Pattern Recognition - Monochrome Dressing with H&M

It's so great when you find a dress which fits your shape and makes you feel fantastic. I'm always so worried about things being tight across my chest, so loved the stretch in this monochrome jersey dress from H&M - an item which I know already is going to be a staple as we wade through this transitional "spring weather".

At £24.99, I initially felt like it was an expensive purchase for a jersey dress and was pretty sure it'd go straight back. The second I tried it on though, it was love at first sight with the fabric and cut of it being spot on. The bell shaped skirt and wider neckline made the dress feel like the big sister of the skater dress, with the black and white print so easy to throw accessories at.

I initially teamed with it leggings from H&M+ and a pair of fabric plimsolls which are sadly no longer available online. However with the weather how it is at the moment, I've found myself wearing it with black tights, ankle boots and a black cardigan a whole lot. It's one of those feel good without thinking too much outfits, which is worth the price tag in itself! If I have an early start, I can just throw it on and not have to worry.

I think when a brand offers a plus size collection, it's very easy to forget that their main line exists but a large part of my wardrobe consists of items in X and XL from H&M. If you're a size 20, 22 or even a 24 with stretch fabrics, it's definitely work checking them out from time. Often they will have gems in their main and basics line such as this, with their cardigans and leggings washing really well.

The dress is currently available here, and the leggings here.

Until next time,

Diana xx

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

Sunshine After The Rain - Autumnal Days in H&M, Primark and Pearls & Swine

I feel a bit like an idiot posting this now that the treacherous weather has turned back to feathery rain and ominous grey skies. But cast your minds back to last week and remember that we had a couple of glorious sun filled days which harked back to Summer - days where you'd feel warm in a coat, with the sun's golden glow throwing long shadows all around you.

I know it's hard to believe now that our ten minutes of proper Autumn has suddenly turned into the start of six months of Winter. I can now barely remember what my legs look like out of black tights and suspect their paleness would blind me if I could and glanced upon them.

But anyway. Going back to that lovely warm, Autumn sunshine...

Dress: H&M

Cardigan: H&M

Tights: Primark

Ballet Flats: Primark

Flower: Pearls & Swine

The not-quite-chlorine-blonde in my hair is still freaking me out a little. I sort of like it, but it takes me by shock every time I see it. It was never meant to be like this for more than a day - it was just a pre-lightening exercise as a base for bright hair-dye fun. But I've learned a lesson - wait for your order of hair dye to actually arrive before covering yourself in peroxide. Sigh.

That said, I think the hair works with this outfit. The H&M dress was a £4 bargain in their sale, and the cardigan and ballet flats work brilliantly with the various shades of pink. But that's it. Nothing else but ankle boots, faux fur and wolly socks until March. Good bye legs, see you in the spring!

Until next time,

Diana xx

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

Back To Black - Halterneck Sun Dress from F&F Clothing

Everyone needs a set of outfits which can be pulled out of the wardrobe with little thought. Simple, classic shapes which go with everything for everyday use, clothes which you don't need to fuss over when you need to leave the house with other things on your mind. F&F is one of my favourite places for those types of wardrobe staples, with a series of well designed basics which fit well and look good without having to over think things.

This black halterneck dress was from their early Summer collection, and has seen me through the last few months with ease. Worn with leggings and cardigans or bare legs with sandals, it's been the perfect base to dress up or down depending on what my plans are for that day.

Dress: F&F

Flower: Pearls & Swine

Rather than being just another LBD, the halterneck design is teamed with a wrap front to add something a little different. It's perfect to sling at the bottom of a holiday suitcase, as the stretchy material washes well with no need to iron. My only gripe is that I didn't buy another one to store at the bottom of my wardrobe, as I know this will be worn well into Autumn with lots of layers on top. It's definitely one of my favourite day to day dresses at the moment!

Until next time,

Diana xx

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

Lady In Red - Beautiful Tall Dresses From FatPhRocks

FatPhRocks is a wonderful brand for plus size shapes with extra long pins. Designed for ladies with both a fuller figure and statuesque height, the sister company of the genius Wingz  have you covered whether you're on the hunt for a day wear maxi dress or something a little more special for the evening.

When going through the FatPhRocks website, it was the Eddie Dress in red* which caught my eye. It was the sort of dress perfect for a holiday destination, or quite possibly in Lord Dicely's words, "winning Eurovision in." The dress itself is made from a flowing red chiffon, with a scoop neck and empire line shape. The slight peek-a-boo cut out to the chest looks great, whilst the silhouette makes you feel like a Grecian Goddess. It's so comfy to wear, with a slim elastic line to the back, ensuring a perfect bit. And the best thing? The dress is currently on sale for just £25! (Originally £45.)

This particular style of dress comes in black and purple choices too, and it was floor length for me at 5'7" in four inch heels. Light and billowy, it is the perfect dress for warmer climates, especially if like me, you are in constant need of factor 50 sun lotion.

The dress comes in three sizes which run across a UK 18 - 28. Whilst I'm not normally a fan of dual sizing, I found the fit on this dress perfect thanks to the fabric and clever use of hidden elastic. It stretches and nips in exactly where you'd want it to, and it's impossible to feel anything less than a stage ready diva whilst wearing it!

You can check out their whole range here, and take advantage of their brilliant sale.

Until next time,

Diana xx

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www.fashionlovesphotos.com

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

*Item sent for review.

Lady In Red - Beautiful Tall Dresses From FatPhRocks

FatPhRocks is a wonderful brand for plus size shapes with extra long pins. Designed for ladies with both a fuller figure and statuesque height, the sister company of the genius Wingz  have you covered whether you're on the hunt for a day wear maxi dress or something a little more special for the evening.

When going through the FatPhRocks website, it was the Eddie Dress in red* which caught my eye. It was the sort of dress perfect for a holiday destination, or quite possibly in Lord Dicely's words, "winning Eurovision in." The dress itself is made from a flowing red chiffon, with a scoop neck and empire line shape. The slight peek-a-boo cut out to the chest looks great, whilst the silhouette makes you feel like a Grecian Goddess. It's so comfy to wear, with a slim elastic line to the back, ensuring a perfect bit. And the best thing? The dress is currently on sale for just £25! (Originally £45.)

This particular style of dress comes in black and purple choices too, and it was floor length for me at 5'7" in four inch heels. Light and billowy, it is the perfect dress for warmer climates, especially if like me, you are in constant need of factor 50 sun lotion.

The dress comes in three sizes which run across a UK 18 - 28. Whilst I'm not normally a fan of dual sizing, I found the fit on this dress perfect thanks to the fabric and clever use of hidden elastic. It stretches and nips in exactly where you'd want it to, and it's impossible to feel anything less than a stage ready diva whilst wearing it!

You can check out their whole range here, and take advantage of their brilliant sale.

Until next time,

Diana xx

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www.fashionlovesphotos.com

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

*Item sent for review.

Party Like It's 2015

It's Sunday night, and I am currently writing this in my penguin pyjamas. Lord Dicely has insisted that the Christmas tree remains up until the twelfth day, and despite looking forward to my auto out-of-office response deactivating tomorrow, I still feel happy and cosy in my festive cocoon.

There is a huge part of me which is clambering to get back to work, and I've already found myself doing little bits and pieces of admin over the last few days. But Christmas and New Year have been so lovely, I don't feel quite ready to pack this silly, happy feeling away. And I'm certainly not ready to let go of my favourite Christmas outfits!

Dress from Collectif, leggings and cardigan from Primark, Robin hair clip handmade from a Christmas decoration.

Swallow necklace from Baku Forest Studios.

Cardigan from Primark, flowers from Pearls & Swine and a vintage dress for Christmas Day.

Nails are Tate (red base) and Graffiti (glitter) both by Nails Inc. The perfect, festive tinsel! (Thanks Susie!)

Christmas and New Year were both lovely and laid back. Christmas was spent amongst family in the countryside, whilst New Year was an evening of boozy silliness and a stunning view of the London fireworks from Parliament Hill Fields.

I've always been fairly ambivalent about celebrating the new year in a huge way, but it felt like 2015 was a finish line to a difficult race myself and my friends were all keen to get to end of. Standing in the cold armed with rum and some of my favourite people was cathartic in a way even I didn't expect. It felt very poignant seeing 2014 off and strolling back home arm in arm with some of the people who make my life feel so lovely. 

Resolutions aren't something I believe in as I feel they are too easy to forget. However I always make a handful of aims to add as a guide for the new year so that there is something to push for. This year included working on my exhibition, doing more artistic collaborations and staying on top of my 5k training. The way I see it, if I can stay both creative and healthy, that should automatically lead to a certain level of happiness. I'm also aiming to be nicer to myself, especially when it comes to my workload. I've had a few health setbacks in 2014, luckily nothing awful but things which have left me feeling tired and listless. As such, it feels like 2014 was a year of setting things up rather than moving forward, but it's important for me to remember that those things ARE set up - and 2015 is the year to take action.

Now that we're a few days in and the festive fog is starting to clear, I can see what my goals are and fully intend to hit them. It's exciting - this year feels so separated from the last already, and I feel like I'm about to embark on the final and most exciting chapter of a book. Hopefully one which has a happy ending, and will be the first of a very long series. I'm ready for you, 2015! Happy new year!

Until next time,

Diana xx

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

Lace Up - That Day Black Lace Trim Dress from That Day at Evans Clothing

In my last post, I spoke about one of my favourite new brands, the lovely vintage inspired collection from That Day Clothing. Currently sold though Evans in UK sizes 14 - 26, I adored their philosophy of wanting to create "a brand that re-imagined the exquisite style and detail of the past for women of today." Ranging from floral prints to bright colours, their AW range contains a mixture of dresses, shirts and tops. However the lace panel detailing on this particular number blew me away, and I couldn't wait to try it on!

Dress: That Day Black Lace Trim Dress* from That Day at Evans (Sent as a gift)

Necklace: Customised Kitty Necklace from Punky Pins

Art Deco Ring: Tatty Devine

Moon Stone Ring: Vintage

Bracelets: Vintage

Heels: Vintage

Tights: Pamela Mann

White Flower: Pearls & Swine

The LBD is always an easy choice, but the fitted waist and lace detailing along the neckline give this classic dress a stylish update.  The way it falls into a flared skirt makes it feel incredibly elegant and like it's mustard predecessor from my last post, can be dressed up or down.

For a more casual look, I'd wear the dress with some bright coloured tights and a cardigan, with it's lovely shape making it the perfect dress for adding layers to as the weather gets colder. If you want to view the whole range from That Day, you can see it on the Evans website here. The whole collection is stunning and I cannot wait to see what comes next for SS15.

Until next time,

Diana xx

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

It's Such A Perfect Day - Mustard : Yellow Gathered Waist Dress from That Day at Evans

It's very rare that I'll fall in love with a brand's aesthetic before seeing a single piece of clothing, but that's exactly what happened when I came across the That Day Fashion website. With their vintage inspired floral prints and artistic visuals, I was hooked on their philosophy before seeing a single garment.

On their website, they happily state how the collection came to be when a team of like minded people came together wanting to create "a brand that re-imagined the exquisite style and detail of the past for women of today." Those vintage sensibilities certainly spoke to me, and it was love at first sight when I came across this beautiful mustard creation.

Dress: Yellow Gathered Waist Dress* from That Day at Evans (Sent as a gift)

Necklace: Swallow Necklace from Tatty Devine

Art Deco Ring: Tatty Devine

Moon Stone Ring: Vintage

Bracelets: Vintage

Kelly Bag: Vintage

Heels: Vintage

Tights: Pamela Mann

Yellow Flower: Pearls & Swine

Yellow Gathered Waist Dress from That Day at Evans.

I pretty much swooned over this dress the second I saw it. Whilst it was the bold mustard colour which initially caught my eye, the sleeves are utterly stunning. They have a lovely wrapped design to the front, and it's impossible to not feel like some sort of Grecian goddess as they flow around you.

The dress actually comes in two separate parts - a mustard slip to line underneath, with the main part worn over it. It also has a gathered waist detail, which is wonderful for defining and creating an hourglass shape, and feels really comfy to wear.

I chose to team the bright colour with black accessories to make the dress day-time ready. That said, the sleeves really do give the dress a more opulent feel which lends itself to special occasions with ease.

If you want to view the whole range from That Day, you can see it on the Evans website here. The whole collection is beautiful, and I cannot wait to see what they bring for SS15.

Until next time,

Diana xx

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

Pretty Prints - a #PSOOTD from Scarlett & Jo at Evans featuring their 2 in 1 Floral Prom Dress

When Scarlett & Jo released their Spring Romance Collection for Evans earlier this year, I absolutely fell in love with this floral print prom dress. It's shape really ticked all of my vintage loving style points, whilst the design was perfect for my high waist and larger bust.

I was all set to buy it, but it quickly sold out in my size and I was left heart broken. Ever since, I've kept an eye open for it on blog sales and eBay and was over the moon to purchase it brand new with tags for a fraction of the price. The best things really are worth waiting for!

Dress: Scarlett & Jo at Evans

Flower in hair: Pearls & Swine

Leggings: F&F True

Necklace: Tatty Devine

Bracelet: Vintage

Shoes: Vintage

The dress was a size smaller than what I'd usually buy, but there was no way I was letting this beauty slip away! Luckily the top half is very stretchy, and the wide elasticated band at the waist really nips you in for an hourglass silhouette which is even further exaggerated by the attached underskirt and net petticoat.

Even though Winter is just around the corner, I fully intend to rock this Spring dream as much as I can, teaming it with tights, ankle boots and cardigans. It's one of those dresses which really walks the line between day and evening wear with ease. The fabric is cosy and comfy to wear, but the frou-frou nature of the skirt makes it feel equally dressy.

It took me a while to realise what the 2-in-1 nature of the 50s style prom dress was, but it's clever design allows you to embrace your inner Bardot and wear the dress in an off-the-shoulder fashion.

Whilst this particular design is no longer available, there is a similar Scarlett & Jo dress in the Evans sale here.

Until next time,

Diana xx

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

What's New Pussy Cat - Voodoo Vixen from Simply Be

I felt like all my sartorial dreams had been answered when I came across the Voodoo Vixen range on the Simply Be website. Most of my wardrobe is either vintage or vintage reproduction, so to see something in that style with interesting cut outs and fun, lovely prints just made my day.

The range currently comprises of four dresses and three cardigans which are all available up to a UK size 24. Whether you're dotty for polka dots or fawning over flowers, the prints are fun, frivolous and utterly fabulous.

As a lover of cats and one half of the Whiskey Kittens DJs, I naturally gravitated towards the Retro Kitty print. In addition to loving the 50s circle dress shape, the dress was designed with cute buttons, pockets and three peek-a-boo keyholes along the neckline. It's finished off with a slim waist belt, and the slight stretch to the fabric allows the dress to skim and cling in all the right places.

Dress & Belt: Voodoo Vixen Retro Kitty Dress from Simply Be (*sent for review)

Leggings: F&F True

Shoes: Vintage

Flower: Pearls & Swine

Bracelets: Vintage

I cannot put into words just how much I adore this dress. I'm always worried that anything with a higher neck will be too tight across my breasts, but the amount of stretch in the fabric ensures you can buy your normal size and not worry. The range is perfect for any special occasion, although once you've zipped yourself into it, you'll want to wear it everywhere!

Until next time,

Diana xx

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