Outfit | OMCZ 6 - Skirting the issue

Hello loves,

I'm a little behind with this month's Outside Your Comfort Zone challenge (it's supposed to be posted in the last week of the month) which is organised by Steph (see link below). This time the challenge is skirts, and I'd originally taken these photos for Outfit August, but then my brain went on a mental health rampage and I stopped doing my own challenge. Lulz.

Coincidentally they're both outfits with skirts, so let's have at it! I was going to do a couple of posts about local rock/metal bands past and present, but I'm going to combine the two here. First up my favourite band to have sprung out of Hastings, Soul Sanctuary, who are on hiatus at the moment, but will be coming back with some more material soon. I'm friends with both vocalists in the band and have really missed going to see them live since they've been off the scene, as it always entailed a very drunken, very fun night. There's a video below if you want to check them out, but they are 100 times better live.

I'm wearing:
Necklace, past Bluebirds & Daisies
Bracelets, old/assorted
T shirt, back in the day
Skirt, past season Simply Be
Shoes, eBay



Next up is a band t shirt from a band which were around in Hastings about the same time as Soul Sanctuary were in their heyday, and that band was Our Malevolent Tyranny, or OMT. 5 years ago you couldn't go anywhere in Hastings/Bexhill etc without seeing an OMT sticker plastered somewhere prominent. I only saw them live once, just before they split up (such is my timing!) and they were another excellent live band.

I'm wearing:

OMT shirt, back in the day
Bracelets old
Skirt, past season Yours Clothing
Shoes, past season Evans



I don't know what it is about seaside towns and talent, but Hastings is full of musicians, artists and other such creative types. I love it and wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

OMCZ 5 - Bare arms or cold shoulders

Hello lovelies,

Outside My Comfort Zone is a monthly fashion challenge organised by Steph. It hasn't been long since last month's post as I was really late putting it up.

This month's challenge is about bare arms or cold shoulder tops. I've cheated slightly by wearing cap sleeves today but I have plenty of bare armed photos from the past like here and here. The idea with this challenge is that the theme each month is out of the comfort zone for some of us who do the challenge. I'm not too bothered about bearing my arms any more. If it's hot, I'm not going to boil to save someone else's eyeballs from seeing my fat arms.

God I look tired in these photos, and I am. My step dad is back in hospital again having more intensive treatment. He has a rarer form of non-Hodgkins than they previously thought. It's very aggressive, but is supposed to respond well to treatment. Because it's a bit more specialist he's not in the local hospital to them, and I worry about my mum being on her own, as well as my step dad's outcome. He's got 5 days of intensive treatment ahead of him starting Friday, and then about another 8 months' worth afterwards. Any good juju you can conjour up will be appreciated. God knows how my mum is coping - I feel like I'm weighed down with concrete and I'm not even there to see it first hand.

I'm wearing:

Top, gift from my cousin
Harem pants, past H&M
Shoes, last year Everything 5 Pounds
Hair slide, July Crown & Glory Glitterati subscription box
Necklace, Jewel Street

Do you mind wearing sleeveless tops? Or do you cover up?

Thanks for reading,

Leah xoxo

Outfit | OMCZ 4 shorts*

Hiya lovelies,

I take part in a monthly challenge called Outside Your Comfort Zone with a bunch of lovely ladies and the theme this month is shorts. The challenge is organised by Steph and I'm almost a month late posting it. Oops.

Well, I don't actually possess any, but I do have comfort shorts, for chafing - chub rub as it's known in fatty circles. Then by fate Donatella's sent some new 20 denier anti chafing shorts for me to try out, so I wore them for the day and will review them here. They come in black and beige, in 2 sizes (3X-4X, 5X-6X) and in short and long. I'm wearing long ones.

Firstly, being 20 denier, they're cool and lightweight, which is great for this hot weather we're currently having on and off in the UK at the moment. I wore the shorts out on an errand to the post office and around the house all day. They have two seams at the back and one in the front, which I like - I can't bear tights with two seams at the front. I find them so uncomfortable. They have an inch wide stretchy waistband and are hemmed at the knee.

I didn't find myself sweating wearing them and they kept me cool, but it was a day when I didn't have to do a whole lot of walking. Some people have fat inner thighs, but my inner legs touch right down to above my knee, and if I had done a lot of walking I think I may have had a little soreness. I know this from experimenting with lots of different denier tights in the last couple of years, and generally for an active day I need 50 denier or more to stop my legs from cooking one another. They were very comfortable to wear and I hardly knew I had them on. They stayed put too, something I was worried about as there was no elastic at the knee.

I'm wearing the shorts in a 5X-6X and there was ample stretch in the shorts themselves, but I found the seams to be slightly less stretchy. You can see in one of the photos above that one of the seams is peeking out from under my dress, so it's quite a way from sitting at my crotch. Despite this the seams didn't rub and weren't uncomfortable, as the seams are finely made. By the end of the day there were some ladders on the seams where they were stretched over my bounteous behind, but it didn't affect my comfort and there were no actual holes or rubbing.

The shorts are £4.99 and I would say they're perfect for summery occasions where you may not be walking too much, such as weddings or other occasions where you're wearing a dress or skirt and may not want to add to the heat with leggings. With careful use and if you're less blessed in the bum than me and putting less strain on the seams, you may get several wears out of them.

My tights tips:

• When I'm putting on tights of any denier I remove my rings and file my nails to make sure there's nothing sharp to snag on.
• If I'm wearing fine denier tights (up to about 40 denier) I make sure my feet are moisturised so there's no icky hard skin to catch the tights. There's nothing worse than laddering a brand new pair of tights as soon as you put them on! 
• Hand wash fine denier tights and air dry. I machine wash thick tights. 

I'm wearing:

Dress, given to me by Mookie
Comfort shorts, Donatella's*
Fake Melissa jelly shoes, eBay

Do you wear comfort/anti chafing shorts? Or do you use an anti chafing cream? Even when I was hardly plus size I always chafed. It's not just something suffered by larger people, it depends on the placement of your pelvis. Donatella is due to bring these shorts out in smaller sizes, so that's great.

Now I've decided to love my legs despite their scars and discolouration, I might actually buy some proper shorts!

Thanks for reading.
Leah xoxo

*The anti chafe shorts were gifted to me but my review is honest and my own.

OMCZ 2 - Shopping trip

Hello lovelies!

The theme this month has more of an open feeling to it. No specific items or patterns to showcase. Just show us what you'd wear to go shopping. 

We took these photos late last night on our way to a Green Party meeting in Hastings old town. No open shops in sight, to James's absolute pleasure as he hates shopping (unless it's for computer games.) This dress is miles too big but very comfortable. I'm super bloated as I've been on the bread again. When will I learn?!

I don't go shopping in real life (as opposed to online) very often (in fact only really when I meet other bloggers) but when I do I always wear comfy clothes. Usually I will wear a dress with sleeves, so I can take my jacket off without being bare armed. A jacket has to be light enough for me to carry it as well as my shopping. ;) I take off my jacket if it's too hot in the shops and I always wear comfy boots so my feet don't hurt too badly from a long day on my feet.

I'm wearing:

Headband, clothes swap
Polka dot dress, past season Yours Clothing
Boyfriend coat, past season New Look Inspire
Leggings, Very.co.uk (twin pack, one full length one cropped)
Boots, New Look
Skull diamante bag, past Everything 5 Pounds

I took some photos of my makeup too - green eyeshadow for a Green meeting. :)

What kind of thing do you wear to go shopping?

Thanks for reading,
Leah xoxo

Outside My Comfort Zone 34

Hello lovelies!

This fortnight's topic was picked by Katt from A Curvy Cupcake.

As summer approaches and the days get warmer, I'm struck with the fear of getting my pasty white legs and the tops of my arms out. Apart from the obvious rudey parts, what areas of your body do you prefer to keep covered? Ladies, show me those white bits!

Well, I often have my arms and legs out, so I thought I'd flash a bit of chest today. I did used to be quite a one for booby outfits in years past, but not so much now.

I'm wearing:
Dress, Simple Be (previously gifted.)
Bra, Goddess
Skirt, Very sale
Shoes, old Evans
Necklace, Sister Vintage
Bracelets, Primark


The dress I'm wearing is more like a tunic on me. If you're buying it I'd advise sizing up.

Thanks for reading!

OMCZ #33 - Soaking up the sun

Hey there,

Becca chose the theme this time and said:

It's getting warmer in the UK and it's nearly time for the Summer Fun Days to start. Whether it be your local village fun day, a school fayre or a party at a friend's house, I want to see your outfits for those days out soaking up the sun.

I bought this dress last week when Fashion World and Simply Be had a 50% off sale. It was my last hurrah before my self-imposed spending ban. I loved the dress when I saw it on Mookie at the Curvissa event a couple of months ago and the spicy orange colour is very summery.

I'm an E cup so I got the dress in E-GG fit. There's a lot of spare room in the bust so maybe the bust size down (up to a DD) would've been better but as long as I remember to rearrange my dress as I bend over hopefully I won't flash anyone. :)

I need to check in front of a mirror for uneven leggings. :D

The dress is really soft and has the added bonus of pockets. It rides up a bit over my bum so I have to pull it down every now and then but such is life with a bubble butt. :) It's a quality fabric without being too heavy so it should get a lot of throughout summer - it's the perfect mix of smart and comfortable which would work for quite a lot of informal gatherings. I'd sooner be slightly too formal than slightly too casual.

Dress, Simply Be
Leggings, Very
Shoes, old Evans
Necklace, Sister Vintage
Bag, old Everything 5 Pounds

What's your go to summer day outfit?

Thanks for reading!

Outside my Comfort Zone - Sitting Down

Hiya!

OMCZ is a fortnightly fashion challenge where we all take turns to choose the theme.

Birthday girl Steph picked the theme this time and said: "As a fat woman I'm expected to stand up, breathe in and generally blend into the background. It's my birthday today and I fancy a sit down and I'd like to ask all my fellow plus size bloggers to sit down. Wear what ever you like but post a photo of yourself sat down. This takes me out of my comfort zone to the extreme."

I'm wearing the same outfit as earlier today as the only requirement was I be on my butt. No need to change clothes. :)

As you can see I have about 14 bellies when I sit down. I'm good with it. Bodies change when we change position. Unless of course you're entirely made of plastic!

So, go and have a looksie at some other sitting senoritas?

Thanks for taking a peek!

OMCZ 26 - Looking back - one year on

Hello pickles!

A year ago I tentatively asked to join my first ever fashion challenge - Outside My Comfort Zone. You might be surprised by this but I was so nervous I expected to be told I couldn't join because I was so new to plus size blogging at the time. (I used to blog about other things before changing the focus of my blog in late 2012.) It shows how far I've come in the year since then because now I'm in a few different fashion challenges and love them all, and more importantly I'm not quite so lacking in confidence. (Yes, me, really.)

Our first challenge was called Blazing Red, and was to involve a blazer and a pop of red. I didn't have a blazer then and I don't now. ;) Here's the brief for this fortnight's challenge.

My theme is looking back and I’d like us to all look back over the last 12 months since the challenge started and see how we have changed. It doesn’t matter if this is your first or 26th post in this challenge I think it’s be nice for all of us to look back and reflect on how we have changed in 12 months style wise. For those of us who did #OMCZ 1 you might like to share that post again and re-do the theme

I decided to inject some red into my outfit with the red coat from New Look which Mookie gave me recently.

Headscarf, eBay
Coat and dress (old) New Look
Wet look leggings, Miss Difusa
Shoes, Rocket Dog

The headscarf thing was a total accident. Truth be told I had greasy hair, grabbed a scarf, wrapped it around my head twice and tucked the ends in and TA-DAAAAAA!

Here are some photos of me looking adorable.

(Now here's the confusing bit - I'm doing Fatshion February which involves a fashion post each day of February. This constitutes day 12 of that because I'm not going to do TWO fashion posts today. As a part of FF I'm wearing the same black dress 14 ways, because I'm obviously a glutton for punishment, ha. This counts as day 6 out of 14 black dress days.)

Thanks for reading!

OMCZ 23 - Pretty pencils OOTD

Hiya pickles!

EDIT: I POSTED THIS ON TUESDAY THINKING IT WAS WEDNESDAY. Oops!

Happy New Year's Eve.

This fortnight the challenge was picked by Betty:

'Pretty Pencils'

Betty Wrote: I absolutely love pencil skirts but I've never had the confidence to wear them, what with the VBO and all that jazz. However, I've just ordered a beauty and I could really do with that push in order to wear it...let me see all you lovely ladies rocking your pencil skirts, get those pins out and share your style tips (as I also have no idea what to wear with the damn thing)! Betty x

I'm wearing my old faithful ASOS Curve pencil skirt and a blouse which only arrived a couple of hours before I started taking these photos. It's fresh out of the bag and thus a little creased. It's from Everything 5 Pounds.

I like it because there are 2 layers of fabric over the boobs for modesty, but there's only one panel below the boobs, giving a lovely sheer look. I sized up to a 30/32 as I have a problem getting things with no stretch to fit over my bubble butt. It's too big in the boobs but I don't mind a bit. It has lovely loose flowy sleeves which are see through. The sleeves are too long for me, but they act as hand warmers. 

I'm wearing my Wonder Woman necklace from my friend Lisa. It's funny because I often joke about not being Superwoman any more, so now I'm Wonder Woman as in 'I wonder which body part is going to play up today?' Hahaha. My sense of humour gets me through. :) I love the necklace, and I had the biggest crush on Wonder Woman when I was a child.

Necklace, from Lisa
Top, Everything 5 Pounds.
Skirt, ASOS Curve
Tights* Big Bloomers Company
Shoes, Rocket Dog

Do you wear pencil skirts? They can be a tad unforgiving on my ample hips, but I say sod it!

Thanks for reading.

Outside My Comfort Zone #18 - Nightclub

Hiya pickles!

Verena picked the theme this time, and she picked an outfit we could wear to a nightclub.

Bear in mind my idea of a nightclub will differ from a lot of people's idea of a nightclub. ;) I've never felt at home in a 'normal' rock club in my life, but in a rock/metal club? Now we're talking!

Silly face alert.

The weird thing is these boots are more purple than pink, but they photograph as pink. Oh well.

Top, Evans via Leeds clothes swap
Sparkle cardi, Debenhams
Matte leggings, Miss Difusa
New Rock boots, available from good shoe shops everywhere (I've been dying to say that my whole life! Seriously though, go to Camden if you want some New Rock boots, they're everywhere there!)
Necklace, Extreme Largeness
Silver bracelets, Primark
Leather bracelet, gift
Gothic ring, Alchemy gothic

Do you like nightclubs? I'd sooner have a cuppa and a nice book!

Thanks for reading.

Outside My Comfort Zone 16 - Nightwear OOTD

Hello pickles!

This challenge was chosen by Rebs, who said:  "I want to pick 'nightwear'! Let's see what you wear to bed, or flash us your naughty but nice undies, or show us what you'd wear for a good old fashioned sleepover."

Well, I sleep nude, so I'm not showing you that! ;) Since it's nightwear I have no make up on and no bra. I don't sleep in one, although I probably should if I don't want boobs down to my knees when I'm an old lady.

Nightie, Virtu (won in a blog giveaway)
Hello Kitty slippers, Primark (April, don't know if they still have them.)

I don't know if anyone else has this problem, but when I'm going through my photos for which ones to post, I like almost all of them. I think 'Ooh, I look cute in that one. And that one. And that one!' Of course there are some photos I don't like, but on the whole I love myself, and I wish that for everyone. I've said it before and I'll say it again, but taking photos of my body regularly has been THE biggest key to loving myself. How can you see your own beauty if you don't look at yourself?! Become a selfie queen and start appreciating yourself. I swear it'll work.

Thanks for reading!

OMCZ 15 - Oversized OOTD

Hello loves!

It was Nikki's turn to pick the theme for this 15th challenge and she picked oversized.

As soon as we got the theme through I knew I'd wear this top, which is the most oversized item I've ever bought. It's from ASOS Curve and is supposed to be a 26 but would fit someone well into the 30-sizes. 

I teamed it up with an oversized necklace and some bracelets. I was after that Betsey Johnson/Patricia Field vibe.

Top, ASOS Curve (January)
Leggings, ASOS Curve
Necklace, eBay
Shoes, Rocket Dog
Bracelets, various (old)

I just wanted to say I've come so far since I joined this challenge. I don't think I've ever mentioned this before but I wanted to join a fatshion challenge a long time before I joined this one (this was my first challenge, now I partake in a few.) I was worried that I'd ask to join one and someone would say something like 'Oh NO, we don't want you!' It's ridiculous, but that's how little confidence I had earlier this year. Now I'm getting my VBO out all over the place and virtually give no shits. I just wanted to share that although you might not be confident now, it's a journey and it DOES get easier. So put yourself out there.

Do you like oversized things?

To be honest, I don't prefer oversized clothes. Form fitting things flatter me more, and I'm a vain bitch! I love oversized accessories though, especially hair flowers.

Thanks for reading!

Outside my Comfort Zone 14 - Wild Side

Hello loves!

It's OMCZ time again and this time it's very much IN my comfort zone! Yes people, animal print!

Nat chose the theme this time. The brief was: Unleash your wild side

Leopard, cheetah, zebra....... I hope that will join me in unleashing your wild side and show some love for  animal print! Shoes, tops, bags or be brave and go head to toe!

This challenge made me think of this song.



As you may know, I love a bit of animal print. 

Jacket, Evans (positively ancient)
Skirt, Primark (worn as skirt)
Belt, Simply Be (old)
Necklace, Peacocks (old)
Shoes, So Fabulous from Very

Outside My Comfort Zone 14 - Stand Out

Hello cockles!

This fortnight's challenge was picked by Rachel from A Dress Is For Life.

She said: I'm going to go with stand out from the crowd, if you're fat you're told to blend it but let's stand out with pride :) whether it's bright colours, loud prints crazy hair it's up to you :)  

You may need your sunnies for this post as my very white legs await below!

As most of you will be aware, I'm a big fan of leggings as pants (or trousers as we call them in this fair land!) Today I decided to forego the leggings and get my milky white legs out in a very short dress.

I picked this cardi up for the princely sum of about £4.50 recently in a charity shop. I've wanted a pinky red cardi for ages and this is a heavyweight one which'll see me through autumn and winter.

The shot below left is one like I've never shown before, and not just because I have a face like a slapped arse. ;) The back of my legs are my next thing to learn to love. I've got huge upper legs. There's my knee and then boom - chunkers. These are strong legs which carry me about so I should love them. They are good legs which have lots of muscle under my squidge. Yet because society deems legs which look like chicken drumsticks not to be the norm I dislike them. Silly, isn't it?

Hair flower, New Look
Necklace, Punky Pins
Cardi, charity shop
Dress, New Look (from 2 pack - no longer on the website.)
Shoes, Rocket Dog

Do you ever give 2 fingers to the seemingly never-ending set of 'rules' women are meant to guide our lives by?

Thanks for reading!