Dressing for my Fibromyalgia part 2

So as you know from my previous post HERE I am having to change the way I dress to suit my abilities at the moment, I have also now had to come off my medication and go am going to be going onto something new soon so I am in near constant pain at the moment and my hands are really not working so buttons and zips are being avoided like the plague!

I recently got myself some new Jeggings from Dorothy Perkins and have been having a nightmare finding something long enough to wear with them has been a bit of a nightmare. I have also been on the look out for something light enough to wear in the evenings over the summer when it cools down a bit and this jumper that Simply Be kindly sent me to try has been brilliant, it is pretty, lightweight and so easy to pop on over a vest when I get a bit chilly in the evening. I think it will still be a bit too hot for the hight of summer even in the evenings but it will see me through into autumn and winter too.

Jacket C/O Simply Be

Jumper C/O Simply Be

Jeggings  - Dorothy Perkins

Boots C/O Fashion World

These were taken a few weeks a couple of weeks ago while it was still cool and rainy.

Look how pretty the lace shoulders are, I love it!

I am now on the hunt for a perfect longline vest top to wear with them which is proving difficult, they are all either so long it looks like a dress, or just a bit too short! I like them to come to mid thigh-ish

Do you have a go to top or jacket to pop on to keep warm in the evening? 

Mhairi

xxx

Endless Summer By IGIGI

IGIGI always have dresses that take my breath away and I have worn them for many special occasions and always feel beautiful in them. This summers collection is no exception, there are so many stunning dresses and separates that I just sit looking through the website ooohhhing and aahhhhing none stop! When IGIGI agreed to send me a beautiful dress for review I was very excited to chose.

Being on the short side and fat I am supposed to follow all the rules, no all over patterns, no maxis and all that, but do you know what, Sod that!!! I wear whatever I feel good in, and a patterned maxi is exactly what I have been wanting.

A few caught my eye

Naples

Christina

Letta

They are all perfect and if I had some fabulous summer parties or weddings to attend I would be on these like a flash but I really needed something more casual and every day. I want something I can slip on to go for lunch, for a walk in the park or to do the shopping but that can be dressed up for a night out with my husband when we manage it.

I chose the stunning Tiana Maxi, It has print its a maxi and its bloody gorgeous! IGIGI dresses are usually too long for me, by quite a bit but this one isn't too bad, I had it on with my flatforms and although it was a little long I could wear it without dragging it around in the dirt, might just have a tiny bit taken off so I can wear it with sandals in the summer. 

The dress is so pretty and I love how it moves! It looks lovely with a denim jacket too.

Excuse my very puffy face in this picture my medication has been doing funny things with my face, I am asking to change to a new one as it is making me feel horrid!

It even has pockets which in my book just makes a dress even more awesome! 

IGIGI might be at the upper end of my price range but I have to say I am never disappointed with the quality of the items I try! the lengths can be a frustration but I have had a few things taken up so they work better for me and I don't mind doing that for clothing I truly love.

Mhairi

xxx

*This dress was provided for me free of charge for review but all opinions and words are my own.

Dressing for my Fibromyalgia

Firbromyalgia has ruled my life for the last year and for most of that time I had no clue what was causing me so much constant pain. It has affected my hands and feet quite seriously and has made some items of clothing nearly impossible for me to wear without help to dress which at 33 years old quite honestly sucks!

Buttons have become my nightmare my hands just won't work well enough to do them up easily so I have begun to avoid half my wardrobe! Simply be recently sent me a few bits to try out for the summer, and I decided to focus on clothing suitable for my hands that wouldn't leave me stressed and a gibbering wreck.

My first outfit features a beautiful and simple top which I am dying to buy a new skirt to wear it with but today I teamed it with my gorgeous floral trousers from Very.

Crochet Sleeve Top C/O Simply Be

Trousers - Very (previous season)

Pink Brogues - Clarks (previous season)

This top is so simple to wear, no buttons or clasps not even a zip! Perfect for me to throw on without stressing and struggling. It also comes in a coral colour that is just perfect too, I would love to see it in back or purple colours I would live in them! 

I ordered this in a size 22 as I knew it would have no stretch and it is pretty spot on, any bigger and it wouldn't have worked for me. 

I have another outfit I put together for you which I will post on sunday most likely as I have a BBQ to go to tomorrow night. looking forward to a night out!

For all you readers out there who suffer from chronic pain, do you have any advice on clothing that works well for you. 

Mhairi

xxx

*Top provided for review free of charge, all words and opinions are my own. 

Bonmarche - Paisley Print Maxi

I was contacted quite a while ago and asked if I would like to pick something from Bonmarche, it is a brand I am aware of as my mum buys her work trousers from them, but I had never really looked for myself. I hopped online to take a look and was very pleasantly surprised, they really do offer some gorgeous pieces, the stores don't seem to carry as much of the younger pieces and its a shame as the selection online is fantastic.

I am currently in love with two of the David Emanuel Dresses

Zig Zag Dress

I love the zig zag stripes of this one, I would like to try the longer length in this one as I like my dresses floor length, the standard as you will see came up fairly short on my and I am only 5'2".

Textured Colour Block Dress

If you like a body con dress this one is gorgeous, the texture of it is lovely and monochrome is always a hit!

I chose the Paisley knot front maxi dress, the gorgeous pattern and colours drew me to it instantly, I don't shy away from pattern and this one is fab.

Dress - C/O Bonmarche // Cardigan - Simply Be  // Bag - Just Fab // Shoes - Clarks

It was a chilly evening so I slipped it on with my fluffy knit Cardigan and went out with my new bag from Just fab. You can't really tell from the photo but the dress shows about an inch of ankle which is not what I would usually go for but it is long enough that I can wear it, next time I will just go for the long length and shorten slightly if needed.

This is my pretty bag I purchaced from Just Fab, I will give you more details about this in another post soon. 

Take a look at Bonmarche! I am converted their are a few items on my wish list now.

The Dresses are fabulous so head on over HERE and take a look.

Mhairi

xxx

Disclaimer: The dress was given free of charge for review purposes, all views are my own.

What to Wear to Work with Fashion World

I firstly want to apologise to Fashion World and my readers for taking so long to get this blog post together, I have been very unwell recently, trying to adjust to new medication, and just trying to function, after finally being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, hopefully I will be here now more regularly that I am functioning slightly better.

Office wear is something I hate buying! I rarely work in a job that requires me to wear suit anymore and I find office smart/casual impossible to balance most of the time. I always seem to swing to far one way or the other. 

I have recently been working for my local county council on a part time basis, and the dress code was office smart/casual! I found that people seemed to dress in a huge variation of styles of dress around to offices, some were super smart and some far too casual for my taste.

When Fashion world offered to let me pick an outfit for the office I was very excited, it was a chance for me to see if I could pull off the elusive smart/casual mix!

These are the items I chose

Doctors Bag

This bag is really lovely, it is smart without looking too dressy, which is fabulous!

Colour Block Boyfriend Cardigan

I love this cardigan and it is perfect for work with smart trousers as much as it with jeans.

Tile Print Dress

I went for a printed dress in monochrome as I just seem to love the look, it comes in 3 lengths which is brilliant for all the short and tall girls

So how did it all work out?

I love this dress, it fits beautifully, love the tile print pattern and it is going to be brilliant for the Spring and summer, this is how I have been wearing it recently, for work I would normally wear it with tights, but I had just ripped a massive hole in my last pair so this is it teamed with my leggings. 

I am wearing it with my Fluffy Cardigan which you can also get through Fashion World as I prefer the look of it with the black cardigan over all. It doesnt look bad with the Cardigan and I adore the cardigan I just love it with my trousers for work more.

Here is the dress with the Cardigan and the Bag, it looks lovely but just not perfect for me, I do highly recommend it though as I live in it both at work and at home with various other outfits.

Head over to the Fashion World Work Wear Promotion HERE, they have picked out some gorgeous outfit choices for the office and shop all the work wear options HERE

I am loving there blazers and may need to get one for the spring as they can be an ideal alternative to a coat as the weather improves.

Do you have a work wear staple, one you find pulls all your outfits together, let me know. 

Mhairi

xxx

Scarlett & Jo

Scarlett and Jo have been on my radar for a while now, I haven't had much chance to try them out as none of my local stores stock the range, so when they invited me to try out one of their new dresses I was incredibly excited.

I was sent the gorgeous Floral Print Asymmetric 2 Piece Midi Dress, It is a little bit too big for me so doesn't completely work, but I am going to have a play with it and see if I can make it work with a thick belt and accessories, I will post this looks at a later date for you.

The dress is still gorgeous and I will find a way to make it work for me, but I wanted you to see it as it is now so you can see how to make it work.

Dress c/o Scarlett & Jo buy it HERE

Scarlett and Jo really have some stunning items at the moment and they recently posted their new 1940's dresses on Facebook which I am desperate to get my hands on.

Image source

They also have this amazing dress out at the moment which is divine!

Find it HERE

I have seen a few images floating about of there new spring romance range and their is a maxi dress on its way that I am going to obsess over completely as soon as I can get a decent image of it I will let you see.

Scarlett & Jo offer beautiful quality stunning dresses get your hands on something you won't be dissapointed!

Dresolution with Marisota

I was approached quite a while ago now to take part in the Marisota Dressolution challenge, due to items not being quite right size wise and then my camera breaking again, I have taken a while to get this post up and running.

Marisota challenged us to make a change to our wardrobes this year and make a Dressolution, mine is to master casual chic, I have two outfits to show you but I am putting them in 2 posts this being the first.

I asked for three items to be sent out to me, these were the Floral Print Skater Dress, Floral Print Dress and the Biker Parker Jacket

The first item I have to show you is the Floral Print Dress

Spring is hopefully not to far away, we have had a crazily wet winter here in the UK and it is taking its toll on my mental health I love winter, but i like it to be clear and bright so i still get some sunlight.

This dress makes me think of spring, but it is still fabulous not slipped on with some leggings and layered up with a cardigan.

I have this dress in the tartan version as well and it is perfection, as is this floral version, it has little pockets  which are always a bonus on a dress and the blue is gorgeous, I teamed it with some ankle boots and bare legs, which is how I intend to wear it come spring.

I highly recommend this dress, and at only £35 it is perfection for your wardrobe.

Take a look at whats new at Marisota HERE

What is your Dressolution, more colour, tackling trousers, more dresses or something completely different, let me know. 

Mhairi

xxxx

Taking Shape

A while ago I was approached to review an item form a brand new to the UK, Taking Shape. Origionally an Austrailian Brand, Taking shape are now in the UK as an online and high street presence.

They offer a huge variety of clothing for women in sizes 14-26. I am very excited to head to peterborough and check out one of their stores, as plus sizes on the high street are dwindling so something new is fabulous.

I asked for the Queenie Tunic to be sent to me, I have been trying to get my casual wardrobe to be a little more fabulous, everything in my current collection seems to either be super dressy or scruffy, I want to look fabulous all the time!

It comes in this very beautiful purple colour and the gorgeous green which is the one I went for, I would say that the sizes come up quite large.

The tunic is very relaxed but feels beautiful, it is a fairly thin material so ideal for the transition between seasons. 

Taking shape offer some very beautiful items and is well worth a look, head on over to the website HERE 

Do you aim for casual chic? do you hit it or miss it like I usually do.

Mhairi

xxx

Fatshion Faceoff - Lane Bryant

Hello to my lovely Fatshion Faceoff readers.

We have a special one off post for you this week, the lovely people at Lane Bryant recently sent each of us a beautiful dress for each of us wear our way.

Lane Bryant is a very well known US based plus size clothing brand, the focus on fashion and the fit of there clothing and I love so much of what they carry.

The dress which we received was the Plus Size Skater Sweater Dress.

Plus Size Sweater Dress 

The dress is made in a gorgeous soft knit, which feels beautiful on. I can be a bit fussy about knitted items as I can only touch some types of wool without totally freaking out.

I asked for the dress in size 18/20 and it is pretty generous so think I could have gotten away with a size down, but it doesn't hang badly or look too over sized so I am happy either way.

Being a simple monochrome colour way, I can see me popping this on over the winter with a coloured blazer, I  have worn it quite casually today with my knee high boots and leggings but I think it could look just as nice with tights, heels and a blazer for a dinner date with Marc.

So here are my pictures, for some reason they came out with a slight pink tint and it was rather wet and chilly at the time so I may not look my best.

I feel very relaxed and comfortable in this dress, it will become one of my winter wardrobe staples I think.

It has a very lovely exposed gold zip at the back which helps to stop the dress from being too casual.

You can see in the photo that my hair has changed again it is now black on top and green/blue under, this was to make the upkeep more manageable as my natural hair colour is so dark.

Head on over to Lane Bryant and take a look around they have so many fabulous items, there shoe collections are amazing and they offer shipping internationally.

The other gorgeous FF ladies have their posts live now too so head on over and check them out!

Hanna The Wardrobe Challenge (UK)

Olivia Wait Until the Sunset (Australia)

Mouna Brussels Fatshion (Belgium)

Dani http://www.diyfatshion.com/(USA)

Fatshion Faceoff - Shoe boots

So so sorry this is late posting I have pictures for the next 6 or 7 post for Fatshion Faceoff and had planned on spending my morning writing this post while Josh worked through his English worksheets, unfortunately we ended up without electricity for 5 hours so took our work into town for a hot drink.

This weeks post is Shoe boots, something that I have a slight love of.

Mine that I am wearing in this post are from Simply Be and can be found HERE.

I fell in love with them as soon as I saw them, they remind me of similar boots I had in my teens when I was a bit goth.

I wore them with my Tartan Skater Dress from Pink Clove and plain black tights.

The thick heel makes them so simply to walk in and I love the cut out sides, I cant wait to were them with coloured tights in the winter.

Check out the other gorgeous ladies 

Hanna The Wardrobe Challenge (UK)
Olivia Wait Until the Sunset (Australia)
Mouna Brussels Fatshion (Belgium)
Dani http://www.diyfatshion.com/(USA)

Mhairi

xxx

Curvissa Autumn Advert - My favourites

Curvissa

Curvissa have just launched there new A/W13 TV advert and I wanted to share it with you guys here.

I have the stills of each outfit showcased and I have fallen in love with quite a bit of it.

I love the longline jumper in the centre image, it is very me, I love winter and love to wrap up warm. Her boots are also amazing! They come in a stunning red colour which I am obsessing over.

The parka is currently only in stock in one of the colours, I am hoping that it comes back in the blue colour as, this would be the perfect coat for me through autumn.

Jumper // Boots // Parka

I love the 50's inspired dress on the right, I have been looking at it for months, and have come close to ordering it a number of times already.

I also love the fabulous converse trainers in the middle image, Curvissa stock some excellent brands.

50's Dress // Converse

Outdoor walks are a favourite pass time in our house, in the advert I love the classic trench coat, it is an excellent staple for your wardrobe, it is so versatile for the cooler Autumn and spring months. 

The Accessories in this section really caught my eye, the gorgeous bag and the tan ankle boots are gorgeous, as well as the fabulous red boots.

Trench coat // Boots // Bag

Party season is nearly upon us once again, finding that perfect outfit can be a nightmare and Curvissa have chosen some lovely looks to showcase.

I love the mod feel of the Circle print dress on the left, it is so simple yet fun.

The centre dress is also gorgeous, I am not usually a fan of exposed shoulders but I love the print so much I think I can forgive it. and the shoes worn on the left are perfect!

Circle Dress // Split Sleeved Dress // Shoes

You can shop the advert HERE by selecting the occasion at the top.

I also have some fabulous behind the scene pictures from the shoot

Dash is such a cutie and it looks like he wowed the models too.

Here is the beautiful Vikki in hair and make up.

The lovely Rosie of A Rose Like This and Betty Pamper also spent the day behind the scenes watching the adverts being made and had a fabulous day.

Here is the transcript or the interviews from both Rosie and Betty.

Rosie

- Have you been to a TV shoot before?
I've been on shoots in the past but not for ones on such a grand scale as this. Normally I've been put in a little room and we all work within that but being in a large studio seeing all the goings on was a lovely change and something I greatly enjoyed!
- Was the shoot what you expected?
As I have an idea of what happens on a shoot I was aware how busy they can get and how warm it gets for the poor models under all the lighting particularly when you're working ahead and pretending its winter in the middle of summer! Everyone was so friendly and welcoming to chat to us about blogging or what was happening on the set that was something I didn't expect to feel so involved but it was wonderful!
- Which was your favourite outfit and why?
It's so hard to choose just ONE! But I loved the black and white three quarter sleeved dress (Sorry I don't know the name of it!) I think it was worn by Laura the model and she looked fabulous in it!
- What was your favourite part of the day?
This had to be meeting some of the lovely Curvissa team and the models. Seeing what went into the advert and meeting the adorable Jack Russell Dash! Oh and not forgetting the chance to spend a few hours with one of my favourite bloggers Betty Pamper! So really the WHOLE day was my favourite part!

Betty

· Have you been to a TV shoot before?
I have as in my former life I was a video director. I never directed fashion shoots though so it was really interesting to watch the process.
· Was the shoot what you expected?
In some ways yes although I hadn't realised just how many times you would be filming each model in certain poses to create the look for the promo. Its always amazing how much you have to film for one short snappy advert.
· Which was your favourite outfit and why?
The black and white circle print dress was my absolute fave. I love clothes that create clever illusions and with its black top and patterned bottom half its actually a great dress for accentuating your curves but isn't too unforgiving, which fitted dresses like this in one colour can be. I really liked how it had been styled on the model as it looked very 1950's glam which is a look I absolutely adore and which really suits my figure. I’ve since got my hands on this dress and its as lovely on a mere mortal as it is a model so bravo!
· What was your favourite part of the day?

I enjoyed it all, especially seeing all the new A/W collections. Highlights definitely included chatting to the models (who were lovely and really invested in the clothes and in plus size fashion as a whole and also speaking to the Curvissa team who are a really great bunch dedicated to getting it right for all us plus size hotties. 

Competition

Curvissa are also giving their customers the chance to add to there A/W13 wardrobe with the chance to win £150 of vouchers just head over to HERE and enter.

* This post was written in partnership with Curvissa , all opinions are my own and I do not endorse products and services I would not be happy to purchase myself.

OOTD - Simply Be Red Check Dress

The last two weeks have been insanely busy. My step son has been struggling with his school work and bullying, the school have not been able to really help Josh to reach his potential, and have limited his options so much this year with his GCSE's that he has become very frustrated with the whole situation.

We are very lucky that Josh does not have any behaviour related needs but his dyslexia requires different teaching techniques which most of his teachers refuse to use in the classroom which means he struggles to keep up and understand what is required of him.

After more than a year making the decision this week we officially removed Josh from secondary school and as of today we are officially a homeschooling household! This decision has been exciting and scary all at the same time but we know that we are making the right choice for him.

I am able to tech him Maths and science and have my sister helping to tutor in English skills and he will be allowed to explore the other subjects of his choosing to find the best fit for him.

As you can imagine I have been looking for outfits that are comfortable and relaxed as I am sat either in the office or in the kitchen with him while working. Todays outfit is an amazing dress that I was kindly sent by the lovely Simply Be.

While this dress is not the usual figure flattering nipped in waist style that I prefer, it is just so comfortable and makes me feel fabulous anyway! It has false zip pockets (would have loved real ones) and the bold check pattern is fantastic.

I didn't manage to capture the best photo of it today but you get the idea and I think you can see i feel happy and relaxed, excuse the hair, it was stuck up in a ponytail while we ran into town for school supplies.

* Red Check Dress - Simply Be

I also have another amazing tartan inspired outfit for you from Simply Be which is gorgeous so keep an eye out for that this week.

Hopefully now this decision is made and we are all less stressed I can get into a blogging schedule again.

Mhairi

xxx

Simply Be Autumn Boots

Just wanted to share this video from Simply Be with you as I found my toes tapping along to it!

I am Boot Obsessed this year as usual and I am loving so many from this video!

As well as these ones I spotted earlier on the site

Dolcis Strappy Studded Boots

The will go perfectly with my growing tartan collection.

Thought I would add a little how I would wear my boots, its a little bit grown up rocker!

Have you fond you ideal winter boots?

Mhairi

xxx

AW13 Trends - Texture

Everywhere I look at the moment there is luxurious textures, from sofy fluffy knits, tough spikes or gorgeous wool tweeds and I am hooked!

I wanted to show you a few of my favourites.

Samaya Red Velvet Rose Print Midi Skirt

This skirt is a gorgeous deep red with soft velvet, and needs to get in my wardrobe as soon as possible!

Velour Stud Dress

I love the simply pretty cut of this dress and love the shoulder studs, very simple for date night or a party.

Joe Browns Absolute Coat

I have been obsessing about this coat for quite a while now!

Fluffy Knitted Cardigan

I NEED this cardigan, I love it in this grey colour and I think I would wear it until it fell apart, it looks so cozy!

asos Curve Leather Trousers

I am not usually a fan of leather but I love the mixed materials and the stunning red colour of these ones and think I could be persuaded.

Popper Front coat with PU sleeves 

Again I like the use of mixed materials here, the tweed with the leather look sleeves is lovely

Shift Dress in Baroque Lace

This dress is beautiful to me, I love the look of the lace with the nude/gold tones underneath.

Do you like you clothes to have texture? or do you like to keep it simple?

I am most definitely a fluffy jumper kind of girl!

In the Spotlight - ASOS Curve

Right now, I am feeling that being plus sized is pretty darn good, there are some new brands out there and the old ones are stepping up their game.

Today I am going to show you some of my favourite peices from Asos Curve.

Now ASOS are very hit and miss for me, I have had some terrible experiences with fit and materials, and always feel a bit insulted that at 32 I am too old to go to one of their fit days, but I am going to put these feelings aside for now as at the moment they are honestly rocking my world with their selection!

First up is this gorgeous Tartan pinafore dress, this is just so cute, I need to have this in my wardrobe! at 32 maybe I am too old for this, but I am in the middle of dying my hair blue so I guess I am aiming to grow old disgracefully!

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I love the colours and mixed prints of this dress it is beautiful, I think I would cinch it in with a belt for nights out and just as it is with leggings for a casual look.

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I have been obsessing over a parka for quite some time now, but I cant be doing with big bulky ones with huge fur trims as I am very short and find the make me look a little like a tiny eskimo! Oh but not this one, I love the leather details and the colour, perfect for my Autumn wardrobe.

Source

 I ordered a pair of jersey peg trousers from ASOS a while back and had to send them back as I found the material to be a bit too thin for my liking and knew they would become baggy and misshapen around the knee, I think though that for this print I would live with these faults as they are just so cute!

source

The last item I am showing you is this onesie, the marmite of the pyjama world, but with the colder weather sneaking in I am getting ready for the comfort of a onesie!

Source

So they are my top picks from ASOS Curve right now and I really do want to buy them all as well as the skirt, blazer and jeans from my previous lust list post!

Mhairi

xxx