The Em Edit

The Tall Girl Dream - Simply Be Floral Midi Dress

Saturday, September 12, 2015

Don't panic, you've not missed a freak British heatwave; These pictures were taken in Seville where I've just been for an anniversary trip. Seville is literally the most magical place on Earth but I've been told to stop saying this because there were a lot of holiday goers there this year and my husband doesn't like to share...

Closet Midi Dress - Simply Be

Just a quick post to share a wonderful last minute holiday find with you:

A MIDI DRESS THAT GOES BELOW THE KNEE.

I know, I know, I've proven before that this can happen but I will never ever tire of it.

I bought this Closet dress on a recent trip to Simply Be in Doncaster: The larger lady's shopping paradise, with the ever ravishing Becky. I was immediately drawn to the length (obviously) but the colours and floral print also rock my world hard. It's very pretty without having to be too dressy which is a win for me.

It's a truly lovely, well made, well fitting dress. Just size down, I'm generally a 16 but this is a 12 - it's the VERY stretchy material.

So that's it now. End of the sun. BRING ON THE ROLLNECKS!!!

Em x

High Fashion With Yours Clothing

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Fashion week is almost upon us, as such I have taken the unprecedented seasonal step of FLASHING MY LEGS. These legs are very brown. Very brown indeed. They've had a full week in the sun so even if they look whiter than a polar bear, I can assure you that they are not (They are. They really are)

Floral Skater Skirt - Yours Clothing
Chiffon Blouse with jeweled collar - Yours Clothing
Wedge Ankle Boots - Yours Clothing
Earrings - Yours Clothing

I can't lie, when I hear the words "High Fashion", I think "not terribly wearable" but these last three words are not synonymous with Yours Clothing so in putting together this outfit I've gone for a wearable yet fashionable silhouette which is one you won't usually see on me. Saying this, I love the shape that you can get from scuba - the effect of a full skirt without the masses of fabric, and over a fitted shirt I think it looks very chic indeed. The detailing on the collar of this shirt is utterly beautiful - to be honest, there was no need for the earrings but I just like them so very much that I bling-ed it up to the max. Finally, the boots are a size 9 and are ridiculously comfortable (Again, not very high fashion of me...)

My absolute dream high fashion look is basically anything Vivienne Westwood - I know so many women love a bit of Viv - For me it's the structure, the bold prints and STUPIDLY high platforms. In fact, Yours are giving a strong nod to this look in their A/W range: Tartans shawls, chunky ankle boots and tailored shirts - I can't wait to get my grubby little mits on some of it.

Just a few words of advice with these items:

The skirt comes up big - Like REALLY big. This is a 16 and I think I could have gone at least two sizes smaller to wear it on my waist - So size down!

The shirt is a bit on the tighter size. This is an 18 and it is a bit gapey around the busoms - So size up!

(Yours' sizing is generally spot on for me so this is a one off)

UKPSFW is this weekend and it looks to be fabulous - I'll be keeping my eyes open for some catwalk inspo!

Em x

The Complexities of Plus Size Office Wear

Thursday, August 27, 2015

I work in an office which until recently had an extremely relaxed dress code, I still dressed professionally but occasionally jeans and casual dresses would sneak in. A recent change in this code gave me an excuse to think a bit more about what I put on mah bodeh of a morning.

Roll neck sleeveless top - H&M (Similar Here)
Floral Trousers - River Island (Similar Here)
Tote Bag - Accesorize (Similar Here)
Shoes - New Look (Similar Here)

This outfit is one which I felt absolutely excellent in. Sadly none of the items are currently available as they were last year's purchases but I've linked to similar above so you can peruse if you like what you see. I like how the snazzy pants allow a bit of personality to shine through with a touch of Summer. I probably wouldn't wear this for a merger meeting (Ya know, all those merger meetings I attend..) I like shoulder pads when I'm being an all powerful bizzness bitch, but this is perfect for day to day.

As I've said before, I don't love my arms - So I've forced myself to have a think about why this is - My arms aren't defined, they aren't tanned, I assume there are some muscles in there but they're not really that visible... But why do I want my arms to look like that...? Fat is not bad. Undefined is not bad. It's just different from what I'm used to seeing on the TV, most of the internet and shop windows (I don't read magazines any more - They're bullshit). It's like a false reality. I've been trained to think that the way I look is in some way bad. Which it is not. Not at all. I hate doing what I'm told. HATE IT. So why on Earth am I letting people (mostly men) I don't even know and certainly don't value tell me how I should be presenting myself to the world? WHY GUYS WHY?!?!?

This is a really long way of saying - Look, this top is sleeveless. I bought it a long time ago and every time I've put it on I've though nah. NO MORE MY FRIENDS. NO MORE. I've basically realised that life is too short to be uncomfortable and for worrying about what other people think. Especially when there's a strong chance that they're not even thinking it anyway. I also truly believe that all bodies are good bodies. I look professional, I look comfortable, I look like someone who can do their job without sweating my boobs off (Although I probably still will...)

I will never ever ever ever EVER tell anyone what to do and what not to do - It's your life for crying out loud, if you want to wrap yourself in a giant cape and stick a balaclava on top you have my full support. I can however, recommend that if you're avoiding wearing or doing something or are struggling to like something about yourself, think about why you feel that way. I've found that in these circumstances it's very rarely my own values and opinions which are influencing me...

From L- R
Black Floral Print Joggers - River Island (Sizes 6 - 18)
Paisley Print Straight leg Trousers - M&S (Sizes 8 - 24)
Cropped Floral Print Trousers - Simply Be (Sizes 12 - 32)
Monochrome Floral Print Trousers - F&F (Sizes 8 - 20)
White and Blue Floral Print Trousers - Yours Clothing (Sizes 14 - 26)

In the absence of the snazzy pants I'm wearing, some of my current favourite florals are above. They're just so versatile - Mondays need never be dull again!

Em x

#SwimStories with Curvy Kate

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Last month, the wonderful team from Curvy Kate swept me off to the swanky Chelsea Harbour Hotel in London in order to get a sneak peak of their first ever Autumn/Winter bikini range.

We spent the morning in the Blue Harbour Spa with its sauna, steam room and what I imagine to be usually peaceful serenity pool (when it's not full of bloggers and CK girls pretending to be mermaids and leaving bum prints on the wall...) We were then given an incredible hand massage - I hold a LOT of tension in my forearms allegedly, it's all the activities I do. I honestly left feeling like I could quite happily be a rich person for a day or two without feeling too bad about it.

After some extreme splashing, ducking and heavy petting, we were fed and watered on the stunning terrace, overlooking the harbour and a plethora of probably really inexpensive yachts...

Seriously, the Chelsea Harbour hotel is A-MAZING. I have NEVER been anywhere so smart (Not even the Hull Campamile is at this level). The decor is breathtaking, the staff are wonderful and the service is utterly flawless. We even had a tour of one of the penthouse apartments which had to be seen to be believed.

FOOD. There was also big food made small in the form of mini burgers which I didn't photo because I was dagnamn eating it.

On the day, I wore the Plain Sailing underwired, padded plunge bikini top and Plain Sailing Fold brief which I utterly adore - Keep your eyes open for a full review very shortly! There was such a range of gorgeous body shapes on the day and the range truly has something for everyone. My girl Kate looked PHENOMENAL in the tankini and skirted brief and the ever decadent Nancy killed it in glamorous monochrome. Seriously, there were so many babes there looking breathtaking - If you don't believe me, take a look on the CK instagram.

Plain Sailing Bikini Top and Brief - Curvy Kate

In order to celebrate the launch of their first ever Autumn/Winter swimwear range, Curvy Kate want you to share your #swimstories on Twitter and Instagram. Whether it be funny, profound or downright naughty - WE ALL WANT TO KNOW, SO SHARE! As an added bonus, if you do, you’ll be in with a chance of winning a weekend away with Spa Breaks for you and a friend, along with 3 pieces from the new collection. The competition is being supported by lovely, lovely Figleaves some of whom I met on the day and are already stocking the entire collection here.

To hear my swim story, keep your eye on my instagram and twitter over the coming week. You don't want to miss it...well you do but I'm not going to let you....

Thank you so much to Curvy Kate, Figleaves, Chelsea Harbour Hotel and the Blue Harbour Spa for an incredible day. If you ever need someone to jump into your pool in exchange for tiny burgers again, I'm your woman.

Em x

Plus Sized Denim with Yours Clothing...

Sunday, August 16, 2015

I've found a wall that I really like, it could do with a bit of a clean but I am definitely not heading out into the streets of Sheffield with a soapy brush when I barely even wash my own windows so I'm afraid you'll have to deal with it. If it helps at all, it's around the back of a Subways so it smells of sandwiches and sadness which may also explain why I was so drawn to it...

High waisted Jeans - Yours
Tunic Top - Yours
Nelly Sandals - Topshop
Necklace - Vintage

I know that denim is ALWAYS in fashion but it genuinely seems to be going bonkers at the moment. These gorgeous Black Stretch High Waisted Jeans With Ripped Knees are how I'm wearing my denim this year. They're high waisted which is always a win for me and the rips are SO close to being on my knees (You know my thoughts on rips - I'm always a bit scared the bottom of the jeans is going to fall off and I'll end up looking like Huckleberry Finn...) You can also get these jeans in indigo and they go up to a size 28 - I'd say that these fit on the true to big side, I'm wearing a 16 but a 14 would have also been ace due to the stretch.

I wore the jeans with this lush sleeveless tunic which gives a nod to the 70s trend which Autumn is all about and which I am already stocking up on BECAUSE I CANNOT WAIT YO. Again, I'm wearing the 16 and it fits fabulously, if not a little snug around the ladies if ya catch my drift. I've worn it since without the belt and it looks ace with leggings and knee boots. If you're not the BFG then you could probably even wear it with tights. Without flashing your region. Unlike me.

The Nelly Sandals that i have worn to absolute death this Summer are currently in the sale in a size 8 for a bargain £30 and I really cant recommend them enough - Bigfeet of the world rejoice.

I wore this outfit for a jaunt around Sheffield which you will all get to know more about soon. Keep your peepers peeled and I can't wait to share - IT'S VERY EXCITING!!!

Em x

The Tall Girl Dream - Simply Be Floral Midi Dress

High Fashion With Yours Clothing

The Complexities of Plus Size Office Wear

#SwimStories with Curvy Kate

Plus Sized Denim with Yours Clothing...

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