Sunday Round Up......

Evenin' my lovelies!

Just dropping in and giving you all a little hello!

I've had a right busy week, on Monday I popped out for an evening at the theatre, how many of you remember Birds of a Feather? I know right! The 3 main cast members have gotten back together to do a tour and I have to say, they were as fabulous as ever, the original Essex girls as far as I'm concerned, gimme Chigwell over Towie any day! I mean check out that fabulous 80's style, Dorien gimme that hot pink blazer, NOW!

Tuesday I headed out for yummy munch at Miller & Carter with my lovely boys and girls from work, much wine and birthday cake was consumed and I went to work on Wednesday feeling rather worse for wear but enjoyed every minute and on Wednesday evening I had some lovely friends over for nails and gossip.

My main killer this past week has been the fact that it has been dress down ALL WEEK at work! Now, don't get me wrong, I have a ginormous wardrobe bursting to the brim with clothes, but the moment you ask me to choose a different outfit everyday I am totally bazingered! But I did notice something, I am a full on creature of habit and I am a total sucker for 3 classic trends, nautical, leopard print and florals. Every outfit has consisted of one of those trends I wish I had taken pictures but alas, I am a little bit camera shy at the moment, I had my hair extensions taken out last week and I am just getting used to my face without my long locks, feeling like a right munter!

Other things I have been upto just recently are......

Hanging around awesome market stalls eyeing up cute jewellery.....


Buying awesome new items from New Look Inspire & ASOS Curve.....

New Look Inspire

ASOS Curve

Scouring the t'interweb for my perfect pair of Converse......

Receiving awesome items to try out for my reviews week from Simply Be and Chubby Cartwheels.....

Chubby Cartwheels

Simply Be

Playing far too much 'Draw Something' and realising I cannot draw for shiz, if you want to have a laugh at my lack of artistic talent, my username is naomi_griffiths....

Trying desperately to find the perfect outfit to head down to Evans HQ tomorrow for the preview of 'Swan' by Clements Ribeiro......


Getting excited over heading over to Sutton Coldfield Vintage & Arts Fair next weekend.....

So keep checking back and I should have some interesting things to talk to you about v.soon!

BIG LOVE
XOXOXOX

Taking Some Deep Breaths.........oh and an OOTD!

Evening guys!

This is just a little post to say, I am still around but I am, to be honest, totally run down. I don't feel like I have much to contribute at the minute because I'm feeling so rubbish. Mainly just work, but life in itself is just a bit *Meh* I suppose.

There are some really great things going on over the next month, so I'll have lots to talk about as soon as I am over my January blues and I am feeling decent enough to actually put some decent clothes on, I'll be back on full form I'm sure!

Whilst I disappear, here are a few pics from an outfit I wore last Sunday for loungin', shopping and walking the Gizmo dog! P.S this is the H&M scarf that I made Lauren hunt the Oxford St store with me for! Cheers love!

Boots - Evans (few years ago)

Cardigan - £13 Primark
Black Tunic - £7 New Look Inspire (on sale)
Leggings - £10 ASOS Curve (Best legging ever, size down!)
Scarf - £7.99 H&M
Ring - Primark
Earrings - Select

Back Soon & Big Love
xoxox

Happy New Year! Resolutions & My First OOTD For 2012!

So it's 2012....

Happy New Year boys and girls!

This year I opted for a much more low key New Years Eve than usual. I went for a meal with my family and then just for a few drinks at my local before I stumbled home, left the family dancing away to some god awful DJ in the pub and settled myself in front of Jools Hollands 'Hootenanny'.

I wasn't planning on making much of a fuss outfit wise, but whilst mooching around my bedroom I clapped eyes on an old bow tie I had bought a few years ago for a Halloween outfit. Now, I'm the kinda person that once I have one little idea in my head I build on it, and the bow tie became the foundation for the rest of the outfit! Before I knew it I was fishing out a black dress, a few sparkles, slicking on as much eyeliner and gluing my fave false lashes! Just because I was staying low key, I felt no need to wear a matching low key outfit! I'd have probably wore the same thing just for sitting watching the event on TV! If you can't dress up on New Years Eve, when can you?!

Dress - £25 ASOS Curve (Also see THIS post)
Sequin Shrug - Yours Clothing (last year, Similiar one can be bought here)
Black Tights - $15 We Love Colors
Black Wedges - New Look Bow Tie - Charity Shop

This was only the second outing for my favourite LBD of the moment. My ASOS Curve vest dress with puffball skirt is fab, the only reason I am finding I am not wearing it more often is because I am conscious of it being very short! Why did I wear a bow tie? Well, why not! It was sitting looking at me and I thought to myself 'I realllllllllllly want to wear it!' So, I did! :)

One of my resolutions for 2012 is to be a little bit more daring with my outfits, ok, so a bow tie isn't exactly ground breaking but trying to be a little bit out of the ordinary and breaking the stereotype in a place like Wolverhampton is difficult! It's not a town that out rightly accepts anybody of any variation, if I was to walk into my office on dress down day in the 'Blogger Uniform' (See the gorge Amy Simon's post) I'd get looked at like I had gone mental! I love those looks on other people, but I am yet to start being so daring myself. I imagine if I lived in a diverse place like London, I could quite easily go about my business being exceptionally outrageous with my outfit choices, but out and about in Wolves I'd end up being flash mobbed by the local hoodies!

Another of my resolutions for 2012 is to get another hobby! Last year (or well, the end of 2010) my hobby was this, my blogging! I very rarely keep up hobbies once I start them but this was something that I am thrilled to bits that I persevered with! But now it is time to turn my hand to something else (don't worry I'm not going to be leaving the blog to wilt and wither!) I am desperately trying to find a dressmaking or sewing class local to me, but alas, it is proving difficult! I am always in awe of other Crafty bloggers like Shawna of Chubby Cartwheels and When In Doubt Wear Purple I seriously need to have a bash at something too me thinks! (Check out her awesome handmade leggings!)

Leggings - Chubby Cartwheels
(Many other styles and items available!)

Unlike the rest of the world at this time of year, who's only interest seems to be thrusting some kind of diet talk down your throat, I want to assure you that this my dears is and always will be a 100% diet talk free zone! I am already dreading turning up to work tomorrow and having to listen to the constant negative talk that goes round about fat*, and the continuous talk about how little so and so has eaten that day, so coming home to my blog is my little piece of heaven where I, or nobody else has to endure the constant diet drivel that goes on!

And that folks is pretty much the beginning of my 2012! Hopefully you will continue to come and have a nosey as the year goes on! Make sure you leave a comment!

Big Love
xoxoxo

*To anybody at work who may read this, this isn't to offend you in anyway, it's to let you know that you bore me senseless with your constant 'oh my god I'm so fat' nonsense! Shhhhhhhhh you are beautiful!

Oh I Do Love A Splurge! My Top Sale Picks!

Ello lovelies!

So, the sales are in full swing! Everyone rushes out to fill their baskets with tat that they really don't need but get carried away with the mad rush!

Myself, I'm not even braving angry shoppers in town centres, instead I have opted to do the sale mooch from the comfort of my own bedroom, and these are my top picks.....

1. Evans Collection Wide Leg Trousers - was £45, now £30

2. ASOS Curve 40's Floral Print Wrap Dress - was £40, now £28

3. H&M BiB Cardigan - was £24.99, now £12.49

4. Yours Clothing Black & Mustard Spot Tunic - was £22, now £12

5. Forever 21 Leatherette Bag - was £24.75, now £17.99

6. Carvela Kurt Geiger Lana Ballet Flat - was £95, now £39

7. Naturally Close @ Simply Be Teal Bra - was £16, now £8.40

8. Converse @ Schuh - was £51, now £39.99

I have already purchased the Yours Spot Tunic and am currently awaiting it's arrival and I have owned that really lovely teal bra from Simply Be for a while and have to say it is one of my fave pieces of lingerie. I am hoping to splurge on the H&M cardigan very soon but the rest, well, I will have to wait and see how the pennies fare!

What have you been sale splurging on?????

BIG LOVE
XOXOX

Awesome LBD alert!

Evenin' lovelies!

Quickie update! This just turned up today...

Vest dress with puffball skirt - £25 ASOS Curve

J'adore!
<3

So simple, but so many ways to dress this up! For any of you girlies like me who are on the very edge of being able to fit ASOS Curve, I have ordered this in a UK26 and it is super stretchy! Am thinking of ordering the pink one too!

Great little staple to the wardrobe! Will blog outfit pics soon as I wear it! :)

Big Love!
xoxox

Seeing Stars OOTD! So Fabulous @ Very.co.uk

Hi lovelies!

It's so good to be finally giving you a little outfit of the day! I am so rubbish at taking photos of my outfits, but after having a good old natter yesterday with the very awesome Em of Boombands, I decided sod it, if I have an outfit on and I'm lovin' it, you can have a good old mirror shot!

I clapped eyes on a fabulous star print tunic from Very's plus size range, So Fabulous, and I had to have it immediately! I am a sucker for star print and I am so glad it has come back around so quickly! I remember star print being around a couple of years ago, so when Dolce and Gabbana re-released this gorgeous cosmic delight on their 2011/2012 Autumn/Winter trend I was so excited when I saw it start trickling onto the high street!

The tunic is in a really comfy jersey fabric which hangs beautifully, I sized up as I wanted a really relaxed fit, it has great batwing-esque sleeves and has an elasticated fitted waist. The star print on the website pictures looks white, but in actuality it is a beige colour. I love it! Love, love love love it!

I wore it yesterday to the Simply Be launch of their Spring/Summer 2012 range, which I will post about in the next couple of days. I teamed it with my rust coloured leggings, biker jacket and some little flat suede shoes, comfy and chic me thinks! What do you think?

Star Print Tunic - £25 So Fabulous @ Very.co.uk
Leggings - ASOS Curve (Best leggings ever btw!)
Biker Jacket - Evans
Necklaces - Primark
Ring - Primark
Pillar Box Red Mani - Courtesy of the gorge Powderpuff Girls!

Big Love!
xoxox

Top of the spots! Celeb style steal!

Ello lovelies!

I promise I will post properly and update you all on the shiz going on my life sometime this week! But right now I wanted to quickly post about the spotty revolution taking over!

I was flicking through the t'interweb the other day and clocked this awesome Stella McCartney number popping up all over pretty much every celeb on the planet at the moment!

Stella McCartney - £1,250

I love me a polka dot, so quirky but at the same time so classic, they never, ever, ever fall off our fashion radars do they? So I believe we can wholeheartedly justify any purchase of a polka piece as an investment!

Anyway, after having a nosey, these spotty mesh numbers are all over the place in the plus world too at the mo, so if your budget, or your waistline doesn't quite fit into old Stella's bracket, never fear here is my little round up of this celeb style steal, perfect for the up and coming party season!

Simply Be - £90

So Fabulous @ Very - £45

Style369 - £29.50

ASOS Curve - £30

Oh and if you don't fancy getting in on the LBD action, but fancy some dotty action how about this cute shrug...

Yours Clothing - £19

Honestly, I haven't been paid to write this I know it prob sounds a bit cheese-tastic but I do honestly get a little bit over excited when the party season starts drawing in and I start clapping eyes on all the little pieces that I want to wear, so many outfits, not enough parties! Am gonna start party crashing me thinks!

Will update again this week sweeties!

MWAH!!!
BIG LOVE
XOXOX

OOTD Shoe boots and sequins!

Just a super quick OOTD.

Last night I was having a whinge that I had nothing to wear to go out in (actuality is I have too much choice, that's the real problem!! Typical Libra!)

In the end I went for my new Asos Curve LBD, which I have had my eye on for ages and finally picked it up out of the sale this week! (It has since disappeared off the site, got it just in time so it seems!). Teamed it up with a sequin shrug I had from the Yours clothing sale recently, my Evans peeptoe shoe boots, some accessories and voila, I finally had an outfit!


So there you have it, with that I am going back to suffer my hangover! Happy Sunday!

BIG LOVE!
XOXOX

I *heart* Spring!

So, is it me, or does it feel like winter has gone on for like FOREVER this time around?!?! I feel like Ive been getting up in the dark and going to work in the dark and coming home, in the dark for the past 10 years or something! Maybe that has what has been adding to my lack of blog-spiration at the moment? (Which I apologise profusely for!)

So, the last few days, with that tiny hint of sunshine gleaming through our windows, has perked up my outlook somewhat and had me all excited about wearing pretty colourful clothes and cute shoes! Ive noticed around the office over the past day or two that the girlies are starting to don pretty dresses and it made me smile. Me being a massive girly girl cannot resist a floral print, a pretty tea dress or cute ballet flats, they are what I reside in probably 85% of my clothed life at the moment, but I am always on the hunt for the wardrobe to be extended of these pieces, so after a little nosey around the t'interwebs I found a few of my fave super cute floral bits and pieces...

ASOS Curve Exclusive Summer Floral dress £40

Simply Be Blue Floral Vest £19

Lovedrobe @Evans Ditsy Print Dress

Forever 21 Floral Open Cardigan £23.80

Evans Pink Slingback Floral Court Shoe £25

Yours Clothing Floral Sequin Bag £15

New Look Inspire Rose Print Denim Shorts £22.99

There are absolutely loads more things around that I like but those few stood out to me, I foresee myself owning the sequin bag and I may try get my hands on that Forever 21 cardigan. Im yet to purchase an item of clothing from them so I think I may have to take the plunge sometime soon, but like I think I have mentioned before, they're pricing and quality is something to be desired in my opinion, hmmmmmmm. What are you all eyeing up at the moment? Id love to hear whats getting your votes this coming season....

Also on the grapevine I hear the release of the H&M Inclusive range is this Thursday coming, I know for myself alot of the pieces will not fit (me being over and above a size 24) but I am definitely going to be having a look to see what they have done with it and how it is looking, I know a lot of bloggers are really excited about it and it was great to see some of the samples at the Plus London blogger meet, so eagerly awatching this space! Let me know what you think of it!

Oh and to round up, Im thinking of having a little giveaway and maybe a challenge? As I have been severely lacking on the posting just recently Im thinking of things to keep me in check and get me motivated, anybody have any ideas of a weekly challenge I could do to keep me blogging? Answers in the comments box, and if any other blogs are interested maybe we could make it a group thing?! Ohhhhh Im excited!

Anyway, I promise to post again soon! I am busy this weekend, checking in with friends birthdays etc, but I promise to post any gossip and any good outfits! But for now bloggies....

BIG LOVE!
<3

Leopard lust OOTD!

Well hello there! It has been a short while since I last posted but I am back now and I promise to be better this time around, honest!

My life has been so busy over the past couple of weeks and Ive been trying my best to cover all bases with everyone and everything but sometimes it doesn't always work the way you would like it to, ya know? I sadly left my job at the theatre a couple of weeks ago, which was extremely sad and totally unexpected and unplanned but I realise now that it is for the best. Luckily the people I worked with there were not just work colleagues but amazing friends whom wont be getting rid of me anytime soon! In fact, I got to spend Saturday night with them to celebrate the lovely Katie's 21st (+VAT) birthday! I knew I had a busy weekend planned and to go with it all I had a bit of an online shopping spree! Included in my purchases were a fab pair of drapey utility trousers from Evans, which I will post about soon, promise! And what I want to show you in this post, a stunning leopard print wrap dress from ASOS Curve.

I have had my eye on this dress since it was released on the site. I am an absolute sucker for a bit of leopard print, I swear to god, if there wasn't about 50 years difference between us, and the fact that she is totally fictional, I am pretty sure Bette Lynch and I were seperated at birth!






I have to admit, as much as I have loved ASOS Curve, unfortunately just recently I have found that everything I order has ended up being sent back, the main reason being poor sizing. No 2 garments have been consistently sized, I feel, which has been a real shame. I honestly do not feel that the garments being modelled on girls whom aren't even big enough to fit into the size dimensions of the range is helpful at all either. Considering the range starts at a size 20 and goes up to a size 26, seeing a dress exclusive to the range modelled on a girl no bigger than a size 12 and 5,11 isn't a true representation of the range. I understand why ASOS has to do this but in that case I think Id rather see it on a mannequin or dummy or something. Im also aware that the industry isnt full of perfectly sized plus size models so its a lose lose scenario I suppose. Anyway, back to the item that I haven't had to send back! Woooooooooo! Here is a pic of me in the wrap, leopard print dress, taken last night dancing away to cheesy 90's music and downing ridiculous amounts of wine....

ASOS Curve Leopard Print Wrap Dress - £35 (on sale for £28 atm!!)

I adore this dress, the jersey material is so lightweight it falls perfectly and the cut, for me was just stunning! I teamed it up with some really sweet red kitten heels from Primark, a little red handbag from Peacocks and a lovely gold enamel heart necklace, also from Primark which I picked up from the Oxford Street branch when I went along to Plus London. I am sometimes prone to going a bit OTT on super colour coordination but I just couldn't help myself this time! I also slicked on some red lippy and went mental with 2 pairs of ultra glam lashes (total lash whore!).
My only criticisms of the dress, and something for you to take note of girls if you do order it is that the actual wrap closure of the dress is just 2 little plastic press studs and a little bit of a tie, which I was a little bit worried about coming undone. I had a friend on dress watch for me as I was worried about being exposed at any given moment! LOL! I cant wait to wear the dress again though and experiment with some other outfit ideas with it! So on this occassion ASOS, you did good! Keep em coming!

Anyway, I am off for now, but I will be back to post some more ASAP! I have an OOTD post with those drapey utility bottoms and I have been proper lusting over some super costume jewellery rings (A certain Miss Amy Simons fault!!!!)

But for now, night night lovies!!!!

BIG LOVE
<3
XOXOX

Plus London

First things first, my epic, unintentional photo-bomb!

Pic courtesy of Carla, left to right, Claire, Amy, Georgina, Wendy and Lauren

Hello! My name is Naomi and Im the unintentional, photo-bomber of Plus London...lol

How are you all?! Well I hope?

I went along to the daytime event and I have to say, even as chatty and confident as I can be I was so nervous! When I arrived in Evans (late, oops) it was so nice to see an army of avid happy shoppers all chatting and greeting each other. I wondered around the floor for a few mins mooching through the rails and it wasnt long before the fabulous Amy of These Girls Turn Heads spotted me and came over for a chat! My nerves disolved and I instantly felt welcomed by all the amazing ladies.

Daytime outfit

The daytime shopping was fab, I picked up some brilliant bargains, my favourites being a really cute chunky heart pendant necklace from Primark for about £2.50 and an amazing pair of shoe boots from Evans! They were a bargain as they were marked up on the sale rack for £10 but when I got them to the till they were a steal at £5!!! Its the simple things, like this that make me a very happy girly, I cannot wait to wear them!

After a brill day of shopping, I went back to my hotel to get ready for the evening event over at The Strand Gallery. I wore a pretty dress which I found on eBay, which was originally from Evans, a little black glittery cardigan, black tights and some previously posted about black bow peep toe slingbacks from New Look. I left for the night all done up with a slick of red lippy and my new enormous Primark clutch bag (Oh Im so stylish) and was whisked away across central London to the venue.

My evening outfit

Everybody looked absolutely gorgeous, the room was full of women of ALL shapes and sizes, complimenting each other and really enjoying themselves. Quaffing lovely champagne, tucking into delish cupcakes and pouring over the samples of beautiful clothes from retailers such as ASOS Curve, H&M Inclusive, Torrid, Yours Clothing, Carmakoma (Who's gorgeous rep Maria I absolutely loved!!!), I have to say though, the range which wowed me the most and had me absolutely drooling was the Spring/Summer 2011 Anna Scholz range.

The reps from Anna Scholz, Cliff and Sharon were brilliant, you can tell that there is so much devotion put into Anna's clothing and all of her team are so passionate about it, they were full of info on the range and really took the time to get to know us girls and asked us what we thought and even encouraged us to try on! I fell in love with a beautiful, beautiful, BEAUTIFUL (Did you get that BEAUTIFUL!!!!) silk maxi dress which was absolutely to die for. The sample size was in a Uk 18, but Sharon and Cliff encouraged me to try it. I was dubious (and also terrified I was gonna rip it or something) but I got my ample size 28 physique into it, and although it was a little bit clingy (well it was 5 sizes too small) I got a really good feel for the dress, even though it was slightly on the snug side I loved it! When I get hold of the pic Cliff took of me in it I promise I will share it. But until then, here are a couple of pics of Anna's samples with the dress in question at the front, the print is a little hard to make out though against the rest of the dresses, so here is a link to the shorter version on the website.

Another dress from Anna's gorgeous SS 2011 collection. A vibrant, fierce, strappy, jersey sundress. I love the prints in this collection, so bold and fun!

I also cannot wait to see the photos taken by the gorgeous Diana of Fashion Loves Photos, who did a great pop-up studio where we all got to go and strike a pose in front of the camera! So glam!

All in all I have to say the day was a marvellous occassion where it was fantastic to see a group of women all bonding and exchanging ideas about the plus size industry and fashion in general. Lauren and co, a massive thanks to you all for putting together something which was truly fantastic and so beneficial to the community. I'd love to see this event or one like it put together every year or every new fashion season, maybe in line with London Fashion week to enhance the profile of plus size fashion. Oh and a big thanks for the awesome goody bag! Loved my sunnies!

Anyway, Im gonna round this up with a few of the snaps that I got of the day. I will try my best to include all names and links to blogs but if I miss anyone or get anyones name wrong please get in touch with me and Ill update!

Plus London in pics, the Naomi perspective....

Katrin, Donna, Polly

Amy

Sophie and Stephanie

Carla

Sian, Polly, Anika

Lauren doing her speech

Me and Amy

Nadia, Donna, Myself, Polly

Sian, Polly, Anika, Myself, Amy

Anyway, this was Plus London through the eyes of moi and I have to say it was awesome. Im gonna go now cause this has taken me ages to put together, but it was brilliant to meet all of you and I cant wait to do it all over again some other time! If I get any more pics Ill upload them another time, but now...

Night night blogosphere!

Big Love <3