IT'S A FASHION THING!

Last year when I was diagnosed with gall stones (Yes it has been that kind of year) I was a size 20 and rather Rubinesque. I learnt that I needed to cut down on my fat intake, so fat was stopped (most of it) I scoured the internet for self help advice and found some good stuff. I also applied the principles of GI not a diet, just sensible healthy eating and it worked. I dropped to a size 14 and lost my huge hips and arse. I got my waist back. Up to that point despite my love of fashion dressing my figure as I wanted to was impossible, I became a sack person. Buying for the larger figure is difficult but it is possible. I did not particular want to just hide my bulk but make the best of it. Fashion - ie the trend to expose tummies, is not quite what I had in mind, it accentuates the rolls of fat rather than enhances for the best, this style makes you look even fatter than you really are.

The secret is to decide what about yourself you like, eyes, hair, shoulders etc and accentuate or flatter these areas. Overwhelming yourself with too much or a mix of colours does not work drab isn't the answer either. Look critically at youself and then use colour swatches to identify the right colour ways for your own colouring, put together some colours in the same tonal range, think warm and cool colours there are lots of sites to help you. If you do not like clothes shopping use the wide range of catalogues and take you time to think and try on (keep or send back) it is easy but does require some personal engagement in the process.

Accesorise of course, but less is more sometimes, co-ordination helps an overrall look.

My current fashion notes are as follows.

At the moment, I am probably stuck in a time warp - a basic knee length denim skirt with t-shirt is my prefered day wear. Summer or Winter - bare tanned legs flip flop type shoe or heels (wedge mule) or with thick tights and boots. I also love my short demin jacket day or evening. I am not a big coat person. I belt my skirt with either a sparkly scarf or a bright citrus green. Not everybody likes or can wear the Flip Flop shoe with its toe post, I love them since I basically hate wearing shoes and would rather go bare foot. There are some really beautiful shoes like these around at affordable prices. I love the ethnic leather style, and my basics are black leather. Some can be really very 'Blingy' some now have kitten heels - if you go for this look, please take care of your feet, ugly feet do not look good nor does dry skin.

My biggest problem area is my puffy tummy, still there even after weight loss. Problem is due to lack of tummy excercise and muscle tone and the female bloating thing. My other key item at the moment is the bright skinny long line muscle back vests available in most high street shops, this allows my scar under my arm to be expose, but not too much, to the air to aid healing. It is not to gross I promise you. I tuck tshirt into my demin skirt and it stays in place.

I love the following fashion web site www.fashion-era.com which looks at history of fashion but gives up to date trends.

Please forget the long or short - shorts - ugh
Do look at Linen and Broderie Anglais tops with a nice linen skirt short or long (much better than shorts)
Avoid too many flounces but do not discount. Less is more.
Glad to see that skinnies and leggins are back, look great with a Ra Ra skirt of long line kaftans or jumpers.

I do not see myself as a FASHIONISTA but I am very clear about what I like. I am basically a Boho babe with a smarter sophisticated version for work. I am big into long ethnic skirts. Black is my favourite colour and I like the hour glass figure in the current trends. I am a huge Monsoon and East fan great places for ideas even if I cannot afford to buy regularly. I look in Matalan, Peacocks, Primark and Select for cheaper affordale options. Be selective in these shops, look at material and stiching. If the item only lasts a season, so be it. I do have a number of more expensive items that I have had for years that are go any wear do anything items. An example is a skinny, long ribbed black knitted dress (sleeveless) with a round neck, and side slit. Works for day with the demim jacket and shoes as previous mentioned ( vaired by use of a range of belts and accesories) in the evening with bling (actually pearls look stunning) and perhaps a shawl/scarf addition and higher heels (which makes the legs look fab with that slit)


I am not a bra person, but recently due to the circumstances I have had to sucumb - pretty bras work but all bras must be well fitted, get your self measures properly and find out that all important cup size. I also need to use the crop top soft type bra tops.

Catalogues vary in quality season on season so check them all out, This season I like Littlewoods and La Redoute.

They size well, for example cater for Tall, Reg and Petit in some ranges. THEY DO A REASONABLE SIZE RANGE 8 -26 IN SOME ITEMS.

In Littlewoods I like (Autumn/Winter)

a) page 11 on the Love Label the simple dress at £45 a good purchase as you will get wear out of it .
b) page 14 no 9 the Full Circle Skirt. Cost £35
c) page16 no 1 Maxi Belted Cardigan at £50
d) page 20 no2 Denim Military Jacket £40 LOVE IT
e) page 23 All the items and looks here are good and I would buy for myself.
f) page 33 item 9 SIMPLE EFFECTIVE DRESS to dress up of down. £40
g) page 34 items 4 and 5 Tunic and ruched leggings.
h) page 44 Morgan Jacket and skirt (this would be my chosen work look) expensive at £99 and £55
i) page 49 item 3 knitted dress up to size 16 (I have something similar in black, and I love it with trousers, jeans or leggings) expensive at £80 (French Connection)
j) Great selection of jeans pages 68 -73
k) page 98 Long Line cable cardigan - fantastic front love this look so much.
l) page 123 great cheaper suit look items 6 and 8 I like this and would buy myself. I love the fish tail back hem, I hate plain ordianry suits, you just blend in with the suited men, women need to stand out from the crowd (My philosophy)
m) page 143 Lace insert dress. not bad at £45
n) page 147 N0 8 Dusty Lavender skirt, LOVE IT at £35
o) page 148/9 fantastic Nichoas Millington outfits, love them and up to size 20
p) page 150 A MUST HAVE item 3 a cream beaded shrug. £45
q) page 157 item 7 Amanda Wakeley evening dress fab look and colour is dreamy satin at £89
r) page 159 item 9 another Amanda Wakeley dress for evening fab in chocolate at £89 in gorgette (would look spectacular with the shrug I mentioned)
s) page 162/3 item 3 green satin blouse and 6 and 7 Jacket and trouser teamed together would look great at that all important meeting - with smart good quality leather (black) brief case and smart clean black shoes. Don't over do but try an individual brooch. I have also always worn a breast cancer ribbon when at important meetings.
t) page 175 item 9 a wrape in jade or black, fantastic item for hols goes with skirts, jeans, dress or whatever - probably most useful in black.
u) page 185 not a bad suite for work and £55 and perhaps in lighter shade for summer meetings

A big No No Please No, is the look on page 30, God that blouse is horrendous.

They have some good basics and do stuff for expectant mums.
They have an on line site so you can see what you think of my selection www.littlewoods.com see if you can guess which items I mean!!!!

The Sunday Mail - You, magazine and Sunday Times style magazine are where I check out the trends weekly.

Some good looks in my favourite mags, INSTYLE and GLAMOUR.

I am following the trend, my Mum is known as the Wardrobe Mistress a collector of clothes since the 1940's (yes) you should see her house. She had an article written about her and it says everything about care for clothes before rampant comsumerism. Find it on line - Southern Daily Echo Weekend Magazine Jan 24-30 2004 by Kate Thompson.

Another look you will see me in is very Juliette Greco (who?-look it up)
Black trousers, Black long skinny knit jumper, flat black pointed shoes (leather) and faded 15 year old 3/4 length Black Leather Jacket raglan seleve with many changes of button (must be black) I can do the moody look as well very menacing.

PS I love window shopping at Bluewater (well, WHEN) Fancy a coffee?
Love granny