Plus 40 Fabulous - The Style Council - 0-20.

For this month's Plus 40 fabulous Lee has picked the theme how the influences from our childhood and teens influence our choices today?

Firstly my style is probably eclectic and so are my influences.  My early influences were from old films I used to devour old films on the TV and thought that most of the women in them looked amazing, especially their clothes.  I also had a book of film that was lying around the house and I used to pour over the pictures and wanted to be as glamourous when I grew up.  I also loved Blondie and thought she was the coolest in her white dress looking like she controlled the boys at the back on the front cover of parallel lines.

So from about 0 to 7 my influences were

Influences 7 to 11

My next influences were sassy. naughty girls with big hair.  I really wanted to be Siobhan from Bananarama or Marmalade Atkins.  I didn't do big hair cos my parents cut mine about this time and I didn't know about backcombing, but I did rock fake wayfarers, denim blouson style jackets and oversize T shirts, oh and those fake cheerleader dresses.

Influences 12 - 16.

My next influences I supposd mainly came from John Hughes films, I was sort of obsessed with Andie from Pretty in Pink and dyed my hair red wanting to be her, I also adopted hats, vintage clothes when I could get them to fit and flowery dresses/  I also identified with Ally Sheedy's character from The Breakfast Club, was in love with Tiffany's hair.  I also was a bit of a hippy and would stop around in tassled skirts from the local Indian shop, Karma, anything crochet , floaty and used to go in Oxfam and look longingly at 70's boots knowing they would never fit my chunky calves.  My main influences in this look were probably Melanie and Stevie Nicks.

Influences 16 to 20

I think these have the biggest influences on my dress sense now as I was a Riot Grrl in Doc Marten's and flowery dresses which morphed into Brit Pop and of these it was the retro, nostalgia of Pulp especially in the technicolor Babies video that influenced my style most and I loved everything about how Drew Barrymore looked, even modelling my hair on her at the time and I adored Edie Sedgwick especially in leopard print. 

Me rocking Drew hair

So there you have it a whistle stop tour of my style influences.  They all influence my style now but I guess the styles I was into from 16 upwards probably does the most still, as I still wear fake fur and leopard print, love Peter Pan collars and print frocks (in fact I would go as far to say this is my signature look) Hair clips and skinny logo Tee's are still my jam.  

Yes new influences creep in but I think the essence of me is tied up in these styles.  I am happy that I have had great style icons and whilst they might not be necessarily the most cutting edge or badass, I am happy and glad I have had them in my life.  I suppose the only thing I lament is I never had a fat girl to look up to, never knew that fat could be pretty, stylish and beautiful till I was past my youth and spent so long feeling well fat in not a good way.  I hope in 20 years when other women are doing this, that perhaps fat, stylish women will make their lists.

There are lots of other fabulous 40 plus bloggers taking part in this, please check out their posts:

Cathy: http://www.southernyacht.blogspot.co.uk/
Christy: http://www.sprintingwithscissors.blogspot.co.uk/
Daisy: http://daisysays.co.uk
Kath: https://fatheffalump.wordpress.com
Kellie: http://www.bigfashionista.co.uk/
Leah: http://www.justmeleah.co.uk
Lee: http://www.pinkybellesshed.co.uk/
Lisa: http://www.kitandkoboodle75.blogspot.co.uk/
Mookie: http://www.mookieslife.com/
Nikki: http://www.nattynikki.com/
Perelandra: http://www.pamperandcurves.com/
Sarah: http://www.plussizeproud.co.uk
Steph: http://www.misskittenheel.com
Yvonne: http://woosangwashere.blogspot.com

#Plus 40 Fabulous - Introduction

Welcome any new readers, who are hoping over from over Blogs and sorry to existing readers sorry if I repeat myself, but welcome to snapshots of my little world.

I am excited to take part in this challenge devised by Mookie and Leah, as although I am 40 I do not feel ready for slacks or blouses and have no freakin desire to wear beige and although I am fat I do not feel like I should just settle in terms of clothing, I am all about the pretties and I will always search for that Holy Grail a pretty, cheap and comfortable bra in a larger cup.

So how did I find my style, I was a fat teenager and adult who always loved clothes especially unusual or vintage but obviously in the late 80's early 90's this was a bit of a problem but luckily I could always just about fit in the larger end of the High Street.  Then in my 30's I lost my way a bit I blame Trinny and Susannah a bit although they did some stylish makeovers they could make me feel that well I should dress my age! Ugh.  I got a bit lost for a while then I found pretty print dresses in quirky prints and I think this is my style really.

Obviously I love to wear dresses but I am also a carer so I have a work wardrobe which is usually Jeans, so when I'm not flouncing around in dresses I am in my jeans and tops,

So I suppose that is basically my style usually with a hefty injection of faux fur, I flirt with other styles and long for the day I can do edgy street style but that look never quite works for me, but I am all about fashion being fun and have through blogging managed to go from someone who avoids having their photo taken to a bit a of a poser.

I am really looking forward to these challenges as the fashion industry seems to think women of my age are past it and should be looking at classic pieces rather than following fashion, but I stuck my middle finger to that as I fully intend to be all the F's, Forty, Fat and freakin fabulous.

There are some pretty amazing and inspiring women taking part in this so please check out their blogs.

Mookie: http://www.mookieslife.com/

Leah: http://www.justmeleah.co.uk

Cathy: http://www.southernyacht.blogspot.co.uk/

Lee: http://www.pinkybellesshed.co.uk/

Sarah: http://www.plussizeproud.co.uk

Lisa: http://www.kitandkoboodle75.blogspot.co.uk/

Daisy: http://daisysays.co.uk/

Nikki :http://www.nattynikki.com/

Betty Pamper: http://www.pamperandcurves.com/

Kaye: http://www.polishedcurves.com/

Kellie: http://www.bigfashionista.co.uk/

Birthday Take 2

As I said my original day out with the girls came to a bit of a halt when my lovely friend and organiser of the day ended up in hospital.  So what's a girl to do when a celebration has been planned and cancelled, redo it of course!

So three months after my real Birthday like the Queen I trotted out to do a second one.  My original outfit was the Gemma Collins dress I tried on a Bluewater but due to the searing heat body con was out  and my beautiful Lady Voluptuous Phoebe got her first outing.

 I bought the Phoebe in size 22/24 and it is a tad bit too big if I am honest but I don't think a size 20 would have fit me as there is around 3 to 4 inches of material spare at the waist but not 6" which on the size chart is the difference.  I am really hoping that Lady Voluptuous does away with the dual sizing as for me I don't think it is a winner.  The dress itself is lovely and features a little net underskirt which gives it a bit more poof and elevates it from a day dress into something a bit more special.  Be warned though a gust of wind can see you doing a Marilyn in this dress.

I teamed it with some very old Primark Wedges, my Blackheart Creatives Fabulous Forty necklace, some amazing donut earrings that Jenny bought me, My Janine Basil Pixel Cherry clip and a Drumstick handbag also a present from Jenny.  With my hair I had tried to create some ommph and mini short hive as I am growing it but I'm not sure it was that successful, and my lipstick was a Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Ole Flamingo which is a lovely long lasting bright pink.

It was an amazing day full of friends, food, cocktails, cake, gossip, laughter, fun and dancing after we swapped the more serious club for a cheese fest!  I could not have wished for more.

39 before 40!

So as you may have seen I recently celebrated my 39th Birthday, so that means I hit the dizzying heights of 40 next year (I always imagined I'd be so much more grown up by 40)  So I thought to celebrate this momentous occasion I would set myself 39 goals and challenges, some of which are scary arse big and others are ridiculously small.

So without further ago I present to you my 39 things I want to do or achieve by 40 and maybe a few days.

1. To eat fruit and veg every day - Cos if I'm honest I don't and it can't be good for me to eat like a 15 year old at my advanced age.
2. To move back home, last year I moved to Swansea to be with my Mum following my Dad dying and it would be fair to say I don't love it (Sorry Swansea)  Now Mum says she will move back to Kent, we can all go back.
3. To get a new job (necessary for the move to Kent)
4. *Disclaimer*  I am not a dieter and have no intention of dieting properly, but a goal of mine is to get back into my Limb dresses, as I love them and they cost loads and currently don't fit my body as I may have been feeding my unhappiness in Swansea.
5. Have a Brit Pop themed 40th Birthday Party.
6. To start Burlesque Classes again.
7. To update my Blog at least 6 times a month.
8. Finally finish a shitty first draft of my book I have been writing like forever.
9. Go back to Zumba, as it was fun and good exercise.
10. Get better at accessorizing, as I can do bags and shoes but I struggle with belts and jewelry at times and I do get a little bit green eyed at other Blogger Babes brilliance at this.   
11. To get something from the Blackheart Creatives Live Fast Die Yum collection.
12. I think I should probably learn to drive as I have been trying to learn for like 19 years on and off, so I think it might be time.
13. To feel better and healthier at 40 than I did at 39.
14. Master putting on false eyelashes
15. Following on from False eyelashes, I would love to perfect Cats eye eyeliner flicks.
16. Get my 1/4 sleeve done.
17. Do something to raise money for charity.
18. To have a photoshoot, as generally I feel awkward and most unpretty in photos and I would love a kick ass set that I feel proud of.
19. To go to London more, as it is only down the road and when I lived in Kent before I only went for hospital appointments or with work.
20. Go for afternoon tea with my girly friends (well I am Twee)
21. Take more photos.
22. There is a bit of a poser in me, deep down and I would like to do some Plus Size Modelling.
23. To be more of a positive person - as I can be a bit negative and oh things are only gonna get worse.
24. See my brother's children, as he has 2 lovely children I have yet to see, as he lives in Norwich and I lived in Kent and then Swansea.
25. Whilst I'm at it, to be a better Aunty as I am a bit haphazard with Birthdays and the like (Sorry kids)
26. Grow a herb garden.
27. Get a Wonder Woman Print Dress
28. As a bit of a foodie I would like to eat in a Michelin Star Restaurant.
29. To wear a pair of shorts, as I don't think I have worn a pair since I was a kid
30. Start Saving to go to the Winter Olympics in South Korea.
31. Have a midnight picnic on the beach.
32. Go on the Harry Potter Studio tour (Would love go Harry Potter World at Universal but don't think I can afford this before I am 40, maybe for the 49 before 50)
33. Find a wig that suits me
34. Sort my garden out so it is a lovely Oasis, rather than a hideous eye sore.
35. Visit Deal Castle, as I have lived there mainly since I was 15 and have never been.
36. Go to Atomic Burgers in Bristol.
37. Visit the National Portrait Gallery.
38. Go to Harrods, cos well I have never been and feel like I should see it once.
39. To actually go to a Bloggers Meet Up and meet some of the most stylish people I know in the flesh

I know they are not the most earth shattering goals, but I wanted things that were achievable in the space of the year, and of course I still want to go to places like Tokyo and Harry Potter World.

So what about you is there anything you want or feel like you should have achieved by 40?  Or is it just another bloody number?