Blog archive '13- June . July . Aug . Sept . Oct . Nov . Dec.
Blog Archive 2014 Jan . Feb . Mar . Apr . May . June . July . Aug . Sept . Oct . Nov . Dec .
Blog Archive 2015 Jan .

Feb. 26th - Gardenia Jersey Dress from the New Season Collection SS15 at Monsoon

Jersey Dresses are a very practical addition to your day wear wardrobe.  This little dress has many standard features that compliment various shapes of plus size woman (from the cut and fall of the material below the bust line (which helps hide a wide tummy ), the flattering V Neck Line (which minimises a spare chin and creates shape to a rounder shaped face) and the 3/4 length sleeves which help define a waist).

Today I'm modelling the Gardenia Jersey Tea Dress from the New Season Collection Spring/Summer 2015 at Monsoon.  It is a simple knee length day wear dress in a "Libertyesque" type print.  I am 5' 9" tall and I am wearing size UK18.  The dress is available to size UK22 and is priced at £59.

There are two great features this dress offers.  Firstly it is machine washable so is "easy care easy wear".  Secondly it can be worn, as below, as a more formal day wear look with heels OR can be worn more casually and BoHo Chic with boots and a slouchy cardigan.

Above the waist the dress is lined but the skirt is NOT.  In the pictures I am wearing a petticoat underneath for added warmth and to minimise static cling as I am wearing tights.

Although this is New Season Spring/Summer '15 day wear from Monsoon, you can still wear this dress now with the addition of a thermal cami vest and either half slip or full length petticoat.  The addition of the cardigan (for a more slouchy and relaxed look) will give you the much needed warmth until the real Spring arrives.

Play the video clip to see the pattern and further detail of the dress

To buy this dress click HERE

To view other jersey dress from Monsoon click HERE

Until Next Week.  Diane xxx

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Feb 8th. Floaty, Bright & light - Separates by Julien Macdonald, at Debenhams

This week I am reviewing one of the "Designers at Debenhams" .

Star by Julien Macdonald is a mid-price collection of separates and dresses. Typically prices range from £25 - £65.

I love the flexibility that mixing and matching separates gives you when varying your look.  For Spring/Summer '15 the Star Collection offers lots of choice in light, bright, floaty and patterned looks.

I find it disappointing that the sizing only goes up to a plus size UK20, because many of the shapes of tops (in particular) would look great on a curvier figure.  I hope that pressure from the plus size community, asking for bigger sizes, will get the Star size range increased.

There is just no escaping the neon bright influence and this wonderful lime pleat front top is perfect for wearing with trousers, skirts or smart bermuda style shorts.  I love the chiffon style sleeves and the loose open neck fit.  The body of this top is lined (but not the sleeves).

I have paired this top with a pair of floral pattern scuba pants.  It is hard to know exactly what to call the various cuts and styles of trousers now available on the market but suffice to say that these are definitely smarter than a legging and have the cut and fit of a pair of ankle grazer trousers.

I am 5'9"tall and ordinarily a size UK18.  I am however wearing these trousers in a size UK16.  There is lots of "give" in the trouser material, so I do think that someone who's normally a size UK22 will get in comfortably to the size UK20 (the largest size available in the Star range).

Please have a look at my video below to see and hear about the top and trousers in detail.

To buy the top (£38) click HERE

To buy the trousers (£38) click HERE

To view the entire Star by Julien Macdonald Collection at Debenhams click HERE

To view the full Collection of Tops click HERE

To view the full Collection of Trousers and Leggings click HERE

Because of changes to my lecturing work, my blog postings will now be published on Fridays or Saturdays.

Until next week.  Diane XXX

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Jan. 2015 blogs, click here - Jan 23rd. Getting Fit - Affordable Fitness Clothing from the M&S Collection - Jan.14th - What to wear Skiing - Recommendations

Dec. 2014 blogs, click here - Dec 12th Half Length Black Leather Sheepskin Coat in Contemporary Design - Celtic & Co. - Dec 6th Wonderful Toscana Sheepskin Full Length Hooded Coat in Chocolate Brown - Celtic & Co.

Nov. 2014 blogs, click here - Nov 30th Down and Feather Coat. Long Tall Sally. - Nov 15th How to wear Tweed part 2.

Oct. 2014 blogs, click here - Oct 30th How to wear Tweed, part 1. - Oct 24th M&S Waist Cincher Knickers for tummy control. - Oct 16th Lipstick Boutique at House of Fraser - Oct 2nd Ann Harvey at Bonmarche

Sept. 2014 blogs, click here - Sept. 25th Curvety Special Occasion dress - 19th Dickins and Jones Day Wear - 14th Yours Blouse - 4th Debenhams Tea Dress.

Aug 2014 blogs, click here - Aug 29 Jump suit from Pink Clove, - Aug 21 Flared Skirt, Wardrobe staple. - Aug 15 Fine Knit Cardigan, Wardrobe staple. - Aug 7 David Emanuel at Bonmarche. - Aug 2 Road test of Leanne Shoes from Hotter.

July 2014 blogs, click here - July 29 Berlin Break, July 26 YOURS - Floral Maxi Dress, July 15 Woolovers Jumper around shoulders look, July 14 Woolovers City Look, July 13 Woolovers Casual Layered Look, July 12 Woolovers V-Necked Jumper - look #2, July 11 Woolovers Twin Set look, July 10 Woolovers Sleeveless Top, July 9 Woolovers V-Necked Jumper look #1

June 2014 blogs, click here - June 27 Suede Moccasin Shoes. June 20 Garden Party - Overlay Dress from Long Tall Sally. June 12 Aran Boyfriend Cardigan- Celtic & Co. June 5th Little Black Dress.

May 2014 blogs, click here - May 30th Ivory Bridal Dress (vintage 1950s style) from Monsoon. - 22nd - The Return of the Trouser Suit. - 14th Agricultural Show or County Fair - Practical Styling Advice. - 7th M&S boot cut jeans - 1st Plus Size Revolution - money counts.

April 2014 blogs, click here -Apr.27th The Plus Size Revolution - Curves take Centre Stage. - 20th Travel Clothes - 4th British Plus Size Fashion Week 2014 - Dynasty.

March 2014 blogs, click here - Mar 20th British Plus Size Fashion Week 2014 - Curvety. - 14th British Plus Size Fashion Week 2014 - Jane Watson.

Feb 2014 blogs, click here - Feb 27th British Plus Size Fashion Week 2014 - Dea. - 14th Diane Marshall Plus Size Model London Fashion Week. - 7th All weather fitness clothing

Jan. 2014 blogs, click here - Jan 30th London Fashion Week, plus size modelling opportunity. - 23rd Plus Size Acceptance vs Weight Loss. - 16th Plus Size Weight Loss - an expert approach. - 9th Plus Size, what size of fit are we describing?

All 2013 blogs, click here

June 15th 2013 - Welcome to my blog !