Rose Mirror Dress

I'm struggling to embrace the soft pastels trending this summer. I love bold colours and earthy boho/hippy tones. So accordingly, the latest City Chic collections haven't really inspired me. Of course, I still pop into my local each week to say hello to Lauren, Maddie and Kerri (Marion, SA). Having said that, I saw this dress on Instagram and my curiosity flared up. I love the cut, the dark red floral and the oriental feel of the design. After trying it on, I decided to splurge, knowing I'd probably wear it to a few events over the summer - particularly my staff Christmas party. 

 

I also love that the belt fits so well. In the past, I've found that the City Chic belts that come with the garment don't always match the size of the dress. The floral pattern helps to blur the visible belly outline, which is a sensitive area for me and still the body part I find most difficult to embrace. You may also have noticed that I'm not in my usual Doc Martens. I followed a friend into Zu Shoes recently and these were a spontaneous purchase. By the way, I stand at 6"1 in these heels. They are really quite comfortable as far as heels go! My boyfriend really doesn't mind that I tower over him in them (boobs in face, what's not to like about that?).

Thanks for reading! xo

Aussie Curves: Green

This week's Aussie Curves theme is pea GREEN with envy! Once again I'm wearing one of my Oh Honey Hush headscarves, which I just adore. My students call this one my "Air Hostess Dress". Le boyf calls it the "Army Nurse Dress". It's actually called the Diner Dress. Either way, it's very 50s and one of my favourites. I bought it from a vintage shop called Grease Vixen in Adelaide, Australia. Hope you like it x

dress: HEARTBREAKER FASHION, DINER DRESS IN OLIVE, size XXL (here)

shoes: MIMMI

headscarfe: OH HONEY HUSH (here)

ring: SWAROVSKI, NIRVANA EMERALD RING

necklace: THRIFTED

This is a blog hop! Check out the other Aussie Curves babes. And feel free to join the fun! Thanks for reading! x

Grease Vixen

Adelaide people, pay attention! Have you been to Grease Vixen on Prospect Road? It's a cute little shop (maybe not so little) that stocks vintage inspired rockabilly, swing and pin up style clothing for men and women. There is also a lot of genuine vintage items available, from radios to gloves. The most exciting part is their range of plus size clothing! While not a huge selection, many of the items go up to a 2X, and even some 3X and 4X (the lady says she's battling with suppliers to get more, too). I purchased two dresses and a genuine vintage apron. 

The prices are varied. For brands like Hell Bunny, you're looking at around $100 for a dress (many would go for cheaper on eBay). Some dresses were more, others were significantly less. But the quality is there. 

This dress cost me $80 but it's brand new and the quality is lovely. It's 2X and I'm pretty sure the brand is CollectIf. I loved wearing this dress! I'm also wearing Target shoes.

Hilda

It's funny the things that can inspire you. 

Hilda is a fictional character painted by an artist named Duane Bryer between 1957 and 1970 for a pin up calendar. 

Quite simply, I want to be her. 

All pictures taken from Hilda Gallery

When I look at these pictures, it makes me want to make a daisy chain bikini and frollick by the seaside in all my chubby glory.

She is my role model! Confident, unashamed, free, sexy, cute, independent and deliciously fun.  

Aussie Curves: Swimwear

Enjoy the beach this summer? 

"We can do it!"

Swimwear is a theme I've been hangin out for! This is a huge deal for me because of years of body shame that was heightened with childhood school swimming events and bullies who laughed at my body shape in swimsuits. I wish I could go back in time and punch those losers in the face instead of swallowing my shame and thinking I didn't deserve any better!

Because I rent a unit on the beach, swimming has been a bigger part of my life in the last few years. I had a pretty reluctant beginning - it always took my housemates a lot of convincing to get me down to the beach for a swim because I was quietly ashamed of my body. 

This summer there's been a real shift in my confidence, so I've enjoyed the beach more than ever before! This Christmas, my extended family headed down to the beach in the late afternoon and one of my cousins said to me, "I've never seen anyone more glamourous in a bathing suit!" 

I'm not gonna lie - this made me feel pretty smug. But I figure that's okay because I'm making up for the lost time when I felt embarassed instead of damn fine!

Despite all that, whenever I toddle down to the beach, there's always a little whisper of doubt and fear about what people might say. As a fatty, I'm really on a journey of getting better at coaching myself into making peace with my body. This swimsuit makes the job pretty easy.

I bought it online from Pin Up Girl Clothing. Called the Bettie Swimsuit in Red Polka Dot, it goes up to a 2X (which I'm wearing). It's the most stretchy and comfortable swimsuit I've ever worn. I'm wearing it with the City Chic swim skirt (XL). I really got into the pin up spirit of things and went with a cherry theme.

Bathers/Swimsuit:  Pin Up Girl Clothing

Swim skirt: City Chic

Cherry Necklace: Ebay

Apple sunglasses: from a store called Bimbo on Rundle Street, Adelaide

Cherry Headscarfe: Etsy

You can imagine my joy and surprise when I later found this picture of April Flores wearing it.

While I wore a swim skirt with this suit on the beach, I'd like to get to a point where I feel confident enough to go without it. Here's a look at the whole suit without the skirt, lumpy legs and all!

Recently on Instagram, Tess Munster posted this up about her experiences with swimwear.

After reading this post, I was so inspired that I ordered a bikini from Domino Dollhouse. I had to go up a size because mine had sold out, so I really hope it fits when it arrives. I don't know if I'll have the guts to wear it on the beach just yet, but we'll see...

I'm so aware of the way people look at bikini clad women and make a judgement of whether their body is acceptable for it. "She really shouldn't be wearing that"; "No one wants to see that"; "She's too old for a bikini"...I'd just like to say that I don't give a shit who wears a bikini. I don't mind seeing men in speedos, and I don't care if a 70-year-old woman is wearing a bikini. Life's too short to care. Everyone has a right to feel free on the beach, to bask in the glow of the sun. I've realised that I'm never going to have a "bikini body". But when I read Tess Munster's post, I thought, am I okay with never experiencing my body in a bikini? Should I just accept I'll never have a bikini body and never buy one? My personality just doesn't allow for that. That would just eat at me. No one tells me what I can and cannot wear.

I wonder how it will look.

If you're a plus size girl reading this, have you ever worn a bikini in public? If so, was it a positive experience? If you haven't, would you ever do it?

Thanks for reading xo