My April Lust List

I love this time of the season, when Spring/Summer fashion is getting brighter and breezier by the day. I have, of course, been perusing some of my favourite online shopping destinations to bring you my April Lust List... all the goodies that I kind of need in my life this month...

From a fashion point of view I am a 5ft 10 pear shape with a wide size 8 foot. My wardrobe ranges from a UK22 - UK32 depending where I shop and what style the clothes are. I even have a rather fabulous Primark kimono jacket in an 18 what fits really well - bonkers!

My choices are tailored to my tastes and what suits me best, so if you are similar in stature, size or shape to me then I'm sure you'll be wanting some of these beauties too...

1. ASOS CURVE Exclusive Brushed Wool Cape - £70

I know it's a wool cape so you're thinking NOT for summer but LOOK AT IT! I adore this and with a light outfit underneath it's ideal for Spring. Kind of English Heritage meets NYC fashionista. Love it.

2. YOURS CLOTHING Navy And Red Floral Stripe Print Midi Dress - £35

I love the retro flavour of this cute dress. Navy and red is one of my favorite combinations too! I'd personally wear it with blue jeggings and red flats. I might have to do just that actually...

Now, you may not be surprised to learn that one of my favourite shopping destinations is actually www.myvintage.co.uk! Funny that isn't it? Well my absolute must haves this month are as follows...

3. MY VINTAGE Vintage Style Black Cherry Belt - £10

Well as soon as I put this belt on, Lucy immediately ripped it off me (no, calm down let me finish) ripped the tag off and shouted YOURS, I'll buy it for you! So from there on in, I owned it! It's such a great versatile belt that can be worn on the waist or at the empire line, and who doesn't need cherry print in their life?

4. MY VINTAGE - Black Tropical Floral Print Audrey Dress - £35

There's not a lot I can say about this dress, other than I NEED IT! The colours are sooo good on me and for someone who has a smaller top half and larger bottom half, the fit is ideal and very flattering.

5. MY VINTAGE Designer Vintage Bright Silk Moschino Scarf -£120

As we already know, I do love a scarf, and I do love my bright colours. This amazing original vintage scarf from Moschino is one of my absolute favourites and is a great way to inject some colour into your everyday wardrobe. And like any piece of original vintage, it's only ever going to increase in value. It's a winner!

6. EVANS Ivory Art Print Shirt - £35

I NEEEEED this shirt in my life. It's just the right thing to throw over black leggings and a top when I'm in a rush but still want that retro edge. I do love how Evans clothing is really shaped properly for larger proportions too, rather than a size 8 sample just being made bigger (you know what I'm talking about)

7. EVANS Scarlett and Jo Black Mesh Insert Dress - £65

This dress is just too cute and has several elements that I love. A stretchy short sleeved top with cheeky mesh insert and real 1950's flavour, plus bold jewel colours - faaaaabulous!

8. NEW LOOK Wide Fit Pink Leather Caged Shoes - £27.99

I wear flats 99% of the time. Mainly because I'm just not great in heels these days but also because when you're as tall as I am, you don't really want or need to be any taller! As much as I love my ballet pumps, sandals and Converse, I am always thrilled when I find cute new flats in a different style than I already wear. These New Look wide fit shoes are just adorable and will go with so many different outfits. They also come in white, but I think this pale pink will be much better on my pale skin and more wearable too. Need!

9. RIVER ISLAND White Slogan iPhone 5 Case - £8.00

Anyone who knows me, know that this is one of my absolute favourite things to say. And who doesn't love a hashtag? It's a dream come true in a phone case. I may have already ordered it...

10. TOPSHOP - Pineapple Straw Tote Bag - £28

Another vintage/retro icon is of course the pineapple, so this Topshop tote bag is brilliant for the beach or those days when your normal handbag just won't cut the mustard. Ewwwww, mustard and pineapple. Queasy, much?!

I hope you loved my round-up for this month my lovelies, let me know your favourites!

Em x

I choose confidence. I choose happiness.

Wow, what an amazing week I've had!

There are various factors that have brought me to my current state of mind. It's been a tough few months (at least) with health problems and most importantly with mental health issues. No, I'm not scared or embarrassed to say that I battle with depression and anxiety. It's important at this point to mention that I just typed 'struggle' instead of 'battle' but I went back and edited it because I am not prepared to struggle any longer. It's very much a battle as some days those grey (or black) clouds will make their way over my head but I'm armed and ready for them and I WILL WIN!

Because I no longer choose self pity. I no longer choose procrastination. I no longer choose self loathing. I choose confidence. I choose happiness...

There is only one way to be happy and it's taken me 33 years to realise this. The only thing that can make you happy is yourself... Not your partner, your children, your friends, your clothes, your food. Just yourself. And once you choose happiness, there really is no looking back. The best bit is that all the aforementioned things fall into place once you choose to be happy.

I have an amazing partner, a wonderful loving son, the most precious family and incredible friends. And they all want the same thing - my happiness. So if I choose happy then guess what? They're immediately happier and closer to me.

So as part of my new love for myself (nearly wrote self love then but that's a whole different thing ha!) I am embracing the full length photos of myself and posting them on a daily basis! When I FEEL good I LOOK even better and that's why I've been getting so much love for these pics. I'm really, really proud of them. And I'm proud of myself too...

Here's a few from this week...

On Thursday (with a little help from Lucy) I wore this amazing Banned floral 50s style dress from the selection at My Vintage. We still have a few 18's, 20's and 22's left online and here is the link for more info or to buy... http://www.myvintage.co.uk/vintage-style-turquoise-blue-hibiscus-swing-dress-4633-p.asp

Friday was Good Friday, and through various conversations we decided to rename this as Feel Good Friday. The idea was to wear an outfit that for some reason you do not normally have the confidence to wear. I pulled out a t-shirt that I bought from Simply Be last year that still had the tags on! I'd never worn it but always wanted to. It's white and every so slightly see-through as well as being short. All the things I would normally avoid. But I summoned bravery and teamed with with a Simply Be pleather mini skirt and a cute fluffy 90s-esque shrug from Yours and here was the result...

I cannot tell you how many times I NEARLY wore this outfit last year. But that stupid self doubt kept creeping in. But after putting the work in and really changing my outlook, I felt absolutely amazing all day! It's no surprise that the compliments came rolling in as a good 80% of how we look comes from how we feel...

There really was not stopping me now, and Saturday saw me digging out a lovely Primark kimono jacket that I'd never worn! It was a gift for my birthday last year but I'd always avoided wearing it as I thought the colours were too pale for me and that it might show my upper arms! Those thoughts seem so silly now. I wore it and LOVED it!

This will definitely be making more appearances - I am also on the look out for some gorgeous orange sandals or flats to go with it. If you see any in a wide 8 or 9 please do link me up!

I will be bringing you weekly outfit posts from now on, I really can't wait to get stuck into my wardrobe and start WEARING everything! After all, that's what they're for!

I'm off to pick out something gorgeous to wear tomorrow!

And remember - you CAN choose happiness. So do it...

Over and out
Em xx

A very honest new direction...

So I've been staring at the UNTITLED POST on the screen for a little while now, toying with several ideas of what to blog about today. But my mind kept going off on tangents. Mainly tangents about myself to be honest. And not in a conceited way, just that recently I have been through a lot of ups and downs of the last few months and to put it simply, I kinda lost my mojo...

I'm pretty sure that most of you reading this can relate to what I'm talking about. Between hormones, work, families, finances and all the other stresses that modern life bring, it's no surprise that we have wobbles here and there. And today something just clicked and I realised that it's OK to share with you when there are wobbles and you know what? It's OK to be positive about my size too.

I'm a plus size girl, always have been and probably always will be. I've spent far too long shying away from that and sticking my head in the sand. Full length photos are almost non existent of me but that is no more! If my idol, Tess Munster, has taught me anything its that fat is no longer a bad word and you really can #effyourbeautystandards

I want to be a bit healthier, not just for physical reasons but also because I feel that better health and wellbeing will be better my mental health, which has got to be a good thing. But I am not, nor will I ever be, on a diet. Any health benefits I find along my way will also be included in the blog, as well as lots of my general anecdotes!

Now, don't get me wrong, I will still be talking about vintage, the shop, the website and of course lots of fashion, but there will be a much more personal and varied feel to my blog from here on in... And I really hope it's something you want to read :)

And to kick things off, here are some of those full length shots that I usually don't want anyone to see!

That wasn't so scary after all!

I'd love to get some feedback from you all - if you think this is a good direction for the blog or even if there are some specific topics you'd like me to talk more about then please do let me know. You can comment here or get hold of me via Facebook or Twitter and of course my email is emma@myvintage.co.uk

Thanks for reading
Em x

A Dress Can Change Your Life...

For me, a dress is much much more than just an item of clothing. The right dress can make you feel like a totally different person. The right dress can take you from feeling down or broken hearted to feeling like you can take on the world. If you find a dress that's just right, it has the ability to make you smile in a way that no human ever could.

Working with vintage dresses every day really is a dream come true for me. When I am working in the shop I get to make this feeling of pure joy happen for so many different women. Having worked with people and clothes for many years, I have developed a bit of a sixth sense for what will and will not work.

Just yesterday I had a lady in the shop who had gone up a few dress sizes over the years and wasn't feeling very body confident in general. Before we properly talked she tried on a few smock and tunic style frocks and just felt that they highlighted all the wrong places. We got chatting and she told me her story and I could see in her eyes exactly how she felt. She had a lovely size 14 figure with all the right curves but as someone who used to be much smaller, she didn't have confidence in her shape.

I suggested that she try a fitted wiggle dress to really show off her hourglass frame and I showed her a gorgeous red 40s style number. She absolutely loved it but she completely discounted it and said she was far too big to carry it off. With a bit of gentle persuasion she agreed to try the dress on and when she emerged from the fitting room I couldn't help but let out a gasp. It was like looking at a totally different person, this dress not only looked amazing on her but her eyes and smile had completely lit up with happiness! She walked around with such confidence and swagger too. The whole thing was a bit emotional for us both - it was physically obvious how this simple dress had made her feel, like a form of therapy.

She was so grateful for my help and that I had pushed her out of her comfort zone and she left the shop with a gorgeous dress and a real spring in her step. What makes this even better is that I know for sure that when she wears that dress out she will be batting the compliments off with a stick!

This just goes to show the power of the dress - don't ever underestimate it.

If you would like my help finding the perfect dress for you please contact me at emma@myvintage.co.uk or call into the shop at 2 The Circus, Darwen, Lancashire, BB3 1BT.

I look forward to hearing from you...

Em x