In the two and a half years since starting this blog I’ve seen some welcome changes in plus size fashion, but for the most part while the marketing aspects have evolved, the clothes, frankly… haven’t. But it’s 2012 now – lets look to the future!

At some point last year I asked on my facebook page what kinds of things that are routinely offered in the stores we shop in would we like to see banished, FOREVER. There was some hilarious comments and I’ve wanted to put them on the blog for a while now.

Please, no more…

• garish patterned kaftans
• bejewelled, off shoulder t-shirts with a dodgy graphic print
• hanky hems
• orthopaedic shoes
• tunics that are way too dressy to be a top but too short to wear as a dress,
• crops (especially if they have diamantés)
• baby doll cut tops
• cheap crinkle fabric shirts
• tops with massive round necks
• short tops cut at the belly
• weird granny style patterns
• tops with no arms
• low rise pants
• Jeans with diamante/sequins
• three quarter length sleeves on EVERYTHING
• cheap materials that bobble
• jeans cut just for apples not pears
• badly fitted workwear in cheap fabrics
• t-shirts with elastic round the bottom
• bubble hems
• large print – to “make you look smaller”
• polyester
• tunics which cut you across the top of your boobs
• trousers which assume just coz you have fat belly your hips & thighs are just as fat.
• cropped jeans
• anything with sparkly crap on it
• butterflies
• cropped wide linen trousers
• cropped combat trousers
• the endless supply of checked shirts
• long skirts with bad prints
• shiny polyester work trousers
• rubbish t-shirts with sequins
• bad jeans with sequins
• tops that have a v-neck and empire waist seams that bisect the boobs for some inexplicable purpose, and are always made from some sort of cheap polyester or rayon and include ridiculous flared sleeves or even worse, PIRATE SLEEVES!!!! They’re almost always some garish print and often include rhinestones. (This was too good not to include in full)
• transparent tunics with tank tops underneath
• tacky buttons
• neon seams
• huge shapeless stuff that can’t be saved with a belt
• awful gigantic flower prints
• pockets in the worst places
• tops too wide but too short
• sad adaptations of the regular sized collection

What do you think? Anything you want to add, leave a comment! I can’t wait to read them, haha. (Also I hope it goes without saying this is personal preference – some people love these tops, for example, I love babydolls. It’s more about plus size places sticking to these basics that actually look pretty awful.)

Hi everyone!

I’ve been struggling the past few weeks and not felt like updating the blog. I definitely didn’t want to recap 2011 as it was quite a horrible year for me, with me being the lowest since the age of about 20 to the point where I frightened myself and those around me. I managed to claw myself out of it over the months, but as a result I’m not holding out too many hopes for 2012 – my main ambition is just to survive.

BUT – obviously, the thing I am most proud of having done last year was seeing Plus London through to the end – it was a fantastic day and I think everyone who came really enjoyed themselves which was brilliant. It was incredibly stressful so when I was asked about organising a second event I declined, but luckily the awesome Claire stepped up and took it on. And guess what? Plus London 2 is looking bigger, better and a damn sight better organised than when I was doing it!

Alongside the shopping, meal, pop up studio and party, there’s a blogger tour at Anna Scholz HQ, a clothing swap and a catwalk show from One Stop Plus featuring yours truly, hahaha. The party venue is the same as last year, kindly sponsored by Simply Be!

I really can’t wait – it’s only three weeks from today. If you fancy attending (the Anna Scholz event is fully subscribed to bloggers only, and there is a waiting list) please email supermonkey79 @gmail.com to register your interest.

See you there! xx

Another quick outfit post from me – not the best photo, by any means…

Dress: Lovedrobe via Evans
Tights: Evans
Shoes: New Look
Necklace: Yours Clothing

I’ve gone in reverse order this time – this is me on Christmas Eve. As you can see I look much more ill, haha. This is a TERRIBLE photo of me but you can see the colours of the outfit. Lovedrobe can be a little hit and miss for me, but I am completely besotted with this tunic. It’s also a departure in fitted clothing for me, because I left it completely loose. Super comfortable!

Dress: Angel & Ribbons by Simply Be
Faux Fur Scarf: Primark
Bow heels: New Look

Hello everyone! Hope you had a really nice Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or Sunday. I managed to land myself with a chest infection so my Christmas has been a bit subdued what with not being able to see my friends, or eat and drink much. Boo! I tried to look nice though, and wore my new Simply Be dress which I love to bits. So glad I eventually bought one!

Hope you’re all looking forward to new years… x

A lot of blogs have done gift guides this year, I especially loved Nicolette’s series on different types of gifts. I thought about doing one, but to be honest it’d just be full of stuff I want, so I cut out the middle man and made a pictoral Christmas wishlist. Though in a parallel world where money was no object:

Clockwise from top left: Skullcandy Aviator headphones; Miu Miu silver mary-janes; Office “Freckles” pump in mustard suede; iPhone 4S (64gb); How To Adapt and Design Sewing Patterns; Cloth magazine subscription; Girls to the Front; Accessorise spotty satchel; Jeffrey Campbell “Beebee” shoe in black suede

My actual Christmas list was very different to this, because a lot of this stuff is mega-expensive. I’ll be getting bits and bobs from the gift section at Sainsbury’s in my stocking, which I am more than chuffed with! But, I may use any Christmas money to get the BeeBees – I know JC is completely overdone, but as someone who can’t walk in high-instep shoes, these is genuinely the holy grail of shoes! I’m a huge fan of Cloth magazine and buy it as often as I can find it, but it’s not always available. I don’t even know why I I buy it, I’ve made about two things in two years… Recently my iPod has started to die, which is scary. My iPhone is also coming to the end of its contract, so I’m thinking of just getting one thing to hold and do everything. Although in all honesty I’d never be able to afford a 64gb one. I also need new headphones, although I have asked for cheaper ones that have a neckband to be less conspicuous. But the Aviators… man, HMV have a headphones stand where you can plug your own mp3 player in, and they are just the best sound I’ve heard. Everytime I go in and listen to one of my favourite songs on it. There’s one of the Dr Dre Beats sets next to it at £350, and the sound is not a patch on the Aviators. It’s so rich and full! Err, am I turning this into a tech blog?

Ah well. What are you guys asking for Christmas? xx

Just a super quick outfit post from me today:

Jumper: New Look Inspire
Skirt: Forever21+
Glasses: London Retro (gifted)
Boots: Evans

This, my dears, is pretty much my winter uniform, albeit very colourful in a sort of Ronald McDonald kind of way. Typical that I ordered this jumper to live out my fantasy of looking like Velma from Scooby Doo, and turn out looking like the crown prince of the obesity epidemic(TM).

Jersey pencil skirt, jumper, thick black tights.  Although who am I kidding? I wear it all year round!

 

All this year I’ve tried to be frugal when it comes to clothes, and I have to say I’ve not spent nearly as much as I used to. However I’ve gone a little bit beserk with my latest payday. I blame Tom and Donna:

So, here’s what I’ve been buying…

1. Mustard jumper, New Look Inspire – since I got my big glasses my mum’s been calling me Velma, from Scooby Doo. She thinks it’s a jibe, but in fact Velma has been my hero since the age of about five. I figured this would work for my transformation

2. Black ponte pencil skirt, New Look Inspire – because I can’t live without a good black pencil skirt in my wardrobe!

3. Mustard leggings, Yours Clothing – I really want some mustard! Maybe I’ll wear it with the NL jumper, like a slightly off banana.

4. Heart print chiffon dress, Lovedrobe for Evans – Cute prints are my kryptonite, ok? I have some teal tights to wear with this, too!

5. Red lace dress, Angel & Ribbons for Simply Be – I told the story of the red dress here, but months on and I still think it’s beautiful. I plan to wear it Christmas day, because it’s gorgeous but also looks like it’ll be made of a material that I can pass out on the sofa in.

6. Star print tights, Yours Clothing – do I even need a frakkin’ reason?! LOOK AT THEM.

I’m also waiting on this babely top from Domino Dollhouse, which I can’t wait for, and stocked up on jumpers from H&M for £3.99 each. I think I was like a coiled spring…

Have you treated yourself to anything nice lately?

Just a quick update from me to show off my new coat. Since my red Dotty P one died a death, I’ve been on the hunt for a coat that’s smart but bright. I’d been erring on the side of orange or pink, but when I clapped eyes on this gorgeously bright blue (TARDIS blue, if you will) 60′s swing coat I knew it was The One.

Coat: TU at Sainsbury’s
Skirt: ASOS Curve
Boots: Evans

I was preparing myself to splash out on a coat, as it’s an investment item. But I couldn’t help myself: this baby was £45! And as my mum works at Sainsbury’s, she gets a discount. Yay! I’m probably going to add some brooches and pins to dress it up a bit, but even on its own I feel great. And warm, hooray! Have any of you guys gotten new winter coats? What style did you go for?

 

PU Biker Jacket: So Fabulous! by Very (gifted for review)
Leopard Skirt: ASOS Curve
Boots: Evans
Glasses: Glasses Direct (also gifted)
Black Jumper: Peacocks
Turquoise Fake Fur Collar (below): ASOS

Could I look any more miserable?! Oh dear. I was actually rather happy when taking these photos as well!

I’ve been attempting to cut down on reviewing items because I feel guilty, but certain people I just can’t say no to! I’ve been a massive fan of Very for years and years – I think at one point at least half my wardrobe was from them. I’ve gone backwards and forwards on their plus size range, So Fabulous, over the years but recently it’s taken a turn for the better. They got in touch and offered me an item to review, and I chose to indulge  in this lovely faux leather biker jacket.

Biker jackets have been one of those things that I resisted for a long time before finally thinking it was something I could wear! I first started seeing them on uber scenesters about four years ago but never thought it’d be for me, but I’ve since had a change of heart. I’m glad I waited because honestly, this jacket is pretty damn lovely! It’s buttery soft and so warm – even warmer than my coat! – and there is so much detail which you don’t normally get on plus size items. I got a 22 even though my size is more of a 24 now, and it fits perfectly. Having read the reviews on their site, a couple of people had problems with it fitting right on a large bust, but as I don’t have that problem it sits really well. The only snag, literally, was a couple of loose threads. That’s it! And I can snip those off no problem. So yes, I’m a very happy customer!

For those of you not in the UK, they recently opened up Very.com so you’ll be able to shop from the US, as well!

As well as the So Fabulous range, I’ve also bought and worn a lot of items from South (up to UK24) and Love Label (up to UK20). Very do have a lot of celebrity and designer collections in their straight size range, and I’d love to see a plus size collaboration at some point – maybe they can take in Beth Ditto?

Dress: Made by my mum!
Belt: Love Label, many years old
Shoes: Torrid (gifted) (dammit!)
Headband: Primark, also old

I’m glad my mum finally made me this dress after having the material and pattern pinned and cut for about five years. It’s from this Butterick pattern, although it’s not nearly as fitted in the photo. But I guess that’s just how my body is. As you can see, while I’m fat I would never consider myself curvy at all, there’s no waist, no boobs! And there’s nothing wrong with that.

The photo is, of course, from the Models of Diversity Curves in Couture event from this Thursday, which was great fun! I’ll be writing it up for Vogue Curvy, just waiting on photos as the ones I took were absolutely atrocious. (My fault, I should’ve sat in the photo pit. n3wb error.)

The main thing about events like this is getting to hangout with bloggers again, because we all get on so well! I mostly hung out with Claire (my rescuer!), Rosie, Em who I got to meet for the first time finally, and Georgina. Here they are looking stunning:

90′s girl band. Or boy band. I can’t remember any more!

And I got a bit starstruck meeting the legend that is Velvet D’Amour! She is absolutely stunning in real life. I am in fact doing a shoot with her tomorrow for her new magazine, and I am BRICKING IT.