Recently I spoke about how my mojo feels like it packed up and left. Which, when you directly relate it to this blog, means taking photos of myself mostly. It’s what connects me to you and ultimately does well in the general search/Pinterest/SEO world. But I’ve been struggling to get in front of a camera. That’s the long and the short of it.
My body has changed in the last year or two. It looks different, and I look different, and that can be hard to reconcile in photos. I look at them and don’t like what I see—discarding most of them, not feeling like I could post others. I know I’m not the only one in this boat. When I think about what the world has been through in the past two years, it boggles my mind. But we did it. We made it here.
Today I’m going to say what is troubling me out loud in the hopes that by confronting it, it will diminish. By pushing myself to get out and taking the photos anyway, it reminds me of who I am. I am more than my body or face or how I look in photos. I’m a person with plenty to offer, and the way I do that is by showing up for people on the internet. Come what may.
Once, I credited taking outfit photos for the blog every week with my strong positive body image. When you stare at pictures of yourself week after week, set after set, you get a little numb to your features, your faults and flaws. It just blurs into what is; nothing good or bad about it. I’m reminding myself of that right now when the little voice in my head does its worst.
And, if, like me, you miss out, opt out or make excuses to avoid being in front of the camera. Consider this post your reminder to stop doing that! You’re perfect just the way you are, and I don’t ever want your body or how you look to define that for you. We will do the work and show up, just as we are, and I know things will change for us.
How can I be so sure about that? I know because I’ve done it before. This blog has changed my life in many ways than I give it credit for. Have I mentioned that? When I started blogging didn’t have a single photo of myself to use as a profile photo (so I decided to blog anonymously, lol). Entire pieces of my history and life are gone, left to the vagueness of memory—an untrustworthy source at the best of times.
As I participated more, took the photos (and kept them!), the documentation of my life streamed along behind me; the people and places, the highs and lows. I want that for myself again. For there to be a record that I was here and I lived a big, exciting, joyful life. I want to be in the middle, undeniably living; I want to show up. Let that be my promise to you; that’s what I’ll do. Even when I don’t want to or don’t feel like it, imperfectly perfect, I’ll be here.
I was cleaning up some of the old outfit posts on the blog; there was an issue with images disappearing from a lot of them. Do you know what I noticed as I went through post after post? Firstly, I miss having this record of not only what I was wearing or looked like, but what we were up to. And secondly, that my style has changed a lot in the last five years.
At one stage, I even said that I wasn’t into casual clothes! I prefer to be overdressed than underdressed, I said! WHO WAS THAT PERSON? I don’t recognise her. Haha. The casual ootd is where it’s at for me. For better or worse, it’s what I love. I wonder if that will change for me in the next five years?
Maybe I’ll have to get a job and leave my house again.
Speaking of leaving the house, that brings me to last night’s adventure to the Indian takeaway and bottleshop. Kel and I had both had a long day. He’s picked up a big job that maybe what we need to turn things around with that business. Meanwhile, I have been up to my ears in new enquiries for websites and social media. Not to mention, we are lucky enough to be managing most of our existing social media client accounts still.
But since we were leaving the house, something I’m not doing at all if I can avoid it, I got dressed. This dress arrived in the mail a while ago, but while it’s comfy as, I wasn’t going to wear it to bum around my house. A 5 minute trip to the bottleshop, however…
What can I say? I love an occasion.
Almost as much as I love a good sneaker and t-shirt dress combo. See for yourself.
Bought to you by Universal Standard’s Universal Fit Library.
Ladies, meet someone who has become very special to me, Universal Standard. The love affair with them started when I came across their Starter Kit idea. You purchase seven pieces, receive the eight for free and you can mix and match it into 20 looks! As someone who’s wardrobe often takes over and gets out of hand, this streamlined idea was so exciting.
I pinned every single one of their outfit ideas.
Because of that, they’d been on my list to try for ages. But I was unsure of sizing (me, not them), plus I already possess a billion items of clothing and I’m easily distracted, so I’d never gotten around to trying them. So when they approached me to share their Universal Fit Library (more on that below) I was a wee bit excited! I’m not sure I’ve ever replied to an email faster or with more YAAAAAY/woo-girl than I did that one. Yeah, that happened.
So much for my cool AF exterior.
The items I selected arrive soon after and well, here we are. Me calling them my newest brand crush and loving hard their clothes. Seriously. I’ve already started culling and selling items in my wardrobe to make room for more from this brand. They are beautifully made and have the modern, sporty vibe I adore. If you head to the site later, scroll through and tell me you couldn’t see me wearing any one of those items of clothing.
So, what did I get?
The dress and top in this post are both the large (size 22/24). Given I’m a solid 24 at the moment, they are true to AU size. For once, I had a hard time choosing a colour. Their range is right up my ally with the black, white, grey and khaki. They have other colours, but can you imagine my struggle choosing between those!? Gosh.
I also requested this zip front pullover which I got in the khaki and IT IS spectacular! I want it in all the colours and I’ll donate everything else I own. You won’t believe the cut on these things until you put them on your body. That simple pullover got SO many compliments the first day I wore it to work; it was madness. I’ll post some pics soon, promise.
Wait, I’m fangirling, right?
Now, the point of all this (I was getting there, sorry for the rambling delays). Let’s talk Universal Fit Library, shall we? Now, as someone who has recently changed sizes, when the team told me about their Universal Fit Library idea, I was hooked.
The idea is that if you buy an item from their core range and within the year it doesn’t fit send your item back to them and they replace it with the new one! Then, wait for it, they launder your returned item and donate it to a women’s charity for reuse. I mean, how awesome is that. If a possible change of size is holding you back from having clothes you love now, this might be worth a look.
Wearing Geneva Dress (Grey – Large 22/24) over Rhine Color Block Cuff Top (black/white – Large) with New Balance joggers.
Most days of the weekend, heck some people would say the week too, I’m a bit of a dag. Sneakers, slouchy layers, all those things. What can I say, I love to be comfortable in what I’m wearing. My sister cringes at my outfits sometimes suggesting that a fashion blogger should perhaps NOT be seen in public in such things. And I laugh, because those that read this blog know me well enough not to care and those that don’t read this blog don’t matter. Haha.
But she’s right.
Sort of.
Sometimes it’s the simple things that can make an outfit comfortable, casual and cool all at once. Things like a split in your maxi skirt or a 90’s style crop over your t-shirt. Or both. You will eve note that I’d freshly washed and straightened my hair. Points for effort. Casual style needn’t be something you wouldn’t be caught dead in at the shops folks, it just needs to be easy to wear.
Wearing t-shirt/Crop from City Chic, Cross Over Drape Midi-Skirt from 17 Sundays and New Balance Sneakers.
Most people don’t know a lot of bloggers. Maybe one or two. But not me, I have an entire Girl Gang of blog ladies. Lots of fun, a great laugh and some of us even sit around the same clothes size which means, HELLO CLOTHES SWAPPING. And yes, I was shouting. Excited.
During my weekend in Melbourne in March I spent some time with the team at 17 Sundays in their office before meeting up with the girls I was staying with later that evening laden down with some new season stuff. Monochrome sporty fabulous stuff.
The next day as the media/press event kicked off, after a few short delays at our hotel (ha!), the Divine Ms Liv, Nat the Darling of XL as Life and I decided to combine our sporty goodness and rock out most of the pieces at once. Yes I said rock out, but come on, these photos are the best. Don’t you agree?
To check out my posts while I was at The Curvy Couture Road Show head on over to this one with my favourite photos and this one about the blogger brunch. It has just occurred to me this very minute that I didn’t share my outfit from the night. Whoops. Remind me to get on that.
Oh man, long torso problems. Raise your hand if you’re with me. Bodysuits, overalls, swimsuits, jumpsuits and onesies are a minefield of camel toes and garment straining proportions. It’s the curse of the long torso-ed folk. But if you’re determined, like me, you do your best to circumvent this complication and get on with things.
Most often, I size up for extra length. When shopping I keep a post-it close by with my actual measurements including the length of my body for size charts. Not that length is often listed. But if you have that information, and the company has made the sizing information available, you’ve got a head start on getting something that fits.
If the item arrives and you’re still having problems with the fit there are things you can do. I have been known to stand in the crotch of swimmers, pull the straps towards the ceiling and stretch them out. Not recommended for garment longevity. (Shhh, don’t tell anyone, but it works).
Somethings that DO work to lengthen a bodysuit are;
Buy an extender from a maker on Etsy (or similar) – these are mostly made for baby onsies, but if a snaps extender is what you need, send a request!
Hook and eye problem? Try using a bra extender to give you extra length. Just make sure you’re not doing any damage to yourself with all those extra hooks.
Leave it unhooked and tuck into fitted, high-waisted underwear. It doesn’t always stay smooth, but this works well enough to justify the original purchase.
When I ordered this bodysuit from Boohoo.com I wasn’t surprised to note it was a wee bit short in the body, I have even sized up to the 24. The bottom half of this suit is nice and stretchy, and mine is loose which allows for a very 80s high cut look to make the whole thing work. Even if it’s more of a cropped wrap than it’s meant to be making it a little more boobs out than I’d normally wear.
That’s my point ladies and gents.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. No shirt on the planet gives “the tuck” a cleaner line than a bodysuit. If not a bodysuit, try a bodycon or slim-fitting dress instead. Whatever you need to do, get a little creative long torso friend and see what you can make work. I mean, outfits like this are worth putting in a little effort for. For more bodysuit options, make sure you check out Universal Standard, their range is amazing and available all year round.
Bodysuit from Boohoo.com Plus, shirt and denim skirt from 17 Sundays (now in MYER)and sneakers are New Balance via ASOS.com.
Our first official morning in Melbourne Liv and I, in our capacity as official Curvy Couture Road Show 2015 bloggers, were asked to attend the Blogger’s Brunch at the gorgeous Little Mule Cafe. Hosted by the event organisers it gave us the perfect opportunity to catch up with the other bloggers, meet some new faces and drink all the coffee Melbourne had on offer. Yum.
In a last-minute outfit switch, I changed into a completely different outfit than I had planned before leaving. I wore my very 90’s City Chic, dual-layer top, paired with the always there when you need it Harlow Scuba Skirt, and my New Balance sneakers. Then because Melbourne was being Melbourne, the duster jacket from Boohoo.com. How very 90’s sitcom girl of me, don’t you think?
So that’s what I wore, but what did we do?
Well, I’m glad you asked. The ladies all met at the cafe, Liv and I, on time for once made a little detour around the block before finding the location just 15 minutes after the start time. A new record. Settling into the bar stools around the lavishly presented tables (Melbourne, you’re so pretty) we gave out hugs and semi-squealed hellos.
With breakfast served, and more coffee ordered, we received a rundown of the Curvy Couture Road Show 2015 events to follow. The media times, the event, the after party. We had all the details, and things just continued to get more and more exciting. We were here. Yeeeesss. All the time and effort spent to get here was a memory now. Now it was time to let our hair down and enjoy.
Which of course we did. Big time. HA.
Let me say though that these bloggers, the women we have met through blogging, they make up some of the best people I know. Sure we live interstate some of us, dress differently, enjoy different things. But in the end when we scooped Nat and Hayley up and dragged them back to our hotel room, we were as at home as if we had known each other our entire lives. That’s the upside of sharing yourself online. The plus in a world that can seem full of negatives. There are people out there who will be your friend, genuinely, if you let them. And that’s the best bit!
Now, some more photos!
Great venue right? Are you in Melbourne and would like to check out The Little Mule yourself? Pop over to their Instagram page for all the details. A big thank you also goes out to the organisers for such a gorgeous venue, brunch and taking time out of what was obviously a busy schedule to organise this for us.
