July 9, 2009

It’s Finally Here!!!

Let me tell you I LEAPT out of bed this morning full of the joys of a collection launch and was wearing a huge smile on my face even before I had my jump start coffee. No work today- I booked the day off as I have much more important things to concern myself with other than the routine toil.

I had considered going to London for the launch but after making enquiries I found out that Ms Ditto herself was not going to be making any appearances, plus I figured that my local store might be a bit quieter so stayed in Brum and made my way to the Pavillions, arriving five minutes after opening time.

Kid. Candy Store. You get the picture. Yes I’d already seen the majority of the collection online but the prospect of finally being able to try it on and see it face to face was what got me so excited and I walked in there fit to burst. I was greeted by a lovely bubbly assistant  who was informative and enthusiastically talked to me about the collections influences and was very helpful.

No, I'm not responsible for that top on the floor!

The collection looked even better up close and personal than it does online, looked great instore and would definitely catch your attention if you were walking past. It all seemed to be there minus the domino scarf and the belt though it is entirely possible that they were there but I didn’t see them.

Without wasting much time I loaded up my arms with goodies and hot footed it off to the fitting room.

First up was the cat print tee….

Now I really wasn’t sold on this when I first saw it online but its grown on me. It didn’t excite me but I’ve warmed too it. I would say its a tad to long for my liking as a long sleeved tee, but that’s just my personal preferences talking. Would I wear it? Yes- but shorter. How can I say no to those big tearful  kitty eyes?

Next up- the jumper dress…

This number made my heart race! I love, love, LOVE IT but at £65 its a bit more than I would want to pay at the moment due to me being a brokeass but I’ve entered the competition on bethdittoevans.com so if my stars are in alignment I might be able to win one! Also, I can’t justify buying a jumper dress in the middle of summer when I won’t be able to wear it til September/ October, so while I’m wanting one badly I have to wear my sensible hat and say no. Dammit.

The stained glass dress….

LOVE!!!!! The print is GORGEOUS and it fits well AND there are pockets which is an added bonus. There’s an elasticated section at the back to make the bust fit snugly and the dress comes with detachable straps. The only thing I didn’t like is that the bust area is cut for a much smaller bust than I have so the underbust seam wasn’t under my bust at all it was halfway up my boobs but I’m used to that with any dress cause my hooters are so damn big. You probably wouldn’t notice too much anyhow because of the pattern and it wouldn’t put me off I don’t think as I like the print too much. This dress gets two thumbs up from me.

The domino dress….

A little mirror action going on...

A little mirror action going on...

This also get two thumbs up plus a big toe too because its PERFECT. Its a perfect length for me to wear without having to necessarily wear leggings underneath if I don’t want to and its not made from flimsy fabric. PLUS its fully lined with a plain white stretch fabric throughout the body and sleeves which is a masterstroke because it means it creates a nice smooth line. That must surely have been Beth’s idea because I can’t see Evans coming up with that one on their own. Sorry Evans- but I don’t. The leggings are also cleverly cut to create a nice smooth silhouette with a hiiiiiiiigh double layer waistband that comes right under your boobs. Also, y’know how most leggings have each leg cut from one piece of cloth so that there is no side seam and they look like rectangular blocks? Well these are cut with SHAPE and the legs are constructed from a separate front and black piece like regular trousers so they fit better. PERFECT. I wouldn’t wear the dress and leggings together myself- I just wanted to do like Beth.

While I was in the fitting room I met this lady who was also trying on the domino dress and she looked STUNNING. She looked so good in it that I had to ask her for a photograph. She was unsure whether she should buy it or not but both myself and the sales assistant said it was a surefire winner so hopefully she did. Amid my excitement I forgot to ask for her name so I have no idea who she is. I hope she sees this though and lets me know! (update: this lovely lady found the blog and left a comment. Her name is Sam)

Bored yet? No? Good cause there’s more. I know you’re thinking- crikey, did that woman try on EVERYTHING? Well- pretty close to everything…….

The acid wash skirt! LOVE, pure love. (I really am wearing out that word in this post) Two way zip at the front- adjustable sexiness. The waistband is three quarters ribbed jersey which I didn’t like much, would have preferred it to be solid denim but it won’t put me off buying it.

Not for me at all but I’m sure it will look great on someone with smaller breasteses. There is bustier detailing on the print section but you can’t really tell from the photo.

The jumpsuit- OF COURSE I had to try this on! Waist upwards- love love LOVE. Waist down- not sure. The detailing on the top half is spot on- the banding across the back with the deep V, the button shoulders, the  insert at the neck and the fit- all perfect. I even like the idea of the harem style trouser but I just wish it was full length. I think it looks better on me in this pic than it did while I was parading around the fitting room- maybe I was just too self conscious. I kinda felt like it could do with a belt but I didn’t bring one into the fitting room to try out. I will try this on again I think with the right shoes and a belt because I love it lots and want to make it work. If you buy this, send me a photo!!

Not keen.

The jury is out on this one. I felt a bit like one of the weather girls in it but it looks great on Beth.

So what did I buy? I only bought the domino leggings because I don’t get paid til tomorrow but even then I’ll have to exercise much restraint as I could easily spend loads as there’s so much of it I want- not that I have loads to spend (damn you Evans for dropping this collection when I’m looking for a new job to better finance my fashion dreams!) but you know what I mean.

All in all its a great collection and I hope hope hope that we see a further collaboration between Evans and Beth next season and this isn’t just a one hit wonder.

OH- I almost forgot- check out the competition at bethdittoatevans.com website for your chance to win FIVE items among other prizes!

July 8, 2009

Farewell Old and Fusty

Remember a few weeks back when I commented on the fact the Guardian Weekend magazine has started to use women from a broad age range in their editorials and this includes women over 60? Well this is what I meant……

Guardian Weekend 28/06/09

Guardian Weekend 27/06/09

Guardian Weekend 20/06/09

Guardian Weekend 20/06/09

Guardian Weekend 13/06/09

Guardian Weekend 13/06/09

Yes they are all still under a size 14 but that’s not the point. The focus is on the fact that slowly the tide is turning and fashion is becoming more inclusive both regarding larger clothing sizes and older women. It makes sense. I was recently on a long train journey and had a pile of fashion magazines on the table in front of me to wile away the time and it sparked the interest of the woman sitting opposite. I would guess that she was in her late sixties and approx a size 10/12. We struck up a conversation wherein she started to vent about the difficulty she has finding suitable clothes for her age group that are both fashionable and age appropriate. The lady told me that she felt like retailers just don’t want her money because they think she is too old to be interested in fashion and while she was aware that shes older than the Topshop crowd she still wants to look current.

Sound familiar?

Fashion is obsessed by youth and thinness so its a welcome relief to see that there is at least one new designer prepared to buck the trend of catering only to younger people and create a collection aimed at the 60+ market.

The designer is Fanny Karst and  she’s a 25 year old designer who has noticed a gap in the market for fashion forward clothing for older women and so created the label, Old Ladies’ Rebellion to address this customer. Her creations aren’t cheap and dresses cost £500- 600 so are for the more well heeled older woman, but I love what she’s doing and would wear many of these items myself.  My favourites are the Pippi Longstocking- esque tights detailed dress, and the dress with the gloved hand at the hip. Smart and witty. Why should the youngin’s have all the fun?

Old Ladies’ Rebellion

July 7, 2009

Legs & Co

Zaftique comes through! Its one of those sites with a whole lot of clothing but rarely anything I would wear so I rarely check it. I might have to make my visits more frequent because look what I’ve unearthed…..

Love the patterns esp the floral designs (although the fabric looks a little dodgy) but they are all made from 100% polyester which is a little odd- no lycra content at all. Are these comfortable? Do they bag at the knees? Has anyone tried them?

All leggings from Zaftique in sizes 00- 6Z, $14-15.

zebra

July 6, 2009

Katie’s Wardrobe Remixes

As well as the you- know- what feature in last week’s Grazia there was also a three page spread on one of my favourite blogs. What Katie Wore is, in my humble opinion, the best wardrobe blog that there is because every single outfit requires more than a casual glance for you to appreciate it fully. The blog is authored by Katie’s boyfriend Joe who has challenged her to wear a different outfit every day for a year and is documenting the results. Yes Katie is small but that’s not the point. The point is that I love the unorthodox way she puts her clothes together. She co-ordinates the most unlikely of colour and pattern combinations and it works. There is the occasional post that I’m just not feeling but I’m with her on 99.9% of her choices and she inspires creative pairings within my own wardrobe.

Katie is currently on holiday in South America so her wardrobe shots from the past couple of weeks are not as inspired as usual due to the fact that you can’t really take 14 pairs of shoes and 55 dresses on vacation with you unless you’re Mariah Carey. Go back into the archives to see her finer sartorial moments and I’m sure she will be back to her former glory once she returns home.

July 5, 2009

Item of the Week 05/07/09

£32 Dorothy Perkins, Sizes 6- 22

£32 Dorothy Perkins, Sizes 6- 22

July 2, 2009

The Skorch Magazine Re- light

Do you remember the hottest (no pun intended this time) online magazine for plus sizes that folded around a year ago? Were you as disappointed as I was when it vanished from our computer screens, seemingly never to be seen again? Well the good news is that Skorch is all set for a relaunch on September 1st and I for one am looking forward to seeing what Jessica and Carrie have in store for us after a hiatus of approx 12 months or so- it might even be more. Skorch still has a Myspace page that isn’t regularly updated but  occasionally you may see a new blog entry on the site. Things are heating up again (I really must stop these cheesey puns) as they are currently looking for photo submissions of ladies being “skorch and sexy,” with a view to featuring them on their blog and possibly in the launch issue.   Click here to visit the Myspace blog and get more info.

July 2, 2009

Beth Ditto/ Evans Launch Party

OK, this truly is going to be the last Beth Ditto Related post until next Thursday because I’m beginning to get on my own nerves. Hopefully nothing else newsworthy regarding the line happens before now and then otherwise it will be hard to sit on my hands and not tell you about it.

The launch party was last night (my invite appears to have been lost in the post) and there are a few pics circulating.

Image borrowed from Faded Youth Blog

Image borrowed from Faded Youth Blog

Image borrowed from Faded Youth Blog

 

Image borrowed from Faded Youth blog

Image borrowed from Faded Youth blog

 There is also a review of the night itself on a blog I have just discovered,  Obesity Timebomb.

July 1, 2009

Simply Be to Launch in US!!!

Am I the last person to find this out? Do you all know already and NEVER TOLD ME?!?!?!?! I thought we were fwends *pout*

A little birdie* has just informed me that Simply Be are to launch in the US for spring 2010. Does everyone know this already?

If this news is as new to you as it is to me, click here for the business info.

* OK, the little birdie was actually the Anna Scholz blog.

June 30, 2009

Waving the White Flag

I’ve had enough. I concede defeat, I can fight no more. It was only twelve days ago that I said I would lay off the Beth Ditto for Evans talk until the launch day and I was doing well until this evening when I bought this week’s issues of Look and Grazia. With little over a week to go I should have seen it coming. I know there was recently a press day regarding the line so I should have prepared myself. I didn’t, and now I’m broken.

Grazia

I saw the pic above and I was like ok- there’s nothing here I’ve not seen before. Technically I’ve not seen the domino leggings before but I knew of their existence so I was like- OK. They are first on my July 9th hitlist so while my pulse elevated I was still OK.

But then I had to go and see this in Look…

Look

Yes there are a couple of other items there that we have not seen before but look at that skirt! I SAID- LOOK AT THAT SKIRT!!!!!!!

*DROP*

June 29, 2009

Sunshine on a Rainy Day

Look what arrived today!

Its the Diesel bag that I blogged about a couple of weeks back. I bought it online from Diesel.com where it was reduced from £70 to £35. Its arrival was perfect. Earlier I received a rejection letter for a job I really really wanted- Bad times. Then half an hour later this bag arrived- Good times!