This outfit is what I wore to do some last minute Christmas shopping at Meadowhall or MeadowHELL as some call it at this time of year.

Fatshionologie is a blogger style challenge born out of a discussion on twitter in the hopes that it would help us create exciting new content for out blogs as well as show that each new style 'theme' can be rocked by a variety of different body shapes.

For this months Challenge we chose Floral and this is also the first of my Plus Size Clothes Swap items! I picked up this little orange cardi in a size 22 from Asda which looked new. It isn't a colour I would normally go for but because it was free I thought I could make it work and when I got home after the Swap I had a parcel waiting for me from New Look Inspire. I had ordered this dress as soon as I saw it on their website as it was only £12.99 and figured it would sell out fast. I was right. To my surprise the peach and rust roses on the dress matched perfectly with the cardi. I am also wearing a bra I got from Rebecca at the swap in a size 42GG from Panache and is the most comfortable bra I have ever tried. I may need to size up to an H when I invest in new bras but it works for now. I wore this outfit on my birthday and felt lovely in it.

Saturday was the 4th Clothes Swap by the Yorkshire Rad Fat Collective Facebook group (join to keep up to date with future events) and the first by Rebecca and myself at the helm. Since I was technically working I did not get many photos but the lovely Rebecca Northcott did!

Firstly I want to thank Rebecca my Co-Host for being a great girl and being the leader in this adventure. Also I have to thank Charlie for the brilliant poster design and flyer for the event.
Then all the fabulous ladies who helped set up, took turns on the door and clear up. Bettie and Jen for bringing the Zine Distro and some awesome items (to be seen later) Everyone who came and donated items and took items home! You are what makes the Swap work and I hope everyone went home happy with some items they found.

A special thank you to Chloe of Lifes Big Canvas for an amazing 25% discount voucher for everyone who attended and also The Marvellous Tearoom in Birds Yard who also donated a voucher!

This post is pic heavy and includes pictures from Rebecca Northcott who blogged about the event HERE so go check out her post and Bettie from her Instagram. If you were at the event please leave a comment and tell me what you thought or got. Also if you have blogged about the event please comment and leave a link so others can see!

Now the pictures ......

I made cupcakes

My big bags for the swap

Clothes clothes and more clothes

Setting up Lisa, Bettie & Rachel

Cupcakes and Bon Bons

Co-Host Rebecca

Bettie & Jen with Zine Nirvana the "Backpack Zine Distro"

My purchases!

In full swing

Having a quick rake

Beth with one of my cupcakes

Beth & Rachel

After the Swap we went to see Chloe and her shop and Birds Yard at last! Wants from her shop!

Purchases with voucher. Jen named my Frenchie Percy :)


Some of the ladies went for a meal after the Swap. What a beautiful sight.

Thank you Rebecca Northcott for the photos! More HERE!

I colour my hair a red/ginger colour but pictures are not showing it up well. I decided to go with the red/rust theme of the day and wear this pretty little number. I love patent right now! Because I have coloured my hair I changed to my darker glasses. The others would get tainted by the dye. Especially at the ears!

This top is from the Clothes Swap and is a size 20. I am not a size 20! It is tight around my belly and quite short due to my boobs. Probably why someone donated it but because I wear my skirt high you don't see it. If you have a top you decided was too small try wearing it like this and you might just like it! A belt pulls it all together and this skirt is becoming a fast favourite of mine right now!

I can't wait for those long summer days when you want to do nothing but sit in the sun drinking fruity iced teas and reading a book or catching up with friends or having a picnic in the park. That is what I will be doing when I get to wear this dress!!! Its another of my FREE finds at the Clothes Swap. New Look Inspire  size 24. Perfect for sunning my whiter than white legs and keeping my shoulders from being burnt to a crisp. Plus it goes perfectly with my Primark Polka Dot heels! Yay!

I only recently moved to Sheffield and have found it very hard to meet new people and make friends. Especially girls! I decided to join OkCupid and look for local girls with similar interests. As you would imagine I got a lot of request from guys even though I made it very clear I was looking for FEMALE FRIENDS! Anyways I met a lovely girl the other day called Liz and we had a yummy lunch in town with lots of chat and giggles. I took her to the New Look on the High Street to show off the Inspire range only to find out they didn't stock it! Why? Fat people shop in town too!

After being verbally abused by an alcoholic Irish man and being told I hate the Irish I had reached my limit. I am not someone who likes confrontation and would avoid it if possible but being followed and shouted at took me over the edge. I yelled back and swore in the street at this horrible man and impressed myself with how I handled it! I like how I have grown in the last 5 years and like how I can now stand up for myself in a bad situation. Just 5 tears ago I would have run away without a word and went home to cry and ask myself why me??
Lesson Learned Today  - I TAKE NO SHIT!

Be brave and stand up for yourself people! Take back the power and fight for what is right.
FAT GIRL POWER! HELL YES!!!!

Quite a simple outfit with a splash of tribal. This top is another Clothes Swap find! New still with tags on! Moda at Asda size 24. I am finding wearing skirts that showcase my double belly really liberating! Its quite a scary thing to show it off at first.
After years of being told to dress to hide your "bad bits" by parents friends and media. Once you learn to love your belly dressing to hide things becomes meaningless. Its all about what you WANT to wear. Which makes dressing FUN again.
 I am 32 years old and it has taken me a long time to love myself the way I am but trust me its worth the effort. Push yourself to be uncomfortable and do things you wouldn't normally do. The more you put yourself out there the easier it becomes and eventually you do it without thinking about it.
Worrying less about what people think and focusing on what you think about yourself are a must for anyone at any age and size!

Please excuse the wet hair! I had just got out the shower. This is a Vest I got at the Plus Sized Clothes Swap on Sunday in Leeds (see previous posts)  I noticed that I dont have many summer clothes in my wardrobe so this vest is perfect and was FREE! I have teamed it with a leopard skirt I got from New Look Inspire £7 sale size 26 and the Bow Belt is from Simply Yours £16. Shoes also New Look Sale £6 and Leather Bag £19.99 ebay.





For when it gets a little chilly a shrug is perfect and for those who are not happy showing their legs or gets chub rub leggings solve that problem! For vests and tops that are a little short because of big boobs or belly, pulling a skirt up from waist to under bust can make a great alternative. For me this is actually the best place for a belt as I have a double belly not a round one. The belt just finishes off the outfit and makes it a bit smarter. More Plus Sized Clothes Swap finds to come!