Orange is the New Neutral

Hi everyone, just posting a quick outfit that I took weeks ago, to reassure you that I'm still here. My six year old has been in hospital with pneumonia, and I've been sleeping there with him, so I haven't been able to do any outfit posts. My son is all better now, I feel like I'm still recovering and trying to get my head around the usual routines. I will get back to more regular outfits though, I promise. 

This dress has become a favourite, I picked it up at Big W. It doesn't crease or wrinkle, and it's very comfortable to wear. I have nicknamed it my conservative dress, since I seem to end up wearing it to appointments, and the navy blue is subdued for me. 

My orange cardigan is also from Big W. I'm starting to amass a small collection of them. I have found that for me, orange is a neutral, as it goes with so many of my outfits. It's a little longer than I like my cardigans, but the colour is great.

I love how my shoes carry on the navy matchy theme. My hair clip was sent to me from my lovely internet friend, Kath. It goes great with my orange things.  

Outfit Details

Dress: Big W (24)
Cardigan: Big W (26)
Shoes: Kmart (11)
Earrings: Big W
Hair Clip: present

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- Work

This week the Aussie Curves challenge is work. My work at the moment is being a single mum. Looking after my boys and running the household. I need to wear clothes that are easy to move in, soft, with no sharp necklaces so I'm always available for cuddles and comforting. Earrings are simple so they won't catch on little boy's faces when they hug me. Of course, my clothes are always colourful, which my boys greatly approve of. Sometimes when they look at my outfit for the day, one will add "You need a bit more rainbow Mummy". I'm always happy to oblige.

The weather is finally warm enough that my legs see the light of day. Blue and orange is a favourite colour combo of mine at the moment. My velvety skirt is from Autograph, that I picked up for $20 in the sales.

My cardigan and owl shirt are from Big W. I like the navy and orange styles they have in their shop right now. My shoes are cheap flats from Kmart that are my go to shoes, they are comfy and go with everything. Perfect when I'm rushing to get the kids in the car for the school run.

My orange sunnies are from Kmart (I have them in green and pink too). Lightning earrings are from an op shop, and my owl clip was sent to me from Kath, one of my lovely online friends.

Being a Mum is an important job. I'm very aware that I am the constant, loving adult in their life, and I see how they depend on me and take strength from that. Sometimes that's a bit scary, and I feel overwhelmed at all the responsibilities I juggle, with no one to talk over the decisions with, no one to step up and do the washing up for me when I'm tired. But I'm also aware that I'm very lucky. My kids and I have a place to live, I have a supportive family in my parents and siblings, and my church. My boys are usually happy, and they're still young enough to give me cuddles and tell me that they love me. We have fun playing computer games together, and at the moment I'm enjoying reading them their first Harry Potter book. I'm grateful for my life and my boys.

Outfit Details
Skirt: Autograph (22)
Shirt: Big W (24)
Cardigan: Big W (26)
Shoes: Kmart (11)
Earrings: Thrifted
Owl clip: from a friend
Sunglasses: Kmart

Aussie Curves- Orange

Thanks to the Aussie Curves group, I've been venturing into the colours orange and yellow. I tried out my first orange top (in this post) and loved it! Orange is such a cheery fun colour and given my love of colour I'm surprised I hadn't tried it before. I guess I thought my complexion wouldn't suit orange as I tend to look washed out in warm tone colours, but I think it looks okay. And even if it did, well so what? I want to wear things because I like them, they don't have to suit my complexion. Another fashion rule that you can follow if you want, but there's no need to!

I was going to wear my orange top again, but then I remembered this skirt. I usually play up the red tones in the skirt, but there's plenty of orange there to work with! This pretty skirt is an old Autograph one (back when they were called Sixteen Twenty Six) given to me by a friend. My black top was passed on to me by a friend too! By the way, when I have described something as "gifted" on my blog, I meant something given to me by a friend or family member, not something donated to me by a brand. I'll include more details from now on so I don't give the wrong impression. All my gifted items on the blog so far have been presents or things passed on to me from friends/family, and if I'm gifted something by a brand I'll say so clearly.

I think this orange hair flower is my biggest so far. The flower and skirt together make me think of tropical vacations. :-) The skirt is lovely and comfortable and swishy.

Trying to show you my accessories here. Hair flower and earrings are from Big W. My unicorn necklace wasn't photographing very well today, so further down is a better photo from another time.

Unicorn necklace from Catfight Collections.

Check out below the other ladies rocking some orange!

Outfit Details

Skirt: Gifted from a friend (Sixteen Twenty Six, 22)

Top: Gifted from a friend (Katies, no size on tag)

Necklace: Catfight Collections

Earrings: Big W

Hair Flower: Big W

Shoes: Payless (11)

Orange!

I'm so excited to tell you about my first foray into the shade of orange! I have always stayed away from it, figuring it wouldn't go with my colouring, but this shirt caught my eye with its lace yoke and bright colour. I was walking past Millers on the way to do some grocery shopping- I usually don't bother looking in there as they only go up to a small size 22. But the top looked roomy and is very stretchy, so I gave it a go. There was a bright pink version which I usually would have chosen, but I wanted to be different. I paired it with my Asos Curve jersey pencil skirt, and wore them both for the first time today. I've taken a few photos as I wanted to show you the different ways I wore the shirt.

The shirt is very loose with not much structure to it, but it's very comfy and the lace is soft and not scratchy at all. The material is a bit sheer, but I'm wearing a dusky-coloured bra so it doesn't show that much. Darker coloured bras really show, not quite ready for that look yet. :-) The skirt is so comfortable to wear, I sized up to 26 but I probably could have stuck with 24 as the waistband is a little loose. But I like being comfortable so that's ok. I like how the stretchy fabric stops the skirt from impeding my movement.

A close up of the lace. I paired it with my orange earrings and purple flower along with a dark purple stone necklace from my Grandma. I like how the bright orange looks with my pale skin. My darker hair from dyeing earlier in the week helps too. Below are some different lengths to wear the top- I wore the left hand one most of the day. The right hand photo is the full shirt- I like the way it scoops at the front and back. My favourite way of wearing it was the left-hand photo- shirt slightly tucked under, no belt. What's your favourite?

Outfit Details

Top: Millers (22)

Skirt: Asos Curve (26)

Shoes: Target (11)

Necklace: Gifted

Earrings: Target

Hair Flower: Target

Stripes of Body Acceptance

This outfit inspired a post for Kiki and Tea, whom I write regularly for.
Here's a quick excerpt, but I encourage you to go read it in its entirety here.

"I looked at where the material hugged my tummy. A year ago this would have been a deal breaker. Anything that showed the shape of my stomach was not to be considered. As I studied myself in the mirror, I thought “well who cares. This is my tummy. It’s round and part of me, and I don’t need to hide the shape of it.” I suddenly became aware that I was having a moment. Never did I imagine that I would be able to think of my body in this way."

This dress is from the straight size section at Target, size 18. The stretchy fabric and oversized style make it possible to fit my 22-26 body. The plus-size section at Target is woeful, I wrote on their facebook page about it. 

Nope, not ashamed of my belly! The earrings are from Target too, I love their shape and colour.

And a "screw the fashion police" side pose. Yep, my butt does stick out that far. ;-) I loooove stripes!

Outfit Details

Dress: Target (18)

Shoes: Big W (11)

Earrings: Target

Leggings (under dress): Autograph (M)