Ferry 'cross the Mersey! Scouse OOTD!

Evenin' lovelies!

Are you well?! I hope so! I must admit I've had a really stressful week or two but I was really happy to get away for a few days last weekend and just try and relax a bit.

Me and Mr Naomi toddled off to Liverpool last Saturday for a little break away. We stayed in Parr Street Studio's which is renowned for being the place where some all time greats recorded some of their best works. The hotel is really quirky, fun and a super friendly place to stay, housed the fabulously lively area of the city just 5 minutes walk away from awesome shopping it was definitely the perfect place for a little party head, shopaholic like moi!

We shopped (after Mr had a big snooze and kept me waiting!), ate yummy food, drank lots of cocktails, braved a proper touristy bus, apparently got caught on camera whilst channel 4 were filming the next series of Big Fat Gypsy Weddings and headed home on Sunday evening very tired but very content!

Disgruntled 'Wake up Mr Naomi' face...

Whilst shopping (I sent Mr off to get his mop cut, so I was free to take as much time as I liked!) I got to have a nosey around the Liverpool One Simply Be store which was a pleasure. I didn't come away with much just 2 new bras and matching knickers as I was after new jeans but their selection in short leg lengths was rather disappointing unfortunately, better luck next time. Then I wandered off to New Look, I was really impressed with the Inspire section in the Liverpool One store. They had the new 'Koko' range stocked and also had a new label called 'Ruby's Closet' there too which I noticed was AX Paris re-branded, but it was nice to try it on and see a little more selection in a plus size concession. I picked up 2 super stretchy mini-skirts which I am working on how to wear as they are a brave move for me, my mom (as predicted) instantly turned her nose up at them in a judgmental "there's no way you can wear that" fashion, surprise surprise but I WILL wear them! Promise!

Anyway here are a few snaps of the weekend....

Off we go.....

Sweeties for the journey

Me outside some awesome street art!

Albert Docks

'Teddies'

Yummy food in The Shipping Forecast

...and me wearing some clothes, wooooo! LOL!

Chiffon Jacket - New Look Inspire
Stripe Maxi Skirt - Yours Clothing
Black Vest - H&M+
Biker Jacket - Evans
Clutch - Primark
Gold Necklace - Primark

I am properly in love with this maxi skirt it's just so bright and versatile! I can even pull it up over my bust and wear as a midi dress, you are def going to be seeing a lot of this on the blog. I picked it up from Yours Clothing recently in their sale after having my eye on it for ages. Teamed it up with a simple black vest, chiffon shrug and some metallic flats from H&M and I felt glam enough to face all those Scouse brows and super tans.

I had a lovely weekend and I honestly cannot wait to visit the Liverpudlians again, such a friendly city, absolutely loved it! What's your fave city?

Big love my lovelies
xoxoxoxox

Saturday Splurge & Evans Bird Print Dress Review.

Evenin' my lovelies!

Another post so soon? You lucky devils! ;) It's only cause I actually have some things to witter on about. As I mentioned in my last post, on Saturday I went for a mooch around Merry Hill Shopping Centre and had me a bit of a splurge and I wanted to show you my little haul...

Maybelline Gel Eyeliner - I am an eyeliner fiend, I pretty much won't leave my house unless I'm wearing it. I had a Sleek gel liner a while ago which was fab, but I lost it, so I primped for a new one, the brush that comes with it is brill!

Boots 17 Solo eyeshadows in Funfair & Statuesque - not tried them yet but I love the colours of these!

Boots 17 Hide Away Concealer - again something else I can't live without!

Primark Skull Scarf - this Alexander McQueen looky likey scarf was a bargain £4! I felt a little bit guilty for buying a copy but I promise I will buy the real thing soon, it's on my list of 'WANTS'. For now, this little baby will do.

Primark Bird Print Snood - we are all a bit giddy for bird print just recently, this was a must to go in the basket!

Primark Floral Print Bow Necklace - so adorable.

Primark Earrings - I love cute studs, these rock chickesque and super girly ones needed a home with moi!

Primark Pink Heart Diamante Ring - pretty pretty!

Evans Leather Ankle Boots - my sale bargain, I know the weather is supposed to be warming up, but lets be fair, this is England a decent pair of boots is essential no matter what the season!

Primark Handbag - love this little handbag but when I got home I realised the strap was a lot shorter than I would like, am thinking some customisation may be in order!

H&M Metallic Peeptoe Flats - these are my love! I'm not really a fan of flip flops so I am thrilled that every year H&M never fails to bring out an awesome pair of peeptoe flats for the summer, this year they haven't failed to disappoint. They have lots of other colours online and instore too and I am destined to own them all!

I also picked up a nautical navy and white striped top from Yours Clothing and a stripey vest top from H&M+ which I haven't shown you here but I know I will use for outfit posts soon.

Lastly, whilst on my travels I popped into Evans. The store in Merry Hill is probably one of Evans' better ones, it regularly has their new in items and is generally quite well stocked. I knew I wanted to catch sight of their take on the bird print dress, everywhere seems to have given us one and finally Evans has caught on. I first saw it online and I have to say, I wasn't particularly impressed, priced at £45 for a basic jersey cut in comparison to New Looks recent version it wasn't really ever going to get me excited.

As I walked into the store the dress was hanging on a point of sale rail at the forefront, I picked up a Uk 26/28 (Evans infamous duel sizing *ICK*) and toddled off to the changing rooms to take some snaps for you....

At first touch the material is thin and not particularly amazing quality considering the £45 price tag I would have at least expected a thicker more ponte like jersey material. The print is nice, a ditsy swallow print in pastel shades but again, it looked a bit cheap. The cut is generous and you definitely wouldn't need to size up at all.

I personally wasn't keen on the cut of the dress, I would have liked a deeper neckline and a shorter length I felt the dress seemed a bit 'mumsy' and that it wasn't quite sure of what it was meant to be and whom it is aimed at. The print suggests fast fashion for a young audience, whilst the cut screams 50+ mum! I'm not just saying this because I want to just have a go at Evans, I really want Evans to do well and start belting out some awesome pieces like what used to be offered from their Seven range, but I really was unimpressed. I know me and if I had loved that dress £45 price or not, it would have been bagged up and on the bus home with me, but all in all it was just 'luke warm'. It's a no frills, rushed job of a fast fashion piece which they have thrown at the rails in order to jump on the trend without even really thinking about what it is or who it is for. Maximum price for minimum effort or style.

In comparison to the recent New Look Inspire version it doesn't even come close and yet it is nearly double the price. Maybe if it comes up in the sale I would think about it, but that quality, for that price, for that cut, sorry Evans but me no likey! I understand that larger sized clothes require more material and will generally cost us a little more, but if New Look can cut a similar item up to a size 26 for £25 surely this one from Evans could have been a bit more reasonably priced? Lets hope your Clements Ribeiro range wets our whistles and our wallets!

That's all from me this evening m'dears! Let me know your thoughts on the Evans dress.

Big Love
xoxoxox

Same Shirt, Different Day.

Ello my lovelies!

I was planning on having a full on lazy PJ day today, but I somehow was lured to my local Westfield shopping centre, how does that happen? I had a good old mooch around Primark and got lots of cute little goodies, tried on loads of stuff in Yours clothing whom I must say are coming out with some really nice pieces at the moment, their wine coloured jeans are brilliant, purchased cute flats from H&M and tried on that bird print dress in Evans. Will definitely give you an update and some pics of it all in a day or 2!

But anyway to do it all I wore some clothes, I threw on this little outfit.....

Denim Shirt - New Look Inspire
Leopard Print Vest Top - Evans
Red Leggings - New Look Inspire
Belt - Evans
Leopard Print Scarf - H&M
Shoes - New Look
Stag Necklace - Primark

I know, I know, I wore this shirt in my last outfit of the day, but the thing is, whenever the spring starts to poke through the atmosphere and those little sunbeams come out to play, this is my go to item! I picked it up a few years ago from New Look Inspire and it has become my spring through to summer wardrobe staple! Guaranteed that whenever the earth begins to start warming up this shirt is out and about! It was well worth the £20 I paid for it way back when, I don't see it leaving my wardrobe anytime soon!

What are your wardrobe staples? The things you wear year on year?

Big Love
xoxoxox

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

OOTD Feeling Tweet! New Look Inspire Swallow Dress!

Evenin' lovelies!

So, it's nearly Xmas and we're all spending our hard earned pennies on all those lovely gifts to make our loved ones happy, well, kind of. I had a little splurge yesterday in my current favourite place to shop, New Look Inspire. I don't really know what came over me? Oh actually, yeh I do, pretty dresses and cute shoes on sale, what self respecting girl can resist?

So I purchased the really cute Swallow Print Dress and I am a little bit in love with it. I wore it out last night for some Kissmas drinks with my Grand Theatre crew, little bit sad that I didn't get chance to take it dancing as it was a school night and I did have to be at work at 8am this morning, so it made a swift exit with me after 2 bottles of wine and lots of giggles!

Swallow Print Dress (Uk 26) - £24.99 New Look Inspire
Skinny Pink Belt - New Look Inspire (came with Skater dress in seen in this post)
Black Tights (7X) - £12.95 pack of 3 Big Bloomers Company
Bag & Jewellery - Primark past seasons

I was a bit rushed for time getting ready as I felt a bit guilt ridden after treating myself, so I promptly went and bought pressies for other people, see I am a good girl really! So I ended up throwing the dress on with black tights, my fave, ultra comfy New Look suede wedges, the belt nicked off my other recent New Look Inspire purchase as seen here and some old accessories I've had for agessssssssssss!!! Looks alright I reckon, what you think? (Please excuse the outgrowing Gelux nails, getting them redone this weekend!)

I also picked up 2 pairs of cute flats in wide fit for bargain prices this cute red patent bow pair and a nude pink pair with sparkly toes which I can't seem to find online but I will get pics for ya!

I also recently mentioned on my Twitter that I was after a pair of leopard print leggings. I found a pair a fab leopard jeggings in the Inspire range, I had previously noticed them online but disregarded them as I thought they would never fit me in the waist, but I was surprised when I spotted them in store and tried them on to find that they are super stretchy, a great print, but unfortunately they aren't fitted enough in the leg for me, they fit perfectly at the waist in a size Uk 26 (which I am blatantly larger than) but they are too baggy in the thigh and leg, so I am going to be returning them :( *booooooooooo* just goes to show how diverse we all are in shape!

Anyway, it's nearly 11pm on Christmas eve, eve! I am currently bopping around my kitchen to random tunes including this little number that has got me right in the festive mood! My 2011 Christmas tune pick, The Waitresses, Christmas Wrapping! Enjoy.....

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