Pushing through my Fashion Comfort Zone

Admittedly, I am someone who is guilty of sticking within their fashion comfort zone.
Whenever I see new trends emerging online I'm incredibly eager to try them all out, however I sadly find this confidence diminished when I get inside the store changing rooms. Because of this, I usually return back to my same old 'safe outfits' (see previous post)
However, this Summer I'm desperate to change my mind-set regarding my appearance, and to help me do so, I have set myself a list of trends to focus on trying out. Hopefully I will discover that even if you differ from these online models (height, clothing size, hair length, bust size...) there will still be a way to make these trends work for everyone.

So with that, here is my list!


1) White with Cut-outs

Lace play-suit, £55 from Forever 21 (Click for link)

My boyfriend mentioned a few weeks ago that he likes me in white.
Once I started thinking about it, I realized that the only white piece of clothing I own is a tatty, off the shoulder blouse from over two years ago!  I feel that because we are constantly told about black's slimming power, people have become a lot more hesitant with trying out white. I adore the elegant detailed sleeves on this all-over-lace play-suit, and if it was in black I would undoubtedly try it on in store, so why not try it in white? I'm a little nervous about the cut-outs on the midsection as that is a part of my body which I always hide away, but if this is a success then it covers two styles I'd usually stay clear of!  

2) Sheer Fabric

Shirt £15 Forever 21 (Click for Link)

Although I aim to live a minimalist lifestyle (Maybe I should do a post on this too!) I am definitely not minimal when it comes to fashion. I love pilling on accessories, clashing different prints with other colours and textures! By now I am sure you will have noticed my obsession with lace and floral, which might be the reason why i was drawn to this sheer shirt from Forever 21. I have always stayed clear of sheer fabric because I find it difficult to layer with and feel a little exposed. I think i will try this out with a cami underneath for day-time wear and possibly a dainty Bralett for nights out.


3)Lace up Shoes

Search 'laced pumps' into Forever 21 and loads will come up!

I really hate any flat shoes that aren't Doc Martens. I find that heels make my legs look slimmer and my posture straighter. However i am aware that heels aren't acceptable for every occasion so I've now accepted that there are times where i will have to face wearing flats. Although I'm still not fond of them, these ones are the nicest I've found (apart from Gucci loafers that i cannot afford nor justify).


4) Sleeveless Bodysuits

Body suit £13 from Forever 21 (Link here)

This is the trend which i am the most anxious to try. The tops of my arms and my back are my most insecure areas and i feel like i won't be ready to attempt this out for a few months yet however i still thought it was important to include it in here. I love the lace up detail on the front and was surprised that I prefer it in red, i need to include more red in my wardrobe too. Maybe in a few months I'll feel more ready to attempt this. :)

5) Denim Culottes

Denim Wide Leg Overalls £20 Forever 21 (Link here)

This is a trend which i constantly see around my university campus. I find skinny jeans to be very monotonous and boring so love eccentric denim choices. I know that this cut won't be very flattering on a larger figure, but it looks like a lot of fun so i'm tempted to give it a go regardless. I'm a bit nervous that there is a very fine line between making these look high fashion or 'scarecrow' but we'll see if i am brave enough to give them a go soon!

I'm going to order a few of these pieces and see how i get along with them! Hopefully I'll be back with a positive update soon! 

Thank you for reading,
Eva Rose 
xxxx

'Safe' outfits and the struggles of being inbetween sizes

Safe outfit #1
Jacket- Primark £22
Dress- Topshop £40
Boots- New Look £8 (SALE)

Although I am a proud advocate for body positivity, I have never been body confident.

Being a UK size 14, I find that I am still too large to fit into leading high street stores such as River Island or Zara (they do claim to carry my size but I can rarely find anything that isn't baggy or bland!) yet told I'm not big enough for exclusive plus size stores such as Torrid or Yours. I often find myself feeling excluded from the online plus size community and at the same time unable to relate to the typical slender fashion blogger. 

The word 'flattering' is also coupled with a love-hate relationship for me. My weight fluctuates quite a lot and whenever I am a little bit heavier than usual I always restrict myself to the same outfits. I forbid myself to wear anything that displays the tops of my arms or legs, anything that is tight on my stomach and anything that isn't in a stretchy fabric. Annoyingly, these mental rules leave me with two options: either a skater skirt tucked into an oversized t-shirt or a long-sleeved A-line dress. I find that limiting myself to these 'flattering' silhouettes prevents me from exploring trends and styles that I love. As a result, I feel weak, guilty and unworthy of fashionable clothing. So should I wear these 'safe' outfits that society have taught me suit my body shape or do I break free and explore the trends and styles that I love?  

Safe Outfit #2
Lace Playsuit- Quiz £15 (SALE)
Boots- New Look £8 (SALE)

Everybody experiences days when they feel more self conscious than usual. Last year was my worst for this. I refused to be in group photos with my friends because I was scared of being the largest one and I even cancelled on birthday parties and nights out because I felt too self-conscious to be seen in public. I am currently twenty pounds down from my staring weight, however I still get scared and breathless when deciding what to wear to social situations. I constantly compare myself to everyone around me and embarrassingly, I even call my sisters for a prep talk before going into a night club! Sadly, no matter how heavy I am, I doubt these feelings will ever pass entirely so it is important for me to find an effective way to cope with these emotions.

Safe Outfit #3
Turtle neck- Select around £8
Pinafore- Primark £5 (SALE)

When I have one of these bad days I find that having a ready made 'safe' outfit is incredibly helpful. I make sure this outfit not only follows my rules but also makes me feel stylish, comfortable, safe and happy in what I am wearing. I always have these clean and ready in my wardrobe so that when I feel myself getting worked up about my weight or appearance, I can instantly shut down the negative thoughts and get on with my day.

Safe Outfit #4
Top- Charity shop £1.99
Skirt- Primark £5

As I continue with my weight loss journey, I hope I won't have to depend on these outfits as much, however I have found them really useful and thought I would share! Does anyone else do this as well? If so please let me know!

Eva Rose
xxx