Style It My Way Challenge: Week 1 - Maxi Dress or Skirt

Posted by Unknown - 04:08 - , ,
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I'm so excited that this challenge is finally here!  Week one of the "Style It My Way" challenge is to present a maxi dress or skirt in your own style!  For my challenge I played it safe with one of my favourite ways to wear a maxi dress.  Team it with a cardigan and some gorgeous jewellery and away we go! 
 
 Halter Neck Dress: Imported (Going to be selling them if anyone is interested
please get in touch), size XXL, Cardigan: New Look, Size 18, Bracelets: Unknown,
Shoes: George @ Asda, £6

I absolutely love this halterneck maxi dress. The colours are really vibrant and I also love the added halterneck straps which feature a big wooden circle and beads.  There really is no need to wear a necklace with this style of dress. I am going to be importing a bunch of them (unfortunately they only come in XXL which fits a UK size 18 to 20, possibly a 22 with a small bust) as I think they would be really popular and they also come in a number of colours too.

I can't wait to see how everyone else has styled their maxi dress/skirt! :) Here's to the start of a really fun and interesting challenge.  If you'd like to take part, get in touch! 

The new AX Paris collection at Simply Be

Posted by Unknown - 03:45 - , , ,
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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!


 

Style It My Way Challenge Starts on Sunday!

Posted by Unknown - 10:47 - , ,
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I'm posting this notice a little early as I am away this weekend without the Internet.  *Gasp* - I am a bit of an Internet addict and usually check my emails every day at least (even Christmas day!).  I am only away for one night but I just wanted to remind anyone who is taking part in the "Style It My Way Challenge" with me that it starts on Sunday 11th August :)

 Week 1 is maxi dresses.  How would you style your maxi dress? What maxi dress would you choose for your style?  If anyone wants to join in with me and a few other ladies in a weekly fashion challenge we'd love to have you on board! 

 Check back next week for my take on the Maxi Dress "Style It My Way Challenge".

Review of Gemma Collins Collection at Simply Be

Posted by Unknown - 06:57 - , , ,
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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!  

Day Thirty: The Blogger Challenge (A vivid memory)

Posted by Unknown - 01:26 -
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Day Thirty: The Blogger Challenge - A vivid memory.

 I have decided to replace day 30 with the day 31 (we had too many by accident) as I agreed with the other ladies that "react to the term letting go" was maybe a bit of a sad note to end this challenge on.  So for the final day of the challenge I will be recalling my first date with Mr FH.

 Our first date was rather random.  Firstly we went to a coffee shop where I was sure that he didn't even like me!  I ordered for him at the counter which didn't go down too well - it turns out he was being sarcastic but obviously on a first date I didn't know his humour.  I also snorted when I laughed.  I can swear that I've never done that before that date, nor since so it must have been nerves!  I was MORTIFIED!

 Once we'd finished our drinks (I don't even like coffee but didn't want to order anything like hot chocolate for fear of him thinking I was a fat cow) we didn't really know where to go so we came to the agreement to walk around Toys R Us!!!  We talked for quite a while as we walked around the store.  I knew he had a son but we both agreed that Toys R Us was no where near as much fun as when we were both children.

 After our bizarre browsing experience, we sat in the park for hours chatting away and it's then when the nerves settled and we found out a lot about each other.  When the date had ended, we kissed but it was one of those awkward move in for the cheek or lips kisses.  

 As far dates go, it was rather random but it clearly worked as we are still together (3 years today actually!) and we are planning our wedding! 

 That's it!  The 30 day challenge is over... I hope you've found some of my posts interesting and I apologise for the really deep depressing ones!!

The Gemma Collins Collection @ Simply Be

Posted by Unknown - 12:58 - , , , , ,
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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.


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.  

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? :)

Day Twenty-Nine: The Blogger Challenge (Five songs that bring back memories)

Posted by Unknown - 01:18 -
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Day Twenty-Nine: The Blogger Challenge - Five songs that bring back memories...

 Oooh this is a bit of a tough one because I'm terrible with remembering the names and artists of songs. Let's see what I can remember...

 1.  Five - Keep on Moving
This song came on the radio on the way to work when I had my first proper job and I remember my friend and me dancing along to it in the car while someone else drove.  We must have looked like complete idiots!

 2. Eagles - Hotel California
I remember this song was played while me and my family were on holiday in Mauritius and my brother in law burst into song along with it.  Was quite funny at the time as I was a teenager going through my embarrassed stage.

 3.  Take That - Love Love
My step son absolutely adores this song and it is unfortunately one that is stuck in my head all of the time. Everytime he gets in the car he asks for it on. 

 4.  Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
Oh my god! Mr FH and I went to see Bruce Springsteen in concert at the Coventry Ricoh arena and the atmosphere was amazing.  I have never been to such a fun gig! 

 5.  I must admit I am completely stumped for the fifth song! There are bound to be many songs that bring back memories I just can't think of them :)

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