All posts by Lucia Morris

Curve fashion festival.

The Curve Fashion Festival in partnerships with New Look is in it’s third year this year and is set to be a huge event in the plus size fashion community once again. This will, however, be my first time attending and I can’t wait. As a plus size blogger I really look forward to attending fashion based events to see what the plus size brands have in store for us in the coming seasons and getting to pop to various stands to have a looks a pieces on the market from smaller brands that I may not have heard or heard of just being able to touch and try on items that are usually only available online. For me these events are the best opportunity to see friends and fellow bloggers from all over the country that I don’t get to see very often and events like TCFF get us all in one  place at the same time and it’s always a great time.

This year returning to Curve Fashion fest will be Tess Holliday.

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The UK’s largest plus size fashion event The Curve Fashion Festival in partnership with New Look is delighted to announce the return of Plus Size Model Tess Holliday.

Tess Holliday will be doing a book signing of the new book The Not So Subtle Art of Being a Fat Girl alongside an audience Q&A.

Looking at this years sponsors and supporters, one of the event supporters Debenhams stood out to me because it isn’t who I first think of when I’m looking for plus size women’s fashion but they have a huge range of plus size clothes for women, being a plus size woman who loves fashion I thought I would give them a mention. Debenhams plus size women’s range currently has over 3500 items from a number of brands from Evans and Studio 8 to Scarlett & Jo so I would definitely say worth having a look at next time you’re looking for something new.

Have you been to TCFF before and will I be seeing you there this weekend? what are you looking forward to the most??? let me know!

I want to bingo!

Bingo!!! I’ve never played bingo in my entire life but I imagine the excitement and shouting out of “Bingo!” would be a lot of fun.

I know there is a whole slew of online bingo sites but if I were to try it out to see what a the fuss is about, I’d like to experience it in a proper bingo hall with someone calling out numbers and the grannies that frequent the place first so I can get the authentic experience.

I’ve seen a lot of people my age and younger that regularly go to their local bingo and have a really fun night out, the idea of cheap drinks and the company of my mates doing something a little bit different is enough to make me want to try it. Living in a new city has made me want to try loads of new things as a way to explore new areas of town and see what’s around.

If you’ve not had a sheltered like and have actually already played a game of bingo before or going to a local bingo hall isn’t something that interests you, or you just want a quick way to try it out for fun,  the convenience of being able to play in the comfort of your own home is offered by online bingo sites such as T-Rex Bingo who offer £30 to get you started with your first deposit playing online on their site. There are always promotions going on and prize draws so there are lots of ways to keep it interesting. The site is really easy to navigate and the sign up process is quick and easy, they really have made it very player’s friendly.

You get the fun and excitement of playing a gambling game without having to even get out of your pajamas which is a huge bonus in my book!

With so many little gaming apps popping up every day it’s so nice to have online access to a simple classic game that you can rely on for a bit of fun in your spare time.

Is getting Bingo! Really as exciting as it seems? I really wanna know lol

The Quick Guide to Looking Dapper this Summer

The Quick Guide to Looking Dapper this Summer

Do you worry about looking the part? Not sure about your summer wardrobe? Fear not, because here is your book of cheats to keep you looking dapper.

As much as we love winter, it is great when the sun comes out for the absolute best time of the year…summer! Whether you live by the suns out, guns out policy, or prefer to keep your outfit more sophisticated, your individual style will be on point.

Play it Cool

Play it cool to keep you looking and feeling cool. If you are still walking around with your big, thick winter jacket that you got for Christmas, dispose of it now! Well, put it back in the wardrobe, because it is going to get cold again soon.

Don’t feel that you have to compete with everyone else when you walk out of the door. The most important aspect of your dress is that you feel comfortable in yourself and in your clothes.

Festival Season

Festival season is here and that means it’s time to let your hair down and have a good time! Friends, loud music and drink are the perfect summer recipe.

While jumping around in a sea of other people may not be the best time to wear your favourite luxury jewellery, do not fear chains and chokers. Again, we will ask that you play it cool – festivals are not the time for the smart and expensive attire as the chances are you are going to get a little bit muddy.

Leave anything heavy at home or in the tent, as there is nothing sexy about anyone drenched in sweat and appearing to be on the verge of dehydration. Allow your body to breathe, but be classy, too. Tank tops, shorts and summer hats to keep the sun out of your eyes are all acceptable. Festival_(2)[1]

Party Time

Parties come in all shapes and sizes, and for all kind of occasions. Make sure that you look presentable with a flexible outfit – you don’t want to be caught out and be overdressed for a casual get together. If you are not sure exactly what smart-casual means (the term leaves a lot open for debate), then opt for something that would not look out of place in any situation.

The boys can never go wrong with a smart polo shirt and dark jeans accompanied by casual shoes. Of course, if you possess a collection of some of the finest shoes available, matching your ensemble shouldn’t be an issue.

For the ladies, apart from the timeless little black dress, have fun and be as outrageous as the dress code allows. Girls just want to have fun, after all!

Formal Approach

Formal occasions do not mean settling for any old suit and tie combination. No sir. Pick out a fine blazer jacket that runs approximately an inch above the cuff of your shirt to nail the business-casual vibe. Mixed with some dapper looking cufflinks, you can find some brilliant examples if you visit this website, you have the perfect formal outfit for those important events.Black_tie_(2)[1]

Women’s outfit can be easily split into two categories – day and evening – when it comes to formal wear. A sophisticated blouse mixed with trousers or pencil skirt is the go-to option for many belles of the boardroom, with or without high-heeled shoes.

If you are attending a black tie event, this is when you are expected to get glammed up with either a full length evening gown or exceptional cocktail dress. As good as something looks always think about how comfortable you will be wearing it throughout the night, hopefully sipping on something flavoursome.

The most important thing to remember this spring is to celebrate being you – 2017 is the age of individuality, so go out and express yourself how only you know best!

Lady V and me.

I have a long and loving relationship with Ladyvlondon, more specifically Lady Voluptuous. I have experience with quite a few of their dresses but the first one I every bought was an Estella and it was love at first try on! I had 5 Estella dresses at one point and then I started buying some of the others like the Phoebe, the Cosette, the Bellatrix, the Lyra, the iconic Medusa and most recently the Ursula swing.

Here are just some of the Lady Voluptuous dresses I’ve had/I have.IMG_20170626_091448

We have now come full circle and I have just received a new style Estella. Ignore the squinting, it was sunny out lolIMG-20170614-WA0026This is the Sunshine Toucan Estella dress This one is a little different to the Estella I knew and loved, it has longer sleeves and an upturned cuff. I feel like this one covers more in the bust area than the ones I’ve had before.  IMG-20170614-WA0030This Estella is a little tight on the arms for me but that is purely because I have huge arms and I’m fatter than I was when I wore the old Estellas. Edit: I tried on an old Estella from my wardrobe and it still fits, I just think that the old Estella has short sleeves so accommodates my arms better. IMG-20170614-WA0018

This is such a nice dress for the summer the print is absolutely gorgeous and perfect for the hot weather we have been having recently. You can count on the great quality that they have always been consistent with in their dresses too.

Do you have a favourite Lady Voluptuous dress?

Wearing sixteen47 twenty four seven.

Recently I got to experience  sixteen47, a brand that goes up to a size 42!!! I am always looking for brands that have items in a larger size than I am so I can have the luxury of oversized pieces in my wardrobe.

Looking through the website a lot of the items weren’t the usual style that I would go for but there are some definitely some treasures. I chose a staple black dress and the brand were kind enough to send me a second piece to review.IMG-20170511-WA0104

The black dress is a skater shape with panelling so there is so much fabric at the bottom it makes it very flowy and flattering on my shape. The fabric is thick and the sleeves are long so it is definitely an item that I will be wearing in the colder months. I love that the shape of the dress give it a alot of movement and it swishes when I walk. IMG-20170511-WA0111

The second piece I have isn’t something I would usually choose but I’ve actually worn it more than the black dress, it’s a nice piece to throw on with leggings when you have errands to run, I’ve been wearing it when I’ve been going out for walks. The colours are perfect for summer and so is the light fabric. This cappuccino jersey top is really nice to wear.IMG-20170511-WA0123It is so nice to be able to wear clothes and have space in the garment, these are easily two of my most comfortable items that I own. The thing that stands out the most about the items from sixteen47 is the quality! you can tell straight away that their pieces will wear and wash really well. The quality of the fabrics used and how clearly well made they are means you will have long lasting additions to your wardrobe.

Remember to be kind to yourself

If you have been following my blog you may have seen that I have been making the effort to be a little more active, walk around a bit more and try to see more of the new city I live in. I personally find walking more (basically an increase in the physical activity that i’m used to) makes me feel better, it has a huge impact on my mood and sets me up for the day.

I am all about doing things that help my mental state, whether that be going for a short walk with the dogs, tidying the house, going out and seeing friends or relaxing with some laid back acoustic pop and some amazing smells burning in the house.

Since I was a child my mum would always burn incense or essential oils around the house and when I moved out I developed a Yankee Candle obsession because I loved having my home filled with nice scents. Recently though I have bought a beautiful elephant oil burner that fits the decor of my bedroom and have been picking up different essential oils when I see them. I person love having citrus scents burning in my house, especially in the warmer months so I am fully stocked up on lemon oil (heart eye emoji)

My collection at the moment consists of lemon, orange, peppermint, coconut, lavender, cedarwood, strawberry, rose and tea tree. I use the tea tree and the lavender in an oil mix that I use for my hair, the lavender for the scent and because it is said to promote hair growth and I add the tea tree to nourish my roots. I also add coconut oil to my oil treatment quite simply because coconut oil is life lol

The other oils I have are mostly just because they are scents that I really like and I love people walking into my house to citrus scents. My sister had a cold recently as was burning peppermint in our house and since then I’ve been a little obsessed and have it burning (diluted with water) in my room all the time. I’ll be honest I’m not even sure what the peppermint oil is typically used for but it just smells amazing. Neal’s Yard Remedies has an amazing selection of essential oils which I had no idea about as I’d only used their skincare products before, they even have essential oil blends if you know exactly what it is you are looking for.

Mental health is being much more openly talked about now which I think is amazing and I think encourages more people to seek help. If you don’t know what works for you and need assistance there are a ton of resources online, including helplines if you need to speak to someone.

This post is in collaboration with Neal’s Yard Remedies but all the opinions and experience with oils and activities that help me relax and get out of my own head are my own,

 

Navabi- A new brand to me

Hey folks, me again!

This week I have been wearing an item from a brand that I didn’t even know carried my size, that brand is Navabi. I have heard a lot about them recently because everyone is wearing them but as far as i knew they only catered to smaller fats. so I was pleasantly surprised to find out they carry items up to a UK size 32.

Screenshot_20170510-142539Recently I haven’t been wearing many pretty dresses or really dressing up at all, Since the move out of London I have been adorning my body in much more casual pieces, things that suit my activities. I have been try to get out and get moving more and more so I have been looking for a lot more causal longline items that I can wear with leggings and running shoes and still shows that I love fashion and this piece is perfect.

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I chose this top by Yoek on Navabi because I like the nautical stripes and unlike most nautical pieces like this the stripes are in black and white instead of the traditional navy blue.20170425_130441

Its such a simple piece and so easy to wear, it is absolutely perfect for what I was looking for, it is marketed as a dress but with my body shape I knew it would come up short on me and I love that. It’s long enough to cover everything I want to cover when I’m focusing on getting my steps in and that’s the level of comfort i was after and its cute as hell.

Navabi really felt a little like a dark horse brand when I was browsing their site, so much to offer and sadly I was missing out all this time. It’s definitely a brand I would say to keep an eye on, I certainly will be,

This item was kindly gifted to me, It was chosen by me and all opinions here are my own,

 

Make working out more fun with fashion

As the weather has started to improve I have been making more of a effort to get out and walk more.

I know it sounds silly but one thing that makes me a little more interested in doing more exercise is having cute workout clothes and to honest anything that makes me want to do more can only be a positive. I personally need to increase my daily activities since I was diagnosed with asthma.

When I am taking walks, whether its just me or with the dogs, around my local area I still like to look nice, I’m new to the area so it’s nice to get out and see the lay of the land.

When I’m getting ready to go for a walk I always grab a pair of black leggings and an oversized tee.  Because I have plantar fasciitis, the footwear I choose is the most important part, the last couple of years I have been sticking to New Balance and I’m on my third pair because they are so comfortable but I recently realised that I haven’t tried any other brands that claim to be good and supportive walking/running shoes. Skate Hut

I recently got myself a pair of Nike Roshe runs and they are absolutely fantastic! just like the new balance I find they don’t aggravate the plantar fasciitis and they are definitely more my style than the new balance. Not only that but I find that the nikes are a little more supportive and don’t put any strain on my ankle.

20150124_105512 20150201_130046These are the new balance that I wear most often when I know I will be walking a lot.

20170504_142623These are my brand new Nike Roshe runs that I’m adoring at the moment and are my go to shoe when walking any distance and so far they have served me well.

When you’re my size and wanting to work out I would say footwear might just be the most important element when looking at sportswear.

All items in the post have been paid for by me and all opinions are my own, post in is collaboration with Skate Hut.

Breast embrace with Elomi

So if you have been reading my blog or following my social media and haven’t noticed …I have a pretty large bust and I’m always looking for good bras to give me the support I need. Finding a brand that caters to my 46K bust and also caters to my budget isn’t easy.

A few brands offer option in  very large sizes but they are often not very pretty bras and/or they are soft cup and I prefer a good amount of scaffolding to support the girls.

I have tried an Elomi bra before and I absolutely love it, I have to wear a bra extender on all the bras I wear because I like wearing cute bras.

The two bras I am showing you are in a 42K and I wear one stretch extender. I love these bras because they are literally like a boobie cuddle, I have had so many bras that my breast does not sit comfortably in, giving the appearance of quad boobs and all round excess spillage.

The Caitlyn

I find the Caitlyn to be a great every day bra, it offers me great support and the soft wide straps add an extra level of comfort

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The Carmen

The Carmen is absolutely gorgeous! this one has a mocha detailing which matches my skin tone and makes me look a little bit naked (which I love lol). I don’t have any other bras like this one so its one of my new special bras that I wouldn’t wear on a normal day. It’s also a little lower cut in the bust and gives great cleavage in tops.IMG_20170428_161613

 

This post is in collab with Elomi Lingerie, a brand that can handle my whoppers and I’m oh so grateful.

My big busted sisters…where do you get your bras from, any suggestions as to where I can get some cute large bras? please comment below

Bidvine has something for everyone.

It’s not very often that I am pointed in the direction of a non fashion site and I instantly fall in love with it, however this is exactly what happened with the website I am about to tell you about but I want to say first that these opinions are MY OWN and all the gushing to follow is for real!

Bidvine is a website that offer a huge ( and I mean HUGE) range of professional services. They offer people looking for a particular service a range of service providers so you can find the match that works best for you. Have  a little look at the How it works page where it explains much better than I can.

As far as the range of services I honestly don’t even know where to start so I’m going to talk a little bit about the services I would and will be using on the site. I have moved to a new city four months ago so a lot of my focus has been on getting the house sorted and making it look pretty so as soon as I went on the site the first thing I looked for was gardening services and fence repair as I have two small dogs and one of the little beasts keep escaping and I have tried and failed at a makeshift repair using chicken wire haha don’t ask? being new here I don’t know where to look to find someone specifically for the job I need and that is the main reason I feel like I found Bidvine at the perfect time.

I am living in a big rented house so I will be having  a six month landlord inspection of the property and I want the garden to be as neat as when I moved in so I will be using Bidvine to get someone out to cut the grass and make the garden  look presentable for that but the weather is starting to get so nice I’m thinking of a good time to organise a BBQ or something drunken and outdoorsy at my house because I’m lucky enough to have a large garden, so again a nice neat lawn will be perfect. I have no grass cutting equipment and not a green finger in sight so Bidvine here I come.

There are so many other useful services from health and beauty, fitness,  nutrition and yoga to learning services like languages and musical instruments, its amazing!

For all my bloggers out the reading this they also have photographers local for blog shots and people to take pics for portfolios for any of the wannabe plus size models. I will personally be using the site to make contact with people who can help me get the house the way I want it but there is so much on offer I can’t stop browsing (if my next blog post is written in Spanish you’ll know who to blame lol)

 

*this post is in collaboration with Bidvine but again all the excitement is my own and I love love the how useful the site is and will 100% be using it this summer.