[unpaid/affiliate] You know what? The blog really is my safe space – it’s where I’m most happy creating content because I don’t feel under the same pressure to look my ‘best’, I can write what I like and I sort of know that I’m talking to people who are here because they want to be. On Instagram and TikTok (which I only barely bother with), it’s different – I feel ‘watched’ and more judged, I suppose. Never more so that when it comes to anything to do with fashion – despite having a fashion page in Metro for many years (and nobody was more surprised than me when that gig turned up!) I sourced pictures of other people wearing the clothes (models of course), not me! So I am never more awkward than when trying to show you clothes. I love clothes and I love fashion but I cannot say I ever thought I would be the one ‘posing’. I’m just an ordinary women with a normal body – lumps and bumps, bad hair days and chin hair. It’s weird. Anyway, I’m showing you the out-takes because even I find them funny – it’s just me, trying to hide a pile of crumpled clothes, the deodorant on the bedside table and an obvious clicker 🙂

My most useful purchase recently has been these flared stretch jersey trousers – a complete bargain at £12.99 from H&M – and I’ve actually bought two pairs. As you can see, they’re a great fit on my 5.4 frame – they’re newly washed and they do give a bit and go a little longer as you wear.

I can’t stop wearing them (hence the extra pair). They’re starting to sell out in the larger sizes but at the time of writing, XS-L are in stock – I’m wearing M. They’re HERE. I feel they’re cut for shapely women – they’re not tight across my bum or my stomach and the ‘give’ I mentioned works in my favour I feel because they recognise we have bums and tums and yet still flatter them. The sweatshirt, which I LOVE, is a gift from my friend Alyson over at That’s Not My Age as part of her collaboration with DandyStar HERE. It’s soft, roomy, witty and fun. There are several options (I bought the & Wiser sweatshirt when it first came out and every time I wear it someone comments and wants it!) HERE. It’s £62 and I am wearing a size L.

I bought this t-shirt myself – I’m forever on the hunt for v-neck t-shirts that are out of the ordinary and I fell in love with the three little stars embroidered on the front. It’s from a small company called Vivannsie in size L (I think they come up small because it wasn’t as L as I expected it to be) and I am so, so tempted by the neon star option, too. It’s completely off season for t-shirts but v-necks are hard to find so I get them when I can! It’s £34 HERE.

Just dropping in my favourite trainer brand – Tamaris. There’s a slight elevation at the back which means that anyone short of leg (i.e. me) gets a rise and a longer look which has literally changed what I wear. I live in these – I have about 6 or 7 pairs (although not the one shown) and they look just as great with dresses as they do with jeans. I’m directing you to their Amazon page because it has the most choice but make sure you look for the wedge option rather than the flat. Another thing to note is that they zip at the sides despite having laces up front – if you’ve got mobility issues in your hands, getting them on is very much easier than fiddling with laces. They’re HERE.