Okay... here goes!  I was extremely nervous about filming my first ever V-log but I knew it was something that I wanted to overcome so for my first ever V-log, I review two of Simply Be's Spring/Summer collection: the floral print woven front sweater and the peplum hem textured skirt.


My First V-Log - Review of Simply Be Spring/Summer 2014 from Felicity Hart on Vimeo.

Along with the V-log, I have also taken a couple of photos to show how these items look as a complete outfit, and as you can see, they are really lovely! Thank you Simply Be! :) 

 

Floral Print Woven Front Sweater*: Simply Be, Size 18, £35.00 available in sizes 12 - 32
Jeans: Select, size 18, £18, Ankle Boots: Tesco

Peplum Hem Textured Skirt*: Simply Be, Size 18 - £25, available in sizes 12-  28 (up to 32 currently out of stock), Top: Wallis, Size 18, Cardigan: Wallis, Size 16, Bracelets: ASOS Curve*

Just after Christmas, a week before our wedding we took part in an engagement (pre wedding) photoshoot so that our wedding photographer, Charlie could get used to poses and the way which we work together in photos. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing and even Mr FH enjoyed himself too!  We spent an afternoon in a relaxed sculpture garden and I spent ages planning what I was going to wear! I wanted something quite colourful to stand out against the dreary January weather so I decided to choose my Rose Lace Print dress from Simply Be.  I ordered this just before Christmas because I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it on the website.  It has gorgeous sheer black lace arms and a beautiful red, cream and black rose pattern across the dress.  I ordered a size 18, however on reflection although the dress isn't stretchy I think a 16 would have been better because it's a little roomy and the lace arms aren't tight against my skin. On the day of the photoshoot, the sunshine glistened and we were very lucky to get some beautiful pictures.

The quality of the dress is outstanding and the length is a little more modest than some of my other dresses which made it a perfect choice for our engagement shoot.  This rose print dress is currently on offer on the Simply Be website for £31.50 which is very reasonable for such a stunning dress, however only limited sizes are left.  I am even tempted to order the size 16 and keep both!

I wore my dress with gorgeous red heels from New Look and a red coat which was also from New Look many years ago.  The coat is a little too small for me, but it looked lovely on even if I couldn't do it up!  My bracelets were also from New Look, and came in a set of 3. Anyway, let the pictures do the talking (and if anyone needs a wedding photographer, Charlie covers nationwide and also destination weddings, so if you need her details just ask me!)

 

Dress: Rose Lace Print Dress, Simply Be, Size 18, Currently £31.50.
Red Heels & Bracelets: New Look, Red Coat: New Look (size 12 - far too small!)

I would go as far as saying this is now my favourite dress. It makes you feel absolutely gorgeous and I hope you like a sneak peek of our engagement photos (wedding ones coming very soon!) Two thumbs up for Simply Be again! x

If you're a regular reader of my blog, you'll know that I am a complete sucker for partywear especially when it comes to Christmas!  Every year, my mum and I normally treat ourselves to a new Christmas Day dress/outfit.  This year, with the wedding fast approaching might be the first year in a while that I break the tradition but with so much temptation around... it's going to be difficult!

After experiencing Simply Be's party dresses previously including the Paper Dolls brand it was my first port of call when I decided to look online at the variety of dresses available this year.  There are some absolute beauties so here are my favourite picks...

Short Embellished Prom Dress, £160.00, Simply Be

I first spotted this gorgeous short embellished party dress in the Simply Be catalogue and I have been drooling over it ever since.  I'm not normally someone who wears white/ivory, but it looks so stunning and pure - I even contemplated changing out of my wedding dress into this one in the evening on my wedding.  The detail on the website is a little unclear.  I'm not sure if this dress has an elasticated back similar to my previous purchases or if it is completely fitted.  Either way, in the right size this dress would make you stand out from the crowd of black and red dresses that are in fashion this year.

The embellishments look very detailed and as shown in the photo above, this dress would look stunning with nude sparkly accessories or even silver to complement the beading on the dress.  This dress isn't cheap, and is currently £160.00 but even the frugal part of me is sorely tempted.  Available in a size 14 to 32, with some sizes selling out already grab it before it's gone... (now where's my bank card!)

Next up is something similar in shape but complete opposite in colour!  I have noticed that red and black are cropping up in this years winter party dresses so why not combine the two with this absolutely jaw dropping floral dress with lace sleeves!  

Rose printed dress with lace sleeves, Simply Be, £45

In my opinion, this dress looks a lot more exquisite than £45 so it makes it a perfect bargain for a plus size party dress for this year.  What I like about this dress is the lace detailed sleeves and the vibrant print.  I like how they have styled this dress with a bundle of necklaces in an almost punk feel.  I would probably combine this dress with either black or possibly bright red accessories depending on the mood I was in.

Another bonus about this beautiful dress is that every single size is still available on the Simply Be website from a UK 12 to 32.  From looking at the detailing, this dress isn't elasticated or stretchy so I would probably go for my normal size for fitted dresses.  I would love to know your thoughts on this dress as I fell in love with it as soon as I noticed it!

*PLEASE NOTE* This dress is currently on sale for £36... so I just ordered it myself!! :) 

I have just returned from my first ever Plus North event which took place in the Renaissance Hotel in Manchester.  We woke early on Saturday morning ready for the drive ahead of us and although it took a little time to get everything packed and sorted we eventually made our way up the motorway to Manchester. I must admit, I had booked tickets, hotel etc before we booked our wedding so I did have a slight pang of guilt that the money I had spent could have been used for our wedding.  I'm such a worrier! For the day event I wore a bodycon New Look dress, brown leather jacket, ankle boots from Tesco and a sparkly statement necklace also from New Look.

Anyone who knows me knows that I hate being late for anything so when we got stuck on the M6 with long delays I started to panic and ended up being around 30 minutes late - grr!  When I walked into the Exhibition Hall I was greeted by the lovely Charlotte from Yours Clothing with a goodie bag and a warm welcome which was much appreciated because for some reason I was really nervous!  There were clothing racks everywhere and pick a mix too!  Yum!  I arrived just in time for the first catwalk show which was the Simply Be catwalk.  I stood next to the Yours Clothing exhibit and watched as everyone walked down the catwalk looking fabulous.  

Afterwards I made my way around the room anti-clockwise and approached Curvissa, Bon Prix and Lovedrobe.  Every exhibitor had something that I liked on their rails but with the wedding approaching I was on a pretty strict budget and unfortunately had to window shop! Next up was the Evans stand which was really cool.  I chatted to a lovely lady about my body shape as I am still undecided if I am an apple or a pear then I entered their gift card giveaway where everyone got a gift card with a value of between £5 and £100 and would only know how much it was when I took it to an Evans Store.  Thankfully there is one in the Arndale centre in Manchester since our local one has closed down.

I then spoke with Natalie from Scarlett and Jo, who I have spoke via e-mail but never met.  She is so lovely - and had a good nosey at the Powerfit dresses from their new range which I will be blogging about later this week.  I moved onto the Slink Magazine exhibit of which I had never heard of before and spoke to them about their magazine and their new boutique which was opening that day.  

Simply Be was next and I finally got to drool over the blogger dresses in person and a bunch of other new Autumn / Winter ranges.  They also had some of their shoes on display too and they look really well made.  Next up, Excite clothing.  I had a look at this Exhibit in two parts as another catwalk show was about to start.  The Yours Clothing catwalk show was really good because it had more winter looking outfits including lots of comfy knitted jumpers and accessories too.  We had a very special treat to a Slink Boutique catwalk show straight afterwards with a mix of some really funky outfits and gorgeous eveningwear.  All of the models looked amazing!

The Excite Clothing stand had a lot of bodycon dresses that I liked the look of and after feeling a bit daring with wearing bodycon for the first time to the day event I made a mental note to check out their website again on my return.  I could have bought some there, but was being good for a change. Growing up sucks!   The Topsy Curvy stand was next; another brand I hadn't heard of and I had a good chat with the lovely Charlotte (my apologies if I have got your name wrong!) before heading over to the other exhibition room.  I didn't spend much time in this room as it was aimed at accessories and I am deadly around things like that so me and Mr FH decided to head over to the Arndale centre to have a look around since we haven't been to Manchester before.  

The Arndale centre is massive and you could get easily lost in the number of stores!  We looked in Yours Clothing, the Lego shop (omg I could live in there!), the Disney Store and I finally found the Simply Be store!! Go me!  The Simply Be store in Manchester is slightly smaller than I had imagined but it had an amazing atmosphere and the staff were all really friendly.  I tried on 3 dresses and had a good play with their magic mirror.  This feature is a fantastic idea!  You can take a photo of yourself in your outfit and tweet/facebook it too. I tried to tweet an AX Paris dress but it wasn't connected to the Internet.  I did give in and buy the navy floral print AX Paris curve dress because it was so stunning on (pictures to come soon!).  We also went to the Evans store where I had won £5, but the good thing about this is it will last for 2 years so after the wedding I will keep an eye out on what I want to order.

We went for dinner at the Slug and Lettuce before stepping back to the hotel to get changed for the Plus North after party.  By this time a migraine had set in so I was a little nervous that I wouldn't make it.  I changed into my Paper Dolls dress which has now gotten a little big for me due to spinning, so I teamed it with a cardigan in-case the straps fell down.  I wore flat shoes and a bunch of gorgeous accessories.  We arrived in the suite and were given a gorgeous goodie bag from Scarlett and Jo. Inside was a "Fatshion" acrylic necklace, some nail decals and some sample goodies.  We all sat around the tables and listened to a performance by the gorgeous Rosie O'Sullivan who was a previous Britain's Got Talent contestant.  We were then treated to a glamorous catwalk show by Scarlett and Jo featuring the new dresses and outfits all of which I want! It was a really lovely weekend meeting a bunch of bloggers - my only regret being that I didn't get enough time to chat to everyone!

*Edit - I have ONE photo from the event that is viewable! So next time.... please, someone remind me to take my Canon!

 

As you all know, Plus North is approaching fast so I finally to step foot in a Simply Be store for the first time.  I am becoming a big fan of ordering clothes online however nothing beats the feeling of stepping into a changing room armed with loads of clothes and trying them on right there and then!  My plan for the weekend involves going to the exhibition and then head into the Simply Be store where I hope all of my favourite Autumn / Winter 2013 pieces will be.

I have to be relatively good though - with the wedding fast approaching, I must resist temptation to spend lots on clothes for the next few months but I will allow myself one item if I really love it as I don't know when I will next get the chance to visit the store.

So what are my favourite pieces of this upcoming season?  Let's take a look now...

First up, a houndstooth illusion dress with leather look trims. If I'm being honest with myself I don't think that this dress would suit me which really sucks due to my body shape. If it is in store I may try it on anyway.  I like this dress because it's perfect for business meetings, not too short and uses the current trend of illusion dresses with a bit of a twist. I guess in a way it almost looks like a top and a pencil skirt.

Houndstooth illusion dress with leather look trims, £65

This dress is available on the Simply Be website in sizes 14 to 32 and is £65.  

I know that I should really be varying my wardrobe a bit as all I seem to buy lately are dresses but I love the way they make you feel that bit more feminine.  I don't feel the same when I am wearing jeans.  My second pick is another dress, this time one that I would team with knee boots if I can ever find a pair that fits!

This lace trim folk dress is perfect for this season with colours that really work for Autumn yet it has that added elegance of the lace trim to make it look that bit sexier.  At only £40 it's a bit of a steal too and I can't wait to try it on.   It is on the Simply Be website in sizes 12 to 32 (although the 26 is out of stock at the moment).

Simply Be Lace Trim Folk Dress, £40

I was torn between my final pick - there are some gorgeous Lovedrobe dresses now available on the Simply Be website but after seeing Cass from Plump Parsnip in this final dress I really do think it is beautiful.  The Anna Scholz Print Peplum dress is a mix of colours in a blurred floral print and although I don't normally do peplum I'm keen to give it a try!  This dress is £75 so a bit more expensive however I have heard great things about Anna Scholz so I think that it would be worth the money. It is also available in sizes 14 to 32.

Anna Scholz Printed Peplum Dress, £75, Simply Be

What are your favourite pieces from the Autumn / Winter collection?

As a relatively new "wearer" of AX Paris, I am delighted that there is a new range of dresses available on the Simply Be website.  When I originally reviewed the AX Paris curve range on Simply Be I was extremely surprised by how lovely the clothes fitted and couldn't wait to make a purchase.  If you look back over my archives I ordered a leopard print high-low dress from an alternative online shop and again, the dress was simply divine.

When I noticed that Simply Be had a new range of dresses available for high Summer/Autumn I was eager to take a look into the new range, colours and styles available and here are some of my favourites that are on my wishlist...

First up there is a maxi dress and a short dress which is a very similar (if not the same) floral pattern.  I absolutely love both and can't choose which I like the best but based on the item I reviewed being a shorter dress,  I think I would stick with the shorter one as I know that it would suit me.

1) AX Paris Navy Floral Skater Dress, Simply Be, £32 in sizes 12 to 32.
2) AX Paris Navy Floral Maxi Dress, Simply Be, £38 in sizes 12 to 32.

The skater dress looks very similar in style to the light green floral dress I reviewed that you can see here.  If this is the case, I am extremely tempted by this dress - the print and colours are gorgeous and more suited for this time of year and it would work through Autumn.  

Next up are two lace dresses that have also caught my eye.  I'm a little less excited about these because one, I don't think peplum would suit my shape as much as I'd love to be able to pull off that look and secondly I'm nervous about the lace not being as bold and vibrant as the floral dresses.  My style is quite colourful so these two dresses are slightly less bold for my tastes, although they are very pretty...

3) AX Paris Lace Skater Dress, Simply Be, £40 in sizes 12 to 32. (26 is low stock)
4) AX Paris Lace Peplum Dress, Simply Be, £40 in sizes 12 to 32. (16, 18 and 20

If you've never tried the AX Paris brand at Simply Be, you'll be pleasantly surprised. The sizing was fantastic on the dresses I've tried so far and feels wonderful on.  Check out the whole collection here!


 

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? :)

My "Outfit of the Day" today is a really pretty look.  I must admit I haven't accessorised this outfit with any jewellery because i'm in a bit of a chill out mood.  This outfit features a gorgeous dress from Simply Be which is my opinion looks so much prettier in real life than in the photos on their website.  I imagined this dress to be quite dull in colour but it is vibrant and really pops out.  I absolutely love it.  It has an elasticated waist which makes it really comfy and I am wearing the size 20.  On the Simply Be website, this "Enchanted Print Dress" is still available but in very limited sizes, only size 12 and size 24 but it is an absolute bargain at £14!

Since the weather is starting to cool down a bit, I am wearing my dress with a light coloured denim jacket from Primark.  I have been looking for a denim jacket for a while now but I haven't found one that I really liked until now.  This jacket was only £16 and I am wearing the size 16.  It's a little tight but I quite like that look as I wouldn't wear it done up anyway.  I am also starting spinning every day so I may lose a few pounds and the smaller size seemed a better idea.  The dress has quite wide shoulder panels so I would happily wear it without a jacket.

As I mentioned earlier, other than my engagement ring I'm not wearing any jewellery.  I think I would probably wear a bunch of bracelets or pretty rings with this dress so that when I took the jacket off they were showing.  It definitely doesn't need any necklaces because the print is so bold and pretty.

Dress: Simply Be (Currently limited sizes £14), Denim Jacket: Primark, £16
(Please excuse the squinty eyes - hayfever is terrible at the moment!)

Considering I didn't own any Simply Be products before I reviewed them, I am getting quite a nice collection now!  Their autumn range has been released last week too!

Today's "Outfit of the Day" features a feather print maxi dress from Simply Be.  Technically, this dress belongs to my mum but one of the bonuses of being a similar size is that I normally borrow all her clothes!  This feather print maxi dress comes in two lengths and two base colours but I think the black is a much more flattering tone. The dress is still available on the Simply Be website at £35.  Unfortunately it isn't in the sale at the moment but they have plenty of sizes left in stock and I think that price isn't too bad for a maxi dress.  I've seen second hand branded maxi dresses sell on ebay for over £25!!

I am wearing a UK size 18 regular length (52 inches) dress and I have combined it with a bright green shrug/cardigan from George at Asda (size 16) and a bracelet that my mum bought me on her "find a bracelet to match the peacock dress" hunt.  The bracelet is from Wallis and was reduced from £14 down to £3!  My mum is a bargain hunter and that's probably where I get it from!

 

Feather Print Maxi Dress, Simply Be, Currently £35.00, Cardigan: George @ Asda,
Bracelet: Wallis, reduced from £14 to £3 Shoes: Unknown

I'm terrible at making decisions.  If we eat out, I'll let someone else choose where.  If Mr FH and I are watching a film, I'll let him pick!  So imagine how difficult it is for me to order clothes online...

Generally, I do shop in actual stores because it means I get to try everything on in one go without having to worry about sizing issues or sending stuff back.  Recently I have been more interested in online shopping because of lack of time and also some of the ranges aren't available in stores and I live far away from some stores such as Simply Be, however I am going to make it my mission to get to one before the end of the year!

Anyway, I have found a bunch of dresses that I really like but I can't order them all as it will eat into the wedding fund, so I decided to make a post and see if anyone wants to get in touch with their opinions via comments, twitter or e-mail and help me choose which to order :)

First up, is Yours Clothing.  I've never ordered anything from here before but after reading the most recent post over at What Laura Loves, I too fell in love with the "Cream Bird Print Lace Trim Dress". Laura looks amazing in it!  This dress is £30 and the only drawback is that they are out of stock of 18's and a 20 may be too big... 

Next up, also on Yours Clothing is a beautiful floral hanky hem dress in black, red and beige.  I think this dress would be perfect for summer but also work in Autumn due to the gorgeous array of colours within its print.  This dress is low in stock in both an 18 and 20, so I need to act fast if I want to get it.  At £35, this is slightly more expensive than the previous one.

Heading over to Desire Clothing, another store I've never ordered from, I couldn't help but notice this peacock dress on sale at just £16.  Now, I absolutely love the peacock dress designed by Em over at Simply Be, but I don't think my shape would pull it off.  So this one (although fitted) would probably be better suited and it's in the sale, so can't really go wrong! The only thing with this dress is I am really nervous about which size I would need.

Now over to ASOS Curve where I am also a bit twitchy about their sizing.  First up, a couple of dresses from the Little Mistress Curve range (can I really justify more evening dresses and their prices when I have a wedding to save for?)... Both are bodycon dresses which immediately make me worry about shapewear but both are simply stunning on the model! 

Over at Simply Be there are loads of dresses that I love, so I have narrowed it down to the following although these don't have photos because the website ones are a bit lower quality... See why this is so difficult already? :) Maybe I should stick to the sales for now? HELP!! :)

• Anna Scholz Cowl Colour Block Dress, Reduced to £49.50 @ Simply Be
• Coral Jacquard Skater Dress With Pleats, Reduced to £18.00 @ Simply Be
• Enchanted Print Tea Dress, Reduced to £14.00 @ Simply Be 

I also love the Scarlett & Jo dresses I mentioned in an earlier post.  I would appreciate any opinions at all before my head explodes! 

Xx

Day Five: Publicly profess your love and devotion for one of your blogger friends. What makes them great? Why do you love them? If you don't have blogger friends, talk about a real-life friend or even a family member.

I'm quite new to blogging compared to many of the established bloggers that I have been following for a while so instead of talking about a blogging friend as such, I have decided to talk about one of the bloggers who inspired me to start my own blog last year.

"What Laura Loves" is a blog run by fellow blonde, Laura who blogs about beauty and fashion with plenty of "Outfit of the Day" posts.  The reason Laura inspired me so much is that we appear to have similar tastes in fashion (we both have a love for dresses!)

Laura has been running her blog since 2010 and recently has had the amazing opportunity along with 2 other bloggers to design a dress for sale in collaboration with Simply Be.  You can buy Laura's dress right now on the Simply Be website!  I have been contemplating ordering it but with my recent spending spree and a wedding to save for, I don't want to get into trouble with Mr FH!

Who do the other lovely ladies taking part in the 30 day blogger challenge love? Check out their answers below:

Take a look at the other girls favourite quotes who are taking part in the 30 day blogger challenge here:

• Beth - http://tinkerbellandthelostgirls.blogspot.co.uk/
• Emma - http://plussizemillard.blogspot.co.uk/
• Karen - http://toodulltoblog.blogspot.co.uk/
• Laura - http://laurapantslifestyle.blogspot.co.uk/
• Lisa - http://lookingforlisa.blogspot.co.uk/
• Mary - http://www.channellingliz.wordpress.com
• Natalie - http://awheelbarrowfullofstyle.blogspot.co.uk
• Nikki - http://nattynikki.blogspot.com
• Steph - http://seeingsp0ts.blogspot.co.uk/
• Toni - http://theonlywayistoni.blogspot.co.uk/
• Verena - http://APlusSizeFashionObsession.blogspot.co.uk 
• Vicky - http://TheCurvedOpinion.com
• Kaye - http://www.polishedcurves.com
• Mhairi - http://www.lilybobombslovelylumps.com 

Today's outfit of the day is my birthday present from my mum from Simply Be.  This paisley print split leg maxi dress is the one that I saw on a review by MrsBeBe and I loved how she wore it with a denim jacket.  When I saw it in the sale, I knew that it would be a great buy for just £20 - and would also save my mum some money too for my birthday.

This dress is still available on the Simply Be website, however I don't think it is in the sale at the moment.  I haven't got a denim jacket or gilet as I haven't found one that suits me yet, plus I can't really copy someone elses outfit of the day (as tempting as it is!) so I have combined my maxi dress with a peach floaty cardigan and bracelet from New Look, a delicate peach necklace from Primark and some comfy low wedges which are quite old and I haven't a clue where they were from.

 

Split Leg Paisley Print Maxi Dress, Simply Be, Currently £40.00, Cardigan and
Bracelet: New Look, Necklace: Primark, £1 - bargain! Shoes: Unknown

What I particularly like about this dress is the print.  It does look a bit different to the website photos, but I think that it is very fashionable and perfect for the festival season.  It would work for daytime or evening wear, however I think that it looks better as a day dress. I have bought a new brown belt to wear over the elasticated waist with a different cardigan or jacket too for a completely different look.

Simply Be have a 60% sale on at the moment, which includes a similar paisley print dress, however it is higher necked and doesn't have the split leg, but it does look very pretty.  At only £18.50, you could achieve a similar look - I am tempted but I don't want to be in trouble with Mr FH for all my recent purchases when we have a wedding to save for! :) 

I seem to have a habit of cheating a little and posting outfits from the "other" day, however with our weather being so topsy turvy at the moment and my hectic schedule I take my photos whenever the sunshine lets me! I was meaning to post this on Sunday when I wore it, but real life took over so you can have it today instead :)

"Today's" outfit of the day consists of an AX Paris Curve dress which is exclusively available over on the Simply Be website.  I've never tried on any AX Paris branded clothes before but I have been lusting after their sequin skirt prom dress as seen on What Laura Loves since Autumn last year.  This turquoise floral dress is really vibrant in real life compared to the photos - but that makes this dress a very pretty summer dress.  I would say it is more of a day dress than an evening one because it isn't as exquisitely made as the Paper Dolls dresses I recently had the chance to review.  That said, the price tag of £32 makes this dress very affordable and is perfectly on trend for Summer 2013.

This AX Paris Curve dress is made from very lightweight fabric making it extremely cooling for hot weather.  The stitching isn't as neat as some other brands that I own, but the zip really makes up for this.  The amount of dresses I have broken from flimsy zips is unbelievable due to my broad back.  This zip is a really heavy duty bronze coloured zip which compliments the turquoise colour of the dress.  

Floral Dress: AX Paris Curve @ Simply Be*, £32, Cardigan: New Look, Heels: River Island

I am wearing a size 20 dress - I went up a size because I was aware that this dress didn't have any kind of shirring or elasticated waist, however the dress is a little roomy which I think it possibly a good thing as it kind of skims right over my tummy.  I would say that this dress is possibly cut a little bigger than usual, but in order to tell for certain if it is a brand wide feature, I would really need to try on a few more dresses.  It doesn't have any stretch in it at all, however so if you are between sizes it would be worth ordering the bigger version. It does need a good bit of ironing, and I am not that great at it... as you can probably tell from the photos!

This AX Paris Curve dress comes just to the knee which makes it safe for work or old relatives!  Overall, I am pleased with my first experience of AX Paris Curve and would definitely like to try more of their garments.  I have matched this turquoise floral dress with a pink cardigan from New Look, Jewelled Heels from River Island from many seasons ago and I'm not 100% sure where my bracelet is from.  I think that the colour of the cardigan and accessories really compliments this dress and my skin tone.

This dress has extremely low stock at the moment - and sold out in some sizes, but generally comes in a UK size 12 to 32. 
 

Wedding dress shopping can be a scary thought, let alone when you are plus size. I have been through this experience and come out the other side unscathed, so I thought I would share my tips with you for a Stress free experience.
  
With most wedding dresses from bridal boutiques you generally have to go up 2 sizes. Sounds scary right? My wedding dress ended up being a size 22, even though I'm only a size 18 - but remember it doesn't matter what the label says as long as you look fabulous.

The first bridal boutique I visited was one that offered a specialist section for plus size brides. I had heard horror stories of bridal boutiques squeezing brides into smaller dresses, which in turn didn't give a great representation of how the dress would look in the right size. The first dress I tried on was quite a plain looking dress, but because it was the first wedding dress I had ever tried on, it was a very emotional moment all round especially with my mum.

I tried on 4 dresses at the first bridal boutique... And was certain that I had found the dress of my dreams. A corseted Amanda Wyatt dress with a near £900 price tag.  I already had another appointment booked at a more local bridal shop however they didn't have a plus size section.

"Sookie Wedding Dress" - Amanda Wyatt


The next day I visited the second bridal boutique with my mum. You always need to take someone who will give you an honest opinion, and my mum is always spot on with hers. This shop didn't have any dresses in my size and true to the rumours, I was squeezed and prodded into size 14 and 16 dresses. I personally didn't find it offensive, it was more a challenge! But I was worried I may rip the dresses and have some major repair bills to pay for. All of the dresses I tried on at the second appointment made me forget the Amanda Wyatt dress, however I hadn't had "The One" feeling. There was a stunning dress from Mark Lesley And Mori Lee (Julietta Range) But I wasn't 100% sure on anything I had tried on.

3112 - Mori Lee (Julietta Range) 

I made an appointment at another branch of this store where they had a selection of plus size dresses and again I still didn't have that wow feeling about a dress. None of the dresses I tried on looked bad, but not spectacular either.

This is when I noticed an actual plus size brides weekend for bridal designer "Maggie Sottero", where all weekend the bridal boutique had a selection of wedding dress from her, in sizes 18 to 28. This appointment was the best idea ever. I tried on 3 or 4 dresses and immediately fell in love with one. It was my size, looked absolutely stunning and I just knew it was the right dress for me. I can't really go into detail on which dress I actually chose in case Mr. FH decides to read my blog, however if you haven't had "The Dress" moment yet, don't give up looking. In total I tried on around 15 to 20 dresses!

"Lorena" - Maggie Sottero (Not my dress - but an example of her work)

My one recommendation for plus size wedding dress shopping is to find a bridal boutique which has plus size ranges in stock. You will only truly know what a dress looks like when it is in a size true to the one you'll need. It is worth traveling around until you find the right place. I know there are a few specialist places within the UK, in the North, London and Weston Super Mare. I have included the links to these boutiques at the bottom of this post.

The second thing I would like to mention is that most wedding dresses made by designers have built in corsets in their dresses. My dress has a built in corset and you can't see that it has one, so when pulled right in, it gives me the most fantastic waist ever. Now all I need is to set a date and finally get to wear my dream dress!

Most importantly, don't panic about the costs of a wedding dress. There are dresses from £100 upwards so if you have a budget to stick to you can still look like a Princess without breaking the bank.  I am very lucky that my mum wanted to treat me to my wedding dress otherwise I would have had a much smaller budget. 

The following wedding dress designers provide wedding dresses for us curvier girls:

Maggie Sottero
Maggie Sottero dresses are absolutely exquisite.  "Maggie Brides not only experience innovative designs, but luxurious fabrics, Swarovski crystals, hand-sewn embellishments and the renowned, slenderizing fit known simply as the "Maggie Magic," the result of meticulous attention to, and scrutiny of, design and fitting details." - I know this first hand because of the super waist my dress produces!

Ian Stuart Bride
Ian Stuart Bride dresses are the most unusual wedding dresses I have ever seen.  I think they have a vintage feel about them but also scream extravagance. "Renowned for his glamorous, luxury creations this international multiple award-winning designer has always had a passion for making women look and feel glamorous."

Ronald Joyce
Before I finally settled on my dream dress, I had it in my head that I wanted a Ronald Joyce dress but I couldn't find any local stockists that stocked the sizes I needed.  Ronald Joyce dresses are sparkly, big, fun and fit for a princess.  

Mori Lee
"Mori Lee offers beautifully designed, feminine dresses.  Searching for an embellished A-Line, a modern Fishtail or a delicate Chiffon design, Mori Lee has your dream dress." - I tried on some really unusual fishtail dresses that I thought wouldn't suit curvier girls but they looked completely flattering on me.

Amanda Wyatt
Amanda Wyatt dresses make me think of Fairytales.  I only managed to try one Amanda Wyatt dress on which was the "Sookie" dress.  I noticed the attention to detail with fabric roses and tulle fabric draped across the dress.  A really beautiful collection of dresses.

...And not forgetting the new Simply Be bridal range.  I have not tried any of these dresses on, however with prices starting from £90 and the ability to try on in your own home, why not give them a try! :)

And the following bridal boutiques are specifically for plus size wedding dresses:

Heavenly Bodies Bridal, London
http://www.heavenlybodiesbridal.com/

The Big Day UK, Castleford, West Yorkshire
http://www.thebigdayuk.com/

Curvaceous Brides, Somerset
http://www.whitelaceandpromises.co.uk/collection/curvaceous-brides/

Curvy Bridal, North Yorkshire 
http://www.curvybridal.co.uk/

Amore Plus Bridal, Rugby
http://www.amoreplusbridal.co.uk/ 

Daisy Love Bridal, Berkshire
http://www.daisylovebridal.co.uk/


Finally, enjoy your experience! It doesn't last long enough and every second of it is magical! X