Whole Lotta Rosie Part 5

Here's my next maternity post for Whole Lotta Rosie, it's Part 5 and I'm hoping there is only gonna be a Part 6 after this! If there is a Part 7 it shall involve pictures of me dressed like Jabba the Hut in loungewear.

 This post covers Weeks 34 - 36 , which is where I am now, just entering Week 37 and being told by everyone that it could be 'anytime now' that I go into labour. I feel cursed everytime those words leave their lips, like it adds a day onto my due date making the baby later and later!! SHUT UP!!

There seems to be alot of images for this post, I was camera happy and it was first thing in the morning before the school and work run, when I looked my best. I am not one of those people who keeps checking their hair and make-up throughout the day, so any end of the day photos would be even worse!

 Week 34

Here's me in the old faithful H&M bodycon vest dress and Topshop Denim shirt. Two of my friends babies have now been born they were both boys, I'm still not convinced I am definately having a girl, despite it being confirmed during the 20 weeks scan. My Mum had an attic clear out at the weekend and found

loads of retro baby dresses and knitwear that were mine (she's a worse hoarder than me!!) they will deffo get a mention on the blog soon and modelled by the new baby! Exciting!!!

 I could get away with not looking pregnant in this photo, i'm rather impressed but you do get annoyed when people tell you 'you're not that big' when you're actually feeling really uncomfortable, tired and don't fit into any of your old clothes, it's so easy to loose your identity when you are pregnant as you take on a style that's not really yours and your wardobe staples are a thing of the past (for a few months anyway!!)

 The outfit in full with Leopard print pumps from New look.

Saw the midwife on this day, she told me the baby was measuring a bit small and may need a late scan to check the baby is growing OK. My first son Lucian did have growth problems during the last month but he was still an Ok size at 6lbs 4oz, he was just a bit skinny!

 The second thing to consider here is that I have a longer than average torso, honest, I can't get a swimsuit to fit me, I'm too long, they end up looking highcut on the legs and lowcut on the chest, awful!! A bigger size is then too baggy, I can't win!

Anyhoo, having a long torso means I have more room inside me for a baby and then don't look that big when I'm pregnant. Imagine how big this baby really could be?? The plus side to a late scan is that I get to see the baby again, which is completely selfish but great!

This outfit in full with H&M yellow cardigan, red and black vests, the only trousers I own that fit me anymore from Topshop maternity and the leopard print pumps from Newlook. The weather must still be mild in England as I have no socks on.

The end of Week 34 and we now have the Baby's pram! I've curled my hair here as It's all getting cropped off again after work. I thought i'd make the most of the longer layers, dunno how it will looked curled when it's shorter. I'm basically getting the assymmetric cut out of  my hair as it's annoying and even my Mum & Mother-in-law have assymmetric hair now! I need to change my hair to a style they won't copy, it has to be extreme!!! I'm such a kid, i know, but it just ain't cool......ahem!

Check out how short the H&M bodycon dress is getting, the bump is so big it's pulling it up! The cropped jacket is from Topshop A/W 2010 & so is the jumper. The weather is getting colder and the layers start to pile on. These maternity tights do not cover my whole bump anymore, I don't actually think this baby is small at all!

Enter the extreme haircut, I'm still getting used to it, since I have lost my long fringe that I clearly used to hide behind like a comfort blanket. My hairdresser Vikki Mac at Angela Gaudi in Bristol, Uk thoroughly enjoyed cropping my hair off, despite my telling her when I was first pregnant not to let me talk her into cutting all may hair off late in pregnancy when I'm all crazy & hormonal, she did it anyway, the sick bitch!

Week 35.....It's my last week at work!! I'm not sure how I feel about this, I am tired and uncomfortable, but I'm gonna miss my work mates and physically doing my job, I shall get bored....more time for blogging then? With a baby? Maybe......The exciting thing about finishing work is that it means my baby will be here soon. I cannot wait!!

I'm clearly on the school run here, ipod et al. The khaki poncho was a bargain from my recent visit to Primark, it was only £8! I love Primers Primarni!! I got the poncho in a size massive, not just because I'm pregnant, this is the way I like to wear clothes, easier for layering etc. The Topshop maternity jeans and my red converse low tops, one of the only pairs of my shoes that I can actually reach to put on by myself. My husband Phil usually has to help out with any fastenings! Putting on socks is the latest issue.

I've got over the initial hairshock. The fringe has calmed down and has stopped balancing on the top of my head. I like the colour contrast too. I love you again Vikki Mac!

I was about to visit my friend Rudi here, who was, at this point, a day overdue, massive and pissed off!! She did finally have her lovely little boy by the end of the week, yes, another boy!! I'm excited because it's me next in line to have my baby!! Although the worry about the baby being late has kicked in!

On an entirely different note....Check out the Deirdre Barlows!! I have wanted a pair of these glasses for ages and then I saw Amanda Warner with some and that was it, I had to have some of these 80s lovelies! Mine are from Vintage by Robert Roope, I got them at the beginning of the year but disaster struck when my optician had attempted to up my glasses perscription to correct my, ever worsening stigmas and eyesight, only to make it so strong that it made me go cross eyed! Ha! Finally they got there and my glasses are perfect, I love them. These glasses also distress and confuse alot of people too, which I also like.

My boss Becky told me I never smile on my blog, here you go! The truth is I don't really like my smile, my face feels uncomfortable doing it!

Here's the ripped punk jumper from Topshop that I've mentioned before, it's ripped to hell, I love it. And it's actually adding a bit of colour to my current mostly black wardrobe.

Yey! It's fur coat time! It's not real fur of course, this leopard print lovely is from H&M years ago, the brooch is from Mikey. I have also managed to curl the short hair, I'm double happy today, even if I could only manage to do two top buttons up on the fur.

Week 36 - I am beginning to look bloated in the face, this is actually a good sign, it means the end is nigh! I have now finished work and have found out that the baby has actually grown so much over the past 2 weeks that it is back on track. So no late scan for me!

 I had hoped that by finishing work I would spontaneously go into labour....that doesn't appear to have happened. After a few days of denial I have come to my senses and chilled out about the whole thing, the baby will come when the baby is ready to come, which may be this week or it may be in 5 weeks time(I only have 3 weeks until the due date but the baby could also be 2 weeks late!). I shall have a week off with my sons for their half term break and just wait........patiently........or until my next hormonal impatient rant!!

This photo (on the right) is actually from Week 35, I am so uncomfortable sitting here, I can't be bothered to move it!

Another hair pic, tried out a different back combed fringe here. My face is definately looking dfferent, when I was pregnant with the boys I got mega moonface, it looks like it's possibly on it's way again, I also always said moonface / distorted face happened when you had a boy. Am I actually having a boy? Or is this just a thing that happens to me when I'm pregnant???? Will the next Whole Lotta Rosie post be the last?? Do I actually have a Whole Lotta Rodney growing in my belly??? Watch this space xx

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Dr Martens Autumn / Winter 2011 Campaign Featuring Agyness Deyn

I am loving the Dr Martens Autumn Winter 2011 First and Forever Campaign, it features Agyness Deyn (there's a little film and everything!) and the photographer is Gavin Watson who's images, for me, have hit the nail on the head for this 1980s / skinhead / scooter girl / This is Englandesque look, which is a style that has been close to my heart since I was a little kid in the 1980s. I have had to put aside my love / hate relationship with Agyness Deyn, I mean she looks great but she really isn't the first person to be androgynous, a little bit indie, to have short hair and wear Dr Martens!!! It's a little bit like Gwen Stefani pretty much thinking she was the first person to discover Harajuku Girls - 10 years too late.  Ok back to Agyness, she looks great in this campaign so I am back to loving her again.

All images are  from the Dr Martens Autumn Winter 2011 First and Forever

Campaign drmartens.co.uk

 and are credited to the photographer Gavin Watson.

Check out the tassled loafas, white socks and black leggings combo!

You have gotta love the donkey jackets, skinny turn up jeans and oxblood Docs.

Androgynous Perfection.

Unfortunately to be androgynous is not perfection in real life. When I'm having one of my dress like a boy days I generally face comments like

 'You look like you are wearing a school uniform'

I was wearing a Fred Perry Polo shirt and jeans....Other comments on the same outfit, the classic

 'You look like a Dyke'

and

 'why don't you wear normal maternity clothes?'

Don't even get me started on the last comment. ( I am actually pregnant to any new readers who are confused by this statement.)

 I'm just happy when people get it, sometimes I like to dress like a boy.....who wears make-up!

More of a grungy look here with the thick ribbed tights, rolled down socks and 8-eye DMs.
I personally prefer to do mine up.

 I'm off to buy more white socks, I love DM's!

My Style Icons - Part 4 - Annabella Lwin

At a time when I should probably be sorting out the pile of baby clothes and parafernalia that has accummulated in my house, to be ready for the new little baby  - who shall be arriving in approximately 5 weeks -  I have decided to blog about another of My Style Icons instead. I've not blogged for over a week and I'm missing it and this is my first Tuesday off work in ages AND my last week at work before I head off on maternity leave.....very excited!! More Babies and more blogging!!

So, Annabella Lwin........not only is she the front woman to one of my most favourite new wave 80s bands Bow Wow Wow, she looks amazing, she was a complete individual and she was also total Jailbait. I love her for all of this. I WANT CANDY!!!!

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Firstly, let's talk about the hair, even with the sides shaved down to a number one, a backcombed mohican and a harsh glare, Annabella manages to look beautiful. She inspired me to shave off my hair but to leave some long layers in to curl or backcomb for a soft and harsh look. I really do have quite a harsh look, without trying, so the soft girliness is needed.

I love the mix of the harsh styling with the girlie 1950s dress & gloves. I have copied this look many a time (I will blog the Emma's fashion back catalogue of images at some point!) The 1950's styling was big in the 80s and with Punk before that.

Annabella was spotted by Malcolm Maclaren (Godfather of Punk) in 1980 working in a laundrette, you know usual story, happens to us all, doesn't it.... he instantly auditioned her to become the lead singer of a new band he was putting together who became Bow Wow Wow. Apparently Mclaren had her transferred from her comprehensive school to Sylvia Young's Theatre School. This is all sounding a bit Brit School isn't it? Oh well we'll ignore that detail for now, there's more controversial stuff to come.

 The controversy linked to the band Bow Wow Wow reveals that the musicians were originally Adam Ant's  - Ants, stolen from Adam Ant by Malcolm Mclaren on a promise to make them famous, with Adam out of the picture Mclaren recruited Annabella alongside a London club kid (soon to be known as Boy George) to join the band. A few gigs and photoshoots later the rest of the band decided to get rid of Boy George and Bow Wow Wow was born. We could feel sorry for Adam Ant and Boy George here (I really must blog them on here at some point too, I feel a New Romantics blog coming on) but they both went on to individually become two of the biggest Pop and style icons of the 80s. So we won't worry about them at all.

Look how beautiful (and young) Annabella looks in the above image, if I spotted her in the laundrette I'd fall in love with her too! I'm sure she wasn't wearing this though, I would, any opportunity to dress up.

 Annabella did like to pose nude and half naked it has to be said. Whether this was her choice or Malcolm's is another matter, I guess the harsh image took the Lolita edge off of it. At this point fashion had gone a bit tribal which fitted perfectly with Bow Wow Wow's drumbeats which can also be heard in many Adam and the Ant records and post punk around the time.  I Love Annabella's hair in the below image, I can never get to the point where my hair is long enough to be able to plait it, the scissors are always calling me! Like they did the other day, more on that another time.

 Another little story for you here which I picked up from a great post punk book ' Rip it up and start again' by Simon Reynolds- which I leant to a work colleague and haven't seen it since, I think he may of lost it.  So, the story goes that Malcolm Maclaren had tried to get the other (slightly older) members of Bow Wow Wow to de-virginate Annabella, who was probably still jailbait at this point. Mclaren thought it might Sex her up a bit and make her less innocent!!! I'm not sure Annabella needed to be sexed up anymore, it seemed to ooze from her as it was. The good news is the very strong willed teenager refused them all, now that's a lesson for all girls who are thinking they might need de-virginating before they are ready! You have the rest of your life to be slutty!

 Oh look a bit of tribal aztec style, you know I like a bit of aztec at the moment, I actually want this jumper, it's baggier than the one's that are in the shops at the moment. Looks really comfy, why have Chavs ruined jersey wear for everyone? There was a time when you could wear jersey and be glamourous! Is it a Vivienne Westwood? Probably, I also forgot to mention Vivienne styled the band, the lucky buggers! Vivienne's Tribal collection, I think it was named The Pirate Collection without cheating and looking online, was massive during the early 80s, even Lady Di owned some of the pieces. There's another blog idea........Vivienne's Pirate collection not Lady Di....well, who knows, maybe both.

Aaaah! The Face, one of my favourite magazines.....I miss you!

Another Annabella Lwin fact is that her real name is Myint Myint Aye , Annabella is half Bermese and this name was given to her by Bermese Priests and means, get this, 'High High Cool'!!! Love it. Maybe a name for this baby then eh?

My mother has been completely over guessing this babies name. She thinks its going to be wierd and wonderful and has totally gone down the wrong track with Pop Stars names (My two sons middle names are Hendrix and Floyd so I can see how she got to this conclusion) she came up with...... Blondie or ........Madonna...........I don't need to say anymore, these names speak for themselves....she also had a dream I had another son and named him Jesus.

This look is very New Romantic Pirate, totally ripped off from Adam Ant, or was it the other way round? Vivienne Westwood V's Adam and the Ants. Annabella looks about 13 years old here.

Annabella with the de-virginating, ex Adam Ants -Ants, Bow Wow Wow boys. Going Wild in the Country! Where snakes in the grass are absolutely free!

Again, I seem to have ripped off this face paint, unknowingly this time, for once, at one of the Hoochie Coochie kaberet's that I have Dj'd at. The inspiration was Wild Animals, I'll blog the image one day. I remember on the night people thought I had leopard print tattoos, one bloke, who was very tattoeed up himself, suggested I should definately get it tattoed, I thought he was referring to the ones on my arms, he actaully, seriously, meant, the ones on my face!! He said I could carry it off. Thanks for the compliment mate, I think? The arms maybe, but on my face??? I have to pick my kids up from school and that!

It used to break my heart when I went into your shop

And you said my records were out of stock

So I don't buy records in your shop

Now I tape them all 'cause I'm 'Top of the Pops'

C30, C60,C90 Go! - Bow Wow Wow

Whole Lotta Rosie Part 4

I can't even begin to tell you how tired I am whilst I write this blog. I've grown so much in the past couple of days and I am still working at Venue Magazine with just over 6 weeks of my pregnancy to go. It really has taken it's toll on me this time round and I have become annoyed that some of my maternity clothing (and that's limited because I have refused to wear it) is now becoming too tight!! I sat on the floor in my beloved H&M Maternity denim cut off shorts to discover they were also cutting off my blood supply around my waist, which may I point out is now so low I think my waist and hips are now the same thing. So here's what I wore over the last month, Summer ended and then came back again here in England, so the transitional look is what it's all about, along with battling with what fits and what doesn't. Compared to right now, dressing myself last month was easy, The next and possibly, final Whole Lotta Rosie Pregnancy Fashion blog will be very interesting.

 Week 31 - Starting to feel really full of baby, the baby moves so much now and I'm beginning to get aching hips from sleeping on my sides (I used to be a dedicated belly sleeper until the bump arrived), I've decided that the Bodycon dress here (yes, it's the old faithful from H&M) is a good way to go for the latter end of my pregnancy too. There is no pulling around the bump and the maternity over bump tights are really comfy. Decided the slutty look is a good way to go, I'm showing off these new curves. Breton top is also from H&M S /S 2010.

 I look a bit glazed here, my pregnancy banana brains do tend take over alot. I've gone for a bit of androgyny today, in my Fred Perry and skinnies, my husband Phil bought me the Fred Perry a few years ago but I had complained it was too big for me, fits a treat now! Thanks Phil xx

 These are my Topshop maternity jeans which have finally stopped falling off now that my boy hips have got bigger, I'm hoping they do not go the same way as the beloved denim cut offs and become too tight. Belly button is beginning to stick out, although the dot you can see is actually a piercing. Apparently I have been very lucky with the piercing, alot of woman have to take them out during pregnancy, I'm not sure why though.

So the weather has changed and Autumn is approaching, out comes the American Apparel oversized hoodie. I've had it for a couple of years but you can still buy them in loads of different colours. I'm looking a bit sleepy here but at least I have done my hair.

 Week 32  - Notice you can now see the stretchy waistband on theTopshop Maternity jeans, the long vests and slouchy tops are no longer hiding it due to the sheer size the bump has decided to grow this week.

 A good side view of the bump, it never seems to look as big as it feels on here, its big and heavy, honest!

 Lace bodycon dress fro Asos Maternity, the one from the weddings dressed down with red converse low tops and my cuddly Leopard print Topshop cardigan, in the biggest size they had, from last A/W 2010. 

 The lace bodycon dress helping me pull off the slutty look I had desired. Face looking a little smug.

 This photo makes me laugh, it also features my youngest son Mika who was attempting to ruin each photo by chasing me around and sticking that Tech decks training dvd in the way. The little buggar managed to do it in this one. Let's notice the gap in his teeth, he's already lost 3 teeth and he's only 4!! More of him and his older brother Lucian coming soon.

 Week 33 - Summer decided to come back in England, it's now October!? I decided to add a bit of colour to myself here. I think this was the day I found out the denim shorts didnt fit anymore, a sad day for everyone involved.

Another hot day, more bright clothes. Basic yellow vest from George at Asda I think and my River Island jumpsuit from last S/S 2010  rolled down as a pair of trousers, the jumpsuit part barely fits over my stomach. second day of the late great British heatwave, I'm in it for comfort all the way, no restricting outfits for me.

The weather has now reverted back to Autumn and it's raining here in England although I'm still quite hot. My bump has grown loads this week and I am so tired and achey. I guess I will post up another Pregnancy Fashion update within a few weeks when I have collected more photos together, perhaps I will even go into labour before then, wishful thinking, I know, Thanks for reading my blog xx