Anyway – I digress. Here are some pictures of an outfit I wore for work a few weeks ago. I’ve avoided skater dresses because I didn’t think they’d suit me. However I fell in love with this geometric print one from ASOS after seeing Stephanie Zwicky rocking it and as it was in the sale and I had an additional discount code so I bought it.

Dress – ASOS

Blazer – ASOS

Shoes – New Look

I paired it with my black blazer – also from ASOS – and my sparkly blue shoes and I felt “ok” in it. Not amazing, not sophisticated but ok. Its a good dress for work – with a blazer or a cardigan. Plus it has long sleeves which are good for cold weather (like right now) but I wont say its a dress that makes me feel wonderful.

I’ve just got back from two weeks away and living on a limited wardrobe has made me want to have a clear out and reduce down on what I own – so watch this space for bits and pieces being sold!

Blazer – Next via eBay

T-shirt – Dorothy Perkins

Skirt – made by Kirsty

Brooch – a shop in the Lanes, Brighton

Tights – we love colors

Shoes – Evans

One of the biggest bugbears I have about plus size clothing is the distinct lack of natural fabric. Something made of 100% cotton, silk, wool or linen is rarer than rocking horse poo! Sometimes you may get an item which is a percentage of these fabrics but mostly we have to make do with static filled polyester or viscous. So when I come across a natural fabric item I jump at purchasing it. Joe Browns is good at making their clothes with cotton or linen (although sometimes only a percentage of it) but you pay the price for a natural fabric. I did a bit of research over the weekend in straight size stores and found a large percentage stocked affordable natural fabric items. Its annoying that us fatties are not deemed worthy.

The main parts of this outfit are made from natural fabrics. When I asked Kirsty if she would make me a skirt, I requested a cotton fabric – this skirt (which I have named my ladybird skirt) is made of 100% cotton – in fact both of the skirts Kirsty has made for me are made of cotton. No electrocuting myself in these skirts! The t-shirt is also 100% cotton and was bought for super cheap in a Dorothy Perkins sale sometime last year. The blazer is linen and was some silly price on eBay (I think £3 or £4!). I did swap this with Gina but have recently swapped it back and haven’t stopped wearing it since. It was nice to feel these items against my skin today. My hair didn’t stand on end and I didn’t crackle when I changed out of them. It was a good feeling.

My next mission is to find a silk shirt or dress and a woollen scarf – although I will probably just knit myself one.

How about you – do you crave for natural fabrics or don’t really care? Do you know a good place to find silk items in a size 26 that don’t cost a month’s rent?

However, part of the challenge of being fat is styling this limited amount of clothes into something that resembles a personal style. So Gina and I have decided to take some of our matching items and style them our way. We are both the same size but its going to be interesting to see what the same items in the same size look like on our very different bodies and with our differing styles.

So first up – a Breton top and burgundy jeans:

Jeans – New Look

Top – ASDA

Denim Jacket – gifted by Gina

Scarf – gifted by friend

Brogues – New Look

I have a great love for New Look jeans. I find the fit really good – especially in the leg. Often I’ve found because I’m belly heavy, jeans end up baggy around the hips because designers assume if you have a large waist you have proportionally large hips and thighs. Not so! I like the way these jeans fit me on my legs – properly skinny!

The Breton top is close to my idea of a perfect Breton top but not quite! Its like the holy grail of clothing for me at the moment. I want it to be long sleeved, long enough to cover my belly, more white than blue. I’m getting there (I have like 10 blue & white striped tops now!) but not quite! This one – the sleeves are a little short and its not quite long enough! I know, I know I’m fussy. The denim jacket was a gift from Gina last year and it was worn relentlessly! I dusted it off for its first outing this year but I was a little chilly in the shade with it on. Its back under the stairs for now.

This outfit was a comfy one to wear for an exploration. Where we live, we’re having a bit of a “rejuvenation” – city planner speak for knocking down 20 flats – which were ugly but spacious on the inside and replacing them with 200 urban funky flats which have about as much room as a broom cupboard. The area around the flats is pretty cool – for now! So the husband and I took the opportunity to have a wander and how lovely it was to see the sun!! It felt amazing to have some heat on my face after what has felt like a very very long winter!

The new builds have been built close to a river so I also managed to get a bit of sun on my face whilst listening to the water babble along – utter bliss!

It was a pretty good Sunday all in all!

Don’t forget to check out how Gina has styled her Breton and burgundy!

Go to swaps

I am always amazed at how many cool things I have picked up at clothes swaps over the last few years – items I have longed for or drooled over – and I’ve managed to score them for absolutely free! Things like brand new (with tags!) Beth Ditto dresses, dungarees in plus size, winter coats etc etc! Its a great way to revamp your wardrobe AND get rid of bits. I tend to rotate my wardrobe quite quickly, so swapping clothes has been a super cheap way of getting new bits into it. Plus clothes swaps usually involve a day with lots of cool people and a few drinks thrown in!

Here is an outfit made up of mostly of swap items:

Top – swap used to be Gina’s

Jeans – swap used to be Amanda’s

Moccs – my own!

Necklace – Forever 21

eBay 

So its been agreed for the amount I sell stuff for on eBay, I can buy new stuff – on eBay! I’ve found a few eBay shops to be amazing at getting items cheaper than they are on the high street – example here and here. There are downsides of selling and buying from eBay – on selling; buyers can be a nightmare. I often have to remind them I AM NOT A SHOP when they demand returns etc. Buying for there has it perils too – stuff not fitting, the quality of items being lacking. But overall I have found some amazing bits on eBay and I’ve managed to sell lots too.

Alterations

I’m lucky to have a friend who is extremely talented with a sewing machine who has managed to alter bits in my wardrobe. This has meant that pairs of jeans, dresses, trousers, blouses which have sat unworn in the wardrobe have suddenly fitted and have received a new release of life! Its the same with items which have a tear etc in them. I paid nothing to have Timpson’s glue my shoes back together instead of buying a new pair. Now, I understand that not everyone has a friend who will be their seamstress but if you can use a sewing machine or have a dry cleaners nearby that does alterations – make use of it! You’ll save lots!

Whats in my wardrobe?

I recently wrote a list of everything I own – and rather unsurprisingly, I discovered items I forgot I had! Which is kinda like having new stuff! For free!! So this week I have worn a pair of jeans I had shoved to the back of the wardrobe and forgotten about. And you know what, it felt like they were new!

Shop your wardrobe challenge

This essentially means instead of buying something new you find something in your wardrobe to wear. One of the blogs I read often does a 30 for 30 blog challenge - which involves wearing 30 items for 30 days. The items include shoes, coats and belts. Its a good way of wearing items in your wardrobe and “making do”. I know I have an automatic reaction of “must buy something new for such and such” but actually 30 for 30 means you shop your wardrobe.

Now I know these aren’t the most mind bending tips but we are a month and a half into the new year and I haven’t bought any new clothes! Watch this space to see if I manage until 1 May 2013…

Filed under: Clothes Swaps, eBay, NYR no new clothes, outfits, plus size, pondering, Selling, twitter challenges, Wardrobe clense ]]> http://amonkeyfatshionista.co.uk/2013/04/03/how-to-save-and-blog/feed/ 4 chattermonkey OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA http://amonkeyfatshionista.co.uk/2013/03/27/90s-baseball/ http://amonkeyfatshionista.co.uk/2013/03/27/90s-baseball/#comments Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:30:35 +0000 chattermonkey http://amonkeyfatshionista.co.uk/?p=3919 ]]> Born at the tail end of the 70′s my teenage years were firmly in the 90s. At 12 I was in love with Mark Owen and I covered my walls in Take That posters. By the time I was a “proper” teenager Britpop was massive, My So Called Life had a cult following and grunge was my fashion of choice.

So this outfit made me feel like I was 15 all over again!

Baseball jacket – New Look Inspire

Wonder Woman t-shirt (just seen) – Evans circa 2009

Dungarees – swap

The jacket is the softest warmest jacket I have ever worn – I will be wearing it under all my other coats until spring decides to stop sleeping and start warming us up! I got a size 26 which was about right for me – but if you have a small bust you could size down. I love the fact it has an “R” on it as that’s the husband’s initial – he has his own personally cheerleader.

Currently I have been inspired by this outfit on pinterest:

source: tumblr

I love the simplicity of it! I have the white t-shirt, black cardi, brown boots and a mountain of scarves but I have been hunting high and low for a blue & white polka dot skirt. In my search I found that Debenhams does plus size clothes – I never knew that! Did you?

Anyway I managed to find a skirt matching the description I was looking for!

This one:

And I managed to snag the last one in my size too (and it was on sale!) – lucky!

The plus size range isn’t large – in fact its pretty small (only 170 items) which is a real shame. Most of the range is aimed at an older market than me – more my mum’s style. However, it did have some unusual pieces which I would love to have in my wardrobe. I’ve linked a few below:

Print skirt – this is similar to the ASOS one but I like the colours better.

Floral jumpsuit – I love this! According to the one reviewer it runs large and she wished it was in a size 14! How rare for a plus size item to be wanted by someone who isn’t! I’ve ordered it …

Floral kimono jacket – I love kimono jackets – this one would be great with jeans and work smart.

So has anyone ever bought anything from Debenhams plus size range? Is it good value for money?

Disclaimer: This post is in partnership with Debenhams, however all opinions are my own & I will never be paid to promote any brands I have not tried myself.

Dress – c/o Simply Be

Leather jacket – ASOS

Moccs – Minnetonka

Hat – H&M

A few weeks ago Dannii Minogue in collaboration with Tabitha Somerset Webb launched a plus size range of Dannii’s clothing line “Project D” exclusively for Simply Be. I was lucky enough to be asked to review the Lincoln Maxi Dress from the range along with four other bloggers.

When the dress arrived I was going to style it up for how I would wear it to a wedding (I have one to go to in July). However, when I woke up this morning to SNOW, I changed my mind and decided to dress it so I could wear it today and be warm.

The dress is beautiful and I love the print. It also comes in two lengths which means it caters for a broader range of heights. Talking of sizing, although the dress overlay is generous, the lining is very true to size so if you order this dress go for your “normal” size. I am wearing a 26 and it fits perfectly. However, if I’d gone for a 24 I have a feeling the lining would have been a little snug.

The range is small with Simply Be at the moment – just 13 pieces – but if they are all as good as this dress then hopefully we’ll see a few more bits! Also Simply Be has 25% off all brands this weekend, type in KRWG1 at the checkout.

So do you like the Project D range? What piece is your favourite? Don’t forget to check out how the other four have styled the dress:

Becky,  Naomi, Betty and Laura

I’ve list a few of my favourite print tunics below:

Mirror print dipped hem tunic

I’d wear this with either my biker jacket, black leggings and creepers or pick up the colours in the top and wear bright leggings/tights and a blazer.

Ombre print tunic

I would wear this pretty much the same way its been styled but maybe add a blue blazer to make it work smart.

Fan print dress

I know in the picture this is more dress length but I have a feeling it would end up more tunic length! I would add some green tights, brown ankle boots and my pleather sleeved khaki jacket .

Joe Browns Picnic dress

This would be a casual tunic for me  - I would wear with jeggings or skinny jeans, brogues (or sandals if we ever see summer again!) and a cardigan.

So how do you feel about tunics? Love them? Hate them? Don’t really have any thoughts on them?

Disclaimer: This post is in partnership with Fashion World, however all opinions are my own & I will never be paid to promote any brands I have not tried myself.

The husband has bought himself  a new camera so it was a great chance for him to use it and for me to get some outfit pictures – and to show off my new hair!

Jumper – Joe Browns @ Simply Be (gifted)

Leather jacket – ASOS curve 

Jeans – Evans

Scarf – H&M

I decided to go with a nautical look (how original!!) and wore my gorgeous knitted jumper from Joe Browns. The reason I love Joe Browns is because more often than not it uses natural fabric – unlike most plus size retailers. The jumper is 50% cotton, chunky, soft and incredibly comfy to wear. I have been wearing it LOTS over the last few weeks.

The beach – rather unsurprisingly was FREEZING! However, in my scarf, biker jacket and the JB jumper I was perfectly warm.

As well as Whitstable we also had a bit of an adventure and decided to go for a drive – we did this by turning the opposite direction from London and we ended up on a beach called St Mary’s Bay, near Folkstone.  Now, I had thought Whitstable was freezing, but I was wrong! St Mary’s Bay was what real freezing is! I couldn’t even be out the car for a couple of seconds without my mittens and hat on without feeling like my fingers/ears were going to drop off!! Hence the picture of me in silly hat etc.

However, the sea air did the trick and by Monday I was feeling back to my normal self! I would recommend it to everyone.

Filed under: Big Beach Bums!, Brand Love, Joe Browns, Reviews ]]> http://amonkeyfatshionista.co.uk/2013/03/17/cold-beaches-and-new-hair/feed/ 1 chattermonkey OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA http://amonkeyfatshionista.co.uk/2013/03/12/a-beautiful-free-bird/ http://amonkeyfatshionista.co.uk/2013/03/12/a-beautiful-free-bird/#comments Tue, 12 Mar 2013 19:00:53 +0000 chattermonkey http://amonkeyfatshionista.co.uk/?p=3835 ]]>

Dress – Anna Scholz c/o Simply Be

Shoes – Evans

Blazer – ASOS curve via eBay

Just before Christmas, Simply Be contacted me and asked me if I wanted to review a couple of dresses – I of course said YES! And I picked the multicoloured skater dress – seen here – and this beautiful Anna Scholz bird print dress.

I own one item from Anna Scholz – the horse print jumper from a couple of years ago and I LOVE it! The fit is gorgeous so I decided to see if the dresses were the same – and you know what they so utterly and completely are. Or at least this one is. I have worn it lots but only just got round to blogging it. I feel super smart in this dress – its perfect for work. Especially when I want to feel professional.

Speaking of freebies – I know there has been a bit of chatter on blogs and twitter about the privileges of bloggers and how some people seem to get stuff when others don’t. I also know that some people feel that there is an inner circle of bloggers who get lots more than anyone else. Having been blogging for nearly three years now, its only been in the last six months that I have reached PR companies radar. Partly that was because I coordinated and hosted Plus London Two last February but also because I had been around for a while. I had a twitter presence. I see blogging like anything else – you have to work hard to get something back from it.

Before I even started fashion blogging, I read a lot of blogs and I got hints from them. So when I did begin my little fledgling blog, I knew I wasn’t going to get freebies straight away. So I saved up and invested in a good camera and a tripod. I’m also really lucky in the fact I have a husband who is a keen photographer. I stopped with the in the mirror shots and I worked on the typos in my posts. I carried on writing away about the brands I loved and the outfits I wore – tweeting my links and “@” the brands in. Also I didn’t really care – I wasn’t blogging for freebies, I was blogging because I loved - love - clothes. So now, once in a while I get the odd freebie and its great! A fabulous plus to something I enjoy doing.

I’m still a very little fish in the pond of blogging – there are much much bigger fish out there – but you know what those girls have worked HARD to get to where they are and they deserve it. We are a community – and we should support our fellow members. Some people are always going to be in the right place at the right time, but more often than not they have put in a lot of effort to get there. So if you are new to blogging, don’t despair – enjoy what you do and learn from those that have become successful and who knows, you might be the next big fish!