Working Girl

I do like a bit of 80's flavour now again when it comes to clothing, and I have fond memories of movies full of shoulder pads and pixie boots that I loved when I was younger.

Working Girl was one of my favourites.......

... although even as a child I thought the massive hair & all the way to the eyebrow makeup was ridiculous!

 So anyway this vintage 80's dress makes me feel like a bit of a working girl. I love the colour.

It has big shoulder pads and batwing sleeves. I love the colour more than anything else though.

Probably not hard to work out that I put in the orange panel (what a fabulous seamstress I am!) when this arrived via ebay and was super tight on my belly / thighs. I wasn't going to give it up because I love it, so I just made it fit!

 Earrings - Forever 21

Dress - Vintage via ebay

Belt - primark

Leggings - H&M (standard range XL - love them!)

Booties - Primark

I also quite like it when the tops undone, but it's so piggin' cold again that I'm glad of the high neck & double layers! I really didn't want to wear my little pixi boots with this but it is still to cold for courts, and I have to walk around lots today so no heels allowed. One day my diva posts will be able to include nice shoes!

thought some big earrings were in order today.

Easter Sunday

Pah to the cold grey weather! The boyf' and I didn't get dressed until after 6pm, which is outrageous, but felt so so good today!

Today is a day for music, comedy and good food (which means I'm cooking!) so I fancied getting a bit girly!

The chicken is in the oven, and I'm about to get peeling. Nothing better than a roast on a Sunday!

This is one of my Queen of Holloway dresses. It has Parisian scenes all over it! The shoes and cardi are both from Primark.

So cute right?!

I had to do quite a lot of customisation on this particular dress (I've not had that problem with any of the other QOH dresses I have btw), as I couldn't do it up over my norks when it arrived, and I really couldn't part with it because I love the print so much! Basically I turned it back to front and expanded the bust using the lining. It was a very untidy job but it seems to have worked. It's now extremely low-cut but I don't mind!

I'm wearing my old lancom juicy crayon today - I'd forgotten how delicious they are! Don't often wear pale pink lippy but this one is so sheer that I love it.

Aztec Cowgirl

Low key Diva Friday admittedly, but to be honest the only reason I got dressed today was because I had to go and get some groceries!

Anyway, today felt like a denim day, but I didn't want to wear jeans, so here is the result...

I did that thing today where I washed my hair and then sat on my bed with a towel on my head until my hair was half dry. Therefore my fringe has parted in the middle and I look a bit odd!

 

I used a tinted moisturiser this morning because I couldn't be arsed with my normal routine.....

I now realise that it is too pale for me. Oh well, the flash sure does show all the bad stuff, but it's good to know!

Spread 'em!

Being realistic, I'm not going to keep the shirt done up today, because all I have planned is making a casserole followed by syrup sponge pudding, then eating it with my beloved while watching Eddie Murphy 'Raw' and choking with laughter.

 

So then, outfit details... The shirt is vintage - I'm selling something similar in my new permanent blog shop here!. The skirt and leggings are from Primark, and the boots are from Crocs, still available here (for half what I paid for 'em!) but only in a couple of sizes. Similar style here.

Just to finish up, I got some mega bargains from Primark (Marble Arch) yesterday. Work had the afternoon off so I wandered up to Primani on the way home to get another body (as I said in my previous post about the fringed body, they're excellent and I knew I had to have more than one!). Happily for me I got some real bargains! The body was on sale for £3! Happy Cass. I also got this super cute cardi reduced to £5, which has a kissing flamingo print on it. Chuffed because I've wanted a beige cardi with long sleeves for ages. The pink (glow-in-dark!) wellies were also reduced to £5. I always wanted some of the original Melissa ones (that these are copied from), but I've never spent more than a tenner on wellies in my life and I don't intend to start any time soon. I really recommend these to girls with massive calves like me, they are very generous round the ankle! The best thing though was the glitter jelly wedges. I saw these the last time I was in Primark but they only had small sizes and I was heart broken. Thank goodness they re-stocked because I love them! There is a very strong possibility that I will not wear them out and about much because peep-toes ALWAYS give me terrible blisters, but I'll wear them in the flat & when people come over or if I got to places that I know won't involve much walking! On the plus side they feel quite comfy when on, and the platform is so big that the actual heel tilt is only about 1.5 inches - perfect for girls like me who want some height but can't walk in proper heels! Anyway, they were £10 and they make me sickeningly happy, so totally worth the money in my view! You can actually get exactly the same pair from New Look here, but be warned, you'll pay double for 'em!

Happy Easter one and all!

Dress from heaven

When I saw the Marks and Spencers spring 2013 preview in stylist (you can see it here) there was one piece that really blew me away - A monochrome stripped maxi dress with long sleeves. I was 100% sure that a dress this cool would have to be from the limited collection, and as that collection is still limited to size 18 & under I forgot about it. My excitement when I saw it online on Monday in the Per Una Speziale section (which goes up to a size 22) was palpable. I've never put anything in my basket quicker! Maybe I shouldn't be surprised - the dress that I consider to be the most beautiful thing I own is actually from Per Una Speziale and I got it around about this time last year - I'm not showing you guys just now because I'm saving it for an exciting occasion (Plus London I should think!).

On to the new dress....

I tried it on nervously in M&S when I collected it and thought shit, I think I might like it! Even with the current discount it still costs £63.20, and it's not like I'll wear it regularly, but it is pretty special. Of course it looks a bit different on me to the super thin model....

It breaks many rules for fat girls - there's lots of white in it, it has horizontal stripes and is made from a slinky fabric which clings to lumpy bits. Fuck other people rules, this dress is amazing and I don't care if it makes me look enormous, I love it.

If you ignore all the stupid rules this is actually a good dress for us tubby girls... it has long sleeves, the dark band hits right in the tummy area, the shoulder pads help to balance out the shape and it's made from stretch fabric. The only thing that bothers me is how lumpy my enormous arms look in it, but they are lumpy, so I have to live with it!

I know that this dress is very on-trend, but that's not why I love it. Trends don't really interest me but what they do is force high street retailers to up their game and produce more in-your-face clothes. I think this dress is a fabulous example of how far high street fashion has come. If you want one for yourself you can get it here! This is a regular btw because I couldn't get a long (it's okay though as it's not to a-line!). It is very well made and super comfy!

BTW, I really like this dress back to front too! I think it's a keeper don't you?!

M&S tit-bits

My long-term readers may remember a rat I had about Marks and Spencers when I first started blogging (here), my anger towards them was really what spurred me on to start my blog in fact. I turned my back on them in regards to clothes. I haven't checked their website for a while, but had a quick peak today because I thought I'd see what Per Una had to offer (after wearing my lush giant polka dot per una dress in yesterdays post!) and it seems they've been busy while I've been away. Maybe they're back on form? I've ordered a rather special dress to try (I'll collect it on Wednesday and will tell you about it asap, but for now I'm keeping quiet 'cause I don't want to jinx it!). Anyway, here are some of the rather lovely things I saw on the site today..........

I'm sure it won't surprise you to know that I think the 'plus' range at M&S is crap. Maybe it's handy if you want basics, but otherwise it is incredibly uninspiring! the only item that caught my eye was this lovely blazer available up to a size 28.

Sadly the rest of my selections only go up to a 22, but many of them are stretch so might be flexible! I love a good stretch woolly dress. This Per Una one is smart and sexy.

This dress is so cool, and I guess it's pretty bang on trend with it's geometric monochrome bodice! Per Una again.

Another Per Una dress.

I love the layers in this Autograph dress.

Take me to the beach! Lovely summer maxi!

Love the swirl pattern on this lace dress.

Plain yes, but a great everyday dress. I do love a bit of ponte!

I really hope the dress I've ordered fits and looks nice - It's super exciting so fingers crossed!

Swinging Sunday

My boyfriend's parents came to visit today, and brought with them his newly repaired record player.

This means that he can finally listen to his EXTENSIVE vinyl collection. Predominately jazz, and we currently have Ella Fitzgerald floating through the flat. It has to be said that there is something so romantic about vinyl, the sound is just so beautiful... if only we had a roaring fire to go with it in this cold weather!

This is what I wore today, chosen by the boyf as a matter of fact. This is one of my favourite dresses, from M&S Per Una when they were having a very unusual cool spell a couple of years ago. I love the huge polka dots.... you may have realised by now that I am not a girl who likes to blend in and go unnoticed clothes wise!.

My favourite thing about this dress is the band of small polka dots down my left-hand side, a rather unusual touch for M&S, and quite a cool one in my humble opinion!

Can I just mention at this point that I used Simple shampoo and conditioner this morning and it has made my hair so soft and shiny. I love it. Throughout the week I use Head & shoulders 2in1 (I don't give a fuck what anyone says about 2in1, I don't have time to fanny about in the morning and it works wonders for my hair and scalp!) and then use separate shampoo & conditioner at the weekends, but Simple is now definitely my favourite brand. The shampoo strips all the products out of my hair and makes it feel quite dry, and then the conditioner makes it feel like silk. Winner! Highly recommend it. You can currently get this in my local pound land which makes me very happy!

While sorting through the records I found this Jimmy Smith one - check out the amazing outfits on these hotties! I love 60's fashion, it was so feminine and stylish. Please can someone make me these in size 22 / 24?!

Mad men diva

Another Friday, another diva outfit! 

Marred by the bullshit weather again sadly, so yet again I'm wearing friggin' boots! Seriously I am beyond bored of all my boots.

This is an old m&s Autograph dress. Hard to show the detail of this dress, but it's very well structured. Navy ponte, really comfy and always reminds me of Joan from Mad Men. Grey leggings (as always!) from Primark. Little brooch for decoration!

If I was happy to be uncomfortable all day I'd wear a waspie or big belt to give me a (fake) waist for more of a 'Joan' look, but frankly it's just not for me! 

I have a body suit on underneath to smooth my belly out a tad, but its a sexy Ann Summers one not an industrial 'suck me in' type! Comfort is key with me.

It's the Ann Summers 'Giselle' body. Stretch satin in red leopard print?! Love it!

An image taken without flash? Yey! I wanted to wear my hair up with this dress, but it just wouldn't behave today, and actually it was so chilly I'm glad I wore it down! Thank goodness my skin is clearing up a bit though. Good old YSL is hiding the worst of it. Kept the make up simple today. Just in case your interested I wear Max factor false lash effect mascara, Loreal superliner (luminizer blue eyes today, but normally black) and Revlon Just Bitten balm stain in 'romantic'. I love these balms, and this one is my favourite - I really wanted a red with orange tones rather than pink (when I have bright red hair) and this was perfection!

Vintage grey boots, seriously worn out, but I sort of love knackered boots. It's the 14 year old grungy Nirvana fan in me I think!

Keeping fingers crossed for decent weather next dress like a diva day, but I feel I'll be wearing more damn boots!