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.
Kente Vibing
Posted: November 13, 2018 Filed under: Buy Me!, Clothing, Uncategorized | Tags: African Fabric, African Print, ankara, dress, Fatshion, kente, Plus size 4 CommentsThinking…….. you know, I don’t think I have ever owned a yellow dress before? I have a yellow shirt, yellow tees, yellow and purple floral trousers but I have never owned a yellow frock. This past scorcher of a summer I was looking for one but with no success, nothing gripped me. Now that winter is here I have found the perfect one and even though I will soon have to wear it with tights I will still be twirling on regardless because this one is tops. I may be a little biased because I made it but you can’t fail to be taken in by that kente print.
During this brief 8 seconds of sunshine I whipped off my jacket and struck a pose.
The dress is handmade by me under a new label called “Paree” which is a Mandinka word meaning “well dressed”. The label is another label of love for me as it focuses on the beautifully vibrant ankara wax prints worn throughout Africa. Prints that I just cannot get enough of. This print isn’t wax/ ankara, its based on Ghanaian kente cloth which is a brightly woven cloth often filled with meaningful symbols.
It has pockets! WHOOP WHOOP!
It has a vintage influenced full circle shape which almost had me doing a Marilyn Monroe in the street.
I LOVE this dress and because its made from a cotton/ polyester fabric it needs minimal ironing. Double win! They are available to order through Beloved Endeavour on Etsy though I am also working on a second Etsy store called Paree which will be exclusively African prints. What do you think? Likey or no likey? Are there any other variations you would like to see? Different sleeve lengths, necklines etc?
Better than pocket money
Posted: June 14, 2014 Filed under: My Wardrobe | Tags: African Fabric, ankara, Belya Design, church, Friends, suit 12 CommentsHaving blogged for over five years I’ve had my fair share of freebies from various companies, all of which I have been very grateful for and have had many a happy occasion wearing. However, none of these blogging gifts have meant as much to me as this outfit here…..
There’s a saying that my mother has repeated at least a thousand times over the course of my life, and that is, “Good friends are better than pocket money.” I have to agree with her. I’ve had this outfit now for around three months and I’ve been patiently waiting for the combination of good weather, and a church day to wear it. (Don’t you just hate wasting a great outfit on a not-so-great event?) It’s not a gift from a major brand, but a gift from fellow blogger Gaelle of The Curvy and Curly Closet. It’s not my birthday, its not Christmas, and I’ve done nothing to deserve it. Gaelle is just a wonderfully kind person who for some reason thought of me when she could have been thinking of so many other people and things. It’s custom made in Senegal by Belya Design using a traditional but modern bold geometric print on cotton fabric, and is fully lined. If I had chosen the fabric myself I couldn’t have chosen one more suited to my tastes. I’ve only met Gaelle once but she knows me so well- a testament to the power of the internet. I’ve had lots of compliments all day and I’ve felt great wearing it. In fact now that I think about it, this is my first ever “suit” of any description.
Gaelle, a hundred million thank you’s! May God continue to bless you- MWAH!
Fat Girls Like Nice Clothes Too 
Recent Comments