My heart belongs to George

That statement is true in many ways, but in this particular case I'm talking George of Asda. They are fast becoming my favourite retailer... up there with Asos but way cheaper. I check their site regularly, and when I saw these dresses I was ecstatic and prayed to the goddess of fat birds that the size 24 would fit me!

 THANK YOU GEORGE FOR MAKING A YELLOW DRESS I ACTUALLY LIKE! I have been searching for a yellow dress forever, they're EVERYWHERE in standard sizes, but plus size yellows are either too mustardy, or too acidic or neon.... but this is totally delicious! This dress is £12! It's such a mega bargain!

 As you can it has an elasticated section at the back to help the fit, but I have to say that if you're very busty this might not work for you as the bodice cups are a little flat.

 The cups have removable pads and there are buttons the whole way down the dress and it doesn't gape at all (which is frankly miraculous!). The fabric is cotton and it's non-stretch, but this size 24 fits me very well!

The print is pineapples and oranges, it just couldn't be more perfect. I'm wearing this beauty tomorrow as the sun will be shining and I'm going out for food and then on to a gig after work. I LOVE it! Get it here, and get it now before all the big sizes sell out!

 Okay, so I know that I have 8 thousand maxi dresses, but I was so enamoured with the print of the yellow dress that I bought this one as a safety net in case that one didn't fit.... unfortunately for my groaning wardrobe I LOVE THIS ONE TOO!

 The print is identical but (obviously!) in a different colour combination and quite a different style. The fabric is synthetic in this one, but it's silky and lightweight and flows beautifully.

 The back is not particularly flattering on a back as massive as mine, but I think we can all agree that a strapless bra would help out a bit here! It's a great length (hits the floor on me), and the elasticated waist nips it in at just the right place for my shape.

 I am mad for this dress, and again I can't believe how cheap it was... £16! Get it here, IMMEDIATELY!

I want so many things from George at the moment, and seriously ladies, if you want a good maxi dress go and take a look because they have some delicious ones that are between £10-£20. I know they only go up to a 24 generally, but in my experience their jersey dresses are generous and would easily fit a size 26!

Rock Forever 21 but just turned 30....

..... okay, 32 in my case but Kanye fans will know what I'm sayin'! Forever 21+ is pretty useless for me during the winter months because their 3XL is generally too small for me in any non-stretch or firm fabric pieces, or too short in terms of little dresses & skirts. Summer time is my time though, because all the jumpsuits, stretch trousers and maxi dresses come out, and normally they're in some kind of stretchy jersey. I had my budget in mind when I made this order, otherwise I would have ordered SO MANY THINGS! As it is I just ordered two things and they were both on offer.......

 I really wanted a bandeau maxi for my holiday, so when I saw this dress on offer for £12 I put it straight into my basket! This is available in pink and white too, but this mint green really floated my boat!

 The belt fits nicely but I don't think the dress needs it and I certainly wouldn't bother with a belt when I'm away! The fabric is stretch jersey, it's fantastically long and has a ruched top (double layered on the bodice)

 This 3XL is a nice fit - quite tight on the bust but not in an uncomfortable way. Sadly not tight enough for me to go braless so I might have to find a strapless bra!

 I've been looking at these trousers for ages, so when they went into the sale for £10.99 I decided to go for it! Pockets of joy!

 I have two pairs of leopard print trouser already, but one pair is non stretch (no good for my more vigorous work days or sitting crossed legged on the grass) and the other pair is thin jersey and are actually a little big for me, so I thought these might be just right for running around in!

 These trousers remind me of the the Clements Ribeiro Swan for Evans trousers, they're just a little thicker and firmer and are really tight on the ankles. I really like these! The 3XL is a good fit so the 22-24 description is a pretty good one on this occasion!

I might have to wear these to work tomorrow because I find them exciting and I wanna try them with my cute new black shoes!

£68-£26.94 (inc P&P!) = £41.06 left to spend!

Genuine excitement

It'll be no news to my regular readers that I like bold patterns and prints on my clothing. I look at clothes allllll the time (being fat but not dowdy is hard work.... it's like having a 2nd job!) and when I saw the new Graduate Collection at George online I lost my shit big time!

For me these collections can be hit & miss, (often down to personal taste) and sometimes I love them but the cut or fabric just won't work on my big ol' ass! If they're done in conjunction with the G21 range they're not available in a size 22+ anyway, which was sadly the case with the last collection (above) by Clare Acton. The dresses would have been a disaster on me, but I wanted the tops!

 I'm always happy when there's something in the graduate collection that I like and comes in my size (like the cardi I got ages ago!) but this time round I liked every piece.... believe me it has never happened before!

Bright colours, Geometric prints, knitted....... AND A MAXI?! Oh my goodness, was this collection made specially for me?! I would wear pretty much all of these pieces, and the prices (as always) are so extremely low that there was no way I was going to resist those dresses!

Having looked at Caitlin's website, I think that the best thing about this collection is how true they've been to her style. I know big companies have to create affordable, 'wearable' items that they think will sell (so they don't like to go too far out-there in terms of cut and shape) but they haven't watered it down to the point where you wouldn't know she designed it. Plaudits must be given!

On to the reviews! As much as I like the jumpers in this collection (particularly the yellow one!) I just don't wear thick jumpers very often, so I resisted. I ordered the midi dress and the maxi to try...... obviously!

First up we have the maxi. Lorna from The Ginger Peardrop said at Plus London that clearly maxi dresses were my thing and I was like 'nahhhh.... it's just a coincidence that both times we've met I've been in a maxi'. You know what though, they really are becoming my thing. I keep choosing maxi's for events because I think they look so striking, and my collection of in-your-face maxi's has increased hugely, so this one feels very 'me'. Becky from Does My Blog Make Me Look Fat tweeted a link to the dress after I'd ordered it saying 'I can totally see Plump Parsnip rocking this'... I'm clearly the fatshion blogger who always wears maxi's! Oh joy, it is fabulous!

I went for the size 24, because although this is stretchy, the straight lines in the pattern were bound to get caught on all my lumpy bits, and in order to get a more casual look (rather than bodycon) I wanted the biggest size. LOVE!

It's got a lot of give in the fabric and the pattern / colours are delicious! The only thing I'm not 100% about is the length. I'd like it to a bit a tad longer, but of course I'm a touch taller than average so I often find maxi's to be a bit short. No matter, It still works, and I love the sport-lux feel that the horizontal stripes at the bottom of the hem and sleeves brings. A sporty maxi? Fan-fucking-tastic!

When I ordered the midi they only had it up to a size 20, but I loved it so much that I just threw caution to the wind and got the 20!

The good news is that it's super stretchy thanks to the knitted fabric so it's totally wearable, the bad news is that (as with all knitwear) the more it stretches outwards the shorter it gets!

The 20 is very bodycon on me so it shows up my double belly but that's not the end of the world, I love love love the pattern and colour, but it's too short for my liking. I was extremely happy to find today that the size 22 & 24 were back in stock, so I've ordered the 24, which I imagine will be knee length on me rather than midi, but that's totally fine, they often are!

Overall I think these dresses are fantastic. My main gripe with them is that the fabric is a bit itchy, but I'm sure that using a softer knit would have increased the price, and frankly, a midi for £18 and a maxi for £20 is spectacular value for such interesting pieces! See the collection here. Well done George & Caitlin, you SMASHED it! This has really whet my appetite for Evans forthcoming graduate collaborations (Cut for Evans) that are coming out next month, they certainly won't match Georges outstanding price point, but lets hope they can match them in design.

Don't you know it's like a heat wave?!

I love it when the weather heats up... mainly because I love my summer wardrobe! Here are my shitty snaps of this weeks outfits! xx

Monday

 Dress - Anna Scholz (White Label)

Aviators - Ray ban

Flip flops - Ipanema

Tuesday

 I really wanted a trapeze / tented maxi dress this summer. I regretted not buying this dress when I saw it a few years ago so I was chuffed to snap it up on ebay a couple of months ago!

Dress - Primark (size 16!) via ebay

cardi - dorothy perkins

Gold hoops - Silvershake

Wednesday

Dress - Ruby Rocks for Evans (available on ebay size 22 here)

Cardi - Primark

Leggings - h&m

Sandals - Ipanema

Thursday

When it's hot, I break out the jumpsuits!

 Jacket - TKmaxx

Jumpsuit - Forever 21+

Sandals - Primark

 Friday

Cardi - Primark

Dress - New Look Inspire

Sandals - Ipanema

Asos Parcel... being returned :(

Summer lovin'

 Yesterday was a day of chores, but a lovely sunny one that made going out for groceries a nice trip!

 This is a bit of an old favorite summer dress-wise. I feel super girly in it! I love the puffy sleeves on this dress, I think they are it's nicest feature!

Dress - Ruby Rocks for Evans

Cardi - Primark

Leggings - H&M

Shoes - United Nude

Today was all about lounging in the sunshine... what a fabulous day!

 I'm a happy bunny!

 I went for a vintage look today. The kaftan is quite sheer so I have a bra and come capri leggings underneath it (there are kids in the park you know?!).

 I don't wear hats that often, but when I do, I do it with gusto!

Nothing better than the feel of grass between my toes!

Hat - Next (probably about 10 years old now!)

Dress - Vintage

Capri Leggings - George

Flip flops - Ipanema

Bag - H&M

I'm spending the rest of today cooking (and eating!) so my outfit has shrunk to this little playsuit I got from Primark last summer. Lumpy thighs ahoy!

Working week tweets

 

Monday 

Aviators - Vintage Versace

Denim jacket - New Look Inspire

Dress - Anna Scholz 

Bag - Dorothy Perkins

Sandals - Primark

 

 

I fucking LOVE my crayon print dress!  And I love my (pale!) bare legs too

 

Tuesday

Dress - Evans

Cardi - Primark

Flip flops - Ipanema

 

   

I took a trip to Primark this week and got these awesome sunglasses - I've wanted some heart shaped ones for ages, but had no intention of paying more than a fiver for 'em. Perfect!

  

I also picked up this cute monochrome jumpsuit from Primark for £10. The 20 is pretty generous and I love that it's got cuffed ankles and pockets!

 

Wednesday

Cardi - Dorothy Perkins

Top - primark

Trousers - Very (similar here)

Sandals - Primark (current, and on sale for £6 in black & tan - I have both of course!)

  

One of my favourite ever rings came out of the box today - this is a classic from Primark, I ended up getting one for my sister too because she was quite jealous!

 

Felt a bit like I was in a Harem wearing this outfit!

  

I got a 'mood' ring from ebay (here) and I love watching the colours change when it heats up on my finger!)

  

Thursday

Aviators - Ray-Ban

Jacket - Clements Ribeiro for Evans (1st Swan collection)

Dress - Clements Ribeiro for Evans (3rd Swan Collection, similar here)

Leggings - Primark

Flip flops - Ipanema (similar here)

 

  

This coat is one of the 2 items I got from the 1st Swan collection. Still love this jacket, it's great for this kind of weather, although admittedly the shape means that it only goes with a few things!

  

So then, in my review of this dress (here) I said that it wouldn't necessarily be good in hot weather because the fabrics a bit synthetic, but I completely take that back, it was great in the heat and kept me very cool! I do however stick by my claim that it is not very good quality for £45. It's quite see-through so I'm wearing a nude body shaper underneath (little bit like this one). It's got much baggier throughout the day, and despite it being quite spacious on me now I spent my lunch hour sewing up the button holes because they kept coming apart every 2 minutes..... just walking from room to room seemed to be enough to pop them open which is fucking ridiculous! It also creased up really badly on the back of the skirt, and because the fabric is so flimsy there is not weight to pull it back down! BUT.....

  

....... it just LOOKS so beautiful! If this had been a firmer fabric with a bit of stretch to it I don't think I would have had so many problems with it today (and more people would have fitted into it!) but I'm not a designer so what do I know?! Anyway, I've got a long weekend full of activities coming up, so my next post will be outfit-tastic! xx