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New favourite dress klaxon!!!

I'm sure you've noticed from other outfit posts of mine that I was a big fan of many of the pieces in Claire Richards' last range for Fashion World, so naturally I was thrilled when I heard that her new collection was out. I headed straight over to the site and was happy to find that I really liked a good few pieces with this dress going right to the top of my love list.


Like the Fashion World site says, this is a fabulous take on the little black dress that's perfect for this season with its pops of bright pink which I see as the quintessential shade for Spring. Paired with a bright pink lipstick this dress is just killer.

A good bit of thought clearly went into the design of this piece with the placement of the embroidered flowers perfectly situated to emphasise the lovely tulip shaped skirt. I love a tulip skirt but you never seem to see them in plus sizes even though I think they are so flattering to a big tum so I was tres pleased to see it used to such great effect here. The slash neck is another lovely feature again perfect for the season teamed with the short sleeves which have been cut to a great wide fit that echoes the fit that the pleats in the skirt gives.

This dress is priced at £75 so isn't exactly in the everyday purchases category, but you are getting your money's worth with this one. The fabric is nice and thick with a little bit of stretch and a lot of work has clearly gone into the design and construction of the dress, especially when it comes to the lovely embroidery - yes I know it will have been done on a machine but someone had to produce the design first and making sure that this kind of thing is in the right place on a dress piece when it is cut is a hard job!


I highly suggest you take a peek at the rest of the Claire Richards collection too as there are some truly fab pieces. Here are my other favourites followed by a token pic of me being silly in this fab frock...

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You can find this stunning dress here...
*gifted for review*

Have a lovely weekend gorgeous things! xxxxx

You may have seen me post the above picture early last week when I was having a play with my new purchase of MUA's Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer (apologies for the quality of the above photo). I just couldn't wait to put it on after it arrived in the post and applied some as soon as I got home. I had wanted to order both the shades Kooky as seen in this post and Reckless, I ordered them both from Superdrug but was then disappointed when I got an email saying that Reckless was out of stock so they were refunding it - it's actually available again now so I think I'm going to order one directly from MUA this time around along with, most likely, all the other ones too!

I'm sure you will have seen lots of lip lacquers around recently as they are quite the in thing, and I'm really not surprised as they're a great long lasting lip colour with a gorgeous matte finish which I love oh so much. They can be kind of pricey depending which brand you go for and I have only tried one other, Velvetines by Lime Crime which I really liked. MUA are a great budget make-up brand who I have found deliver good bang for your buck - I have a few of their eye shadow palettes and their highlighter all of which I use regularly.


I was really impressed with Kooky. It's a great deep plum purple which shows as more of a grape tone if you get snapped with flash. If you aren't that experienced with liquid lipsticks you might need a bit of practise before you can apply it neatly - you might find that using a lip brush rather than the doe's foot applicator makes it easier to get a neat line. You want to make sure you get the colour on evenly too so you may need to add a second dab of colour to some areas to get a nice even coat. Once you have it applied as you desire do not press your lips together or eat anything or kiss anyone or do anything with your mouth until it is completely dry which takes a few minutes, this way it will dry into a perfect matte coat which won't budge until the next time you eat. Seriously, when it's dry you can touch it and even run your finger over it or give someone a smooch on the cheek and it won't budge - mine only came off when I ate a slice of pizza.

I'll definitely be buying the other shades and I think it really stands up to the competition of other more expensive brand's versions. The bold shades are perfect for wearing as a pop of colour with a slick of black eyeliner. If you want something daring and delightful, give it a go!

MUA's lip lacquers go for £3.00 each which is a complete steal and are available in five shades which you can see here. You can purchase MUA directly from their website or at Superdrug.
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Well, the weather outside is indeed frightful, so I'm currently bundling myself up in as many layers as possible. Until the winter of 2010 I didn't actually own any jumpers or sweaters as I was constantly to be seen in a dress and cardigan combo, however for that particular winter Pete and I were living in a flat in a crappy part of town which had the worst central heating ever and we are pretty sure, no insulation. It was genuinely colder inside our flat than it was outside - we measured it. You could see your breath inside. It sucked. So naturally we bought lots of warm clothes and this is when my love for the novelty or printed jumper began. I have a few now but am always looking to expand my collection - here are some of my favourite available online now.

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Yup, this one's a little crazy! The neon kimono jacket was purchased at the Rad Fat Shopping trip to Doncaster a few weeks ago and was a hit with several of the ladies who attended. We found it in the New Look Inspire sale where it had gone down to a measly £8 - naturally it was the bright colours that first caught my eye but it's the same style as another kimono jacket that my Pete bought me from Inspire a few years ago which is black and printed with hummingbirds detailed with gold sequins which I just love for throwing over a plain dress.
 
 
This outfit was a lazy Sunday concoction when all I was doing was running around doing errands and visiting people so just wanted to be comfy. I was also having a major case of the lazy and therefore wanted to find a way to dress up day old hair, so a nylon scarf came to the rescue there. I actually bought this one at a vintage store in Edinburgh last year and hadn't worn it yet, but the colour was perfect for echoing the colours in the kimono.
 
If you're ever in need of something to dress up a plain fitted dress or block coloured ensemble then a kimono jacket is a great way of doing so and always looks very chic harking back to the oriental style trends in the 1920's and 1930's.
 
 
Green vest top - Matalan an age ago
Leopard Print Pumps - H and M an age ago

 
I'm not sure if you saw, but a month or so ago I entered a blogger competition run by MS SVG to win a voucher for their website. I had to choose a piece from their website and style it adding accessories and shoes. Well, I actually won the contest much to my delight and therefore had a nice £25 voucher to spend on their website, luckily enough just in time for when their sale began! I chose this lovely striped dress from an amazing brand which is new to me called Mat. Fashion. Check out their website, they have some beautiful pieces in their collections which are so unusual and include some lovely prints and dramatic cuts and colours.
 
The dress itself is really nice made of soft stretchy jersey like striped fabric cut into panels and pieced together to make this gorgeous design complete with drape detailing over the waist and tummy. I chose it to wear for work and it really is perfect for the office. The long sleeves are great for this colder weather and the length is bang on for me sitting just under my knee. There is a very pretty detail of a teeny metal heart stamped with the mat. logo sewn in place at the back of the neck - such a pretty detail and it lets you know that you have a designer item in your wardrobe. I chose size L which says is equivalent to a 20-22 - I would usually wear a 24 in this more fitted style of dress so was a little worried that it would be a bit too tight but I think it's ok, maybe just showing my tum a little more than I would usually like but is bang on for the sizing that it says it is.
 
 
Red Frilled Shoes - So Fabulous! an age ago
 
I'd love to try some more pieces from Mat. Fashion, have any of you got any other pieces by them?


So, it's cold. It's cold, and that sucks. I reeeeaaaally hate being chilly and so have a great love for nightwear and often team it with a super sexy hot water bottle and pair of ridiculous slippers. It was while out shopping in Doncaster with lovely Leah of Thirty Something Curvy Me and looking at pretty printed pj's in Yours Clothing that Leah had a great idea (she's super smart btw) that we should do something a little different and review some nightwear together. This is very out of my comfort zone, but as I'm trying to make myself do new things this year I said sure thing, so Leah contacted the lovely people at Yours and we arranged to review some of their fabulous nightwear range.

We had a great evening, I made a big post of pasta and we had so much fun taking the photos as you'll see - it was a bit odd shooting in our pj's, I think we were both a bit uncomfortable at first and then just decided it was a funny situation and just had a laugh striking silly poses! First off we shot in some onesies which I must admit I was very hesitant at wearing...


I chose the Leopard Print Fleece Onesie with Hood (£25) and Leah chose the super fun Red and Black Star Print Hooded Onesie (£25).

They are both made of super soft fleecey fabric which I adored as soon as I got it close to my skin - it's so fuzzy and snuggly and warm! Both onesies featured a zip front fastening and pockets which are great for keeping your phone or iPod safe while you're lounging. Another good feature was the elasticated wrists and cuffs - as everyone has different arm and leg lengths this was a great solution as it stopped them falling down over your feet or hands and restricting your use of them, and also meant that throwing on a pair of suggly slippers was a breeze as they weren't getting enveloped by leg fabric which could easily cause a tumble or two I imagine!

I will say right now that although this is super cosy and warm and great for the cold weather, as soon as I put it on I felt every ounce of ambition and drive leave my body and a feeling of slothfulness silliness took over - do not put on a onesie if you want to get anything done, all you'll want to do is lounge about or, if you're like me, do silly butt wiggling dances around the living room *ahem*.

We both sized up in everything, me going one size bigger and Leah going two sizes up as we wanted to make sure our choices were extra comfortable. I think sizing up by one was perfect for me in the onesie mas it wasn't too massive but also wasn't tight which just would have made me look like an animal print Michelin man. As you can see Leah looked mega adorable in hers but I think she would only size up by one next time as the arms and lega were mahoosize on her!

I think for the great quality you get they are well worth the £25 price tag and are so warm that you could easily save some extra pennies by turning the heating down too!!! They wash very well too and keep their softness - some fleece fabrics go lose all their snuggle in the wash but not this!


Next up we tried on our nightie picks - I went for the Black Short Sleeved Night Shirt with Silver Foil Face Print (£12) and Leah chose the Ecru and Navy Fair Isle Print Hooded Night Shirt with Pocket (£25).

I must admit that I am very envious of Leah's fleecey pullover, it was so lovely I might buy one for myself to snuggle up in! Night shirts aren't really something I tend to go for as in my eyes they are a bit old fashioned (and not in the way I usually like) but this one was actaully quite nice with its V neck and pretty print. I can definitely see me wearing it in the Summer when you want something light to cover up in that doesn't make you too hot. The foil detailing was a lovely touch too. Again I sized up by one here which I think was the right thing to do for a casual loose fit.


Last up we chose some pyjama sets and boy am I in love with the ones I chose! I went for the Pink All Over Lipstick Print Pyjama Top (£10) and matching Pink All Over Lipstick Print Full Length Pyjama Bottoms (£12) while Leah went for the Ecru and Berry 'Pillow Talk' Pyjama Set with Hooded Top (£22).

I had spotted these in the Yours Clothing store in Doncaster and immediately fell in love with them - how could I not, they're pink and printed with a super cute kitschy make-up design! I sized up by one on the bottoms but kept the top at my normal size and that was just right. The bottoms are baggy enough for me to feel comfortable wearing them (I am not a trouser person) and they were only a smidge too long which doesn't matter as my slippers keep them off the ground. The top was a perfect fit and very flattering to my pear shape body skimming over any lumps and with pretty loose sleeves that are really comfortable and light as air. These are definitely the best pyjama bottoms I own in the comfort and cuteness stakes!

Leah's set was very cute too and I liked the hood to the top and the sweet bear print. Again Leah ahd sizes up twice on these and as you can see they were very big on her! You can see her pulling up the trousers leg to show the bear design as the legs were so long! She says she'd definitely only size up by one in the future but still loves these. We both really liked the cotton fabrics used - I think this is the perfect fabric for pj's as it is light and breathable and washes wonderfully.


I don't think I'll ever look anywhere else for night wear in the future as all these pieces were so well made and comfortable and the range of different styles and designs that Yours offer is just fantastic. I really loved doing this post and a big thank you goes out to Yours for sending us the items to review.


Don't forget that Yours Clothing are having a huge sale at the moment and you can get free delivery if you spend over £50! There are some gorgeous bargains in the sale, I bought a few pieces that I just love and will be showing off in later reviews. I would also highly recommend visiting one of their stores if you get the chance!


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Hi guys! So my latest Style Icons post features an amazing lady. She's an artist, stylist, make-up and hair artist, fashion designer, model... boy she is an all round wonder woman of creativity, and just stunningly gorgeous to boot. The lady in question is the fabulous Micheline Pitt.


Micheline has been one of my biggest role models over the last few years, her drive and ambition is unsurpassed and whenever I'm feeling at a low ebb or needing inspiration to keep on at my dreams I look to her and find that kick that I need to get myself motivated again.

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Micheline works for the fantastic Pinup Girl Clothing who I have mentioned many times before, designing and styling many items that they sell including her own brand Deadly Dames infusing super sexy retro styles with her love of kooky, kitschy prints and classic horror movie icons - she even designs many of the fabric prints used to make the dresses! Here are a few examples of her artwork below...


Micheline is also an amazing make-up artist and sometimes hair stylist. Last year she brought out a DVD called Modern Pinup Makeup & Hair which I suggest any lady interested in glamorous retro inspired beauty purchases. I pre-ordered it and have watched it several times now and think it is invaluable to anyone wanting to get a poliched pinup style look, or even just a beautiful feminine every day look. There are lots of great tips and tricks within too and a special section dedicated to eyebrows which I agree are one of the key features of the face and are a make or break part of a look. It's a 3 disc set and I think is worth far more than she sells it for!!!


You might also recognise Micheline from the Rick Baker for MAC 2013 Halloween collection when she played The Bride showcasing a special edition eyeshadow palette and lipstick shade! What an amazing thing to be part of!

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I can't wait to see what amazing creations and projects Micheline comes up with next. I really hope that one day I'll be able to take part in one of her make-up classes or just meet her at the PUG store. She is an incredible woman and by following her for the last few years online she seems to me like a genuine, lovely, warm hearted lady who is as sharp as they come and just brimming with talent. I love that she speaks her mind and doesn't take nonsense from anybody! She really is a lady to look up to and admire.


You can find more Micheline here...


Soooo this skirt. It is my favourite skirt. Possibly ever. I am a maaaaassive black and white stripes fan and am always miffed that I can never find dresses or anything in plus sizes in this print, so imagine my delight when cruising through ASOS Curve's new in section and I see this beauty!!!

I genuinely ordered it immediately and was on tenterhooks until it arrived (the first one didn't get delivered, I was distraught, they sent me a new one, I was happy) and put it on straight away and fell in lurve with it! I've not worn it out yet because I've been locked in the house doing my tax return (boo) but I'm gonna rock it this weekend when I do the supplies and food shop before going to Center Parcs next week. Yes, I am that rock and roll.


To be honest the jumper was another 'OH MY GOD I MUST BUY THAT NOW' purchase. I love bows, love love love em (I have one tattooed on my wrist) and this sweater has them on the sleeves! It's darn adorable! I also really love the colour, which if you are confused by the name of this post, just happens to be the Pantone colour of the year which is Radiant Orchid.

I'm not sure why I added a seahorse necklace, I just wanted to, and I figured that my new sparkly plastic clutch would go well with the ensemble. Basically I just added some accessories that I really like and popped on my favourite trusty black ankle boots. I know I wear them all the time but they're mega comfy and have just the right size heel to add a little lift but not cripple me after five minutes of standing.


So, the skirt is lovely and full and made of a soft stretchy fabric. I was worried that it would be a bit see through as is often the case with a white fabric but I'm happy to report that it isn't. It's a good length, although as you can kinda see I have to pull it up quite high to get it to a true midi length on me. It's only £20 too which I think is a great price!

The sweater is also very lovely although not quite as soft as I would have hoped, but its still nice and comfy without a strappy top underneath. We all know I love 3/4 sleeves so that definitely ticks a box for me and these adorable sleeve bows, jeez how cute are they!


The little cut outs are very sweet too, I think it's a great style for Spring as the weather (hopefully) starts to get warmer. Oh and you can get it in black too which would also look great with this skirt!

Here's a little pic of my amazing clutch bag, it's pink and sparkly and see through and oh so trashy and kitsch, so I love it. I'm a big fan of the see through clutch bag but this is the only one I own so far. They tend to be super pricey I find and proper vintage lucite ones run into hundreds of pounds! I'm holding out hope that I'll find one for a bargain price on a brick a brack market somewhere, but somehow I doubt that'll ever happen...


Turquoise Seahorse Necklace - Primark, again an age ago
Pink Sparkly Plastic Clutch - TK Maxx but this is very similar but not see through...

Happy Friday everyone!!!!

Boy am I in love with this tee! As soon as I saw the print I knew I had to have it. Although I am not a religious person, I have a great love for Christian art, sculpture and architecture. I collect paintings, models and curios of the Virgin Mary and I love looking round cathedrals at the beautiful stained glass and sculpted stone that make up those fabulous buildings.

This tee is actually part of the ASOS maternity range, but I wanted it so much I decided to just go for it and get a size 18 in the hopes that with the maternity fit it would still work. I have to say, it is one of the most comfortable tops I own. As I have pretty small boobs I often find that tops in the correct size to fit my tummy are always baggy over my bust and shoulders because manufacturers expect bigger ladies to have bigger upstairs assets. It can be pretty frustrating, but as this tee is shaped to fit a standard sized shoulders and chest and just expand at the tummy it it pretty bang on! It's a top tip for any of you other pear shaped ladies out there!

It is very baggy over the stomach, but I don't mind this at all - it makes it perfect for tucking in to a skirt or wearing over jeans. I espexially like the sleeve detail in that the print only extends part way on to them and then goes into the soft jersey that the back is made from - again a perfect fit for my upper arms! I threw it on with my ever faithful Claire Richards velour pencil skirt and just loved the look. I grabbed some bright red flatforms to pick out some of the colour from the design and grabbed some long gold necklaces to add a bit of sparkle.

When I posted that I had bought this top lovely Rosie of A Rose Like This commented to tell me she had bought it too but she was planning to wear it in a completely different way to me - head over to her blog to see how she has styled it!



I hope you're all having a lovely week so far honey bees!

If there is one colour combination which I have loved and adored over the last few months, it is pale lilac or mauve paired with gold. I've not had a chance to wear the combo yet, although I will get to this April at my SIL's wedding! As it love it so much I thought I would hunt out some inspiring pics showing ways you can incorporate it into your home and your outfits.

Up above we have a lovely geometric patterned jewellery board which is just beautiful, sadly it wouldn't really fit in with the deco in my bedroom but I think it's gorgeous all the same. I don't think this pretty little perspex box would look out of place on my dresser however and I would just love this beautiful book clock to be sat on my bedside table!

Idol Eyes  -  Beautiful Iris  -  Crystal
Woodwinked  -  Nylon  - Goldmine

I think MAC offer the best range of purple shades and their metallics are always wonderfully shimmery so I headed to their site to pick our some purple and gold shades, the above six were my favourites and you can find them here.

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I know I've already featured amethyst necklaces a fair few times but I just adore them. I always have ever since I was little - whenever we would go to the New Walk Museum I would come back with some little shards of amethyst and pyrite in a little suede pouch from the gift shop! They're just so beautiful and delicate looking and I just love one of a kind pieces, it's like this pretty little semiprecious stone was made just for you!


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Kelly Osbourne has the best hair. I think she's just gorgeous and I always have mega outfit envy, although it does seem like she can fly off the handle a little too easily... These other silvery purple do's are just dreamy too!

Pervette  -  Up The Amp  - Odyssey
Viva Glam VI  -  Rebel  -  Cultured

We're back with MAC, this time with with some gorgeous lipsticks and lipglasses in perfect plummy tones.

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Finally I wanted to share these two beautiful nail looks that I found a few days ago, I'm going to give the top one a go for the wedding for sure!

Do you have any favourite colour combos?

OK so I'm not sure if you'll all be familiar with the Lotus biscuits by name, but I'm sure a lot of you will have eaten them. If you've ever had a coffee in a restaurant and it's come with a little caramelly brown sugar biscuit on the side it was most likely a Lotus biscuit. You can buy packs of them in most supermarkets now and recently a few of them have also started selling Lotus biscuit spread in smooth or chunky varieties much like peanut butter. It's absolutely gorgeous stuff and in complete honesty before using it in this shake I have just eaten it on a spoon... no remorse.

This recipe came about as I wanted to do something a little different for Boxing Day pudding last year. I always have my family over to our place and do a big roast dinner on B'Day as my mum always works Christmas Day. So rather than a big stodgy pud for 2013 I decided to do a little Lotus milkshake (all my family love Lotus biccies) and a little brandy hot chocolate with a little plate of my homemade fudge in the middle of the table if anyone wanted any. It all went down very well but this shake was definitely the star of the show. It's mega delicious and I really suggest you give it a go if you like brown sugary caramelly things!


Lotus Caramelised Biscuit Milkshake
Makes 2 glasses

Ingredients
1/2 tub of good vanilla ice cream
2-3 big spoons of Lotus biscuit spread
100-200ml milk

Method
Stick it all in a blender and give it a whizz up - add the milk a little at a time until you get the thickness you desire!

Hi sugarplums! So this outfit is a bit of a flung together thing but I actually really like it. It was all born from  my want to wear this tee as soon as possible after it came in the mail but thinking it was a little too casual for work I threw on the peplum jacket I bought at the Rad Fat Shopping meet up in Doncaster last week from the Simply Be sale.

The jacket is by AX Paris and is a wee bit long on the sleeves so I'm gonna short them up next time I get my sewing machine out, but its so flattering and suits my shape perfectly. You can see from the photos that the peplum kicks out at exactly the right place on my waist - see ridiculous photo of me with my eyes closed below!


Naturally I'm in love with the tee as it's mallow pink and has cat eye glasses printed all over it. It even has black satin edging which is lovely, although that means you don't get any stretch over the tummy so if you want to wear it pulled down rather than tucked into a skirt like I have you may need to size up. FYI, it's also available in minty green and white if pastel pink isn't your thang.

I've only recently become a fan of looser fitting boxy style tees and I'm not quite completely sold on the drop shoulder just yet, but I like how this looks tucked into a straight skirt and loosened a little to look like it has a bubble hem. I think it's a nice look and effortlessly turns a normal tee into a more formal look so it's great for extending your work wardrobe if you're pushed! I'm definitely on the lookout for more loose tees in funky unusual prints - let me know if you see any!!!

Here's a silly gif showing what the shirt looks like without the jacket, as you can see my little cat Cleo wanted to get in on these ones...


(the one online has PU sleeves which I also like a lot!)
(also available in mint green and white)
Black Straight Skirt - Evans (an age ago)
Black Leather Ankle Boots - Evans (also an age ago)

I hope you're having a lovely weekend so far guys!

If you're not already aware of Advanced Style then you're missing out big time. Ari Seth Cohen's website (now a book and a film too) gives me hope! Ari travels the world taking photographs of fabulous, super stylish older ladies. I just wish I could meet these ladies and talk to them about their lives! I know they'd be full of amazing stories, can you imagine going shopping with them? Aaah it would be amazing! The Advanced Style Best of 2013 post is a great place to start if this is all new to you!

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Be still my heart, just look at these incredible necklaces from Galibardy! All those crystals and pearls and beads and shiney and oh SO PERFECT!!!


For some reason at the moment, most likely becuase of the cold windy weather, all I want to eat is warm cooked fruit with some kind of creamy concoction on top. So naturally when I saw this recipe for apricot brulee I went crazy and I'm planning on making it for myself this weekend!


Fashion gone rogue has a great post up showing Valentino's 2014 Spring/Summer collection which is beyond dreamy. Lacey and embroidered and elegant and dramatic and jewel toned and plain FABULOUS! I can't wait to see some similar styles hit the high streets!


I've long been a fan of H&M's homewares. They're so cute and unusual and so reasonably priced! I've only ever seen them in store in London but you can buy it all in their online store. Make sure you check out their inspiration photos of the collections too, they're always great.


I'm wondering if my other half would be a fan of these as I'm desperate to make them. Acorn Squash Pot Pie with Wild Rice & Almond-Thyme Cream Sauce, even the name sounds decadent and comforting! 

Have you guys discovered anything fabulous this week?