OMG You are still here

Imagine 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….

….. 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.

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Head wrap, face mask, skirt- Paree People

Tee- Fidem & Co

Shoes- Primark (last summer)

Belt- Ancient Evans

Specs- Cutler & Gross


Don’t Call it a Comeback

I’ve been here for years. Eleven years in fact. Its been almost a full 365 since my last post and I have missed this old place. We have been interacting via Insta, but I have neglected my first home and its pining for attention so I’m dusting off the cobwebs with a splash of vintage style.

Fur has never been my thing. Fake or real, I was never really into it but this vintage coat made me stop, collaborate and listen. I bought it in March when it was quite mild and not cold enough to wear it, but now the temperature has fallen its having its moment. Teamed with my new Simply Be top, vintage bag and old faithful DM boots, I looked a lot dressier than I had planned and I liked it, esp the fact that it made me feel like King Jaffe Joffer from Coming to America. Now all I need is a gazillion pounds and my own kingdom.

I don’t know what I found quite so funny but obviously SOMETHING was amusing me.

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Dress- Simply Be

Coat- Beloved Endeavour

Bag- Dionne Dean

Leggings- New Look Curve

Boots- Dr Martens

A massive shout out to Feed My Creative who hosted a fantastic launch event for their new project, RE: PROJECT which helps young offenders by teaching them new skills, and also supports victims of domestic violence.

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Doing great work in the community- love it!

 


Striped Again

*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.

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Please ignore the mess, this is my sewing room!

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Dress and Cardi: Marks & Spencer

Necklace: Cos (old)

Bag: H by Henry Holland at Debenhams (old)

Shoes: Primark (old)

 

 


Fashion Mash Up

ASOS

For a truly horrible moment I thought this “drouser” was the entire thing from top to bottom, the mutant offspring of a dress and trouser, very distant cousin of the jumpsuit but next of kin to the short sleeved jumper with the shirt stitched to the inside because we are too daft to layer clothing without supervision. Thankfully, its not. My head was aching trying to figure out how you would even get into it. I thought it must have buttons at the shoulder like a massive babygro- LAWD NO.

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Phew, thank goodness for that. It’s still a hybrid too far but its not as much of a wreckage as I initially thought. Why they couldn’t just call it a tunic is anyone’s guess. If you want to support this linguistic abhorrancy you can get yours from Junarose at Simply Be. Its a lovely item but I have standards.


LAST MINUTE POP UP!

Come along- it would be great to see you!

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We’re on Tour! (The Remix)

The Sandwell Valley Event that was detailed on the last post (now deleted) has been cancelled by the organisers. However, the Endeavour-mobile will be touching down in Bewdley on the same dates- 27th and 28th August. The other pop ups are unaffected (fingers crossed). Please see below:

Pop Up Dates

 


Trousers in Church- and I Wasn’t Struck Down

I 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.

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Plus Size Jumpsuit 3

plus size jumpsuit, fatshion, fatshionista, floralJumpsuit- £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?

Plus Size Jumpsuit 4

 


FREE SHIPPING!

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Item of the Week 10/07/2017

This blouse. Just look at it’s splendour.

Society+ Society Plus Blouse Shirt plus size fashion fatshion

$49.99 Society+