How I got over my latest mental health slump in record time

HOW-I-GOT-OVER-MY-LATEST-MENTAL-HEALTH-SLUMP-IN-RECORD-TIME mental health depression anxiety // www.xloveleahx.co.uk
With every year that passes I learn more about myself, and more about dealing with my mental health. When a bad mental health spell hit just before Christmas it knocked me off my feet, but it went away within just a week, which has never happened before.

Plus size 1920s flapper girl with In The Style Curve

Plus-size-1920s-flapper-girl-with-In-The-Style-Curve fancy dress New Years Eve // www.xloveleahx.co.uk
I bought a dress from the recently-launched In The Style Curve collection, and as soon as it arrived I knew it'd be perfect for a flapper-girl influenced outfit for New Years Eve.

My December Favourites

MY-DECEMBER-FAVOURITES-INCLUDING-TANGLE-TEEZER // WWW.XLOVELEAHX.CO.UK

I always mean to do a monthly favourites post but rarely remember. Since it's Christmas and I've got lots of sparkly things to hand I decided to snap some pretties.

Gingerbread Men tunic top

I bought this top from eBay recently. It's supposed to be a dress, and in the photo on there it shows the hem being knee length in relation to the sleeves, but when it came the hem is only a few inches longer than the sleeves. Bummer, but the pattern is so lovely I kept it. It's a cheap material without much stretch and I don't hold much hope of it washing well, but it's so festive I'm still in love with it.

Yours Clothing Tattoo Tester


Recently Yours Clothing invited me to a breakfast event to celebrate the launch of their new Tattoo Tester website. I was sad that I couldn't go, but a mixture of a long journey into London and my anxiety disorder with rush hour public transport meant it was impossible. I've taken the website for a spin though and it's a lot of fun. You can try a tattoo on for size before you commit to wearing something on your skin for a lifetime.

Glitz on the cheap

Glitz on the cheap - a plus size gold and wet look outfit from Simply Be and Everything 5 Pounds //www.xloveleahx.co.uk

Occasionally I splurge on something a bit luxe, but I also love a good bargain. This entire outfit cost me £29.

5 things to tell yourself when depression strikes

5-things-to-tell-yourself-when-depression-strikes // www.xloveleahx.co.uk
On Friday morning I woke up feeling completely awful and it's knocked me for six. I've gone from a reasonably well-adjusted human (albeit one with depression and S.A.D.) to a shaking wreck who is sleeping as much of every day as possible and can't stop crying. Rather than sharing a long post about how awful I feel (which wouldn't help anybody) here are some things I've learned which I'll share for anyone else going through a hard time.

A great party number - Yours Clothing Black & Rose Pink Sparkle Midi Dress

Yours-Clothing-Black-and-Rose-Pink-wrap-front-Sparkle-Midi-Dress plus size Christmas dress // www.xloveleahx.co.uk the size 28 UK fashion blogger

Those babes over at Yours Clothing kindly sent me this sparkly dress after I was unable to attend a recent event of theirs. The black and rose pink midi sparkle wrap front midi dress looks amazing on the website but it's even lovelier in the flesh.

Festive things including Soap & Glory The Whole Glam Lot

Every year Soap and Glory do a bumper gift set which goes down to half price for a week just before Christmas. I really wasn't intending to buy it this year, but I'm weak. 😆 This year the set is called The Whole Glam Lot and I was planning to give it a miss. I didn't think I'd be to be going shopping at the weekend as I expected the shops to be busy and hellish. I ended up going to our local retail park on Saturday with my family, and Boots was empty - oh yes! I ended up having to pop in there to get a voucher for my brother anyway, and there was a massive pile of Whole Glam Lots stacked up winking at me so I. It was like something out of Sausage Party - it virtually leaped into my arms to go to the great beyond!

I wear what I want


Something wonderful happens when you stop comparing yourselves to other people. How can you create anything that makes you happy if you have other people in your head? And that applies to any creative endeavour. The outfits that make me happiest are the ones which would never grace the pages of fat Vogue, if such a publication were to exist. The happiest ones are where I get to express my quirky personality through clothes, not necessarily where I look the most fashionable.

Some words on trauma and using defence mechanisms to keep people away

*Trigger warning - violence, animal abuse and a brief mention of attempted sexual assault*

This isn't the blog post I started to write. Take this as you will - a woe is me if you're cynical, or someone sharing a hard time in their life in case it resonates with someone else who has lived through trauma and built walls to keep it in.

Luxury bitch

Luxury-bitch-in-sparkles-and-faux-fur plus size Christmas outfit // www.xloveleahx.co.uk

Today I'm wearing as much sparkle as it's possible to put on a person at once. I'm wearing a glitzy dress, sparkly shoes, a stunning glittery cardi and a faux fur coat. Everything I have on today is old so I'll link to similar items at the end.

My wedding and engagement rings cost £12 and IDGAF

My-wedding-and-engagement-rings-cost-£12-and-IDGAF // www.xloveleahx.co.uk
Free image from Pixabay

I read an article today about a woman who was shamed for buying her wedding and engagement rings from Pandora. It made me so livid I thought I'd share the cost of my wedding and engagement rings.

7 affordable plus size party dresses

7-affordable-plus-size-party-dresses Christmas glam // www.xloveleahx.co.ukToday I'm sharing 7 plus size party dresses under £50. You may have noticed there are only 6 in the collage photo - I'm wearing the 7th one. I've included a mixture of maxi dresses and shorter dresses with long sleeves or sleeveless styles so hopefully there's something for everyone who wants a bit of glam in the run up to Christmas. If you haven't nailed down which little number you'll be wearing on Christmas day, for a nice meal out or to the work Christmas party, I hope this will help.

5 things you can do on your blog when you've lost your blogging mojo

5-things-you-can-do-when-you've-lost-your-blogging-mojo // www.xloveleahx.co.uk
Losing your blogging mojo happens from time to time, but rather than feeling like an unproductive failure there are a few constructive things you can do in your downtime which will make things better for you.

FK Flattering - a monochrome outfit

I think the best outfits have something old and something new, and this look has a t-shirt that's a few years old with my new Elvi skirt.

My thrifty DIY beauty advent calendar

Hi loves!
Last year my dad was working at M&S so he got a hefty discount, so he got me the M&S beauty advent calendar. This year he's not and I'm too skint to buy one of my own after our move so I had a brainwave - all the little bits and bobs I've got lying around from beauty boxes, all the things I've bought recently and never swatched/opened, let alone used, they've all gone in.

The PERFECT party dress - Evans black velvet layer dress from House of Fraser

I can't wait to tell you all about this most perfect velvet party dress from House of Fraser. It's from Evans and it's perfect for so many reasons! Read on to find out why.

Things I've learned about driving in my own lane

Things-I've-learned-about-driving-in-my-own-lane On blogging pressures // www.xloveleahx.co.uk
[Free image via Pixabay]

I've avoided wordy posts for several weeks as I'm still painfully aware of my propensity to do great harm with the words I choose in haste. After that post of almost two months ago I've done a lot of soul searching and I've made some changes. The honest truth is anyone can bang out careless words in 5 minutes, but well considered ones take time, and I'm not great at that. Mea culpa. Some of these changes have been internal - examining why I lash out when frustrated instead of dealing with my emotions for instance, and I've also made changes to the way I interact with other bloggers. I wasn't happy when I wrote that post - quite clearly - and the way I consume all things blog-related needed to change.

If the barn door's a rockin' don't come a knockin'

I was at lovely Sharnfold Farm again a few weeks ago to show my mum and step dad the lovely animals there, and I spied this lovely old barn door which I thought would be a great backdrop for photos.

Christmas gifts from Jacamo for the men in your life (SP)

CHRISTMAS-WISHLIST-FOR-MEN-FROM-JACAMO-THE-PLUS-SIZE-MENS-WEBSITE // www.xloveleahx.co.uk
In case you haven't heard of Jacamo, they're a sister company (or should that be a brother company?) to Simply Be and they do a whole range of clothes for the large man, as well as shoes, accessories, gifts, electricals and more. They stock clothes up to 5X, which is a 64/66 inch chest to cater to the cuddliest of fellas, and you can expect major name brands like Joe Browns, Puma, Adidas, Lonsdale, Timberland, Wrangler and more. With Christmas being just around the corner, here are some gifts I'd like to pick up for the men in my life. And that checked shirt? It's totally for me, but it's our secret, OK? Although it may be a men's clothes shop, I wear lots of clothes meant for men. Clothes are just clothes, so wear what you want. With the weather being on the chilly side in the UK at the moment, the snuggly Men's Hoodies are well worth a look.

Wide calf boots for plus size legs from Wide Calf Boots Store

Wide calf boots from Wide Calf Boots Store for plus size legs // www.xloveleahx.co.uk

I have very wide calves and haven't been able to wear knee high boots for many years. When I found out the Wide Calf Boot Store have boots to fit my legs I was thrilled. I chose this style as they look a bit like biker boots, a style I love.

Plus size checked shirt - lumberjack chic

Plus size checked shirt - lumberjack chic // www.xloveleahx.co.uk

A few weeks ago on Instagram someone I follow put up a photo of them wearing mustard and a red checked shirt and it inspired me so much I bought a red checked shirt so I could recreate it. I've loved checked shirts since the early 90s, when I fell in love with Pearl Jam and the whole grunge scene and I basically wanted to be Eddie Vedder. 😉 (How cool is it that Blogger now has emoticons in the post editor?)

Elvi Dip Hem Leather Look Midi Skirt


I wore this Elvi Dip Hem Leather Look Midi Skirt to Sharnfold Farm near Eastbourne the day before Halloween and I wanted to do a witchy look to celebrate the occasion. 

11 things you don't have to do to be a good blogger

I've been blogging for over 5 years and in that time I've probably seen at least 1000 advice posts about what to do to be a great blogger, and I'm here to be the antithesis of all that advice.

Dorothy Perkins Curve Ochre Ruffle Neck Tie Top

Dorothy Perkins Curve Ochre Ruffle Neck Tie Top plus size mustard blouse // www.xloveleahx.co.uk

Hiya! Today I'm wearing the Dorothy Perkins Curve ochre ruffle neck tie top and it's so Autumn/Winter appropriate. I love mustard at this time of year.

Pink Clove Plus Zara Velvet Star Shift Dress

Pink Clove Plus Zara Velvet Star Shift Dress // www.xloveleahx.co.uk

Hiya lovelies! Today I'm talking about this Pink Clove velvet dress which is gorgeous, but as you can see it's too short for me to wear out as a dress. I'm really bummed as I LOVE the dress, but the length is not good. The velvet is so on trend and the glitter stars are so Christmassy. It could have been SO perfect. *does a little cry*

Lovedrobe grey cold shoulder shift dress

Hiya lovelies! I hope you all had a lovely Halloween? I had a very quiet one at home with James but I really enjoyed seeing lots of photos of people on social media dressed up for Halloween, and their kids and pets. It was lovely! Today I'm reviewing the Lovedrobe grey cold shoulder plus size shift dress and it is a beaut!
Lovedrobe-grey-cold-shoulder-shift-dress-plus-size // www.xloveleahx.co.uk
I absolutely love the dove grey colour and the crepe fabric of this dress.

New Look Curves mink velvet lace trim cami


Hiya pickles! I bought this vest top from New Look around a month ago, and by luck it's still in stock so I would snap one up if you like the look of it - it's only £7! I absolutely love blush pink at the moment.

Clothing hack - 3/4 playsuit into long lagenlook dress


Hey loves! It's been a while again, hasn't it? James kindly passed on his man flu to me, and as I have asthma that means instant chest infection. Yay, lucky me! ;) In today's post I'm going to talk about how I hacked this long lagenlook dress from a three-quarter length playsuit.

'By Invitation', a fragrance by Michael Bublé

By-Invitation-a-perfume-by-Michael-Bublé oriental fragrance // www.xloveleahx.co.uk
Whenever I receive anything for review purposes I always keep an open mind and try not to prejudge something until I have it in my hands. I deliberately didn't read any reviews of this Michael Bublé perfume before I received it (or even look up the scent notes) as I didn't want to shape my opinion before I put my nose to the test. I'm not someone who normally buys celebrity fragrance at all - I'm not swayed by that kind of thing. I had no idea what to expect - I was worried I might hate it - but I loved it from the first spray. I'm not a perfume whizz who can pick out many individual notes in a perfume, but on me this smells of vanilla, citrus and musks. It has a heady, intoxicating warmth which just draws you in, and when I'm wearing it I can't resist sniffing my wrist constantly. I would imagine this is the kind of perfume which draws people in slightly closer so they can smell it better. If I was a single lady I'd definitely be wearing this on nights out!

It's been a while

I haven't taken any outfit photos in nearly 3 weeks, and people who follow me on Instagram may have seen this outfit there a month ago or so. I've lost my way with fashion blogging and have been in a bit of a funk. It's a mixture of things - fatigue from the move affecting my mental health compounded by looking at a face in the mirror which is visibly ageing by the day, with a dash of materialistic ho-bag guilt after packing up my entire life into boxes and realising how much crap I own. Going forwards I intend to show a mix of old things with the occasional new item thrown into the mix, and as I said in a previous post I'll be trying to diversify. I want to show other sides of my personality other than hopelessly addicted fashion victim. ;)

Anyway, here's a really simple casual outfit I wore on a blisteringly hot day last month. A few of the items I've had for months, but thankfully as they're basics they're still for sale.

Introducing Viva Voluptuous lingerie

Viva-Voluptuous-lingerie-plus-size-boudoir-lingerie // www.xloveleahx.co.uk

Viva Voluptuous are a lingerie company who launched this month. Filling a gap in the market for luxurious boudoir lingerie for the over size 16 figure, they stock babydolls, kimonos and corsets in sizes 16-30 and for bust sizes of 36D and above.

How to declutter in an eco friendly way

How to declutter in an eco friendly way // www.xloveleahx.co.uk

How to declutter in an eco friendly way

Although our upcoming house move has been quite short notice, I was determined that I would donate and recycle as many of our unwanted belongings as I possibly could. Here are some of the things I've done to pass on our surplus goods. I'm not writing this post to paint myself as some kind of saint, but to give you some ideas about how you can clear out your clutter AND perhaps do some good with it. In the past when we've moved we've been quite wasteful, but this time round I've spent a lot of time and money making sure we throw away the bare minimum.

Pink Clove rose floral print shift dress with rib trim

Pink Clove plus size rose floral print shift dress with rib trim // www.xloveleahx.co.uk
I'm wearing a dress from Pink Clove today which has a lovely autumn/winter appropriate dark floral print on it, teamed with rib details to bring it bang into 2016.

Be the blogger you want to read

I've been having a lot of thoughts recently about my place in blogging and what modern day plus size blogging is, compared to what it was 5 years ago when I started. Somewhere along the way I've lost parts of myself, mainly down to comparisons with others. Thoughts of what I *should* be doing replaced thoughts of just being me.

Meet the advertiser - EL Feelgood's Vintage


Hi loves! I'm introducing a new feature on my blog - Meet the advertiser. Today I want to introduce you to EL Feelgood's Vintage.

E L Feelgood's Vintage Etsy store sells vintage jewellery, vintage tea sets and other vintage treasures. If you love the uniqueness of vintage, the history that comes with vintage pieces then pop along to have a look.  You are likely to come across one off items or limited finds.  Whatever the item it has been pre-loved, it has been pre-cherished, it is a key to the past with every item having its own history.
I don't know about you, but I'm a sucker for jewellery and vintage crockery, so this shop is right up my alley. You can also find them on Twitter.

Thanks for reading,
Leah xoxo

If you have a small business/blog you want to advertise in my sidebar it's just £10 per month for a 300 wide ad and an intro post. There's a one-off fee of £2.50 if you want me to design you an ad. Email me at loveleah@gmail.com to discuss.

Share The Love with Curvissa

I was asked to get involved with Curvissa's Share The Love campaign I was thrilled because it's lovely to spread a bit of positivity.

Here are some of the awesome ladies who are killing it in the fashion and inspiration stakes.

CowCow Boo Halloween ghost dress

CowCow Boo plus size Halloween ghost dress 3x // www.xloveleahx.co.uk
It's never to early for Halloween clothes as far as I'm concerned, so when I saw this CowCow dress on Amazon US a couple of months ago it fell into my basket in a flash.

Halloween vibes in Witch Worldwide moon and stars crop tank

Witch Worldwide moon and stars crop tank
I'm a gal with eclectic tastes but it's no secret my heart sings at all things spooky and dark, especially as we edge closer to Autumn and Winter. Gothic and witchy looks appeal as we lose daylight, and I've got a dark and witchy outfit today wearing this Witch Worldwide moon and stars crop tank. I'm wearing a 3x-4x and it's an amply cut crop top with wide armholes, plenty of drape and it's a lightweight material which offers plenty of movement.

How to make an effortlessly chic outfit with 2 things you probably own already

How to make an effortlessly chic outfit with 2 things you probably own already // www.xloveleahx.co.uk
Hi loves! Amongst other things I'm talking about the New Look Curves black belted sleeveless jacket today, but if you want one don't dally as they're reduced it in the sale and it'll soon be out of stock. Read on to see how 2 items you probably own already can create a timeless look for any season. 

She Might Be - the new body positive online magazine

This week an exciting new online magazine launched. The brain child of wonder-blogger Georgina Grogan of She Might Be Loved, She Might Be is a website celebrating plus size fashion and body positivity, with posts about beauty and general life stuff all of us can identify with.

A photo posted by She Might Be (@_shemightbe) on


Is it Halloween yet?

PLUS SIZE CASUAL OUTFIT JEANS CHECKED SHIRT // www.xloveleahx.co.uk
It may be 6 weeks away yet but I'm looking forward to Halloween (as I do every year) and took the opportunity to pull one of my Halloween tops out when the weather was a little colder a couple of weeks ago.

Introducing SuitsMen - quality British-made suits for gentlemen #SP

In this post I'll be introducing Suitsmen.co.uk, the website which James Bond would shop from if he were a real person. Exclusively online and in existence since 2004, SuitsMen has an array of products for the quintessential British gentleman, or someone who wants to emulate that coveted style. Not only do they carry quality garments which will last for years, but they also cater for the plus size man with sizes to for a 60 inch chest and beyond. Whether you're buying a suit for work or for leisure, a SuitsMen purchase is an investment worth making. An employer takes about 10 seconds during an interview to decide if you're the right candidate for the job, so first impressions really do count. A classic suit is an investment in your future.
Suits Men British-made quality clothing for gentlemen up to 60" chest
Skopes Oslo Wool lycra Suit
Millerain Waxed Tweed iPhone Case
Millerain Waxed Navy Washbag
Brook Taverner Dinner Suit 

Preparing for Autumn in Simply Be open knit cardigan and Lucy high waist jeans

Simply Be open knit cardigan and Lucy plus size high waist jeans // www.xloveleahx.co.uk
I've been ready for Autumn for a while now, and I bought a couple of things from Simply Be recently with Autumn in mind. Those constant discount codes always tempt me! I never buy anything full price if I can help it.

Life Lately - August/September


As ever, it's been a month of ups and downs. We all have them.

As you may have noticed, I rebranded my blog. NEVER AGAIN. Sooo many problems. I have about 20 new grey hairs and wrinkles due to the changeover. Neeeeever again.

CowCow peacock print plus size skater dress

CowCow peacock print plus size skater dress // www.xloveleahx.co.uk
I've loved peacocks and peacock feathers for many years. My mum used to have some peacock feathers in a tankard over our fireplace when I was a child and that started a fascination all of my own. When I saw this CowCow peacock print dress it was a no-brainer to buy it.

8 ways I use IFTTT to make my blogging life easier

8-ways-I-use-IFTTT-to-make-my-blogging-life-easier If This Then That blogging productivity tools
Since I've rebranded my blog I've had to streamline all the ways I share my content across social media. IFTTT (IF This Then That) is by far the most useful of all the tools I use to share my content. It's a content automation wonder tool which automates sharing your content to free up more time for all the fun stuff, like writing posts. Here's an example of how it works - IF a new blog post goes up on Blogger, THEN the post will be shared on my Twitter. Each little task is called an IFTTT recipe. Here are the recipes I'm using right now - 8 ways I use IFTTT to make my blogging life easier.

Knitwear with George at Asda & knitwear care tips

Knitwear-with-George-at-Asda www.xloveleahx.co.uk
Howdy! I have a great affordable outfit using Autumn knitwear from George at Asda to show you today. I'm wearing/using 5 items from George at Asda in this look and the total comes out at under £60! If you're not in the UK, Asda is the UK equivalent of Walmart and offers affordable clothing and accessories (as well as groceries) online and in store. A lightweight cardigan is a way to transition towards Autumn without committing to a jacket. I don't know about you, but I avoid wearing a proper jacket for as long as possible to hold onto that summery feeling!

5 Autumn/Winter trends you need in your life

5-Autumn/Winter-trends-you-need-in-your-life // www.xloveleahx.co.uk

Present mini-heatwave aside, there's no doubt the nights are drawing in and Autumn is coming. With a change of season comes a change of wardrobe (out of necessity in the UK or we'll freeze!) but you don't have to wade through dozens of trends to be fashionable. Fear not, just pick a handful you feel comfortable with and work them into your wardrobe. I've been looking at all the trends for Autumn/Winter and here are 5 things I think you need in your life. Are you ready? Let's dive in!

Boohoo Plus Dina cropped camo print bomber

Boohoo-Plus-Dina-camo-print-bomber-cropped-jacket-military-trend-plus-size www.xloveleahx.co.uk
This is my favourite outfit for a long time and I felt really fabulous wearing it. Today I'm going to show you the Boohoo Plus Dina plus size camo print bomber but before that, a frank discussion about nipples. Yes, N-I-P-P-L-E-S.