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

Aussie Curves- LBD

You may have noticed I'm a big fan of colour. This week's little black dress challenge wasn't hard, since I have only a few black dresses. This dress I've only worn once. I just find black to be boring and depressing, so you're hardly ever likely to see me in a black dress (unless it has a great pattern on it or is all lacey and goth-like). This dress was an old buy from Yours Clothing. I bought it because I thought I should have a black dress in my wardrobe, in case I needed to go to a funeral or something (what a cheery thought). 

The dress itself is quite nice, it fits beautifully and has a nice swishy skirt. Pity it's black!

I tried to cheer up the outfit with my coloured necklace, bracelet and my polka dot bow. My bag used to be my Mum's.

Outfit Details
Dress: Yours Clothing (22)
Necklace: local markets
Bracelet: Thrifted
Shoes: Kmart (11)
Hair Bow: Olive Tree Markets

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 Curve- Feminine

I was wearing all pink today, and decided this would be a good outfit to show you for the feminine themed challenge this week. Feminine clothes of course are different for everyone, but for me, I had always associated the colour pink with girlyness. When I was younger, I avoided pink like the plague. I didn't think of myself as girly, and didn't want to be associated with it. I had the wrong idea that being "girly" was somehow of less value than being a Dungeon and Dragons playing, book reading, computer game playing geek. It took me a while to realise that there are many different ways of being a woman (as many as there are women really), and they don't cancel each other out. There's nothing wrong with being girly. There is also nothing wrong with my interests and hobbies (even if they were different to nearly every other girl I knew growing up). I can be both girly and enjoy gaming and other things. Not sure if I explained that very well, but basically, being a woman is awesome.    

This dress is from Autograph, that I got with a voucher (otherwise I would have saved up, it's not on sale at the moment). I love the bright colour, and it's very comfy. The material is stretchy and lined, and doesn't blow around in the wind as easily as some of my other dresses.

I decided to go with pink accessories, 'cos why not? If I'm wearing such a bright colour I may as well go all out, right?

Outfit Details

Dress: Autograph (22)
Leggings: Big W (22)
Belt: Asos Curve
Shoes: Kmart (11)
Earrings: (can't remember)
Hair Bow: Olive Tree Markets
Sunglasses: Kmart

Aussie Curves- Oversized

I was going to pass on this week's challenge, as I didn't think I had anything oversized, but then I remembered this top. It was a total score from my local op shop. I discovered that sometimes they get brand new out of season stock from Autograph and City Chic. This top was from Autograph, brand new with tags, normally $60 but I got it for $12. There was a bright purple top the same so I bought it too. 

I'm wearing it with my Autograph jeans, which are stretchy and comfy. I'm had them for a few years now, and they show no signs of falling apart.

My hat is a new buy from the holidays, from Best and Less. I love it. It has a cute little bow, and the brim at the back is shortened, so it doesn't catch and pull the hat off my head when I tip my head back.

Outfit Details
Top: Autograph (18)
Singlet (under top): Big W (22)
Jeans: Autograph (24)
Hat: Best and Less
Shoes: Kmart (11)

Aussie Curves- Colour Clash

Just back from my holidays, and sneaking in this week's Aussie Curves challenge. I found this theme hard, namely because I tend to dress in as many colours as I can get away with, so trying to figure out an outfit that clashed was tricky. Purple and orange? Pink and green? Blue and purple? Yellow and purple? Red and pink? Well I wear those combos regularly. Even now, I don't think my outfit clashes, it just presents you with so many colours that it may hurt your eyes. So fair warning! Haha.

This rainbow tunic is fantastic. I got it on sale at Autograph ($20) and it's long enough to wear as a dress (which I do in summer). Usually I wear it belted but I couldn't be bothered this time.

The jeans are also Autograph (on sale for $20, which is how I buy most of my clothes). They are pull on, comfy and in a shade I don't usually wear. I thought the bright primary colours of the tunic might clash with the softer shade pink of my jeans. In theory. To top off my rainbow outfit, my aqua shoes and mauve hair flower. I figure with all the colours I'm wearing, something has to clash right?

Outfit Details

Long sleeve top: Big W (22)

Rainbow tunic: Autograph (24)

Coloured Jeans: Autograph (24)

Shoes: Wild Surf Co (men's 10)

Hair Flower: Best and Less