Hello Dolly, featuring Simply Be, H&M, Tatty Devine, Collectif & Office

Anyone who regularly reads my blog will know that I spend a lot of my time buzzing around London like a chubby bumblebee. I love wearing yellow - it's just such a happy colour which can lift me right out of a bad mood. It's also super summery, and with the lovely weather we've been having recently, it just feels fitting.

Wildflowers - Ditsy Print Tea Dress from Simply Be

So, spoiler alert, I love this dress. I loved it the moment I saw it on the Simply Be website. I loved it the second I tried it on. I loved it when I took these blog photos. And I felt like the absolute grunge queen of everything when I met my mother-in-law to see an exhibition and paired it with a maroon cardigan and matching faux-dm style wellies.

Bags Of Style from House Of Fraser

More often than not, the perfect handbag can be the illusive holy grail of fashion. We want something which compliments our outfits, yet can also be filled to bursting with all of our daily essentials. From sunscreen to house keys to tablets, we often have different bags for different occasions - but just like shoes, a girl can never have too many handbags, right?

Let It Snow - Christmas from F&F

Running around Christmas in July events whilst melting in the summer sunshine never ceases to feel odd. But every year it's worth it when you find yourself swooning over sequins, shimmer and sparkle, with Christmas party wear at the forefront. If you haven't already seen my roundup post of AW16 from F&F Clothing, you can check it out here - the collection is amazing. But this press day was focused purely on winter warmers with a party focused theme, and honestly, Christmas can not come soon enough as I want almost all of it!

The (Red and) White Stripes

I will always have a soft spot for good vintage repro, so when Lindy Bop launched their huge 75% off sale, like many others I was waving my credit card in the air with excitement. But as a freelancer, the adult voice inside my head told me to show restraint, so whilst I could have easily brought at least seven dresses, I chose just the one which I had been lusting after even when it was still fully priced.

The Jean Jeanie

I had wanted to get my hands on a pinafore dress for ages, but they just didn't seem to work on my shape, with my larger bust line being a (literal) huge issue for the fit. I had pretty much given up, but when I saw that the Sprinkle Of Glitter Dungaree Dress from Simply Be had gone into the sale, I decided to push my luck one final time.

Shake Your Pom Poms

I fell in love with this Lace Pom Pom top from Simply Be the second I saw it. It's not my usual style, but the 70s boho feel completely suckered me in, and I thought I could make it work in some sort of pastel goth style. Whilst the way I've styled it today is more Stevie Nicks than queen of the dammed, the crochet style is perfect for staying cool in. You know, assuming we ever get our summer back!

Get Shorty

Our summer weather is all over the place at the moment, but even with the constant rain and storm clouds, we seem to be in a perpetual state of mugginess. That means that London is a smog filled sweatfest right now, and there's only one way to combat it's navigation - shorts!

I've never been a massive fan of my legs, so constantly hid them underneath leggings and tights, even in the hottest of weather. Enough was enough though, and last year I switched to flowing maxi dresses, and now I'm at a stage where finally, I just don't care. Years of dancing followed by years of cycling have left my calves muscular and bulky from a young age, and whereas before I felt they made me look very masculine, I now see them as a sign of strength.

Cropped T-Shirt: Primark (£4)

Shorts: Crochet Shorts from Simply Be (£30)

Necklace: Teething Necklace from Little Gnashers (£14)

Sandals: F&F from Tesco (no longer available)

These shorts are super comfy, made from a soft tencel fabric with an elasticated, drawstring waist and cute crochet hem. I teamed them with an adorable cropped t-shirt  which I picked up last week from Primark, and a pair of simple sandals to finish off. The necklace is a pastel coloured favourite (which you can read more about here!) Now if only someone would take their finger off the pause button, so that summer could resume again, that would be great!

Until next time,

Diana x ❤ x

Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr, Bloglovin and Facebook.
www.fashionlovesphotos.com

(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

Blue Jeans

I'm not normally one to wear jeans, unless it's my trusty black high waisted skinnies in the Autumn, or when I have a long day of shooting. But I'm trying to get better at casual dressing, and slowly, slowly, I think I'm getting the hang of it.

As someone who frequently works from home, my uniform tends to be a mixture of pyjamas and comfy work-out gear, with a few staple skater styles for when I actually need to put on a bra and leave the house. Other than that, I have dresses. Lots and lots of dresses, mostly impractical, brought for dancing, clubbing or DJing in. They tend to be super frou-frou or covered in sequins, and not the ideal item for nipping to Sainsburys in. But I really need to break out of the habit of offering up either total slob or retro realness with my wardrobe, and attempting a cutesy, sort of vintage approach with denim seemed to be the obvious direction.

Necklace: Tatty Devine (no longer available)

Jeans: Boyfriend Fit from ASOS (no longer available)

Top: Long Sleeved Jersey Top from H&M (£7.99) 

Shoes: Sole Diva Navy Ballerina Flats from Simply Be (£10)

I decided to keep my bumper bangs and red lips, teaming the outfit with a cute boat necklace from Tatty Devine to give it a touch of riviera glam with a nautical nod. It was a comfy outfit, but I'm still not quite sure I feel like me in it - almost as if I'm playing dress up, which I know is a completely silly thing to say. I think it's something I like though, and certainly a look which I want to play around with a little bit more. Whilst I love my dinosaur pyjamas and penguin shaped poncho, there is something to be said about occasionally looking like a real life adult...

Until next time,

Diana x ❤ x

Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr, Bloglovin and Facebook.
www.fashionlovesphotos.com

(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

Intergalactic Planetary, Planetary Intergalactic

So, full disclosure, I am a massive space nerd. Super massive. Whenever I leave London, I'll be the person with my head tilted upwards staring at the stars at night, amazed that I can count more than five. I'll be there, pointing out constellations, feeling tiny, and falling completely in love with the endless possibilities out there. So when the galaxy print trend hit a few years ago, I was ecstatic. But there was very little I liked, with plus size possibilities seeming very minimal.

Outside of some workout leggings, the trend mostly passed me by. Thankfully that changed when I came upon this stunning find at the most recent Fat Positive Clothes Swap. Not only was it a galaxy print beauty, it was a freaking mock-wrap PUFF BALL of a dream .

Top: ASOS Curve via Fat Positive Clothes Swap

Leggings: High Waisted Leggings from Simply Be

Sandals: George (Old season)

My only wish was that it was a little longer so that it could be comfortably worn as a dress. I think I'd pretty much live in it if it wasn't for that! But it's a fun item which maybe won't get wheeled out as often as some of my other favourites, but I will always feel out of this world in when I do wear it.

Until next time,

Diana x ❤ x

Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr, Bloglovin and Facebook.
www.fashionlovesphotos.com

(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

Jumpin' Jack Flash

I've always loved the look of jumpsuits, but never really contemplated trying them. They seemed to be something for everyone else to rock whilst I just stared on with giant cartoon heart eyes. That was until my lovely friend Chattermonkey talked me into stepping into this New Look beauty, and from that moment my love affair with the jumpsuit was born.

I don't really know what it was which made me so hesitant for so long. This culotte jumpsuit is the right balance of smart and casual, and perfect for most situations. Meeting clients? Check. Movie date? Check. And that's what I like about it - it's so versatile and easy to wear.

Culotte Jumpsuit: New Look (no longer available).

Necklace: London Bus from Tatty Devine.

Shoes: Sole Diva Navy Ballerina Flats from Simply Be.

What are some looks or styles that you were hesitant to try but fell in love with? Don't forget to tell me in the comments!

Until next time,

Diana x ❤ x

Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr, Bloglovin and Facebook.
www.fashionlovesphotos.com

(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

Simply Be Fabulous

The recent collections from Simply Be have seen them nailing the SS16 fashion trends with every single product drop. Whether you're looking for an outfit perfect for summer festivals, or are simply in search of the perfect dress, they have you covered for all manner of summer fun.

With their range available up to a UK size 32, Simply Be have embraced all the latest trends and made them available for a huge variety of sizes and body shapes. With so many great things to choose from, I thought I'd do a round up of my favourite pieces from the site.

1. Simply Be Ditsy Print Flippy Shorts.

These Ditsy Print Flippy Shorts (£29) are perfect for those days where the temperatures are scorching. An elasticated waistband makes them as comfy as they are cute, and are easily paired with a simple black t-shirt for an easy look to lounge in. They are also a great item for your holiday suitcase, where wearing them with some wedges and a Bardot top will smarten them up with style.

2. Multi Coloured Crochet-Top Maxi Dress.

If you're looking for something with a hit of wow-power, then look no further than this stunning Multi Coloured Crochet-Top Maxi Dress(£60). Bold, bright and featuring a gorgeous hand crochet detailing to the top, this halterneck dream is ready for all manner of beach walks and festival frolicking.

3. Simply Be Ditsy Print Tea Dress (£35).

Any regular readers to my blog will know that I am a huge fan of ditsy prints, and it was love at first sight when I set my eyes on this Simply Be Ditsy Print Tea Dress (£35). With a vintage inspired style, it's a dress shape which is easy to smarten up or dress down depending on your shoe choice. Whilst the fabric is light enough to get you through the summer, it's high neck line and cap sleeves also mean it's a keeper come Autumn - simply switch bare legs for tights and boots and throw on a biker jacket or oversized knit.

4. Yellow Floral Print Tea Dress.

Yellow is one of my favourite colours, so when I saw this Floral Print Tea Dress (£35), it just had to join the list. I find that tea dresses are so versatile - they tread the line between smart and causal with a simple change of accessories, and the flared sleeves are just so pretty.

What are your summer favourites? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time,

Diana x ❤ x

Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr, Bloglovin and Facebook.
www.fashionlovesphotos.com

(All photos (c) Simply Be unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

The Witching Hour

You'll have to excuse my goofy faces in these photos. I felt so happy in this outfit, as I was pretty much living up to the summer goth dream which teenage me really wanted to be! Since the start of the year, my love for t-shirt dresses has only grown stronger so when I discovered this maxi beauty from H&M's basics range, I had to order it and give it a try. Sadly it's no longer available online, but they do have a off the shoulder version of it available here.

For me this dress has been perfect for those rare hot days we've experienced in the UK. Standing at a fairly average 5'6", the dress almost, but not quite hits the floor in flats which is exactly where I like my maxis to be.

I teamed it with a cheap straw hat which came from eBay many moons ago (which has since been updated with this H&M version here. My sandals are SS15 from George, with high wasited leggings from Simply Be and my necklace handmade from Willow Edinburgh. I love this necklace so much, and have got so much wear out of since it was sent to me. It's one of those items which goes with everything, and the tiny gold flecks really set off an all-black ensemble.

For me, this is the perfect summer outfit for the lady who gets burnt just by looking at the sun. Factor 50 paired with an oversized hat, and I'm good to go! I also love that the dress has a slit, which makes the garment feel ventilated when not worn with leggings. This is pretty much my uniform for when the temperature goes over 28 degrees, and minus the hat, is also perfectly comfy for shooting in too.

What are your go to summer favourites? Don't forget to tell me in the comments!

Until next time,

Diana x ❤ x

Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr, Bloglovin and Facebook.
www.fashionlovesphotos.com

(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)