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Tuesday 27 August 2013

Blog Series - Curves around the World - Curvy Plus size Outfits - WEEK #14 FLORAL

Hello my lovelies! Happy Wednesday! 
This week feels short after the long bank holiday weekend. Hooray for 4 day working weeks!

The theme this week is feminine, pretty, and one of my favourites. I was really excited for this week's post. I have a fair few floral pieces but when hunting through my wardrobe nothing really shouted at me that I hadn't already showed you, so I decided to go for a different look that hasn't before been on my blog. 
Marks and Spencer Maxi Dress Floral Print /  Curvy plus size outfit
Maxi dresses....this one I always reach for in the summer. I bought it from Marks and Spencer a few years ago. I was living in Gibraltar (sandwiched between Morocco and Spain) and needed a bigger stash of warm weather clothes and found this gem. I love the front panel and the clashing prints. I also really like the shape of the dress. It's so flattering, comfortable and easy to wear. It's very light floaty cotton fabric and can be casual or a little more dressy. I usually wear it with a little black or brown cardigan or shrug and black sandals for a casual look.
floral print
The colours are a really nice mix and are really easy to match to other things. The pattern is bold yet muted due to the colours. The dress has extra detailing in the same fabric as the panel, that goes all around the edges, around the bust area and also creates a large hem at the back of the dress. Little extras really make a dress look more expensive and gives more to catch your eye and make the dress even prettier. The quality is amaznig and I know it will last a long time. I always get compliments on this dress and really think it appeals to different ages. A firm favourite!

Hands up who wants more floral? I'm not done yet....

Here are a few floral things I have been majorly lusting after:
Floral skater dress with pleats -Amazon £15
Asos floral summer dress in pink -£31.50

Floral Kimono - New Look - £19.99

Floral skater skirt New Look Inspire plus size range- £12.99
For previous posts featuring floral, click the links- a Primark dressDaisy Print Dress, scarf, floral lace, sandals. I really love those past outfits so definately check them out after you've finished this post.

Do you love the floral trend? Let me know in the comments which of the items I have been lusting after I should get :) I'm personally loving the New Look dress the most and the kimono and possibley the skater skirt,and I think they could work all year round (I'm one for versatile year round pieces).

Don't forget to go and check out the other ladies in this blog series. They are lovely women and their blogs are fab!

Also, don't forget to follow me so that you get all the latest posts and don't miss anything. Plus it's a lot easier to read all your favourite blogs and it's free. Click here or the button below.

Tuesday 20 August 2013

Blog Series - Curves around the World - Curvy Plus size Outfits - WEEK #13 ROCK CHICK

rock chick plus size / curvy outfit of the day / black 
The week really does come around weekly doesn't it- it's Wednesday already. Time flies!  

This week the theme is 'rock chick'. I'll be honest, this is not my usual style but I like what I came up with. I do wear all the parts separately but not all together as one outfit. It's casual and comfortable and I really like the little accents like the flower detail in the scarf, studs of the jacket which match the metal in the necklace and I love the statement necklace. It gives something extra to the outfit. I think the outfit is a little girly and pretty but still a little edgy and it's simple and not too fussy.
plus size / curvy / black / skulls / rock chick outfit of the day
Studded Jacket -Primark
Black basic vest top- Primark
Statement necklace- Matalan (£3 sale bargain!)
Skull and flowers scarf- Bought in Canada when on holiday (?which shop?)
Black jeggings- Matalan
Leather ballet flats with bow detail-New Look
rock chick / skull / black / statement necklace / outfit of the day
I added the scarf as a little extra. I don't really like the skull trend but this scarf is so so soft and I really liked the floral detail and when it's on, the skull detail can hardly be seen as it's all scrunched up.

For the hair, I did a simple style I do a lot but I did accentuate the height a little. All you do is grab a little hair from the front section and pin it back with 2/3 pins each side. I don't use hairspray or product as it really doesn't need it. Easy and quick and you don't need anything but the pins! 
statement necklace /  red lip Maybelline Pleasure Me Red Lipliner / smokey eyes - Urban Decay Naked Pallette 
Now for the make up. Base wise  I went for my usual MaxFactor powder foundation, Collection and Rimmel concealer and Natural Collection bronzing pearls to add some colour. I filled in my eyebrows a little and then it's on to the exciting bit I used the Urban Decay Naked Pallette and used the gunmetal colour and the black in a 'v' shape on the outer corner, blended a little and smoked it out. I then used my Cargo liquid eyeliner pen, kohl pencil on the waterline on the bottom and MUA eye shadow as a highlighter in the inner corner.  Oh and a lot of mascara! I used Maybelline the Rocket which is my current favourite. The eye look was super quick and really easy. For the lips. I went for a matte look as this is what I think of when I think rock style. I used a lip balm in advance then I used Maybelline lip liner in Pleasure me Red all over the lip. It's definitely a bold style and I wouldn't usually wear this eye and lip look together. Red lips in different forms I have majorly been into recently so I do that a lot, and next time I go on a night out I will do this eye look! 
statement necklace /  Maybelline Pleasure Me Red lip liner / smokey eye - Urban Decay Naked Pallete/ hair style

What's your favourite part of the outfit and make up? Leave a comment and let me know!


Don't forget to go and check out the other ladies in this blog series. Look at all their pretty faces!
Sabine (Germany)
Kate (Australia)  
Thulisa (South Africa)
Nina (USA) 
                                                       











Also, don't forget to follow me so that you get all the latest posts and don't miss anything. Plus it's a lot easier to read all your favourite blogs and it's free. Click here or the button below.

Wednesday 14 August 2013

Blog Series - Curves around the World - Curvy Plus size Outfits - WEEK #12 RED

curvy / plus size outfit - red
It's that time again! The theme this week is 'RED'. Red can be worn in so many different ways either full on red like my lace red dress post  which is a dressed up look where I had red lipstick and a striking wine red dress or it can be worn casually like in this post where I had red detail on my Converse, in my scarf and a muted red marl top. Definitely check those posts out for other ways to wear red and different looks. This week I decided for a smart casual look that was simple and classic.
curvy/ plus size outfit- red -black jeggings
I based the outfit around this red top which I got a few years ago from Dorothy Perkins. I love the detail on the neck which really makes the top and it's definitely different and pretty. (You can see this better in later photos).
curvy/ pluss size outfit of the day black and red, with gold accessories
As for the rest of the outfit I wore a black soft jersey jacket, black jeggings and black leather ballet pumps. Nothing fussy, just classic. Accessories wise I also kept things simple. I wore gold hoops and a gold bangle stack. I love gold and red together and against black they really pop and totally compliment each other. 
Revlon Lip Butter Candy Apple, MaxFactor Red Passion Nail varnish polish
If you're going to do a red theme, then a girl's gotta do it right and really go with it. With that in mind I used a red lipstick and did my nails red to match the top. My lipstick is my old favourite Revlon Lip Butter in Candy Apple and my nail varnish is a new favourite in Red Passion by MaxFactor, a true bright classic red, which I got free recently. 
MaxFactor red nail varnish / polish Red Passion
I love the colour red, it's a very English colour, and  I think it's a colour that suits me. I really want to pick up more for my wardrobe. I wear it a lot on my nails and red lipstick quite a bit. I have also been on the lookout for a new red handbag so watch this space on that one!

Do you like a bit of red clothing, nails or lipstick? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Don't forget to go and check out the other ladies in this blog series. They are lovely women and their blogs are fab!

Also, don't forget to follow me so that you get all the latest posts and don't miss anything. Plus it's a lot easier to read all your favourite blogs and it's free. Click here or the button below.

Monday 12 August 2013

Rimmel 60 Seconds Pink Fushcia Nail Polish - no. 270 ' shocker '

Rimmel London 60 Seconds Nail polish / varnish - ' Shocker ' no. 270 fuschia pink 
I'm Helen and I'm a nail polish junkie. Phew there I said it. At least it's out in the open now! Handbags, earrings and nail polish are my weakness. Nail polishes are often only a few pounds and I think they really 'finish' off your look and it makes me happy to have nicely polished nails, especially if I have a bright colour, it makes me happier. I also find when my nails are done, I don't pick at them and they don't break etc.

I have put myself on a bit of a ban for a while now and I really havn't bought any new colours. The only 2 I have allowed myself are because I REALLY wanted them and they were very different to anything I already had. I also made sure I bought the cheaper ones or brands that are on offer.

Therefore with that being said, I've been using what I already have a lot more and re discovering old favourites. I've been shopping my stash as the cool kids would say. Now I love bright colours all year round because as I said, they make me happy to have some colour in my life, especially in the summertime. Pink is a classic colour for all us girls and on a 'I'm feeling very girly today' kind of feeling I went with the Barbie pink Rimmel 60 Seconds Polish in number 270 'Shocker'. I took the photo above in the light to show the sheen it has and you can see the blue/purple tones in the polish. The polish is 3 days old in the photo so there is some tip wear but it held up pretty well. I change my polish regularly as I love changing the colour and I also find doing my nails very therapeutic for some reason, so as long as a polish lasts 3 or so days I'm happy. In terms of application I really like the wider brush and the formulation is good. It's thick but not too thick. 2 coats and your're done and lets be honest, the main thing is the colour which is so pretty!

It's time for me to my nails, I've been inspired, so I'm off to choose a new bright colour. I may be some time!

What's your favourite nail polish colour? Are you a polish junkie like me?!

Helen xx


Tuesday 6 August 2013

Blog Series - Curves around the World - Curvy Plus size Outfits - WEEK #11 STATEMENT EARRINGS

statement earrings 
It's Wednesday and we all know what that means........CURVES AROUND THE WORLD!

For some girls its shoes or clothes. Well for me, its handbags and earrings.  It's my thang. What can I say I love me some bags and earrings! 

So given the theme of this week, it was a tough choice to choose from. The photo above is a few of my favourites and ones which I wear a lot. I decided to go with these two to show you:
statement earrings ethnic and silver discs
silver disc statement earrings
I love these earrings. They are so light, simple, go with everything and are really easier to wear. The disc shape and dimple/hammer detail is so really pretty and I love how the light catches on them. I have worn them too many times to count. I actually bought another pair when I thought I'd lost them, then found the originals so now I have two pairs. At least now I have a back up! I can't remember how much they were but I think around £4. 
ethnic statement earrings
ethnic statement earrings
The camera really doesn't do these earrings justice. They have a bronze background and a stong rich purple, teal green and a cream swirl pattern at the bottom that is a little pearly. I think the ethnic pattern is really pretty and different. I always get compliments on these whenever  I wear them. I think they were around £8-£10. I've had them a long time! 
A picture from Cordoba, Spain. The OJ in Spain is the yummiest! Disc silver statement earrnings
I think the picture above shows that statement earrings really can make an outfit. I wear them both on casual and more formal occasions. I wear them with any outfit but especially if you wear black, a plain colour or simple outfit then it lifts the whole look and gives it a little something something if you know what I mean! I also think earrings lift your face and show it off.  Earrings can be very affordable and  are easy to find so throw on that old black t shirt or jumper, chuck on some statement earrings and you are good to go with a spiced up look that shows off your face!

Do you love statement earrings? Are you a handbag, shoes or earrings kind of gal? Leave me a comment and let me know. It would make me feel better to know I'm not the only one with a problem!

Don't forget to go and check out the other ladies in this blog series and what they have to offer this week.....

If you would like to join us in this blog series or if you have a blog you think I should read, then please leave a comment with your blog details or tweet me @every1sparkles . I would love to check out your blogs!

Also, don't forget to follow me so that you get all the latest posts and don't miss anything. Plus it's a lot easier to read all your favourite blogs and it's free. Click here or the button below.