Curvy Con revisited!

It's a week since Curvy Con and I've been so busy that I haven't really had a chance to catch up and write anything down. So here goes:

I had an excellent time! The convention itself was much smaller than I was expecting but then good things come in small packages ( so we are told!) I was pleased to meet up with some of the other ladies competing in the Miss British Beauty Curve contest this August. All I can say is that the judges will have a hard job because, fair play, we're all gorgeous! ;-)


Ms Hertfordshire, Miss Worcestershire and
Ms Gloucestershire
- MBBC 2015

Sri Lanka by Gemma Collins

Arriving at the convention, the first fashion show was in full flow and it was the Gemma Collins collection. Some more of the lovely Miss British Beauty Curve finalists were on the catwalk and the soundtrack was fabulous (I arrived to 'All about that bass'!) The collection is full of beautiful clothes that really flatter and hug your curves. I'd had my eye on the 'Sri Lanka' dress for quite a while and I have to admit that I succumbed!

Next stop was 'Voodoo Vixen' and 'Taking Shape'. Voodoo Vixen had a selection of their styles to view and a discount code for all visitors - which is always welcome -as was the red velvet cupcake that I had from their stand too! ;-) As you all know I love my taking shape dresses and I was a little disappointed not to see any of their gorgeous clothes on display at the convention but the little gift bags with travel manicure kits that we were all given were very cute and much appreciated.

Nicky Rockets
Slash Neck t-shirt

Then on to the 'Nicky Rockets' stand to meet the fabulous Betty Pamper. You can check out this fab lady's blog at Pamper & Curves - an absolutely must read. And I can tell you that in person, she's even more fabulous than I thought! I bought a gorgeous slash neck 'Curvy as Hell' t-shirt in red from the stand and I'm looking forward to seeing Betty in Gloucestershire very soon - but more on that in future blogs.

By now the second fashion show was in full swing from 'Topsy Curvy'. Gorgeous, easy to wear clothing at very reasonable prices. Everyone must have felt the same because there was a run on the stall after the fashion show and you couldn't get near! Great news for the stall holders but disappointing for me as I couldn't get my hands on a black and white tartan travel suit that I had my eye on!

Kim & myself at
'Apples & Pears'

From there, we went to the 'Apples & Pears' stand and met the lovely Liz Smith. Again, another collection of great, easy-breezy clothing that is perfect for the summer. Great to see that MBBC's very own Miss London Curve 2015 is a model for the 'Apples & Pears' line. Us MBBC girls get everywhere ;-)



Boho dress from
Simply Be (wedge
sandals form Zalando)



Gingham Bardot top from
Simply Be (shown with 'Pear Fit'
high waist indigo crops
from Evans)

Our last stop for the day was the 'Simply Be' stand - and it was great! Lovely samples of clothing that is on sale in their Oxford Street store (all very tempting) and a discount coupon to take along to the store that day! Well - it would have been rude not to!



And so all done at the convention, we popped along to Oxford street to 'Simply Be'. And I bought this gorgeous boho dress (with 30% off I might add) and a fab gingham Bardot top that comes straight out of the 'Grease' style book! Fab store, amazingly helpful staff and we will most definitely be back!  
 
 
All in all, my day in London (accompanied by my amazing sponsor, bestest bud and owner of the fabulous 'Katherine's Closet', the exquisite Ms Emma Adams) was phenomenal. I met some amazing people in the plus size community and received some fantastic support for the Miss British Beauty Curve pageant. It really brought home how honoured I am to be a part of such an amazingly supportive and wonderful group of people. Thank you all xx

Myself and Emma - living it large on the train!

 
 
 

Enlightenment comes from Australia!

I've recently been enlightened! And it was completely painless, I assure you!

On Bank Holiday Monday, I went to Cheltenham for a spot of retail therapy. Rather than look at the old faithful Evans or New Look, I decided to take a look at a still relatively new store - 'taking shape' in the Regent Arcade - and I was very pleasantly surprised.

'taking shape' is a company founded in Australia. The stores stock an easy to wear, casual style of clothing, incorporating the brands eplissé and virtuelle, as well as their own taking shape and ts active wear brands.

Botanical Breeze dress from 'taking shape'.
Shoes from Nine West

As I'm always on the lookout for new plus size brands, I tried on two of their virtuelle dresses - Botanical Breeze and Tea Rose.

Botanical Breeze as you can see here is a silk shift dress with sunray pleating throughout. The whole thing is so light and airy, it feels weightless. As you all know, my bug bear is dresses purporting to be knee length that, on my 6'1" frame, end up being thigh skimmers! Not at all a problem in this dress and the bonus is that I feel a million dollars. I'm looking forward to wearing this dress on my hols but I know it will look equally fab with a black jersey blazer in the office too.

Tea Rose dress from 'taking shape'.
Shoes from Nine West

The Tea Rose, shown here, is a similar set up. Crinkly, silky fabric in a mix of red, pink, purple and black. Again, really easy to wear and it feels amazingly light and airy. As it is a crinkle fabric, I think this is a perfect travel dress as any creases won't show. Just like the Botanical Breeze, I can definitely see the Tea Rose becoming part of my work wear wardrobe.


Aside from the gorgeous, perfect-for summer styling at 'taking shape', the thing that I found amazing about the shop was the store assistant's genuine desire to serve and to make you feel both welcome and comfortable. I was looked after by Tabitha, who offered me a cup of my choice of tea or coffee on arrival and was in no rush to push me through the purchasing process. Instead, setting up a changing room and relieving me of my selected items to allow me to continue my search in comfort. I have to say that in terms of a shopping experience, other stores will have to go a long way to beat this!

The store's slogan is 'helping you to celebrate your curves' and that is just what they are all about. I can't wait to revisit!



 

I am here - I haven't faded away!

OK so it's been nearly a month (slap on the wrist for on me!) since my last blog and the truth of the matter is that I really didn't know where to go next. My last blog was a whinge-fest about the length (or lack there of) of certain plus size clothing brands. Since then, there has been the media furore about plus size women in the public eye and the fat-shamers response to the 'offensive sight' or us bigger girls being so visible.
 
I wanted to join in with the #wearethethey campaign but really didn't know where to start or if I honestly could cope with opening myself up to the possibility of being 'trolled' by faceless fat-shamers on a wider scale.  And so, with some shame on my part it has to be said, I have remained quiet; but I have been watching, listening, absorbing all sides of the argument and now I am ready to speak.
 
I am who I am. There are some days when I don't like what I see when I look in the mirror. But there are other days when I think, "I've got two legs and two arms that work, two eyes that see perfectly, two ears to listen, a mouth that permits me the ability to speak my mind and the right to be whoever the hell I want to be.
 
The great Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "No-one can make you feel inferior unless you give them your permission". I now know that only by speaking up will the message get out that EVERYONE matters; that no-one should be made to feel inferior by another's words or actions; that no-one should get your permission to make you feel inferior.

I am proud to be a part of the rising number of plus size women in the public eye. Vive la difference!