Latest Summer Style Finds & Feeling More Confident About My Body

I’m utterly bonkers about prints particularly florals be it ditsy daisy prints, sunflowers, vintage print tea dresses, accessories, hair pieces, jewellery, bedding, you name it if it’s blooming style-wise, I’m on it.

Case in point: this stunning M&S maxi dress!

M&S maxi dress

I’m also TOTALLY obsessed with rucksacks right now too and this Ted Baker floral beauty below in a pansy print is my go-to bag this summer. It’s sold out in John Lewis and other places currently but keep your eyes peeled for it.

…I simply love bold colours, eye-catching prints and vibrant pieces that reflect my personality: LOUD. That’s my style. Big hair, big statement pieces.  I wanted to share some of my latest pieces and I’ll be making this a regular post sharing my style come rain or shine.

I won’t lie, I’m excited to have a smaller figure of late after taking intolerance tests and eliminating foods/ingredients causing inflammation which led to me to lose 15 pounds over these last 5 months.

Not that you need to be slimmer to feel good, of course, hell no but I can’t pretend I don’t feel more comfortable in my skin and outer skin/clothes for it.

Honest Mum and Ted Baker rucksack

At the beach in Southport in my floral everything wearing a floral Warehouse dress!

…I wrestled with body image post-babies for so long, so after giving up on my body a bit, I feel excited to be wearing UK size 10 pieces with a few 8s thrown in too. I still dislike my arms and want to tone the tops of them more and ditto my mumtum but I’m feel far more confident in my body.

It’s been a long journey and whilst my figure is far from perfect because well perfection doesn’t exist (unless you’re a Love Island cast member, right), I’m not as hard on myself as I once was.

That’s come with age as much as becoming slimmer. I think it’s also thanks to feeling healthier in both my body and soul, eating the foods which like me in return, and upping my exercise routine as a stress-reliever and taking a break when life feels too much. Self-care is now a priority for me.

We have one body so it’s our duty to look after it.

As I veer closer to 37 (November), it’s also hit me recently how vital it is to put my health, first. Health is everything and that’s what drives me when it comes to healthy eating and exercise.

But now back to fashion- what you’re here for after all.

Below are pieces I’ve bought or have been sent by PRs recently spanning Warehouse, Next, Ted Baker and Topshop. I live for the high street (hey there John Lewis, you total hunk) and whilst I own some much-loved higher end/designer pieces, I tend to stick to high street brands for the most part which means I can buy more. Yay!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on my latest looks.

Excitingly I have a £50 John Lewis gift card to giveaway at the end of the post too so don’t forget to enter.

Onto the clothes:

Topshop

The one high street store I can never pass and not go in, I simply ADORE Topshop. I also love that whatever I order online in a UK size 10, fits so I never have to send anything back.

I love their flattering floral dresses and live for the Bardot look. It’s so me!

First up is this Ditsty Lace Up Sleeve Print dress. I went for the size 8 after trying the 10 and popped a vest underneath as I’m not a fan of showing cleavage. I’ve worn this 108689050343 x since buying it and receive compliments every time I do.

Below is an example of transitional dressing at it’s finest with an Oliver Bonas cropped jumper (picked up in the sale) over this pretty peach Tie Front Tea Dress from Topshop, I will wear all summer long (hopefully with sandals…come on sun)!

Below sans jumper posing outside Kings Cross Station as you do!

Honest Mum wears a Topshop dress

Now how granny chic is this vintage style grey floral dress (now only available in Maternity).  Perfect for a day of exploration at the National Railway Museum in York.

And now for my all-time favourite which you’ll have no doubt seen on Instagram a million times, if you follow me there-the floral Bardot midi. They only had a UK 6 in stock which magically fit. The Lana platforms are Topshop too and are not only beauties but seriously comfortable too. Love the 70s style wooden heel.

I also got it in pink!

pink Topshop dress

Next

Next are nailing summer style and I’m crazy about their happy-making bold printed dresses, many picked up in their beachwear section.

Do go down a size in Next as they’re super-generous (great for those BBQ food babies). I go for an 8 which comes up as a a standard 10.

This belted maxi dress below is divine: perfect for sunny days here, or holidays abroad and the leg split is the perfect length: alluring but not too revealing. Winner!

The rose gold platform sandals are Dune ( which I bought in John Lewis) and are not only pretty in pink but fit like Cinderella’s party shoes.

Lush!

This Next multi athluxe dress was the one I wore on BBC1’s Sunday Morning Live (I was on discussing the power of blogging and social media) and again I popped a vest underneath to go for a modest look but I’d wear it with a black or white bikini on the beach.

Jacques Vert

I paired this pretty navy lace Jacques Vert dress with a Ralph Lauren jacket for Wimbledon with my best friend Rebecca.

A full skirt, this was a UK 10 but I needed an 8. We ate a lot for lunch though so I appreciate the extra room!

Elegant and charming, I loved it.

Let me know your thoughts on my latest pieces and what you’ve been buying too so we can share the style inspo!

To win the gift card, enter via Rafflecopter below.

UK only.

Ends 29th September 2017.

Updated post.

If the winner does not respond within 7 days of the email sent, a new winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Promoted on Prize finderBritMumsumeandthekids.comLoquaxSuper Lucky and Competition Database.

summer style

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