Getting ready for summer - Key trends 2012

Hej med jer,

(English below)

I de kommende dage har jeg valgt at tage en lidt anden tilgang til dagens outfit. Normalt viser jeg kun outfits som jeg rent faktisk har haft på, men jeg har planlagt et par outfits til jer idag, som jeg ikke har haft på (endnu) men ville have haft på, hvis det havde været sommer og sol :-)

Grunden til at jeg har valgt dette er at sæsonen i Danmark er sådan at man normalt køber sit sommertøj i februar-april, når de nye S/S kollektioner kommer, men får ikke mulighed for rigtigt at bruge det før langt op i juni, pga. vejret. Så når man bladrer bloggene igennem i juni, juli og august, så er tøjet jo for længst udsolgt. Så nu for I chancen for at være lidt på forkant og snuppe et (efter min mening) par key items/key trends, som jeg i hvert fald har tænkt mig at bruge en del her når det bliver lidt varmere.

Hi guys, 


So the next couple of days I have chosen to take a slightly other approach to the outfit of the day. Normally I only show outfits that I actually have worn, but I have planned a couple of outfits for you today that I have not worn (yet) but definitely would have, had the weather agreed :-)

The other reason why I have chosen this approach is that the season in Denmark is a little odd. Normally you buy you summer wardrobe in February-April, when the new S/S collections come out, but you do not get the opportunity to wear it before mid to late June because of the weather. And so when you flick through the fashion blogs in June, July and August, what you see is long sold out. So now I wanted to give you a chance to scoop up a couple of (in my opinion) key items/key trends, before they sell out. And I will definitely be wearing all of these as soon as the weather allows it!  

Jeg har valgt at fokusere på to forskellige underdele som jeg har mixet og matchet lidt med. De kommer begge fra to af sommerens store trends: pasteller og neon.

I have chosen to different bottoms which I have mixed and match to reflect the key trends this summer. The pieces are in the catagories, candy pastels and neon.  

Candy pastels


Min inspiration til pasteller kommer helt sikkert fra den smukke Louis Vuitton kampagne for deres S/S 12 kollektion. 


My inspration for pastels comes from the beautiful Louis Vuitton campaign for their S/S 12 collection. 

Louis Vuitton, Sweet as Candy campaign SS12

Den underdel jeg har valgt til at skabe dette look er en mintgrøn pencil nederdel fra H&M.

The piece I have chosen to create this look is a mint pencil skirt from H&M. 

Mint pencil skirt - H&M (straight sizes, if you loose the belt, it is stretchy enough)

Neon



Neon-trenden er jo ikke helt ny, den har vi set de sidste par sæsoner. Men jeg må indrømme at jeg skulle altså lige bruge et stykke tid til at se den an (husk på at jeg allerede HAR gået i neon én gang før i slut-firserne ;-)). Men her til sommer er den altså ikke længere til at komme udenom. Se f.eks. hos Nanette Lepore.

The neon trend is not exactly brand new, it has been around for the past couple of seasons. But I must admit, I have really needed some time to consider it (remember I DID already wear neon once before, in the late 80'ies ;-)). But this summer it is really not possible to ignore anymore. See it for instance at Nanette Lepore. 

 

Nanette Lepore - SS12 runway

Den underdel jeg har valgt at fokusere på i neon kategorien er et par neongule jeans fra very.com. De er desværre udsolgt i en str. 48 på very.com (sikkert efter at man kunne se dem på hende her). Men måske man stadig kan være heldig på et af very.com's søstersider.

The bottom in the neon catagory I have chosen to focus on is a couple of neon yellow jeans from very.com. They are unfortunately sold out in the largest size (UK20/US18) on very.com (probably after this girl showed them off). But you might be lucky at some of the very.com sister sites.

 Neon yellow ankle grazers - South @ Very.com

Check ind den næste uges tid, hvor jeg vil poste et par outfits indenfor hver kategori. Jeg har forsøgt at fokusere på ting, der stadig kan fås i butikkerne eller online.


So stop by the next week or so, where I will be posting a couple of outfits in each category. I have tried to focus on pieces there are still available either in stores or online. 


-Karina

Swimwear for your curves

 Hej med jer,

(English below)

Dette indlæg skal handle om badetøj til plus size kvinder. Jeg er godt klar over at mange af os ikke er ovenud begejstrede for tanken om at flashe vores blegfede, appelsinhud og muffintoppe på en strand eller ved en pool, men når nu det skal være, så skal vi da også se ordentlig ud, ikke? Og som med alt andet beklædning vil jeg påstå at det handler om attitude og selvtillid. Jeg synes ikke man skal føle sig tvunget til at gemme sig væk i en blomstret mormor badedragt og en sarong (i det øjeblik man rejser sig fra solsengen, ja, jeg er sikker  på I ved hvad jeg mener ;-)) eller værre endnu, sidde på stranden fuldt påklædt, bare fordi man ikke ligner en Sports Illustrated bikini model!

Det er selvfølgelig ikke alle der er kommet til en overenskomst med deres kroppe og stadig gerne ville dække det ene eller det andet og jeg har samlet nogle forskellige muligheder så der er noget for en hver smag. Jeg ved godt at det kan være rigtigt svært at finde noget pænt når man kommer over en str. 48-50 og det synes jeg virkelig er tarveligt! Men jeg har gjort mit bedste for at finde lidt til jer også (selvom I aldrig vil finde noget så frygteligt som en "badekjole" på denne blog!)

Jeg selv har besluttet at jeg er en bikini-pige. For jeg kan godt lide når min mave får lidt farve. Blæver er bare pænere med en tan ;-)

Hi guys, 

This post is all about plus size swim wear. I do realize that many of us are not thrilled about the thought of flashing our fat pale, cellulite and muffin tops on a beach or by a pool, but when we have too, why not do it in style! And as it is with all other clothing, swim wear is all about attitude and confidence. You should not feel shamed into hiding you body in a floral granny swinsuit and a sarong/cover up (in the instance you get up from the beach chair, yes, I know, you know what I am talking about ;-)) or even worse sit on the beach fully clothed, just because you do not look like a Sports Illustrated swim suit model!

I know it is not everybody that has come to accept their body as it is and still want to cover this and that and I have collected some different options for you as well. I know it can be very challenging to find anything remotely nice when you are above a size UK 20-22, US18-20, and that is really a shame! I have done my best though, to try and include you as well (although you will never find something as horrible as the "swimdress" on this blog!) .


Me, I have decided that I am a bikini girl. Because I like a little colour on my stomach. Blubber is a bit more attractive with a little tan ;-)

Bikini

Selvom jeg tror fuldt og fast på at vi ikke skal stå tilbage for vores tynde medsøstre, så ER der altså ting der ikke er praktiske når man har en stor barm. Glem trekants-bikinien! Vi vil jo helst ikke flashe vores attributter på vej op af vandet, vel? Der skal altså lidt ekstra hold på tøserne.

Even though I am a firm believer that we can wear the same clothes as our skinny sisters, there ARE items that are simply not practical when you have a bigger bust. Forget about the triangle bikini! We don't want to flash the attributes on our way out of the water, right? We need some extra support for the girls. 

Lucille bikini - Panache (@ Asos or Figleaves.com) goes up to a size 38G/85H in the top and UK20/EU48 in the bottom. (This one is on its way to me ;-))  

Hvis du gerne vil have lidt mere dækning i mave- og numse-regionen, så vælg en shortsmodel eller en model der går lidt længere op i taljen a la Marilyn Monroe retrostilen.

 

If you do want a bottom that covers a little bit more in the bum and tummy area, go for a little short or a higher waisted model a la the Marilyn Monroe retro style. 

 Black and white bikini with high waisted "bum lifter" brief - Resort @ Very.com. Top goes up to 38F/85G, bottom goes up to a UK24/EU52

 

Cross over bandeau set -  Resort @ Very.com. Top and bottom as a set goes up to a size UK24/EU52.

 Polkadot bandeau bikini with shapewear shorts - Resort @ Very.com. Top goes up to a 38F/85G, bottom goes up to a UK24/EU52

Tankini

Tankini'en er en hybrid mellem en bikini og en badedragt. Altså en bikini med en "tank top". De er gode, hvis man gerne vil dække maven og de kan ofte fåes som mix og match, så man kan vælge en tankinitop og en bikinitop til de samme trusser. Praktisk, hvis man synes det ene eller det andet er mere eller mindre passende i forskellige situationer :-)

The tankini is a hybrid between a bikini and a swimsuit. A bikini with a "tank top". They are good for covering up the tummy and you can often get them as a mix'n'match, so you can get a tankini top and a bikini top to match the same bottom. Practical if you think that one or the other is more/less appropriate in different situations. :-)

Mix & Match tankini top and shorts - Resort @ Very.com. Underwire top goes up to 40G-F/90G-H and short goes up to UK32/EU60

Magic loose an inch tankini set - Resort @ Very.com. Sold as a set, goes up to UK26/EU54.

 Blue floral shapewear tankini with tummy control shorts - Resort @ Very.com. Top goes up to 44F/100G. Bottom goes up to UK24/EU52

                                       

Swimsuit

Badedragten er jo en klassisker. Den er gradvist kommet tilbage her de seneste par år og er nu ikke længere (kun) forbundet med ældre damer i svømmehallen med matchende badehætte. De er blevet meget mere sexede og har en fed retro vibe.

The swimsuit is a classic. It has gradually returned to the swimwear fashion over the past couple of years and now it is not (only) for elderly ladies at the pool with a matching cap. They are much more sexy now and with a great retro vibe.

 

"Dominica" Leopard Mesh Swimsuit - Monif C. Goes up to a UK26/EU54

                                     

"España" Ruffle Plus Size Swimsuit w/Detachable Strap - Monif C. Goes up to a UK26/EU54

"St. Tropez" Fuchsia Fringe Plus Size Swimsuit - Monif C. Goes up to a UK26/EU54.

 Magic loose an inch swimsuit - Resort @ Very.com. Goes up to a UK26/EU54

 Bandeau swimsuit - Resort @ Very.com. Goes up to size UK24/EU52

 Cover ups/beach wear

Selvom jeg er for at man ikke behøver at dække sig til i det øjeblik man rejser sig eller kommer op af vandet, så er det alligevel rart at have noget at tage over sig når man skal have frokost, hente en drink i strandbaren eller tilbage til hotellet.

Jeg foretrækker "almindeligt" tøj fremfor egentlige cover-ups som de der gennemsigtige tunikaer eller saronger. Så jeg har samlet et par ting, som jeg kunne forestille mig at bruge som cover-ups men lige så meget hvis man lige får lyst til at gå en tur ned i byen uden at gå hjem og skifte først. 


Even though I do not believe that you need to hurry up and cover yourself as soon as you get up or out of the water, it is still nice to have something to throw on when you go for lunch, to get a drink in the beach bar or go back to the hotel.

I prefer "regular" clothes over the actual cover-ups like the sheer tunics or sarongs. So I have collected a few pieces that I would use as cover-ups but also if you want to go for a walk in the town with out going home to change first. 

 Aqua jersey maxi dress - Asos Curve

 Blue rope tie jumpsuit - Asos curve

 Leopard print jersey playsuit - Asos Curve

 Lime green racer back maxi dress - South @ Very.com/littlewoodseurope.com

 Pink cheesecloth maxi dress - South @ Very.com/littlewoodseurope.com

Og så mangler man jo kun et par fine klip-klappere og en god strandtaske! ;-)

Hvordan har du det med at vise din krop frem på stranden? Hvilken type badetøj plejer du at vælge? Og hvad skal du have i år?

And now all you need is a pair of nice flip flops and a good beach bag! ;-)

How do you feel about showing your body at the beach? What type of swimwear do you usually go for? And what will you go for this year?

-Karina

Winter Florals

Hi guys,

This summer while I was all giddy and high on sunshine (or the idea of sunshine as the weather in Denmark was not that sunny) I wore a lot of bright colours and floral prints. I actually promised myself that, come winter, I would try and soften my usual all black winter wardrobe and get in some colours.

I am not sure that I am 100% able to follow through with my good intentions, but I will give it a try. So I went for an online browse with the aim of finding some pretty winter floral dresses (bearing my summer crush in mind), I ended up buying one, but wanted to show you the many options out there if you also need to inject your dark winter wardrobe with some pretty flowers.

Yellow/mustard flower dress - South @ Littlewoods

I have ordered this gorgeous mustardy/yellow dress with the orange, purple and red flowers. I think it is super cute and I can't wait to wear it. I plan to wear it with purple tights, my turqoise suede heels from ALDO and my new blue shimmering"Midnight Cami" nail polish from Essie, for a jewel tone colour blocking look.

 Blue tunic/dress with poppies - Monsoon

 Creme 70's dress - South @ Littlewoods

 Black and creme kimono style dress - Dorothy Perkins

 Black floral kimono style dress - Dorothy Perkins

 Navy blue floral dress - Asos Curve

Black and brown floral dress - H&M BiB (totally sold out online, but I managed to get one a month ago. And I have seen it in store several places as well)

- Karina

Party season - long sleeve dresses

Hi guys,

The party season is quickly approaching and it is time to find a dress (or several ;-)) to get you through all the December functions.

This year, I will go for a long sleeve party dress. I think long sleeves are perfect for this season, as I am always a little cold ;-) I also think that there is something really fabulous and luxurious about long sleeve party dresses, you are covered up, but still sexy. And although I do not mind showing my arms, many women would rather cover them up and so long sleeves are perfect.

I have found some examples for you below:

Champagne sequin dress - Dorothy Perkins

 White and silver beaded dress - Love Label @ Littlewoods

 White ruched dress with beaded details in the back - South @ Littlewoods

 Oyster velvet dress - Savior @ Littlewoods

Black chiffon dress with beaded cuffs - Asos Curve

Black lace dress - H&M BiB

- Karina