Sneaky ASOS Curve haul

 I caved and tried some stuff from Asos Curve again. 

It's been raining all day, so it seems sensible to start with a vinyl rain coat!

ASOS DESIGN Curve vinyl check trench coat in pink

I always wanted this coat! I tried this last year in a 26 and it was too big for me. I ended up keeping the fabulous mint green vinyl coat with faux fur collar because it's lined and good for the cold wet weather, but I never forgot this one. 

This is much better suited tothe mad weather we currently have - pissing it down but very warm and balmy. It's thin vinyl, generously sized (this is the size 24 fyi) and has popper and a belt to fasten it.

Okay so I can see why people said this is like a vinyl tablecloth because that's what the fabric feels like, but I don't really care about such things. I just want something thin that will stop me getting soaked when it's raining and fits over clothing easily, which is precisely what this is!

It's lack of a hood is a bit annoying but I normally use an umbrella anyway as hoods so often blow down. 

Daisy Street Plus 90's cardigan with star buttons in rib knit

I just didn't like the fabric on this cardi. Also the buttons gape like mad even though it's not particularly tight. 

The other thing to mention is that the buttons are stars, which is cute, but they're pretty spiky - I knew they'd scratch me and snag everything they came into contact with. Shame because it's definitely cute!

Daisy Street Plus longline coat in lilac yin yang heart faux fur

It's awesome. I loved it.

Okay so it looks a bit like a dressing gown but who cares?! It's ace. Size 22 because daisy street faux furs are very oversized so I size down lots. Big poppers, big pockets.

Great fit, super snuggley, good length and a total bargain. Very similar cut to my elvie blue faux fur but with less structured shoulders. 

I REALLY wanted to keep this one but.....

Dammit! Moon and stars! It seems to be sold out now (sorry for the delay in posting!) but it's so oversized that it's sure to come back in stock soon.... maybe

Poppers again, and I'm planning to add an extra one so it does up higher and keeps my neck warm.

Still soft, still oversized in a 22 still awesome! It was so hard to send the purple one back (and honestly if it's still available after payday and still on sale I might have to get it again!) But this one just gave me the feels even more. The colours are just so fun!

I got the 26 and it was huge! Alas currently sold out, but I feel the same as I did about the faux fur. Will surely have returns due to sizing.

Ended up with a 22. It's generous cut and soft crinkle fabric - a favorite of mine during the summer months.

It's super light and comfy and has lovely wide legs. It's going to be perfect for the inevitable heatwave we get sometimes before summer!

ASOS DESIGN curve wrap crinkle jumpsuit in check

Size 26. Not a great shape on me. Slightly crinkley thin fabric that doesn't stretch but feels flexible.

I like the top but not the bottom. And to be honest the print doesn't feel very 'me'!

New Look Curve frill edge cut out mini dress in black

Size 26. This is a pretty cute dress but I just don't need another black dress..... in fact I'm soon to list a bunch of black dresses on ebay because I have too many and I often put them on and think "meh, plain black just doesn't make me pop now my hair isn't red"

But if you want a bargain LBD then this is a good one. Its thin shell like fabric with a bit of give. The arms aren't very generous (very typical of new look curve). It didn't feel particularly static but its the sort of fabric that can be, so bare that in mind!

ASOS DESIGN Curve plisse balloon sleeve midi dress in navy

Another one of those moments when I know I don't need something but I still want to try it on! Me and plisse don't get on too well because its so static and clingy, but that doesn't really matter when it's bodycon!

Size 24 and very comfy, gorgeous colour, perfect length and sexy deep v neck. Love the sleeves too.

But I don't need it. I sent it back but only because I have a lovely tight dark blue midi dress so I don't feel like I need another. Lush though!

Experiments in eco friendly deodorants

 It takes a lot of effort to be ecco friendly. That's not an excuse for not trying but it can be frustrating! I've been trying to use fewer chemicals on my body and in my home for ages, but I've been making more effort recently. Reason being there are far more natural and plastic free products out there nowadays, so it's not quite as pricey or tricky to find what you want and be able to afford it too!

Of course it's hard to argue that you're saving the planet if the products you use have to be flown here, but one step at a time, eh?!.

I've learned a fair bit about armpits doing this, so I'll start by saying that it's worth trying a little armpit detox between going from regular deodorant to natural. Apparently a bentonite clay and cider vinegar mask is great but I used a charcoal soap scrub that I already had and charcoal is also reccomend to remove toxins.

Wild deodorant

So this is the trickiest change so far..... Deodorant. I've been on quite the journey! I saw Sophie Hagen (a comedian I like) talking about Wild Natural Deodorant and I decided to try it. The fact that she had her own discount code didn't put me off because I didn't think she would advertise a productive that didn't work. Fookin' 'ell though..... it didn't work for me! I read all about the transition period but whoa! Two week in and my armpits smelt like curry. Seriously. Onion heavy curry! Horrendous! Even taking two showers per day (which isn't very ecological is it?!) And applying more than once per day, it did nothing to stop body odor. I've never really had B.O before, not unless I've forgotten to use deodorant for a couple of days, but I know that might be from all the chemicals I've been slathering on my pits for most of my life. Wild, unfortunately, just didn't work for my body chemistry. I read this very helpful blog after the 12 days and contacted Wild who kindly refunded me. It must work for lots of other people as the reviews are mainly good. But if you wanna try wild, maybe don't jump in head first (like I did) and buy the smallest pack possible. Or better, go to ebay! I listed the unused bits of my set with the cleaned case cheap, because chucking it in the bin is a waste and not at all eco friendly. I saw a few wild sets on there so worth getting some to try on the cheap as wild don't offer samples or minis.

I think in a very real way this was just too creamy for me. Too sticky even when using a small amount. I have no gap between my body and arms so it does tend to get a bit hot and moist in my pits because of this. I think wild actually created the perfect environment for bacteria. I don't know if it was my skin type not absorbing it (I tried all different amounts!), my pits not getting any air or the fact I don't shave, but it just didn't work. It got increasingly worse until I found myself having to detox my armpits with my yes to tomatos charcoal stick! Before another week of getting them back to a happy place with the next deodorant.....

Salt of the earth crystal

To try and get me back on track I got this little crystal. Well what a bloody genius thing this is! It's a block of natural mineral salt (potassium alum) which is not the same thing as aluminium.... the stuff that blocks pores and stops you sweating. This is just supposed to be a deodorant, not an anti perspirant but it keeps my arm pits drier than anything I've used before. I went for the crystal in a box rather than the one in a plastic caseing. Basically I rub it on my armpits as soon as i get out of the shower because it needs water to transfer to skin. Then dry it off and pop it back in it's box or put it in a little dish. I think this block will last a long time, so it's the best value deodorant I've ever come across. It's fragrance free and it turns out my natural underarm smell is pretty neutral and nice.

A note on specific use. I rub the crystal all over my pits while still wet after a shower and make sure I slide it over the whole area at least three times. Then I rinse the top, dry it on a corner of my towel and pop it back in it's lovely dish. No lid so it drys properly! Once a month I use a fine nail file to take the top layer off the crystal so it's always super fresh. My armpits dry down impressively quickly. I think they are slowly loosing the discolouration that (as it turns out) was caused by my old deodorant and it doesn't seem to stain clothing. As it's not a powder or balm it doesn't get on clothing when you pull stuff over your head. It is really brilliant. I'm so glad I tried it and I think it will be a life long buddy now. Hoping one day my partner will try it out too and we can both go plastic free!

Natural deodorant company

I love the crystal but I read that the lack of chemicals in natural deodorants mean that sometimes your body gets used to them and they stop working, so apparently it's good to switch between different types. That's why I also ordered some balm to try. I got a the mini tester pack to see how I got on with a balm. Drier than wild for sure. The active one is unsurprisingly(!) the most effective of the batch. Unfortunately the company say this one shouldn't be worn everyday, just on particularly active ones, so I also tried the clean one (their regular deodorant) too. It doesn't work for me! After a few days use I sensed B.O by the end of the day. And prolonged use of the clean one gave me the curry smell again. I wonder if that's due to having more moisture under my arms because this is a balm and doesn't dry out the skin the way the crystal does. On the plus side they all smell so yummy! The nice thing about the small pots for these samples is that they're metal (good for the environment!) and the size of a lip balm so easy to take with you places. The gentle one now lives in my work bag and it's very handy in that it will work for a short term use if I have an overnight stay somewhere (or forgot to put my deodorant on in the morning before I left the house!) The regular pots are pretty hefty and are glass. For me personally, I'm not too enamored with deodorant balms. This is way better than wild as it isn't as moist and sticky, but I'm not keen on having to use my hands to get it out the post and rub it into my pits. Works ok with hairy armpits though as it doesn't clump and drys down quite well. felt similar to the Mitcham solid stick deodorants I used to use when on! If the active one was okay for daily use this might have worked better for me? Who knows?!

LUSH Aromaco 

Aromaco from Lush was always going to appeal to me. It's a block that you rub on, it's plastic free and many people swear by it. It's relatively cheap by Lush standards, this block was cut fresh for me and cost around £3. The sticking point for me immediately is the scent. Wow it is pungent! If you like patchouli you won't blink an eye, but if  you don't then you might actively dislike the very strong smell. So first application and I was surprised by how soft this was. Texture-wise it reminded a lot of the wild deodorant.... I ended up having to rub it in with my hands like a balm. I wasn't expecting that because I watched some reviews of people using this before buying it and some said you should hold it against your skin to warm it up so it glides on easily. I didn't need to do that, it went on super quickly and thickly!

The scent didn't give me a headache but it was very noticeable everytime I moved my arms. The problem for me is that patchouli just isn't in my personal sphere of perfume notes! Basically it fights against my hair and skin products and my perfume. And wins most of the time! But oddly it started to grow on me as the first day went on. It reminds me of old school lush products. The stuff that always smelt like the 60s. Hippy smells! I love Karma products from Lush and that has patchouli in it (along with  a fizz that makes me think of jaffa oranges and cola!). What I can say is that I think this would be a wonderful smell on more masculine folk..... it would be a bit like a cologne and deodorant in one.

LUSH The Greench

Lush the Greench powder deodorant had to be on my list to test. I love lush and much prefer the idea of rubbing a bit of dry powder into to my pits rather than a balm! I also liked the sound of the herbal smell so I had to try it out. The other thing that appealed to me with this was that it should be easy to use anywhere that gets sweaty. And for many plus size women, that's more than just the armpits! I don't know if people use it for under-boobs and other areas and if it's gentle enough to do so, but I thought it might work! I was sooooo excited about the Greench! I read some reviews and they were interesting. When I bought it I tried a bit on my hands and suddenly knew exactly what the reviewer who said she smelt like a roast chicken meant! The thyme really comes through and my hands did have a savoury sorta vibe, so I was a bit worried about what my armpits would smell like after putting this on them!

So then, first application. It felt wonderful on my skin! I loved how it made my dry armpits feel silky and smooth. And the smell? There wasn't really much of a smell. Certainly no roast chicken for me! I was really into this one at first. My pits felt good. I did sweat, but not much. I didn't have much of an aroma for most of the day so I was excited that this might be my 2nd effective natural deodorant! The plastic bottle wasn't ideal but I know Lush use recycled plastic and there is a lot of product in here considering how little you need to use per day (it will last for quite some time I think!) However, by the end of the day I could definitely smell some B.O. Not loads, but enough to notice if I gave my pits a good sniff! By the morning there was a proper funk. Interestingly though, it was a very different sort of smell to the curry like hell I experienced with the more balmy natural deodorants. It was a nice musk. The sort of musky sweat that's full of pheromones and is oddly comforting! I'm torn on this one. I wanted it to work but as a deodorant it wasn't very effective. I didn't know if I should just keep going with it to see if I just needed to get used to it. One day doesn't seem like a fair fight really. God who knew my armpits would be this hard to please?!

My final thoughts are thus; sticky, balmy, natural deodorants don't work for me. I suspect that a powdered deodorant would work eventually if I detoxed and retrained my armpits, but frankly I don't have the inclination to go through another transition period when it comes to B.O. I wish I'd started with the Greench rather than suffering through wild, then the natural deodorant co. A month of curry pits put me right off trying again for a while! 

I'm super happy with my salt of the earth crystal. Now look..... I am hyper aware that many people give up regular deodorant to avoid aluminium and may think that a more natural equivalent like potassium alum will still block pores (because it definitely works as an anti perspirant compared to the other things I've tried) BUT it is honestly the easiest transition. It's been used for many years all over the world as a deodorant and it's definitely more body safe than store bought deodorants. Even better is that you can buy just the crystal. Zero plastic, zero waste. It's a fiver and it's probably going to last for a year!

So that's my recommendation. Salt of the earth deodorant crystal. The plastic free one! It doesn't need a plastic holder I promise you. The second in line (if you can take the time to transition!) is the Greench from Lush. It felt lovely and I suspect when my body got used to it I wouldn't have b.o by the end of the day. And I do feel like the more musky smell from this one was a good sign as it didn't make me wrinkle my nose or feel paranoid. It felt like a cleaner sweat if that makes sense? 

I hope this is helpful to someone out there trying to go a bit less toxic!

UPDATE!

Just a heads up, I finally found a natural spray deodorant that contains Potassium alum (and therefore works!). Salt of the earth make sprays but they come in plastic bottles. To be fair they also make really big refills to save you buying a new little spray every time, but still.... tons of plastic waste. Cowshead comes in a glass bottle. I have to say that this is easy to use and effective, but it's also very masculine smelling to my nose - It must be the ceder-wood?! The scent didn't work for me but it's now in the bathroom and my partner is using it, the fragrance suits him much better than it does me!

More simply be

I'm very sorry if some of the stuff on here is no longer available.... I didn't realise I hadn't posted it yet! Hopefully there are different versions of most things or Asos have them in stock now they sell selected Simply Be pieces :)

Simply Be are so much better than they used to be. Their efforts to be fashion forward were always spoilt by the fact that trendy stuff often only went up to a size 24 or 24 (which is stupid for a plus size retailer like them!), but increasingly I'm finding stuff that actually goes above the more standard plus sizes, and I'm really happy about it!

Spiced Orange Luxe Longline Padded Coat

Here are a few things I've learned about Puffer coats......

1) They're almost always black

2) They come in different styles, but always in black

3) They rarely have a waist, and they're always black

4) Sometimes they're cool, asymmetric cuts with cool necks, but either have no waist, don't go above a size 22, or are still. bloody. black!

5) If they're not black and go above a 22, they're frumpy and muted colours like burgundy, navy, grey etc.

I have a black puffer from Asos which is a classic banger. A ride or die kinda coat. Here's the thing though, I don't always wanna wear black coats! Sometimes I've got a black outfit on and want a pop of colour! I had a beautiful white one but hey, me and white clothes are a genuine disaster, so I sold that one (which broke my heart!) and have been looking for a replacement for ages.

Cute hood!

So obviously what I'm saying is that I wanted a more interesting damn puffer! This one wasn't cheap, but also not too bad considering the quality (and you KNOW Miss Parsnips used a discount code!).

I sized up and I think that's a good move. I can get this over a jumper easily and it's really comfy. I've got the sash belt tied here but it actually has a nice shape when it's just loose to.

So let's talk practicality! It's kinda genius. High neck and large hood. super warm. not too loose around the wrists. So warm!

The fastenings are rose gold. MADE FOR ME MUCH?!

The pockets are lined with faux fur......

And so is the neck! How have I never experienced this in other winter coats? It's genuinely genius, so soft and warm!

24/7 Blue Wide Leg Jeans made with Organic Cotton

I reviewed the black 24/7 jeans a while back and was annoyed that they didn't have the blue ones in long length. Finally they're here!

I wanted a looser fit than the black ones I had (size 26) because let's face it. I spend most of my go damn life in my flat nowadays and I just want to be extremely comfy at all times. I also wanna be able to sit cross legged, so I ordered size 26 and 28. These have a bit of firmness so I kept the 28, even though they're a bit loose. again comfort is key!

I don't think they're particularly flattering on me but I just needed some jeans that I can be super comfy in and walk easily in! Skinny jeans are great but they can feel so restrictive when I'm trying to walk .... tiny strides are not the one! I have to wear these with a belt really.

24/7 Vintage Indigo Wide Leg Jeans made with Organic Cotton

Oddly this colour were a better fit in the 26. I prefer the fabric too.

They honestly made me feel like I was in the 20s again. In fact I wore them with a cropped cardi and my partner said I looked very 90s (in a good way!). Nostalgic and comfortable. Love it!

Wide, but not extremely wide!

Also long enough to touch the floor even when I wear boots!

Joss Washed Black Wide Leg Jeans

These are my favourties. Sadly the other colours don't fit as well or look as good (I have of course tried them!), but these are soooo comfy. I think they look pretty smart too. A bit wide than the others I got.

The 26 fitted but I didn't like how close they were around my belly so I kept the 28.

The waist band is sturdy enough to keep them up really well. Love these jeans!

Vintage Blue Belted Mom Jeans

Meh. The belt is too small for the jeans. Size 26. Not fussed about these really.

The wiast detailing is nice but the jeans themselves are very similar to the many pairs of asos curve jeans I already own, so I sent them back.

Mixed Floral Split Front Square Neck Jersey Midi Dress

Love it! So happy to have been able to get this cut of dress in jersey fabric!

Size 26, super comfy.

It's tighter on the hips than the bust and shoulders, so if you're pear shaped you might not like this style. If you're and inverted triangle you will love it!

Black Floral Long Sleeve Shirred Top

Love this. Size 24. Off fabric really but it looks so cute!

I just find it hard to find tops that have long sleeves and are long enough to cover my belly, without being so long that it looks frumpy or like a smock / dress! The added bonus of these tops is that they also nip in at the waist for a more hourglass look.

Supersoft Floral Print Jersey Midi Dress

I have shown you this dress in a different fabric. I did what I said I would and sold the other one (as wasn't keep on the print) and replaced it with this version. Just as soft and comfy, a more cass-style print!

Ergh these are so nice to wear - really they feel amazing on!

I love how they gather under the bust and give a great shape.

Green Animal Supersoft Jersey Midi Dress

So not long after I got the floral one Simply Be released this version. THE SWINES! Emerald green leopard print? Well I had to bloody have it didn't I?!

See what I mean about the boobs? I think they look rather fetching.... unlike my socks!

Pretty Secrets Cycling Shorts Set

Got this for bumming about on Valentines day. It's not very soft but it's kinda cute. I liked the print but apart from that it's nothing to write home about really.

Now some stuff that went back!

Vintage Blue Square Neck Denim Midaxi Dress

This is okay, but nothing special really..... not for £45 anyway! Stretchy but a bit gapey. I've got much nicer denim dresses from simply be so this one didn't tickle my fancy.

Blue Acid Wash Square Neck Denim Jumpsuit

Look.... I just don't know why retailers like to make denim jumpsuits in non-stretch denim?! It ensures that it will only fit a hand full of people properly and it's not comfy! It's even more baffling when the dress in exactly the same cut is bloody stretch?! WHY?!

Also, this is 2 sizes bigger than I usually wear from simply be and it's still tight. Short  in the body and tight on the belly. Definitely not for me or my body shape!