I have wanted to try out the Gemma Collins Collection at Simply Be for a while now and Simply Be have been kind enough to let me review one of her dresses.  I decided to go for a dress from the previous collection and try something a bit different that strays from my normal "safe" style!  Although the piece I decided to try is still a dress and I do seem to live in them, it has a really bold animal print in browns and blues and I must admit I was a little nervous about seeing it on.

The "Gemma Collins Printed Sun Dress" arrived at the end of last week and thanks to the freak weather we are having at the moment I had to wait until Sunday to get some photos of me wearing it.  I am wearing a size 18, which is very roomy.  I'm not sure if it's across the board or just due to the style of the dress.  The first thought I had when I tried on the dress was to team it with a pair of strappy wedges but then looking at the Simply Be website I realised that Gemma Collins had done that, so I wanted to try a completely different look that was outside my comfort zone and run with that instead.  I think it has paid off...

Dress: Gemma Collins Collection @ Simply Be, £45, size 18
Boots: Unknown (years old!), Bracelets: New Look

Originally I wore the dress as it was, with a pair of ankle boots. I'm not normally the kind of girl to wear boots with dresses but it's a style I've always wanted to try.  I added a bracelet set from New Look to accessorize.  The print and neckline of the dress it really stunning.  I keep saying it but I am convinced that the photos on the website don't do the clothing justice and that this dress is so much prettier in real life.  The neckline consists of lots of delicate gold coloured sequins and seed beads and the colour of the dress goes from an almost burnt orange colour through to a blue coloured leopard print which should clash, but looks amazing.  The shoulders are completed with tie-style straps which means you can make it as high/low cut as you want.

Made from viscose, the "Gemma Collins Printed Sun Dress" is very lightweight and floaty and perfect for taking on holidays, wearing over a swimsuit or bikini or for warm nights as a comfortable party dress.  It's quite versatile when you think about the occasions this dress could be worn for.  I probably wouldn't wear this dress without a belt under my bustline (although it's perfect for covering up my tummy!) unless it was over a swimsuit because I like to have a bit more shape, so I decided to try the dress with a wide black belt to see how it looked. I also tried it on with a denim jacket to see how versatile this dress really was.  I think it works well with or without both accessories!

 Dress: Gemma Collins Collection @ Simply Be £45, size 18
Denim Jacket: Primark, size 16 £16. Boots: Unknown (years old!),
Bracelets: New Look, Belt: Unknown

This dress is available on the Simply Be website in sizes 12 to 32 (a couple of sizes are out of stock) and I think that it would suit any frame due to the shape/cut of it.  I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by this dress. I feel really sexy in it and I think I surprised a few of my friends too who are against such bold prints!  Another success with thanks to Simply Be!  

For those of you who don't know who Gemma Collins is, where have you been!?  Gemma Collins is a plus sized star from the structured reality television show "The Only Way is Essex" or TOWIE for short.  I am going to be completely honest now and admit that I have never watched an episode but many of my friends do.  Even though I don't watch it, I know who Gemma Collins is.  I've seen her own official website, on the covers of magazines and more recently in a clothing line designed in collaboration with Simply Be.  

When I first saw the Gemma Collins' original collection on Simply Be, I felt that the dresses were either a little too figure hugging or too flouncy for my kind of style so I was very pleased when Simply Be announced they had released a new collection and this time it is much more suited in my opinion to curvier ladies like myself.  I really think that Simply Be and Gemma Collins have really got it right with a collection that includes maxi dresses and of course Gemma's signature bodycon style too. Let's take a look at a couple of the pieces now.

Gemma Collins Blue Printed Maxi Dress, Simply Be, £55

I have to say this is my favourite piece from the new collection.  I think the colours and print are absolutely stunning and it is perfect for these humid evenings we have been getting here in the UK.  At £55, the price of this dress may put some people off but when you consider that some of the maxi dresses in Gemma's physical store are £75 (yes £75!) the price of this dress doesn't seem that bad.  This dress is currently available in sizes 12 to 32, however many of the sizes are selling out fast so if you do love this dress it probably won't last long enough to end up in the sale.  

Gemma Collins Printed Panel Dress, £40, Simply Be
 

There couldn't be a Gemma Collins collection without bodycon in there somewhere.  I am a little nervous when it comes to bodycon because I am blessed with lovely love handles that I am trying to tame by taking up spinning!  (Scary!)  Gemma on the other hand rocks this new dress and what I love most about this dress is the illusion effect that is very flattering and the awesome tropical print panel to the front.  I can imagine being somewhere abroad and wearing this dress to dinner (providing my confidence kept up!).

If you are a little nervous about body con like I am, there is a saviour - shapewear.  Pop a basque under this dress and it will smooth out any bumps which is what I will do when I finally take the plunge and order a bodycon dress.

Gemma Collins said about the new collection: “I love the new pieces in my high summer collection and I can’t wait to see all the curvy girls working my summer bright designs! I can’t wait to wear all the pieces over the summer!”

See the full collection now over at Simply Be - which is your favourite? :)