Saturday, September 28, 2013

Aussie Curves Tee

Who would have thought that a simple thing like a T-shirt would challenge my sense of style?
But I have to be honest. Probably the first T-shirt I owned was one of those bonds high necked polycotton numbers that clung in all the wrong places and was cut the same for boys and girls which meant it was too loose on the top and too tight on the bottom for me.
Never could rock the white T-shirt rock chick vibe.
As I have learned how to dress my body in a way that I enjoy, I have found how to adapt that Tee. Lower cut neck for a start. Preferably V but not essential. A cotton blend is always better for me in the Sydney heat. And some kind of treatment of the front so that it is not just flat.
So band T-shirts are not my thing. I am in great admiration of the Aussie Curves women who can rock a band T but they do nothing for me.
Today's Tee was a quick purchase in Perth in late August.  You know how you can travel across the country for a long weekend and watch the forecast. 18 to 20C was the expectation so layers and winterish clothing was packed. After all it was still Winter!  And when I arrived it was 26C and rising.
Thank goodness for TS14plus in Subiaco. I always pop in when I am over there and they had just started putting out their spring and summer collection. This Tee ticked the boxes.
Black and white/ graphic. V neck and gathered front in cotton blend for comfort. Tick, tick tick.


The top goes with Black and white bottoms as well but I love red and these shorts were purchased yesterday from the TS outlet store sale. Last year's stock but they are my preferred length of short. I already had the black and bought the white, red and cobalt yesterday. Starting at $89.95 they came down to $29 with discounts. Score!
The necklace is also TS. It keeps on giving a pop that I love.
Playing with blurry camera effects.

There are some lovely Tshirt outfits on the blog hop. Take a look.
Thanks for viewing and feel free to leave nice comments.


Sunday, September 22, 2013

Aussie Curves Peplum

The women at Aussie Curves have been showing off their peplum fancies this week.
It's one of those " Rules of Fashion" that I have to rebel against because I remember wearing peplums in the 80s a few times but this most recent trend has been huge and I am loving it. 
It's so lovely to have a fashion option which give me an illusion of a waist. The different options are wonderful.

Here is a photo of a peplum I bought from ASOS. It was way too big when I took the shot

I've cut it up and resewed it , taking in the seams by about 2 inches so watch this space to see the new improved version. I'm pretty happy with it

You can see the skirt is shorter and the top a little more snug

A different belt of more flattering

And here it is without the belt. The skirt is the wonderful scuba skirt by Harlow and the shoes my trusty glitter cap shoes from Evans. 
Thanks to Jo from I curvy for the photo app tips. I am becoming more self sufficient with my shoots now even tough I much prefer the gorgeous shots we get when my daughter is inclined to be my photographer. 
Check out the other Aussie Curvettes. They have done a great job this week









Thursday, September 5, 2013

Aussie Curves Vulnerable

VULNERABLE

Jo from ICurvy suggested this week's theme and it has been amazing. People have been digging deep and being so brave by showing their vulnerabilities. It has truly been very thought provoking.
Here's the thing. To look from the outside, I look pretty strong. I am smart, have a successful career, great kids and was married for 25 years. I am articulate and persuasive and have been told that I can be intimidating which really bugs me because that is never my intention. I can speak in front of a hall of strangers without breaking a sweat and I know this is a gift because so many others are crippled with anxiety about that. I am fiercely protective of the people I love and there are many of them. I have learned to be self reliant and to value what I bring to the world.
But just like yin and yang, all attributes have a positive and a negative side and this is my weakness. Because despite what I have written above , there is that voice in my head that says "you don't deserve to feel really secure in love"
My body does and doesn't come into it. I have always been fat. Not as fat as I am now but never skinny. Being overweight and half blind as a child meant I was not good at sport and being the oldest of six, that meant I was not encouraged to be sporty. After all there were plenty of other things I was good at that I could concentrate on. I was never encouraged to take an interest in clothes as a teenager because you couldn't easily get fashionable clothes above size 12, so I sewed mine. I didn't have a classic beauty so I rarely played with makeup until recently. 
I received the message as a young woman that I should be grateful to anyone who could love someone overweight like me. Even this year when daring to express a desire to meet someone new for the later half of my life I was told by my mother that my chances were pretty slim with the weight I am currently carrying! As if that thought hadn't occurred to me!
Despite those messages I am at peace with my body. I don't LOVE it but I accept it as part of me and I don't do battle with myself over it.
My dress style reflects the strength that I have had to develop. I put a lot of effort into looking "put together" at work. I try to dress to be approachable but still have authority. The message is " I might be overweight but don't you dare think that makes me lazy or stupid." My clothes are often quite structured and I wear shapewear frequently to give me smooth lines.
Today's outfit reflects a more vulnerable me.


Portraying a strong outer shell is my protection. In years of marriage I didn't realise but I was building walls to protect myself from hurt. Hurt because I didn't feel understood or supported. Hurt because I was told pretty early in the piece to be responsible for my own happiness. Its actually not bad advice really but at the time it felt like I was being pushed away. So I shut down and probably became less available and loving in return. End of confession and please don't think I am putting someone down. On the outside I am that strong confident woman but it's not always the same on the inside.

Vulnerability is not weakness. Actually I think it is quite the opposite. This dress reflects my desire to be vulnerable. To be open to being loved and to feel safe to bring the barriers down.

The fabric is soft and textured. The hem is really short for me which you cant see because we forgot to shoot a standing picture. But a short hem shows my very chubby knees. A part of my body I am not comfortable showing off.

It clearly does nothing to hide my big tummy.

But it invites hugs.

And it makes me feel open. Barriers down but warm and giving in return. When you open your heart you take a risk that hurt will come instead of joy. That is being vulnerable.
Perhaps vulnerability is not a thing to fear but a thing to embrace.

The other Aussie Curves women have been wonderfully open and awesome this week. Go check them out. It will be worth it. We have each other's back and I am very grateful.