In my inbox this week are Hank & Hera and their thoughtfully designed sleep and loungewear available in sizes 4 – 34. Yes, you heard that right. It’s a generous size range, and I’ve found them to have plenty of room to move within that range. But I’m getting ahead of myself. In my inbox might be the series, but Hank & Hera isn’t new news to me; I’ve been working with Philippa on their website and emails for a while now. From the start, I had a draft here waiting for me to share the story of this brand with you. What is ‘In My Inbox’ for if not that?
Backstory-wise, I first “met” Pip through her website Sisu and Finn while actively blogging. We worked together on some photos and a post for the blog—in a dress, mind you, that I still wear to this day. You know the one, the navy wrap dress I wore for family photos the other year? And to my brother’s wedding? That dress. But we’ve had poolside adventures together now in some very fine establishments. Once, she took Kel and me on an adventure in Sydney to kill some time before our flights. When internet friends become real-life favourite people, right?
But now, a little more about Hank and Hera from their website:
Hank & Hera was founded by Philippa Giles in 2023 as a frustrated consumer who wanted beautiful garments that did not exist in plus sizes. Through Hank & Hera, Philippa combines an adoration for timeless silhouettes and an unwavering commitment to ensuring that all women have access to impeccably crafted garments to design luxurious, natural fibre sleepwear from size XS to 4XL (AU 4 – 34). Her driving force behind the brand is to create garments that evoke a sense of divine beauty and celebrate all women, of all sizes.
Hank & Hera is proudly designed in Australia. Each garment is meticulously crafted and supported by female-founded businesses. By supporting local professionals and embracing female-owned businesses, we contribute to a legacy of quality craftsmanship and empowerment within our community.
In a busy world with so many time pressures, Hank & Hera believes every woman deserves to indulge in luxury as part of the everyday. Our designs cater to individuals who savour life’s finer pleasures, echoing the sophistication and grace of our namesake, Hera, the Queen of the Gods.
Just like the enduring elegance of our muse, Hera, our range is designed to transcend the latest trends, celebrating lasting style through quality fabrics and classic colours. The range is designed to effortlessly transition from traditional sleepwear to chic ensembles suitable for any occasion, embodying a slow fashion ethos that prioritises longevity and versatility. Whether you’re relaxing at home or heading to brunch, Hank & Hera’s range has been designed with versatility in mind, to add value to the customer.
And then, for Christmas 2024, Philippa gifted me this light, cotton beauty, which is perfection and one of the most beautiful gifts I’ve ever received. It’s an Aurora nightgown (size 3XL), and while I’d never consider myself a girly girl, the femme details and classic style are, somehow, so my style. I love it. I only take it off to put it through the wash and start again. But never fear, and I know you were worried about me. I have theArianna in Navyto wear while that happens. I haven’t reviewed this style yet because I haven’t had a fancy bathroom to take photos of (mine still isn’t renovated, sigh). But I’ll get there. With the pictures and the renovation, of course.
But for now, head to the website to check out the entire range. Use code SUGER10 (linked to my affiliate account) for 10% off your order.
A beach baby since before birth, I’m team summer, even if it leaves me a frizzy, sweaty mess more often than not. Thankfully, after a little exploring online, some new to me plus-size brands with big summer energy popped into my feed. Everything you need for a Queensland summer, from swimwear to activewear (or as I like to call them, clothes), as well as lightweight sets and dresses.
What constitutes ‘big summer vibes’? No compromise on style or trendiness, no mention of flattering (gag). Fun, exciting shapes and designs in a range of sizes. As usual, I cut any brands that didn’t offer at least an AU 22. Which is, let’s face it, the bare minimum we should expect these days. But the majority go larger, and so they should. Grab the anti-chafe cream, and let’s dive in.
Speaking of the Queensland Summer, this brand was started right here; we’re practically neighbours. Bright and colourful swimwear, as well as coordinated sets and separates designed with nostalgic prints and designs. If my style has evolved at all over the past few years, this is what it has morphed into. Casual, elevated styles in a neutral palette. That’s not to say they don’t bring the colour, though; they are doing that too!
Workwear? Really, Suger, are you serious? Yes, yes, I am. From the cheeky shorts to the coveralls, this brand grabbed my attention and wouldn’t let it go. In case you missed it, I’ve gotten into gardening in the past couple of years (it’s a whole thing, don’t ask, haha). It all started with a single raised garden bed, and now I’m making over our entire property with natives and edible plants of all varieties. You can’t really blame me for eyeing off those overalls that look this good on all shapes and sizes. I could be a farmer in those clothes…
On an adventure around the internet, I joined the mailing list and have enjoyed watching the brand unfold ever since. As yet, we have some great options for activewear made closer to home, but the tennis dresses sucked me in. I blame Serena Williams and my short-lived sports superstar ambitions. Oh, and not to mention Clueless and Cruel Intentions. /what kid of 80s baby would I be if I hadn’t wanted to live out my preppy dreams in a tennis dress?
Need itty bitty ‘kinis in your life? Look no further than this recently launched brand. As someone who loves a graphic tee, this is like the graphic tee of swimwear with bright colours and text patterns. So cool. There isn’t a large number of styles available just yet, but that’s a symptom of how early we are getting to the party. Let’s just say that I can’t wait to see what’s next, but for now, this is exactly where you need to be for loud, bold swim pieces.
I’ve chatted with the owner of this brand once or twice on Instagram. But having never worn the range myself, I haven’t included many (if any?) pieces in my plus-size ‘where to buy’ round-ups. But I could resist no longer. There’s something very summery about the light and breezy styles, soft prints and classic designs. There’s a casual comfort to the whole range that calls out for long afternoons in the sunshine, cheese board at the ready. Take a look for yourself; I’m sure you’ll agree.
More hot, hot, hot swimwear action over here! With the added bonus of some of the most fun sunglasses styles I’ve seen in a while. Ochre Lane seems to be another brand that is new’ish with an expanding range. But if your thing is summer neutrals, look no further than the creamy, warm tones of their latest range (plus the orange is a nice touch). Gorgeous! And as a photo-type person, I loved the campaign and social media images for this one; so good. Hard to resist something that calls to me from my Instagram feed as this did.
Are you into the light but bright styles? Can’t seem to get over the smock dress or flippy skirt? Ummm, do I have the brand for you. New to me because I don’t own any of their pieces, but well known to a lot of you, Proud Poppy is a Queensland brand (apparently) that is all about taking a walk on the bright side. IMO. I’ve selected a couple of styles for the photos that are more my personal muted vibe, but if colourful prints and patterns are your things, click the links now and have a good old time!
This new-to-me brand (as in, I hadn’t heard of them before this search) speaks to my new casual, comfortable aesthetic. And wait until you hear this. There are matching mini (kids) versions of the styles! Cuuuute. I’m not sure my nieces will want to go matchy-matchy with me now that they’re all a little older and have their own style, but perhaps one of you can live out that twin life instead. Choose from light summer separates, dresses and recently swimwear and embrace that tonal, never goes out of style, vibe.
This fun addition is a family-run business that, in their own words, creates designs with your ‘peach’ in mind, with silhouettes that are developed to fit and flatter your curves in just the right places. Fashion that makes you feel truly confident, comfortable and amazing in your own skin. Love that! With affordable basics and fun, on-trend pieces for every season, they’re worth a closer look when you’re looking to add toy our wardrobe this summer.
And that wraps things up for this big summer energy post. Don’t forget to check out some of the stores mentioned and share your favourites in the comment. And it’s probably worth mentioning that some of my old favouritesalso offer bright, fun collections this summer. There’s something very summer about fresh summer styles in light, bright colours.
Taking Shape is thrilled to reveal the first-ever First Nations designs by the highly regarded artist Elverina Johnson. A highly respected Gungganji Gurugulu woman from Yarrabah in Far North Queensland, Elverina is one of the Nation’s most recognisable and accomplished artists. Her belief is that arts can empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and restore a genuine sense of pride in their culture and communities.
It’s been a little while since we saw the collaboration with Active Truth and (a personal favourite) Bobbi Lockyer (my insta share below) and it’s exciting to see more and more of these opportunities coming to fruition. I’ll never stop saying that we need to keep pushing and need to do more to be more inclusive, diverse and interesting than we’ve been before.
Collaborations are a great way to start, but let’s also support these creators, artists and makers when they do their own thing too. Get behind those teeny-tiny micro brands, IMO, that’s where the gold is.
The Taking Shape email goes on to say that with a shared passion for empowering women, promoting confidence and creating strong supportive communities, Elverina connected with her local Taking Shape in Cairns, a relationship that grew and lead to this beautiful, artistic collection. Enriching the fabrications with Elverina’s bold prints and traditional storytelling invites the wearer to engage with culture and country. Find out more on the Taking Shape website here.
“The traditional and very unique Australian country was my inspiration for these designs. In Yarrambah (FNQ) we are so lucky to have land and sea around us. My designs reflect the blue waters and the mussels of the ocean and the intricate designs of weaving, deep from within the rainforest. There is inspiration all around us, we just have to look” ~ Elverina Johnson
Welcome to my new series In My Inbox where I share updates and news from plus-size brands direct from my inbox. Want to keep me in the loop with your brand? Send me an email or shoot me a DM, I’d love to hear from you. Come across something interesting in your travels as a plus-size shopper? I want to hear from you too!
Modibodi has partnered up with PUMA to launch a range of leak-free period activewear and underwear*, created to help women stay comfortable and active during their period whilst making a positive environmental impact. Awesome news for my inbox this week, right?
I love this range and was immediately on the site to buy. One small problem! Their choice to only do limited extended sizing to AU 8/XS – AU 18/2XL means despite being a regular Modibodi customer I am unable to shop this range. How disappointing, right? Hopefully, in the future, Modibodi can consider their customers who wear a 20-26 when doing special collections like this. If you can do it for your regular range, why not here? Does that blame belong on your shoulders? Or with Puma?
Welcome to my new series In My Inbox where I share updates and news from plus-size brands direct from my inbox. Want to keep me in the loop with your brand? Send me an email or shoot me a DM, I’d love to hear from you. Come across something interesting in your travels as a plus-size shopper? I want to hear from you too!
When I shared the Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls announcement post over the weekend, I was hoping for a little more opportunity to talk about this show, maybe even rave a little about it. I’ve seen it twice, some napping occurred the second time around, and I had so much fun watching it—short version. But there was more to it than that. It got me thinking about this blog and why I started sharing myself here.
When this blog became a style blog over a decade ago, it took something for me to embrace this new online space I had created. I had to push myself, face up to myself and learn a lot (usually through failing). In its current incarnation, starting this blog felt a lot like facing the challenges on the show week after week, actually.
Except that we all know, or should by this stage know, that I don’t dance. Shuffle maybe. Sway, yes. But dance, no.
It reminded me how the old Aussie Curves challenges would push me week after week to get out of my comfort zone and show up. It worked that way for so many of us. With the support of others in those challenges, I would have the safe space to take a long hard look at myself. Then, when I felt I’d discovered something, I’d share that.
It changed how I felt about sharing myself and my body online. It pushed me to talk about my relationship with my body and how others related to it. Over time, I discovered myself in those challenges, found my voice and stood for who I am.
And I think that’s why I loved this show so much.
2012
2016
2019
2021
Because when people see the big girls showing up online, they can’t believe we can do it. They can’t believe that we can be and often are happy, living life, loving, succeeding and growing. Sure, it would be nice if the world as a whole got its head out of its ass and just let us live. But we are changing minds even if the community has (quite literally) shrunk in the years following that challenge.
I know in a lot of ways, I lost my voice. Sick of being spoken for by women who don’t know, who inhabit smaller bodies and are lucky enough to be still considered acceptable. I found it hard to speak up when after a decade, the problems, especially online, felt like they were getting worse.
Sure, we have seen some progress made, but for whom?
It’s still almost impossible to shop for a body larger than a size 20/22 in this country. God-forbid if you’d like to do so in-store. Brands shout inclusion and clothing for everybody (and “every-body”) at us from every angle than call a size 20 a 3XL in their limited extended sizing. New offerings pop up promising larger size ranges soon! Then the months go by, and those promises seem long forgotten, replaced instead with an ad budget to drown out the voices of those left behind.
For the most part, we continue to be represented by people who don’t know or see our experiences. Every single woman on Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls says at one point she wished she’d seen a person that looked like her anywhere when growing up. And while I saw plenty of white women, even a chubby one here or there, I know a small portion of that longing. And this show reminded me of that.
It reminded me that I show up for myself first.
To remind me of my worthiness and willingness to grow, live proudly and change something. Next, I show up for my nieces and second cousins, great cousins etc., who will grow up in a body like mine. A body that, for all the progress we are told is being made, is still wrong. I show up so that they will see someone who reminds them just to be themselves. It’s the only thing there is to do. Exist comfortably in the skin you’re in.
And then, last but certainly not least, I do it for you and anyone else out there that looks at my size 24/26 (give or take depending on the year) self with my broad shoulders, big chest, deep voice, long torso, loud laugh, and big feet and sees something of me in yourself. Through me, I hope you find a way to sit comfortably with who you are inside and out. Through sharing my struggles, I hope you know that you’re pretty great, just as you are; inside and out.
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Thanks for coming to my Ted talk, haha. Have you seen the show? Let’s talk about it!
It started in the lead up to Christmas. We were heading north, and I knew that meant long days in the heat or pool, coming out for meals or to sleep. So, I wanted something that looked festive but was easy to wear. Enter this accidentally oversized swing dress in white brocade. No, that’s not the word for it.
*pops a new tab and googles eyelet fabric, usually white, starts with b?* Broderie Anglaise, that’s it.
It had been a slow evening at home, and I was scrolling through the ASOS range of dress offerings on a hunt for a ‘Christmas Dress’. As I’ve mentioned, I tend to lean towards relaxed, comfortable and usually in a maxi style for maximum easy-breezy. Then I spotted this dress and well, it ticked every box for me. So I quickly ordered, somehow ordering probably two sizes larger than I needed, and it was on its way to me.
A Christmas miracle. Right? In plus, how often does it happen that when you’re looking for something, you can never find it? It’s why so many of us buy items just in case or keep them forever because we might just need them again—all fair in my books. Buy the best quality available to you and wear them until they break down to compost; that’s my strategy. This dress, this beautifully made dress, fit into that plan flawlessly.
Soon I found myself wearing it to travel, out for dinner, with crisp white sneakers, chunky slides, or heels (I have no match fitness for THAT anymore). I can even see it with boots when that time comes. I especially love it worn casually over swimwear with a messy bun, no shoes and the warmth of the summer sun across my face. Sigh, I miss holidays, don’t you?
This is why I decided to write this post despite not knowing the current stock levels of this exact dress. I want to remind you that trends come and go, but your style can be whatever you want it to be. Find pieces that call to you that you love, and wear them. If one thing has changed since I first started blogging, there is no go-to look we all have to adhere to. No way. The kids wouldn’t have that. Express yourself through your clothes, do it as quietly or loudly as you see fit. Just be yourself.
With things around here settling in for the year, it felt like time to get back into the swing blogging-wise. Kelvin opted to have most of January off from the business (doing odd jobs here and there). And I was helping out with the extended school holiday childminding while restarting my work on Fiverr. A slow start, for sure, but I know we aren’t the only ones. But now, I’m feeling the surge of energy that usually comes through late December/early January, and I’m ready to go.
Heck, I’ve even made some promises to get out more this year which I’ve actually been keeping.
This brings me to what does one wear to launch themselves back out into a world (albeit timidly because I’m not down for catching COVID just for the sake of it – no, thank you). As you may know, my usual casual style has been taken up (down?) a few notches since I quit my job to work for myself from home. It’s all simple dresses and bike shorts with oversized tees around here. Sometimes I forget that I even own bras with wires. Not a structured waistband to be found. All in all, it’s pretty chill.
So, dressing up to head out for breakfast, lunch or coffee started to get a little tricky. I had older clothes, plenty of them in fact, but most don’t fit me. The last couple of years, working from home and keeping to myself led to changes in my body. I found myself stuck and falling back on the same few pieces over and over. Which worked for a while, ages really, until I got bored. And I decided it was time to add some new items to my wardrobe that didn’t come from the great selection of cheap and cheerful dresses and nighties at Best & Less.
Enter this tie-dyed wonder from Friday Flamingo.
What can I say, I’m a creature of habit. It’s black and white, right in my wheelhouse. It is casual and made from 100% cotton so it doesn’t smother me in the Queensland summer. Plus the fun sleeves on it not only make it extra comfortable to wear but they add a little something to elevate it from the dozen and one t-shirt dresses I already own (in various states of well-loved wear). This girl knows what she likes. What more is there to say? Add some sneakers or my current obsession, Birkenstocks, and off I do. Which is exactly what I do, you can count on that!
And before I head off can I just say? Whoa, team, Kel and I are a little rusty at this whole outfit photo thing. Not just remembering to get a photo, but how the heck we used to take something that resembled an interesting one. Sigh. So you’ll have to hang in there with us as we get back into the groove of such things. But for now, enjoy the shots of this casual cool tie-dye dress that helps me elevate my everyday style with some killer sleeve action.
It’s that time, team, shorts season! I mean, as a Queenslander, pretty much every season is shorts season, but you know what I mean. I’ve talked about how to find and wear shorts as a plus-size woman on this blog before. Of course, I have; this blog is a million years old. There have been many, many posts about shorts. Check them out next if you want some tips.
And, I see you out there. But, those of you who can feel your body physically tighten and the little voice in your head start to work itself up, stop! Seriously, stop that. No matter your shape, size or the current situation with your legs, you can and should wear shorts if you want to. No one cares as much about what you’re wearing as you do, so do what you want. And if someone has a problem, tell them to come and talk to me.
So, I thought I’d take a look around and find some shorts and put together a few outfits for you all. There are a couple of casual options, some that you can dress up for summer evenings, and all that in-between shorts goodness. Sound like a plan? Let’s get on with that.
Outfits for Plus-Size Shorts you’ll be wearing this Summer
Sweet Sweet Pastels
Even for someone like me who wears a lot of black, something about the warmer months has me craving colour. It’s pretty hard to resist. So get your colour fix in soft, pastel tones in sweet candy colours. I love to add colour to my shoes, but tops and other accessories are perfect.
And then, when you pair the ice wash, pale blue, denim with these colours, you’re sweet as (that’s for my NZ friends, lol). Lightwash denim is the perfect addition to your wardrobe; it’s just so versatile no matter the time of year. Don’t you think?
Ladies and gentlemen, nostalgia has entered the chat. When it comes to all things seasonal and on-trend, nostalgic items are top of the shopping list for those who identify as Millenials—especially geriatric types (otherwise known as Zennials).
Grab some shorts that all your favourite teen movies queens would’ve been proud of, and wear your childhood with pride. And no, in case you were about to ask, I don’t think you’re ever too old to wear Powerpuff girl socks.
There’s nothing I enjoy more than having people over for some beverages and a BBQ. Seriously, it could be the only socialising I enjoy doing anymore. I know post lockdown it’s all about the picnics, but I’m firmly team backyard BBQ. That said, this outfit would work for either. And for these kinds of events, you want comfortable, easy to wear clothes that look like you made an effort. Enter my dress as a top (discussed at length in this post) over shorts.
And you know me, I would typically default to a sneaker or a slide with this kind of outfit, but I came across these chunky sandals. They not only are in a great neutral tone (elongating for those with similar skin tones), but the chunky heel looks comfortable, stable and adds points for effort. Of course, nothing says I tried more than a heel.
Am I going to work out, or am I just getting coffee? That is the question? My love of activewear as daily clothing started, officially, when I started working for myself full-time. Working from home meant that comfort won across the board—more than style, more than looking the part, all the things. The good news is that these days, there are plenty of others that feel the same way.
I’ve linked to the range at Active Truth which you folks rave about, but I own bike shorts from so many retailers ranging from Best & Less to Hine Collective. Trust me; once you put bike shorts on, they’ll convert you. My favourite part is taking a simple bike short and crop and turning it into an outfit. If you want or need to. Take an oversized tee, some eye-catching sneakers, and you’re good to go. Pull up those socks, lady, and you’ve got style.
Now we’re back in my comfort zone; welcome to monochrome. I love mixing black and white together in an outfit, and adding printed shorts to the look makes it get up and get out the door approved. There will be no tough decisions to make when you go with this look, not to mention how versatile the shoes and tank are when worn separately.
What’s a flippy short, I hear you ask? Well, it’s a soft short, lots of room in the legs for a wide, easy-wearing fit. Perfect for those with larger bums and thighs that need more room. Soft shorts, the summer update to our favourite soft pants, are comfort dressing at its finest, and yet, you still look like you made an effort. Would recommend.
Links:
New Look Floral Flippy Shorts (other prints available)
You know what I mean, right? I can picture it now, the European cities, wine on the terrace, your days spent adventuring nut never breaking a sweat. I may not be able to promise you international travel or decedent adventures, but this look will transport you there all on its own. Effortless style, impossibly chic, perfect for those who are looking to holiday at home.
The higher waist and flat fronted waistband of these shorts make them easy to dress up or down. Add the matching jacket (yes, you heard that correctly) and a heeled sandal and you’re all set for your evening. But during the day, paired with stripes and denim, you’ll be exploring in comfort. Now, excuse me, I’m going to grab a wine and pretend I’m on vacation.
There you go, team, my plus-size summer shorts round up. I hope you were able to take away some inspiration for your summer shorts style! At the very least, you are now feeling more confident to put together items in your wardrobe. So, get those legs out into the world; summer is coming up fast. I can’t wait to see what you come up with, so tag me on Insta, I want to see.
The videos pop up on YouTube all the time, twenty-somethings making tens of thousands of dollars a month online. When you dive a little further, you’ll find a few main ways they do this. But the one that grabbed my attention (first) was Fiverr. I knew of the site, of course, but hadn’t been on there for years. Are people still making money on Fiverr? Can I make money as a photographer on Fiverr? Always interested to explore a way to make money online, I decided it was time to investigate.
Getting started on Fiverr
I didn’t have to set up an account as I had one, with Fiverr credits still sitting in it waiting to be spent. But what I did need to do was get my profile set up for selling on Fiverr. A simple enough process as I went through the motions of filling out page after page of profile information and settings.
Next up, there were the Gigs. This is what Fiverr calls the work you do on their site; you’ll get used to it. With so many categories of work and me no being sure of what I wanted to offer, I did some research. I looked into the categories and different offerings of work. I found a few I was interested in and dived deeper into how Gigs were written and set up.
Having narrowed it down to a few categories, I knew I wanted to offer either copy or blog writing, photography or photo editing. All of which are skills I have and could reasonably offer someone else. I’m also pretty proficient in each when needed, so that a quick turnaround would be possible.
Choosing a service category to offer
In the end, though, I decided to create two offerings based on Product Photography. I felt a little meh with my writing mojo, so I figured it was best not to inflict that on others. And the photo editing, I thought I could always add later. Product photography was probably a little niche for a first Gig, given you have to arrange to get and return the products. But it was interesting to me and not widely offered in Australia, so I went for it.
Setting up the Gigs was a little time consuming, to say the least. But, with a window open in Canva (to create collaged image files) and another with samples of comparable work on Fiverr, I got to it. All in all, with edits in the following days, it looks like about three hours to set both Gigs up. Not too shabby if I’m about to make thousands, if not tens of thousands of dollars, right? Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Can I make money as a photographer on Fiverr?
As a low-level seller with no reviews, the pricing to be competitive is a disgrace, to say the least. But, from what I’ve learned from my YouTube friends, the low prices are really just a jumping-off point for customers to add extras and build your portfolio to where you can charge more. (So, I’m a bargain photography-wise. If you need anything right now, hit me up on Fiverr, haha).
To date, after 45 days and a couple of shares on Twitter, I have responded to about five messages and could maybe be booking my first Gig. Literally, as I write this, it’s looking like I’ll be booked for some website images via a custom order for AU$250 (the site is in USD, so converting it is a whole thing, especially when booking an Australian client.
The reality is though, it’s been 45 days with no real action on my Gigs. I plan to create some short videos to add to the Gigs to show off my studio and give them a real face/voice once I get set back up in there (the floors are still curing). From everything I have seen, making a Gig video could help push my listings further to the top. That said, my research tells me what I really need are completed Gigs with completed transactions and reviews.
But, how do you increase your rank to get Gigs to increase your reviews to then increase your rank?
That’s the real question, right? How do you get work when you appear so low in search because you have no reviews. That’s what I’m trying to figure out now. Some of the folks online suggest getting family and friends to review, but from what I can see, a transaction needs to occur for a review to happen. Perhaps they mean to get them to book a Gig and complete it to review you, but that feels a little iffy to me.
My plan? Just keep plugging along, making tweaks and changes to my Gigs. I’ll probably add some more with different style focuses to increase my odds. And I was thinking, if I had an enquiry for extra photo work right now, I would send them through Fiverr even though I could totally charge more if I billed them directly.
For now, I have to be comfortable with the fact that this is not a get rich quick scheme and it will take time to build up reviews and work. Which is an excellent reminder to all of us not to get too sucked into the make money online side of YouTube. I’ve had this blog, and my business, in some capacity for over a decade now and it’s only in the past few years it has fully supported me. The ways I make money online are diverse, and to date, there is no one way that stands alone as the sole provider.
Where to from here on Fiverr?
From here I’m going to keep my fingers crossed I get this first Gig. Then I’m going to hope for a glowing review and even future work from this potential new client. While that’s all happening, I’m going to open up Gigs for photo editing and some more based around product photography that doesn’t focus on light, bright studio shots. Things along the lines of a dark and moody style and a more lifestyle based style. If that even makes sense. Haha. But, whatever happens, I’ll continue to keep you updated on my quest to make money as a photographer on Fiverr. Watch this space.
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need some product photography work done? find me on Fiverr
Welcome, fellow large footed friend. If your internet search for women’s shoes for large feet has landed you here, I’m glad you found us. I know that search well. You don’t get to be a 178cm tall woman without big feet. It’s par for the course, as they say. These days, I wear a ladies 11/12 thanks to having a long foot and a wide one as well.
Finding fashionable shoes in the sense that I’m into wearing them that fit and are reasonably comfortable to wear is a whole thing. My love of sneakers and basic slides is probably born from years of uncomfortable work shoes and crazy-ass heels. I’ve had some big feet adventures, let me tell you!
Buying shoes for my large feet.
Luckily, my family travelled to the United States when I was a teenager, where my siblings and I stocked up on the latest and greatest sneakers. Think Reebok Pumps and blue suede Sketchers. It was years before I would need to buy shoes again, and that’s when I realised it was going to be more difficult than it had been overseas.
When I first started working and needed decent work shoes, I would purchase a size 10/10.5 in brands like Joanne Mercer or Diana Ferrari. I’d squish into them and wear them in. for this strategy you have to be sure that you buy leather; the natural give helped. When I started blogging, I discovered Torrid and would buy on-trend heels, flats and shoes that were just fun, via fellow bloggers (second hand or sharing the postage) from there all the time.
Learning the ropes; buying women’s shoes for large feet.
But, don’t you worry my friend, things got a little better. Over the years, I’ve found some great options. I’m always looking for more and will continue to update this post as I find them. After all, finding women’s shoes for large feet that fit has been a struggle for as long as I can remember. So, here are some that I’ve found and happily recommend.
Over the last month, on my social media break (as much as work allows), I’ve noticed a few things. Things about my life that I completely missed in the non-stop app switch that is social media. Firstly, I’m not very satisfied with my life. I keep looking for meaning and coming up short. And yes, to be honest, it’s hard to tell if it’s general dissatisfaction or if I’m going through something. But the feeling remains.
And secondly, feeling good (making myself proud and doing what I want) has motivated me. And then, I started chasing the algorithm. Which algorithm might you be asking and concerning what? The short version is all of them and everything. From Google to Instagram, Twitter to Pinterest, I was creating and somewhat existing to tick a box. Except, the box was unclear at best or invisible at worst.
IRL and online, I was looking outside myself for that pat on the back that seemingly never came.
But I don’t want to do that anymore. I don’t want to spend the next 20+ years of my working life unfulfilled and ticking boxes. And that’s precisely why I work for myself to have the freedom to create and do what feels good to me, especially when it comes to this blog. But also when it comes to living my life. It has to be my number one priority; I’m no good to anyone if I don’t find a way to put my happiness first.
And so, with all this figured out, this thought keeps popping in my head. It taunts me that I should have got a handle on this stuff already. That I should know better and that I can’t seem to learn my lesson on this one. I’ve been here before when I’ve felt disconnected from my life and threw in the towel.
At various stages throughout my life, I’ve been here before. Sitting on the steps of my first real home here, wondering if the choices I’ve made are going to create a life for us or sink us. Wondering if I’m capable, worthy or deserving. Wanting so desperately to make it all work. Exhausted by the very prospect.
But I won’t beat myself up for stumbling at this point again.
And just so that we are all on the same page, I know now that it’s time to seek some help. So that I can maintain the life I want to live and see it through using tools I’m yet to learn. At this stage, I’m not sure how much of that process I’m going to document here, but I’m permitting myself to share what I want. To stop being afraid of upsetting someone or putting a foot out of place. And to say nothing when it feels like something that is mine.
It turned out, in the end, I’m still a blogger. After reading Austin Kleon’s book Show Your Work, I realised that instead of racking my brain week in and week out for what I hope people or algorithms want, I could share what I’m loving/doing/enjoying instead. I could document the process.
Which, if I had paid attention, some of you have been saying all along. Yet everyone says a blog can’t be successful unless you focus solely on giving the reader what they want. Make it entirely about them and what they need. But I won’t survive if I do it that way. I’ve always found an overlap between you and me; we often go through the same things.
Let’s hope this is one of those times you are happy to come along for the ride.
Some of you aren’t going to believe this. Maybe I’ve claimed a comeback one too many times. But I’ve been throwing around some ‘show’ ideas for the YouTube channel too. I’m 100% not sure if I can pull them off yet, but I thought, that’s also the sort of thing you guys may want to join me in figuring out. And speaking of comebacks. I decided that while I’ve enjoyed experimenting with my hair colour again, I miss the blue. It felt like me, and I miss it. So, with some effort from the team, it’s making a comeback.
I’ve been here before, questioning myself and my ideas. Back in May 2020, I would give the blog a bunch of my effort and see what results I could get. Make a decision then if blogging was still for me after all this time. It’s hard to confront that the only real skill I’ve spent any time developing in the past decade might be obsolete.
But in facing that head-on, I learned that there is still a living to be made in blogging. Yes, it means a few more ads or affiliate links when the occasions arise, but it also means the blog is a business. Worthy of time in my work week and not just being relegated to those exhausted moments at the side.
The funny part is that maybe you won’t notice a change.
Funny haha, I mean, not funny, strange. If you follow the blog or the socials, maybe it won’t feel that different. I don’t plan on changing the topics I blog about, nor do I plan to conform to some new schedule or content plan. My haphazard style of posting will probably continue to bump from where to buy guides to rants and back again. That may all look very familiar, and I’m okay with that.
Taking a social media break has allowed me to check in with myself in a way I haven’t done for a while. Not looking at those ‘doing more than me to figure out what it is for me to share, but asking myself what I want. Everything feels different for me now. That’s what matters, or should matter, for any of us.
How amazing is it that we live in a time when women can decide to start a business, blog or personal brand and do it for themselves? For the things that matter to them like time, freedom and space to dig deeper into what makes them tick? To side hustle or create and ensure that their finances are their own. I’ll never forget how empowering it was to find, inspect and buy my own car. I imagine that feels a world away from women unable to open bank accounts without husbands or enter public bars.
The quiet of being without other people’s opinions or their fears allowed me the space to hear my own voice. To stand on my own two feet and ask the questions of myself that I hadn’t taken the time to ask in too long. What do I want? Am I happy? Why do I do what I do, and is there anything else I’d rather be doing?
The answer is I’m right where I want to be, with room to grow and options to explore. I’m a writer, a photographer, a blogger and a creative. And, since I saw my first magazine with pages of glossy advertisements, I’m a marketer. So it’s time to stop questioning all of that and start doing.
I’m back from my social media break and ready to roll.
Oh hey team, it’s ankle boots daaaaay! I was a wee bit excited to write this post because I love ankle boots and I want to make the plus size women of the world love them too. Because they’re awesome. Short versions. But because nothing is easier to wear, can keep you stomping around all day being a boss or cooler than an ankle boot.
You want that right?
Of course, you do. Following on from the how I wear knee-high boots post from earlier in the week, this post has two main examples of wearing ankle boots, with jeans or leggings and with skirts and dresses. It’s a little more abbreviated in the skirts and dresses section because I’ve written a WHOLE post about this before. Yay.
How I wear ankle boots as a plus-size woman!
Ankle Boots with Skirts and Dresses
I wrote this post especially with my tips for wearing ankle boots with skirts and dresses. Let’s face it; it’s my go-to style, and if you’re going to let someone tell you what to do in this area, it should be me. If you want to click over and read that post, it will open in a new window so you can finish up here. Easy.
Here are some of my favourite outfits.
Oh dear, I could have added outfits to this gallery for days. Haha. When I say boots are my thing, they absolutely are. Though have you noticed my sneakers sort of took over there for a while? Swings and roundabouts I suppose. But looking at all these posts, with a side order of a winter chill in the air, makes me miss ankle boots with everything.
Ankle boots with leggings or jeans
So, you want to wear ankle boots with jeans and leggings. Awesome! This is a great way to ease yourself into the ankle boot without feeling like you’re wearing a sign that says hey look at me in my ankle boots with a dress. Choosing a similar colour legging or pant to your boots is the baby steps level, going from there with some colour combinations that stretch you a little.
My hot tip here, for keeping things interesting is to show a peek of the ankle by cuffing your pants. A simple roll or two will do or wear a cropped style. Not too cropped though, you want a peek, not half a calf. Well, most of the time. The QUEEN of the cuff and the boot has to be the one and only, Nat Tucker from Make it Look Easy, which is what she does, she makes it look easy. Check out her Instagram for more jeans/boots combos. Seriously worth a look. You’ll love Nat.
With jeans and pants, I love a slim fit style with ankle boots, but if you’re cuffing them then a boyfriend or slouchier style is perfection as well. I love the post below with the slouchy pleather joggers with the low cut ankle boot. So fun and so good. So experiment with the fit of your pants and if it’s not working, try the cuff or try some socks above the boot line.
Here are some of my favourite outfits, click the image to view.
Buying your ankle boots for plus size legs
This is a tricky one, a question that comes up a lot on my blog and Instagram when I post an image wearing ankle boots is WHERE do I get them, and HOW do I get them to look right (most people mean, not chop my legs off by this). Good question! Let’s talk about that.
First, you want to be looking for a boot with a nice open ankle to give your legs some room. This isn’t always possible, but a few of the wide fit brands are starting to make sure this happens. I even find SOME Target boots can be generous in this department too.
Then, I like a little dip in the front of the boot if I can get it. My nude boots (worn to death, you’ll know the ones) are a perfect example of this. They dip a little at the front, and that makes your legs look longer. Or that’s my opinion anyway. And well, long legs are always fun regarding balancing out an outfit and its proportions.
some shops I recommend starting your search at are;
Right, questions or otherwise? Got a blog post or a photo you want to share of YOU rocking your ankle boots? We’d love to see it, add them in the comments (I’ve double-checked the guest feature is enabled for those without Disqus) let’s make this the place to go for such things.
