Happy Friday everyone, I hope you have had a great week and an even better weekend. And for those of you who celebrate Easter, Happy Easter!
Today’s post is the last instalment in my recent series with JD Williams USA featuring some of my fave looks for spring. And I while I have loved them all I have definitely saved my favourite look for last.
At first glance those who know me may see this look and think of course she loves it, it’s floral and full of bright colours. But the underlying meaning is so much more. The power and influence that clothes and fashion have over how we feel about ourselves and how we act is truly amazing.
So yes when I was scrolling through the website this orange coat immediately caught my attention. I mean come on, a bright orange outer wear piece in a size 28? How often do you see that? Well I certainly was passing it up.
This is a great coat for spring because it is mid weight which is awesome for when when the days are still a little chilly, the knee length makes it very versatile and I love the waffle textured fabric. Combine this with its clean lines, flat patch front pockets and the edge to edge design (no buttons or zipper, meant to be worn open) and you have the makings of the perfect statement piece for your wardrobe.
When I decide I want a piece like this I don’t ever think to just pair it with black or even white which would both be great and let the jacket stand on its own. I always envision finding something that will intertwine with it and tell a story. I guess people call me a master of colour for a reason.
Of course when I saw this floral lace Joanna Hope dress my mind went into overdrive and I immediately had an image of what I wanted the final look to be.
This dress is a classic style shift dress which always makes me a little nervous but I fell in love with the details of the print and the colours and the wide open lace. It has a stretch lining so that was very helpful. The thing about this dress is it was one of those dresses on the website where they don’t have a picture of it on a model. So while we may complain about not knowing how it will fit on a size 14 model, this of course makes it that much harder!
But I was determined to fulfill my vision. When I first tried the dress on (I am wearing the 28) I wasn’t 100% sure because it is definitely shorter than what I would normally wear. Everything else was perfect though so I told the little voice in my head to go away.
I remember the day we shot the look and telling Rob that it was short and we had to make sure that I didn’t show too much thigh as he is all too aware of my insecurity. But once he picked the backdrop we were both really excited and something just clicked and I ignored that voice again. When I got the proofs and looked at the very first picture there was a hell of a lot of thigh showing and normally that would make me really uncomfortable and more critical of the photos.
Instead I looked at that photo and said damn this dress looks good! The result of creating this look is a big break through in one of the last and probably most significant hurdles in my self love journey. Just because I am confident in my body and learned to love myself for who I am doesn’t mean that I still don’t have things I am insecure about and my thighs are on that list.
But taking this step forward for me felt so empowering and fulfilling. It reminded me that sharing my journey is important. And you know what, if you don’t like seeing my extra thick thighs with no gap and all their cellulite and lumps and bumps, then don’t look and move the hell on!
The colour scheme for this look is primary colours that pop against the white background and I wanted to continue that theme with my accessories. I love a good ballet flat and I couldn’t resist this pair when I saw that they came in this rich buttery yellow. I love the casual vibe that they give the look and their gold hardware provides interest. I am wearing the size 9 EEE and the fit is great.
I then added this blue Coach bag which is a staple from my collection and just happens to have a yellow lining. It was a great contrast to the yellow and orange. Any colour bag would look great with this dress. Finally because the dress had a high neck in the front and a v cutout in the back I just chose a simple oversized hoop in a fun hit of turquoise. The dress has a watercolour effect to it in that there are variations in the shade of each colour so it was a fun way to add one final pop.
When you look at these photos I hope you see what I see, a woman that is confident, secure, feeling great and ready to take on the world exactly as she is with the strength and beauty of her perfectly imperfect body behind her 100%.
Thank you to JD Williams USA for collaborating on this series of posts with me. As always, all opinions are my own.
Thanks to Rob of Robert Skuja Photography for the stunning images of this look.
Coat by JD WILLIAMS USA | Dress by JD WILLIAMS USA | Shoes by JD WILLIAMS USA | Bag by COACH (current alternative here) | Earrings by H&M (alternative here) |
