Fashion article attempt 1.
As a mummy (with health issues) to a young daughter it is important to dress comfortably on flare days. Some of the photographs were taken before baby L.
Comfortable dresses/ baggy shirts/ and leggings styled with comfortable shoes are important when you suffer from #endometriosis or #adenomyosis.
Dresses:
One of my favourite brands is Joules. They cater to all sizes, styles and occasions.
Comfortable shoes:
Three of my favourites:
Converse. I cannot live without them. I love that they come in so many colours and styles.
My Hunter wellington boots are great for walks with our daughter and also we live in Scotland (rainy days). Can worn with dresses for festival days in Edinburgh (always rains in August) . or with casual clothes for a day in the park or at a beach. I am on my third pair in 12 years (although I must express these are not off my feet in autumn- winter).
Ugg boots. The staple for any flare wardrobe. Easy to slip on and warm.
I also like to dress to impress on my non flare days:
Top Tips:
1. I tend to buy dresses or outfits which can be worn in any situation.
Buy timeless classics (so you don’t need to replace often) including Ted Baker, All Saints and Ralph Lauren. (Never bought at full price – my husband is great at finding bargains).
Wear outfits you can change your shoes with on a long day (again – converse or flat shoes- especially if running for a late train home)
2. Wear what makes you look and feel good.
Be yourself and love your body.
If you don’t like how something looks do not buy it (even if other people like it), a life lesson: it will sit in your wardrobe and never be worn. Waste of money, space (in your precious wardrobe) and effort. You then need to donate it or sell it.
The same goes for shoes… do not buy cheap shoes- these will hurt your feet! You will end up spending more money in the long run (not sustainable).
Be an individual.
Don’t always follow the crowd. Something we do as teenagers is try and wear the same clothes. As a surly goth, we all wore black and purple clothes. Not very exciting. I tried to make my outfit look more appealing with rainbow coloured T-shirts and knee high socks with my Doc Martens.
Buy, rinse, repeat:
I bought a few dresses from Quiz Clothing as a student. The floral / 50s style dress I still have. Been to many special occasions and trips away. I bought it 9 years ago for a friend’s wedding.
This floral dress has received so many compliments. It fits well and bonus points hides swelling well.
The same goes for brands like Ted Baker (RIP). I have a wide selection of dresses and these will never go out of fashion and are perfect for any special occasion or date night.
3 Shop to suit budgets (obviously)… I don’t believe in wracking up huge bills. Act sensibly.
I tend to buy from sales – John Lewis – always has amazing deals and suits all budgets.
Another tip is look on Brandalley and shop in Outlets. Most big name retailers have Outlets either in shopping centres or online.
Give clothing a new home – swap with friends or donate to charity. If you need some extra money try sites like Vinted. My friend swears by this site.
But if you see a timeless piece in the sale – and can afford it- grab it. I have had my pink Allsaints leather jacket for 5 years (bought for more than half price in 2020). For reference my husband has had his black one for 11 years and it shows no sign of aging.
Life lesson: Buy Cheap pay Twice.
4. Vintage clothing/ styles
Anyone who knows me well knows I love vintage styles. Who doesn’t enjoy polka dots? Yumi Clothing and Mela London are great for vintage styles at a fraction of the price. You can of course go to vintage clothing sites online. I find that you need to know exact measurements for these but if you need an outfit for a wedding it is worth investigating made to measure dresses.
5. Boots boots boots.
You cannot go wrong with a good pair of boots. The grey ones in the picture collage above are branded Miss KG (but bought for a steal on Shoeaholics). These were bought for the Honeymoon.
Buy from brands you trust (less likely to need a quick replacement). I have some pairs of boots in my wardrobe which are 10 -12 years old. For reference Kurt Geiger , Dune and Ted Baker make boots to last. Avoid need for #fastfashion.
Boots come in all shapes and styles. I have goth inspired boots by Steve Madden (Laurie Style and Black) which are great for a city break (recently worn in London this year) and with chunky heels. Reminder of my teenage years. Looks great with anything from skirts to leggings and shorts.
I also own white Cowgirl and #Swifty inspired boots by Steve Madden again. I love these boots. Look great with summer dresses and skirts. I embraced this style in the 00’s and glad she made them awesome again.
More on Boots another day – when I can wear them again. Another blog post.
6. Office wear – buy simple classics.
Lace and Tweed:
Lace shirts with tweed skirts or suit trousers. The red shirt above is versatile and stylish for office. Again, if I wanted, could be worn with jeans.
Blazers.
I love a good blazer. Search for Lipsy or on Next Outlet for some bargains.
Suits.
If the situation is right wear a suit. I had many suit pieces pre lockdown. I just wear suit trousers with a blazer now (our outlook on work wear has changed- more relaxed)
As a hybrid worker, I have a few statement outfits which I rotate. Saves money and more sustainable.
7. Hairstyles
Again let your hairstyle finish off your outfit. Don’t feel guilty or pressured to have perfect hair everyday (and if you’re tired use dry shampoo and put up- simple solution).
In summary,
Key message: only buy and wear what you feel comfortable in. There is no point in buying an outfit to wear once. Build your wardrobe with key statement pieces.
#believeinyourself❤️ #loveyourbody and #bekind 🤗😊❤️🩹
Take care until next time.
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