I tried out the Hope&Harvest Empire Shirt Dress and absolutely adore it.
Here’s why,
Buy your own Hope&Harvest Empire Dress here
Photos taken by Elizabeth Estrada
Disclosure ~ This item was gifted
Plus size fashion | Travel | Beauty | Happiness
Photos taken by Elizabeth Estrada
Disclosure ~ This item was gifted
If you’ve been following a while you will know that I love to travel. Whilst I LOVE being a blonde bombshell, I’m also one of those girls who really hates having their hair done. (I know shock horror)
Every four weeks or so I get a scalp bleach but when travelling it can be a little tough to get someone to do this. And lets be honest I don’t have the skills or desire to do it myself. I know having dark roots is ‘in’ but I’m just not a fan of that look on me.
After being in Nepal I spent Christmas in the UK and because I didn’t book a gazillion months in advance I just couldn’t get an appointment. Because. Christmas sends everyone festive crazy.
This led me on the hunt to conceal my roots which felt black against my bright blonde hair. I found this at Boots UK & I’ve heard it’s also available at Priceline for all those Aussies. Was I skeptical about this, YUP. But desperate times my friends. Lucky this stuff was amazing and totally saved day.
Firstly, I sticky taped my phone to a mirror and made a tutorial video. High end tech haha. Or scroll for photos
It comes in a cute compact with a brush and two shades. I only ended up using the lightest shade.
You apply it like this. SO EASY.
As you can see the results aren’t the same as getting your hair done but I totally rate this as a good cover up to get you through.
Since I made the video at Christmas John Frieda has come out with a few new shades (see below) or click the images to be taken directly to the site where you can check it out.
By sammy 6 Comments
I was tempted but was waiting for something a little more out there and unique. The second drop of styles has certainly delivered thats for sure so I eagerly ordered the Athena Underwire Swimsuit from SwimsuitsForAll.com.
Buying swimsuits online can be a bit of a risk especially from Australia because lets be honest postage isn’t cheap and plus sizing differs so much depending on who’s making them.
I’m so grateful that brands are using plus size bloggers in their campaigns. It’s refreshing to see women that I can relate to body wise, I’ve personally met Gabi before so I know she is my size and we have a similar sized bust. And she wouldn’t wear something that doesn’t fit her. Plus its SO COOOOOOOLLLL. Fashion + Swimwear = happy Sam.
If you want to follow people that may look like you – heres a list of 50 plus size babes you should follow
Whats also great is that you get to see photos of the swimsuit in a smaller plus size model and a real plus babe with lumps and bumps. Both equally as beautiful but its nice to see some size diversity.
I ordered the 18F and I wear a size 18G cup inAustralia. I didn’t see the G/H cup online when I ordered {whoops} which would have fit better but the 18F cup still fits me. I did bulge a little on the sides but it was manageable.
So if you’ve been following me on social media you’ll know already that I’m moving away from my tropical home in Far North Queensland and moving to Brisvegas. So in my last few weeks here I’m lapping up as much tropical goodness as possible. I’m not one to style photos, my photos are taken in the moment having fun.
Being an Aussie, I always have a set of bathers and a towel in the boot of my car for occasions just like this. A Sunday drive with no set destination that ended up at Millaa Millaa falls with my friends. Like to note here that I wasn’t hungover at all but poor Monique in the back was on struggle street topping up on gatorade.
These falls are the home of the herbal essence TV commercial {where bikini clad babes flick their hair back in the water} AND Peter Andre filmed mysterious girl there. Ha. It’s FNQ’s claim to fame and we all tell everyone the story.
Because it was a rainy day we ended up having the whole place to ourselves. The water was slightly chilly but the outside temperature was still 28degrees so lovely and warm.
Now gals. Boob and tummy support is important for me. I like to be held in firmly and be super comfortable. I do wish I had of sized up to a 20G for the bikini top. The size 18 was perfect for my body and I really feel that Swimsuitsforall for all have taken on board all the feedback customers provided last year with the sizing running small for the first release.
Aussies – allow for a few weeks for delivery. I’m going to be honest with you, this isn’t a sponsored post in any way out of a $430 AUD order for three top of the range swimsuits plus a hefty delivery fee, that I paid for myself, I’m only retaining this one. Make sure you sign up for their newsletter because they have SUCH GOOD SALES! I ordered the day it came out so I paid full price however I’ve ordered from them many times and scored some absolute bargains.
Oh. And in case you are wondering. When swimming and exploring in FNQ I swim with my shoes on because there’s rocks, oysters and submerged trees. Plus touching squishy seaweed with my feet freaks me out. As do crabs. Ha.
I’m heading to the USA and this cute swimsuit will certainly be coming the a Vegas pool party.
SHOP THE LOOK
Sunglasses – Vision Direct – Tom Ford JANINA {gifted}
Shoes – Ipanema
Swimsuit – Swimsuitsforall – Gabi Fresh Athena
Like thousands of others, I follow plus sized model & swimwear designer Ashley Graham on SnapChat (total fan girl since meeting her at NYC Full Figure Fashion Week years ago)
But seriously, she’s reached new levels of amazingness by collaborating with Mattel to release an Ashley Graham lookalike Barbie, with thighs that touch. LIFE GOALS PEOPLE.
“Does any little girl imagine they’re going to have a Barbie made in their likeness?” she asked.
When Ashley gets excited about something on Snapchat you know its going to be good and boy did she deliver! Just as ‘groundbreaking’ and ‘epic’ as she hinted at during her backstage live snaps.
The Barbie was unveiled live on stage at Glamour Woman of The Year Awards with a behind the scenes clip of the design process being played to all guests. This is pretty groundbreaking news guys!
Earlier this year, after 56 years of business Mattel, released a range of tall, petite and curvy variations of the worlds best selling doll, Barbie. This also included seven skin tones, 22 eye colors and 24 hairstyles.
It’s what we have all been wanting. DIVERSITY and totally makes the doll more relatable for girls everywhere.
Graham proudly stood on stage saying that the days are gone where you lusted after looking like Barbie. “Everyone can be Barbie”. If you already follow Ashley you’ll know that #thickthighssavelives is one of her fave hashtags to use. So personally, as a fellow curvy babe with thick thighs I’m stocked to see a Barbie with legs like mine.
AND to make it even more real they even made a cute set of lingerie from Ashley’s range.
Well done Mattel.
“[Ashley] challenges the conversation around body norms, and we think that’s a really important message for girls,” said Lisa McKnight, senior vice president for Mattel’s Barbie brand.
Ashley’s doll will be added to Barbie’s group of Sheroes, a line of dolls that’s featured strong women including director Ava DuVernay, Zendaya, Misty Copeland and Gabby Douglas.
It’s no exaggeration to say that crop tops can be the most anxiety-enducing summer wardrobe staple for many women. Especially for us plus sized babes. It’s all about finding the right look for your body shape so that you feel banging’ hot.
Crop tops are actually one of the most flattering summer pieces you can choose, because they draw the eye to the thinnest part of pretty much every woman’s body (the underboob space)
On a side note, if anyone has shown the world that curvy girls can (and should) wear crop tops, it’s Kim Kardashian. She’s walking proof that a crop top really is the perfect way to show off your assets.
Now I whilst majority of us aren’t as lean and trim as KK, there’s a way for you to wear crop tops. My tip is to pair a short-to-midi length crop with a high-waist skirt, so only a relatively modest sliver of skin is showing. If you have a large bust I’d lean towards scoop necks and V’s.
ALL HAIL THE QUEENS OF CROP! and dare I say, this might be the best one yet. This thick, scuba material has a slight stretch, and is made of 95% Polyester and 5% Spandex, which means it holds its shape, without suffocating you. The strap detailing makes it the perfect top for going out or dressing up. Also available in black, salmon, light pink and mint fresh.
I own it in black, just didn’t have any photos handy to include in this post. This crop is specifically MADE for plus size.
Shop: Society+
Item: Jessica Kane Caged Bralette Crop $34.99 USD
Sizes: 14-32
This casual crop jersey can easily be dressed up or down for every occasion. I love anything that has a scoop neck as it’s flattering for larger busts
Shop: ASOS
Item: Pink Clove Crop Top $14 (on sale)
Sizes: 18-26
Bright watermelon pink lace with a scalloped trim kicks up this semi-sheer beauty to another level (a pop of color that’s primed for semi-sheer looks). No underwire or padding. Adjustable straps.
Shop: Torrid
Item: Watermelon Lace Bralette Crop $32.90 USD
Sizes: 18-30
Handy hint – postage to Aus isn’t cheap so sign up to their newsletter and keep an eye out for their sales as they are quite frequent or even do an order with friends to make the order cost effective.
The black lace top is all sophisticated with a scoop neck and short sleeves, but the sheer fabrication and tummy-skimming length let your skin say hello. Wear over another crop if you are daring or even a singlet top for a modest elegant look.
Shop: Torrid
Item: Lace Crop Top $31.43 (on sale right now)
Sizes: 18-30
Being above a size 14 and in my 30’s, Supre isn’t normally a store I step foot into. Mainly because I have a large bust and they don’t stock plus sizes BUT recently I’ve been trying on the XXL items which have a fair amount of stretch. This style crop is still a little too tight on my G cup norks however it may fit you so give it a go. Supre have replicated this crop in many colours and patterns.
Shop: Supre
Item: Sleeveless Criss Cross Top $25 AUD
Sizes: XXXS to XL (approx 0 to small 16)
Perfectly paired with your favourite jeans or styled with a sexy pencil skirt, the Sequin Crop Top is your staple party piece this season. I personally would add a colourful high wasted skirt.
Shop: City Chic
Item: Sequin Crop Top $65.95AUD
Sizes: XS-XXL (14-22+)
Aussie babes NOW is the time to buy crops from USA and UK retailers as the seasons are crossing over you can grab yourself a bargain. I’m not expecting to see many plus size crops available in mainstream Aussie retail shops at all this season. HAPPY SHOPPING!
By sammy 2 Comments
Know I’ve been quiet lately guys but you know how life goes. Have been working on so many projects my CurvySam site had a little holiday. I’m back now and ready to tell you what I’ve been up to.
Last month I attended and modelled in Melbourne Fashion Week Plus for a week of networking, fashion and all things fabulous. I was busy snapping and social media-ing (is that a word ha?) behind the scenes for Skorch Mag & CurvySam so stay tuned for a few follow up blog posts.
I’d ordered this Society+ skater dress before MFWP. My number one reason was because – IT HAS POCKETS!! Its no wonder that it’s a number one selling style thats been replicated into many pattens and colours.
Their signature fit and flare skater style is perfect for any body type. Made with soft and forgiving scuba fabric, you will be comfortable and confident all day long in any situation! AND. It goes up to a size 32
Now you guys know, I only write about things that I love. Yes I work with brands but I generally buy most of my clothes and post what I like. This dress was a winner for me.
As glamorous as modelling is theres also a fair bit of down time between getting ready and the actual show. Which I don’t mind at all because I got to hang out with so many amazing women who were a similar size to me.
You know what that means guys, we tried each other clothes on. We had shoes, accessories and a rad dress to wear.
Like the adult version of dress ups.
Check out these babes below. The main detail is that we all have completely different body shapes even though we have similar sized bodies.
As you can see all of the babes above look absolutely phenomenal. The dress moulds to each body shape and dare I say it….wearing this dress makes you look and feel skinny.
I can hear you asking, where do I get this dress from? Check out Society+ which is based in the states. They have great international shipping AND this dress comes in many colours and a striped version too. Enjoy!
Disclosure – this is not a sponsored post. Society+ sent me a gift card for my birthday and I purchased lots of goodies
By sammy 2 Comments
Recently I posted about how I joined a gym and how it wasn’t working for me. {read post here}
The wonderful team at Active Truth read my post and reached out to me to gift a pair of leggings. I’m in training to climb a giant mountain, which I’m equally excited and terrified about. {By climb I mean walk for 6+ hours at a steep incline.} It’s been on the bucket list for a while so it’s handy to have a couple of pairs of my fave leggings to wear.
You’ll rarely see me wearing plain black workout leggings. Just because you are plus size doesn’t mean that you can’t wear fun prints. Gone are the days where I’ve tried to cram my body into Lorna Jane etc just so I don’t have to wear black.
I’d rather spend the money with businesses who have tailored their designs to fit a plus size body and not just ‘upsized’ their designs. So anytime I see a brand that makes colourful workout leggings specifically for plus sized women, I get SUPER excited.
When I buy leggings I want to be able to bend over and move without them rolling down below my belly.
I’ve had these confetti style leggings for a month now and thoroughly tested them out. I’d planned to take photos every time I wore them but you know…..I forgot most of the time.
Every time I wear them women stop me and ask where they are from. I pretty much had to do a fashion show at the local hairdressers because everyone wanted to see them.
When it comes to the top, I always wear a vneck cotton tshirt. My go to shirts at the moment are from Target and Sussans. I especially love the relaxed fit of the Sussan tops and they have a longer back. (not pictured)
Now many of you frequently ask these questions when I post about work out gear. So here’s the details for the Active Truth leggings.
– Aussie made and designed
– Breathable and moisture-wicking compression fabric keeps you cool and dry
– Flat and minimal seams to reduce chaffing
– Double-layer high supportive waistband
– Smooth ultra-flat, superior-coverage fabric with matt finish
– 78% Recycled Polyester, 22% Xtra Life LYCRA®
– UV protective
Size wise I’m an 18, wear a M in CityChic and wearing a 2XL which are quite roomy. I could comfortably go down a size.
I just love Winter in the tropics. It’s the time of year where I love to get active! So be prepared to see lots of social media posts of me out an about. Especially with Swifty. (that’s my car)
Disclosure – this is not a sponsored post. I was gifted the leggings and loved them so I wrote about them
Ashley Graham has launched her own swimwear line in collaboration with USA retailer Swimsuitsforall.
The 11 piece collection is available to buy right now. And, I have to say, these suits are seriously sexy! AG swim is statement resort style at its hottest. It’s the plus size James Bond elegance we’ve all been dreaming of.
Relax behind your shades and clock the envious looks as you strut from beach to bar.
Featuring glamorous string bikinis, sexy mesh swimsuits and a bejeweled bikini made with Swarovski crystals – style it up and carry on into the night, the collection is made for the pool and designed for the party.
With each style, it’s clear Graham intended to provide women a variety of sexy styles that suit every body type. From itty bitty bikinis to strappy and studded one-pieces, the line was certainly designed with curvy women’s bodies in mind.
I pre ordered this ‘Irie’ Romper as soon as LA plus brand ‘Zelie for She’ posted some preview photos on Instagram. Vibrant prints are a must have for any wardrobe. I was quietly excited to see that the new collection had so much colour.
I could just picture myself wearing it around my tropical FNQ home town in Winter.
Now you all know I’m a dress kinda gal so the idea of wearing a romper worried me a little. To start with I have a large bust and hold my weight in my tummy area and have seen other women with similar body shapes post photos of them wearing rompers and every part of me said NOPE. That style is not for me. For an outfit to be fabulous it has to be flattering, enhance my curves and not make me look rounder than I already am. (each to their own of course)
As soon as it arrived I tried it on and I loved it. It’s equal amounts of sassy & sexy.
I’ve worn it quite a few times over the last couple of months and thought I would take some pics to share with you all. Nothing fancy here guys. Minimal makeup, fluffy hair and raw images uploaded.
One of the key differences (in my opinion) is that this romper is designed and made for plus size women by a plus size woman. I first met designer Elann Zelie at Full Figure Fashion Week in NYC. This fashionsta had major style. So I had 100% trust that her garments would be fabulously designed and fit like a dream.
There’s a tie at the back and with the generous neckline so it’s quite easy to step into the romper.
You’ve probably noticed from the photos that this garment has some serious bell sleeves going on.
This is one of those effortless outfits that doesn’t need accessorising as the print is bold enough. I wore yellow Colette Hayman stud earrings, yellow shoes I picked up in NYC a couple of years ago and a pair of oversized ASOS sunglasses.
Shop for your own ZELIE FOR SHE romper here
Believe it or not I’m a pretty active person. I walk many times a week, sometimes it’s a casual stroll and other times I work up a sweat walking up to the local lookout.
Us Aussies, we are a friendly bunch, especially when exercising. Frequently people congratulate me for exercising, give me the thumbs up as they pass me or if I’m lucky I get a wink. YES A WINK. Weird I know.
By frequently I mean MANY people comment or make some kind of gesture. And I’m kinda over it.
I don’t need encouragement, winks, thumbs up and random health tips from strangers whilst I’m exercising.
Part of me thinks that its oh so nice these strangers are encouraging me to walk up the hill I tackle a couple of times a week. The other part of me finds it patronizing.
It just kind of makes me feel like I’m a kid being patted on the head by an experienced adult. I shrug it off, because it was obviously meant to be a nice gesture, but it got me to thinking about how other plus size people would react to this.
If someone said the same to you, would you find it encouraging or a little frustrating?
When the size 6, perfectly toned woman from my yoga class says to me as I arrive ‘oh you’re here again…good for you darl’ in her husky voice whilst finishing her last cigarette before the class. I grin and politely respond when I really want to make a witty comment back about the irony of chain smoking before and after a health class. (In my mind it would be to the tone of Kath & Kim)
I don’t understand why people feel the need to comment and provide encouragement to an overweight stranger minding their own business. So for a while now I’ve been exercising before dawn or after dark when there aren’t as many people around.
Is it because I’m bigger than everyone else? Do strangers see my wiggle and jiggle on my size 18 body and think wow she’s big I should say something to help her. I DON’T WANT TO HEAR IT.
Don’t get me wrong there’s a certain amount of comradely in the fitness world. I’m a positive person and take all the comments in a positive way. But seriously…..its getting a little to much.
So to the strangers who see me minding my own business, on my own, powering up the hill with a pink (moreso purple) face squinting at the sweat stinging my eyeballs. Please don’t wink at me. Please don’t give me the thumbs up. Because I find it condescending.
Don’t look at larger people whilst they are working out and pity them. They are out there enjoying life.
(I respect that in certain situations such as group fitness encouragement can be very motivating – this post is more directed at strangers commenting when I am alone and minding my own business)