Aussie Curves - Retro

Life has been crazy busy around here with moving towns, taking on shared care of my foster son's older brother with my mum until he comes to me full time and studying for my first uni exam so I unfortunately had to sit out for Celebrity Copycat week (was going to do Beth Ditto grrr) but didn't want to miss out this week as it's one of my favourite themes so I'm using photos from a photo shoot I did just over a year ago.

I absolutely adore retro style, I always feel my best when wearing polka dots and red lipstick and it is how I used to dress all the time but have drifted away from it a bit.

Cue pic heaviness! 

What I wore

Cardigan - Glassons

Dress - City Chic

Belt - Torrid 

Be sure to check out the other Aussie Curves girls below rocking retro style, am really enjoying this weeks blogs! 

Aussie Curves - Pink

As I'm sure you have noticed by now I am not a huge wearer of colour so this week was a bit of a struggle but then I remembered the awesome Atari Baby Shrug I recently purchased from 17 Sundays and although the pink is more of a coral it counts! 

The customer service from 17 Sundays was some of the best I have ever come across, just awesome. It arrived fast too and was wrapped in black paper adored with their logo which just made the whole thing even more exciting haha. The shrug is just beautiful, it's super lightweight, awesome quality and I just love the Atari Baby print.

But what I love most is that it makes me feel like a motherfucking butterfly!!!! 

Cue crazy face

What I wore:

Shrug: 17 Sundays

Dress/Slip: City Chic

Belt: City Chic

Stockings: Razzmatazz 

I have my eye on this to go with it as I find the slip I've got a bit clingy but can't quite justify the price with my current budget so keep your fingers crossed for me girls that it goes on sale!

Aussie Curves - T Shirt

So I'm not much of a T Shirt girl to be honest, particularly as I always like to look feminine and they just never seem to look feminine on me no matter what the style and I don't like that they cling to me. I only own two non peplum "t shirts" and I'm not even sure if this one counts but I'm saving the other for the Festival challenge.

Ok, seeing as I had to put something under it to make sleeves (a shrug by the way, who would have thought!) I'm guessing it really really doesn't count as a t shirt but hey, it'll do :P

What I'm wearing
"T Shirt" - City Chic

Shrug - Pagani

Skirt - City Chic

Tights - Razzmatazz (plus size)

A note on the tights, if you are looking for a pair of reasonably cheap, opaque, super comfortable non rolling down tights you really can't go past these, I picked these up at the supermarket for about $12 and they're fantastic.

Close up of T Shirt

Well that's all from me for this challenge as I don't really have much to say seeing as I'm not a huge fan, check out the other ladies who are rocking it much better without cheating below ;) Also, thoughts on the new look of the blog? . 

Antipodean Beauties - A Night on the Town

Pretty simple night on the town make up, in fact I don't even have foundation on! (my skin has been looking the best it ever has lately due to a change in diet, no more acne AND I've got a glow :D) but with a red lip simple isn't a bad thing. 

Makeup

Blush - Revlon
Mascara - Maybelline
Eyeliner - Barry M
Eyebrow pen - Barry M
Lipstick - A mix of Revlon and Za 

Aussie Curves - Peplum

I am a massive massive fan of peplums, I absolutely adore them, so this week was a bit of a challenge within a challenge having to choose one so I decided to go with the one that started my love affair. 

Forever 21 Spot peplum dress in 3x, Pagani shrug

I hummed and harred over purchasing this so much, I had never worn neither a peplum or a pencil skirt and generally stayed away from anything even remotely figure hugging, I was sure it wouldn't suit my body shape but I decided to give it a shot and I am so glad I did. I was so nervous pulling it out of the bag as I was sure it was going to result in a meltdown but it didn't, in fact it made me feel fantastic! 

It may sound silly but peplums have really changed my wardrobe as well as my self confidence, when wearing them I feel feminine, shapely and sexy. Due to realizing that I could wear a dress such as this  it also turned me towards pencil skirts paired with peplum skirts which is another favourite look of mine and opens up a lot more options. Before peplums I really struggled to find tops that I could wear with skirts as I don't like anything clinging around my tummy (I've come far with my body acceptance journey but I'm just not at the VBO embracing point yet although I have made small strides towards it such as not caring as much if my stomach sticks out the bottom of a peplum) so I was pretty much stuck with dresses and empire line ones at that which to be fair, don't really do me any favours due to the shape.

I have also never worn jeans/pants, one of the reasons for this is due to not knowing what to put on the top half (infact I even purchased my first pair of jeans about a year ago, TDF skinnies from City Chic, only to sell them again because of this issue) so I am hoping to branch out and buy a pair of patterned jeans now that I have a solution.

Oh peplum, how I love thee lol. 

Aussie Curves - $50 outfit

Sliding in right at the last minute in true me style haha. This was actually a bit of a challenge despite the fact I love a good bargain! Individual pieces may be cheap but when you put them all together not so much.  But here it is, lipstick print dress from Forever 21 approx $30 once converted I think and Zierra shoes which were my $25 score off Trade Me. Yes I am over budget! I originally planned on wearing a pair of $9 red flats from Ezibuy but I discovered I had thrown them out whoops! 

Aussie Curves - LBD

 Ahh, the classic, ever versatile Little Black Dress, how I love thee! The fact I only own one has me a little stumped! Perfect for someone like me who doesn't like full on colour (I'm working on it ok!) as you can add splashes of it.

I've teamed this City Chic Peplum dress with a red belt and some matching red lipstick ... there was also supposed to be a red necklace but of course I can't find it.

I'm hoping this doesn't look as awkward to others as it does to me!

I do like how this weird angle makes my legs look much longer than they are haha

My hair looks terribad here but I wanted to show that for once I am wearing shoes! I saw on a few of the Aussie Curves girls blogs that Ziera heels were the way to go for those who find heels horrendously painful so I scoured Trade Me and managed to score myself a bargain. Can't say I am sold on the comfort though *sigh* 

LBD + Red lippy = Win!

Just had to show off this week's nails, super cute ghosts thanks to Sally Hansen's Nail Strips.

What I'm wearing

City Chic Peplum Dress
Pagani Shrug
City Chic Belt
Ziera Heels

Antipodean Beauties - Lashes

Ok so I am totally cheating here, these are photos of the one AND ONLY time I have managed to stick on falsies myself without them looking horrendous - which really rips my undies as I adore false lashes. I really find that they change my overall look and give a really sexy look to my eyes (If I do say so myself), I would love to get extensions but alas they are out of my budget for now *sigh*

Since we are on the subject of lashes I thought I might as well chuck up some pics of when I had them applied by a professional, at the time I felt like I looked a bit drag queenish but looking back at the pics I love them and would def wear them again.

Forever 21 Haul

Gotta love it when a parcel arrives - especially when it comes from the US! Brought a number of things from Forever 21 and that rare occasion occurred where I LOVE ALL THE THINGS! (Ok, there is one thing I'm not 100% sold on but hey, it's a pretty good hit rate still!). So without further ado I present to you my Forever 21 haul (please excuse grainy photos, oh and my head is chopped off because I'm too tired to fluff around re-applying makeup and all that jazz).

First up we have this kick arse body suit, which on me let's just say is NOT a body suit as I can't do the domes up haha, it will still work fine as is though. I am a little bummed that despite this stating it was black on the site is is in fact navy so I'm just going to have to fashion faux pas it a team navy with black which is what makes this the item I'm not 100% sold on. I'm wearing a 3x and I will say it doesn't have as much stretch as I would have thought but is still a good fit (minus the length of course!).

Here is a close up of the print ...

Next up is the intergalatic print skater dress. I originally bought the purple and blue galaxy print dress but decided that this one was much more "me". This one also has a bit more room in the chest thankfully. Wearing a 3x in this as well and the fit is good.

This lipstick dress is much to my surprise my second favourite thing in his haul, it is not what I was expecting at all, it is a gorgeous slinky fabric with a slip underneath that is detachable, I hummed and harred about buying it as I thought it might look daggy on me but I am so glad I did. It's navy however it is an extremely dark navy that is borderline on black. Am once again wearing a 3x, a lot of the reviews stated that it was extremely short and pretty much top length ... err I'm 5"7 and it certainly isn't on me so unless you are super tall please dismiss!

Last but certainly not least is my favourite of them all - the geo print peplum dress *swoon* This dress is just AMAZING, the quality seems fantastic it's not a jersey stretch fabric like I thought it would be but a much thicker (albeit not very stretchy) fabric and is lined. The peplum length is perfect of me and whilst I think it could do with being a little lower cut I am so in love. Again, 3x and the fit is super comfortable without being loose.


So there we go, an all round success in my books (I did actually buy some nail strips, jewellery and another peplum top but ran out of motivation to take pics, I'm good like that ;)), if you have any questions about the fit etc I am more than happy to answer x

Exercise and the Fat Girl

So I just read this article  from the fabulous Militant Baker and it resonated with me so much (as do most of the things she posts - she has an amazetits way of putting things)

Being a fat girl, me and exercise have a not so good relationship and it's no bloody wonder when you think back to how the relationship with it develops at a young age and all of the shame and anxiety that goes with it - Cross Country runs at school (coming last, being laughed at and once, I shit you not, I got stuck in a gap in a fence that all the other kids effortlessly glided through to get to the other side ugh), being picked last for sports teams or even better being made to be the "anchor" for tug of war and being forced to participate at college in P.E when you know that you are by no means fit enough to join in properly without making an arse of yourself for all of the other kids to revel in (we seriously won't even go into the extremes I went to to get out of those classes - let's just say one resort lead me to a weeks worth of detention and almost being carted off to a psychiatrist - desperation had set in!).

Then as an adult, as Jess says, there is pressure for us to lose weight but when we get into a work out setting we feel totally out of place and as if we aren't allowed there - we freak out about being stared at, not being able to keep up, being the biggest one in the class or gym,pointed and laughed at, sideways looks and the possibility of rude comments.

I am trying to overcome this at the moment and have started exercising AND IT FEELS DAMN GOOD, moving my body for movement's sake feels wonderful (I can totally relate to the orgasm comment, afterwards I feel so happy and relaxed) and I love being able to set little challenges for myself and proving that I can meet them. I want to join the gym and do aqua aerobics and boxing classes but still have a lot of fear surrounding them but you know what, I am going feel the fear and do it anyways (although I am sure I will be having a similar fat girl freak out as Jess right before hand, but just like her I will push through) and I am going to enjoy ALL OF THE ORGASMS!

I'll have what she's having thanks

Antipodean Beauties - Glitter

So as much as I love makeup I'll confess I'm not the greatest at applying it but I figured I would give this challenge a shot as these days unless I've got a hot date or something I tend to stick with either no makeup or very basic make up so it will be good to have a reason to push myself to wear something a bit more elaborate (you will note that I am still not wearing foundation here though as at the moment it just makes my skin break out - god you're a bitch PCOS!)

This is the glitteriest eye shadow I had - sad but true! It's a Napoleon shimmer my mum bought for me when I was about 17 - it doesn't take much to get coverage so I still have about 3/4 of the pot left! Eyeliner is by Barry M, as is the colouring of my eyebrows (I'm so in love with the eyebrow felt tip pen!), mascara is a Maybelline one that I really need to replace!

Aussie Curves - Feminine

So for me at this point in my life feminine doesn't represent pink, florals and sparkles, that may change but for now it conjures up images of a sexier nature ;) Apart from when dressed in something more suitable for the bedroom I feel my sexiest when wearing a peplum top/pencil skirt combo or a peplum dress as it's as form fitting as I feel comfortable with and shows off my shape.

Please excuse the terribad photos, they are a mixture of my four year olds photography skills (or lack thereof in some cases) and my first time using a self timer.

Let's just pretend that my dog isn't behind me and that I didn't forget to put shoes on shall we ;)

Close up of the fabric of the pencil skirt

I have to say I never dreamed that I would ever be wearing a rather thin, slightly clingy pleather like pencil skirt so this is quite an accomplishment for me which may seem strange to some. I used to drool over pencil skirts wishing so bad that I had the legs for it (my thighs are a rather odd shape, sort of concave, where the front of them sticks out leaving a bit of a hollow at the back ... if that makes any sense at all!). One day I decided stuff it, why not try one?! Turns out taking risks can pay off because I actually love what they do for me.

Spiky bracelets for a touch of bad arse ;) 

For something slightly more traditionally feminine my nails are done in purple .... they're Sally Hansen Nail Strips and my god I am in love!!!! Seriously, try these and you won't regret it! They are easy to apply, look great and take much longer than nail polish to come off.

Couldn't resist adding this photo, getting a few mediocre photos was a mission I tell you!

What I wore

Top: City Chic (L)

Skirt: Asos wet look skirt (22)

Belt: City Chic (you will see this A LOT as it's my current "go to"
Bracelets: Gift 

Aussie Curves - Celebrate

I've finally got my bum into gear and decided to join in on the Aussie Curves challenges! It will no doubt be a little sporadic as sticking to things is NOT my style but I will give it my best shot

Cupcake shots!

Not sure you can get much more of a celebratory shot than that right there! The lovely Spijkerkat and our friend, Lucy came for a visit to help me belatedly celebrate my 25th birthday (this was back in June but I am alllll about time saving so am not ashamed to use old photos for challenges :P)

The girls brought with them pink plastic party cups and platters along with childrens princess party napkins as well as crazy straws to help with the celebrations (they know me too well!) and put on a spread of breads, crackers chips and dips .... it was just a shame that my cat Mr Biscuits thought it was a chance to celebrate too and whilst we were at the pub he had a party of his own which resulted in hummus footprints everywhere *facepalm* 

Was an awesome night and I'm so grateful to have such awesome friends x

Now on to the outfit!

Peplum top: Debs (3x)
Belt: City Chic off another top
Skirt: City Chic (L I think)
Cardigan: Glassons (16)
Tights: Asos
Flats: Number One Shoes 

As an aside, I had my makeup done that day by the fabulous girls at Phoenix Cosmetics Pukekohe thanks to a competition I won. It was an awesome experience :)