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

She's A Beach: A Farewell To Summer.

That's it folks. All 5 days of it. /sarcasm.

Summer is over and with it the cooler nights drawing in quicker and leaves starting to tumble around us. Looking out of my window as I write this I see a grey sky and so I wanted to give a wistful farewell to summer. I felt this was also appropriate given a lot of negativity surrounding the plus size community with Nicole Arbour and recent let downs from Lane Bryant and Evans. 

This isn't a particularly ground breaking outfit but it was to me. This summer was the first time in my life that I wore a short skirt and my bare legs out. 

Fat girl with legs out; world falls into anarchy and chaos. Or not.

As someone who's pretty dang fat, and has been for most of her life, I can't tell you the fear that comes with baring your flesh. My tattoos have given me the confidence to bare my wobbly arms, and mostly because I loathe being too hot. But legs? My legs have always been a point of weakness for me. 

Strolling along that beach I almost felt angry at myself because the wind and the sun on my legs felt so amazing and I had denied myself it for so many years. But I had to remember that I'd also spent the majority of my twenty nine years being told that my body should be hidden, that it was disgusting to see, so how I felt had never really come into it. Turning your back on many years of learned, toxic self hatred takes time, so I let the disappointment pass and actually enjoyed how my body felt felt for once in my life. 

Sometimes you have to take a risk.

I'm glad I pushed myself out of my comfort zone. To know I can do this, that it's another step towards loving myself and not punishing myself for looking the way I do, as though I should be ashamed. 

Plus that sun feels damn good. 

#DearFatPeople: An Open Letter

If, like me, you were unlucky enough to have curiosity get the better of you and you watched the latests video from Nicole Arbour then you may be feeling the same mix of anger and sadness when something liek this comes around, and they do often. I wouldn't suggest watching it, if nothing else I'm angry at myself for giving her the numbers. 

There will always be people in this world who hate fat people. It is something that has been so deeply ingrained into society, into our mindset, that sometimes we don't even realise we're being offensive. 

But that doesn't mean that we don't fight, that we don't support and uplift each other.

So I decided to start a hashtag #dearfatpeople as a means to share your love and appreciation for fellow fatties, to celebrate their strengths and uplift them in the darker days.

But here's a longer letter for you.

Dear Fat People,

 You have the right to exist without people maing assumptions or judgements about you, your health, your lifestyle, and certainly not your worthiness of love and respect. Asking for common decency afforded to those with a smaller waistline is not you gloryfying anything. 

You are not encouraging anyone to do anything other than treat you like a human being. You are entitled to live your life in peace.

Being fat is pretty political. Straight away the choices you make and the way you look are up for public duscussion. Everyone's opinions and feelings about the way you live you life are seemingly up for consideration. Suddenly everyone becomes a qualified doctor or nutrionist, and seemingly YOUR personal doctor too. The Univeristy of Google's finest graduates come flocking to suck their teeth, roll their eyes, and merely point out they are worried for your health, as though they have any idea whatsoever what that means just from looking at you.

So, Dear Fat People, 

You are worthy of love.

You are capable of great things.

You are allowed to love yourself.

You are allowed to have bad days. Be kind to yourself. 

You are amazing!

The Curve Fashion Festival 2015

I'm on a count down. Only three weeks until the Curve Fashion Festival in Manchester!

What's The Curve Fashion Festival?

Well let me tell ya! CFF is a fantastic new event this year taking place at Manchester Central Exchange Hall. There's oodles of plus size fashion related fun waiting for you with confirmed brands including Asos, New Look, Boohoo, and Evans as well a bunch of indie brands to name a few!

What can I expect there?

There's going to be catwalks, celebrity panals, pop up meet and greets, shopping stalls from lots of fabulous plus size brands. Oh and did I mention there's a campagne bar and afternoon tea restaraunt?

Zoowee mama! You said celebrity panalists. Who's going to be there?

Tess Holliday, Hayley Hassellhoff, Style Me Curvy blogger Louise O'Reilly, and Nicolette Mason are but to name a few of the faces you'll see!

.........

There's a bunch of information about the event, including information about the venue itself and how to get there. You can find this, and more, at http://www.thecurvefashionfestival.co.uk/

This is a ticket only event! So don't miss out and grab yours here: http://www.thecurvefashionfestival.co.uk/tickets2.html

I'm super stoked for this event. Will I see you there?

........

You can find me on Tumblr & Instagram! 

Wedded Bliss

Having been on a bit of a hiatus I'm snatching a quiet moment while visiting family up north. I guess it qualifies as my summer holiday? So, last week I attended by cousins wedding.

After catching a gorgeous vintage bus to the church, a lovely traditional ceremony, and then a bus trip to the venue it was time for dinner, speeches and dancing (and a little bit of blubbing.)

There was a fancy dress box, a sweetie bar, and games which all made for a fantastic evening.

A lovely summer wedding calls for lovely summer colours. This dress from Praslin has been sitting in my wardrobe since last year. I picked it up on eBay for about £30. 

The material is just gorgeous.  A lovely soft cotton that was nice and light and so was ideal for a long day to keep me cool. The dress is also fully lined. The cross over deep v neckline gave me plenty of room for my boobs. In fact a little too much room so for a little modesty in family company I had to get a couple of safety pins. 

To complete my look I treated myself to a beautiful hair flower from Lady Luck's Boutique. I had a real job choosing from the many, many amazing flowers but I figured a wedding called for big so I opted for the 'Queenie' Stargazer Lily and Cherry flower.  I also picked up a pair of their Oversized Round Tiki Bamboo earrings. I'd really struggled to find bamboo jewellery and these were the cheapest I'd found. Always a bonus!

My handbag was a real find! I discovered an amazing rockabilly website in Germany called Killer Kirsche, who stock so many handbags I'm now coveting that I'm pretty much set for the next 40 Christmas and birthdays. I picked up this adorable Kustenluder basket. 

My biggest bargain were these hella cute espadrille wedges I got from eBay for £8.99 secondhand. Turns out they were Russell and Bromley who, if like me, you had no idea who they were retail for around £250+! My'shawl' is actually an infinity scarf I picked up from Primark about a year ago for a couple of quid and voila! 

Are you attending any weddings this summer?