Wardrobe Hall of Fame...

Hello, Bethan here! Whilst Tor is away sunning herself in Greece she has left the good ship Curve in the Mode in my 'capable' hands. In the words of the mighty Black Eyed Peas, let's get it started...



Now, Primark has its haters, and one of the main criticisms levelled at it is that the clothes don't last. I beg to differ, at least on a couple of counts. This smock dress was, I think, £8 when I bought it about 4 years ago, and cost per wear has to now be well under a penny. That's not the only thrifty thing about it - it is literally the most versatile item I've ever owned - there is no occasion for which it isn't suitable. I've worn it to birthday parties, job interviews, dates, swanky do's and grimy clubs. In fact the only time its not ideal is in the height of summer - the black poly is not so breathable! I'm not the only one still rocking it, most weeks I see it on someone else; last week it was spotted teamed with denim cut-offs and with a chunky belt. Versatile indeed!



Do you guys have your own enduring classics?!

Cut down in your Primark

Thought I'd share a little haul I had recently at everyone's favourite bargain hall Primark.
First up this cuff, which goes with a lilac outfit I'm sporting to a friend's up-coming nuptuals...

I love finding the perfect accessory for £2.50.
Next is some summer sandals you must have seen everyone wearing...

A mere £12 for real-life suede in a lovely corally-pink. This is also a great opportunity to showcase my current favourite nails (ok, I'm starting to say that every week) - OPI's Done Out In Deco. That's a pretty good colour representation, and it goes on really nicely. A great summer shade... and who knew lilac went with everything?

(I also bagged some black suede studded gladiators for £12, and wanted to blog them, but they got so dusty last night in Hyde Park I couldn't possibly show them off... when I've cleaned them up maybe...)

And who would believe the beautiful eiderdown these are all modelled on is Primers too? A snip at £15 and so close to (if not a little smaller than) the Laura Ashley ones I've been coveting for about three years. It's come in so handy in the last week when it's too hot for a duvet, too cold for nothing, and will be pretty snuggly in the winter too.

So my last item was a head scratcher. I know in this fashion world we're supposed to be looking forward, but I've never been too good at buying for the season ahead, so this purchase took some mulling over...

I absolutely adore this, but its two layers of polyester make it impossible to wear in the summer. It's an autumn item to be worn with black tights and boots, I reckon, so I have squirrelled it away for cooler climes. (It was £15, FYI.)

But that's the problem with Primark, isn't it - almost everything you pick up is synthetic. I'm surprised I don't get static shocks just strolling through the aisles. Ah the price we (don't) pay for fashion!

UPDATE - I've changed my comments so anyone can do it, even if you don't have a google account etc. PLEASE let me know (twitter? email?) if you can't make it work!

Cringe

Agh... here goes, my first outfit post. It's scary putting yourself out there on the internets, especially after roping in my poor mate to take a million pics before I realised I wasn't going to like any of them, whatever she did.

So, the run down, top to bottom: Necklace - old ASOS; dress - River Island (It's not actually as wide as it -- or I -- look in th picture, the 'Tyra booty tooch' I was attempting distorted the whole darn thang!); jacket - vintage Earl jeans; cuff - h and m; bracelet - gift; ring - random jewellry shop in Greece; sandals - Topshop.

Phew, I will now crawl into a cave and be embarrassed about uploading pictures of myself onto the internet... oh, and apologies for the return of the shiny head and general dog's dinnerness of this whole thing... I'd just got back from Oxford Street, and it was 10pm.

My lovely lady lumps

So, the number one hurdle to dressing for summer, when you're a lady who likes to lunch, is boob room.

Pretty much everything designed for dreamy sun-filled days is flimsy, spaghetti-strapped or halter, leaving large-breasted old me unsupported. So God bless the ladies at Evans for these beauties.

The retailer for women with wiggle has launched a lovely line of summer dresses with Ruby Belle, and they are perfect for picnics and summer parties.

Evans ladies, where were you last year when I spent internet hours trying to find size 14 summer dresses that would accomodate a bra?

Sadly, I think I did this look to death last year, and still have the pretty patterns to prove it, so this time, I can't allow myself to invest. But I certainly day-dream about prancing through a hazy fun fair in the beautiful checked number -- it's so Allie from The Notebook!

Do I need to offer style tips here? Probably not but I will -- team with a washed out denim jacket and strappy colourful flats on the weekend, and enjoy a comfy, breezy look, with LIFT!

The A/W2010 looks freaking awesome. Check out fatgirlslikeniceclothestoo for a preview.

I must say, I've never actually invested in Evans before; their clothes were always pretty tame and uninspiring. But ladies, this might be your year!