A Little Lovedrobe In My Wardrobe

SUMMER IS ACTUALLY HERE!!!! I can’t quite believe it! And that means Pimms, beer gardens, and a spot of sun bathing! I’m lucky enough to have a communal private garden that no one else in my block of flats cares to visit, and so last weekend I threw on a bikini and set off to my little spot of sunshine to settle down with a good book and some iced water. And what better dress to throw on over my bikini than this one:

The Lovedrobe beige antique inspired lace and floral dress.


I went for a size 20 in this dress, and it didn’t look overly generous in the bust. I was spot on with this prediction, and even in a 20 it proved touch and go size wise.

I think a 22 may have been better in this dress, but with my non padded bikini and loose fitting belt, the 20 sufficed nicely.

The dress is a gorgeous floral print with pretty lace detailing. The lace around the neckline did feel a little scratchy and rough, and I feel like it may have irritated me had I wore it for much longer than I did.

The length was ideal for a casual day of sunbathing in my garden with very few people around, however, I would probably start to feel paranoid about my legs if I were out and about somewhere busier.

The sleeves are nice and spacious and not at all restrictive.

The dress has three buttons on the bust, making it perfect for showing a bit of cleavage and ideal for breast feeding mummies.

The skirt hung nicely, and didn’t blow up and overall the dress was nice and light. It really was a perfect dress for a hot summer’s day!

If you also fancy trying out this dress or anything else on the Livedrobe site then you have until the end of the month to get 15% off. Use the code ‘FFFB’ at the checkout.

Bella!

I was recently sent a gorgeous dress from Pieces Of The Past – the beautiful Bella dress. Paula from Pieces Of The Past had asked me my stats prior to sending it to me, and as luck would have it we are very similar in figure. She selected a blue size 18 Bella, and she was spot on with her predictions!

It is suggested that the 18 is best for a 42 inch bust, but my 48 inch bust fit perfectly! The seams didn’t quite sit in and under my boobs, but the shape of the waist detail diverted attention from it.

The dress is made of a slightly stretchy polyester bengaline, and because of this it arrived with barely any creases. It flowed down to my mid calves – the perfect pairing with the rather daring neckline!

The cut out back section is adorable, and gives the dress an almost gothic twist If you would rather wear the dress off the shoulders you could just tuck the ties in and ta da! One dress, two styles! I did find that the sleeves came up rather small on my meaty arms, but it didn’t restrict the movement or feel uncomfortable.

I wore this dress out and about in the blazing sun the other day and it was an inspired choice!

I paired it with my gorgeous wide fit sandals from New Look, my Ewa Michalak Malachit bra and…shockingly…NO BELT! Whilst the dress is not perfect on my waist, the nipping in and military button embellishment means that I can be without the sweaty sensation of elastic wrapped about my torso on a hot summer’s day!

There was a slight breeze blowing that day, but the heavyish skirt stayed put whilst not making me feel too hot! I do however now have a rather interesting tanned back…

If you fancy a Bella dress of you own then head to the Pieces Of The Past website and snap one up! The code ‘FULLER’ will get you 10% off any order for the next six weeks. Bargain!

And whilst your there why not pick up some quirky statement necklaces to go with it – your whole outfit sorted for a great day in the sun!

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.