Plus North pt2

I apologise now for how picture heavy this post will be but I can't seems to find the words to say how much it means to Becky and myself that you all travelled, stayed came and enjoyed!

We need you guys just as much as we need the sponsors!

For me, they day went buy in a such a blur and I didnt get to say hello to loads of people that I would have liked to.

As always we welcome all feedback, good and bad! We are not perfect or professional event organisers  and as such there is going to be things we learn from each year!!


Heres to Plus North 2014!!!

All photography is credited to Kitty Jackson Photography

Toni x

Plus North - Pt1 - Day Dress

As I already mentioned in yesterdays post, last Saturday was the day that me and Becky had been working hard to organise for the last year! PLUS NORTH!

From all the blogs and pictures I have seen I think we can call this years event a success, even if I do say it myself!!

Through blogging I have been lucky to build some fantastic relationships with brands. None more so then Simply Be. I kid you not, half of my wardrobe is made up of Simply Be and my bank account definitely knows when it payday and I have to pay my account!!

As Simply Be were one of our main sponsors this year they kindly offered to dress me for the day event.

I fell in love with the Project D London Piccadilly dress but sadly it was, and still is out of stock :-(

As an alternative I picked another Project D dress. The Lincoln Maxi dress from the past season.

As always, when you have your heart set on something and then it doesn't happen I was a tad gutted, and until Saturday morning I still wasn't 100% sure that I liked the dress.

But I have to say it felt faaaabbbulous on! I received loads of compliments on the dress!

Image courtesy of KJP 

I could have maybe done with a pin to cover my modesty around the boob area, but apart from that I am glad I stuck with the dress and wore it!!

What do you think?

Toni x

The Vanity Case

Helllooooo...

After a crazy few month with Plus North and moving house I think I have finally got my blog mojo back and am ready to bang out some posts!

As most of you know Plus North was last Saturday 7th September, in Manchester (post's to follow!)

The stunning Elena and I were sharing a room and I very nicely asked her if she would perform some magic and beautify me for the event!

For those of you that don't know, Elena is a beautician and runs The Vanity Case.

After deciding on a brow shape and tint, eyelash tint and individual lashes and a Gel manicure and pedicure Elena began to make me over!

Unfortunately I failed to get any pictures on my nails, but I had them a lovely Seafoam green ...

Here are my toes.... AMAZING!!! 

(Yes, I have odd feet)

My brows and lashes before....

Elena also runs monthly Pin Up Make up classes, as well as providing acrylic nails and Bridal make up!

If you are in or around the Northampton area and feel like a pampering, I highly suggest you give Elena a call... she is awesome!

Toni x

Evans - Plus North Spotlight Blog

Eeeeeeek!!!!! With just 10 days to go until Plus North, the next spotlight blog we have for your is Evans.

Evans are once again one of our Premier sponsors and this year will be appearing on our catwalk.

As part of the Arcadia Group, Evans was founded in 1971 and now have over 300 stores across the UK and Ireland.

As well as stocking own brand, Evans also stock Scarlett and Jo, Live Unlimited and many more including Capsule collection from Clements Ribeiro.

In the last few year I personally feel that Evans have upped their game massively in terms of been fashionable, and with the collections that they stock I can only hope that this continues.

For this spotlight post I though I would pull together an outfit for the new range.

Leather Biker boots - £79.50
Navy Butterfly top -£27
Black high Waisted Jeans - £29.50
Twill waterfall Jacket - £49.50

For me this would be the perfect winter shopping outfit...

I cant believe I am saying this, but I cant actually wait for winter!!!

Toni x

Curvissa - Plus North Spotlight Blog

Next up on our Plus North spotlight blog is Curvissa. 

Curvissa stocks size 14-32 exclusive brands. Styles include occasionwear, casual wear, jeans, jumpers, coats, lingerie, swimwear, footwear and accessories.

As part of the spotlight blog we were each sent this lush pinafore dress. In typical Toni style, I picked black (it also comes in check)!

As usual with Curvissa I had to massively size up. I ended up ordering a size 26 and it only just fit.

I wore the pinafore with a black long sleeve top and black leggings. I would also wear this with a white long sleeve top. 

Check out the other girls posts.

Becky

Rosie

Hanna

Mhairi

Toni x

Simply Be - Plus North Spotlight Post

The second part of our Plus North countdown is highlighting Simply Be.

As we all know Simply Be is one of our biggest supporters, and as Becky has already said, without their support last year Plus North might not be the event it is now!

Simply Be are one of, if not, my favourite plus size brand. As well as basics, Simply Be always have on trend fashionable items. In the last few 18 months Simply Be have also gone that one step further and started opening store on the High St. With more to open in the next six months, I think we can safely say Simply Be are here to stay! and providing they keep churning out amazing items, I am sure to be a customer with them!

For the spotlight blog we were each sent this amazing denim style shirt. I adore very thing that is Western at the moment (Can't wait for Nashville Season two!!) and I am sure I wouldn't be out of place in Nashville wearing this dress!

I wore it simply with a pair of tights and tan brogues. This dress could seriously be styled in a million ways.. for me all I need is a pair of cowboy boots and a oversized cardi this would be my perfect outfit.... However, this dress will have be forever hung in my wardrobe.... let me explain!!

When I received the dress I quickly tried it on and thought to myself.... oooo, this is a bit generous.... and it never thought about it again until I was taking the photos....

Sadly I was sent the dress in a size 30 and didn't realise until I took the dress off and checking the size. For a perfect fit I would have needed a 22 or 24...

Maybe when the sale is on I might might it in my correct size.

Dont forget to check out how the other ladies wore their dress!

Becky

Rosie

Hanna

Mhairi

Yours Clothing - Plus North Spotlight blog

With Plus North almost upon us myself, Becky and the rest of the Plus North team will be highlighting our Premier Sponsors on your blogs to give you a bit of an idea of what the day will have in store for you.

First up we have the amazing Your Clothing. 

I have been a long time buyer from Yours Clothing and over the past few years have been excited to see that their range (a very extensive one!) has gone from strength to strength. Your Clothing seem to cover every age and every style with out compromising on price or quality.

As part of the spotlight blog we were asked if we would be interested in taking part in a 'Take 5 Plus North'. After looking through the website me and Becky decided that this dress would be ideal for the whole team!

So here I am wearing it! I wore it with my trusted denim jacket, tights and brogues and received compliments on it all day!

I can see this dress been an all season dress.. It would look fab with a long sleeved black tee, an oversized cardi and some knee highs....

Dont forget to see how the other ladies wore there dress....

Becky of MrsBeBe Blog

Rosie of A Rose Like This

Hanna of The Wardrobe Challenge

Mhairi of Lilybobombs Lovely Lumps

Toni x

OOTD

Seems like ages since I last posted an outfit of the day!

On Wednesday myself and Becky toddled over the Manchester to meet Rosie for a meeting with Simply Be and Label PR for Plus North.

It was stoooopidly hot and I didn't really dress for the occasion!

I  had decided that I wanted to wear an ASOS Curve dress that seems to have been sat in my wardrobe for ages.

I loved it as soon as I saw it on the site but waited for it to go in the sale before I bought it!

Excuse the hotel mirror photo. It was hot and sweaty and I didn't have the patient to pose for photos.

My only issue with ASOS Curve dresses is that they are a tad too long for me.. I like them to sit just above my knee.

Toni x

PS. Thank you sooooo much to everyone who nominated Plus North and me and Becky for Best Event and Best Achievement at the Plus Size Awards.... If you can spare two minutes to vote for us to win we would realllllly love you for ever!!!

Day 2 #30 Day challenge

Day 2

Something that I am good at….

I’m generally not good at anything…. I get a lot of ideas of things I want to do and try, but if I can’t do it after the first attempt I give in.

The only thing I think I am good at is organising. I can’t organise myself. But work events, social things, my work desk, tasks at work etc etc, I can do with my eyes shut. In ‘life’ I have to have lists for everything otherwise I wouldn’t get anything done. EVER!

In my mind there is only two things that I am even half good at. My blog and Plus North.

Although my blog isn’t the biggest or best around, it’s something that I have stuck with and it turns two in August. I have never stuck with anything for 2 years.

And Plus North.  I get enormous satisfaction in the joy that it brings people and the knowing that without any events training me and Becky has an event that is better than some professionally organised events.

 At times I still find it difficult to believe that me and Becky managed to pull off such a successful event and have been able to do it again for this year. The support we have received from brands, bloggers and members of the public has been overwhelming. And the fact that you lovely lot have nominated us for not one, but TWO (!!!!!) awards at the Plus Size Awards in November is beyond either of our expectations.

And we will love you all even more if you vote for us!

http://www.britishplussizeawards.co.uk/voting/

 

We are nominated in Best Event and Best Achievement…..

One thing I am not good at is getting to the point……………………….. LOL!

Check out the other ladies…..

Beth http://tinkerbellandthelostgirls.blogspot.co.uk/

Emma http://plussizemillard.blogspot.co.uk/

Felicity http://felicityhart.blogspot.co.uk/

Karen http://toodulltoblog.blogspot.co.uk/

Laura http://laurapantslifestyle.blogspot.co.uk/

Lisa http://lookingforlisa.blogspot.co.uk/

Mary http://channellingliz.wordpress.com/

Natalie http://awheelbarrowfullofstyle.blogspot.co.uk

Nikki http://nattynikki.blogspot.com

Steph http://seeingsp0ts.blogspot.co.uk/

Verena http://APlusSiszeFashionObsession.blogspot.co.uk

Vicky http://TheCurvedOpinion.com

Nikki from http://www.nattynikki.blogspot.com

Mhairi from www.lilybobombslovelylumps.com

Kaye from www.polishedcurves.com

OOTD and 30 Day Challenge.

HIIIIIIIIIIIIII, I’m back!! I decided to have a blogging holiday! What with things getting a bit mental with Plus North (9 weeks on Saturday!!!) and trying to find a new house, I could feel myself falling in to the deep dark abyss, so took a step back!

I know that I am exceeding bad at completing challenges, but when Vicky suggested a monthly challenge with themes during the #psbloggers chat I thought I’d give it another bash.

Vicky has come up with a list of fab ideas.  So, starting tomorrow, along with my normal posts you will have something a bit different to read and maybe get to know ME a little better!

For today though, I have for you an OOTD.

I purchased this top a few weeks ago from Evans and couldn’t decide whether I liked it or not. And I wasn’t sure of it when I had it on. But I got quite a few complements on it, especially the colour of it and that it was ‘my colour’.

Yet again, I teamed it with my trust Chloe skinnies from Simply Be (best jeans ever!) and a pair of flats.

I really like how unusual the top is at the back.

I really like how unusual the top is at the back.

This is a size 22/24 and as much as I hate dual sizing, It was a really good fit. I often find the size variance in Evans can leave a lot to be desired.

What do you think? Should I wear Blue more?

Toni x

Simply Be Blogger Takeover!

Last Wednesday I popped myself across to Manchester for the launch of the Simply Be bloggers takeover launch!

The lovely Lauren, Laura and Em where all given the amazing opportunity to collaborate with Simply Be to design a outfit which would be sold on the Simply Be website. The girls gave a talk about how they came up with their designs and how the Simply Be designers helped them create their outfit!

I think Simply Be have done exceptionally well to allow the girls to design an outfit that they wanted. It really seemed that they were given free reign on design and print, with helpful guidance to what would and wouldn't work, you can really see the girls' personalities in their dresses.

During the event there was also a talk from the buyers and designer from Simply Be. I found it really interesting to find out how brands design and pick ranges. I love the fact they design from what is 'fashionable' instead of what they think plus size women should be wearing. I also love that they seem to be interested in what the consumer want. They were very keen to ask about what we liked, what we didn't like etc etc. and although they are never going to please everybody, Simply Be have, and will have going forward, some amazing ranges and collaborations to launch.

During the event we also go a sneak peak of the AW13 range (which will be on display at Plus North). Items inspired by the 40ies, folk, the 50ies, the grunge era. (I was so intrigued by some of the new range I forgot to take pictures....oooops)

I was also excited to hear that Project D London are doing another range for AW13. Although I didn't love all of the last range of items were really special! The buyers talked about the price range and it has, apparently, been reduced.

I also found the dress of my dream..... the pics are really bad but you will kinda get the drift.... floor length, black with lace over lay MAXI!!!!! I honestly haven't stopped thinking about it since last week..... Me and Becky are going to the British Plus Size Awards in November.............and I have my dress!!!! THANK YOU MISS MINOGUE!!!!

What I wore....
Over sized tee - ASOS Curve
Midi Skirt - Clothing at Tesco
Shoes - Barratts

OOTD

On Monday I travelled across to Manchester to revisit our amazing venue for Plus North an meet the lovely girls from Label Pr and Simply Be.

I wasn't sure what the weather was going to decide to do, so I went save and opted from my ASOS Curve skater dress, leggings and my battered old denim jacket.

I actually wished id worn tights instead of leggings. I think the dress is too long to wear with leggings!

I also think I need to to find my sunglasses.....look at the squinting going on!!!

I'll be honest, this isn't my favourite outfit. I think I would have looked better with no jacket, a massive belt, tights and either a blazer type jacket or a bright colourful cardigan.

What do you think?

Toni x

BPSFW

I have started to write this post a million time but just can't seem to get across what I want to say. Most of what I would like to say has already been said. I still have a few burning questions, which are unlikely to ever get any answered, and I would love to know what happened to my fave celeb (not) Gemma Collins!!!

The venue was unsuitable, the staff were rude and unhelpful, the market place was cramped, there was no social area, no refreshments, the ladies toilets where actually the gents, and no thought what so ever had been given the people who ultimately lined the organisers pockets! 

I do have to take my hat off to the organisers though for the amount of press activity they managed to stir up. And for the discussion panel, which was the best part of the day, even with the dodgy acoustics, and even for the first part of the fashion show. I lost interest after 40 mins. And I would like to thank them for introducing me to some fab new brands. 

I firmly believe in second chances, and hope the event is on next year. But please, please, please, listen to the people you are charging £45 a ticket when they give you criticism. And stop thinking amount the money you can make!!!!

I didn't take many photos during the day but did manage to get one with Jessica Kane. Yes, I got a bit fan girlie, but I still managed to give her a Plus North business card!!! And to my utter surprise and delight she said she knew all about our event! Our little Plus North managed to get all the way to the states!!!!

I wore the Galatic printed cut out dress, which was kindly gifted to me from Simply Be. I got my normal size 22, but it was a tag bit and reckon I could of easily fit in a size 20. But I loved the dress and actually got loads of compliments in it.

Toni x

OOTD - Papillon

A few weeks ago myself and Becky were lucky enough to be invited to Simply Be HQ to discuss Plus North. Whilst there we meet the lovely Jess from Label PR.

Once we had discussed Plus North Jess asked if we would like to review anything from the new Simply Be range.

One of the items that I really liked was the Butterfly Skater dress.

Normally I avoid skater dress as they done suit me. But I really like this one. And it has pockets!!!

I wore the dress with an oversized Cardi and tights.

Has anything caught your eye from the new Simply Be range?



Blog Give Away

WE had some fantabulous prizes at PlusNorth didn't we?

I was biting to get my hands on some of them, but alas, some of you wonderful ladies won them!!

However............... due to either my general slackness, or the fact that the winner didn't claim the prize we still have a £100 Clothing at Tesco voucher and been the generous people that they have they have agreed for me and Becky to let you try and win it!

UK entries only please, unless you want to pay for me to post outside of the UK (if you do, Tweet me)

RULES


You can enter up to 6 times as listed below!

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Weekend of Fun Pt2 - The Main Event

Saturday was the big day! The day myself and Becky have spent months working hard on! It was event day!!

PLUS NORTH DAY!

First of all I have to thank each and every person and company who bought tickets and sponsored Plus North!

Without ALL of you there would have been no Plus North.

A special thank you to Simply Be. From venue hire, Models outfits (which they got to keep!) and outfit for me and Becky. THANK YOU!!!!

I am just going to show you a few of my favourite pictures. I didn't take any on the day so thank you to Meg from Simply Be and my fab cousin Kitty who came on her day off to be photographer extraordinaire!

In the next few posts I am going to do individual thanks and a list of the prize draw winner. As well as an OOTD of my dress!

For now, Toni 

XOXO

Plus North Spot-Light Post: Plus-Size-Tall

Hello! In the run up to Plus North, myself and Becky will be doing a couple of sponsor spotlights on our blogs. The first in the series is fabulous webzine - www.plus-size-tall.com

 

Plus-Size-Tall is a one stop shop for all your plus size needs, it features all the latest plus size news, fashion stories and trends and the plus size community features forums and a directory. The site has information for not just the plus woman but for the chaps too, which makes a welcome change! There is also a dedicated section for all the latest vouchers codes so you can grab yourself a bargain and a handy blog directory lists Plus size bloggers for your perusal.
The site also runs regular competitions and is currently hosting a model search for Plus Size model, photographer and all-round figure of fabulousness Velvet d'Amour. So if you have aspirations to strike a pose why not have a look?
We're so pleased Plus-Size-Tall decided to be one of our sponsors for the event and we hope you will take the time to head on over to their website and have a good old poke around!
You can also follow them on twitter @plussizetall or give them the thumbs up on Facebook