Fatshion Faceoff - Patterned Skirt (No Stripes)

Patterned Skirt (No Stripes)

This weeks Fatshion Faceoff is a patterned skirt, now I have already shown my two patterned skirts in previous posts and I have been struggling to come up with a suitable alternative, my fabulous other half Marc suddenly remembered I had managed to pick up one of Goks skirts from Sainsburys in the sale recently for a bargainous £9 and it had been sat in a bag gathering dust as it was a little too small.

I decided to brave it and try it on again as I fluctuate so much and woohoo it fits at the moment, I decided to try to make it a bit more feminine and pretty with a sheer shirt, but think I might prefer to try it with a black top to see how it looks, I went for my fabulous Evans shoes which I will be reviewing later this week for you as the blue matched the blue area of the skirt so well.

A random one Marc took while I was getting into position, but it shows the colours of the skirt beautifully!

There is just something about a skirt with pockets that I just can't get enough of!

The skirt has some pale pint and cream areas so I think the shirt works ok with it but think I need to find a black or coloured top to go with it.

Excuse the DVD shelf behind, I had to put my table away so it was the next best place to get the photo 

These Evans shoes are an amazing colour and very comfortable but a full review will be on its way.

The heel hight is also pretty fab, and they aren't too thin so I do not feel like I am tottering in them, always a bonus.

I love a good patterned skirt, it allows me to feel bright and fun without overpowering the whole outfit.

Go and check out the other gorgeous ladies in there outfit posts as I bet they look fabulous!!

Dani: DIY Fatshion http://www.diyfatshion.com

Hanna: The Wardrobe Challenge http://www.thewardrobechallenge.co.uk

Mouna: Brussels Fatshion http://www.brusselsfatshion.com

Olivia: Wait Until The Sunset http://www.waituntilthesunset.com

Mhairi

xxx

Swan by Clements Ribeiro at Evans preview

The fabulous new Swan collection by Clements Ribeiro will be hitting Evans online from September first, so wanted to give my readers a little peek at whats coming.

I was offered the chance to go to the bloggers event with Evans last week, but due to my evil (expensive) dentist I was not able to attend on the day, the fabulous Carina sent me the link to the PR photos so I could still show you the up coming collection. 

I must admit I love many of the pieces but I am not sure I can carry them all off, but would be happy to give them a go!

001 - £95

002 - £125

003 - £75

004 - £15

005 - £65

006 - £65

007 - £??

008 - £75

009 - £115

010 - £95

001 - I love the mix of patterns in this dress, the beautiful spots with the floral detail is just so pretty, would like to try this, but think it might be massively too long for my 5'2" hight.

002 - I have always been confused but short sleeve coats, but I do love the look of this and maybe with chunky knits it could be a great transitional coat!

003 - Now this is the dress I have to get my hands on, I have been looking for the perfect plus size peplum dress, that isn't made of cheap thin jersey material for ages, and this looks like it could be a winner! I will keep you posted as to my luck in getting funds together for this little beauty.

004 - I love this belt, it is simple and will work with so many items in my wardrobe, it also comes in a black option if you need something more functional!

005 - Part of me completely loves this, the image is beautiful the monochrome is fabulous, but I worry I will look either old and frumpy or like im trying to be young and funky and not pulling off either, with a belt I might be able to pull it off, but then it will ruin the gorgeous image on the dress, hmm, I just don't know!

006 - This little monochrome number would be far easier to pull off and could easily work a belt to change the shape to suit me, possible an easier option.

007 - Couldn't see a price for this one, but the colour blocking is lovely, I like the vibrant colour on the waist!

008 - I love this colour and pattern, but again think it would be hard for me to wear, being a short arse!

009 - this little flapper dress is stunning, and is a must for all vintage fashion lovers, it is a beautiful modern take on the 20's

010 - I love the neckline on this, it looks like it will sit right on the edge of your shoulders, which can look so lovely.

So are you excited for the AW12 Swan range, did you love the SS12 collection or does it just not do it for you? 

Mhairi

xxx

Clothing at Tesco Giveaway - £25 Gift Voucher

As part of the Plus Size Panel I have been given a £25 Gift Voucher to give away to one of my fabulous readers, so I have set up a Rafflecopter thingamiedodah and if it works it should run until sunday for you to all enter.

You need to post a comment below with Enter Me and maybe letting me know what your favourite item from Clothing at Tesco is right now, you can take a look at the site HERE

you can get an extra entry by going over to my Facebook page and liking it, and again by tweeting about the giveaway.

I hope that all make sense, and good luck to you all.

Mhairi
xxx

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Swimwear Challenge - Eveden Fantasie Valetta Tankini and Briefs

For our final challenge the amazing team at Eveden offered us the chance to select swimwear from their ranges, if you are unfamiliar with the name Eveden, they encompass Freya, Fantasie, Fauve, Elomie, Huit and Goddess.

Now with our ample assets we are out of luck in the Huit and Fauve ranges but I can shop in the Freya, Fantasie, Goddess and Elomi Ranges with ease and I love all three, but as Elomi is well known in plus sizes and freya is a popular brand I decided to give something from the Fantasie side a whirl and I wasn't disappointed!

A Fantasie bra was the very first bra I was fitted correctly in about 9 years ago, I have always made sure I am in a correctly fitting bra as it means less back ache, better shape!

With bikinis and swimsuits I prefer one with an inbuilt bra as it helps keep my rather large assets under control, and it just gives me more comfort and support in general.

So onto the review the set I went for was the Valetta - Persian Blue Tankini £59 and the Fold down Briefs - £26.50

The colours are amazing, so vivid and cheerful! 

The cups fit well, but think I could have gotten away with a cup size down in this 38H as it is fairly generous!

Bra hook and eye fastening, which I find so much more secure than plastic bikini clasps!

 Fully adjustable straps, which are a must for my tiny short shoulders!

Fold down brief detail!

My thoughts

Appearance - The pattern of this tankini is bold and vibrant not really for some but for me I really loved it and I am not normally a flowery sort of girl (just realised I am typing this in a floral dress!) but it is so pretty and sunny it can't help but give it a good score here. 4/5

Fit - The overall fit is excellent, although I could go down a cup size it isn't obvious and it is not gaping all over, its just a feeling I have but the briefs and the body of the tankini have excellent space and I can fault them on that! 4/5

Comfort - superbly comfortable, for someone who isn't at the 100% body confidence stage I feel I would be happy to wear this at the beach or swimming pool. 5/5

Performance - I haven't been swimming in this one yet due to major crazy decoration sprees but it has been for a test in the shower and had the full giggle and bounce tests, and I have to say it held up beautifully! 5/5

Value - With the tankini coming in at £59 and the bottoms £26.50 this is at the top end of the majority of people budgets but in comparison to the other suits I have tried during this challenge, the material thickness and the bra shape and support have been outstanding in this suit so I feel you are getting what you pay for, though the high, high cost is going to mean a lower score in this.  2.5/5

Coverage -  The coverage was excellent, the cups encompassed my breasts with no spillage and the tankini was a good length on me. 5/5

This has been my favourite from the whole challenge with the Evans swimsuit coming in second and the Panache from Tesco last, I am hoping to visit a lovely spa with my best friend soon so will be taking this little beauty with me for the day!

We hope this series has helped some of you ladies to find something suitable for your holidays and swim sessions.

If you want to look back at the other swimwear challenges you can click the links below

TESCO - EVANS 

Also go check out the other fabulous ladies in there swimwear Becky - Gina - Sara

Thank you Becky for inviting me to take part in this, it has been fabulous and challenging! 

Mhairi

xxx

Out of curiosity, do my Lingerie and Swimwear type post appeal to you, I am hoping to add a couple of new fantasie sets to my collection in september/october and if they are of interest I will happily post about them here for you.
the two I am looking at are 

Susanna - this antique gold set makes me so happy, its just so pretty, I have been obsessing about it since the press day.

Nicola - this lovely seal set is just so pretty!

So would you like to see them reviewed if I ever get my hands on them, finances permitting!

Fatshion Faceoff - Denim Skirt

Denim Skirt

Another week, another fabulous Fatshion Faceoff post, if you are new to the blog, every week on wednesday myself and five other gorgeous ladies from around the globe pick an item of clothing which we all have and style it in our own individual ways.

This week it was the choice of hanna, who went with a denim skirt.

Now I haven't bought a denim skirt in years, but I had a very old maxi one, thrown into the back of the airing cupboard, which is getting a bit tight, but for this weeks purposes worked out pretty well, as it was fairly overcast and breezy today, I went for a light weigh shirt but one that has sleeves for a bit more coverage and It is a nice casual, relaxed look which is great for running errands and laid back days.

Please excuse the closed eyes, I was having one of those moments and every picture had closed eyes!

The skirt is a very old next one and the shirt was from the recent Simply Be sale.

I also wore my fabulous Funk & Finery cuff

I need to find myself a new denim skirt, it is really comfy, but want one that fits a little better. 

How do you wear a denim skirt, do you like a maxi or a mini?

Check out the posts from the other gorgeous ladies!

 Dani: DIY Fatshion http://www.diyfatshion.com

Hanna: The Wardrobe Challenge http://www.thewardrobechallenge.co.uk

                                       LuAnne: Weesha's World http://www.iamweesha.com

Mouna: Brussels Fatshion http://www.brusselsfatshion.com

Olivia: Wait Until The Sunset http://www.waituntilthesunset.com

Mhairi

xxx

Boux Avenue Review

Brodie Embroidered Full Support Balconette Bra and Thong set.

Recently I was approached by the lovely PR company who deal with Boux Avenue and asked if I would like to try a set from them for review, I said yes as Lingerie is something I love!

I firmly stand by my belief that good, well fitting underwear can make a huge difference to every woman confidence, I have a very large bust being somewhere around a 36/38H depending on style and I need well made supportive bras to keep these ladies in check.

My choice was the Brodie Balconette Bra and Thong in red, as it is nice to have some colour options in my collection to make teaming with outfits better.

It arrived packaged in a lovely pink and Black Boux Avenue box.

 Beautiful pink tissue paper!

 Pretty smelling petals which made me sneeze :) 

Now as you can see this bra provides a lot of coverage so it isn't great for plunging styles but It gives me a nice shape from the side and front so will be fantastic under higher neck tops and dresses, I went for the 38H and the cup is a tiny bit loose in places but i think as it fits smoothly in parts of the top of the cup, had I gone down a cup size I would have had the dreaded quad boob instead which just isnt a good look!

It is hard to tell from this photo but the cup from the strap to the middle is smooth and comfortable but there is loose material near the central gore. I am going to visit a store and try the GG cup to see if it makes a difference but I am not hopeful but under clothing this looks totally fine and cant be seen.

I wasn't sure about the material at first, as it feels a little scratchy under my fingers but on my skin when wearing the bra I didn't notice this at all and found it very comfortable.

The colour is just beautiful, and very vibrant, such a lovely change from the staple black, white and nudes I tend to go for.

The embroidery is very pretty!

One of the biggest pluses for me with this bra is the fully adjustable straps, I have very short shoulders so if a bra only has half adjustable straps the constantly fall down on me!

They also have a little bit of embroidery down the edges of the straps which is great for stopping them slipping and lengthening throughout the day when wearing.

All in all I can highly recommend this bra and found the online ordering process simple and easy to follow, the package arrived quickly, with no fuss.

It can be purchased in sizes 30-38 D-H.

The have bras starting from a 30A and up to a 40H with a handy shop by size option that stops you needing to trawl through all the styles to find if the stock your size. 

Thank you again to Sian for the opportunity to try this, I will certainly be ordering another bra to add to my collection. 

Take a look at the options available as there are some very beautiful options. x

Mhairi 

xxx

Disclaimer:- This set was given to me for review, I have not been paid to give a positive review and it is all my own opinions and words.

Fatshion Faceoff - Neon Accessory

Neon Accessory 

THis weeks Fatshion Faceoff has been chosen by the gorgeous LuAnne of Weesha's World.

Neon is not something I would normally wear even as an accessory it just scares me a little bit, I was tempted to entertain your all and change my dads tyre in one of his fluorescent vests and do a bit of roadside chic! but instead I popped out to the shops and looked for something in neon that didn't terrify me too much, there was so much tut in the shops it was scary but in the end I settled for a simply neon yellow necklace from Accessorize which set me back a whopping £1 and a bag and a clutch bag form Newlook in the sale for £8.

I am surprised to say that I would use both of these items again, I think the bag could be fab for jazzing up a plain office outfit with a little dazzle of colour!  The necklace is so simply that even though it is so bright it could go with lots of my clothing.

My phone can't pick up the main colour very well in this image but it isn't as grey as it looks its more stone I cant find this one in this colour online, but they have a black and pink version which is still full price available HERE

I teamed it with my trusty Newlook blue dress from last winter as it was a bit chilly out there and my heeled shoes for a night out!

The pink is looking really washed out in the screen but it is very bright just like the picture above!

So how brave are you, do you love neon and wear it often, accessorise are a good way of trying new trends without committing to expensive statement pieces that might frighten you into not wearing them at all!

Go check out the other wonderful ladies this week and see how their takes on Neon worked out!

Dani: DIY Fatshion http://www.diyfatshion.com

Hanna: The Wardrobe Challenge http://www.thewardrobechallenge.co.uk

LuAnne: Weesha's World http://www.iamweesha.com

Mouna: Brussels Fatshion http://www.brusselsfatshion.com

Olivia: Wait Until The Sunset http://www.waituntilthesunset.com

Mhairi

xxx

Lifestyle - Garden Dreams

We moved into our house nearly 2 years ago, and decoration and garden have ground to a halt recently, I am finding it really hard to make this house a home, and still do not feel settled.

I want to do some work on the garden as to be honest it a a right mess, and I hate going out there at the moment, because budget is so tight I have been looking at Pinterest a lot recently for some inspiration, I love DIY projects especially if I get to have some fun and be creative so Pinterest as become a bit of an obsession for me :)

One of our biggest problems has been the Grass area as with 3 dogs and my parents two visiting to be honest it has been trashed! we did build a fence to keep them off during the winter and when its wet to try and save it, but with a pup who is half collie and can jump seriously high, the fence didn't bother him in the least, so I have been figuring out a way to make it more practical up there without it being a concrete car park look.

Paving is the easiest option as obviously it can be hosed off and not dug up, but it is just so bland as we already have a large paved patio area.

This image I found  is brilliant and I am so tempted to give it a go as it is so pretty!

This means I still get a bit of grass but in smaller areas which will make patching and repairing easier if the dogs do go nuts. 

I suppose I could also use the fake grass you can get on the roll but there is nothing like real grass!

This next image I found is of concrete stained with acid, which is out of my price range, but omg it is so so pretty!!!

It really is just beautiful!

I have also been looking at lighting to make the garden more personal and cosy, we want to build a covered trellis area over the patio to give us a sheltered sitting area, that can be covered over with lovely climbing plants.

I like this next idea, they are bathroom globe light fittings with fairy light strands stuffed inside, it looks so good, I am scouring charity shops and ebay for cheap ones!

I think these would work great under the trellis in amongst post and in planters.

For the trellis I want Wisteria, I am hoping to find a good quality plant and want it to look amazing, but think I will mix in some chocolate vine for good measure as it covers beautifully! so long as it wouldn't strangle the wisteria, I also love clematis. 

Something like this! 

I do tend to buy plants from places like B&Q and local garden centres but for those who don't have one near or live by the internet, Crocus are amazing for plants online, I have a huge mental shopping list of plants from them!

This is Chocolate Vine, it has beautiful vibrant green foliage and stunning dark red flowers in spring.

One thing I really want in my garden is a greenhouse, but I want to make my own just like this :) 

This can be seen on the fabulous blog Junk Market Style 

Pinterest is amazing for DIY projects so go take a look my boards are filling up with them all, I have a lighting project to try out but I will save it for another time and show you how I get on. 

What are your garden dreams are there any things that catch your eye and make you long for summer days in the sunshine?

All the images can be seen on my boards and will take you to any linked posts from there. 

Mhairi 

Fatshion Faceoff - Pencil Skirt

Pencil Skirt

This Weeks Fatshion Faceoff challenge is Pencil Skirts, I am still to find my perfect pencil skirt, I want one that is fitted but not rigid, allows me to move and has a little stretch, but I am yet to find one, I want to try something from Mode Merr as they always look stunning, but until then, my only one is this Black Evans on, which I have had for a few years now, it has been a good staple in my wardrobe and gets whipped out for lots of occasions.

Today I teamed it with my mint cardigan and mint shoes, both from New Look I would love the shoes to be slightly nearer to the cardi or the cardi slightly nearer to the shoes in colour, but it was too bad a match.

My cardigan is of the batwing variety and doesn't sit as well as I would like, so I am going to hunt out a gorgeous fitted Mint green cardigan to wear with pencil skirts as I do like a bit of the sexy librarian look :)

Go take a peek at the other fabulous Fatshion Faceoff ladies this week, I know they will look amazing!

Dani: DIY Fatshion http://www.diyfatshion.com

Hanna: The Wardrobe Challenge http://www.thewardrobechallenge.co.uk

LuAnne: Weesha's World http://www.iamweesha.com

Mouna: Brussels Fatshion http://www.brusselsfatshion.com

Olivia: Wait Until The Sunset http://www.waituntilthesunset.com

Mhairi 

xxx

Clothing at Tescos - Plus Size Panel

Whilst at plus north we had a fantastic talk by Kim from Tesco who told us that they have taken on a new buyer for the Plus size range, and asked us to contact them if we were interested in taking part in the plus size panel.

I have been lucky enough to be involved this time and have been sent a selection of images to show my readers of the A/W range which will be coming into stores and online from this week onwards and have been asked to get some feedback from you to let them know what the reaction to the new stock is.

This is my favourite overall look from the images sent over, it appeals to my relaxed, laid back nature.

Coat - £30

Top - £14

Jeans - £14

They have some gorgeous coloured denim in the range, and I like the above shrug as it is simple and fairly easy to integrate into my wardrobe.

Stud Jacket - £16

Jeans - £14

This tunic is a bit bland for me, but it is a nice looking item and will appeal to other women.

Tunic - £14

Jeans - £14

Again I am loving the coloured denim, and the beautiful colours in the top.

Jacket - £22

Top - £12

Jeans - £14

This top is more to my taste, but I wish it had a little more shape!

Tunic - £14

Jeans - £14

I want to love this dress but the image makes me hate it.

Ponte Lace Dress - £18

I hope not to offend Tesco with my thoughts on the images and clothing as I love Clothing at Tesco as a general rule and some of the items are really nice but they are still missing something for me, I am plus size and I love shape and nipped in waists as much now as I did at a much smaller size than I am now, I love a comfy T-shirt at times too, but not all the time.

The range is more fashion forward than it has been in the past, but I still want more I want what I saw from the straight range but in the plus sizes, I want the glitz and glam, heritage looks, please :) 

The Ponte Lace Dress for me, could be perfect but again the choice of model used is really putting me off, I don't deny she is utterly stunning and in the straight size range would be a welcome change, but on the last image the dress is easily 2/3 sizes too big for her, she is not the target size for  the True range which still makes no sense to me in an advertising campaign!

There are plenty of women from a size 16 to a 26 who work as models who would fill this dress in the way it should be worn and make it look amazing, even if they had pinned the dress to make it look its best would have helped.

I have tried to answer the questions below in my post but please take the time to read them and give me your thoughts in the comments section, Tesco do want our feedback and this is a rare thing, so lets do what we can to keep this kind of communication going and maybe we can see even more positive steps forward in the future.

 What do you think of the range in general, and which looks/items are your favourite.

Do you and your reader feel inspired by these pieces - would they encourage you to look at Clothing at Tesco online or in store?

Do you think this collection is more fashionable and trendy than previous Clothing at Tesco ranges or other Plus Size collections

Tescos have the True Range which comes in sizes 16-28 and also now Ann Harvey which stock a size 16-32 go take a look, and keep an eye out for the new items coming in.

Mhairi

xxx

Fatshion Faceoff - Sunglasses and Sandals with a hint of swimwear

Sunglasses and Sandals with a hint of Swimwear

Fatshion Faceoff is here again, if you do not already know, each week we select an item of clothing we all have (Blue Jeans, stripped skirt ect) and we each style that item in our own way.

After the sad loss of molly from the team, who I hope one day will have enough time to rejoin us, this week we are being joined by the fabulous LuAnne of Weesha's World, when I found this out it got all nervous and excited as she is bloody fabulous and one of my earliest blog finds, I have been loving her style for so long now, she is going to kick my butt in the style stakes every week, but I hope I learn lots from her.

This weeks challenge is sunglasses and sandals, but as I couldn't take part in last weeks posts due to some amazingly bad mosquito bites I am combing this week with last weeks swimwear post.

Sandals - New Look Wide Fit

Sunglasses - Accessorize (Couple of seasons ago)

Scarf as sarong - Butterfly Park

I realised as I went to do this post I have no sexy sandals I must remedy this, I adore these ones but they do not scream sexy summer to me, they are practical and incredibly comfy though!

Our Garden Swing is my usual sunbathing spot, it is my next project as it needs repainting, but its so lovely to lay on and read a good book!

Swimsuit - Evans (reviewed)

I feel very comfy in this and could happily sunbath at the beach in it, this scarf is amazing, I find so many uses for it :) 

Pop over and check out how the other girls have styled this weeks challenge!

Dani: DIY Fatshion http://www.diyfatshion.com

Hanna: The Wardrobe Challenge http://www.thewardrobechallenge.co.uk

LuAnne: Weesha's World http://www.weeshasworld.com 

Mhairi: Lilybobombs Lovely Lumps http://www.lilybobombslovelylumps.com 

Mouna: Brussels Fatshion http://www.brusselsfatshion.com

Olivia: Wait Until The Sunset http://www.waituntilthesunset.com