Christmas Belle: Featuring We Love Colours review and Lindy Bop.

I don't know about anyone else but this festive period has been oddly hectic for me, hence why I'm only sitting down now and doing my Christmas blog!

Given I'm a little tardy to the party I feel it's only fair I go super festive to make up.

I'm so festive I could vomit baubles. Though probably best I don't. Instead I'll just enjoy all the colours.

So Lindy Bop had a sale before Christmas and I took a punt on this top. Mostly because it's the dreaded dual sizing so I wasn't sure if I'd be comfortable.

This top is SO stretchy. I don't think you could go beyond a 26 in it but I fitted comfortably in it. The material isn't too heavy but substantial enough to feel secure in.

A couple of months ago I won a pair of tights from We Love Colours on one of their Instagram competitions. I was super excited because I've been lusting after a pair from them for so long and now I had a chance to pick a pair for FREE!

I opted for a block colour pair in the Kelly Green.

How's that for a splash of colour?! I got these in a size EE, which is the largest size they do. Their sizing chart goes by height and weight but as a rule I get the largest size wherever I shop. I'm a size 26 and these fit perfectly. They are huge. Honestly, I could pull them up right under my boobs and I reckon I could have gotten a little more out of them. Very impressed by the sizing.

What I really loved was how the depth of colour was not compromised by my big legs. On my thigh you can see a thin line. This seems to be where the material slightly changes. It feels a little thinner between the legs, and while I didn't wear them for the full day I could tell they might be an issue, which is a bit of a disaster with the old chub rub so I would highly suggest wearing some little shorts underneath. I know that kind of sucks with tights but I guess if you want longevity out of the product you gotta go what you gotta do.

While the colour is still thick they do still show tattoos so if you're trying to cover up you might want something thicker. You can still see a feint outline of my shin tattoo. But then you could always just distract them with this wild colour, right?!

Outfit deets:

Top: Lindy Bop

Skirt: Modcloth

Tights: We Love Colours

Shoes: Hush Puppies 

Dupe Better Believe It! An Anastasia Beverley Hills Dipbrow dupe with Freedom Make up.

I'm relatively inexperienced when it comes to brow products, but doing my eyebrows is one of the few important routines for my daily make up. I'm currently using Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade, which I totally adore and you should all believe they hype. 

However, at £15 a pop, and mostly available online it's not the most accesible of products for people, especially those who are just starting out, on a budget, or who are a bit unsure. 

So imagine my excitement when randomly perusing my local Superdrug and I see a new make up section called Freedom Makeup. They aim to bring more professional products to customers at bargain prices. 

I spotted their eyebrow pomade and was immediately interested in it's £5 price tag.

The packaging is simple with it's monochrome design. I'm already seeing a lot of similarities with the ABH pomade.  Opening the box the pomade comes in a small, glass pot with a screw cap. The glass is quite heavy considering its size so it feels quite substantial.

I opted for the shade 'Chocolate'. The texture is thick and creamy, much like the ABH. I couldn't get a decent shot of the pomade shade on my camera so I'll include some swatches from the website.

Here's the Freedom Chocolate compared to the ABH Chocolate

Certainly slightly different, but not worlds apart. The Freedom version appears to be warmer.

Bear in mind I don't have the best brush (though I'm hoping Santa will be good to me this year) so my lines aren't very crisp. I am still a novice at this.

The product stays on amazingly and even when I wiped my finger cross my brow it barely smudged, if at all. 

This is a GREAT product and, in my opinion, a great dupe for Anastasia. At £5 its worth trying out with little to lose if you're not satisfied. 

Have you tried any Freedom make up? 

Model diversity at ScarlettandJo.com

This week Scarlett and Jo launched their very own website. In days past they were only sold through Evans, and recently Yours Clothing. Now they have their own website.

While I haven't purchased anything from Scarlett and Jo before this new launch has me pretty excited. Lots of delicious velvet and adorable polka dots, as well as some other more classic looks. But what really drew me to them was their choices of models.

Not too long ago Georgina Grogan was made the face of Scarlett and Jo. They appeared to have an interest in bloggers, and customers, taking on board their comments and criticisms. But most inportantly the desperate need for a diverse range of body sizes and ethnicities to promote their range.

 While still quite high femme, which to be fair is the bulk of their range, this is a really great step for plus size fashion retailing. It's recognising that their demographic are not just one type of person and that a piece can look very different on someone who is taller, larger, who has a darker skin tone etc.
What I particularly liked was when clicking on a piece it was sometimes modelled by a couple of different types of bodies.

I'm excited to see what Scarlett and Jo are bringing in the future. I certainly hope it's more velvet!

Before I sign off I'd also like to give a big shoutout to the bloggers who modelled. You all look amazing and I'm sure you guys had a blast!

Liebster Award #2

I've been nominated for another Liebster Award, this time by the lovely Tanya.  I love these posts and they are an easy way to get to know a little more about a variety of bloggers. Showing your appreciation for blogs and discovering new ones in the process!

Onto the questions..

1. Favourite city and why?

New Orleans. When I was 18 I packed off on my own for two weeks, staying in a youth hostel a short tram ride from the centre. I had timed my trip well as they had only just reinstated the trams. I was also very fortunate in my timing as I visited in July and in the September Hurrican Katrina hit. I was blessed to experience the last summer before the travesty. 

New Orleans felt like a dream, like a living story. Walking through sleepy streets with their beautiful colonial french architecture, the low ornate balconies dripping with ivy and wisteria, only to gaze up into the distance and see towering skyscrapers of the city ahead. Old men, their hats tipped over their eyes to shield from the sun, sitting on corners and filling the air with amazing jazz music. 

I wish I had planned better and saved enough money to go on a swap trip and I missed visiting the Garden District. 

Maybe one day I'll go back.

2. What people, dead or alive, would you invite to a dinner party?

Tough one. Neil Fallon, lead singer of Clutch. Mostly so I could sit there and fizz my pants off but also because he's a seemingly very smart and erudite person who would tell wonderful stories, or talk about a topic he's passionate about and make it really interesting. Plus his speaking voice is so delicious. Did I mention he's bloody gorgeous? Sigh. What was the question again?

Tarja Turunen and Vibeke Stene so they could sing for us at the table and make me cry. 

Stuart Lee because he makes me laugh until it hurts. 

3. Biggest fashion faux pas? (pictures if possible)

My whole teenage years were a fashion faux pas. As a fat goth I was extra cringy. I mean everyone did the oversized jeans and band shirts but we all overstepped the mark wth dog collars.

4. What started you blogging?

Peer pressure! Ha, I went to my first Plus North a couple of years ago and everyone there said I should start one. So I did! It hasn't come very naturally to me but it's been mostly fun!

5. Where would you like to see the PS community in the next 5 years?

I want to see us demanding more choice from brands, demanding better representation from brands. I want us to hold people accountable for the shitty/racist/sexist/bigoted things they say and do, but with a view for growth. I want us to be more inclusive, less flat stomach curvy hour glasses, more disabled/poc/trans representation and support. I'm not saying we don't have those people involved but there's room for everyone so let them in. So, not a lot!

6. Biggest pet hate?

Only one? Oh man. Ok, well I guess willful ignorance. Everyone fucks up, says the wrong thing or does something thoughtless but to refuse to acknowledge your mistakes or your privilege in society is what makes all the difference. There's a lot of shitty stuff happening in the world that doesn't happen to you but make yourself aware, educate yourself. 

7. Your motto to live by?

"Be just, and fear not." --Wolsey scene ii, Henry VIII by Shakespeare. 

I got a tattoo with it, mostly because it really struck me. But as time has passed it's become more and more relevant to me. Don't be afraid to do the right thing, even if it isn't always the most popular decision. 

8. What piece of advice would you give your teenage self?

Fuck 'em. They don't matter. They don't matter now and they never will. Their words will become ashes on your tongue. Read more, take better care of your skin. Maybe don't cut your hair that short.


The nominees...

Just Me, Leah
Lolly Likes
Rad Fat Feminist
Kitty Rambles A Lot


The questions..

1. What was your favourite subject in school?
2. You're on death row, what is your final meal?
3. What song gets you singing in the shower?
4. Your proudest moment?
5. Set yourself a goal for the coming year.
6. What did you want to be when you grew up?
7. If you won the lottery what would the first thing you did?


* Link back to the blogger that nominated you.
*Answer the questions
*Nominate other blogs
*Create answers to be published
*Notify all your nominees once published

Halloween Love

It's coming up to one of my favourite times of year. Halloween brings a lot of expectations of crisp, Autumn days with the trees turning red and gold, pumpkins glowing in windows. Growing up in the north this was not often the case and more often than not it meant rain, rain, and more rain.

Living in the East Midlands the weather is milder which means there is more opportunity for cute clothes that aren't hidden under waterproofs!

Here are some spooky threads I am loving at the moment!

Halloween Cats Midi Skirt by Interrobangirl

I follow Interrobangirl on Instagram and it's just a constant source of want.

Everything is handmade and she offers a custom service and sizes go upto a 36 instore!

Dem Bonez Bodycon Dress by Topsy Curvy

Recently modelled by Betty Pamper I love this spooky little number and would be cute to wear with some killer heels (ha, geddit?!)

Frankenstein Cardigan by Baned Apparel

Lolly Likes recently posted an OOTD on her blog wearing this with a darling skeleton dress and she looked amazing. You can check it out here. In fact, just checkher blog out in general for some recent amazing Halloween outfits.

Banned Apparel don't have a store themselves but you can find stockists with a quick Google. 

Cleaver Clutch by Kreepsville 666

Ok this bag is seriously awesome. Sold out on the website but a quick Google shows there are plenty of other stockists!

Bat Hair Adornments by JanineBasil

 I LOVE these so much they've gone on my Christmas list. There's 36 colours you can choose from!

------

I hope you liked my spooky pickin's! 

Anything got you shaking?

High Five!

Recently Everything5Pounds had an offer of free shipping with a £25 spend. In the mood to shop, I filled up my basket. I bought 5 items, though sadly one of them was no good. Not due to sizing but rather because it looked nothing like it did in the photo and the colours were not to my taste. So 4/5 aint bad!

Three of my five purchases are all in this outfit post!

Firstly the crotchet collar dress in a lovely chocolate colour. The material is substantial without being too heavy, so it's ideal for a transitional outfit that you can layer up with a cardigan and thick tights or leggings as it gets cooler. It's loose without being flimsy.

As you can see the sizing is generous on account of the material being stretchy. I'm wearing a 26, which is perfect for me, but you could certainly size up or down depending on the kind of fit you wanted. 

You may have noticed the boots I'm wearing. A bootleg (Ha, geddit?! I'm so sorry.) version of Dr Martens  but with a slight platform bottom. When I got them out of the box I thought there was no way in buggery they'd fit my calves with also having a side zip. I am happy to report I was wrong. For only a fiver even if they fall off my feet within 6 months it won't have been a huge loss. 

But boots that fit me, for a fiver? I'll take that!

Completing my look is this adorable satchel. It's a little snug inside so not very useful for much beyond your phone, purses, and diaries, but again for such a cheap price you can't go wrong.

Have you had a bargain haul lately? 

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One rule for one?

I wanted to share this here and get some feedback to see if it would abate my annoyance or reassuree I'm not being unreasonable.

I've just been on the Lady Vintage instagram when I saw this:

What's happening here is that due to a high demand the Lyra dress from the Lady Voluptous range (Lady Vintage's plus size range) is now being offered to Lady Vintage customers in their 'straight sizes'. 

Needless to say I'm pissed off.

Before I go any further I want to make it very clear that this isn't an 'us vs them' situation and I'm not wanting to 'keep' this for us fatties but I can't count the number of times I've commented on brands social media begging them to do them in larger sizes, and it NEVER happens. The fact that Lady Vintage did a seperate line with unique dresses shows that fat customers aren't able to wear their lines. 

I find it baffling that Lady Vintage seemingly stop certain dresses at a 20, others at a 24, then make a wholly seperate line just for 16+.

If you are willing to make plus size lines smaller then you should be making smaller lines for bigger customers.

Your straight sized customers already have a larger choice compared to us and tet you offer them even more?

 What am I missing here? Surely with the success of the Lady Voluptuous line they can see that the need is there.

I love this brand. But there have been countless times when I've had an email from them declaring a new dress range, only to click the link and see they stop at a 20.

Why are we not opening up the whole lot to EVERYONE?

Thoughts?

Heritage Collection from Yours Clothing

It's been donkeys since I walked into a store and came out with something. I'd popped over to my nearest Yours Clothing store to pick an online order up and was having a nosy around at some of the new autumn stock when I spotted this gorgeous longline tunic from their Heritage Collection.

Straight up the last thing I thought I'd find myself leaving with. I don't tend to vibe with florals but I loved the colours. It's got a great mix of autumnal colours with splashes of red, forest green, and orange. It's got a really great 70's vibe to it. 

As I'm a bit of a short arse I'm rocking this as a cute little baby doll. 

It's super roomy too. I'm generally a 26 but, typically, that was literally the only size they didn't have. So I sized down and I'm kinda glad I did. 

Also Dr Martens because I'm a 90's babydoll, ok?

Anything you have your eye on in Yours?

The Curve Fashion Festival 2015 (part 2)

In this post I wanted to focus a little more on the festival itself. It's more than obvious I had a great time. But what was actually going on?

The event was held at the Manchester Central Convention Complex. As the space is designed to hold events like this there was a noticable different to previous events I had attended, mostly the space. There were wider areas to walk around. However a lot of the stalls were bunched together and it felt a bit like a Christmas market. If you stopped to talk to someone there was soon a bit of a jam with people struggling to get past.

There was a great mix of brands; high end and high street to independent companies. Not just clothing either! There was jewellery, a photography studio, artists, and my favourite: a spa treatment tent offering massages, manicures, and pedicures from as little as £5! After a long day on my feet my foot massage was a life saver!

Andrew Wood Photography had a little pop up studio for you to strike a pose!

With it being such a long day seating and refreshements are pretty important and these were provided with a pop up shop offering sandwiches and hot pasties, as well as fresh fruit, and hot and cold drinks. The seating was ok, but given that this was an event catering to bigger people I think it might have been appreciated to provide better seating than flimsy metal chairs with arms. Not so easily accessible for everyone. But it was certainly appreciated to have a space to take a breather and catch up with friends.

Also importantly was everything was on one level, including the toilets, and they were situtated just outside the conference room which was better for disability access and not wandering around a labyrinth and missing out on all the fun! 

The catwalk felt quite inaccessable for many that had paid. It was situated quite far back and unless you were lucky to get the side seats you were standing up at the back just to get a look. This was disappointing as attendees were charged to view the catwalks and I felt the layout should have been fairer. 

Speaking of the catwalk, this part of the event was the only real disappointment for me. Considering this was an event to celebrate plus size and curvy people the models used by every single brand were thin (and predominantly white too.) Very disappointing that brands who are happy to take our money refuse to use our bodies to represent them. 

No shade to the models who were all beautiful and just doing their jobs, but I felt it was inappropriate and a bit of slap in the face to have a whole day dedicated to the plus size, only to be let down this way. 

Needless to say I didn't attend the second catwalk. 

Thankfully this was the only real let down. The day was a roaring success and a great time had by all. I hope it continues to be a bigger, better event for years to come.

Did you go? What did you enjoy most?

The Curve Fashion Festival 2015 (Part 1)

There's going to be a whole bunch of blog posts about this event going around by people vastly more prepared than me, who remembered to take notes and photographs. I am no such person. But I do want to make a point of writing more about my personal interactions at the event and I may later blog more about the event itself as there are things I wanted to talk about.
But I'm still buzzing from it all so I wanted to share all the good stuff first.
The biggest part of the day for me was how much fun I had in the company of fellow bloggers, most of whom I had not met before or had interacted very little with. The sense of excitement and community that was buzzing around the room was very difficult not to get wrapped up in.

I had the pleasure of travelling up with Sarah, Tanya, Sharon, and Becky. The night before we attended a swing dance class, with many laughs to be had as well as some questionable dancing skills from fellow attendees, before bedding down for the night ready for our 7am start. The whole day was just a mix of belly laughing, hugs, and excited chatter.

Before I even had the chance to go inside I became acquainted with a host of new, friendly faces who were generous with warm hugs and welcomes. That was a theme throughout the day. Despite barely knowing anyone it was understood that we were all there for a common goal: to celebrate each other and enjoy a moment that was for us, without judgement, and with love.

I had my reservations; being an new and unknown person in the plus blogging scene, I felt a little intimidated not knowing anyone and seeing the many groups all coming together. But my fears were easily laid to rest as I was pulled in for selfies, lavished with compliments, and chatting so easily with so many strangers.

Amazing dress from Lisa Riley's new range.

Met this fabulous babe, Kat Henry, for the first time

Some posi messages from Curvy Kaye's stall.

L-R Sarah, Nikki, Becky.

Lolly Likes

Of course it wasn't all about hanging out and there was a lot of amazing styles to be seen, from attendees as well as on the hangers. While I forgot to snap an OOTD Becky and I were paped by the SLiNK Magazine crew for theor streetstyle tag.

Image taken from SLiNK Magazine Instagram.

I will be reviewing this dress soon so keep your eyes peeled!

BLOG SALE! SOME ITEMS ONLY £5 OR LESS! SIZE 20-26

Welcome to my blog sale! Many items are reduced from previous sales posts. Many items down to £5!

Items include dresses, skirts, accessories and jewellery.

Paypal only please! 

P&p is £3 unless stated otherwise.
If there is anything you like or want more information on email me at chipsarewellnice@gmail.com

New Look Inspire gold sequin knee dress. Never worn!

Knee length

Size 26

Please note there is some fraying on a hanging strap but does not affect the dress.

£20

SOLD

New Look Inspire bird print dress.

Bought from another blog sale but doesn't suit me.

Size 26

£10

Torrid cherry print halterneck dress

Size 22

£10

SOLD

Peacocks flamingo shirt (mens) 

Size XXL

£10

Never worn.

£5 or less sale!

New Look Inspire Daisy cardigan dress
Size 24
£5


SOLD

South tropical print mini skirt
Size 24
£5

New Look Inspire velour skater skirt with gold detailing

Size 24

£5

Red polkadot jumpsuit (still has tags on)

Size 20

£5

SOLD

New Look Inspire tropical print skirt

Size 26

£5

Dorothy Perkins floral print dress

Size 22

£5

Evans jade green chiffon dress (lined)

Size 24

£5

Jade green pencil skirt, never worn (ebay)

I *think* this is a size 26 but the label says a 10!

Measurements unstretched 22.5in/57cm waist.

Material is very stretchy.

Red and white striped knitted cardigan (ebay)

Size 26

£5
SOLD

Black cloche hat

57cm diameter

£3

All hair accressories and jewellery 50p!!

p&p £1

SOLD