Aussie Curves: Homemade

I'm only just starting to experiment with my own DIY skills. I love hearing about people who buy a dress and cut it down to a skirt or turn an old jacket into a handbag (and if you are looking for an AWESOME DIY blogger, check out Trees here). The extent of my current DIY portfolio is sewing a button on or patching a hole. So, when Suger offered to make me something, I was pretty stoked about it. I guess it also means I've technically cheated, but hey, its pretty cool to be able to say there is only one other like it! (Check out Melissa's matching top here!)

Top: DIY'd by Melissa from Suger Coat It

Blazer: City Chic

Tights: Lilly and Lou

Clutch: Ruby and Kit

Boots: Unsure, picked up at a clothes swap!

And how totally rad did the iron on transfer look! I'm glad it turned out so rad as well, Suger's iron-burnt fingers need to know they are numb for a reason!

I've been dying for it to be cold enough for boots and the nights are definitely boot worthy at the moment. Winter fashion is so much fun. You can add boots and a blazer to anything to take it to the next level. I'm such a layer whore, it almost makes me want to move somewhere less tropical.

This clutch is on high rotation at the moment.I'm trying to consolidate by handbag usage down to this one only. I got myself into a sticky situation when I couldn't find my private health card last week. Because I switch and change my handbags so often, I often remove my eftpos and ID card and just leave everything else in there ( an awful habit I know, I keep buying chapsticks because I lose them in changeovers!). So my health cards were in the wrong clutch- epic inconvenience!

I added in this last photo that Ben took before I was ready. This outfit is so comfy. I'm basically wearing my PJ's out on the town!

Do you DIY???

Fatshion Faceoff: Mary Jane shoes

So I'm not going to lie. My favourite pair of Mary Jane shoes are my Crocs. I've never hidden my obsession with Crocs and I seriously cannot rave about them enough. When I'm not blogging, my 'real-world' job is nursing. That means twelve hour shifts on your feet, standing during procedures, rocking a baby to sleep and running around the wards. Couple that with a size 22 body and that's a whooooole lot of pressure on two little tootsies. They have literally saved my aching feet from worlds of pain. And then, once they got a little less ugly (expanding the range away from the original clog like shape was a master move for Crocs!), I was quick to adapt them into my everyday wardrobe as well!

Blazer and skirt: Torrid

Peplum: City Chic

Tights: We Love Colors

Clutch: Bijoux Terner

Mary Janes: Crocs

Ring: Thrifted

I really like the shape of a mary jane shoe. The little extra strap always reminds me of wearing shoes when I was little. I swear the only type of shoes I had were jiffies or MJ style flats!

Obviously I know they still aren't the best looking shoe around, but when I'm the last left standing on the dancefloor at 3am, I'm extremely happy I'm not sitting in the corner with you and your mega heels! And of course I have to endure lots of giggling from my girlfriends when they post e-cards like this on my Facebook wall! ;)

How totally rad is this Torrid blazer! I'm loving it to bits! I couldn't resist adding the red and anchor for a dressed up nautical vibe. The ring was the coolest find at a vintage fair. It was in a $1 box and fit perfectly on to my middle and forth finger- it was meant to be!

And seriously, admit it, those shoes are still cute! Comfy and cute- the perfect shoe! :-D

Check out all the FF babes this week!

Hanna from The Wardrobe Challenge

Dani from DIY Fatshion

Mouna from Brussels Fatshion

Mhairi from Lilybobombs

Behind the scenes with SWAK designs

At the end of our USA adventure, we headed back to LA for a week where I was lucky enough to catch up with Sarah and the team from SWAK again. If you didn't see my crazy live feed on Instagram (and if not, why aren't you following me? My IG is lots of fun I promise!), it was SUCH a fantastic day! Sam and I not only got to have a peek at the behind the scenes workshop, photoshoots and new collection, but we also got to style up five outfits of our own and get in front of the camera as well! I'm not going to give too much away because I've just seen the finished photos (AHHHHMAZING!) and hopefully they will be out soon! In the meantime, check out some of the piccys direct from where the magic happens! 

Some of the gorgeous dresses from the Curvy Kitten pin-up collection! I LOVE the white and pink cherry dress!

It was such an honour being photographed by Lesley Pedraza. A former plus-model herself, Lesley's portfolio is stellar and she's photographed for some of my favourite independent brands (Ashley Nell Tipton, Cult of California). She made me feel so relaxed and at ease in front of the camera.  

I loved this photo/inspiration board in Sarah's office. She is the coolest chick ever!

Kelsey Olson looking stunning in front of Lesley's magic eye! I was totally fan girl-ing out when I met Kelsey, I'm pretty sure I made a total fool of myself when I told her the first 'proper plus size' fashions I bought had her as the model.  And she was even cooler in real life than I thought. Even Ben commented that she was so chilled and fun to be around!

Hiya Kelsey I love you!!! :-D

Sam getting done up by Brittany Sullivan. Ummmmm, I just want to steal Brit away and keep her for myself. Her makeup skills are FLAWLESS!!! I loved the outfit she was wearing that day as well, relaxed rocker babe! And see her little koala that Sam brought with us- cute as! When we left at the end of the day, I gave Brittany a big snuggle goodbye and smooshed myself on those wicked rad shoulder spikes! 

Some goodies waiting for new homes!

Sam's extensions getting prepared!

After we watched part of the new seasons collection get photographed, it was Sam's turn to model her chosen outfits and I was up into Brit's makeup chair!

And this is what I'm talking about. Brittany blew me away! Can you believe that is my face?!?!

So after I was all gussied up and ready to rock- I jumped straight on to my marker and strutted my stuff!

Thats me!!! On the computer!!!! NO WAY?!?!

Waiting in between takes while the ladies approved the pictures!

I LOOOVVVEEE this picture of Brit and Sarah adjusting my outfit! The SWAK team is so incredibly supportive and encouraging. I felt so relaxed the whole time and like I had known these ladies for years! I wonder if I could tempt them over to Australia for my wedding makeup and photos????? ;)

What a day!! I hope you guys have liked this little behind the scenes snippet- watch this space for when the finished photos are released!!

Fatshion Faceoff: Multiple Bracelets

Sooooooooo, I'm still sick enough that I'm not right for visual consumption. I'm super bummed because I was REALLY looking forward to this FF post. I'm a serial bangle stacker- I love me some arm candy! But, seeing as I have barely had the energy to get out of bed the last few days, outfit photos were seriously out of the question. So, instead of totally sitting this week out, I thought I'd show you some of my favourite places to buy bangles!



City Chic enamel bangle set, Torrid peacock pack, Torrid ivory and gold set, Torrid gold and black 'Love' set

I'm not going to lie about it. I often have an issue with 'regular' sized bangles and bracelets. As much as I love Diva and eQuip, its rare I can squeeze my wrist into their arm jewellery- unless its the stretchy kind. Don't get me wrong, its always worth trying, there are definite gems around. But, when I want a guaranteed comfy fit- especially for layering and stacking, Torrid and City Chic always bring up gold!

And just so I don't feel like a totally horrible blogger, I've added some piccys from when I've bangle stacked in the past, check it out here, here, here and here!

I promise I'll be back to normal posting ASAP! In the mean time, make sure you check out my FF babes!

Hanna from The Wardrobe Challenge

Dani from DIY Fatshion

Mouna from Brussels Fatshion

Mhairi from Lilybobombs

FFFWeek: Curves for a Cure

The second night of FFFWeek, we attended the Curves for Cure runway and silent auction to benefit breast cancer awareness. And of course, being the pink lover like I am, there were lots of pretties that I wanted to get my hands on!

With Toy Monique and Sarah on the red carpet

I love these silly photos with Sarah from SWAK and Rosie Mercardo. Such gorgeous women and time spent with them is always so full of laughter!

I gushed all over Arlinda from Sofistafunk The Skirt Co. She's here with Madeline Jones, editor in chief for Plus Model Magazine, who is wearing one of Sofistafunk's AHHHMMAAZZIINNGG skirts that she modeled on the runway. They describe their collection of skirts to be 'like the Opera, bold and often theatrical'.LOVE!!! 

I LOVED Jen's hardcore clutch- soooo cool!

Ben was such a honey all week. I love him to bits for how understanding he is at FFFWeek. His calm is exactly what I need when I run around like a chicken-with-my-head-cut-off all week. That and he is also a total babe, look at that handsome face! <3

My Fashion Front babes, Gaelle, Karen and Jen

After a period of chatter, gossiping and schmoozing the runway started and we settled in for the show! The music was pumping, the models were GORGEOUS well known faces and the clothes were divine- and even better, all very different styles! Although the starting bids were mostly out of my price range, I definitely soaked up as much as I could.

Although I wanted to get into the spirit of the night, I also didn't want to over-pink myself. Something I am horribly capable of doing. I went a little bit rocky, a little bit punk and wore this outfit of pink and coral!

Dress: City Chic

Necklace: Ashley Stewart

Clutch: Target

Pumps: Payless Shoe Source

This City Chic dress is my current HOTTEST DRESS EVER. Its one of the only body-con dresses that I feel 100% comfortable in. There is no body issues at all with this dress, the cut and material are a match made in fashion heaven!