Sexy Circus Moth Madam (feat. Candy Strike)

HELLO AND WELCOME TO LOOK NUMBER THREE FROM MY SERIES OF POSTS FEATURING THE CANDY STRIKE 2 PIECE DEATH MOTH OUTFIT (and pieces thereof)! 

In case you missed it; look #1 (both pieces together) can be found here, and look #2 (featuring the skater skirt) can be found here. 

I honestly don't know what my inspiration for this look was (I cannot confirm whether it was, indeed, a "Circus Moth Madam" - O_o) but one thing is for sure: I felt sexy as fuck in this outfit. What exactly is it about a laser cut pencil skirt and a bare midriff that makes me want to gyrate on the nearest ringleader and/or person in top hat. Oh, it might be this marvellous tails jacket... hehe!

On the topic: what a fortuitous week to be rocking a crop top! Oprah Magazine can suck a fat one, cos this outfit would be collecting a lotta dust in the back of my cupboard if I was waiting for the day I had me a flat belly! Dumplings are way too delicious.

This crop top is available from Candy Strike, and if moths aren't quite your thing - check out the rest of the tops (and skirts, and dresses, oh my!!) in the Beautiful Creatures collection. I have a feeling something from the Switchblade Sister print might be next on my hit-list...  The presale is on RIGHT NOW! Run, don't walk, to your nearest internet machine.

Do you possess any of your own Candy Strike pieces? Link me, please!



Thanks and love to Sam for snapping these snaps!

LET'S STAY IN TOUCH!
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DISCLAIMER: In case you didn't guess, this is a sponsored post, but as always: opinions are entirely my own and as much as I love fashion, my thoughts and feelings cannot be purchased. I love this because I love this, not for any other reason! :)

"WHAT DO WE WANT?" "RADICAL T-SHIRTS!" "WHEN DO WE WANT THEM?" "MEOW!" (Chubby Cartwheels)

Y'know those “FUCK YEAH” moments, when something just resonates so perfectly and deeply inside that it makes you slightly more than metaphorically bounce off the walls with sheer delight and excitement? (EDIT: that reads dirtier than I intended...)

Like, even more than finding $10 in your jacket pocket from the last time you wore it.

Or even more than when you've eaten the last cookie in the jar, but then discover that there's one more sneaky little fucker hiding in a crevice that your hand missed on it's last sweep.

Or, like... eh never mind. You've probably got the point.

Let me spell it out: this shirt is THE SHIT. The second I saw it, I KNEW it would be mine. I've slept on Chubby Cartwheels for TOO LONG (well, it wasn't an actual nap, it's just that shipping to Australia is always so damn expensive – damn this ginormous, isolated island of convicts!) and it was time to rectify the error of my ways.

As you can see, i'm heaps jiving on myself in this tee. Yes, I was a little drank (as was the photographer – thanks Sam, my love). 

But real talk; this message is very important to my heart. Understanding that the 'diet industry' exists solely to profit from making us all feel like shit about ourselves was a massive revelation in my early days of discovering the concept and community of body positivity. And for me, defiantly deciding that I was no longer going to be a cog in that wheel was a tremendously empowering and necessary step in my journey of self acceptance.

So, fuck yeah i'm wearing this shirt with pride. And you know what else? It's an interesting conversation piece, too! For instance, I had a very dapper gentlemen give me massive props and a high five for it. However, he did then proceed to tell me he had an idea for a shirt that was something along the lines of “i'm not fat, i'm Italian”, which I thought was really cute if not kind of missing the mark. But hey – a body pos warrior is a warrior none the less. Fight the good fight, cute Italian guy in fedora!

If you haven't already, you should definitely check out Chubby Cartwheels stuff. In fact, she just released her Curves Reign collection and I am HARDCORE LUSTING after the Boleyn dress that looks so dang incred on uber-babe Courtney Mina Stormborn (aka Khaleesidelrey).

Whatchu reckon? Teal, or purple?!

OUTFIT DETAILS

SHIRT: Chubby Cartwheels (d'uh, can't you read good?!)

SKIRT: secondhand from fatty swap (but gorgeous handmade ones from this Etsy seller)

BELT: Target (similar available from Eloquii)

JEWELLERY: from Bangkok (but tonnes of cuties on Etsy)

BOOTS: thrifted (vaguely similar ones from Steve Madden)

JACKET: Target (similar currently at City Chic and ASOS Curve)

LIPSTICK: Kryolan Cream Liner (can't find Emerald - but Sea Greenis lush!)

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She's Just a Devil Woman, With Evil On Her Mind (ALTERNATIVE CURVES BLOG HOP)

I wonder whatever happened to Cliff Richard? Oh that's right - he now lives on a beach in Barbados. Never mind!

This month's Alternative Curves theme is BLACK LIPSTICK! Since I regularly wear black lipstick (such as here and here and also here) this wasn't much of a challenge for me, so I had the grand idea of making a cape and covering it in ginormous black lipstick kisses and being a super hero. But, the ultimate challenge in my life is actually time management, and what with current commitments of insane proportions, we'll all have to make do with this little 50's housewife meets voodoo queen ensemble.

Oh, and cocktails at The Luwow. Mmmmm tentacle finger puppet shenanigans....




This lippy is the Lime Crime Black Velvet, but what with all the recent kerfuffles surrounding the company and Doe Deere, I don't know what to think! Especially with the allegations that their products aren't actually vegan (i'm not vegan but have a serious issue with lying to the consumer, especially about something as important as that). Anybody have any thoughts?

It's so delightful to see a few more ladies back on board with the blog hop this month! Be sure to check them out below, and please JOIN IN if you have your own blog. Or if not, post your themed OOTD on Instagram and use #alternativecurves to connect with the community!

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Mean, Green Nursing Machine (Aussie Curves)

Hello! My goodness, it's been a few weeks since I participated in an Aussie Curves challenge. Things have been full on! Most exciting of which, I have been asked to be a judge at Monster Fest (which, if you don't know, is Melbourne's only HORROR FILM FESTIVAL)! So for the last week and a half I've been watching all the horror, blood and gore that my strange little heart desires, and totally ignoring my friends - blog included. I think i'm about 17 films down, with another 5 - 8 to go. YEE HAW!

If you live in Melbourne and love horror, make sure you check out the program and get along to see some stuff. I'm definitely going to be heading to the all night Friday 13th movie marathon next Friday, and I can't wait! And can we just take a second to appreciate how glorious this poster is?

Today was also the open casting for runway street models for next year's Curvy Couture Roadshow. It was so damn awesome to be surrounded by so many beautiful, stylish and FUN ladies!!
As for the challenge, I had to jump back on board this week for the theme "favourite colour", because I love any excuse to wear green! It's hard to pick a favourite between green and purple, but I was definitely feeling the former that day. Sam and I were headed into the city to eat dumplings and watch a double feature of the new Hunger Games and Interstellar (yep, MORE MOVIES!), and we stumbled across this adorable little alley chock full of plants and fun doorways. Yep, that graffiti says "sex is fun"... \m/

Helloooooo boob gape!

I found this dress vintage 80's dress at Savers about two years ago, and for the last one year it's sat at the bottom of my mending pile. I recently found it and repaired it, and now i'm loving it all over again just like it's new. I like to pretend i'm a war-time nurse. Wow, that just got weird.

Two things I noticed after seeing these photos: 

1. I really should invest in an iron.

2. I love these avocado earrings so hard. One of them has the seed and the other doesn't, 

and the two halves fit together PERFECTLY. So, damn, satisfying. 

That's all for now. I know i'm last to the blog hop party this week (as with a lot of weeks), but definitely check out the other ladies outfits and spread the love! Blogging is not a one-sided activity, it's about sharing and community! <3

OUTFIT DETAILS

Dress: Savers

Jacket: City Chic

Boots: Docs (handpainted by moi)

Earrings: purchased from Quick Brown Fox

Brooch: was a set of earrings, also from Quick Brown Fox

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Why This Secondhand Skirt is Different (Aussie Curves)

This week's Aussie Curves theme is 'secondhand'. As somebody whose wardrobe is, I'd estimate, at least 70% secondhand, this week is EASY! A little too easy... *twinkle in eye*

This theme last cycle was actually my VERY FIRST participation in the Aussie Curves challenges, and I tackled a hectic phobia of wearing a body con dress.

I was also really inspired by Jacqui's entry of showing us 3 different pieces she owns, and why they're sentimental to her. And it got me thinking about what items of clothing I feel sentimental about. I mean, I inherently tend to over-attach myself to possessions anyway (perhaps the side effect of starting boarding school at the age of 6), but the love I feel for my clothes is NEK LEVEL.

Since my Nan passed away earlier this year I got a few things of hers, but (hilariously!) they are pieces of "fast fashion" from places I normally wouldn't even step inside of, like Millers and Supre. I don't expect they'll last very long, but i'm enjoying wearing them while they do.

So, i've been babbling a bit, but I guess I want to talk about this ASOS swing skirt that I bought from Jess West (aka Orange Jess, of "The Jess's") at the A+ Market a couple of months ago. Yes, it's also fast fashion, and there's nothing particularly excellent about this skirt - aside from it's awesome twirl, and gorgeous colour. But what IS special is that it kind of represents my newly acquired circle of babin' babe friends that i've made in the last 6 months.

Don't get me wrong, I love and cherish all of my friends from the very bottom of the heart, but never before have I had a circle of plus-size girlfriends (Sasha, Jan and Helen I still love you even though you're not fat). Until now! And it's so fricken awesome! This year, for the first time in my life, i've been swapping, borrowing and buying clothes with and from friends!

I talked a little bit in this plus-size pinup post about my phobia of having to share clothes with people because i've just never been close enough friends with anyone around my size. Well, not close enough to share clothes with. And now I have this whole circle of fierce babe friends with killer style! It's so exciting!

So, this one's for my luscious ladies - you know who you are ;)

"When a mummy and a daddy Birds of Paradise Flower love each other verrrry much..."

If I look like a flower, I must BE a flower! No?

TA-DA! Just trickin'!

Oh dear, but I do amuse myself sometimes. 

OUTFIT DETAILS

Skirt: ASOS Curve

Top: Rivers

Necklace: Miss-A-Ree Guts Creations (click name for link)

Earrings: Creep Heart (click name for link)

Flower Crown: Sweet As Candy Vintage (click name for link)

Boots: Anarchy

Excitement: MINE!

Big thanks and love to Sam for taking my photos xx

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Turn Around, Bright Eyes (Aussie Curves)

The Aussie Curves theme this week is "Then and Now", but I keep thinking of it as now and then, which causes to me to get Bonnie Tyler's 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' stuck in my head (because of the repeated lyrics "every now and then I get a little bit.... *insert various thing*).

So. Yes. Ahem. Excuse me.

It's funny, but I do often reflect on how my style has changed in the last couple of years, probably most since i've moved to Melbourne. I believe that's because I suddenly had access to more shops (new and thrift) and also because I felt I could finally, fully unleash my creativity and personal style in this glorious and thriving city.

But what I don't often reflect on is what came before that. Like, early teen and high school.

So I jumped into a long lost box of photos that haven't seen the light of day for, ohhh, probably about 6 years.

Firstly, I was not nearly drunk enough to deal with some of the stuff that was in there.

Secondly, it was SO DAMN DIFFICULT to find any full length photos of me in that era. There were thousands of photos, but so few of me. The most prevalent were group shots, and oh what do you know... I always just so happened to be riiiiiiiight at the back!

15 year old Kobi's uniform - baggy 3/4 denim shorts, stripy knee-high socks, a baggy dark t-shirt and my prized possession; a pair of Oakley sunglasses in pearl white. 

I worked SO HARD to save for those bad boys. 

So I had my hardcore tomboy years in which pants, 3/4 short and t-shirts were all I would ever be caught dead in. Seriously, I wore shorts and t-shirts to go swimming. That outfit on the right (above) with the tight(er) jeans and the blue check shirt... I remember my mum buying me those because she wanted me out of baggy clothes, and that was my only compromise. I still remember how uncomfortable it felt to be so "restricted", but I also remember getting some serious compliments from my friends. That'd never happened before!

And then I started to "develop my style" (hahahaha) by making my own circle skirts (which I would often tuck up into my undies to achieve some weird draping effect I really liked - see top left grey skirt below) and op shopping for black shirts. Seriously, I want to give me a hug right now.

The bottom is my year 12 formal dress that I designed based loosely on a dress Christina Ricci wore in the movie Sleepy Hollow. It was a stunning and unique Victorian bustle dress, and possibly the first time in my life that I ever felt beautiful.

I won't bore you with the story of "and then I transformed, like a caterpillar shedding it's cocoon", because I feel like I crap on about those reflections quite a fair bit.

But what I will say is that THANK GOODNESS I made it through those terrible years of self-hatred. I now see "fashion" (I use inverted commas because fashion to me is just personal style, not actual fashion fashion) as purely a means of expression, and something enjoyable that I choose to do when I want to. Which, granted, is quite a lot.

Some days I feel like getting dressed up and doing my makeup when i'm not even leaving the house. But some days I just go out in a scrubby house dress and not a skerrick of makeup. Point is, the things I put on my body no longer reflect how I feel about myself as a person, and they certainly don't contribute to or impact my feelings of self-worth.

Now, clothes are just for fun.

OUTFIT DETAILS

Dress: thrifted (note, I had to stitch the front closed... #boobieproblems) Boots: Dr Martens, hand-painted by moi Lipstick: Lime Crime Velvetine | Suedeberry

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Hello Polly, i'll clean my room. In exchange for your immortal soul.

I don't think this is a new fact, but - I LOVE OCTOBER! I feel like a kid before Christmas. The excitement, the suspense, the DECORATIONS! I also love the decorations when they're on my body, as you can see for yourself below. 
This little betty here is the Wednesday dress from Domino Dollhouse.  I'm going to have to be honest, this dress and I have had a bit of a sordid past:
1. I saw it, I wanted it badly, yet I denied myself.  2. A lovely lady on Aussie Curves declared she had accidentally ordered the wrong size of the dress and was devastated because by the time she got it and realised, it had sold out. She ended up with my size! 3. I met said lovely lady on a street corner in Melbourne CBD and exchanged cash for dress.  4. I was delighted.  5. I tried the dress on (my first ever from Domino Dollhouse) and was a bit disappointed! 
Now I don't want to give DD a bad review, because I LOVE their style and I think they're doing fantastic things for the plus clothing industry so I will definitely be purchasing again, and testing the waters further. But here's why I was disappointed:
Mostly because; the collar is actually made of some sort of shiny, plastic-y material that makes the dress look cheap (which, at AU$100 with shipping, it ain't) and is a bit uncomfortable around the neck, and also has the habit of sticking up like a frill neck lizard. After a wash, it has calmed it's tits a little but is still predisposed to standing up awkwardly. 
The other reason is that it didn't seem long enough in the torso. By the time it was over my bust, the waist line was sitting very unflatteringly right up under my boobs. So I have to wear this dress with a belt. BUT that could be an intentional design characteristic that just so happens to look balls on me (sans belt). I repeat: I am NOT writing off Domino Dollhouse. 
Anyways, sorry for a million photos. Sam and I had so much fun in his cute new backyard. After the shoot we read each other's "Goddess cards". Turns out - we are both goddesses! 

OUTFIT DETAILS

Dress: Domino Dollhouse

Earrings: Made them myself!

Belt & Socks: Kmart

Shoes: TUK

Lipstick: Lime Crime | Black Velvet