Femme Fatale

I wore this outfit to work yesterday with flats and then popped some heels, lippy and a hair band on to go and meet friends after work. I NEVER wear bright lipstick so I felt a bit self conscious all night. I have Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy which I wear all the time, I much prefer nude lip colours. Thanks for all the tips on my last outfit post, I'm going to invest in a red cardi it would look nice with this dress and the last one.

Dress: Peacocks
Cardigan: H&M
Shoes: Next
Necklace: Vivienne Westwood
Belt: New Look

The title of the post isn't a reference to something cool like The Velvet Underground song it's because the new Britney album came out on Monday, woohoo!

I love BritBrit, listening to her in bed whilst painting my nails.

A very messy attempt at putting some Magenta Divine on that Sarah sent me. I love it and I might put another coat on so it's solid glitter.

I bought loads of new albums this week including The Strokes, The Vaccines and Joy Formidable. What have you been listening to recently? 

xx

I can't believe it's not Peacocks...

Hello! another work filled week for me so I only have a boring work outfit to share with you. This dress is not from Peaocks... not all of my dresses are from there, honest! This is a dress from Tesco which I bought a while a go but it's a little too formal for me, I prefer something floral with a bright cardi but it's nice to wear something smart to work sometimes. I have mentioned before that photos are a great way to see if something looks right, next time I will wear this with a more cropped cardigan as this waterfall one is a bit shapeless. I've had this belt for ages but I've never worn it, I'm trying to think of more things to pair it with because it's rather nice.

Dress: Tesco
Cardi: asda
Belt: Wallis
Shoes: Very

What do you wear to work? I find it tricky to dress for work because I don't have a dress code and all the students come in the library looking fab and I don't want to look like a scruff.

Here are a few vintage events in Cardiff coming up soon which you might like to attend- We Love Vintage Fair, Catwalk for a Cause and Pontcanna Vintage and Handmade Fair.

xx

Peacocks again...

Hello everyone, it's been a while since my last outfit post, sorry! It's manic at this time of the year in the library with lots of deadlines coming up before Easter and dissertations will be due in soon so I've been working most days from 11 until 9.30.

Anyway... here is an awful moon faced picture of me in a fab dress I got from Peacocks a few weeks ago when I had 40% off. It didn't fit me and I was going to take it back but because of all of the extra shifts I haven't had time. I was going to take it back on Wednesday because I finished work early and tried it on to make sure I was going to take it back but it fits me now!! Proof that a bit of Where Are My Knees? motivation works.
I posted a Moroccan Chickpea Soup recipe over on the Where are my Knees? blog earlier in the week which is worth checking out, tasty, veggie friendly and only 3 pro points a portion!

I wore these accessories with the dress, both of which I picked up in Dorothy Perkins for only £2 each, bargain!

I went to see Frankenstein in the cinema last night, I really wanted to go and see it in the National Theatre but the entire run has sold out, possibly because of obsessive Benedict Cumberbatch fans like me (aka the Cumberbitches) buying up all the tickets. The play is directed by Danny Boyle and Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller are alternating the roles of Victor Frankenstein and the Creature.
I’m afraid to say that despite the rather spectacular staging, the play itself wasn't amazing. Both Miller and Cumberbatch gave a great performance but some of the minor characters were annoying and I found the comedy in the script didn't fit with the horrific ending.  I really enjoyed the examination of the themes of good and evil, nature vs nurture but it could have been so much better!

 

What have you all been up to recently? have any of you seen Frankenstein or any other theatre productions recently?
xxx

Pearl Lowe for Peacocks

 

I don't really do many posts like this because I'm usually not excited about  new collections, they never fit me (Topshop etc) but I'm really excited about this one and wanted to share it with you. I'm always flying the Peacocks flag because they have great dresses that fit me for a fair price. The Pearl Lowe range is full of 40's & 70's glamour and will be exclusively sold online and in flagship stores from March 31st. I really liked the last collection but it sold out so quickly in the Cardiff store, I hope I manage to pick up one of these dresses.

What do you think of this little peek at the new collection? I'm loving all of the dresses but the black dress with white bows is my favourite.
xx

 

Florals

Florals are

I wear something floral most days and if I'm not wearing them I'm drinking tea from my floral Cath Kidston mugs, putting my make up in a floral make up bag and sleeping under my floral duvet, I'm floral mad! This post is a tribute to florals and those who wear them so well :)

Jemma-Louise / Sarah / Me!

Leanne's ring / Beth with her lovely floral bag /Maria's hammer

Rani / Rosie / Charlene

Is your wardrobe full of florals or are you more of a stripes kind of girl?

How are you enjoying the weekend? it's sunny here in Cardiff but I'm in work all day :( make sure you check Where Are My Knees? tomorrow because we are going to post our first weekly round up and we will be letting you guys get involved!
xxx

Fat Frocks is in a Fab Mood

It's been a great week so far and I want to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who has checked out Where Are My Knees?. I had lots of lovely supportive comments about my introductory post and I'm sure me and the other lovely ladies can reach all of our goals with everybodys encouragement :) Don't want to repeat too much of what I will talk about on the other blog but I lost 5% of my total body weight, hurrah!

Sarah gave me a discount code on Saturday so I got 20% off Dorothy Perkins but there was already 30% off dresses so I got some bargains, it was dress madness, thanks Sarah! I ordered a lovely blue dress but it's more of a 'going out' dress so I wore this one to my course today and I got complimented on it in ASDA, score. I'm glad I got it for £16 because it's only jersey material and isn't the best fitting dress I've ever bought. I would have been a little disappointed if I payed full price.

Dress: Dorothy Perkins
Cardi: H&M (had this for 6 years and it's still looking fab)

Shoes: Very
Leggings: Evans
Bracelet: Peacocks

My brother takes all my photos because I'm too much of a cheapskate to buy a tripod. He was giving me directions as if he was 'noted  fashion photographer Nigel Barker' and I was doing my best Tyra Banks impression. I'm not totally mad, honest...

Have you had any discount code bargains recently?

If you want to chat or ask me anything about Where Are My Knees then you can find me on twitter so come and say hi :)
xx

Red Nose Day

It's Red Nose Day in the UK on Friday and I have to wear red to work, it's not a colour I usually wear and I thought a few other people might be in the same predicament as me so I did a little polyvore collage of some great red items to give you some inspiration. The H&M vest is only £3.99 it's a cheap way to wear as bit of red on Friday. If you don't have anything red or any funds to get a snazzy red outfit then nail polish and makeup are a cheap way to bring a little red into your outfit.

Red Nose Day by nancymay featuring cotton skirts

 

I really wanted one of the Vivienne Westwood Red Nose Day tshirts but they have sold out everywhere, such a shame!
This is what I will be wearing on Friday-

Will you be doing anything fun in work or school to raise money for Red Nose Day? Hopefully we will be donating all fines payed in the library on Friday but it has to be passed by finance first....

I have recieved quite a few of the pen pal emails now and I'm starting to put all the information on a spread sheet and pair people up. It's taking a little longer than I hoped but hopefully you will be paired up by the end of the week :)

xx

Where Are My Knees?

Exciting news! If you follow me on twitter you might know that I started attending Weight Watchers a few weeks a go and I've been doing pretty well but I have started to struggle with motivation so this new project has come along at the perfect time...

Where Are My Knees? is a dieting, healthy eating and exercise blog written by five bloggers (including me) who each have their own goals and methods of losing weight. If you visit the blog you will find healthy recipes, tips on how to dress for your body shape and much more. I will be posting a entry on Where Are My Knees? later on in the week which will explain the reasons why I am on a diet and how I hope to achieve my goals.  If you want to join in with me, Sarah, Charlene, Lucy and Sarah come and visit is and share your tips and stories on http://wherearemyknees.blogspot.com/.

 If you want to get in touch with us, feel free to email wherearemyknees@gmail.com

xx

Handwritten Challenge

The lovely Rosie from A Pocket Full of Rosie tagged me with this challenge yesterday which I was very excited about. It's been quiet in work today so I scanned my attempt in. I didn't have any fancy paper with me in work so I wrote everything down in my Cath Kidston diary.

Here's what I had to write for the challenge:

1. Name and blog name.

2. URL.

3. Write, "A quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog!"

4. Favourite quote.

5. Favourite song.

6. Favorite bands/singers.

7. Anything you want to say!

+ tag some other bloggers.

 

It's a right dogs dinner! Hope you can all read it :)

I tag dinoprincesschar from t*rexes and tiaras
Leanne from A Slice of My Life
Sarah from a million dresses and...
Charlene from Dainty Dresses

If any of you are taking part in the handwritten challenge share your link and I will check them out. Everyone having a good weekend?

xx

Bristol and Outfit Post

This is the new dress I bought in asda last night, it was only £12 and is nice and light. I wore it in work all day today and it was very comfy. I must say I bought it because it matched the cardi I bought from H&M.

Don't I look mardy?! I have been in a good mood all day so I don't know why I couldn't crack a smile for a photo...

Dress: Asda
Cardi: H&M
Belt: Topshop

The print is very nice on this and although I have lots of floral dresses none of them are quite like this. I would say its more Hawaiian floral than my usual English garden.Have you had any cheap supermarket  clothing buys recently?

I went to Bristol on Monday to see Frankie and the Heartstrings again and I had a fab time.  It was a Topman student CTRL party but I managed to sneak in without a student ID, hurrah! The gig was in The Fleece which is one of my favourite venues, nice and small with a high stage so you can see everything. The band were in the same hotel as us which must have been rubbish for them because Bristol Central Travelodge was proper grotty, the cream lampshades were so dirty and it was really shabby. It was cheap though... We came downstairs in the lift and when the doors opened the band were standing there, promise I wasn't stalking them or anything! I tried to act cool but I was probably a complete dork.

Me and Emma got some Percy Pigs for the journey, I love them! I tried to do an outfit post before the gig but the lighting in the room was awful so I only have a dodgy photo in front of the camera. I wore my fave h&m dress and my new h&m cardi. Do you think Frankie looks like a young Morrissey or is it just me?

I'm in work all day tomorrow and Saturday and have an assignment to write so my weekend isn't going to be very exciting :( I do get a week off for Easter soon though and I'm planning a little trip away, maybe to Manchester.  What are you up to this weekend?

xx

Another Peacocks Dress...

Hello! This is one of the dresses I got in Peacocks with my 40% discount. I usually stick to dark colour dresses then pair it with a bright cardi but I chose a dress with some lighter and brighter colours. I look a little washed out but I wore this to work and I've been trying to wear less make up so that might have something to do with it. I got the cardi from h&m and it love it. It's organic cotton and it's nice and light. It get so warm in work but I don't like having my arms uncovered so this is a cardi that I wont have to take off.

Dress: Peacocks

Cardigan: H&M

Brooch: Dorothy Perkins

Shoes: New Look

Hair Flower: H&M

I went on the second day of my Team Leadership Skills course today, there was a lot more writing involved, discussions and group work, it tired me out so I went shopping after to relax... and bought a dress :) How bad is that? I'll show you later in the week, it was only £12.50 and it goes with the pink h&m cardigan.

 I'm going to watch some Snog, Marry, Avoid and Gossip Girl with a big mug of tea.

Hope you are all having a fab week.

xx

Do I still love you or is it just lust?

I thought the Frankie and the Heartstrings lyric in the post title sums up my dress lusting at the moment. I don't really need any of these dresses but I do really want them!

The first dress is £45 from Evans or style369 and I think it would be great for work and would be easily adapted for a night out with some heels and a statement necklace. Very practical and very wearable.

The next dress is so beautiful and a bit tacky which is just what I like. It's also a steal at £28 from Tesco and I am in love with the print. I think I would wear it with some black tights and a cropped black cardigan.

The third dress is from River Island and I saw it in black before Christmas. I tried it on and fell in love, it was only a size 14 which is way smaller than my usual size but it looked fab. I left it and tried to find a size 16 or 18 and it had sold out everywhere and I thought I had lost the dress forever but it's back in a brown/mink shade and is £49.99 which is a tad pricey but I'm thinking about getting it for a wedding I have in the summer.

What do you think? Shall I be sensible or splurge?!

What are you lusting after at the moment?

If you want to ask any questions or chat you can follow me on twitter
xx

Phew

Finally got a few minutes to myself after being so busy with work all week. It's been lovely to have a day where I don't need to get the bus. It has been a fun week though. I went to Pizza Express with my friend Amanda after work on Thursday and had some nice pizza that had a hole cut out of the middle with a salad in it, very yummy! I had frozen yogurt for dessert and Amanda had dough balls with nutella, I was very jealous. I bought a few lovely things in H&M which I will show you in an outfit post, hopefully on Tuesday.
 

I had 40% discount in Peacocks this week because I'm Cardiff Uni staff and went a bit crazy and bought two dresses, a top and 2 bracelets, I wouldn't normally splurge like this but how could I resist at 40% off?!

Last night I went to the World Book Day quiz that was hosted by my other job at Caerphilly Council. It's a bit lame that I didn't have anything better to do on a Saturday night but I did have fun. Library staff from all the neighbouring local authorities turned up and the Caerphilly team won for a second time in a row.

I've been trying out all the polishes that I bought on Wednesday and this is what the No7 'night night' shade looks like. It went on very easily and there is plenty of gold glitter in the black polish. It looks great on but it's coming off slightly at the tips and I've only had it on for a few hours. I think it might need more than one top coat.

I've not been reading much recently so I've got stuck in to these two books. One is about Barbara Castle who held the record as the female MP with the longest continuous service and she is the first, and to date the only woman to have held the office of First Secretary of State. She is a total inspiration to me and was dedicated to helping the people of the UK throughout her political career. I'm reading The Reader for my reading group that I run with my friends. It's a tad depressing but so far it's a great read. I've picked a bit of a chick lit book for our next group read because it can be hard work reading and discussing books with so many complex issues each time we meet.

I'm currently writing my first assignment for my short course I'm attending and emailing all the lovely people who joined up for the Pen Pal exchange so it's been a pretty busy day off.

I'm off to Bristol for a night out tomorrow and I have another week filled with long shifts. Are you doing anything nice this week?

Last Minute Cardiff Event

Sorry I'm letting you know so late in the day, only just got this poster. You still have time to pop along to the Carbootique if you are local and Northcote Lane doesn't start until 6 so why not pop along and shop whilst sipping one some of the lovely drinks they have in Milgi, my personal fave is the homemade lemonade.
xx

Floral Nail Art

I went on  course yesterday and I really enjoyed it. It's and ILM Leadership and Management course and I will be going every Wednesday for the next five weeks. It's just for women and tries to break down barriers that stop women from becoming managers and progressing in their career. The course was attended by so many lovely lovely women, I can't wait to go back next week even though we will be having assignments.

I finished the course at 4 so I thought I would have a little browse around Blackwood. Blackwood isn't a very good place for shopping, there are a few charity shops, a tiny New Look and Dorothy Perkins and one or two pretty small stores and the rest is poundshops and takeaways. I had a £5 off voucher for No7 so I went into Boots and found this great little varnish set which only cost me £3 with the voucher. There are two lov ely metallics, one dark burgundy and a green with gold glitter.

I also got these little gems that come in all different shapes, my favourites are the little hearts and pearl gems. Not sure what look I am going to do with these yet...

There is a new shop in Blackwood called IZZIT and it's full of nasty tutu's, JLS merchandise and anything else someone of a chavvy disposition would need. I did have a good snoop around in there and I discovered a whole section with nail aret supplies! I was pretty excited because they had nail art pens in a variety of colours, gems, a great selection of fake nails and some great glitter polishes. I bought these little nail art stickers and even though they are a little tacky I think they look great on.

I also got these 17 polishes and blush in Boots, they were 3 for 2 and at such a cheap price I couldn't resist. I bought the shades Ruby Gem and Forever. I'm in work for the next three days so I chose a subtle look and went for the Forever nude shade and tried out my nail stickers and this is the look I achieved...

I think they look pretty cute but my my Mam thinks they look like a 5 yr olds nails, harsh Mam!

I'm looking for some nail art inspriation so I would love it if you could send me links to some great looks you have created.
xx

1st Birthday

Fat Frocks is 1 year old today!

I want to thank eveyone who takes the time to read my blog and leave lovely comments.

Gemma
xxx

Outfit Post and Cardiff Vintage Events

Sorry, I've not done an outfit post for a while have I? I'm a bit useless at the moment, I go out wearing nice clothes or to fun gigs and forget to take photos. I've started working more hours this week and I will be doing them right up until the end of term. 1-9.30 isn't fun at all, your whole day is gone and it's not giving me much time to have fun. I can't complain too much though because I get 2 months off for summer :)  

Dress: New Look

Cardigan: asda

Belt: New Look

Necklace: gift from my nan

Leggings: Dorothy Perkins

My fringe has grown so much in 4 days, I can't see a thing! I will have to curl it under a bit until I have time to go for a trim. I wore this outfit to work yesterday and it was very comfy and it felt work appropriate which is a plus. This New Look dress is a little see through at the top but I think I'm the only one who noticed. I like the fact that it has a peter pan collar but it isn't too high, high necklines don't look that amazing on me.

Here are two events that people from south Wales and the west  might be interested in-

I'm off on a course tomorrow which is all about management and leadership skills and then I'm going to a book quiz on Saturday which will be attended by people who work in libraries all across south Wales which will be great fun. I had such a good time at the Frankie and the Heartstrings gig on Friday that I'm going to see them again in Bristol on Monday, can't wait!

What are your plans for the rest of the week?
xx

St David's Day

Happy St David's Day/ Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus!

Check me out in my little Welsh lady outfit :) I was about 4/5 when this was taken at my nans house, I don't look too impressed do I ?
xx

Pen Pal Exchange is now closed!

The Pen Pal Exchange is now officially closed!

I want to say a huge THANK YOU to each and everyone of you that joined up. We have over 80 people taking part which is more than I could have ever hoped for. I'm so happy that the scheme has appealed to so many people, I really thought about 10 people would join.

For those who missed out I'm sure I will re-open the scheme again soon. I'm glad I put a closing date because with over 80 people joined up it's going to take a fair bit of organising and a fair few hours will be dedicated to matching people up and sending emails out. Look out for an email from me soon, it may take a while to copy and paste all your email addresses but I will try and get the ball rolling on Sunday when I have a day off.

Kirsty at sweet dreams, sweet cheeks mentioned a blog called Goodnight Little Spoon and a tumblr group called Fuck Yeah Mail which should provide you with some inspiration for making your letters extra pretty.
If you know of any other lovely letter blogs or groups please let me know.

I will try and make a little blog button/badge for everyone that has joined up to the scheme when I figure out how to do it :)

Thank you again for joining up and check your emails at the end of the week!

xx