Now this post is a bit picture heavy for the following reasons:
1. It was an extremely aesthetically pleasing evening.
2. I had a wonderful time.
3. There was a photographer there and he managed to get my good side more than once...
A couple of weeks ago I was invited to the launch of the Navabi Collection in London. Navabi are online purveyors of Premium plus size fashion, with Carmakoma, Live unlimited and Isolde Roth amongst the brands available. Their website is utterly dreamy; extremely aspirational and you can lose hours on it (I regularly do...)
Becky and I made a day of it, had some vino and headed to the WGSN offices in London, where we were spoilt rotten with bubbly, canapes and an extremely warm welcome from the whole Navabi team.
The night just kept getting better, as we were then audience to the following inspirational women:
Chief Merchant at Navabi, Miriam Lahage - Miriam's passion is incredible, she set the scene for the night perfectly with her knowledge, style and desire to get us all inolved with the Navabi Collection.
WGSN's Sara McCorquodale - Sara's CV blew my mind, she has worked with Conde Naste, the BBC and The Guardian amongst others (And she only looked 21 so goodness knows how she fit it all in) She took us through some truly eye opening trend forcasting, looking at current and upcoming style trends and vitally; how inspirational plus size models have become on instagram - And this isn't just a flash in the pan Ladies, plus style is here and it isn't going away (THANK GOODNESS)
 |
| Buying Director Cheryl Coucher explaining how the Navabi Collection was born |
Navabi Buying Director, Cheryl Coucher - Cheryl took us through her vision for the Navabi Collection and why she is so invested in it - She was also hilarious and is clearly the kind of woman who won't stand for less than top quality. |
| Fabulous Designer Christine Checinska taking us through the Navabi collection |
Navabi Designer, Christine Checinska - Christine is someone you want to be friends with: Chic, animated and oh so much fun.
Christine took us through the Collection, sharing the influences and thought
processes behind each piece.
This may sound silly BUT; Everyone was stylish, talented and fascinating. They were also women, women who want to wear nice clothes, who like to spend time with their friends drinking wine and putting the world to rights. I quite often forget that fashion is dreamed up and designed by people who really aren't that different to me. Getting to know them a bit better added value to what is already an extremely impressive range.
 |
We were finally given free reign over the collection and were like kids in a sweetie shop. The quality is unlike much of what we have come to expect from a plus size range. For a start, the whole collection flows - The colour palette is stunning and the mix in textures and shapes means that you could put a capsule wardrobe together from this and need nothing else. Take this shirt, it's smart enough to wear to work but the dip hem makes it interesting enough to wear over jeans with a statement necklace to the pub. Each element of an item is put together well, there is no pulling, no hoiking and no sweaty fabrics..
This jersey shift dress was my piece of the night. The shape is my shape, the sleeves sit in the perfect part of my arm and the quality is utterly magnificent. I feel so mad men in it.
The plan is now as follows:
Wear it to work
Get promoted
Retire at 35
 Being able to try on a range in this way with a group of women with such different tastes and styles was just wonderful. Items which I would usually overlook were utterly stunning on others - Like this Blazer and Culottes on Chloe, I wouldn't have known where to start but I think we can all agree - SHE IS SO FREAKING COOL (and quite a bit gorgeous). |
 |
| A squat - A change from my standard deep lunge Back row: L-R Naomi, Katie, Georgina, Chloe, Danie, Isha, Hanna Front Row: Becky, Hollie, Christine Checinska, Chloe, Me, Syreeta |
There were beautiful faces I already knew and a few who I'd been really eager to meet, so amongst them, and the brilliant Navabi team, the company was utterly perfect. My face doesn't lie, I am genuinely that happy.
 |
| L-R Chloe, Me, Syreeta and Becky All of the coats above can be found on the Navabi website |
I'm going to leave you with this picture because it sums the whole evening up for me - Gorgeous women having a magnificent time with fabulous clothes. You know what? I didn't just come away from this event loving the clothes, I came away from this event feeling inspired - About fashion, about blogging, about being Plus sized. So a sincere thank you to Navabi - You're making a big difference just by being there.
Navabi interviewed me about style, blogging and, of course, the navabi collection - You can have a read here.
Em x
