Being Fat.

I apologise in advance for what is going to be a very selfish post all about…me. My life, my experiences and my views.

I’ve been bigger for most of my life.  Not as large as I am now, but compared to my peers I was a heavyweight.  I must have been, or else why would they and my family have constantly found new and interesting ways to bring it to my attention? ‘Heffalumpa’, ‘tree trunk thighs’, ‘Georgie Podgy’ and all manner of other creative terms were flung my way throughout my teenage years.  I sometimes wonder whether I would have loathed my body had no one brought my larger frame to my attention on an almost daily basis, or whether I would have still compared my shape and size to those around me and despaired at it’s apparent heftyness.

These days I have a healthier approach to my body.  Just because I am a larger lady, it doesn’t mean that that is all I am.  I am Georgina.  I am someone’s best friend. I am someone’s girlfriend.  I am a blogger.  I work in marketing.  I have done the odd bit of modelling. I have fat on my body, but I am not fat – a mere lump of the stuff. And so what if I do have a bit of chub? What has my extra wibble stopped me doing? I’ve travelled, bungee jumped, sky dived, danced all night long. I’ve gone swimming in rivers, pools, streams and oceans. I’ve been flirted with, hit on and chatted up enough for me to safely conclude that I am not just an undesirable blubbery mess with no other attributes. I go running sporadically, I can climb several flights of stairs without collapsing and although I could be fitter, I’ve never felt hindered by my physical abilities. I fit comfortably into bus, train, plane and rollercoaster seats, and I’ve never capsized a boat. I have never experiences any ailments or illnesses due to my size. Diabetes? No, I am not a silly nonsensical cliché. Raised blood pressure? Only when people push onto a tube that I am getting off (you think they would see me…) Cholesterol problems? Give me a break! I could go on and on with a smug self important things that I have achieved DESPITE my weight and a list of problems that do not go hand in hand with squishy frame, but I think you all get the picture!

There are only ever two occasions that my lardy body gets my down. The first is when I catch a glimpse of myself in photos not looking my best. I am generally happy with my appearance, but when someone with a camera catches me off guard the end result can be monstrous. I do accept that they are capturing me as I look at that time, but I still get hung up and ‘detag’ myself in photos! Likewise, when I sometimes look in the mirror in something that doesn’t suit me or is too small for me, I feel horrid. I feel ashamed. However, would I still feel that way if I were smaller, but just about other parts of my body rather than my fat? And would I still feel that way if I didn’t live in a country that is obsessed with diets and cellulite and the idea that the only way to be perfect and happy is to be slim? Who can say.
The other thing that gets me down is… other people’s reactions to my size. Because as much as I want to make friends with the word ‘fat’, being branded a ‘fat lazy slag’ or any other random throwing together of seemingly negative words DOES hurt – how can it not? Sometimes I dwell on that hurt for days, sometimes I laugh it off within seconds, but it does make a mark on me and make me mentally regret every bite of chocolate and drunken burger I ever scoffed down. I curse myself for allowing my body to take on this vast form and I wonder how anyone could have ever liked me, loved me, seen me naked and felt anything other than nausea.

However, I do bounce back, more determined than ever to carry on with my life, doing all of the things that most other people do, unhindered by my size. I would like to shed some flab, as I do think that I would feel a little more content with some weight off. But my life will not stop until that point, and nor will the opportunities and amazing experiences that I have had and will encounter. I am not my weight. I am not simply ‘fat’ and every negative connotation that goes with that word. I am so much more than that, just like every other person out there who constantly gets reduced to being nothing more than a body size.

‘Being fat’. It’s not a disability, or the worst thing someone can be. It’s not an adequate singular way to describe a person. It’s not a term for a life half lived. It doesn’t call for the faux concern brigade to start firing out phrases like, “I just worry about how their weight will impact their lives in the future.” It’s just the way some people are.

Get over it.

A Review Of The BiuBiu ‘Marsala’ Dress

Many of you will know that I am a huge fan of BiuBiu. They make bust friendly clothing at very reasonable prices, and I have always found the fit to be excellent and consistent.

I was recently sent two dresses in sizes 44BB/BBB – which translates as ‘size 16 with huge boobies’ – check the BiuBiu size chart for more info on how their sizes work.

The Marsala dress in red.

The Marsala dress in blue.

I found the dresses to fit exactly the same, despite them being different colours.

They have a wonderful high neckline – not so high that create a ‘shelf boob’ look, but high enough to be modest in situations that call for it.

The length is perfect on my 5’7 frame, hitting me at that magical point just below the knee.  The capped sleeves didn’t cut in or make my arms look any bigger than they already are.

The stretchy cotton helps accommodate my figure, and is a nice cool material to wear in this amazing hot weather. I can see me adding a long sleeve tops underneath them, and some leggings and boots in the winter – versatile dresses, perfect all year round.

I wore the red dress to work yesterday, and it really is a perfect office dress. If I were going out after work I could have changed my flat shoes for some heels, instantly the look of the dress.

I did of course add a belt when I wore this dress to work.  As you can see the dress fits amazingly well, but I just wanted that extra bit of definition and something to break the outfit up and match the  dark shoes I had on.

I found that the tulip shaped skirt added a bit of puff to my stomach.  I don’t mind this too much as it also helped conceal it somewhat, but at certain angles it did add some bulk. However, the adding of a simple waist belt did help draw attention away from the puffiness.

In conclusion, I love these dresses.  They really do accommodate my bust whilst still being flattering on my body.  In these photos I paired them with my trusty Maidenform shapewear, a plunge bra from Ewa Michalak and my old Marks and Spencers high heels.

Special thanks goes to the beautiful patient CurvyWordy for taking these photos for me.

If you want to check out another view of the Marsala dress then visit A Sophisticated Pair for her review of the dress.

Women Are Back

If you have been following my social streams as of late you will have seen me gushing on and on and on and on and ON about the fact that I was in Milan! I was flown there by Marina Rinaldi, as myself and eleven other girls were due to spend four days together working on an exciting project – more will be revealed in a few months!  All I can say is that I ate gelato, met some babes, tried on some amazing clothes and had my hair and make up done every day.  It was like a dream!

It was amazing to meet some of my blogging idols, and I absolutely adore every woman I had the pleasure of spending time with over those four perfect days.

I’d love to introduce you to these women if I may, I will go from left to right.

Katya Zharkova. What can I say about this girl!? I’ve wanted to meet her ever since I saw the spread she did for Plus Model Magazine.

She looked so fun and so beautiful, and meeting her proved that she was that and then some! She has fought and fought and fought to become a plus size model for so many years, and she has such a great attitude towards body image and body confidence, and I felt truly inspired to be around her. Plus she was a dream to watch in action on one of her shoots and I can’t wait to meet her again.

Tanesha Awasthi aka Girl With Curves.

Wow is all I can say. What a beautiful graceful woman she was! She had the ability to make everything she wore look sublime, and was always so composed and perfect looking!

Melike Çarpatan was a complete darling.

She brought everyone good luck bracelets from Turkey and looked amazing in her sophisticated outfit choices.

Ditte Vallø – my booby twin! A mother of three who looked too young to even have one! Ditte was so funny and amazing to be around, a really positive effervescent woman.

Roberta Scagnolari was wearing a Marina Rinaldi dress when we met, and seeing how good her busty petite curvy frame suited the garment made me even more excited for the following when when I got to try on everything and anything! This buxom beauty had a knowledge of make up that blew me away!

Iris Tinunin – I love this girl! She was so fiery and fun, a pocket sized Italian beauty.

Gabi Gregg. What plus size blogger doesn’t want to meet this voluptuous legend!? Gabi was so down to earth and fun to be around – and the fact that she is my body shape twin didn’t hurt either!

Shila Kreuzer was an complete babe. She wore the best accessories and had the most beautiful lips.

Stéphanie Zwicky – wow!

I have to say she was a little intimidating at first, but I soon got to know her and discovered a very sweet warm loving woman. My favourite moment from the trip happened when a little old lady in the Marina Rinaldi store asked me what us girls were doing in the store. She mentioned that she read a blog by a French lady called Stéphanie, and I excitedly told her she was in the store! Stéphanie could not believe that this lady in Italy read her blog, and moments after meeting her she burst into emotional tears. ‘This is why I do it. This is why I blog. I get told I’m fat, too fat to wear nice things. But I don’t care. I blog for women like her.’ – I think we all started crying at this, and Iris summed it up with ‘Your emotion; it’s beautiful.’ Stéphanie recently launched her new collection, and she looked amazing wearing a few of the items from it when in Milan.

Marie Denee – it was so good to see her again! Marie and I first met when we worked together on the Evans campaign, and I was so glad to see her name amongst the others, as I was a little dubious about meeting so many new people. She was as fun and beautiful and sassy as ever, and seeing her work it for the camera was something really special!

Edith Dohmen – the girl with the lost luggage! I felt so sorry for Edith, turning up to Milan to find her bags a few hours behind her! Luckily it arrived, and so did she looking as beautiful as she does on her blog. I really enjoyed her attitude and outlook on the plus size world. She is more of an ‘inbetweeny’ at her size, something that she covers a lot on her amazing blog, and with her amazing brand of clothing.

So there you have it! The eleven women I spent time with last week! The Marina Rinaldi gang were also a dream to be around, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Milan, exhausting as it was! I ate great food, had my photo taken by Riccardo Vimercati and Max Cardelli. These photos and accompanying interviews will be appearing on huge posters and in magazine in a few short months, something that I’m even more excited about!  And best of all I finally got to try some beautiful Marina Rinaldi clothes – the links and reviews of which I will also post in a few months. I caught myself crying several times during the trip, and on the way home. I feel so lucky to have been given such a wonderful opportunity with some truly fabulous women, and although I can’t reveal everything about the trip just yet, I can share a few photos with you. Enjoy!

Top Of The Tights

With the weather hotting up every day in England, it doesn’t seem right to be blogging about tights! However, we only have a few months of delightful weather left before we’re back to breezier climates, and it’s best to be prepared!
Luckily for me I have been sent a few pairs of tights, hold ups and stockings to try out recently, and in this post I will be showing you the ones that worked well for my size (around a UK18/20) and height (5’7).
Please bear in mind that these I tried these tights on in my rather toasty flat, and therefore it was a little hard to get them on and looking picture perfect and so I do apologise!

The first pair I tried were the 15 denier Pretty Polly Curves Superfit ladder resist tights, XXL in ‘Barely Black’.

They fit me extremely well, and as you can see sat very high on me, which is perfect! They were easy to get on and didn’t snag or catch easily. They were a chocolatey brown colour, and will be perfect on darker skinned girls.

Next up I tried the Nylonica Linea Classica Sheer 15 stockings in XXL.

These stockings were incredibly soft, and felt like air to put on! They were easy to pull up and didn’t cut into my thighs. The colour is not one I would wear unless going to a fancy dress party, but I would definitely get them in a darker colour.

Hold ups are something I struggle with. they often won’t stay up on me, or they’ll dig in uncomfortably. And so I was intrigued to try the Nylonica Linea Classica sheer 15 lace top hold-ups in XXL.

These fit me excellently, and stayed up successfully for quite some time. They were easy to roll up and felt great on.

These Cette Oslo tights, size L were something a little different…

I have to say that the red and black colouring is NOT something I am a fan of at all, and these will sit firmly in my fancy dress box! However, I liked the fit and the thick comfy material that was easy to put on, and meant the tights stayed up. The fit over my bottom was rather questionable as you can see, but if these came in black I would love them!

Next up I tried two pairs of Sonsee tights, one pair in 60 denier, and one pair in 100. My size 18-20 puts me as a size ‘Flawless’ in Sonsee, and I really love the way the brand is dedicated to making larger women feel and look amazing!

“If you’re a Sonsee-sized woman, you know how difficult it can be to find sexy, luxurious hosiery that truly fits your body. Until now, plus size hosiery has been tight, controlling, restricting, uncomfortable, sold in bland colours and generally thrown out after one wear.
Not anymore.
Sonsee has discovered the best thing to come out of Italy – next to Sofia Loren, that is.
Italian materials and manufacturing have married to create hosiery that stretches beyond your imagination.
It’s comfortable, sexy, durable and fits your body.”

My friend was over as I tried the tights on, watching in amusement as I road tested them all. When I put these tights on her mirth turned to amazement, as she admired just how well they looked and how good they fit! I am so impressed with these tights and I can’t wait to see more from this company.

Last up I tried some products from another brand new brand – Lida.

All of these products were a size 4XL and once again I was impressed with the wonderful fit and look of the products. The hold ups were once again prefect on my chubby legs, and the lighter tights will serve me well during Autumn. Dominik from Lida was absolutely brilliant and patient with me when it came to ensuring I had the right size of product, and I adore the fact that this company are investing time and effort into making hosiery to fit and suit larger women.

Have you got any favourites when it comes to plus size tights, stocking and hold ups? Do you also struggle to find the perfect fit? Let me know in the comments.

The Bra Fitter Is Not Always Right

When we visit places like airports, restaurants and shops we tend to assume that the people that work in those places know their trade. We trust what they say, as surely they, as professionals know what they are talking about. I believe that this is why so many women wear the wrong size bra – a lack of knowledge from some individuals whose job it is to help women build the foundation of their outfits.

This is not meant to be a snobbish know-it-all jibe, and I do not profess to be superior to anyone who works as a bra fitter. But ten years of owning tits, seven of which were spent oozing out of cups and yanking on my back band has made me realise that the lingerie world still has a long way to go before everyone is up to speed.

Don’t ever be scared to go for a bra fitting. Don’t think for one second that your body is not worthy of being seen in a state of undress by a stranger. That your boobs are too big/small/saggy/uneven and therefore something that the fitter hasn’t seen before. Bra fitter are like doctors – they see so many bodies, and their focus is not on how the body looks as a whole, but more on how the specific part they are dealing with needs their assistance. If a bra fitter ever makes you feel anything less than comfortable and at ease then it is NOT your fault or problem, and you should report them to their company as they are not fit to deal with something so sensitive and personal as bra fitting. You are in a vulnerable situation and they need to act professionally and respectfully.

A good bra fitter should ideally assess the bra you have on and work from there. Some may use tape measures, but that is only part of the process. A well fitted bra isn’t some equation that can be solved by knowing a measurement, it’s something that is so personal depending on the person being fitted. They should firstly check your band back and see how well it’s fitting you. They will probably need to know how old the bra is and how often you wear it. They will then check how the cups fit you and bring you a few styles and sizes to try. Should they feel that they do not stock something in the size you need they should relay that information in the nicest manner possible without judgement, and possibly even refer to you another store. A good bra fitter does not cram women into any old size just to get them out of their changing room and to the tills, just like a shoes salesperson wouldn’t cram your size 7 feet into some size 5s and dismiss the discomfort that you will inevitably feel.

A good bra fitter should take the time to ensure you are fitted correctly into a bra and you know exactly what to do with it. They should bring you a size that you can fasten on the loosest hook, explaining that the next hooks are there so you can fasten the bra snugly as the brand stretches out over time. They should ask that you scoop all of the breast tissue from under your arms into your cups so that the bras underwires sits flat against your torso, and not on any breast tissue. They should tighten the shoulder straps enough that they stay up, but not so much that they take the strain of the weight of the bust – the band should be doing 80% of the work. And everything they do in order to fit the bra should be explained to you. It sounds so obvious, and maybe implies that women do not understand what bras are for, but it should just be a simple helpful fitting process to give the person getting the fitting the best chance of comfort and value. Ideally you should try a top on over your bra and move around, just as you would walk around a shop in a pair of shoes. Bras can be expensive, and as they are worn for most of the day they need to be as perfect as possible.

In my experience and from the comments left by my readers, so many bra fitters seem to body shame women and give them poor service. It makes me sad to know that these women are out there, making other feel bad about their bodies and causing them discomfort. Just remember: the bra fitter is not always right and as long as you go to a fitting armed with the knowledge of how a well fitting bra looks and feels and what you should and shouldn’t be told with regards to your body, then there is nothing to worry about.

If you have had any outstandingly good or bad bra fitting experiences then share them in the comments.

If you are unsure about how a bra should fit then why not check out my ‘Bra Fitting’ tab, where you can find videos, explanations and much much more.

Excite Clothing’s Ruched Bodycon Printed Dresses

When it comes to fun, varied well priced plus size items Excite Clothing ticks all of the boxes. I first discovered them when I was on the hunt for some plus size boleros, and they haven’t let me down yet!

They recently gave their website a wee make over and added loads of scrummy items. Claire from Excite was generous enough to send me two size 18 ruched bodycon dresses.

I think that it’s very clear that I love a good bodycon dress, and so I was excited to see how these would fit!

The dresses are made out of a silky stretch material that clings to my figure without showing off my lesser loved lumps.

The little capped sleeves fit perfectly over my arms and don’t dig in or feel uncomfortable.

I loved the patterns on the dresses. Plus size women can sometimes be stuck with butterflies and small floral prints, but these dresses were something very different and an exciting choice to have!

I loved how the dresses fit me, and although I did add a belt when I wore the blue one to work, I *almost* don’t need one.

The length is a tiny bit shorter than I am happy with, and I will no doubt only ever pair the dresses with tights and leggings. Pairing silky materials with leggings can mean a slight riding up issue, especially when you run for as many trains and buses as I do…

The neckline was rather flattering, despite being quite high. I think that the capped sleeves help balance out the look, and overall it is quite versatile.

My favourite dress is the blue as it is so dainty and pretty. My boyfriend favoured the other, as he loves red and black. He also commented at how well these dresses fitted without a belt, but definitely preferred it when I added one.

These dresses are stocked in UK size 16 – 32 and I feel sure they will be flying off the virtual shelves this summer!

Have you been inspired to try these yourself? or anything else on the website? If so use the code ‘FULLERFIGURE10’ and get a 10% discount off anything on the Excite Clothing site. Code expires on August the 1st 2013.

I paired these dresses with my Freya Deco, my Maidenform shapewear and my shoes from M&S that are now several seasons old.

Collectif Are Taking Over My Wardrobe…

Some of you may have spotted a familiar face on my ‘Collectif’ advert and my blog banner. A face that looks rather like mine, when it is beautifully made up and ever so slightly photoshopped. And as those of you who follow my social streams will know, that is because recently I was given an absolutely amazing opportunity – I was asked to model for Collectif!

Having had three wonderful opportunities to be their flyer girl at the twice yearly ‘London Edge’ trade shows I could not have been more chuffed or honoured to have been asked, and I had an amazing day! The Collectif girls are such fun to be around and they made the day fly by.

The shoot was held in Joanna Krause’s home studio, and I absolutely loved working with her. She put me at ease and really made it a fun effortless shoot. Of course, I couldn’t have done it without hair and make up genius Monika Swiatek and my fellow bombshell and model, who was an inspiration to work with, and spurred me on throughout – Eliza Dotlittle.

As you may have seen in previous posts, I tend to favour just one style of dress from Collectif – the Dolores Doll. But the shoot gave my the opportunity to try several other styles that I had written off, and so of course, I had to fill my wardrobe up just a little bit fuller with some more fabulous Collectif clothes.

Naturally, two new Dolores Doll dresses were in order. My perfect Dolores Doll size is a 14. The dresses seem to be cut for a larger bust, and that is of course just what I need! The length is spot on, the neckline is fabulous and I even rather like the sleeves!
I fell in love with the Dolores Doll summer bouquet print dress – which says a lot, as yellow as never really been my thing!

However, there was another Doll that caught my eye – and she may be my favourite yet! The white and black Dolores Doll. Once again, the dress is not in a colour I would usually go for, but holy moley I adore it! I teamed it with my Hot Corsets petticoat and I never wanted to take it off!

One dress that I was really shocked by was the Gretel gingham swing dress.

I actually wore this dress at the most recent London Edge, and due to me winning a modelling contract that day, it has always held a special place in my heart.

And so, despite the halterneck straps, I decided to order this dress. I chose a size 18 and I absolutely adore it! I will need to alter to straps to make them more bra friendly, but other than that it is perfect. It’s a little shorter than the Doll dresses, but still hits the knee. the neckline is beautiful and extremely flattering. Small gingham print has always felt like ‘school uniform’ to me, but this dress could not be further from that!

Another new style for me, and indeed Collectif was the Phyllis Doll dress.

I went for this dress in a 20 as it has no stretch, and it is a great fit. The skirt is not a full circle, which is great on windy days! It fall nicely and gracefully, and I love the floral detail on the shoulder.

As you may have seen, I am a sucked for leopard print! And so I fell in love with the Paloma tiki leopard print dress.

Paloma is made of linen with no stretch, and the best fit for me was a size 20. The tulip skirt meant that it was perfect for daywear, and I adored the flowers. The neckline is rather low, but it is a fabulous dress.

One dress that I really did NOT expect to like is the Matilda doll flamingo print dress.

Pink is not a colour I am a huge fan of, and I have to say that the blue panel didn’t do many favours for me. However, after buying the dress in a size 18 and loosening a few buttons, I have become a huge fan of it. The buttons across the bust are rather tight for me, and so I sewed up the inside with a few simple stitches, and I feel a lot more secure and happy in the dress.

But of course, a girl cannot live on dresses alone! And so, I took the liberty of adding a little Collectif to my outerwear.

The Mariella cardigan in a size 18 seemed like the perfect buy to go with my Matilda. Regretfully, it is ever so slightly tight over the bust, but it’s nothing too severe. The black panelling at the waist helps give the illusion of an hourglass figure, and it’s lovely and soft.

And last, but by no means least I tried the Dietrich swing trench coat in baby blue, size 16. I’ve wanted this coat ever since I saw it at London Edge. A double breasted soft mac with an almost full circle skirt and flowers on the inside?! Count me in! I initially wanted the coat in black, but after seeing the delicious Kat from Collectif look hotDAMN in her blue version, I had to follow suit, and I am glad I did! It fits slightly snugly over the bust, but other than that I cannot fault it. I feel like a real style icon in it, and I’m half planning on getting the beige version…

As you can see, I have become quite the Collectif girl! I’m glad I took the chance to try some other pieces, as 12 Dolores Dolls is getting rather silly!

Are you also a fan of Collectif? Or has my post spurred you on to try some pieces? Let me know in the comments!
And if you do go to browse the site, you may spot me in a few other pieces, and hopefully you will be inspired to try some for yourself. Happy shopping!

Please note: Bar the shoes, all of the accessories and other items of clothing worn on the shoot can be found on the Collectif website. I had my What Katie Did Morticia corset on in all of the professional photos.
The belts and shoes seen in my own photos are various older items that I have picked up from eBay and other stores along the years.

Going Dotty For Hot Corset’s Swing Dress

Polka dot dresses are definitely a weakness of mine. Polka dot swing dresses even more so. And so I was excited to try Hot Corset’s “black big polka dot swing dress” in a size 18.

50’s inspired swing dress.
Black with white polka dots.
Halterneck tie strap
Sweetheart neckline.
Includes red net petticoat & ribbon belt

Being a busty wench, halternecks tend to be no good for me. Nevertheless, I thought I would give this dress a go with my strapless Deco by Freya from just to see how I fared.

Excuse my slightly terrified face, I have not been feeling terribly well recently!

As you can see the dress looks ok with the bra, but I did not feel supported or particularly perky! And so I decided to try it with a regular bra just to see how the fit was.

It’s not an ideal look, but I can see this dress working with a bolero, or maybe over a bikini in the summer.
As you may be able to see in the images, the dress does gape slightly under the arms. I feel that I would be able to size down and achieve a snugger fit on the bust and waist and lose that gaping.

I didn’t find the halterneck to be particularly uncomfortable, but then it wasn’t overly tightly tied. Despite this, the dress still sat nicely on me.

The dress does come with some ribbon to tie up at the waist, but I didn’t get on very well with it as I found it just scrunched up. And so I added my own thrifted belt.

I really liked the petticoat the dress came with. It held it’s shape really well, despite coming folded up in the package. The material was a little bit rough, but not scratchy or uncomfortable. I liked that it wasn’t too big, and just helped add a bit of extra shape to the dress. The colour was nice and vibrant, and I will be wearing it with several of my other dresses in the future.

I really liked this dress. For me the only way it would be a little better is if it had straps rather than a halterneck tie. £30 for a dress with a petticoat is an absolute bargain, and this dress would be great on many occasions. It is available in sizes 12-24. Here’s hoping a few more colours are introduced soon!

What do you think of Hot Corset’s swing dress?

Busty Basics

As you will have seen in my previous post, when on holiday in Vietnam recently I took advantage of the cheap and plentiful tailors and tried to get myself a custom fit dress. Whilst there, I also tried to get a hoodie made. It’s something so basic, but it is so hard for me to find one that fits! They’re either too baggy, too tight with the pockets too high up, or the zip fails to climb any further around my bust. I have found a few hoodies that have come close, but often the pocket situation occurs, which in turn loses my waist and I struggle with that. Sadly, the tailors couldn’t quite meet my needs for a zip up hoodie with pockets, and so I gave it a miss and vowed to look harder on the high street.

Not so long ago, I was in Primark with my boyfriend. He has a few size medium Primark hoodies that I do wear, however, they are quite baggy on me. And so I thought I would try the size smalls, just to see if they would work any better…

Wowsa! What a great fit! They could fit a *tiny* bit better on my waist, but at ten pounds a pop I was more than happy with them. I went all out and got three of these beauties in a few of my favourite colours. They zip up easily, the pockets sit perfectly and the length is spot on.

I didn’t find much variation between the colours in terms of fit. The hoodies come in about 8 different colours, and it was hard to pick just these three!

The jeans worn in my post are from Evans Clothing and the boots are from Australia.

Are you also a fan of hoodies, but do you struggle to find any that fit well? If you can’t get to a Primark then you may be interested in these hoodies from BiuBiu that are designed to fit a larger bust.

A Learning Curve

I have always been a bigger girl.  At the age of 10 I remember getting fitted for some fantastic lycra shorts and a leotard to wear to my dance lessons and the man in the shop declared I had a rather large bust.  Being naive and paranoid I assumed he meant bottom, as I was conscious that my pedal pushers didn’t make me look quite as svelte as the other girls due to my unfortunately over developed booty.  However, a quick dictionary check shocked me – bust?!  I was as flat as a pancake! At the age of 12 my mother dismissed my chubby body it as ‘puppy fat’.  At the age of 14 my friend’s younger sister was sat on my lap and suddenly peered down my top!  She then yelled in delight at how she had seen my boobies, and proceeded to draw pictures of them and hang them in the dressing room at the theatre where I was performing in a pantomime.  I was mystified – I longed to have breasts but they stubbornly refused to be more than gnat bites.  At 15 my wish came true in a BIG way and two enormous melons suddenly appeared on my chest.   It was around this time that I had my first proper boyfriend, who declared that he was sick of big boobs as his last girlfriend had been a D cup.  I found myself a weekend job in a cafe and used to despair at the way the XL polo neck made me look.  At 16 I started at sixth form college – my least favourite years of education.  I would see the beautiful slim girls trotting around in their Topshop boyfriend fit shirts and River Island blazers with quirky badges sewn on, and I would try desperately to recreate this with my Dad’s old shirts, a charity shop suit jacket and some Brownie badges.  I would spend hours trying to create the perfect smokey eyes, blushered cheeks, pouty lips to be like the popular crew.  They would look effortlessly chic in leggings, ra-ra skirts and Uggs.  I would chop the bottoms off my tights, squeeze into an old skirt and wear my overly fluffy boots.  I never quite managed to be cool and I regret trying to be something that I wasn’t.  I went onto Uni and found myself to be, as ever, one of the bustier bigger girls.

The three donts - never cut your own hair, take a photo in which you can see your arm and pout like a fool!

Again I tried to fit in, then I went through my ‘rebelling stage’ by dying my hair black and getting a lip piercing and eventually dropped out due to a lack of interest in the course.

It's lucky I learnt how to smile

My parents suggested I go travelling to my Motherland – Australia.  And so off I went on my own to ‘discover myself’.  It was the best decision ever.  I made lifelong friends, had some amazing experiences, went out with no make up on and had fabulous nights out, found bikinis that cost an arm and a leg but fit my bosoms, started to wear dresses,discovered padded bras in my size and learnt how to smile in photographs.  I stopped trying to be like the popular girls and started to understand my shape.

Learning how to dress my curves and be a diva in Oz

I returned to the UK a very different person.  I still change my look with varying degrees of success, but I have been much more aware of my shape and the dos and don’ts of having a fuller figure and fuller bust ❤