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

Whole Lotta Rosie Part 3

Here's the latest Whole Lotta Rosie Pregnancy Fashion update. It covers weeks 26 - 29 of my Pregnancy Fashion Diaries and see's me move into the third trimester of this, my third and final pregnancy. It has been a fairly hot Summer and I've been enjoying bare legs for months (except at work,my skirts and shorts are still a bit too short for office wear.) I am not looking forward to wearing more clothes during the colder months and I am refusing to buy any other Maternity clothes.

 Week 26

 This was the week that I really started to fill out sideways. Here I am in that ever faithful H&M bodycon dress, I was off out for a curry with work mates and had earlier on attempted to squeeze myself into my Madonna print Maxi dress (seen previously in Whole Lotta Rosie part 2) only to be disgusted to find Madonna's face was grotesquely smeared across my now bowling ball sized stomach as I stretched it over the bump. Gutted, I removed (or rather peeled off) the Maxi dress and popped this dress on. It was a hot night and I couldnt be restricted, as for the Madonna dress, I am still gonna attempt to wear it but perhaps with a top over it to hide the now unflattering print.

 Earrings and necklace from Accessorize.

 This is the sort of thing I can get away with at work, my job is split between Venue Magazine (no smart clothes please) to the Evening Post (office wear is required) I basically have no office wear so I pretty much blag my way through it with this sort of outfit. It's not denim so they can't really say anything. I go out of my way to not wear denim on jeans day too,(the fact that it's called Jeans Day is upsetting enough) I cannot stand to be told what to wear, I'm incapable of doing so.

 Blue knitted jumper from Topshop about three winters ago, found it in the sale, it was originally about £75, then went down to about £35 in the sale, I found the most ripped looking one (once a punk, always a punk) and got it knocked down to £15 as damaged goods. Nice! Under the punk top is the 'ever faithful' black bodycon dress and some Topshop non maternity leggings worn under the bump.

 Week 27 - I have just entered the Third Trimester of my Pregnancy, my baby is pretty much a mini version of what she (yes, the baby's suppossed to be a girl-but I already have 2 boys and can't quite trust it) will look like when she is born.

I was in a kind of festival style mood on this day, my husband was about to play(in his band The Relay Rips) at Shambala Festival that weekend and I was jealous not to be going! Holey knitted jumper from Topshop A/W 2010, random black vest, my favourite maternity buy the H&M denim shorts, American Apparel tube socks and Converse high tops (had these for years).

 Week 28 - Here's me and my husband Phil off to my cousins wedding. My lace bodycon dress is from Asos Maternity and is really comfortable, soft and stretchy, I can dress it up or down easily and it fits in with the A / W 2011 Fetish trend nicely. Phil wears Black Mod Shirt from Jump The Gun and grey suit from Topman.

 I was feeling so heavy and wide this week I thought I was going to explode!

Cropped black tailored jacket from Topshop 2010, with brooch, necklace and earrings from Accessorize, red sunglasses H&M, Red Wedges only £20 from my new favourite shoe shop Newlook S/S 2011.

 In between days. This has been such a  busy week, with a wedding on each weekend and had been doing overtime at work, I'm knackered and did not have time to blog which had annoyed me!

 Orange top from  Primark S/S 2011, Black vest from Topshop Maternity S/S 2011, Maternity jeans Topshop S/S 2011. These jeans look good when you first put them on but refuse to stay up, they don't have any adjusters on them so my boy hips and no ass combo can't keep them up. I was hoping as I got bigger this problem may subside but alas, it is not to be....

 Week 29 - My friends wedding, on one of the hottest days of the year, sleeves not needed! This photo is of me with one of my oldest friends Rachel who is 36 weeks and pretty much ready to pop! My bump looks rubbish in comparison, I should stop complaining... my dress same as before (you don't think I'd buy two maternity dresses did you?) from Asos Maternity. My hair looks a bit harsh in this photo, it was much softer and prettier on the other side, damn you assymmetric hair! Lovely one of Rachel though....

Puppet on a String

I have always had a love for the Sixties as an era but have since, to be honest, grown a little tired of the fashion coming back every couple of seasons. I had over indulged in sixties fashion and underground music and scenes during the late 90s and early 2000s -a bit too die hard, try hard for my liking. I change my mind too much to become dedicated to one scene /style. Of course, there are still elements of it that I love, mini dresses and tights, parka coats, the music, Mods and interiors. Oh my god, I still love it don't I?

Here is my interpretation of how to wear the Autumn /Winter 2011/12 'Sixties Trend' this season without looking too try hard! I have only used the high street to source these pics but I would always recommend buying original sixties dresses from the thousands of vintage shops in Uk, online, ebay,car boot sales and beyond. If you want to the original look. I like mix the new with the old, hoarding all the way!

 This cute little two piece tunic and shorts set from Asos is very Dolly Girl for all New Mods as Topshop has labelled you. I love this combo, it's practically a romper suit! Would look great with tights and flat mary janes, I, of course would also wear it with converse, makes it less smart.

 This Asos playsuit is really cute - cute being the word for this Sixties Dolly Girl look that i'm going for. The cut on the neck is flattering for an athletic bird like me, who cannot compete with the Dolly Girl skinny body but knows how to pull the look off without looking like Action Man in a dress. Again, colourful tights n flats with this number,oh and a bright belt.

Love these cute flat Mary Janes from Newlook (my new favourite shoe shop) Newlook sells all the shoe styles you can get in Office and Topshop but at 1/4 of the price. It's not that I don't buy shoes from Topshop and Office but if I get my shoes in Newlook then i can get at least 3 pairs for the price of one!  

 A crochet dress is  perfect for this look, this one's from Topshop and the colour is also very on-trend.

This dress is not that Sixties looking, in the traditional sense, except for the Peter Pan style collar, but it is leopard print and it is a short dress from River Island and I want it. It would look great with coloured tights and flats or wedges.

 This polka-dot pussy bow plysuit from River Island would look great with the wedges below and the tights, of course.

These wedge boots from Office would look great with any of these dresses. I'm not saying they are sixties influenced, I could give them a tedious nod to sixties spaceage fashion I guess.

 The bright tights I keep mentioning, these are from River Island but you can pretty much buy bright tights anywhere these days. At the beginning of the 2000's I had alot of trouble sourcing coloured tights, I now have far too many pairs, from panic buying and have put a ban on my buying anymore .Give yellow tights a go is my advice.

 Here are the more obvious Sixties inspired Op-art tights from Topshop, I do love these but this stripe is not always flattering on a larger leg, it's a risk, but it's tights....just one more pair?

 The cut of this Op-art River Island skirt is obviosly not sixties, its for the print, would look great with a little vest tucked in, more Fifties for sure.

 Again this Topshop tube skirt is here for the Mondrian print, they loved a bit of that in the Sixties...

 Check out this Mondrian inspired print bodysuit also from Topshop, It's a no-no for me at the moment but I'm ready to let the bodysuit back into my life, (i was a teenager of the 90s, it's been a difficult item to let back in) worn with a tube skirt or some shorts....when the baby bumps gone, I dont want to scare people.

 These little Peter Pan collared tops from Topshop are really cute, but are a fashion mistake for all pregnant women, who are made to believe a smock is flattering and comfortable for a pregnant woman. Comfortable it may be but flattering it ain't, A-line tops make you look bigger, steer clear!!!

 I would personally wear these tops with shorts and tights and those wedges (when I'm not pregnant) look at the polka dots, how can you resist them?

Another version of the Newlook Mary Janes in a Jewel toned green, I need to introduce these Jewel tones into my wardrobe, it can be done, I let neutral tones in this Spring/Summer, challenge accepted!

 Aaah! The Parka, I shall never grow tired of it, its comfortable, functional and looks great with everything, especially over those dresses and tights! This one's from Asos.

This is from Topshops A/W 2011/12 Collection, you know, the one where you cant actually buy any of the clothes, however despite my complaing, I still love the styling. This look is from their New Mod Collection, look at that leopard print vanity case (not available to buy boo hoo!) I love it and I want it .Topshop you are so cruel to me!!!!

So that just about rounds it up for my Sixties inspired high street round-up, I wont be able to wear any of it until I have had my baby but I will continue my mission to find ways that I can! I could have the Mary Janes and that Topshop vanity case, if it was ever for sale!! Next posts should be more of me and how I am tackling fashion and my ever growing size, whilst I make the most of the end of the Summer season. Winter fashions coming!

All images are sourced from www.topshop.com , www.newlook.com , www.asos.com, www.riverisland.com , www.office.co.uk, 

Whole Lotta Rosie Part 2 (Hot Hot Summer)

I am back from my travels to hot, hot Mallorca and have kept a style diary of what I wore on a day to day basis, over this time, I am adding to my Pregnancy Fashion Diary at the same time. Basically, I am getting bigger and the weather was real hot, it was great to have the freedom to wear less clothes and not worry about whether I should wear leggings / tights etc under my much loved short skirts and shorts, like I would in the UK, yes, even in the Summer! Bare legs apparently is only for the young and they even still seem to opt for the leg cover up here, I have noticed, maybe its the tights as trousers fashion thing thats been around for a while or more likely that the UK weather is very difficult to judge each morning........anyhoo let's move on....The Post starts with me at Week 22 before I went away and ends with this Week (Week 25! Yey! Over half way!)

 Week 22

Here are the brights clashing colurs I promised you. I have just had my haircut here too so I look camera ready. Hair by my lovely hair stylist Vikki Mac at Angela Gaudi in Bristol.

 The dress is from Topshop Consession Reko, a few seasons ago now, Summer 2009 I reckon. I hardly every throw any clothes away and I wear this dress all year round. Unfortunately I have had to stop wearing this dress for the monent as it now doesnt even cover my ass- my ass has not got bigger, it's the bump pulling it up, honest..... I will be back in this dress by December. The yellow cardigan is from H&M and goes with every dress, ever!

 Week 23 - First day in Mallorca.

 This is my beige, yes, beige sheer, slouchy Primark tee. I went for a few neutral shades this Spring / Summer, first time ever..to see what all the fuss was about. I actually dont mind a bit of neutral now, as long as I keep wearing bright red or yellow sunglasses, I'm happy. These are the H&M denim shorts I have spoken about, I wear them alot, they are so comfy. I, of course, had to customise them slightly by cutting a couple of inches off the bottom to make them nice 'n' short, they have the over the bump waistband thing going on but I generally wear that rolled down, especially when it's hot.

 A hot summer evening and I'm wearing my yellow sunglasses (H&M), Orange slouchy, sheer Primark tee (like the beige one, great for layering) Green vest (under orange top) topshop and my favourite, most comfy and loud trousers from Topshop, I love them so much, I'm wearing them now! Blue Gladiator Sandels throughout from Primark too! I like to pop down to Primark at the start of each season to pick up high fashion bargains, this year it paid off big time!

 I wear this top as a cover up, during the day on the beach or by the pool, the front is pretty basic but the back open with large drapes and a string type cut out detail at the top (see below), it's not amazing but I like it. it's another cheap purchase from George at Asda again from around S /S 2009. I clearly like to re-wear high summer pieces for each holiday! Bikini from Topshop S/S 2010 and my favourite denim shorts.

 The night after the hottest day ever on the beach.The whole family were sunburnt, despite all the sun cream.This maxi tube dress was all I could get on, it saved my life!

 The Madonna print maxi tube dress is from Topshop S/S 2010. It's a great shape for me, even when pregnant. I, frankly,look like an idiot in those peasant / hippy style flowing maxi dresses that everyone else has been wearing over the past few seasons, they do not suit my style for one or do anything for a girl with an athletic figure!

 This dress goes with my 80s bodycon look and also my 90s grunge maxi/ tube skirt revival. I also love the print of Madoona looking really young and provocative, Like a Virgin era.

 It's that beige top again worn with O'Neill Beach Shorts which are cut so low that they can be worn under the bump. Again, I've had these for years!

 The crazy golf was shocking..

 Another hot night, still sunburnt, I abandon the bra on this occasion and couldn't have given a damn. Plain vest from Topshop, this season no less! Silky style leopard print trousers from Topshop A/W 2010. I love these trousers so much, but, there is a problem! Despite being quite generous on the waist for a size 12 these trousers have a back zip fastening which i can no longer do up! I have a purchased one of those bump bands from Topshop to wear over the half open zip to disguise the fact that these leopard print lovelies no longer fit but alas, this garment is useless and keeps riding up, revealing my pants! Gutted!

 The bump is looking smaller than usual in this photo isn't it? It really changes on a daily bases. I have curled my hair on this occasion, using my babyliss curling wand, best piece of hair tec ever!

 Week 24 - My Baby is now viable and could survive with assistance if it was born early! To celebrate this occasion I have gone for my favourite breton tee from H&M S/S 2010, those trusty denim shorts and my red converse Allstars low tops.

 I have now managed to constantly own and wear Converse Allstars for 10 years! They will become the item I am still wearing when i'm 80, Converse Allstarts, large frame sunglasses and blue eyeshadow, I sound great, I love me when I'm a pensioner!

 Last night in Mallorca, gutted and orange, with my top matching my tan. I'm also wearing my LBD from H&M, lycra based non maternity, as seen in earlier Fashion diary posts.

 Week 25 - back in UK Djing at Bang my club night. My baby can now hear sounds and was kicking away all night, I DJ'd, danced and stayed up til 3am on the hottest night ever! I rock....and i am still paying for it 4 days on!