Wannabe Princess

Plus Size Fashion and Lifestyle in South Yorkshire

Turning Your Casual Look Into A Knockout

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Casual outfits compromise a whole lot of your wardrobe. You have business casual for one, day to day casual, and then there’s the casual side of partywear when you’re not too sure about the dress code. When you’re getting dressed in the mornings, are you the kind of person who grabs the next cleanest thing out of your wardrobe and then get going? If so, don’t worry about your outfit choices: you’re definitely not alone! But you’re definitely not dressing yourself up to your full potential either!

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Dressing against the norm — what does it say about you?

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From eccentric socks to dressing against our gendered
expectations, many people push the limits of social norms when it comes to
fashion. Research has shown that non-conformists can be viewed as being of a
higher status and more competent than those who follow the rules of fashion. We
take a look at what different clothing says about the wearer…

Against gendered expectations

The line is becoming increasingly blurred between male and
female clothing. Many people are speaking up, opposing the ideas that men and
women should be dressed according to their sex. But, are you presenting
yourself in a different way when you dress against the gendered expectations?

Although fashionistas are saying that they don’t agree with
gender rules, some research suggests that we’re still stuck in our old ways.
Psychologists in New Jersey found that attitudes towards gender stereotypes
hadn’t changed much between 1983 and 2014.
There is an argument that shows that it’s favourable for
women to cross the gender barrier but perhaps not men. Back in 1990, it was
found that — despite the sex of the applicant – if the clothing that they wore
was more masculine, they were more likely to be hired. When men dressed in pink
however (a colour commonly associated with females), they were seen as less
intelligent than women who were wearing the same colour.

Eccentric wear

Another way of going against the grain when it comes to style
it through eccentric clothing. When we think of outrageous outfits we may think
of people with brightly coloured hair, patterned clothing and over the top
jewellery. But, there are other ways to express freedom through dress.
For example, people who wear unconventional socks are viewed
as being rebellious and expressive. One of these people is Justin Trudeau, the
current Prime Minister of Canada, who shows off his fun side by wearing funky
socks with a traditional suit. You can make your own subtle ‘eccentric’ changes
through patterned socks by CT shirts, online retailers of men’s formal shirts
and accessories. Or make yourself stand out from the crowd through bright
scarves and other extras.

By dressing against the norms, studies have shown that you
build a brand of being ‘gutsy’. And in fact, people have the potential to see
you as more brilliant, creative and successful. One study, published in 2014,
found that those who go against conformity can be viewed as of a higher status
than those who don’t. They were also considered to be more competent — potentially
influencing the impression that they give off in the workplace.

Not only does it affect people’s perceptions of you but it
can also affect the way you think, feel and act — this is through ‘embodied
cognition’. Since eccentric dress gives you greater potential to express your
individuality, it’s possible that it can make you feel more confident and
comfortable in different situations. This could then go on to improve your
performance at work or in challenges where you want to push yourself.

Against the dress code

In some situations, for a job interview perhaps, it can be
argued that dressing in accordance with expectations is the best thing to do.
Under some circumstances, we think that people with
extraordinary appearances are more successful.

Men who wear smart, fitted suits as they are often expected
to wear in a formal situation, were perceived as being more confident,
successful and thought to be earning a higher wage. This was compared to men
who weren’t dressed as smartly — in a loosely fitted suit.

In one study that looked at the effects of clothing, it was
found that senior managers were rated less favourably if they were dressed more
‘provocative’. This was a skirt slightly above the knee and one button on the
blouse undone. It’s clear to see that it is important to consider our dress
style carefully as people can make many assumptions without any evidence.

In some environments, wearing your set uniform can improve
your productivity. Research found that in a lab, those who were wearing lab
coats felt smarter and went on to perform better!


As we can see, dressing against societies expectations can
have many effects on the opinion of others and your own performance. Although
it’s important to express yourself through dress, you don’t want to hinder your
work or your impression on others in formal situations. Wear a pair of crazy
socks underneath your day-to-day outfit instead…  

What I Wear To A First Date

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A first date with someone is always nerve-wracking, especially if you’re online dating and meeting someone for the first time. One of the biggest tips I can give is to wear something you’re comfortable in. It can be tempting to dress very glamorously, however, if you spend the evening worrying about your eyelashes looking perfect of tugging at an uncomfortable dress
you won’t be able to enjoy yourself.

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Indulging in Lady Voluptuous

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If you follow me on any social media then you’ll have seen that I spent last weekend in Bournemouth and it was brilliant! I was actually there to attend the Club Indulge Weekender – which is the first weekend event the club night has run.
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Another Lady V London Dress

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For my birthday last month I was lucky enough to be given a new Lady V London dress by my friends. They know that I love the Phoebe dress so they splashed out and bought me this Teddy Soldier print one and I love it. I personally love the shape of the Phoebe dress and I now have a couple of prints in the same shape. One of my favourite things about this dress is that it has a built in petticoat, which gives the skirt a nice lift and a beautiful shape.
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Changing My Wardrobe: Winter is Coming

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I always finish work at 6:30pm and to be honest with you, in the summer it has been lovely. A walk to the bus stop in the sunshine and getting home in time to enjoy a few house of summer sunshine is always a good thing in my eyes.


A couple of days ago I finished work and realised that it was no longer light when I was walking out of the office. It wasn’t quite pitch black, but there was a definite change in the air – and I don’t like it! Anyone who knows me, knows that I love the sunshine (even if it doesn’t always love me) and summer is my absolute favourite. However, there is no denying that winter is coming – so I guess it’s time to start giving some consideration to my winter wardrobe.


Window Shopping Online


One of the nicest things about the change in season is that loads of websites start to launch new collections and ranges. It’s no secret that I am a sucker for window shopping online and I love to browse websites such as this one here for ideas on what to wear.


Me personally I don’t actually change my look that much from season to season. I’m not a fan of being super warm and wearing lots of layer. Seeing as my summer wardrobe is mostly pretty dresses with or without leggings I just step this up a bit for winter.


Of course, when the weather is colder I’ll wear leggings all of the time, with some sensible furry boots which keep my feet nice and cosy. Of course, a jacket is essential for winter too!



What do you like to wear in winter? What do you like to wear in
winter? Are you someone that likes to wear lots of layers, or do you prefer the
minimal approach like me?


Debz x



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Abs Are Great But Have You Seen This T Shirt?

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Abs Are Great But Have You Seen This T Shirt – As you probably know by now Topsy Curvy have designed, created and released their own range in conjunction with Lovedrobe. I love the ladies behind the Topsy Curvy range and to see their range doing so well and expanding is great.
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