Just another blogging challenge - My pick of the Sales


As I'm sure you may know, or even agree, Evans hasn't always been my go to brand for Plus size clothing, especially trend led. Lately though I think my opinion is going to be drastically changed. Some point last year, when they released 'collections' I spotted this dress and immediately wanted it, the only thing stopped me as always was the price point. £50 for what looked like a printed jersey midi dress just wasn't worth it. Working in the fashion industry you learn how items are priced and what percentage a mark up tends to be against the cost price to retail price (yes having this information is horrible, especially when you work out how little it cost the brand to buy it initially to how much it is for us to buy in store.) Anyway I went home for Xmas and decided to go sale shopping in Cardiff on boxing day to spend some money. As I traveled in so early I went in every shop I could waiting for the next to open. Luckily Evans opened fairly early so I decided to take a look for a new pair of boots. When walking in I spotted it on the sale rack and ran to check out the new price. £20 down within 2 mins this dress was in my shopping bag. I love the fabric, fit and the print (basically everything about it.) I'm not sure on the colour, blue isn't a colour I have a lot of in my wardrobe but I think it's a good addition.





I have seen a lot of bloggers snapping it up in the Xmas Sales. Have you grabbed this bargain?


Love
Michaela
xo

Silky


A bit late to the blog but when Anna Scholz held their annual sample sale (not only as a staff member but as an avid Anna Scholz follower) I jumped at the chance to pop LOTS on to my credit card.

The following dresses I purchased were samples with some not being put in to production (one of a kind pieces.) I also purchased along with these some jersey pieces which I will pop on here once photographed. I would easily say these three are my favourite pieces. Made from silk, whenever I wear them I feel amazing. As biased as it probably sounds Anna's creations are amazing. From the print right down to the shape and style, I've never really saw anything of hers and thought 'that's terrible.' Of course knowing my shape and what suits I've also never bought anything that wouldn't suit, but I've never felt lost for choice for options. 






I can't get enough of Anna Scholz and I can not wait for you to see the new Spring/Summer collection Anna has up her sleeve.

Love
Michaela
xo


Modern and Minimal



Love
Michaela
xo

New Years eve

New year is always that night out that everyone becomes fixated on, and if it doesn't turn out amazing well that it the whole years ruined. I for one can vouch that it isn't true. New Years eve 2012 was awful, I'd just made the move to London and knew no one and the one person I did know was so fixated on the fact her boyfriend of a week couldn't come out because he was stricken with the flu. Anyway this New years, as soon as I knew I was moving back to London I had already told the girls to try book the time off. I was back to South Wales for Christmas but I would be back in London to New Year. One of my best friends Sarah booked it off straight away. The poa was to come up a few days before so I could take her to explore London. This we did, but when I say explore London I showed her Big Ben and the London eye for half hour then we hit Oxford street. My other best friend Sara-Jane (yes this name does confuse conversation) wasn't sure of her plans until 3pm New Years Eve when I got the call SHE WAS COMING. So yeah as well as my two flatmates my two best girls were here to bring in the new year. I can't explain how amazing it was, it wasn't even that much a drunken blur it was just the best way to end an already fantastic year, despite Primrose hill being a complete and utter mud bath. 

Here's a few pictures of the night anyway including what I wore:


Top - Old New Look Limited edition
Skirt - Primark






Love
Michaela
xo

Goodbye 2013


A rather late reflection but one nether the less, 2013 has been the beginning of a happier and even more confident me. I won’t bore with detailing the in’s and out’s but I can safely say I met the best people, gained the most amazing experiences and finally settled in a place that I can call home. ( I hope I've kept this brief and readable.) 

The beginning of the year revolved around the big move to London to start interning with Anna Scholz and the New Look Inspire team.  6 months of no wage is a daunting thought as it is but by saving throughout 2012 and help from my parents I got through. Of course I can’t say one bad word about any of my placements, each teaching me completely different things and pursuing my interest with in the plus size industry.  I met amazing inspiring people and have taken on so much more knowledge than I didn't know previous. I was also lucky to work on the British Plus Size Fashion weekend along with many other projects revolving around the plus size industry. 
 With no wage and no savings left by July, I had to make the dreaded move back to South Wales. Fortunately I have the most amazing bunch of friends who eased the pain A LOT. I applied for jobs the whole month of July solid and was lucky to get one within a call center. To clear something’s up, NO it’s nothing like working at the ‘call center’ on BBC, but yes it is probably the easiest and funniest job to have. I went through 6 weeks of training with some of the best people, each day was a giggle. Passing all tests, I was on my way to pass probation when I had an email calling me to London for an interview with Anna Scholz. Now don’t get me wrong being back home was great, no rent to pay, I was lucky to have met an amazing man , I had all my friends near and even more fortunate it was SUMMER but it still couldn't take away the disappointment I wasn't in London. After coming from the interview, I had to wait a few days to find out if I got the job. Hiding it from people was a nightmare; I couldn't face the embarrassment if I was unfortunate to not get the job. Of course this wasn't’t the case and a few days later I received the news I was coming back to London, working in a job and with a company/team that I grew to love previous months before. 
 Getting the job meant moving back to London and looking for a place to live. No way was I making the same mistake as last time and living with a living nightmare. As if by fate, two internet friends (my now flatmates) were looking to move, so our adventure as a threesome (HEY!) began. Two weeks to find somewhere to live, find the deposit and first month’s rent and to actually move, yeah did I say adventure? I meant challenge.  Our fairy god mother answered our preys and we found the purple palace. The moment we stepped in we immediately wanted It, it had nothing to do with the fact the whole kitchen is purple honest! Along with this stress/excitement, me and the amazing man (yeah I pretty much had everything I wanted in one person :( ) parted ways, the reality of me being 100 miles away working mon-fri 9-5, whilst he was still at uni and working in a bar just wasn't do able. Another one for the failed romances (swear I should write a book, Michaela: her complicated and ridiculous love life,) I am still fortunate to keep in touch though (we have way too much in common not to.) Anyway where was I, the Purple Palace. The last two months couldn't have been more enjoyable. Living with two friends who are more like sisters, the stories we could tell already would fill a book. Drunken adventures, fashion faux pas, accidents, boy troubles, blasting music, and that was just NYE. I've truly found a place I can most definitely call home for a while. My contracts on a temporary maternity cover at the moment but I just know I’ll be in London no matter where I’ll be working for a few years to come, 2014 no exception.


 I won’t bore you any longer but I will be scheduling a post with my resolutions up, none have been broken so far (1 week down.) Anyway to close up, I truly hope everyone’s 2013 has been as incredible as mine. I've grown in confidence, have an amazing support group around me and can only feel myself growing in 2014. I tend to reflect back to when I was 18 and can't believe how in 5 years everything's changed and I'm living the the life I could only dream of.

Love
Michaela

xo