Aussie Curves- Festival

I'm taking this week's theme to mean what would I wear to a festival. I've only been to one music festival, which was the jazz festival at Morpeth. You'll never find me at festivals like the Big Day Out, crowds of people freak me out. I'd much rather listen to music in small settings, like the local pub band. Not that I get to go to that stuff since becoming a single mum. I'm pretty happy listening to music in my loungeroom. But anyway, if I was going to a festival, I'd wear comfy clothes. Stuff that holds up to sweat and dirt. Sleeves and sunglasses, for a bit of sun protection. Non dangly earrings, supportive shoes for any dancing that may occur. And my usual pop of colour.

I just picked up this tee from Best and Less for $6. Score! My shorts are from Autograph a while back, and I wear them a lot in the warm weather. So far they're holding up nicely, and don't ride up my legs when I walk.

Outfit Details

Shirt: Best and Less (24)

Shorts: Autograph (22)

Necklace: Tree of Life

Hair Bow and Earrings: Kmart

Shoes: Wild Surf Co (men's 10)

Aussie Curves- Tee

I'm a fan of t-shirts, so I had a few to choose from for this week's challenge. Finding plus size tees that fit nicely is difficult however. My favourite tee in terms of fit is my Astroboy shirt from Cafepress. But in terms of geeky options, Red Bubble is great. I have a Firefly t-shirt from them, and a Doctor Who shirt, which I'm showing you today.

I like wearing tees tucked into skirts- this one is from Asos Curve. This tee is a big high necked for my liking, and a little baggy, but I love all my different Doctor Who guys on the front. Many thanks to my twitter friend AnIdleDad, who gave me an idea of which size to try. The sizing chart is a little confusing, as it gives measurements across the front of the chest rather all the way around. I average a size 22-24 on the top, and I tried a 3xl. It definitely fitted, it was even a little roomy up top.

I like a good blue and red combo, so I went with matching cardigan and my red shoes.

Showing you a close up of my flower headband, and my Tardis earrings. What else would you wear with Doctor Who right? Now all I need is the sweet sound of the Tardis in my garden.

Here's some of other tees that I've tried out.

Outfits Details

Tee: Red Bubble (3xl)

Skirt: Asos Curve (24)

Shoes: Wild Surf Co (10)

Cardigan: Big W (26)

Headband: Equip

Earrings: Etsy

Here's a short list of places to find plus size tees online:

(all these places have sizes past 24)

Red Bubble

Tiny Hobo Tees

Cafepress

Custom Plus

Aussie Curves- Peplum

I am a big fan of peplums. Usually I pair them with my pencil skirt and they look fab, but I decided for this post I'd try out something more casual.

This peplum top is an old one from Asos Curve. The material pills a bit, but I love the polka dots.

My orange shorts are new, a recent purchase from Big W. Finally they make a decent size 26! All the other bottoms I've tried fit like a 22. Maybe their fit is improving? I am all about orange at the moment, and couldn't resist the orange shorts. They're not perfect, they ride up a bit when I walk, but they're cheap, comfy and colourful so I forgive that. I am finding that orange goes with so many of my wardrobe colours- it's totally a neutral!

By the way, if you like my collection of colourful sunnies, they've been restocked at my local Kmart.

Outfit Details
Peplum Top: Asos Curve (24)
Shorts: Big W (26)
Earrings and Hair bow: Equip
Shoes: Big W (11)
Sunglasses: Kmart

Aussie Curves- $50 Outfit

I was looking forward to this week's challenge. Assembling a $50 outfit is easy for me, so I decided to challenge myself by trying to include everything in the total- jewelry and shoes. I'm a budget fatshionista at heart.

This dress is from one of Autograph's sales. I love how Autograph has regular sales, with lots of savings (like 70% off). This dress was $20, marked down from $80 (I think, it was a while ago). It's very comfy, and the pink and black colour scheme was something a little different for me.

All my jewelry is from my local op shop. I try to go op shopping regularly, and often find bargains there. It is true that the clothes available rapidly decrease after a size 22, but sometimes I get lucky. And there are always jewelry and accessories to look at. I don't have a lot of income available for clothes, so putting together outfits for under $50 is pretty much a way of life.

Outfit Details

Dress: $20 (Autograph, 22)

Necklace: $2 (op shop)

Earrings: $2 (op shop)

Bracelet: $1 (op shop)

Hair flower: $2 (Best and Less)

Shoes: $10 (Kmart, 11)

Total Outfit Cost: $37

Aussie Curves- Vulnerable Side

It took me a while to figure out what to do with this week's theme of vulnerable side. What do I feel vulnerable about? I'm fine with my upper arms showing, I've already done the body con dress, I thought about swimwear but I'd rather save that until swimwear week, I don't like wearing short dresses but that's more of a practical reason (I hate stuff riding up when I walk) than a vulnerable issue. Finally, being sick this week helped me figure it out. When I'm feeling sick and vulnerable, how do I dress? What do I wear when I'm alone in the house with no one to see me? 

Firstly, I don't bother with make-up. I don't wear much, but I love a bright lipstick. Secondly, I wear a comfortable, shapeless dress. Usually when I'm putting together outfits, I go for things that are fitted. If I wear a shapeless dress, I'll pull it in with a belt. If I wear a baggy top, I'll tuck it into a skirt. Mostly that's just how I like to dress, but a small part of it is the pressure to look well pulled together at all times. When you're fat, there's a general societal pressure to make more effort with your outfits- a thin person wearing track pants and a t-shirt out in public is just coming back from the gym, or was in a hurry. A fat person wearing the same outfit is seen as sloppy and lazy. There's also a societal pressure to always emphasise your "assets", show the public your small waist, or your thin legs, but hide your fat tummy, your upper arms. Wear clothes that "flatter", show the parts of you that are deemed acceptable, and so on.

Well you know what? I'm fat. I'm fat no matter what I wear. Which is actually a great freedom, when you think about it. If I look fat no matter what I wear, then I can wear whatever I want. I don't exist for the public's viewing pleasure. 

That said, it was still hard to be in front of the camera with no make up, still red-faced from working in the garden, and no belt around my shapeless dress. Vulnerable.

Outfit Details

Dress: Asos Curve (24)

Shoes: Big W (11)

Earrings: Etsy

Hair flowers: Big W