Layering Up for Autumn

Autumn.  The time of year when the weather likes to play tricks with us.  It could be freezing cold in the morning, only for gloriously warm sunshine to appear in the afternoon.  We dress for one type of weather and on many occasions end up getting another.

So how do we combat this mercurial weather?  The answer is layers.  A mix and match combination of your Summer and Winter wardrobe that will work with any weather combination.  For me, as always, that starts with a dress.

I am still clinging frantically to all my Summer dresses, not yet willing to give them up just yet to be packed away for next year.  So at the moment, my go to combination is a light summer dress, with a cardigan, tights and ankle boots.  Whether the day starts cold and goes warm or visa versa, the outfit can be adjusted to suit the temperature.

Here is what I was wearing today:

Floral Print Sleeveless Dress *
Black cardigan - old
Tights - New Look
Flat Ankle Boots *

I have to make a special mention of the boots that I am wearing in these photographs as they are an absolute bargain at £19.99 and are so comfortable.  Your foot is completely cushioned and it feels like you are wearing slippers.  The dress is also a bargain at £19,99 and can easily be worn with sandals for those warmer days.

Be a Rebel

My love affair with dresses is well documented on this blog, but the other loves of my life which are not as well documented are shoes.

Shoes work perfectly to complete an outfit and indeed in many cases, can make it or break it.  I love using shoes and boots to edge out an outfit, such as chunky boots with a pretty floral dress or flat sandals to make an outfit more casual yet still chic.  

I thought that I would share with you today some of my favourite shoes from a brand I had recently come across called London Rebel.   I was introduced to London Rebel via the brilliant team at i.LEVEL Software which is a stock management solution company created by fashion experts. They have some amazing brands that they work with which cover shoes, clothes, jewellery, fashion and accessories.

I had a look at London Rebel via Asos and have picked out my favourites for you which cover every base from summery flat to elegant evening shoes.  Amazingly they are all priced at less than £40.00!

1.  Chelsea Boots - £32.00

2.  Dolly Cross Flat Sandals - £30.00

3.  Diane Ankle Strap Sandals - £35.00

4.  Willow Cut Out Shoes - £30.00

5.  T Bar Sandals - £30.00

*This post is in collaboration with I Level Software however all views and choices are my own

Swimwear Through the Decades

I was forwarded this infographic with regard to swimwear through the ages.  This is not a sponsored post, I just found the content interesting so thought that I would share it with you!

Today's WishList

ASOS Curve women plus size dress
£43 - asos.com

Voodoo Vixen skater skirt
simplybe.co.uk

Voodoo Vixen red dress
simplybe.co.uk

ASOS Curve brown dress
£34 - asos.com

Evans plus size pants
houseoffraser.co.uk

Betty Boop satchel bag
simplybe.co.uk

Ray-Ban sunglasses
simplybe.co.uk

Evolving Style

Although I have been blogging for around five years, under difference guises and about different subjects, my blog The Curved Opinion turned two years old a couple of weeks ago!

Although I really hate the word "journey" when it comes to talking about your progress in life, this blog charts the way I started dressing when I decided to do away with my black clothes.   I decided to have a look back at some of my old posts and you can really tell the difference in me between now and then.  As a person, in the colours and patterns that I choose and my confidence in posing in front of the camera.

I decided to share a few of the photographs in this post, charting my fashion and confidence journey, can you see the changes?  

I actually love this photograph as it is one of my first blogging pictures.  Definately a little "rabbit in headlights" but I felt amazing.

You can practically see a thought caption over my head saying "Oh crap oh crap!!"

I LOVED this dress,  But I was too scared of wearing it and unfortunately ended up selling it.  Now I miss it a lot!

It's fashion, not torture, get rid of that forced smile!!

Another lovely dress, but another forced smile.  Come on woman!

What's that?  A genuine smile?  Are we getting there now?

Taken at Plus North.  I was so happy and it showed!

A real smile and a bright outfit - now I can see a girl I recognise

Happy and smiling.  Out of my comfort zone with a shorter dress and not a care to be seen.

I've come a long way really.  Roll on the next two years!

February WishList

Been a while since I did a wishlist post. Here are some of my current favourites.

ASOS Curve tall dress
asos.com

Evans black midi dress
houseoffraser.co.uk

Joe Browns floral empire waist dress
simplybe.co.uk

ASOS Curve off shoulder dress
asos.com

Summer boots
£17 - amazon.com

Pull&Bear cut out boots
pullandbear.com

Christmas Party Outfit

Today I thought that I would show you what I wore for my work Christmas party.  For this night out I wasn't looking for sparkle and glitz, I wanted a stylish comfortable outfit with a bit of an edge.  My outfit is comprised from +Simply Be +Fashion World +M&S and +Clarks

My dress is the gorgeous Grazia Print Mesh Trim Dress and my jacket is the Tux Jacket with PU Trim from SimplyBe.

I have added a black bag with gold detailing from Marks & Spencers which can be found here and my ankle boots from Clarks which I have previously reviewed here

How to Buy Future-proof Christmas Presents

Christmas presents can be stressful business anyway but in these times of fast fashions, fads and technology it can be even trickier to pick a present that will last longer in your loved one’s affections past New Year’s Day. Whether you are buying for a young gamer, conscientious student or mad music fan, here are some tips on what to buy this Christmas and ensure they are still enjoying their gift this time next year.

TVs

Television technology moves very quickly these days. It doesn’t seem long since we were all watching massive backed screens which took a forklift truck to install in our living rooms. Now, we are all reaping the benefits of sleek thin designs with quality picture and sound quality. Electronic suppliers such as www.electricshop.com stock mainly LED screens these days but there are more advanced models such as SMART TVs which link directly to the internet, 4K screen technology for superb quality pictures and curved screens which are set to be the neatest thing in 2015.

Console Games

Console gaming can be an expensive hobby and it is difficult to keep track of the latest games and when they will be updated. This Christmas there are two titles which will be flying off the shelves in places like Game. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is the latest in this highly popular series of game and comes out in early November. Assassins Creed Unity is another high profile pre-Christmas release which will make most gamers’ festive period and hopefully give them hours of enjoyment until at least summertime.

Laptops

When thinking of purchasing future-proof laptops the best thing you can factor in is virus protection. Websites such as PCAdvisor are great for offering advice on the best antivirus software. It is also important to consider the laptop brands with the best reputations. If you can afford one, a Macbook is probably the safest option but if you are not a fan of Apple products or don’t fancy the hefty price tag, models such as the Sony Vaio AW, Panasonic Toughbook 74 make great purchases. Both offer quality screens as well as decent processors and RAM.

Fashion

For fashion advice it is best to bow to the established authorities. For 2014/15 Autumn-Winter Vogue recommend items such as polo necks, capes and other wraps like ponchos and cocooning coats.

Music

For the young pop fan in your life it is no longer good enough just to get that Christmas X Factor single. Releases from artists such as Calvin Harris, Ne-Yo and of course One Direction should be top of your pop picker’s list. If you are looking for something a bit edgier, albums from TV on the Radio, Eminem and The Voyeurs will provide a little more street cred.