It's too early for that dress - Post Pregnancy Fashion Dilemmas Part 11

This is the second part to the 7 months post pregnancy fashion dilemmas posts, I took a lot of images this month, for once! I have however failed to post short n sweet posts every/every other day, like I said I was going to do, it seems three blog posts a week is my limit at the moment.

 I am pleased to announce that Sylvie now says 'Mumma'! Yey! However, the tone of the way she says Mumma is not like the chirpy, melodic, happy way she sings 'Dada'...Oh no....Sylvie has learnt to say Mumma for one reason only, to get my attention! It's more of a demand if anything, but I shouldn't complain, at least she is saying my name now!

You can tell the weather has finally changed in the UK from the next  set of photographs, I've got sandals on and everything!!

The weather was really humid but it still rained here so at this point I was still in half summer half spring outfits -arms showing legs covered up!

I have sleeked my hair into a short side parting in this pic the wispy sides have not grown properly since I (randomly) shaved them off with my Dad's disposable razor when I was 12, I have been into undercuts for a long time it seems! To conclude, I cannot get those side bits to stay behind my ears for the life of me....it's very annoying!

Dress from Rico at Topshop

I can't actually wear this dress as a dress without wearing leggings underneath, it's so short, my body is really long and the front fastenings open up and show off your pants!! (That's your underwear in the UK for any international followers).

Let's get Physical

I have managed to adapt  the crop top look without revealing any midriff, inspired by American Apparel and the 1980s penchant for aerobic wear. I wear my crop tops over my basic bodycon dresses and layer it up, it creates a new silhouette for me which I like! It is bodycon 80s but made softer with the layering and it conceals the baby belly that secretly still blubbers a bit beneath the clothing!

I have also created crops tops from old vests and tops that I already have, by tying them in a knot at the sides and and twisting up the shoulder straps, the trick is to show off all the layers and to make each layer different on the straps etc.The pink top below was a real cheap, thread bare neon vest that has now been giving a new life!

Black bodycon dress from H&M, Blue crop top from Primark, name necklace from Tatty Devine.

The above pics were taken on my 36th Birthday just before Phil took me and the kids (no babysitters!!) out to my favourite Italian Restaurant in Bristol. I thought I'd dress up for the occasion and wore the  bodycon layering with my wedge boots, that I have only worn twice before, once on Xmas day, they nearly killed me then, I'd just had a baby and didn't have the balance for heels! I also wore them to my cousins 40th in London a few weeks ago but there is no photo evidence as I started drinking really early! Enough said!

I had a great birthday with lots of amazing food, wine and champagne! Mika declared he wanted to go to the Italian restaurant every day for breakfast and that the garlic bread was the best he's ever had! So sweet!

The boots were fine by the way, I just had to concentrate real hard when walking!

Dress as before, Neon vest (customised into a crop top) from H&M, Earrings and Necklace both from Tatty Devine, Cardigan from Primark,  Boots from Office Sale were approx £90 I got them for £20. Whoop!



New leopard mock fur sandals!!

It had taken me until June this year to find the perfect sandals, well here they are, bought them with my birthday money. Right happy!

This top was actually bought as a dress but after the first wash it shrank, even though I followed the wash instructions!! Very annoying! I have been put off buying from this label ever since, which is a shame!

I was on my way to a 5 year olds birthday party (Rock n Roll), it was a very muggy day but I didn't feel like getting the legs out, so a bright backless top, jeans and leopard print sandals seemed like the best thing to keep me cool.

Top (bought as a dress) from Motel at Topshop, Jeans and sandals from Topshop.

Crop n bodycon again! Ignore me though this is all about Sylvie's outfit, it's the white trash, hillbilly, Dexys Midnight Runners (Come on Eileen era) bare chest and dungarees look. Sylvie rocks it!

We were off to watch Sylvie's Daddy play in his band The Relay Rips as part of the annual Bristol Harbour festival, it was the hottest day of the year!!!

Sylvie wears dungarees from H&M Kids



Bright Print Clash

Another hot day and off to the park.......It's the first week of the schools summer holidays, the park was rammed like a bad day in Benidorm! I dressed brightly for the occasion so the kids couldn't lose me.

Neon green vest from and bodycon dress both H&M, Floral leggings by Versace for H&M, Leopard sandals as before.

Hot Summer, Hot Hot summer.....At last...

I finally got a bit of colour.......on my face and...er....arms....a bit patchy some might say...I have fooled you with an almost toned looking (be it very white) torso it was so hot I had to strip off the jeans I had been wearing for these baggy denim cut offs that are also great for hiding my baby podge belly. I have to admit I do look alright and I have pretty much lost all of the baby weight visually, I have not actually weighed myself though, not brave enough I guess. I'm not sure I would venture out of the house dressed like this but for lazing about in my garden it fine.

Top (rolled up into a crop top) from Vivien of Holloway and customised denim cut offs.

I still have a back log of images????? What the?? I think I shall be posting about something different next time, a bit of A/W 2012 fashion perhaps or maybe a style icon? ND XX

It's too early for that dress - Post Pregnancy Dilemmas - Part 9

Denim seemed to be my favourite thing in June, it was also a very busy month for me including the return of my club night Bang, my birthday and a family camping holiday amongst other stuff. I am always so busy and currently feel a bit under the weather as a result of it. Did I mention it rained pretty much the whole of our camping holiday and it has been, pretty much, continuously raining here in the UK ever since!! I have sandals that haven't seen the light of day. Gutted!!

The top outfit has been seen on my blog before but I quite liked the photographs (hey, it's my blog, of course I will attempt to edit the bad pics and show you the good ones) I was pleased to receive Vogues Catwalk report for A/W 2012 confirming that voluminous clothes are indeed something to be seen in this year. I really love my Vivien of Holloway 1950s jeans, which are now a little big, since I have lost a bit more baby weight, but I like them that way. There's something quite liberating about not having to show off how skinny, you are, (or not in most cases) the pressure is off and I like it! The trick is that I  tuck my top in to give me a bit of shape.

Double denim in the above pics worn with a crop top from Primark with fairly high waisted shorts cut up from a pair of my Dad's old jeans. My usual denim cut offs were still a little snug the last time I wore them and I like the way these ones are little oversized. I'm wearing my desert island print wellies from Office, they have had a fair bit of use lately in this wet summer.

Check out my peach denim dungarees! Phil got me them for my birthday from Asos, I have barely worn them as I still haven't decided whether I bloody love them or if they just make me look like a Kids TV presenter from the 80s....I dunno, they look pretty cute here, maybe I should give them a chance, what d'ya think?? ND xx

It's too early for that dress....Post Pregnancy Fashion Dilemmas Part 8

Prints in May

It's time for the next instalment of my catch-up Post Pregnancy Fashion Dilemmas. It's mid-June now and the sun is shining today which I am very grateful for, it has been so depressing here in the UK with all this Summer rain!!!

The next series of post pregnancy outfits are all print inspired, there isn't too much, if any at all, of my usual print clash shenanigans but each outfit has to be comfortable as I am a mother of three children who have me running about like a mad woman...oh...right...like an exhausted Mum with three children would, I s'pose. I always attempt to look like I have made an effort and try not to give in to wearing jeans every day to make life easier...I do love a challenge or to make life more difficult, some might say....I will not give in!!

Ohhh! A little bit of tiger print body-con, on the school run?? Oh yes! Am I holding my stomach in and creating a flattering waist shape with my hands in the top image?? Oh yes! Fashion tricks....Tyra Banks would be so proud of me!

Tiger print body-con dress from Topshop, Leopard print cardigan (always mix your animal prints) from Primark, Cats eye sunglasses from Asos and the good ol' red Converse low tops.

I wouldn't call this clashing as somehow I have managed to co-ordinate the whole outfit, which is very unlike me. It is very bright however, which IS very me and it's mega comfy and a little bit punk.

I'm sure you've seen me wear this before but it is a great alternative to jeans.

Blue knit from Topshop, customised with rips by me, Digital floral trousers, green vest and socks also Topshop. Red Converse.

I was in an experimenting mood on this day, inspired by 1980s maxi dresses mixed with 90s grunge layering. I'm still not sure on this look but I like that it's something different from me. I am still battling with the Post Pregnancy belly, I'm not sure I still had a belly at this point after having my boys, I guess I hadn't had three kids then either and I'm quite sure I didn't eat half as much cake!!

Sonic Youth tee from Urban Outfitters, Madonna jersey maxi dress from Topshop and Leopard print Converse low tops.

I fit into my playsuit!! I love my playsuit and, stupidly, it was one of the first things I tried on after I had Sylvie (look at the little cute baby in the picture, I love her so much!!) and the disappointment and realisation of my new size kicked in!! Many months later I tried the playsuit on and it fits just fine. It, of course, now clings a bit to my little pot belly that doesn't want to leave me, just yet, but it's not too bad and my husband says he doesn't even notice that. As most women I know, I have taken that the wrong way, Phil must be either 'just saying that to make me feel better' or he is trying to tell me I have 'always had this pot belly!!' He will never win either way. Thanks for your attempt at making me feel better Phil!!

The conclusion today seems to be that I am obviously obsessed with my Converse flat tops, they are my thing, my wardrobe staple (well, let's not forget blue eye shadow), It was nice to see the appearance of a tailored item (the playsuit) after all that lycra/ jersey too and I would like to stand up for jeans, I do love jeans, I have many pairs but I always try to wear them as part of an outfit, not as those things I just throw on with anything, where's the fun in that??

Love your jeans!!! ND xx