OMG You are still here
Posted: June 13, 2023 Filed under: My Wardrobe | Tags: fashion, Plus size, Plus size fashion, Simply Be, wedding guest, wedding guest outfit, wedding guest style, wedding style 1 CommentImagine my surprise to get a notification last month that informed me that in the month of April this blog had 159 views and 103 visitors. REALLY? You mean people still read this ancient manuscript? Well I never! I have to say THANK YOU to each and every one of you taking the time to visit these dusty pages. I stopped blogging for several reasons which I won’t bore you with, but I still hang out on Instagram here and here– although even that has taken a back seat recently. My wardrobe isn’t very exciting these days and mainly comprises black leggings and vintage tops or tshirts. However, I tell you what I did wear recently- a fantastic last minute wedding outfit from Flourish at Simply Be. It was much more girly frilly flouncy than I usually go for but I felt like a new romantic icon in it with the poetic sleeves and delicate print. It looks like a dress but its a two piece and if you don’t already do this let me say it to you now- TUCK YOUR TOP IN. With the top loose outside the blouse it looked OK but still looked like I was hiding. Top tucked in- game changer. I doubt this set is still available as they only had one size left in the skirt and the top when I bought it in May, but if you buy a similar two piece do not be afraid to tuck in the top. I have belly for days but the blouse still looked much better in than out. I paired it with a family heirloom bag ( I am the third woman in the family to own it) and mules from Yours. Winner winner, chicken dinner. Anyone else getting married so I can get maximum mileage from this fit?
PS- I bought the necklace in the 90s and forgot all about it. I found it at the back of my wardrobe so basically I have thrifted it from myself. Gunmetal colour bangle- Torrid circa 2006, earrings- old H&M.
I’m Coming Out….
Posted: June 24, 2020 Filed under: Clothing, My Wardrobe | Tags: African Fabric, ankara, fashion, Plus size, Plus size blogger, shop small, shopping, Summer, Wax Print 1 Comment….. and I want the world to know.
When I wrote my last blog entry way back in December 2019, no one would ever have thought that within a few short months the whole world would be in lockdown, a new virus would kill over 474,000 people before the end of June, anti racism protests would sweep the globe, Kobe Bryant would die in an accident, President Trump would escape impeachment, bush fires would sweep through Australia and Brexit would be done. Yet, here we are. How are you coping? I am trying to stay positive, avoid TV news until I am mentally ready each day, and sewing my quarantined little heart out. I am also, like many people, reassessing my life. I am going to do more of what makes me happy, stop overthinking, live my life and stop beating myself up about things I can’t change. I am so thankful to be alive as there are many fit and healthy people who on January 1st as the ball dropped, fireworks lit up the skies and Auld Lang Syne ripped through the BBC studios courtesy of Jools Holland, thought they would make it to summer and didn’t. If I stop to think about it all it will overwhelm me so I am just going to “do”. This is day one of my resurgence.
Head wrap, face mask, skirt- Paree People
Tee- Fidem & Co
Shoes- Primark (last summer)
Belt- Ancient Evans
Specs- Cutler & Gross
In the Night Garden
Posted: December 10, 2018 Filed under: Buy Me!, clothes, Clothing, My Wardrobe, Uncategorized | Tags: African Fabric, African Print, ankara, Fatshion, fatshionista, hand made, Paree People, Plus size Leave a commentIts beginning to look a lot like……
I am usually quite an un-Christmassy person but I have noticed a change in me since last year and I don’t know what has brought it on. I bought a christmas ornament last December which sounds really minute but considering I usually don’t celebrate outside of the traditional family dinner on the 25th, and ignore anything Crimble related- my £1 secondhand decoration is big news.
So why was CHRRRIIIIIIISSSSSSTMMAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSS the first thing I screamed when I saw this fabric?
The deep navy tones, the gold overlay is just asking for a December party outing. So I made a party outfit.
The colour is DIVINE. It looks solid navy from a distance but in the second photo you can see the purply red tones. I plan to wear it on Christmas day and quite probably for NYE too if I go anywhere. I’m killing two birds with one African wax printed stone.
So where is the ensemble from? I made it 🙂
Those of you who follow me on Insta (@fatgirlclothes) will know that I am in love with African wax prints. Not a new discovery but I have a new appreciation for them and I simply cannot get enough. Ankara is the way forward- so much so that I have opened a new Etsy shop called “Paree” selling handmade ankara clothing for women and girls. Paree is a Mandinka word meaning “Well Dressed” so I thought it was quite apt. The two piece I’m wearing is available there and can be made in any size- plus or straight. Got a body? It can be made to fit you. Please check out the shop. I’m sewing oodles of great garms from this endless array of fabric I keep discovering. Ankara is a fabric lovers dream and I don’t believe I will ever wake up.
Striped Again
Posted: July 19, 2018 Filed under: Clothing, My Wardrobe | Tags: dress, fashion, Fatshion, M&S, Marks and Spencer, Nautical, stripes, Summer Leave a comment*Blowing the dust off the blog*
I’ve missed you guys. How have you been?
I’m back after an invigorating mini shopping spree in Marks & Spencer. I was shattered after work last week but was suddenly revitalised after seeing that the Marks and Spencer sale had started. M&S like many retailers is struggling on the high street and in addition to that they get a fair amount of stick about their ranges not being that great. I disagree. I actually like old Sparkys especially the Autograph range. Many of my summer tshirts over the past few years have come from there too. The only range I really don’t have much love for is Per Una though I can see the appeal for other people. Marks and Spencer will always have a special place in my heart. So will stripes. Stripes might have a slightly loftier position within my soul as I have rarely met a stripe I didn’t like. Breton stripes, candy stripes, chevron stripes- they all turn my head, even more so than polkadots but not as much as jumpsuits. Jumpsuits are my first fashion love but don’t even get me started again.
Please ignore the mess, this is my sewing room!
Dress and Cardi:Â Marks & Spencer
Necklace: Cos (old)
Bag: H by Henry Holland at Debenhams (old)
Shoes: Primark (old)
December Wedding
Posted: December 27, 2017 Filed under: Clothing, My Wardrobe | Tags: Asos, Asos Curve, dress, Fatshion, fatshionista, Plus size, psblogger, Shining Seren, vintage, wedding 5 CommentsHow are you good readers doing? I know its been a while since I last posted but I am thankfully still alive. I hope you are having a lovely festive season and catching up on rest and recuperation as well as with family and friends.
I have definitely been doing ALL of that and one of the ways I’ve caught up with family was by attending my cousin’s wedding last week. It was a BEAUTIFUL event in gorgeous surroundings and it was wonderful to reunite with family members I haven’t seen for years.
What did I wear? Its winter and I was SO tempted to just bundle up in something with a high neck and long sleeves but I figured nah, I don’t buy winter coats for no reason so I opted for girly dress with an autumnal theme………
Ain’t it gorgeous? Now I’m not one for off the shoulder dresses as I have yet to find a sturdy enough strapless bra to keep the girls aloft, but I loved this frock so much I thought I would buy it anyhow. I adjusted it slightly by adding rouleau loops and beads to the back so that I could have the off the shoulder bits on the shoulder. I’m wearing the size 24.
This worked well though it did make the middle of the back collapse a bit so I needed to make a few minor adjustments.
Obligatory mirror selfie
I found this gorgeous 1950s vintage fascinator on Etsy at His n Her Vintage that I LOVED as soon as I saw it and it was a perfect match for the dress.
I bought a new lippie a few weeks previously and it was another precise pairing.
Lipstick- Bare Minerals, Hustler
The shoes I have had for about 4 years but never worn. I bought them (from Clarks) because I loved the colour but had zippo to wear them with so they stayed pristine in their box until this day. Jewellery- Earrings by Shining Seren
I had a great day and the only downside is that I returned home minus one earring. Handmade. Silver. I have had them for years. I could cry.
Last man standing.
Trousers in Church- and I Wasn’t Struck Down
Posted: August 10, 2017 Filed under: Clothing, My Wardrobe | Tags: fashion, Fatshion, floral, Jumpsuit, pattern, Plus size, print, Simply Be 7 CommentsI wasn’t sent home, I wasn’t asked to sit at the back and no-one tutted when I walked in. I walked into church wearing a form of trousers and I didn’t burst into flames. I’m alive and had a lovely afternoon in a beautiful and thought provoking service.  I don’t really have any dressy trousers so I’ve never tried to defy the usual church going convention in this manner (other ways yes, but not like this *smiles*) but I can see this happening again.
Sometimes something great is worth waiting for. I tried this number on around February/ March and immediately fell for it. Have you ever seen something so perfect that you picked it up and marched straight to the fitting room with nary a glance to the left or the right? On that particular day I tried on two jumpsuits but didn’t buy either one as I had zero budget at the time. Fast forward to a couple of weeks back, the sales are on and the time is nigh. I didn’t even try it on. I sashayed to the till with the same gusto that I used to stride into the Simple Be fitting room several months back, card in hand, and skipped home with my new suit. For someone who has championed all in one dressing since 2008, this is only the second one I have ever bought. Why? Because despite being a blogger for almost ten years and advising people to wear whatever they like with their heads held high, I still doubt my own body in things sometimes. Jumpsuits are a pretty bold statement and I wasn’t ready to make so much noise. In 2017 I have clearly found my voice as I have gone from a plain black one in 2008, to a brightly coloured patterned affair with spaghetti straps. I might be in the throes of a mid life crisis.
Jumpsuit- £37.00, Bolero- £18, Shoes (no longer available)- All Simply Be
I looked it up on the Simply Be site when I got home and I thought HEY LADY, you actually look better in that piece than the model on the website, which is a thought I don’t think I’ve ever had before. What do you think?
Wedding Belle
Posted: May 28, 2017 Filed under: Clothing, My Wardrobe, SHOPPING | Tags: Asos, Asos Curve, dress, Plus size, plus size dress, Plus size fashion, Simply Be, Topshop, wedding 6 CommentsAs you can observe from my expression, twirling is serious business.
Ever put on an outfit so great that someone would have to work really hard to mess with your vibe because you feel so good? Well on Friday I wore such an outfit.
As my nephew was getting married I decided to treat myself to a whole new look and I called on you to help plan it. If you follow me on Insta (@fatgirlclothes) you may remember me posting this pic and asking you to vote for what I should wear…
I really liked all three and couldn’t decide. Option A won so the pretty floral dress it was. You chose well ladies! I was already liking the asymmetric ruffle feature across the front but when it arrived I loved it even more because of the attention to detail on the back…
Asos didn’t scrimp on the frills as they continue on the back. Don’t you just hate it when a great design feature is only on the front when it could easily have been extended to the rear? The open back feature was a pleasant surprise and there are even frills at the end of the ties if you look closely. Asos Curve I love you.
My original shoes were these from New Look
New look wide fit shoes
But they were a bit too narrow, even in the wide fit. Instead I opted for the silver sandals from from Simply Be which fit perfectly as they are available in an E and EEE fitting (I got the EEE fit). In any case, the weather was such a scorcher on Friday that the Sandals were definitely the better option than the closed toe shoes. The in sole padding and slight texture ensured that my feet didn’t slide around as the temperature rose.
The clutch was from Asos too, is leather and a great quality item for a bargainicious £10. It has a zip closure to keep all your goodies from falling out when you’re pirouetting across open spaces with gay abandon.
Earrings from Topshop. Lots of asymmetry in this whole look
Twirl break
Here’s a static photo for you in case all this spinning is making you dizzy
Asos curve dress
I’ve just checked the Asos site and this dress is very low in stock with only a few left. I give it a big fat seal of approval and am looking forward to wearing it again. Apart from my twirl dress being great, the wedding itself was superb. The bride and groom looked gorgeous, the service was lovely, the reception venue was beautiful, most of my family were there and it was hot. Not warm which is often the best you can hope for in a British summer- HOT. If I have my shades on you know its more than just a little sunny. It was as close to perfect as any day could be and when I finally went to bed around 2am it was with a big smile on my face. As Ice Cube said- today was a good day.
Earrings: Topshop (not available online)
Sunday
Posted: May 21, 2017 Filed under: My Wardrobe | Tags: dungaree dress, fat fashion, fatshionista, ootd, pinafore, Plus size fashion, plussize, ps bloggers, psblogger, psfashion, psootd Leave a commentIts been a long time since I made any sort of effort in my Sunday attire. I usually just don legging and a tshirt and call it a day but today the sun was out and I was in a good mood so I decided to dress in black *sideeye to myself. If that’s even possible* So impressed was I with the form and function of my blue dungaree dress, that I bought a black one too. I’ve had it for about a year but this is my first time wearing it. I think I’ve found my new Sunday look.
Outfit Deets- All old items
Shirt- Simply Be
Dungaree Dress- ASOS
Leggings- Tesco
Sandals: Dr Martens
Bright Start to the Year
Posted: January 2, 2017 Filed under: Beloved Endeavour Vintage, Clothing, My Wardrobe | Tags: Beloved Endeavour, dress, fashion, Fatshion, happy new year, New year, Plus size, Plus size fashion, psbloggers 3 CommentsThe official new year’s eve portrait….
I spent new year’s eve in church which is different to how I usually spend the evening. Usually I am at home curled up on the sofa in my PJ’s watching TV and flicking between various televised church services and Jools Holland’s Hootenanny. This year I figured I would do something a little more social and go and interract with some actual real life people, not digitised ones for a change. I’m glad I did. I saw some old students that I used to teach around 6 years ago and it was nice to see that they had grown into lovely young people. I would have missed that if I’d stayed in!
Blouse- Old Asos, similar one from Eloqui here
Shoes- Old Evans, similar from Debenhams here
Bag- Sold out in Topshop but there is a similar one here
Medically and Toddler Approved
Posted: December 15, 2016 Filed under: Clothing, My Wardrobe | Tags: Fat, Hatman, Medically and toddler approved, neon, Primark, scarf, toddlerapprovedfashion, Winter, Yours 1 CommentSee the scarf? I’ve had it for over a year but I only started wearing it a few days ago. I bought it from Primark on a whim but haven’t worn it until recently and I now feel like Merlin. This humble Primark scarf has caused people to stare at me in the street and I have had a great many compliments about it. Yesterday I walked past a girl of about 2 who froze, gawped and pointed and me shouting, “scarf!” . Also yesterday I saw a nurse who said it was lovely to see someone wearing a scarf that isn’t black. Today too, I’ve had several strangers tell me how much they like it. It’s almost as though the end of my scarf has been sprinkling magic happy dust on people as I walk by- they keep telling me it’s made them smile. All this because I was in a rush and grabbed the first scarf I saw in my drawer.
Bust first, a selfie. Toilets at Harvey Nichols BIrmingham.
So in celebration of this medically and toddler approved piece of neckwear I’m running a contest. Do you have a bright scarf that makes you or others smile whenever you wear it? If so, show me! Post it to Instagram and tag it #toddlerapprovedfashion and I will give the best one a 30% discount at belovedendeavour.com against any order. I’ll pick a winner on Sunday. While you’re on Insta, please follow me @fatgirlclothes or my new “official” account @belovedendeavour. Much appreciated and I’m looking forward to seeing your pics!
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The rest of the outfit above:
Coat- Thrifted
Hat- Hatman
Jeans- Yours
Bag- Kipling (Which coincidentally is called Deena!)
Boots- Dr Martens (mine are years old but here are some other boots by DM)
Jumper- Yours (bought last year but here’s a link to another sparkly jumper they do)
Fat Girls Like Nice Clothes Too 
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