It's too early for that dress - Post Pregnancy Fashion Dilemmas Part 14

So, what's been happening with me? Why haven't I managed any blog posts for over a week?? Well, the kids started back at school and I started back at work, so I have been juggling my job with my home life (and all those kids!!) My husband Phil's band The Relay Rips had an album launch and we have been sorting out lots of different DJ ventures for our club night Bang AND also have a family event which we are working on! I'm tired just thinking about it all, we are busy, but we like it that way! I personally get bored too easily, I am only sad that I haven't been able to blog more often, missing out on vital posts on London Fashion Week too...but hey, I am not your usual fashion blogger I guess!

 

I am now slightly saddened to announce that this is the last of the posts named

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

as it has now been 9 months since I gave birth to my beautiful little girl Sylvie Belle and I am just about back to my old size, give or take a few pounds. It's time to stop relying on the old 'just had a baby' excuse and just bloody get on with it!!!! I haven't come up with a new name for my new Personal street style blog posts, so I need to crack on with that. Any help with this would be great.....it will have to be a song title or the name of a band (or film) of course, cos that's how I roll.

 

I only have a couple of images to show you from the end of August 2012, I think I had been driven mad by having the kids being constantly with me all Summer, taking photos of what I had been wearing didn't seem to be a priority!

 

Leopard print sandels, leopard print trousers and turquiose nail varnish! I was rather pleased with this ensemble.

This image rather sums up my summer in fashion, the colours and prints are all there but I look like I'm about keel over with tiredness. This photo was taken on a very sunny day at the Weston-super-Mare (my hometown) Steam Fair. We go there every year and meet up with my old school friend Rachel and her kids, the boys all love it and go on everything.....and we stand there holding the coats.......I remember saying I would never become that person.......Ha!

 

A brief look at how a womans body can change during pregnancy from a little pot belly to heffalump from 18 -40 weeks and then 9 months later below! It is quite amazing AND look what I managed to make, grow and nurture in that year , she's behind me in the floral Cath Kidston Maclaren buggy (now you're just showing off) the last image for my It's too early for that dress - Post Pregnancy Fashion Dilemmas post.

This image was the only survivng fashion image of me from my Ibiza holiday, I was too hot to care about photographing what I was wearing!

 

I love you Sylvie Belle!

 

Farewell Post Pregnancy body, I will not miss you! ND xx
 

 

 

 

It's too early for that dress - Post Pregnancy Fashion Dilemmas Part 12

It's hard to follow my previous- visually stunning - post on Loiuse Gray's Topshop collection with photos (not quite as visually stunning) of me and what I have been wearing in what will be one of my last posts for the Post-Pregnancy Fashion Dilemmas series.

Sylvie is about to turn 9 months over the next week so I have decided any images of me taken from the 28 August will become my style & fashion moments rather than post pregnancy fashion images. I shall have to come up with a new name for the post too.

 

I have featured a couple of other people in this post and some early pregnancy images of myself, you'll see why in a moment. These photos are all from July this year - yes, I still have a back log of images to post about, but I have been away on my hot Ibiza hols and now need to get through these Summer 2012 images quick, the new Winter season is a-comin'....

 

 

 

This is the outfit I wore to my club night Bang in July. It was the hottest night ever, there was no way I was wearing anything too restrictive. I also had to make the most of wearing summer clothes, we don't see much sun here in the UK.

 

Neon Pink vesr (customised by me with a side knot) from H&M, the Leather Belt is vintage, denim cut offs customised by me. Name necklace from Tatty Devine.

 

This is my gorgeous husband Phil, he really did NOT want me to take his photo and blog about him, but I did it anyway, he looked so cute and cool. Here he is rocking the Vintage Americana trend in his Palm tree print short sleeve shirt and vintage fit jeans both from Topman. Cassette belt from Primark, Element sunglasses and Es skate shoes.

 

 I wish we hadn't cut the feet off of this photo, it would have looked really cute, Fruit Magazine style!! On the plus side, these photos were taken the morning after my club night Bang, just before we went to pick up the kids, we actually look quite good, considering.....

 

I am wearing black bodycon dress from H&M and Sonic Youth tee from Urban Outfitters.

 

 

Here's another person who I made pose for the blog, it's my cousin Claire and she was 18 weeks pregnant here and barely showing, she must be about 26 weeks now I reckon, I am loving the swallow print dress! We were at a family party here, I regret not taking more fashion photos that night, there were many style pic opportunities, unfortunately.......I was hammered....

 I'm always impressed with a pregnant woman in heels, generally your balance is all over the place, it's quite a challenge. I couldn't even dance when I was pregnant with my first son Lucian!!

 

I thought I would look back through my photo archives to when I was 18 weeks pregnant, I could have sworn I was bigger, I complained enough, I should have been......sorry Phil!

 

These images are from my first ever blog post!! When I didnt even bother putting make up on (that changed pretty sharpish) I don't remember ever being that skinny, my stomach looks like that now! Ha!

 

The final images from July 2012
I have taken to tucking in all my big baggy t-shirts into my denim cut offs, you will see more of this in my next post pregnancy blog post.

Gang of Four t-shirt from a present from Phil from 8ball, red sunglasses from H&M, belt and denim cut offs as before. ND xx



It's too early for that dress....Post Pregnancy Fashion Dilemmas Part 7

I'm sorry it has been a while since my last post but I have been very busy having a Birthday, attending my club night Bang and having a family camping holiday in the Great British wind and rain. Although it is now June (a very cold and wet June might I add) I now have a backlog of my style photos going back into May. The weather has been pretty much dictating what I can wear and during May we were lucky enough to get a couple of weeks of sweltering hot sun and, loving summer clothes, I certainly took advantage of that summer weather!

I am going to run through a few looks that seem to be trending with me at the moment, I have named the first look that I am going to show you today, this short and unfussy title....ahem... 'The 1950s dragged through the 1980s in stripes and denims'.

1950s versus the oversized grandad cardigan. You always need a cover up in the UK, just in case!

These are my new favourite 1950s cut jeans from Vivien of Holloway, I was a little terrified of them when they arrived but they are mega comfy and they help me move further away from those skinny jeans that I have been wearing....forever!! Oversized Cardigan from Primark and my good ol' Breton tee from H&M.

 Bright light bright light!! I didn't set this soft focus purposely but hey I am getting older, I need all the help I can get to achieve this pin-up look!

More over exposure, it was hot and bright, but not that bright. Let's check out the look here....a bit of double denim, eh?? I hate the sound of it but I am working it here I reckon and is that a crop top??The only way for me to get away with wearing a crop top ever again is to wear one with high waisters. I love these tapered jeans that I picked up in Japan on my honeymoon nearly three years ago!!?? Time has gone so quickly. I guess I did have a baby and that, it makes sense... the denim shirt is from Topshop a fair few years ago and the striped crop top was picked up in the New Look sale for my holiday last year.

Enjoying the sun whilst it lasted!! Please come back summer!

Accessories throughout were my swallow necklace from Accessorise, Cats eye sunglasses from Asos and my red Converse low tops. My school run staple!!

The next post shall be the next instalment of my Post Pregnancy fashion moments in May and will feature a lot of prints, I do love prints!! Phil (my husband) said I couldn't really call this post my Post Pregnancy post anymore as I had lost the baby weight, but I haven't, I'm still a stone heavier than I was before pregnancy and they say you do not truly lose all the baby weight until 9 months after the baby is born, as it takes 9 months to get so fat in the first place!! I'm not sure I believe in that sort of nonsense though to be honest but I will only continue with this post up to 9 months maximum just so I can have some closure, whether I have actually achieved my old weight or not, I'm not dieting, I am just relying on the school run and plan old luck!....ND xx

It's too early for that dress -Post Pregnancy Fashion Dilemmas - Part 6

It's raining, it's been raining for weeks here in Bristol and it's cold too, so there shall be no bare skin on show or summer sandal wearing for me, this post mostly consists of cardigans and jackets and tights (to keep me warm!). It seems I have been wearing a lot of Tribal looks since my last post, lots of animal prints, safari styles and khaki colours.

My favourite leopard print dress from Topshop (about 3 years ago) and vintage brown leather belt thrifted.

Khaki coat and shorts worn with Sonic Youth tee, grey socks and Red Converse.

Leopard Print Mix Up

I am looking real tired in these photos so it's a good thing they are small. Having a 5 month old baby is taking it's toll on me, she still gets me up in the night and sleep deprivation is not helpful when you're trying to choose what to wear for the day or when you need to use your brain, a little, to write a blog!
Leopard print cardigan from Primark, leopard print top Topshop and Leopard print Converse low tops.

More cardigans and cut off denim shorts. This cardigan is also from Primark.

 Camouflage and lace
I love my camouflage jacket, I've had it for years, it's a wardrobe staple, I'm wearing it here with my lace bodycon dress which is actually the maternity bodycon dress bought for the weddings last summer.

Camouflage jacket - Army surplus store, lace dress - Asos.

Cute little Primark dress and H&M cardigan.

More khaki worn with stripes and the much needed waterproof DM boots!

Khaki poncho jacket - Primark, stripe top  - Topshop worn with basic leggings, long socks and Dr Marten boots.

Phil and I got to go out on our first date night since Sylvie was born, despite the rain and the fact I was accidentally given a meat pie ( I am a vegetarian and ate two mouthfuls before I got to the meat!!!) during our pub meal (who says romance is dead?) We then managed to get (the correct) meal and drinks for free before heading down to another bar on a bus that luckily just turned up when we needed it and then managed to get in free to a local bar to watch some bands as we knew the bloke on the door! I love it when things work out like that! Unfortunately when we got home Phil was rather sick, we blamed the vodka and coke that I made him drink following all those pints of beer but I have since found out there is a sickness bug doing the rounds.....I'm sure Phil still blames the Vodka and coke! Oops!

The outfit I'm wearing is from Vivien of Holloway (if you could only see it beneath the warm layers-damn this weather) The top is a gingham bustier top, I think I blogged it for the Vintage Americana post a few weeks back. The jeans are a new item for VOH they are cut from original 1950s patterns, I had trouble finding the right size for me (my figure is anything but a 1950s shape) but these jeans are so comfortable and make a change from all the skinnies that you still see everywhere! I thought I would accessorise by curling my hair and adding a headscarf (not seen in this pic) and cute ankle socks and Converse low tops. I shall attempt to get a better photo of the jeans for my next post as this pic isn't quite doing them justice.

Did you notice that I have become accustomed to a bit of photo shopping? Oooh check me out....it is a bit embarrassing but I am a total photoshop novice, before this cropping and resizing was my limit! That's how old I am, we didn't have computer lessons in school and if we did it was the whole class sat around one computer......CAD was a new thing when I was at Uni and I have to say it was not really my thing....I'm a fashion designer daaarrrrling, I work with fabrics.....and that...ND xx

It's too early for that dress -Post Pregnancy Fashion Dilemmas - Part 5

It's been over a week since my last post, I've been busy with all my children over the Easter hols, on days out and visiting family and friends. I'm writing this with my little Sylvie Belle on my lap, she must be used to me using the laptop now as she often nods off to the sound of the tapping keys! Poor thing!

A breakthrough has happened to me over the past month, I am excited to announce that I am back in my old jeans....yey! The post pregnancy weight is really starting to shift now and I am grateful for this. For this post I am mainly wearing all my old high waister jeans and have mixed this up with my latest buys from cheap as chips Primark and my new 1950s style favourites from Vivien of Holloway. I am working the Vintage Americana trend to the max!

Vintage Cute - White gypsy top from Vivien of Holloway, yellow cardigan from H&M, highwaister tapered jeans from Tokyo, Japan ( bought on my honeymoon, 3 years ago), cherry print socks from Topshop, red Converse low tops, swallow necklace from Accessorise.

The Primark Prada copy top as featured in my Vintage Americana post at the beginning of April. I'm not looking quite as good as Dakota Fanning on that Elle cover but hey ho, she's 17 and I'm old enough to be her mother....which shocks me slightly! 

Pastel Pales Geek - More Primark, the leopard print cardigan is the new item. You know, I do love a cardigan...and those Deirdre Barlow oversized glasses, how I love them!

Here's an example of how to create a peplum effect out of a top. I have used my oversized Xray Spex tee which somehow got ruined by a paint stain (children do these things to your clothes) so to hide it I have added a belt and taa daa...we have peplum.

Jeans from Topshop, Xray Spex tee from 8ball, black catseye sunglasses from asos.com, Neon pink belt a gift.

A close up of my new Primark sandels, which I haven't worn since as the weather here has been too cold. I do look a lot paler than usual too!

The 4 photos above are of me Djing last Friday at my club night Bang (based at The Big Chill Bar) here in Bristol. I was much more awake this month and there was a great atmosphere in the club. I was happy that I fitted into the tightest of my high waister 'old' jeans and teamed them with my new Vivien of Holloway Gypsy top, red elastic belt from ebay and red Converse low tops. The top pic features my brother Mike who (coincidently) is also rocking the Vintage Americana look. We didn't do it on purpose...we didn't!

The Primark Prada rip off  Americana top again worn with my high waister tapered jeans from Tokyo.

A quick snap shot taken at the in-laws about 10 seconds before we had to leave to visit my good friends in Leicester (I went to Uni there and then stayed on for 6 years, I made a lot of good friends, including my good friend and fellow blogger Dilly Foxtrot - and her sister Di, who was pregnant when I left that day but had her lovely baby -a few hours later!! Congrats Di and well done!!! I miss them).

Gingham bustier top (also featured in my Americana post) from Vivien of Holloway, high waister skinnies (as before), red belt (as before) and red Converse.

I have finally managed to get through the back log of my Post Pregnancy style pics, I think we've seen enough of me for a bit so a current obsession or Style Icon post is on the cards...Thanks for stopping by! ND xx

It's too early for that dress -Post Pregnancy Fashion Dilemmas - Part 4

I am a little delicate today as I was out Djing last night and may have indulged in one or two drinks....Here's the next installment from my post pregnancy posts.

Sportswear? What's that all about? Well, I had become inspired by a photoshoot fashion story from Pigeons and Peacocks magazine named Ganguro Girl, I have talked about it before on my Pigeons and Peacocks post from last year. (Find it here http://no-debutante.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/my-latest-magazine-obsession-pigeons.html ) The styling is a mix of Japanese street style and British chav style, which sounds bizarre but looks cool.

I decided to try and wear a bit of sportswear each day, to see how many looks I could come up with, using the clothes I already own. I needed to incorporate sports styling with bright colours and prints, the same way as the P&P fashion story. Sportswear inspired fashion is also massive this Spring/ Summer including high tec anoraks, cycle shorts (yes, cycle shorts), glossy bright colours, jog pant cut trousers and racer back vests. I will deffo do a post about what's on the high street and how to wear sportswear very soon.

Outfit 1  -Khaki anorak from Primark, purple sweatshirt, leggings & sunglasses from H&M, Socks from American Apparel, red Converse low tops. from Office.

Wear an oversized anorak with everything this Spring Summer!

Outfit 2 - Mickey Mouse sweatshirt and bodycon dress from H&M, Floral leggings from Versace for H&M, red Converse low tops.

Outfit 3 - Purple sweatshirt (as before) digital floral print trousers and red socks from Topshop, Leopard print Converse low tops from Office.

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Outfit 4 - Sonic Youth t-shirt from Urban Outfitters, low front bodycon dress from American Apparel, floral leggings and red Converse (as before) yellow cardigan from H&M.

Outfit 5 - Black vest and leopard print trousers from Topshop, yellow sunglasses and cardigan from H&M, red Converse (as before).

I am classing these trousers as sportswear as they are cut the same as jogging bottoms with the baggy leg and gathered hem, so it's sportswear inspired clothing for the Sportswear trend as well as traditional sportswear.

 Outfit 6 - Bloomers from American Apparel, name necklace from Tatty Devine, Mickey Mouse sweatshirt and Converse (as before).

I love my American Apparel bloomers! I went shopping to Primark on this day and a mother said to her daughter 'what on earth is she wearing?' which made me smile....

I guess, on this occassion, I didn't really have any post pregnancy fashion dilemmas as sportswear is comfy and fits you even if you go up a couple of sizes, it's a dangerous thing to wear as you may not realise you are putting on the pounds! Sportswear - wear with caution! ND xx