Sixth form style

On June 23, 2017 By rebelwithkindnessIn Uncategorised, UncategorizedLeave a comment

So my daughter has just finished her GCSE’s and i was expecting her to relax and have a few weeks not thinking about school, tests etc etc. Erm no she is now driving me mad talking about her style for sixth form. You see she finally gets to escape the uniform she has hated for the last five years. The lovely burgundy blazer that can never be removed even in the hotest weather and the white blouses that never ever fit right.
Yet whilst she hated the uniform it was a comforting place to hide within. Everyone having to wear the same does stop the judgement, well a certain amount of it as anyone who has a child in senior will concur that teenagers will find any reason to argue and tease.

So sixth form is a big deal for my baby girl. Its a time for people to see her beyond the uniform. Its exciting and scary at the same time. She has to find her own style in the confines of the prescribed restrictions.

She is excited but nervous.

Last nights conversation was regarding her bag. For many years due to the number of sporting activities she has done she has always had to have a backpack of some sort, one large enough for sport’s gear, school books and drinks etc. So returning back to school with no sports obligations she can now look at all styles. She is now wondering what would be best “Tote or Backpack for college?”

Whatever she chooses Im just hoping 6th form will be the where my girl can find her place. The place where she realises how beautiful and amazing she is whatever she is wearing and she learns that her style is whatever she wants it to be.

Afternoon of positivity

On September 11, 2016 By rebelwithkindnessIn Uncategorised, Uncategorized1 Comment

Sometimes i just want to surround myself in a blanket of positivity, wrap myself up tight in love and understanding, and this is exactly what I got to do this Saturday at The Curve Fashion Festival.

I got spend the afternoon (yes I was late) with some incredible, beautiful women who I am blessed to call my friends. Women who have walked the journey of not fitting in the box that society terms normal. Women who have struggled with body confidence but also women who have learned to love their body and embraced it with a confidence that I so admire.

It was a wonderful afternoon, if the clothes that graced the catwalk are anything to go by I am so excited for the autumn season. I fell in love with so many items. It’s an exciting season with many new brands embracing the curve and extending their sizes to fit all women. It was so liberating to see a dress in my daughters size 8 and the same dress in my size too. Obviously there is no way she would let us match but you know what I mean.

Actually talking about my daughter I took my youngest Brodie along with me as well as my new little one and they both had an amazing time. Little one loved all the attention he got, his cuddles and his hugs were so appreciated and in fact he has demanded that I play with his hair so much today I think he is missing the lovely lady from Navabi.

My daughter well she found the day incredible in her words “I loved every minute of it. From getting to meet your friends, I also realised that you don’t have to be super skinny to be beautiful”. This is a big thing for this mamas heart as she has being taking some stick for her size at school recently I mean being a size 8 is fat now days. She decided that if something called her fat again she would just ignore it because it’s not really an insult anyway, she rather someone called her fat than unkind or selfish. (I may happen to love this girl). Anyway she had an incredible time and has already told me she “must” come next year.

How awesome is this, I may let her join us again next year.

Anyway I just wanted to say a big well done to the Curve fashion festival team, this was my first time at the event but I was really impressed with it all from the layout to the music you could see that real thought has been placed into the event, so a big well done and i hope you all enjoy a few celebration drinks afterwards.

I also want to say a big thank you to the lovely ladies that I got to meet and the beautiful George from Fuller figure fuller bust who was so gracious when I just fell over my words talking to her. This journey for me has not been easy I still struggle at times with who I see in the mirror, but you wonderful women have been by my side supporting and encouraging me in all that I do. I hope you know how much your friendship means to me, you ladies rock.

So until the next time xxxx

Sunglasses style

On March 26, 2016 By rebelwithkindnessIn reviews, UncategorisedLeave a comment

One of my favourite things of the summer is getting to wear my sunglasses, I simply love them. Unfortunately I have a habit of losing them, often leaving them places.

So when I was contacted by Cheapass Sunglasses, I fell in love with both the name of the store, the range and especially the cost.

The selection of styles is fantastic It took me ages to decide.

My first chosen pair were aptly named Fabulous, they are vintage in style and super stylish. I found them a little large for my face but my daughter loved them and has already helped herself to the pair.

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Fabulous

My second pair was this stylish pair named Formidable, the matt black was what caught my eye and to be honest these are now my favourite by far. I just love them.

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Formidable

So if you are after a quality pair of sunglasses but don’t have a massive budget check out

as they are well worth a look.

*I was given two pair of glasses for the purpose of this review but all my opinions are true and valid and completely my own.

Would someone please dress me?

On September 28, 2015 By rebelwithkindnessIn Uncategorised, Uncategorized4 Comments

This weekend was the curve fashion festival in Manchester, it looked as if it was going to be amazing and from the reports and photos it certainly was a fantastic weekend.

As for me I didn’t go, I allowed my anxiety to win the battle.

I made excuses about starting university, exhaustion levels, financial issues.

But the truth is I find the fashion world daunting.

I think I have come to the conclusion that I have no personal style. The last few months I have fallen in love with so many pieces of clothing only to try them on an realise that they just don’t suit me at all.

The idea of being in a venue stacked full of beautiful women who are completely put together just overwhelmed me.

I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to learn more about the fashion that suits me or actually earn enough money to have a personal stylist.

I’m not sure if it is a confidence issue or an actual mental block when it comes to style but I am really struggling.

I think I need to be on one of those television programmes where they dress you to suit your personality and shape.

Yet I am so frustrated at myself. I cannot believe I allowed fear win the battle again.

Seriously Sara you suck.

It feels like a massive step backwards for me.

I actually hate that I feel this way.

So if anyone of you fashion peeps out there fancy letting me know what I should be wearing please feel free to email me.

Honestly and truthfully I need serious help.

Naked; you been warned

On August 24, 2015 By rebelwithkindnessIn Uncategorised, UncategorizedLeave a comment

After walking round another shop that doesn’t stock any clothes in my size I actually want to scream. From the sideward smirk from one of the assistants to the pity half smile from the other, enough is enough.

It’s time the high street realises that the fashion conscience come in all shapes and sizes. That my plus size body wants to look good and I also want to try my clothes on in a store.

I want to have fun days out with my girlfriends, giggling as we try on dresses for the works party. Not to have to wait in for delivery, I want to browse the stores just looking for that must have top, that I need pair of jeans.

Fashion for the size 16+ is improving with more designers hitting the market but the high street is not keeping up. With shops like New Look moving their inspire range online and out of their stores it’s not really making a dramatic impact for us voluptuous ladies. It certainly isn’t making clothes shopping universal for all.

Regardless of the naive believe that plus size clothes encourage obesity my plus size body still needs to be clothed.

I have no issues walking the high street naked but I’m sure there are actually laws against it.

It’s about time high street retailers release that fashion conscious plus size women want to shop. We want to feel the materials, enter the dressing rooms with numerous clothes we may not buy. We want the same opportunities afforded to others.

Why shouldn’t we our money holds the same value.

Times need to change and they need to do so quickly. Or maybe one day soon in your local high street you may find yourself faced with a group of naked plus size women.

A body wobble

On July 20, 2015 By rebelwithkindnessIn Uncategorised, Uncategorized9 Comments

This weekend I modelled at an amazing plus size fashion event Style XL. Whilst I had an amazing time I have come to realise that I’m not as far down the body confidence road that I wished I was.

For those that don’t know my journey I will briefly recap.

I cannot say I’ve ever been a confident woman even back in the days when I was a size 8 dancer I would hide under layers of shapeless clothes. So when my illness left me carrying extra weight the clothes just got bigger and I just hid away more.

I would hide from the camera constantly. Always wanting to be the photographer never the photographed.

Then Olivia died, and I found myself searching through all my photo albums for photos of myself and my beautiful girl. In the whole of her short nine years I had only taken three photos of us together, 3.

This realisation alone should have shocked me into taking more photos with my girls but it didn’t. In fact I couldn’t, you see I didn’t recognise myself anymore. The loss of Olivia left me struggling with who I was.

I was lost in the grief.

Then about 4 years ago I came across the plus size community. Beautiful woman celebrating who they are. Loving their bodies as they were, not how society deems they should be. It was this amazing community and these inspiring woman who slowly started to allow me to piece my confidence together.

I started taking family photos, making sure I was part of the memories.

Started taking little steps forward, dropping the layers after layers of shapeless clothes.

Skinny jeans, camisoles and even the occasional dress.

This journey wasn’t easy, I can promise you I deleted more photos than I shared. Yet slowly I began to like the woman I saw in the mirror.

I began to recognise that she wasn’t all bad.

This time last year I walked on my first catwalk at Style XL and yes whilst I did shake on every step and barely spoke more than a few words it was a major personal achievement.

This year I was asked back again and this weekend I walked for 5 brands, how amazing is this.

Yet like any journey in life sometimes we do lose our way a little and for me today I got lost.

Somewhere I took a road back into the darkness.

In fact I have completed fallen apart.

Looking at the photos of the weekend event I couldn’t see how far I have come, just the woman I have self loathed for a long time.

Now I’m exhausted and I know that tiredness is one evil enemy , I mean how can one love themselves when they can barely lift their head off a pillow.

I’m in pain too and this always opens the door for the past self hate to walk right in.

So yes I’m struggling.

But as I shared this within the Plus size community I have been lifted.

Woman reminding me of all I have achieved this weekend.

Brands thanking me for wearing their clothes.

So in my darkness the light has began to shine a little again.

I’m starting to realise beyond the modelling I achieved a great deal this weekend. I may have not reached the place of body confidence I so desire but I have found myself a lot more.

I spent a wonderful weekend with woman I actually spoke to. I introduced myself more and gave out the hugs I’ve wanted to to give out for such a long time. For me this is massive and it’s something I need to see for the achievement it is.

Whilst it may take me longer to feel happy with my body I am finally happy with who I am inside.

This weekend I have laughed until I’ve cried.

I’ve chatted, met new people and caught up with the old.

But mostly I’ve been inspired.

Inspired to continue back down the road of body confidence. To accept that sometimes even the greatest journeys have setbacks but moving forward is the only thing I can do. I cannot go back to the lost woman I was, in fact I’m quite sure the amazing woman I get to call my friends wouldn’t allow me.

So now I’m just going to spent the next few days resting and hopefully as the tiredness and the pain eases I will finally be able to see all that I achieved this weekend.

But before I do head back under the duvet I just wanted to say thank you.

Thank you to the amazing brands that allowed me to wear their clothes this weekend and thank you to the beautiful woman of the plus size community, I don’t think you realise how much you all mean to me.

Money does not define people’s worth.

On July 17, 2015 By rebelwithkindnessIn Uncategorised, Uncategorized2 Comments

Honestly what is with this world and labels.

I’ve have just read someone spouting off about the amount of “so called” writers popping up. The intention of the article was that you can’t call yourself a writer unless you have been published.

Why the hell not?

If I write a piece of poetry am I not a poet unless that piece is published?

If I dance a dance am I not a dancer?

Why does payment become part of a description.

Some of the greatest composers never made a penny off their compositions.

This is not the first time I have read this kind of opinion.

I’ve heard it from the modelling world as a model should again not call herself a model unless paid to do so.

Now I’m not trying to take away from the professionals but In life but do we need to be thinking this way?

Should I be describing myself as a published writer, a published poet.

Ermm NO

I was a writer when I was 7 years old when I handed my grandad book after book of my stories. When I made him sit through so many of my poems, when I danced around the house to songs I had written, I was a writer.

Seeing my name in print did not define me.

The act of allowing words out of my mind onto paper or through my keyboard did.

I am also a model, I wear clothes to show another.

I may not be earning the supermodel wages but heck that doesn’t take away from my description.

A lot of my friends are carers but I can promise you that they don’t see a penny from it. Does that devalue the hours of loving, supporting and bum changing they do.

When my daughter draw her first picture she was an artist. The fact that this picture was not going to hang in any gallery mattered nothing to me. To me that picture was priceless.

Please let’s not use money to define people’s worth.

Let the world be full of singers, poets, composers, writers, dancers and so many more.

The definition of another should not define you.

If it does then I’m sorry because that says more about you than them.

Your definition should be whoever you want it to be.

You are the author of your own story.

The artist of your own design.

No rules, wear what you love..

On July 13, 2015 By rebelwithkindnessIn Uncategorised, Uncategorized1 Comment

My journey over the last two years of self discovery has birthed inside of me a new love for fashion and make up.

I’ve experimented and pushed myself out of my comfort zone. Tried colours and patterns that I would have never worn before.

I’ve had some great successes and some terrible failures but all have been a valuable part of growing.

So what have I learned?

Black is still my favourite colour but a little accent of colour can bring to life an outfit.

Pastels will cause everyone you meet to ask you if you are ill as you look a little off colour.

Wearing strong lipstick is great but make sure you drink from one side of a glass otherwise said lipstick ends up all over your forehead. Not good when schmoozing and trying to impress.

I can wear a dress and the sky won’t fall in.

Shape wear knickers sometimes roll down and cause quite a panic in the middle of an awards evening, no one noticed of course right. 😳

I love wearing hats and yes some do suit me.

Fake eyelashes are awesome but not stuck to your cheekbones.

I can wear heels now and again but I’m still on the search for the perfect black boots.

Heels look good but do not wear them for the first time at an event which requires you to stand for over four hours.

To be fair it’s been such an amazing time really discovering who I am and what I like .

Still I think the greatest lesson I have learned is that there are no rules.

You wear what you want, be it a dress, a crop top ( yes Oprah that’s aimed at you) or ripped jeans.

Never let anyone or society dictate your style.

For years I’ve listened to others and not myself, not anymore.

I’ve learned to love my body and in doing so I’m learning to live freely.

I’m loving fashion and make-up and the only limitation I have is my bank balance.

My warm dry feet and wellies that fit..

On June 21, 2015 By rebelwithkindnessIn reviews, UncategorisedLeave a comment

I have wide feet and they get wider each day thanks to my wonderful illness which causes them to swell. To be honest this sucks, gone are the days when I could wear any shoes I wanted. Gone are my beloved Dr Martens, I am limited by what I can wear.

For the last couple of years I have been on the search for a pair of wellies. This may sound strange but as a family of campers a good pair of wellingtons are a must. They are perfect for muddy camp fields and for slipping on quickly as you potter over in the early hours to the loos for a wee.

Anyway for the last few years I have had to just admire my families warm dry feet as I could not find wellies to fit.

But no more woo hoo thanks to the wonderful company Jileon I now am the proud owner of these babies.

I absolutely loved them, only last week I got to test drive them when on weekend on the Gower the heavens opened and the beautiful green field turned into lovely muddy mud.

These babies kept my feet warm and dry and guess what because Jileon make wellies for the wider feet they fit like a dream.

I am beyond happy.

I already have my eyes on my next pair.

I am so happy, I have now joined the warm dry feet club and if like me you have been on a search for gorgeous wide fitting wellies search no more, check out Jileon they also offer normal widths for women, men and children too.

* I was gifted these wellies for the purpose of this review but all opinions are my own.

My Mothers Day Wish List.

On March 12, 2015 By rebelwithkindnessIn Uncategorised, weekly outfit wishlistLeave a comment

So this coming Sunday is Mother’s day here in the UK and the shops are simply full of many wonderful things.

So this week’s wish list is based on this special day.

First off I absolutely love this Anatomical skull ring from the awesome

The Great Frog London. I already have a ring from this company and the style and quality is amazing.

Second on my list is this beautiful Suede Hobo Bag from Simply Be. The colour of this is just so stunning and perfect for spring.

Third is this beautiful dress from Voodoo Vixen, Emmie is modelled by my beautiful friend Sarah who looks stunning as always. Though to be honest I love most of the range.

Fourth on my list is a print subscription for the amazing Slink Magazine, I love this plus size fashion magazine and the quality of its content.

Fifth and final on my list is this pretty outdoor planter from Next. Spring colours to brightened the day.

Lets be honest, I’m not expecting any of these for Mother’s Day and that fine as I have the best gift of all and that is simply my beautiful children.

Now if only heaven had a postal service.

Hope all you Mom’s, Step-moms and Grandmas have an amazing day.