Plus Size Swimwear Challenge - Tesco

 I was lucky enough for Tesco to send me this swimsuit to review, thanks to the work of blogger Becky. Please see the swim suit reviews of the other brave bloggers Sara, Mhairi and of course Becky


I can't say that swimming is my favourite exercise, but having a three year old means that we go swimming often because she enjoys it (and so do I). I'm just not the kind of swimmer that pounds out 50 laps a day!


The suit I have reviewed has been put through its paces in an intensive toddler swimming session (there was doggy paddling and everything).

Appearance 

I like the look of this suit. It's plain, but the top has ruching detailing and the colour is lovely (I purposely avoided a black suit). The side cords on the legs are useful as they do actually do something, and a nice visual feature. It does sit a little lower than I expected around the leg (it looks higher cut in the pictures). It's a modest cut, but not the most exciting in the world. It has cute little silver details on the straps. These could be easily removed, but I liked the detailing.


I felt good in it, but I don't think it made my figure look better than it is - but it also didn't make me look any worse! 

Fit 

The suit is true to size (this is a 26). 

Comfort 

Very comfortable to wear, although as this is a one piece there is little real chance of movement. Nice thick material, not as thin as some I have worn before. No worries about going see-through when wet! The front is double lined for privacy and comfort.

Coverage 

My bottom was securely hidden, my boobs less so I have to say. I do have large boobs (a G-GG cup), so the poor suit did have a lot to cope with. If you are happy to show your assets then this shouldn't be an issue. Those who are a little shyer may wish to take this into account when buying. The suit has built in cups and these would work for those with smaller cup sizes and probably mean less was on show.

Performance

I took this suit to the pool after taking the pics. In fact I wore it under my clothes and have to say that it gave me a nice shape under my clothes, so would work well as a layer under a sun dress for the beach or pool. 

In the pool - well it stood up to playing with the toddler and gentle swimming. There was a slight bit of frontal readjustment, but not too much (and some of that was due to my daughter shoving a rubber ducky down my cleavage for 'safe keeping'!).

No wear or tear on the fabric and it washed really well. I think this suit is going to last a long time.

Value

Excellent! This suit is £14 which is a complete bargain I think.  A great investment. I would be very tempted to buy this in black as well if I was going on holiday where I needed a couple of suits. I would look lovely under a sun dress or cover up.


And now, the pictures... (gulp):

My front. Boobies!

Me, with pink wrap for extra contrast, and indeed protection!

Worn with wrap

Five take Maxi Dresses - Redemption?

This week it's Maxi Dresses. I have two. Well, technically I have always thought I have one as this dress I'm wearing today has always been in the 'too hard' and 'oh god how the hell do I make this work?' pile.

I bought this from Ebay just after I arrived in the UK. I love the fabric and from the boobs down it is fine, but it's always been a horror story from the boobage up. I have tried different length straps, different strap positions (it was briefly a halter neck) and still it was flappy, too revealing and just wrong.

Then I decided for this challenge I would try to make this work, or resign it to be a very large dish-cloth. Or cut the top off and make it a skirt.

So, here is my attempt. Firstly I decided it needed something under it to hide where it doesn't cover my bra, or my lady-lumps. I liked the mesh sleeves on this top and the detailing sort of hides the horror story of the top bit.

Dress - Next

Top - Ann Harvey

Shoes - Havaianas

My innocent booby look

And then I thought, let's just hide the top entirely. Bad ass(ish) look:

Dress as above

Jacket - Evans (from fat swap)

And probably my fav look, although I don't like this jacket really and I have bought another denim jacket because of that. Seeing the two together, I think this works. 

So, has the dress redeemed itself? I think so. I think I will wear it this summer, probably with a substantial vest top either under or over it (to make it into a skirt) and with a jacket (and given the current weather layering is the best way to go!!!!!!).

Now go and check out how Nicole, Rebecca, Claire ,Becky interpreted this theme.

New look trousers - a style challenge

Inspired (or perhaps a better term is 'enabled') by Claire I bought these blue trousers from New Look. Go to Claire's blog to see how she wore them.

New Look still have similar ones still for sale.

I haven't really bought trousers like this before, where they aren't jeans (my usual lower body clothing item of choice) and they aren't boring work trousers. They are really really comfy. Soft material and stretch slightly with wear.

I went for a really classic look here I think. White shirt, red cardi and a dash of spots in the scarf. Not edgy, but reasonably timeless. I think I will wear them with lots of stuff, and I have bought very similar ones in a dark tan colour.

Shirt is from Simply Be and I'm looking forward to wearing it more this season. Lovely light cotton, but I sized up to a size 28 for a looser fit and to be honest it was touch and go over the boobage. I am hoping it hasn't shrunk in the wash and I may have to use my secret weapon: needle and thread. I have been known to sew shirts shut so there is no gaping around the buttons. Nothing worse than gapage and a peek-a-boo bra.

Cardigan is from H&M and a complete bargain. £8!!! Scarf from Primark. Where else? ;)

Yes, I am holding a lemon. That was my 3 year old daughter's contribution to the styling on this outfit. Very handy for impromptu gin and tonics.

 So are you a blue trouser kinda girl?

Five take: work, rest and play.

This week's fivetake was the dream child of Claire, inspired by Gok Wan's rather deluded idea that women spend all their time faultlessly coordinated and wearing heels.

Well, I hate to break it to you, but most don't and that includes me.

Here are my three looks, in reverse order.

PLAY. Or more specifically out in the deep dark woods with the huskies, daughter and OH. I love walking. Ok, sorry to ruin the Obesity stereotype and admit that I actually get off the sofa once in a while, but I LOVE walking. More specifically with my dogs and in the countryside.

This was also the look I was going to use for a 3rd birthday party we were going to later. But I had a run in with some basmatic vineger at lunch. Oops.

Cardigan - Monsoon

Scarf- H&M

Shirt- New Look

Jeans - from Fat clothing swap!

Shoes - Asics

For my at rest look you almost got me in pj's, but no one needs to see that. So here is my other at rest, but not quite at that level of rest, look - jeans and t-shirt. Good for about the house, dog walking (non going out afterwards to Mummy things) etc.

T-shirt - New Look

Long sleeve top - H&M

Jeans - as above

And finally, my work look. Well, to be honest this is a new dress so it has never been worn to work as of yet, and the bare legs and sandals are a little optimistic given the current weather. You are very lucky(or not)  getting to see my legs and arms nekkid. Will I have to guts to wear this out in public, I'm thinking yes, but it's shorter than I've worn before without leggings. I will need to be brave!

 Dress - Tu from Sainsburys

Cardigan- H&M

Sandals - thrifted (M&S)

So, this is how I rocked the three looks. 

Please go and see how Nicole, Rebecca, Claire ,Becky interpreted this theme.

Five take - colour blocking

Being a Kiwi the concept of wearing colour is a little foreign to me. Kiwis tend to wear a lot of black. And polar fleece. And often black polar fleece.


Colour blocking is the antithesis of this style of dressing, and one that I am learning to embrace. This week's Five Take has led me a step further along my journey to wearing colour as I usually manage one piece with something neutral or dark.


Just to remind you, Five take is where Nicole, Rebecca, Claire ,Becky and I all take a theme or item of clothing and wear it in our own way.


I should also mention that I don't iron (well, I do sometimes). So apologies for the rumpled look.

Apologies for the pale legs, but this is the first time that I have actually worn a dress in public without leggings. It's a big day! 


Dress is from One Stop Plus and was gifted to me for the modelling myself and others did at Plus London Two. It's lovely material and perfect for summer. Lovely fresh cotton, not a sniff of polyester anywhere (other plus size labels take note!).


Cardigan is past season Monsoon and the shoes are colour blocking heaven and were £3 from Primark!


So, colour, are you a fan?

Five take: geometric. A love story gone wrong.

Five take is where Nicole, Rebecca, Claire ,Becky and I all take a theme or item of clothing and wear it in our own way and this week it's geometric... and I'm cheating a little.



A few weeks ago I saw a dress on the New Look website that I loved from first sight, so had to have it. Ordered it in my usual size 26 and was very excited when it arrived. After all I love geometric patterns - in fact I'm beginning to think I love ALL patterns (unless they are curtain-fabric like florals).


But then I tried it on, and I wasn't sure. Here, have a look:

This is it as I first tried it on, with black Evans boots and leggings. Not too sure with it at this stage. So I tried this:

Note the introduction of a belt (Simply Be). And I liked it more, but I think the problem with it was that it was really just too big and stretchy around the middle:

And I just realised that although I loved the pattern, and it was comfy to wear, it just didn't make me feel fabulous. So it went back. Unfortunately they didn't have the size smaller so it just wasn't to be. 


A sad story, but a lovely fabric and pattern. Some things just aren't meant to be... but at least I have this...

Gap t-shirt. Ooh look, pattern!


So, are you a pattern lady or plain and simple?