on losing weight: fashion + clothes (etc)

What I want to talk about today is clothes. I used to post a bit of fashion-related stuff on my blog, back in the day, but as I've got older, I've found that I care less about what I wear, in general, as long as it's clean..

Finding clothes to fit me is something I think I'll always struggle with - as I'm not your average size, height-wise. I was talking to my brothers girlfriend recently, she's much slimmer than me, but we're about the same height, and she struggles to find trousers to fit her properly, so much so that she makes her own. So, I can't see my struggles improving in that department...

But recently since I've been losing weight, I've started caring again about what I wear. I'm not going to go crazy and buy all the clothes you see in Topshop because I'm really not that 'on trend', but I've got really into basics (exciting, I know). For example, I never used to wear jeans, now I'm on the hunt for a really good pair of them. (I was so pissed when I found out Topshop had replaced GAP in my local mall!)

Anyway, I'm going off on a tangent. I thought I'd talk about the pros and cons of finding clothes to wear - post-weight-loss.

THE BAD:

• Buying clothes in the middle of your weight-loss journey is an awkward one. Back in May/June I bought a lot of new clothes. I'd lost a lot of weight, it was my birthday, I want to look nice, etc. I got several pairs of new jeans, a few dresses.. I'm now almost 40lbs lighter. Just over a month ago, I got a new pair of jeans (a cheap pair from F+F as I'd learnt my lesson this time around) and, you've guessed it, they're too big now. I mean thats exciting, but it's not cheap. Be smart, if you think you're going to be losing more weight, wait. It'll save you money in the long run. 
• Finding your current wardrobe doesn't suit you anymore is tricky, too. I used to be a fan of oversized baggy everything, hiding all my stomach and my arms and my thighs and anything that I didn't like. Now that I'm a bit more confident, all those clothes swamp me, and I look the same size I did before. It's a shame, one of my old-favourite shirts is just unwearable because it's too big now.
• On a similar theme, re-learning my ~personal style~ is something I am still doing. I used to try and cover up everything I hated, but now I am happy wearing things a bit more close-fitting, but I'm not really sure what. I can't give you many pointers here, because I'm still in the midst of it, but I'm hoping that I'll get better along the way.

THE GOOD:

• Finding little things about your new body that look good in clothes, is one of my recent favourite things. After trying on thousands of pairs of jeans, I've found that some make my bum look pretty good. And then I stop and think about that thought, that shit, my bum can look good in jeans. 
• Whilst trying to figure out your new style is difficult, it can also be really fun. Clothes that you thought weren't options for you are now suddenly available, which is really fucking fun. I've been trying on all manner of random clothes when I go out shopping these days, to get an idea of what I like and what I don't like.
• It's really amazing to be able to walk into a regular clothing store and know you'll find your size. (Well, most of the time that is. I was in a New Look the other week and found they didn't stock in-store above a size 12, what the fuck is that about, New Look?) 
• Feeling more confident, generally. I spend a lot less time worrying about whether my shirt is too tight and clinging to bits I don't want, etc, because theres less bits that I don't want on show. It's exhausting, worrying about things like that constantly, and it's mad how much energy it takes up. 
• Caring less generally, about what people think of my fashion choices, too. I used to worry that people were thinking if I wore a certain item of clothing (how dare that fat girl wear leggings, leggings are not for fat people, for example, is something I overheard once). I think this comes with growing up and giving zero fucks about life, also.

This doesn't mean that I don't have tantrums about clothes not fitting, like any other human being (well, mostly the women, I suppose) out there but things are improving for me..

All other On Losing Weight articles can be found here!

hibernation season

To me, Autumn-fashion is synonymous with big sweaters, long socks, wooly scarves and hats. But when I'm at home and lounging about, and find myself chilly I resort to lugging around my hand-made quilt, dragging it about the house and wrapping myself up in it. This is partly because I'm cold, yes, but also because it's made from flannel (like a fleece!) and is oh-so-soft and cosy.. Unfortunately, this isn't always practical.

A few weeks ago I was having a cheeky evening hot chocolate in Next with my friend Gemma and stumbled across this oh-so-soft and cosy sweater which I really just wanted straight away. I resisted for about a week, but then just caved, and went back and bought it. I do not regret that decision in the slightest. It's incredible soft, if I haven't said that enough already, but it really is. Like baby sheep fleeces or some crap, I don't even know. It's got a really lovely roll neck that you can pull up and keep your neck all warm, or let flop over. I particularly love the little thumb-holes in the sleeves that you can keep hooked down.

Generally, it's just a really great winter-investment, and I can see me getting such a lot of wear out of it in the coming months. I'm really loving getting all comfy in bed or on the sofa and settling down with my laptop for some quiet-time, such a nice thing to do. I'm really pleased with the quality and price actually, for Next, normally I find their quality doesn't match up to their price - like they price their clothes at a higher point than they're really worth - but this I felt was spot on. £20 for something I can even wear out of the house (and have popped to the shops in!) is actually pretty reasonable. I got a bigger size than a needed (XL) because I want to be able to cuddle up in it. 

This isn't a sponsored post or anything, by the way, I just really wanted to share this all with you because I love it show much, and have barely taken it off since I bought it. And it's still in the shops if you want to pick one up!

planning party dresses

(images from asos.com)

Despite the fact I used to post a lot about fashion on here - I feel like I have stopped caring a lot about the things I put on my body these days. I basically live in a uniform of black (continued on from my university days where it was useful to hide the ink stains) and dressing up consists of putting on an unstained pair of jeans or trousers and a smart blouse. 

That said, there are parties quickly approaching that I will have to look presentable at and I thought I would treat myself to something new, and something colourful, for a change. I've resorted to ASOS, because as much as I can't stand their awful customer service, they do have brands that I like and a good selection of bigger sized clothes. 

I need two dresses, one for my dad's 60th birthday party, and one for a casual birthday party of my own with a few close friends. I'm thinking the blue or the green will be perfect for my dads 'do, one of the red and orange dresses for mine - I've got these lovely platform heels I haven't had a chance to wear yet. 

But as is the way with these things, they could get here and be awful! I will keep you posted, because I know you're all hanging on the edge of your seat there. 

groundbreaking florals

After living inside giant hand-knit sweaters and brothers/fathers hand-me-downs for five months, I feel like I've emerged from hibernation these past two weeks. This, coupled with the fact I've lost quite a bit of weight this year, have made me seriously need some spring-appropriate clothing. I went with the intention of getting just a few basic black vests (why stray from tradition, I suppose?) and happened on this t-shirt in Primark. It's so different from anything I usually wear, that I really love it. It's just a black t-shirt in the back, but it's just the right length for a t-shirt on my 5'10 1/2 frame (so it would probably run longer on shorter girls). I wore this on Easter sunday with my blue pants for lunch with the family, and it looked nice, I think.

Of course, I got the obligatory black and white vests and such, as well as a really nice sheer kimono from H&M, and a light-weight knit kimono/cardigan from there too. Good things. Now I just need a warm day when I'm not stuck at work to wear them!

fake outfit v2

Blue Geometric Patterned Dress, £19.99, New Look

Another cheating-ootd, I couldn't be bothered to set my camera up all properly, as I was running late, so I just snapped a few pictures in my mirror! My brother recently passed his exams and got into uni (Cardiff, to do Maths!) so we went out for dinner as a sort of celebratory thing, also because my older brother wouldn't be able to see him before he went off to uni, due to work and such. 

I wasn't originally planning on getting anything special to wear, figuring I would just dig something out of my wardrobe, but I went shopping that day with my friend Gemma, and saw this dress. I was drawn to the print, immediately - I love a good print, especially anything geometric. And you can't see them (because I stupidly threw a cardigan on) but it has adorable little puffy cap-sleeves, which are really sweet. The elasticated waist is not my favourite, I'll admit, but it does sort of suck me in!

Also, because I'll probably get asked, my lipstick is Dior's Dolce Vita Red (which may be overtaking Russian Red as my favourite mid-tone red.. I have a serious problem, I'm willing to admit that).

fake outfits

This is a bit of a cheating outfit of the day (please excuse the mess in the background!). I got this mirror from Ikea the other week, because I was lacking one in my room, since I have redecorated. On Friday last week, me and my friend wanted a day out, so we planned to go see Downton Abbey (lol). Unfortunately it was shut, but we didn't let this dampen our spirits, and instead had a nice wander around Winchester, drinking amazing iced-coffee from a little coffee-shop, wandered around the cathedral, watched Escape to the Country on a large screen in the church-yard? Yeah, I don't know! We perused the Oxfam bookshop which is amazing, and had a nice day. It wasn't what we had planned, but it was very sunny which kept our spirits up!

Anyway, I recently purchased this dress from ASOS and I am in absolutely love with it, it's the perfect length and weight (it's a fine knit) and looks casual and dressy at the same time. I love it! I got it on sale for £24.50 and I am so happy with it. I can really picture me wearing it to private views and the like for uni, as well as to dinner, or just regular days out.
I've had a really lazy day, just watching the Olympics and chilling on the sofa, but I'm quite content with this! What've you been up to? 

you got your hair slicked back and your wayfarers on, baby

Hello everyone, guess who is 22 tomorrow?! Oh yes. I am now old! I definitely feel old, because for my birthday I asked for a new carpet, a couple of books, and a portfolio, haha. I mentioned to my mum that I was going to get myself from prescription sunglasses because I do really hate wearing contact lenses when it's sunny. She came with me to help pick them.. and ended up getting me them! They came last week and I wasn't supposed to be able to have them until my birthday but she let me have them a bit earlier. I have wanted Ray Ban's for ageeees, I adore the Wayfarers beyond words, but I told myself I wouldn't let myself have them until I could be trusted with nice things. Both my brother and I have an unfortunate habit of buying sunglasses and then leaving them in places (mine are usually cheap H&M sunnies, but his have been Oakley's, Ray Ban's and a pair of Prada ones I dare not mention to my mother!). As these are prescription lenses, they don't have the iconic Ray Ban logo in the corner but I can live with that to be able to wear them to wear them when driving and such.

(PS, if you love Boys of Summer as much as me, you are amazing, why aren't we friends?)

Smells like Autumn.

I start my degree on Monday and I'm pretty much just desperate to start already! I need a bit of something new in my life, and a fresh-start, or something.

And then I was on Tumblr the other day and saw this picture and I was like YES. This is what I want. I want hats and scarves and boots and autumn.

So I bought myself some boots and I dug out my scarves and I am looking forwad to being able to wear them. And this picture generally just emulates what I'm into for this Winter. I did a little hunting on my favourite websites, New Look, River Island, Dorothy Perkins, ASOS (I cannot WAIT until H&M open their online store!).

I'm totally buying into the whole chunky socks and boots trend, too, I want to hit up River Island and buy me some. The heeled boots with aviator-style-fluff are from New Look and I want them so badly. I just can't think where I would wear them, and as a five-ten girl, I don't really need boots like this, haha. So I compensated and bought the black boots in the bottom left, courtesy of River Island. They were only £40 and thought they would be useful for winter times and slogging about uni. I definitely want a big fairisle-style scarf, like the black and white River Island one or the grey New Look one in the bottom left. I also really want a parka. I'll have to see about that one.

In conclusion, it has rained all day and I want to start at uni already! Going to check out my friends halls down at Maidstone tomorrow, hoping this will get me all geared up for it. (:

What are you wearing this winter? Show me!