Monochrome Madness

Monochrome is a classic fashion trend which is stylish, sleek and chic. Lately I've been indulging in a lot of colourful additions to my wardrobe. With the weather becoming sluggish I've become drawn back to the greys, blacks and white whilst window shopping. 

I pieced this outfit together with the idea of a few drinks down the pub or a smart outfit for work. Moving home it seems all I do is either spend time at the pub and socialising with friends or unpacking (still!!!!). I've also gained myself two jobs since moving back so from August onwards I'm going to be none stop working. 

Shirt - Asos Curve boyfriend shirt

Jeans - Asos curve skinny jean

Jacket - New Look Inspire waterfall zip pocket

Earrings - New Look silver spike chain earrings

Rings - Asos 8 pck rings

Shoes - Evans collection block heeled shoes

I'm hoping as soon as payday comes the majority of these items will still be available. The yes and no on the collars is such a edgy addition to a plain white boyfriend shirt. The shoes are very similar to my Zara heels. I find the front strap on them a little tight so I'm hoping to get these as I'm sure they'd accommodate my wide feet.

Have you got any of these items? Would love to know what you think. 

Love

Michaela

xo

Asos Curve goodies

Recently the blogging world has exploded with near enough every blog I read giving away a £30/£40 Asos Curve voucher . With having no wage for the past 8 months I've entered hoping for the chance to break my spending ban ( I stopped myself spending the month of April and it expanded to july. Don't ask me how I did it lol ) I was fortunate to win via Naomi's blog a £30 voucher. This along with a £10 voucher I received for my birthday I combined them both to purchase two items.

I fell in love with the skirt when I worked at New Look head office with the inspire team. It was in fit sessions and on the rack, every time I saw it I was hoping I could grab it to take home. Alas as I left the internship I didn't leave with the skirt but I have kept a close eye on the Asos Curve New Look exclusive.  When it came up on my screen I instantly popped it in my saved to purchase. 


The kimono has been a style I've um'd and argh'd over for a while. When I saw the kimono on the website I popped it in my saved. The floral material is in about 4 different items (jumpsuit, culottes & cold shoulder dress) all in my saved item. I tried to reason and justify what it was I wanted and jumped at the chance to order the kimono to try. It is now out of stock on the site but hopefully more will be coming in.


Skirt - New Look Inspire for Asos Curve   Kimono - Asos Curve Kimono jacket (OUT OF STOCK) Vest- New Look 

I can't wait to wear these items. I think they can be dressed up easily or dressed down. I can team them with pretty much anything. The bodycon midi style is a skirt style that I recently have loved. I have a skinny waist, smallish kness but huge hips and this style just shows my shape off. The kimono is baggy, something I do try to avoid as I like to show off my shape but it sits in a way it doesn't add or bulk the body. It's floaty and light and is a great cover up for the summer. 

Love

Michaela

xo

my body! my business!

So I have now been home 3 weeks today. Within these 3 weeks I've signed on to job seekers, somehow now managed to get 2 jobs and finally managed to catch up with all my friends and family. 
I never ever wanted to leave London. Not only for the independence reasons but due to the worry of having to come back to town with such a small minded mentality. 

In the last 6 years (since leaving comprehensive school) I have learnt to accept and love my body for the way it is. I have fluctuated between sizes and weights I'll admit, but I always have and probably always will be plus size. 

I say since leaving comprehensive school because those 5 years become an awkward battle with being happy and accepting myself. Not only were they the most crucial years turning into a woman but I believe they were the years that truly shaped me. 

I have been bullied all my life throughout education, comprehensive school definitely didn't get any easier. Forever being ashamed as I couldn't fit in the uniforms provided and having to adapt mine to fit, teachers trying to convince me to lose weight and be like 'the other kids', not forgetting the horrible taunts and names teenagers come up with. I found my feet though through a group of friends with the same interests. I owe everything to that group of people who took me in without judging me on anything but my music taste. 


Through university, in my final year I finally took the courage to devote all of my research into what was (and what some may say still) a neglected part of the fashion industry. I had never ever been encouraged to devote so much time or research into this area despite always being plus size. If anything I was always told I couldn't more than I could throughout my educational years. 

Plus size is still not at the point of full acceptance. Between plus size bloggers/fashionistas amongst there is a clear understanding but to those unknown there is still a lot in the way of education and changing mentality towards the word 'fat' and plus size.


I come from a small town just at the beginning of the valleys. The majority of people here are supportive, kind and generous. Like every place it has it's black sheep. If your not down the local pub on a weekend, you're in having a take away. It's a town where people talk and chinese whispers turns from a game to a real life reality. I haven't lived here properly for the last 4 years and well nothings changed. 

When the opportunity arose to move to London and help pursue my career I took the bull by it's horns and left. I didn't even think twice. When it come to the reality I had to move back I was literally a bag of nerves. Excited to see my friends but nervous and worried I would cave back in my shell and not feel happy, confident and most importantly accepted like I had been in London.


Reading things between people I knew ' I'm glad we share a hatred of fat people,' ' sat with a fat woman in front of me on the beach, put it away.' The whole 6 months I spent in London never did I become victim to fat shaming, if anything it shocked me at how un acknowledged I was, but how supportive the people who I met were about my body shape. 

Never had I had someone be jealous of my big bum, envious of my small waist and huge hips. The experiences and people I met in London completely opened my eyes to a full acceptance to who I am.

To the point of this little rant though. I've been back in Risca 3 weeks. I've experienced more small mindedness in these past 3 weeks than I did in 6 months.  I've been told how ugly I am and how I shouldn't be proud to show my body in a tight dress and how I should dress appropriately but what concerns me more is the amount of fat shaming I've experience from my own mother. 'you're wearing your 'fat pants' with that outfit aren't you?' you're not wearing a short tight dress like that?'


Through my experience though I think I am now fully acceptable of my size, shape and body. Where as before I would of caved in, cried, hated myself and dug myself in a downward spiral I haven't. I've completely shrugged it off and not let it eat away at the surface. 

I think the whole point to this was just to reflect and thank my whole experience of living in London, the people I met and the people who believed in me enough to accept me into their businesses to work. I'm gutted I'm not living there anymore, but I will always keep in contact with everyone I met. I'm already planning my return, to a place I believe is more home now than Risca will ever be

Love 

Michaela

xo

Neon highlight

I've recently become obsessed with neon. Whether it's hints of neon in statement jewelry or clothing, I'm obsessed with pairing things in my head with something bright and eye catching. This out no exception. I swapped my clubcard points in the last exchange to pick this top up from tesco for £5. The skirt is my favourite all time print/material Polka dot. As soon as I saw this for a tenner my mind was set and the debit card was out. 

I wore this out last night for a girls night out in Newport. The sun was shining and I felt so confident and happy in this outfit.

Top - Tesco

Skirt - George Asda

Belt -Primark

Shoes - Primark

Bag - New Look

How have you all been enjoying this summer sunshine? Heat too much? 

Love 

Michaela

xo

Swimsuit body

So the UK has been blessed with sun, heat and SUMMER. With temperatures reaching 30 degrees in some parts summer has well and truly arrived. 

My step mum bought a 15ft pool years ago and this weekend it came out of the shed and filled to the brim with water.


I've spent near enough every minute of the past weekend in the pool and lazing in my swimsuit. It didn't take too much guts really to post my swimsuit body. I'm proud of my shape, body and I love my shape in this swimsuit so much. It's came on my last three holidays with me so has had plenty of wear. 


I'm posting it here just to show how proud I am of my body and how un ashamed of it I am.

Swimsuit - Mums Catalogue (possibly Kay&co) circa 2010

Excuse the hair and make up less face. Two little siblings + one of me = demolished haha

I really want to buy the Swimsuits for all Polka Dot high waist bikini to replace this but right now money is tight. I'd love to rock it on my next beach holiday. Maybe I can trick my parents in to a early Christmas present ;). 

Love

Michaela

xxxx

POP!

A must have trend up and down the high street is the comic book print. I was fortunate to pick up this comic book print midi dress from New looks Inspire Range.

This is the first print released and it sold out immediately. I loved how it popped out but wasn't too eye catching by not filling in the lettering. I love the body con midi shape as it is but on my first night back to Wales I knew this dress was enough to dress up but keep it casual.

I teamed it with a flash of neon, something I'm doing a lot recently. The night was full of drunken madness and laughter. Seriously missing London but I've missed my girls and it feels really good to be back at the moment (let's see how long this will last.)

I'm hoping this trend lasts for a while so I can wear this a couple of times.

I'm thinking of teaming it up with high top converse for a daytime look.

Love

Michaela

xxx