Tasty Samples!

With the exception of Christmas festivities, the Anna Scholz Sample sale is fast becoming one of my favourite days of the year. Not just because I can get some amazing dresses at fantastic prices, but because it's so nice to chat with all the other women there! I took my bestie this year for the first time (she often admires my Scholz dresses, so it was time!) and she outspent me by a mile! She could have gone totally bananas actually - if you're a size 18 then you should get down there tomorrow for the 2nd day of the sale, because there are about 8 racks of size 18's and there are some items I would have loved to fit in to!

Anyway, here are my totally sensible purchases!

 This is a bit of a summery frock, but sometimes I need to go bright in winter, otherwise it's just a bit boring don't you think?!

 This dress is one that I've seen on many people, and every one of them looks fabulous in it. It is universally flattering (The lovely Curvy Wordy also bought it today and looks amazing in it - we have totally different body shapes but it works for both of us!).

 It's a slinky fabric and - joy of joys - it has sleeves! I love a proper sleeve all year round, but particularly in the colder months!

I am so comfy, happy and BRIGHT in this. Totally perfect! Size 24.

 Now, on to something considerably more autumnal!

 Lovely shape, beautiful double silk fabric, comfy and delicious!

 Full length sleeve joy! I feel very smart in this dress, it's perfect for work and I can totally imagine it with one of my faux fur coats!

 Happy Parsnip... can you tell?! Size 22.

 I KNEW me and this dress were meant to be. I loved this on the website, but I haven't really worn brown for years, so I wanted to try it before buying. Happily it is a delicious shade of chocolate brown which I rather like on me, and I am deeply in love with it!

 This is a thick fabric and a great length - again, it will be perfect for work. Well, and everything else actually, because it's excellent!

 I love the detailing on this - it's similar to the floral one above and has lovely shoulder and waist flourishes, but more importantly it has long sleeves and zips.... totally cool!

 I think the simplicity of this dress makes it my favourite of the 3. I don't have many non-patterned dresses any more, so this one is rather special! Size 24.

I am in no way sponsored by Anna Scholz, but I am totally making myself an unofficial brand ambassador. I think it is the only plus size brand that I always love. The clothes are so well made, and obviously you pay more for designer clothes and good quality, but the attention to detail really shows, and there are always shapes to suit all different body types. There is a good reason why I now have so many Anna Scholz dresses; they're in a class of their own in a world full of disappointing plus size options! Many of my readers will not be able to afford designer clothing at full price, but it's worth checking for sales, because £50 for a beautifully tailored dress is less than you'll pay for many-a badly made high-street dress. You know I speaketh the truth! I have become evangelical about Anna Scholz! If only I could have got my grubby mits on some of her Sheego range.....

Coolness

Most of the stuff I've bought recently has been from ebay, but there have been a few shop-bought items that have found their way into my wardrobes. I'm sorry to say that some of this has already sold out, which seems to be the norm unless it's from asos!.

 I wanted a plain little jacket to go with my sleeveless dresses, and this one from George was ideal.

 Sorry ya'll this one has sold out!

 You've seen a snap of this, but I almost didn't keep it because it's just so unflattering, but who cares? It's so warm and snugly! The pink version has sold out, but they still have the blue & cream versions. I would have gone for the blue one if they'd put them on the site at the same time!

 This is the size 24 and it's perfect. I particularly like this because the lining on the body is stretch jersey, so it's way more comfy than a regular faux fur coat and it can actually stretch a bit!

 This Dorothy Perkins skirt is the shit. I am very deeply in love with it! It's a beautiful pink bronze colour and is a proper midi length.

 It has a very subtle embossed pattern on it too. It's frigging glorious! Very annoyingly (for me, not you!) it's now on sale for £20 here.

 I sent back the size 22 because it was HUGE! The whole skirt is stretchy, but considering I normally wear a size 24 in skirts I would say that this is VERY oversized! You can see how big this size 20 is. I think this could fit a size 26 easily, so when the 22 I sent back goes online snap it up if your size 28-30, you'll be able to pull it off for sure!

 I got this in the sale (Dorothy Perkins again) so I guess it's no surprise that it's now sold out.....

 Just another one to go with my dresses, I liked the gathering on the back!

Last year it was too mild to wear a Christmas jumper on Christmas jumper day, so I have decided that Christmas t-shirts are the more sensible option! Primark is the BEST place for Christmas clothing. They have loads of jumpers, but if you go there now they also have tons of ace t-shirts. I got some as gifts (not putting them on here 'cause they're surprises!), but I couldn't resist getting a couple for myself. This one is from the mens department. It's sometimes a squeeze to get into the ladies size 20, but the mens XXL tees are more generous. They're also cheaper!

 JOY TO THE WORLD, CASS IS AN ELF! 

I have wanted an elf dress or top for years and this (size 20) Primark one has made me ridiculously happy! They have a similar version with a santa outfit that I nearly bought too.... held myself back a bit!

 Just a quick side note, these are Dorothy Perkins size 22 indigo jeggings - I had to get the tall version because the regular had sold out... just folded them up so no biggie. FYI they're SUPER stretchy and quite generous. Shame they dye my legs blue. I've yet to find a pair of indigo jeans from anywhere that don't run like mad though, so I just live with it! My lipstick is from Primark. I think it was £1.50 and it's a lush matte red with a pink tone. It has a slight sherbet smell to it!

Back to the t-shirt. It's the best thing ever. The end.

Wardrobe Weekly

Monday

Today was a vintage day.

I found this in a charity shop in Camberwell. I was only going up there to get groceries, but I can never resist a bit of thrifting!

It's a vintage size 20 and is clearly a bit small for me, but it's stretchy and I'm oddly found of a super tight fit when it comes to this sort of dress!

The shoulders and buttons are my favourite bits!

Dress 20 - Vintage

Leggings 20 - Very / South

Shoes - Charity shop

Tuesday

Bit more of a modern look on Tuesday.

I am very fond of this dress.

I wear much more black in the winter... makes sense I guess, but I often feel odd in all black nowadays - I don't want people to think I'm trying to look slim after all!

Dress 24 - Asos Cure

Leggings 20 - South / Very

Shoes - Asos

Necklace - Primark

Wednesday

Autumn Leaves

Wednesday was BUSY so I didn't get to take any snaps until it was dark (hence the even worse than normal pics!)

It seems that I dressed to match the park huh?

This is another one of those dresses that gets put away during the summer months and then gives me a happy little buzz when it comes out again!

We Saw Becca Stevens again, and she (and the band) are just frigging amazing!

Dress 22-24 - Ebay

Leggings 20 - Primark

Shoes - Asos

Thursday

I only have the one pic from Thursday as we have been moving office and it has all been a bit hectic! Hogwarts t-shirt though....

T-shirt 20 - Primark

Jeans 22 - Asos

Hi-tops - Nike

Friday

I've had this bodysuit for so long and I'd never ever worn it before Friday

Tassels!

 Quite a funky ombre thing going on here.

 

I seem to be in lots of black again. Accident.

Tina fucking Turner bitches.

I was too cold to go without my cardi most of the day though, so here is the whole outfit!

Cardi & bodysuit 20 - Primark

Trousers 24 - Yours Clothing

shoes - Asos

 

Saturday

I went swimming on Saturday and then got groceries.... It didn't really occur to me to take a pic of me in my joggers, but I wore my HP tee again... might as well get my wear out of it huh?!

Wardrobe Weekly

It's been another busy one, which is why wardrobe weekly is late again! In my fella's continual attempts to give me a thorough Jazz education, I've been watching Ken Burns 'Jazz' (series of documentaries) and it was that which spurred me on to finally finish my last post 'The wrong scale', which I started writing about 3 months ago. The second episode introduces us to Duke Ellington and I was inspired by his story. I loved the following passages....

"Your manners, your sense of what you are capable of, will carry you past the slights and insults. Always carry yourself as if you're above them, because in fact you are"

"(Ellington's mother) Daisy told her son he must allow nothing to stop him, unpleasant facts and potential barriers were simply to be ignored. He could do anything anyone else could do, and because she believed that, Ellington would always believe it too"

I am in no way comparing fat-phobia or hatred towards racism (which is why I didn't include this in the actual post), but those words just resonated with me, so I sat down and re-wrote that post. Once it was actually posted I could get on with everything else (lots of laundry for instance!). So three cheers for Jazz!

It's actually a fantastically fascinating series, and as you can imagine, most of the musicians stories are hugely inspiring. If you are interested in the history of jazz (well, or just music in general!) then you should check it out - My jazz-mad boyfriend has the DVD's but you can watch it on Daily motion for free here! My Jazz Education continues.....

I'm so in love with this tune that I felt the need to put it up here. Now, on to my week in clothes!

Monday

 Oh the joy! This has been in my 'winter' suitcase, and it was the first thing I wanted to wear after I swapped my summer wardrobe over!

 I adore this dress. I wore it loads last year and I always feel foxy in it!

 Rubber shoes to resist the rain!

Excelent mosaic print!

 Dress 26-28 - AX Paris / ebay

Cardi 20 - Primark

Leggings 20 - South / Very

Shoes - Melissa + J Maskrey & Swarovski

Tuesday

 I bought this from Becky's blog sale ages ago, but the weather was too mild to wear it so this is it's first outing!

Cosmic!

Dress 2xl - Domino Dollhouse

Leggings 20 - Primark

Boots - Old via ebay! 

 Wednesday

 It's autumn, and that means it's time for lightweight jumpers!

 When I was little I always thought women looked chic in turtlenecks, and that feeling has never gone away. 

I've had this jumper for years - it's an old cheap classic that is ideal for chilly, windy weather.

Jumper 18 - Primark

Jeans 22 - Dorothy Perkins

Shoes - Asos

Earrings - Forever 21 

 Thursday

 I really liked this outfit. I am a real fan of a simple jeans + jumper combo. It's so simple but it just looks cute!

 It's the first time I've worn this jumper (which I got a month or so ago) and I really like it. I wish I could get it in other colours too, it's comfy and lush!

 Anyone who likes Doc Martins and has legs like mine (massive - too big for most wellies) should get down to Primark and buy some of these. I LOVE these £10 wellies. They have them in black glitter and floral prints as well as these leopard ones. Genius idea.

Jumper 24 - Barbara Hulaniki for George

jeans 22 - Dorothy Perkins

Boots - Primark 

Friday

Please excuse the terrible pictures! I look insane in these, but anyway.... these trousers look much better in real life, trust me!

 Cute print!

Shirt 24 - George

Trousers 22 - Dorothy Perkins 

 Saturday

 My summer weekend uniform was jumpsuits and flip flops. My winter weekend uniform is jersey joggers, jumpers and slippers!

 Whole outfit - Primark!

 Sunday

Oh the joy of a sunny day after all the rainy doom and gloom!

 It's a good jub I didn't pack away my denim jacket along with my other summer coats, because Sunday was oddly hot and very sunny!

 A nice simple dress that I got for £6 from the lovedrobe website last year.

I'm wearing REAL hi-tops, not those foul things with the concealed wedge heel. Why anyone would want to ruin a comfy pair of trainers with a big heel is beyond me!

 Jacket 22 - New Look Inspire

Dress 24 - Lovedrobe

Leggings 20 - Primark

Hi-tops - Nike