Got the January Blues? Not anymore!

Now that the Festive season is over I am sure we're all looking in the mirror and regretting those last few mince pies aren't we? However all hope is not lost! I'm here to tell you what to wear to look good this January! Luckily for us ladies out there the dip-hem top is in high fashion this January, and if you don't already know, the dip-hem top is a curvy ladies best friend! The loose free flowing form of the top/shirt/dress, depending on what type to get, allows for no lumps and bumps to be on show, and also is long enough to cover your bottom and upper thigh, if that's an area you are self-conscious about. The dip-hem top allows you to be on trend, feel and look stylish, without worrying about being too on show! Another huge benefit of the dip-hem is it will also create the illusion of slimmer legs, due to its long shape! I know what your all thinking, "why don't I have a dip-hem top!!!" No worries girls, its not too late! Another must-have this January is the swing dress. What ever is a swing dress you ask? Good question!......and don't panic, you don't have to be able to swing dance to wear a swing dress! The swing-dress has all the qualities of a skater dress, however its loose around the stomach area! This has to be the best dress this time of year, as were all battling the belly bulge! The swing-dress is an extremely high fashion piece this year, and you would be missing out if you didn't go and get yourself one given its forgiving nature! You can wear the dress, with jeans for a more edgy look, team it with tights for a more elegant look or leggings for a more casual look. Both of these looks can be found on Asos, under their Curve collection! Good luck, happy January, and stay stylish girls!

Know your shape!

The key to looking good, dressing good and ultimately feeling good is to know how to dress for your shape! A lot of women struggle in finding the right clothes to suit their shape as you may have the right size garment but is it really right for your shape?
First things first, you need to determine which shape your body actually is, whether your hourglass, pear, apple, strawberry or rectangle. Typically an hourglass figure is one that is usually even width of shoulders and hips, consisting of a rounder and more curvy body type with a smaller waist. The pear shape body is similar to that of the hourglass, only the width of the shoulders and upper body as a whole are significantly smaller than your hips, which are wider. The apple body shape is however quite different to both the hourglass and pear as the apple shape is a bigger body shape all together and is known for being the shape that is evenly distributed weight on the top half of the body and also on the bottom half, however the shoulders are slightly bigger. The strawberry shape is quite literally the shape of a strawberry, bigger on top and smaller on the bottom. The opposite of the pear shape. The strawberry shape is also commonly described as "top heavy", this can be due to generally having  broader shape shoulders and back or a bigger bust. Lastly, the rectangular shape is known for being straighter shaped as the shoulders, waist and hips are relatively the same width. Before you can figure out which clothes will suit you best you first need to discover which of these body shapes are closest to yours. This picture should be able to help you figure out which shape you are.

Festive Fashion For The Curvy Girl

For some, the season of winter can be daunting as ideas of being wrapped up in layers and layers are not the most flattering, especially for us curvy girls! That's why its important that we know how to look winter wonderful. This season is packed with winter must-haves, among them is fur! It isn't easy to dress in fur being a bigger girl as it can make you look a lot bigger than you actually are, and dressing for your shape is vital. However, I've paid a visit to the local high-street stores, and I've noticed that in high demand are fur gilets! These are perfect for us curvy ladies, as they allow us to wear the latest fur trend without looking 10 sizes bigger as they are sleeveless and open jackets.
 For the ultimate on trend winter look pair a warm brown gilet with a long sleeved black top, thick trouser-like leggings, and a pair of chunky heeled ankle boots. For a more casual look, exchange the leggings for a pair of high-wasted jeans, and Ugg boots. Looks like fur can be our friend ladies!

Also a must-have this season are knee high boots! Knee high boots are essential this season as they not only look amazing, but they are extremely practical for the weather! However wearing long boots can also be difficult for women that have bigger calf's, which is why I've done some research and discovered that New Look have a whole range of wide fit calf boots as well as shoes. Not just are they wide fit, but they are also very affordable and stylish! This means that we can buy boots that cater to our needs without sacrificing style, or a heel as we all know a pointed shoe with a heel can create the illusion of slimmer legs! Knee high boots are best worn with, a pair of jeans, and a dip-hem sheer shirt, topped with a short leather jacket and heavy scarf to create levels and dimension to your look. Try to avoid skirts that end just before, or at the boot as it may appear over bearing. Also popular in the boot department are flatforms! This look has carried over from summer only in the style of a flatfrom ankle boot, this can add a grunge edge to any outfit. Lastly, this season is privy to a bit of Tartan! However busy patterns can prove to be hazardous for curvy girls as they can accentuate the area worn on. Therefore, in order to successfully wear Tartan, it should be an accessory, for example a Tartan long coat, or cardigan over any outfit can immediately put you on trend. Cardigans in particular, are also big this season. Knee, or even ankle length Cardigans with a cocoon-swing style add individual flair to your outfit and also are long enough to hide a multitude of sins if need be, and are the perfect fashionable cover up to any look.