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Super awkward pose here to show off a dress I probably should have posted about long ago! I've had this for a couple of months now, and took these photos the first time it got an outing. It's this dress from Queen of Holloway. I've read mixed reviews of them online - their prices are cheap but in terms of repro retro I think they lack the quality of their more high end competitors like Bettie Page, Stop Staring and so on. However, unlike the above, they make dresses to fit up to about a 42" waist and will custom make larger sizes on request too, so definitely more friendly to a wider size range. 

I was going to try and replicate this myself, but the price seemed about the same as the materials alone would have cost me. Having now worn it a bunch of times, I'm pretty happy with it. The only thing I'd say as a definite negative is that the belt above fell apart after one wearing, which was a shame. I also found the bust shaping a bit odd (I'm pretty much spot on with the measurements for the 24, yet the bust line sits mid boob, which is odd, but thankfully not that noticeable) However, as far as service and wearability goes, it's stood up well. It's now my generic going out dress because it's breathable, comfortable and still pretty glam.

Close up of the back, which is just about bra strap friendly!:

Generally speaking, it's a pretty cleavage heavy dress, so I'd recommend a good plunge bra (I generally wearing a balconette style but find it's on display a bit too much!). I think it works pretty well with my tattoo though:

xx

This is a bit of an old outfit now. I work in a casual office, but sometimes I dress a bit fancier, mainly for my own sake, sometimes for meetings. I don't really like tailoring and tend to get around it with a shift dress/shirt combo instead, like this (though generally not quite as scruffy!).

Shirt, clothes swap
Dress, handmade for c. £6!
Belt, old vintage stock
Shoes, Primark, £12

A goofy grin and a remixed outfit today. I actually can't believe I've never owned a denim jacket before - they go with everything and enable me to buy a copious amount of badges and pins. Huzzah! 

Top, £7, Dorothy Perkins

Skirt, clothes swap, free

Belt, £5, Dorothy Perkins

Shoes, Primark, £12

Denim jacket, New Look Inspire, £20

The British weather continues to be as frustrating as ever – a jumper and thick tights shouldn’t be necessary in June, however they were. I wore this to get curry (mushroom and aubergine korma!) and hang out with my boyfriend. I made this haphazard felt femme brooch with some leftover material and decided it was particularly garish in combo with my jumper:

Jumper, £1.50, charity shop

Brooch, handmade

Skirt, clothes swap

Tights, M&S

Shoes, Primark, £12

Hello everyone

Radio silence is now ceasing! Sorry I’ve been avoiding you, blog, but life kind of got in the way (by that I mean I have been procrastinating a lot). Anyway, I’ve worn some super fancy clothes lately, so I feel like being vain again and prancing about in front of the camera.

This t-shirt is actually my boyfriend’s – it was a birthday present this year for him from etsy (you can buy it here). He’s a punk geek, and a cat fan, so well, it had to be done. Luckily for me, he likes his tees oversized and I like mine tight fitting, so, despite a 15” difference in waist measurements, I can steal it too! I wore it over a vintage dress with some clashing tights for fun.

Dress, vintage via charity shop, £4

T-shirt via Sleazy Seagull on etsy

Tights, We Love Colours

Shoes, Primark, £12

I wore this get up yesterday to meet some rats at a local animal rescue. My partner and I have been wanting some for years, but I wasn’t sure if we were ready. Anyway, we took the plunge and adopted a pair of boys, called Pierre and Pascal. They are the cutest, and I’m full of awkward new pet parent gushing. Consider yourself lucky though readers, because I’ll try and keep the rat talk off here… bar this quick photo (SORRY):

One top, worn two ways today. I bought this short sleeved knit top in the Next sale earlier this year, but haven't worn it nearly enough yet. I decided the completion of my first pair of 40s-esque high waisted trousers warranted it's reappearance, as the style is quite 40s in itself. Teamed simply both times, the top to see some friends and the bottom outfit for a work related appointment.

The trousers worked out well, though I had to remake a waistband as I used stretchy tailoring and it meant the pattern's waistband (with interfacing) was too small. I think I might enlarge the waistband next time too, as though this is high waisted, they could suit a little higher. I made them out of a suiting from my bargain hunting adventures - bought from my favourite fabric stall for £1 a metre (seriously, I wish I'd bought all they had now, it's great!), and I still have some spare to make a pencil skirt out of. Now I've made them once, I'm already planning another pair in a more adventurous colour/fabric.

Top, £12, Next sale
Skirt, handmade
Trousers, handmade from Simplicity 3688 (widely available up to a 28w, I bought mine for £4 at a sale at a local craft shop)
Loafers, Primark, £12
Black belt, Dorothy Perkins, £7

Oh! And as a side note, I am applying for funding for my etsy shop through the Fund 101 scheme on Enterprise Nation. I need 500 votes, and then I'll qualify for a £500 grant, which will allow me to expand on my current skirt and fabric selection and buy a mannequin to fit and display my wares on. You can see my page here, and it only takes a minute to vote for me. I'd reach my target if about half of my regular readers voted, so if you have a spare moment and want to see more of my wares then please do vote!

A rare outside snap for you today - I'm with one of my parents in Surrey, where I am recovering from a cold and getting lots of dog cuddles. Today I'm wearing another find from the swap - this gorgeous jersey dress with a lace collar. It's a (very) generous size 20, and a great dress to throw on. Today I dressed it simply with a flash of colour from my purple loafers!

Dress, clothes swap (from Peacocks originally I think)
Tights, M&S
Shoes, Primark, £12

Hey all! Thought I'd show off another swap find, which was this lovely burnt orange 70s-esque tunic. It's originally from Primark, size 16 (and er, VERY GENEROUS). I think I'd looked at these when they were in store, but I'm not normally a massive fan of tunics because I don't like having to wear leggings or trousers beneath them, so didn't get it. However, I'm really glad I found it again - thank you to the person who brought it along! The sheer wide sleeves are really comfortable and good British Spring attire, and I like that it's another smart but comfortable piece that's easily remixed.

Tunic, clothes swap
Leggings, ASOS, £22
Belt, old vintage stock
Necklace, vintage, £7
Shoes, Primark, £12

A bit of a colour/pattern/everything clashing yesterday, inspired by occasional bursts of bright sun and just the general need to be a bit obnoxious and loud. I love these tights but feel I need to make a few bolder wardrobe decisions in teaming them with outfits.

Top, clothes swap, free
Collar, Romwe, c. £7
Skirt, self made with fabric gifted by the lovely Donna
Belt, Dorothy Perkins, £7
Tights, c/o We Love Colours
Shoes, Primark, £12

Edited to add a few plugs too:

This weekend is the plus sized clothes swap I'm organising - you can see details for that here, and there's a facebook event here too. It'll be fun and cheap and awesome!

Also, don't forget to enter my giveaway with BAIT footwear, details here.

Ahhh, another early morning face. Can you tell I'm not the best with them?!

One Stop Plus contacted me recently, to offer me a piece from their website to review. I'd been ogling the Big Beauty for La Redoute collection before, and thought this would be a nice chance to try the collection out. I chose these stretch trousers, because, well, high waisted anything wins my heart! I love the way the trousers are glammed up in the product shot, but for me, they're great for workwear. I teamed them with a vintage hand knitted waistcoat and my trusty white pussy bow blouse for a vintage inspired work outfit.

I'm really impressed with the quality of the trousers, and would definitely consider the range again. The only complaint I would make is that they're a tad short on me - which, at 5'9", is not uncommon with trousers. I'd maybe recommend these for people a few inches smaller than me for optimum fit - or, as I've just been informed, you can also buy them in a longer length here instead.

Trousers, Big Beauty for La Redoute, still available to buy here, courtesy of One Stop Plus
Waistcoat, vintage via eBay, £6
Blouse, eBay, £3.50
Loafers, Primark, £12

Hello once again. I hope everyone had a nice festive holiday (if you celebrate, that is!). I spent mine back home in Surrey, with my dad, relaxing, eating and playing scrabble. Here's a work outfit from before Christmas, featuring a new skirt, that I made out of a novelty cat print fabric I bought at a crafting expo I went to in Harrogate. I tried gathering as a technique on this - normally I'm a fan of a full pleated skirt - and was pleasantly surprised at how simple it was. Would anyone be interested in a gathered skirt tutorial?

Handmade skirt (£6 for the fabric, and I used an old zip from my stash)
teamed with

Cardigan, F&F at Tesco, £7
Blouse, £3.50, eBay
Belt, old vintage stock
Loafers, £12, Primark

Hey strangers! The past couple of weeks have been busy with job interviews, cooking and zine making, and sadly a little low on the outfit front. Hopefully I'll be a little more active again now.

Dress, clothes swap (this is one of the dresses that Simply Be very kindly donated to the swap I organised!), free
Cardigan, clothes swap, free
Tights, M&S
Loafers, Primark, £12

In other news, I'm getting really excited about putting the zine I'm making together. I've been having fun with bad art and trying out some sewing methods for it. I'm still seeking submissions, so if anyone has any fat/crafty/DIY ideas to put forward then drop me an email. All the details are here, and submissions close on the 30th November (though there's certainly some flexibility there).

Okay, so bare legs and a mini skirt were probably a little too optimistic for the grey and unseasonably cold that we are experiencing right now, but I am unwilling to resort to tights again. This outfit (and parallels) is a weekend staple for me. I don't think I will ever grow out of my band tees and mini-skirts - chipped nail polish a definite nostalgic accessory for my obsessive music nerd days (though a week spent re-organising my records has definitely reignited this!).

Pixies tee, £1, TRAID sale (a staple shop from my London uni days), knotted
Velvet mini, £3, Primark
Jacket, old vintage stock
Purple loafers, Primark, £12