the same Boohoo tube skirt. Other fun fact; I didn’t even get drunk and yet had the headache from hell all of Sunday. Joy. If this is my body telling me I can’t drink three pints without a hangover now, I’ll be livid. Anyone over 25 get the same? I’m praying my head just hated me…

Have a good week!

melody mae

Outfits of the Week – Sleepy Gal Edition

Welcome to Monday, friends!

Hope we’re all doing well? Had a good weekend? I was in Somerset for a wedding, and I was drinking with the Irish — so it’s been a drunken weekend for me, I’ll tell you! But the past week has me in a good mood for once. I finally got diagnosed with CFS after years of struggling and not being believed by doctors, which is incredibly freeing. And because of that, I’m learning each day how I need to slow down and allow my mind and my body to just be. We’ll talk more about CFS later, however, because today is Monday, and we’re rounding up the outfits of the week!

plus size alternative style

Top; Alexisonfire Merch
Skirt; Boohoo
Shoes; Everything 5 Pounds

Starting off the week with some alternative style! Decided to try out my usual “I can’t be arsed with dressing up” outfit with these espadrilles I’ve been wearing all summer. Funnily enough, it turns out the shoes, makeup and hair really dress it up a bit more than usual.

My tiredness has really knocked me off my feet this week, and dressing up has been really hard. I find I have to sit down and take breaks when getting ready in the mornings because my body refuses to work with me. Now I know it’s CFS and I’ll have access to more psychological and physical therapies I’m feeling much more optimistic. But this particular day I was finding the morning hard. I wasn’t even able to get my yoga in more than once this week because of it!

Outfits of the Week

plus size style

Dress; eShakti
Cardigan; Old Collectif
Necklace; Bow and Crossbones
Headband; Primark

Accidental teacher vibes with this one! I had a big delivery at work, and so I needed to be comfortable. Also, if you’re in the UK — what the fuck is up with the weather? It’s suddenly turned cold enough for longer sleeves and soon enough tights will be needed!

plus size style

Dress; Handmade
Cardigan; Collectif
Shoes; Melissa

I find it slightly amusing that you can now tell exactly what days I can’t be bothered through these blog posts. Especially now it’s colder and I need to retire a lot of my happier-looking clothing. And whilst wearing this old handmade dress this week, I realised it really needs to sit in some dye for a while. This is why 100% cotton is such an arse — the colour runs out of it too easily, don’t you think?

outfits of the week

Dress; Joanie Clothing
Cardigan; Old Collectif
Necklace; Handmade
Headband; Primark
Shoes; Melissa

I’m starting to realise that this dress is so much more than I originally thought it was — literally every comment I had this day was about the dress! It’s pretty cute as an outfit, though, so I don’t blame people.

What do you think of this week’s lazy style, guys?

As always, let me know what you think in the comments!

melody mae

Last Summer Days, Late Summer Style

Congrats – You reached Saturday!

Hope you’re all doing well friends! Today I’m actually spending the day doing a lot of self care since my body decided to give me some cold/sinus infection thing. Booooo. Apparently that’s what happens when you’re overworked — who knew! However today’s post isn’t about that, we’re talking about some late summer style!

melody mae

It was The Boyfriend®’s birthday on Tuesday (the big 3-0), and he wanted to spend it drinking in the park like the teenagers we wished we could be. And so we spent the day lounging around Finsbury Park pretending we were hooligans. I joke, my hooligan days are far behind me! But drinking in a park seemingly isn’t, to be fair.

plus size style

Anyway, hooliganisms aside, I took the opportunity to pretend I was in an Austen novel for a moment, wear a summer hat and frolic barefoot on the (incredibly painful and likely glassy) grass. I really didn’t do as much ‘summer’ stuff as I wanted to this year, especially sit and drink in parks with friends, have picnics and go to the beach. So in the last of the summer days, I decided I at least needed to try out some late summer style.

late summer style

Late Summer Style

This is an old handmade dress of mine, actually made back in 2015. Lord, that feels like a lifetime ago! It certainly doesn’t fit me as well as it used to, but I think you’d agree that it’s too cute to not wear at this time of year, right?

late summer style

The hat was also handmade — if you can call it that, really! It’s one of my IKEA placemat creations similar to last year’s Monstera Hat. This is simply using a scarf threaded through to attach it to the head — it’s really very simple. But attach a few flowers and boom! You’re suddenly a Bennet sister and ready to frolic in a meadow or two. Or inhale wine in a London park — that’s your prerogative, my friend!

late summer style

The leaves are already starting to fall, and as much as I love autumn, I’ll be sad to see the back of summer, honestly. Sure, it’s been disgustingly hot and I’ve had a permanent sweat moustache since June, but the sunny days sure do energise me!

How are you planning to spend the last of the summer days? Let me know in the comments!

pin up blogger
Lensflare that JJ Abrams would be proud of!
melody mae

Dress; Handmade
Hat; Handmade
Necklace; Vintage
Brooch; Luxulite
Shoes; Swedish Hasbeens

A Week in Outfits — Plus Size Fashion

Merry Monday, all!

I’ve never before said this; But thank god it’s Monday! I’ve been working a lot recently (I mention this at least once a week, I know), and for the first time in a while I get two whole days off! I’m quite excited to mostly do nothing, if I’m honest. But regardless, it’s Monday and it’s time to roundup last week’s outfits for some plus size fashion for you all! Right after I catch up on Stranger Things, that is…

plus size style

Dress; Handmade
Cardigan; Banned Apparel
Coat; Elements Rainwear
Shoes; Melissa

Remember the other week when I mentioned it was boiling hot? It’s still warm-ish, but it’s also raining a hell of a lot. I don’t always mind rain however, especially when I get the chance to wear my Elements Raincoat! It’s funny that I live in England and I don’t seem to wear

plus size fashion

Necklace; Handmade
Dress; Joanie Clothing
Shoes; Everything 5 Pounds

Plus Size Fashion

Sassy motherfucker alert! I’ve been doing a middle parting more often, and it’s funny how it seems to make me look older? Anyone agree? I got a hell of a lot of comments on this outfit — and I thought it was quite boring originally!

plus size pinup

Necklace; Handmade
Dress; Handmade
Cardigan; Voodoo Vixen
Shoes; Swedish Hasbeens

My colleague has been complaining that he hasn’t seen the dress I made the other week, so I wore it in a more casual way. The cardigan wasn’t the best idea, in hindsight. The print is certainly too busy for any other patterns! Reminds me to grab some plain cardigans on my next shopping trip.

plus size casual

Cardigan; Collectif
Dress; Boohoo Plus
Shoes; Primark

This is real life folks! Most of the time I actually look like this, to be honest with you. I’ve mentioned a few times I struggle a bit with my mental health, and often it’s so difficult to get my arse out of bed and get dressed. Funnily enough, before I started doing these weekly outfit posts, this was practically all I ever wore. Most of the time I didn’t even put my eyebrows on, to be honest. It’s refreshing to see now that this is an off day for me.

melody mae

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