Magnificent Seventh #2

Welcome to the next Magnificent Seventh post! I'm a little late but I have a good excuse - I had an MA coursework deadline yesterday and I was working flat out!

This month's theme was floral, and by coincidence this is what I wore on Sunday. I was in Manchester staying with my lovely friend Michelle, and then I went to a zine fest in Victoria Baths with my lovely friend Ingrid.

Floral dress - New Look

Black shrug - Simply Be

Leggings - New Look

I'm standing in my friend's spare bedroom, hence the pillow and luggage behind me! 

Check out the other bloggers:

Kaye - http://polishedcurves.wordpress.com/

Beth - http://tinkerbellandthelostgirls.blogspot.co.uk/

Nicola - http://www.nicolarelph.blogspot.co.uk/

Gail - http://gailygumdrops.blogspot.co.uk/

Kirsty - http://www.hellokirsty.blogspot.co.uk/

Mary - http://marysbigcloset.blogspot.pt/

Kathryn - http://misskathrynsmisstakes.blogspot.co.uk/

Steph - http://seeingsp0ts.blogspot.co.uk/

Charley - http://www.biggirlabouttown.blogspot.co.uk/

Rebecca - http://sullen-hearts.blogspot.co.uk/

Leah - http://www.justmeleah.blogspot.co.uk

Lindsey - http://linzerellofatshion.blogspot.co.uk/

Vicky - www.thecurvedopinion.com

Nikki - http://nattynikki.blogspot.co.uk/

What I Wore 27th April, and Barratts shoes #1

On Saturday I worked in my friend Chloe's shop in Leeds (please do go into Bird's Yard if you're in Leeds - it really needs your business!) and I wore a new top and some new shoes, so I got Lee to snap a quick photo when I got home.

This top is from H&M, it's a 3XL. The 2XL fitted fine but was too short, so I swapped it for the 3XL. I loved the pattern and I love the sleeve length - just long enough but not too long! You can see my new tattoo just peeping on my right arm, by the way. I got it last Thursday and it's currently really really itchy! 

The skirt is my staple Simply Be denim skirt. 

This is a relaxed outfit, perfect for running around in. 

A few weeks ago Kieron from the Barratts blog offered bloggers who haven't worked with Barratts before the chance to choose some shoes for review. 

Now, I have a policy that I won't work with companies that I don't like - it's not worth it. But I like Barratts. I nearly always go in their shop when I go past one. They have a really good price range I think - cheaper shoes that are very fashionable and that you will only wear for a season or two, and more expensive ones that you know will last for years. I think my mum was right - cheap shoes don't last! For the past year I've been wearing Mary Jane Dr Marten shoes almost every day, they were expensive but they will last and last. 

I have so many pairs of ballerina flats like this and I love them because they're just so cute. This pair was just £3 in the sale (they may have gone now though). They're pink with broderie anglaise which is just so gorgeous. I got them in my usual size 6 and they are perfect - flexible, comfortable, and oh so stylish!

I got another pair of shoes from Barratts which I'll review later. Thank you Kieron for the opportunity - I can't say no to free shoes!

Sunday Symmetry

Twitter is a terrible place! Your friends post about the bargains that they've just bought, and you end up buying them yourself! It's terrible!

I think I saw Becky tweeting about this skirt first, and then Lisa bought it, and Steph did too - and we've all styled it differently. So here's my take on it

You can't see the skirt very clearly, but my cream top is from New Look, the cardigan is from New Look, and the feather boa is from Claire's Accessories. 

I was at the Rocky Horror Show with my mum, Sam, and my Auntie Gill. Gill has never seen it live before, but me and my mum have been going since I was about 14! 

Nearly everyone was dressed up last night, there were so many pretty people to look at! I love the inventiveness of the costumes sometimes.

Before we went to the theatre we ate at Prezzo which is Italian, it was delicious. Sam and I shared a bottle of prosecco, which I love. Here I am with my fancy glass. 

You can see the skirt more clearly here. It's from Yours Clothing, the top layer is chiffon with velvet spots on, of different sizes. The bottom layer is a really soft stretchy cotton. The waistband on this is at least two inches wide, which is great because it means the skirt doesn't ride up. I've worn it twice and it's so comfortable, it's definitely going to be my go-to skirt this summer.

Plus, it was only £9.60 in the sale! Now that's my kind of shopping!

You can see how the others styled their skirt, here:

Steph

Becky

Lisa

Magnificent Seven #1

Beth has created a clothing challenge called Magnificent Seventh - on the 7th of each month a group of us will be shopping our own wardrobes to create styles upon some really fun themes.

This month is MONOCHROME. Now I originally thought this just meant black and white, and although I wear black sometimes, I don't like to wear totally black. I spent too long hiding my body in black shapeless clothes, so I now avoid just black where possible. If I do wear a black dress, I wear it with bright leggings.

I do often wear black and white and brown for work, but my work clothes tend to be REALLY boring, so instead I looked monochrome up on Wikipedia and found it can be shades of the same colour. I instantly knew which outfit I'd share.

This peach dress is from New Look, I got it about this time last year. It's a really gorgeous style on me; I have three dresses in this style now. 

Lee took this photo, the sun is so bright but that's gorgeous, I love sunny weather! 

The shrug is from Yours Clothing, I got it at the end of last year in the sale. They have lots similar, though. 

This is a close up of the print. 

So yes, this IS monochrome, because it's two shades of peach!

Check out the other fatshionistas in the challenge:

Beth

Kaye

Becky

Nicola

Gail

Kirsty

Mary

Kathryn

Steph

Charley

What I Wore March 18th

Well the bummer news is that I lost my main job last week. It was the one I did two days a week, so it was the main source of income for me. My other jobs are much more infrequent. I am looking for something else.

Anyway, it has obviously given me a lot more free time, and so that I don't fall into a dark pit of depression the same way I did last time I was unemployed, I've already done things to get me out of the house.

On Monday I went to Huddersfield to see my BFF Sam. We went for Dixon's ice cream which is well known in Huddersfield. They have a shop in Lockwood. First of all we had really good fish and chips across the road and then I had the biggest '99 ever! It's been ten years since I had Dixon's ice cream but it's still amazing!

Then in the evening I went to my book club at Barnsley library which was sadly the last one due to restructuring. I may join the one at my village library, though.

This is what I wore:

Skirt: Simply Be several years ago. I have two like this, the other is a slightly darker wash. I don't wear trousers so these are like jeans for me - something comfortable that I can run around in and not worry about. I also sometimes wear a black denim one that I got from Marisota. 

The top is from New Look Inspire but I actually got it free at the clothes swap in January! I love the pattern and the sleeves - it will be really lovely in better weather! 

This is a close up of my necklace. My lovely friend Chloe has a business called Life's Big Canvas which I heartily recommend if you've never seen her stuff before. I love this necklace, it's so kitsch and tacky! 

Sheffield Zine Fest and What I Wore

Hi! Sheffield Zine Fest was really amazing! Bravo to Bettie and Chella for organising it. It was held at the Electric Works which is right next to the bus and train stations so ideal for anyone travelling in.

I got the train, met Bettie and Jen, and we grabbed breakfast from the station before heading over to the Electric Works where we got to work moving chairs and tables and setting up. Then it was time to open and people started to pile in! It was a very good turnout. I sold lots of zines and some of my envelope sets and bought and traded a few new zines too :)

Here's what I wore:

This dress confuses the hell out of everyone and that's partly why I like it! It was from the Arlene Phillips collection at Simply Be a couple of years ago and is one of the first dresses I bought when I first got into wearing them again. It is a bit longer length than I wear now, but still a good length. I love the confusing pattern - it has flowers, circles of varying sizes, and pixellated type bits too. It's so weird! People either love or hate it.

I always have to pin the wrap part to my bra because otherwise it flashes a lot of boob and bra. I keep the safety pin attached to the dress when I take it off so that I always know where it is.

It's a lovely drapey thick jersey, and it has a kangaroo pocket across the front! I haven't worn this dress in ages but on Saturday I couldn't remember why!

Sorry for the dark photo, I think the flash was turned off on my phone. Thanks for taking the photo, Lisa!

Here I am behind my stall. I hope it was an inviting one. This was the first zine fest I've tabled at, but I had such fun that I want to do it again! Bettie and I think we might road trip to some more. I had free sweets too to lure people in, I think it worked. My tablemate was Emily, it was nice to meet her. 

Thanks to Jen for taking this photo!

Kirsty (of Fatty Unbound) and I led a workshop at the fest, on Body Positivity. Although it wasn't specifically fat-positive, most of the attendees were plus sized so the discussion had that slant to it. We talked about comments that we've had about our bodies or our clothes, and we talked about coping strategies. (And yes, ignoring and walking off is a valid strategy! Sometimes it's the safest thing to do for yourself!) Then we talked about accepting compliments and how we're not very good at it. If someone pays you a genuine compliment, just say "thank you." It's a radical act! Then we went round paying each other compliments, so I hope everyone left feeling heartened.

My friend Rachel was at the fest. I haven't met her in person before so it was lovely to do that. She's incredibly sweet. After the fest a ton of us went to a pub called the Rutland Arms where they do really fab chips and cheap food. I had the thickest burger ever and chips. I was sitting next to Rachel so it was nice to chat with her more. 

Such a fabulous day!

What I Wore 6th March

I haven't been here for ages, I'm really sorry! The next few posts might be out of order because I've got some photos on the camera and some on my phone. This is what I wore on Wednesday to go to uni

Jenna took this photo of me just in the foyer of Sheffield Hallam. I'm wearing galaxy print leggings from New Look, black knit dress from Asos, and my new red hoodie from New Look. I bought it in Birmingham last weekend, and was thrilled because I now get student discount in New Look! This could be dangerous! 

My pink bag is by LYDC and the one of my left shoulder is from Paperchase. This week in my lecture a friend of mine said "You like your patterns, don't you?!"

I'm enjoying the MA - it's hard work but it will be worth it.