Excited by Fashion?!

The New Gok Wan range at Simply Be. WHOA.

Did you know that Simply Be is going to launch a Bridal Range? I kid you not. Can that store BE any more amazing? Also, have you seen the latest Gok Wan pieces? Phwoar!

Right now I'm getting re-excited by fashion. In a strange turn this year - like many of you, I haven't (YET) been THAT excited by fashion. There are always exceptions - but when you see some of the same products being sold from AX Paris, Evans and Yours (with the Yours mark-up being OUTRAGEOUS) - it's hard to fall in love with current fashion, when such similar items are being sold across the board. 

Simply Be has offered some gorgeous pieces, like the coveted "Car Dress" and Evans had the amazing Celments Ribiero range... Suddenly though - in the last two weeks, I've been seeing the most stunning pieces come through and I'm getting excited for Autumn and Winter. Certainly - after my Anna Scholz post last week I've seen a bunch of things that have grabbed my attention and for the first time in almost a year - I've felt compelled to purchase from Asos Curve again. All this:

I've only ever bought ONE item from New Look, but I find myself super tempted by these two items from the New Look Inspire range:

And THIS by Carmakoma...

So ladies, I'm curious... How are you feeling about fashion right now? As I say - for me, it's been a slow year and I'm FINALY getting excited by fashion 2012. There HAVE been some great moments thus far this year - BUT - I've been waiting for brands to really kick our plus size fashions into gear and it feels like it's happening. There's a lot to look forward to. 

Oh yeah. 

xxx.

Next Up From Anna Scholz.

OMG, The LATEST Anna Scholz pieces are up on her site in these sexy new brochures! As soon as I got the email - I was screen grabbing, because I knew I had to share! There isn't too much that's REALLY exciting me about fashion at the moment - but when Anna releases new pieces and Collections - I swear, my heart starts to swoon. These items launch online next week - so check them out, I've pulled my faves from the White Label Collection. And if you just can't wait - Anna has a massive sale on at her site - right now! SWOON!!

"Go Glam" WHITE LABEL

And my FAVOURITE?

WHOA:



xxx

Reader Request! A jumpsuit...

Truth be told, I'm a little bit "Hello Forehead" in these photos - but this is still an outfit post - so hopefully my noggin' won't distract you too much! 

This is the Simply Be Bespoke Coco Lace Back Jumpsuit. Truth be told, I will rarely have the back lace on show, because for me, this works best with my little shrug. The material is a soft jersey fabric and the design is kind of perfect for my curves. I like the faux wrap front and the V-neck is quite sexy and alluring all on it's own.

This was a very "un-Emma" purchase, to be honest. One of you gorgeous readers asked me to try a jumpsuit, so I bought this little number from Simply Be. It's really nice. I was unsure what to expect, so bought the garment in three different sizes to check out fit... Now to be honest - all of the sizes fit but just in different ways/levels of comfort; the 24 was a little loose in the breast, while the 20 was a little familiar through the crotch (what with the fact it was connected through the torso - body length plays a massive factor...) So I'm wearing a 22. The shape of this jumpsuit is really nice with a natural nip at the waist. I've emphasized structure with my Carmakoma belt and finished the look with shiny shoes, red lips, a bolero and minimal jewelry. I did end up putting a silver clip in my hair to even out my headyness!

I do like this jumpsuit and as you can see - I'm wearing it outside and have kept it! I WILL need to get used to it though!!

With a "new" fashion piece like this, my trying a few different sizes was a good idea, as it enabled me to look at fit, length, leg room, bust: my final fit was good, as it skimmed my skin and worked well through my curve. I admit, I do have bum hugger underwear on with this outfit, as the material of the jumpsuit is soft and light and mad me feel a little conscious through the rear... I was glad I wore some Sloggis, because it was a little cool that day and the extra layer of higher, tighter underwear felt warm, but also secure. Secure is a good word here... You see, a Jumpsuit is not a natural choice for me - and it did feel very strange to wear something floating that kind of skimmed on my body. You see, in this elusive Summer of ours, I've been wearing tights almost every day - and it was weird to move to such a light pant. That being said, the secure undies offered me a little more confidence, in what was - such a different choice.

By the time I got the hairclip in, I felt great and confident for my day...

If perhaps a little 1970s "key party".

Oh, Behave!

Em. x.

Simply Be Bra Review: The Minimiser.

Frankly. I haven’t worn a minimiser since I was in my teens. At that stage, I didn’t even know what one was. I was “fitted” into it. That’s right. A lady in a shop decided that my 14 year old boobies needed padding down (I was about a D-cup by then), and so she fitted and sold me a minimiser bra. Talk about making my choices for me! After I realized what it was – I then rejected it and didn’t look back.

Until… Well.

As I mentioned in my last post – Simply Be sent me a range of bras to try – including a Plunge bra… and a Minimiser. My initial reaction was to say, “thank you, but no thank you”, and send it back. But then I tried it on and thought about what I could wear it with.

The Minimiser by Shapely Figures - £22.00 - £28.00

The fact of the matter is, I have very large breasts. My boobs size me up in almost all hard tailoring or non-stretch fabric. Even where I prefer tighter fits – my breasts dictate if I have to go up a size or no, thereby ALSO dictating if clothes fits me in a body-con kind of way, or perhaps in a looser kind of way. Some clothes are meant to be body-con.

The Minimiser 2-pack I was sent by Simply Be came in black and mint green and I tried the green first. LOVELY. Very, very comfortable. I'm wearing a 38H here and found this size a little bit generous in the back. I wore it on the second set of hooks, but possibly could have sized across to a 36J as there is quite a bit of stretch through the back. The cup shape is rounded and nice and flattens the breast towards the sides a little bit, but without making my boobies look like massive, flat pancakes. I was surprised that I actually didn’t mind the look (it seems to be quite subtle in the flattening) and it meant that I could wear a dress that was tight in the bust with a little more ease.

There is no padding in the cups and the material is soft on the skin. The straps are fully adjustable and feel soft against my shoulders. While I prefer the look of normal structured bras and my more forward-roundy-bursty-outy breasts, this Minimiser was the most comfortable of all the bras Simple Be sent across. The shape is good and while I did have quite a bit of room through the back – the cup fit well.

If you have any dresses at home that you feel may be a little tight through the bust – I’d say give a minimiser a go. For me, a minimiser bra will never be an every day choice, but I am pleased to say it IS now a choice. A comfortable one, at that!

Em. xxx.

Someone asked about my photos for these posts. I took these getting ready in the morning or as I was getting undressed at night - hence mirror based photos. I've also chosen photos that I'm not looking at the camera because it felt weird to post my smiling face, looking at you all, in my boobage glory. It isn't my natural blog style - the bra posts - and although I feel confident doing them, I'm just not USED to them! It's a different style of blogging and indeed, it makes me respect the "Bra Bloggers" even more than I already do!

Thank you also, for all the positive feedback. xxx.

Boobaliscious Bra Reviews Thanks To Simply Be & Simply Yours.

Boobs. You know it. The RIGHT bras are so important. I am obsessed with booby bloggers like Georgina, Caroline and Cheryl. I am obsessed with my own breasts to a degree...

Recently, after deciding my bras were feeling too big through the back, I decided to look at my bra sizing. I moved myself from a 42F to a 40G but after a proper professional fitting I found actually sit more around a 38H or even... 36J. My back size is KEY at the moment, and for me - the 42 back was really too big to offer proper support.

After learning my new size, I got to talking to the good people at Simply Be and Simply Yours and was offered some bras to try. How exciting! YES PLEASE.

The Shapely Figures Balconette Bra: £28.00 (pack of 2).

I really like this bra. Also available in Black/White, this pair of bras was sent to me in Blue and Baby Pink. This is a lovely bra, and I love the shape and lift it gives me. This bra has a slightly padded cup and feels soft and supportive on my body. The back has a three hook closure and the straps are  adjustable to half way. On that note, the straps do have some lace detailing down ONE side of the strap only, which (by the end of the day) makes the strap sit a little unevenly, it isn't unbearable but it did make me wish the detail was over the entire strap - or not present at all. Apart from that - the comfort level on this bra was REALLY high, the cups, back and sides are LOVELY. I also LOVE the shape this bra gives my bust.

One of my breasts, the left one, is a third of a cup larger than my right breast - so my breasts always sit a little unevenly in bras. This balconette shape, in the 38H was a perfect fit though in that one of my breasts does sit a little more rounded on top - but without creating a quadra-boob effect. The central gore fits comfortably against my body and the fit is good. I like a natural lift with my bras (not TOO high) and think this bra is a perfect shape for that. I also like the detailing on this bra - the cup does have a pleated design over it, so I'm not sure how it would go with a skin-tight top, but for me - the padding, hint of lace, soft fabric and gorgeous colour - made this one of my favourites that I was sent. I LOVE this shape. Really, really, really.

I can co-ordinate it too... SAUCY...

The "Julie" Plunge Bra by Naturally Close: ON SALE (pack of 2).

The "Julie" Plunge Bra was sent to me in the Coral/Navy 2-pack - but many more colour choices are available HERE.

This is my first Plunge Bra in years. Through my early twenties, I always found Plunge Bras pushed my breasts together in a kind of hilarious cleavage-heavy "Playboy" kind of a way. I must say, thank GOODNESS Simply Be sent me this amazing bra to try - because I'm a bit of a convert now, that's for sure.

When I first put this on, all I could think was - how's that TINY piece of fabric between my breasts - EVER going to stay stitched up and support me. Hard Tailoring! That's for sure. I was impressed. This bra gave me a lovely, feminine shape which feels natural for me. It also gave me a low cleavage line - meaning it was perfect to wear with a low cut dress...

The straps on this bra are half-way adjustable and are really comfortable on my shoulders. The back (in this 38H) offers a 3-hook closure and the cups are slightly padded with some slight ruching by design. Despite my initial worry that this bra might not support me through a whole day - it did an amazing and comfortable job... The plunge style DID feel different to wear at first (I usually wear full-cups), but that feeling wore off very quickly. Also - on a good note - this bra retained excellent breast shape through the hours with a small amount of breast movement by the time I got undressed at the end of the day.

Seriously. I really like this bra and for anyone toying with the idea of taking the plunge and trying a plunge (...ah?) - this Naturally Close bra comes in a multitude of colours as part of a highly affordable 2-pack.  

More bras soon. 

Yup. 

Boobs a hoy this week!

PS - Thank you for the people who sent positive messages about the blog's new colour scheme. I hope it makes it easier to read. I am going through all the old posts to update their layout with the slightly bigger font - so don't mind any weirdness if you look through the archive and a post seems a little "out" layout-wise. Smooches. x.

A Little Denim, via OSP's Summer Style Trials!

A while back, One Stop Plus contacted a group of bloggers and said - we supply the clothes, you supply the looks and then let's play fashion in our epic Summer Style Trials! So... here's my look:

We're talking bare knees (it IS Summer after all), denim dress, black petticoat (saucy), crochet cardigan and a flash of red. Almost everything I'm wearing is by the brand Ellos which is sold through One Stop Plus. 

So, my choices...

The denim dress. I've wanted a denim dress for years. When I was in my early 20s, I went to a Beach Resort with some girl friends and I was the only one who didn't own a denim dress... Obviously, it was no big deal to the girls I went away with - but for me, it was weird and when we all went out "dressed the same and ready to dance" (as you do on adventurous, youthful, girlie holidays) they all wore their Denim Dresses and I wore a jean-skirt and t-shirt. I felt awkward... I wanted a denim dress and if I'm honest would often covet them - but never took the plunge - so for me, for my Summer Style Trial - I went with the one Summer Item, I've wanted for years!

Also from One Stop Plus is my crochet cardigan, saucy black petticoat and flashy red belt. Sizing on the dress sees me wearing a 20/22 which was a little tight in the bust - but after initially trying the 24/26 and finding it quite big on my frame (dual sizing! ARGH!), this was a much nicer look. I LOVE this outfit actually and will wear it a lot. With the Petticoat, it also adds a layer of warmth in our cool UK Summer. My boots are knee high and my knees are pale and chubby.

This look is so fab, that I actually make this Aston Martin look hotter...

RIGHT? 

BOOM!

The other bloggers in this OSP Challenge?

Naomi - Diamonds 'N Pearls

Georgina - Cupcake's Clothes

Rosie - A Rose Like This

Tessa - Fashion Resister to Fashionista

My Clothes: Dress / Petticoat / Cardigan / Belt 

All clothes now live in my wardrobe permanently, courtesy of OSP's Summer Style Trial

xxx