Gong xi fa cai! :) 

Apart from Christmas - the Chinese New Year/Lunar New Year is my absolute favourite time of the year. Red money packets, savoury cookies, free flow of alcohol...what's not to love? 

And as tradition calls for, a new year often poses a reason for a new you. But like many others, I quickly realised that I hadn't much time left to hit the stores.

Thus, I decided to put together a few outfits from my wardrobe to usher in the new year - no extra money spent! There's no harm in recycling outfits, as long as you switch up the styling, no one may even notice ;)

Top: Cotton On, RM30
Shorts: H&M UK, £5

 Flats: Vincci, RM20

Bracelet: thrifted, RM20

If you don't believe in the superstition of wearing black in the new year, welcome to the club. Nothing screams CNY like tones of gold & red - and this ensemble is something I would wear to a reunion dinner at a relative's house.

The sequinned sleeves are slightly dressy, yet toned down by the nude shorts. Fit for a casual setting especially if things get a little crowded and humid.

 Jacket: Independent Boutique, RM39
Neon dress: H&M UK, £7

Heels: Walk In, RM42

Belt: Primark UK, £2

For the first or second day of new year, feel free to bust out the pinks and reds! This neon dress is much too loud to wear on regular days, but I think its just perfect for CNY. If your family is more conservative, the puffy jacket adds formality to tone down the look just a notch.

 Dress: Padini, RM40

Wedges: Ti Amo, RM49

Gold Belt: thrifted, RM10

Of course, you can't celebrate CNY without stepping out in red and gold. I wore this outfit a few years back - with the exception of the gold belt. The cotton dress is perfectly breathable and endlessly practical especially if you're going to be collecting ang paus from house to house.

Learn how to do a chopstick chignon here!

Hi-Lo Dress: Cotton On, RM30

Belt: Independent Boutique, RM15

Heels: Padini, RM42 

In case you hadn't realised already - I'm all for flowery patterned dresses especially during the festive season. This Hi-Lo dress was an absolute bargain from Cotton On Online, and it is perfect for sit-down lou sang dinners when you want to look a bit more dressed up.

Top: Cotton On, RM15

Skirt: Cotton On, RM15

Flats: Forever 21, RM49

Hair Bow: Chameleon, RM3.90

Finally, greeting visitors can be a tiring affair. I'd throw on a cotton skirt and simple top which is comfortable yet not too homey. Add a hair bow and you're good to go!

This post was inspired by the Click Network's latest video on CNY Fashion by The F Word. :)
My latest fashion inspiration icon: Wendy's Lookbook

Thanks so much for reading! I hope this post gave you some styling ideas for the upcoming festive season. Do leave me a comment telling me what YOU would wear for CNY. Wishing you a very happy New Year & happy holidays!

Love,
Mabel.

Hello Plushionistas! It's been a while.

I'm glad to report that one of my 2014 resolutions is devoted to updating this blog at least once a week. Yes, it's not one of those vague, unrealistic, unachievable goals - it's entirely possible. So...get ready to see more of me in the coming weeks! ;)

To kickstart the year, here's my #OOTD from my cello performance in November 2013. It's extremely outdated and I apologise for that - but I particularly liked this outfit even though it was put together at the very last minute.

My church was celebrating its 60th anniversary and had us 3 cellists perform an ensemble to commemorate the event. Our theme was black - and no skirts because, well, you have to hold a cello with your knees while sitting down. Heh heh..

We'd originally planned to wear all-black with a colourful scarf, but I found this photograph on Pinterest and was inspired to go for gold instead.

Here's what I wore that night:

Textured Peplum Top - RM39 from Brands Outlet

Black Leggings - RM15 from Cotton On Online (similar item)

Skinny Gold Belt - belongs to my sister

Open-toed Wedges - RM42 from Walk In

The outfit was comfortable & I loved how the gold belt + peplum top created an illusion of a smaller waist and streamlined silhouette. Goes to show how keeping things simple can accentuate your best features. 

I straightened my hair and paired the look with simple winged eyeliner and coral lips. As for accessories, I wore some old school silver stud earrings.

More photos from that night:

Thank God for a smooth-going performance - we were definitely nervous but everything went well in the end.

I hope you enjoyed this post! Do leave your thoughts on my outfit in the comments below - I'd love to hear from you.

Till then, stay fabulous! xx

Let's face it. Shopping can sometimes be more of a chore than a convenience, especially for plus sizes. As a teenager, I remember dreading the prospect of going shopping, mainly because I could never find the right sizes that fit my body. I would gaze longingly at the clothes labeled 'free size', knowing that however 'free' a sizing, it would never be right for me.

Thankfully, international clothing manufacturers have begun to realise the expansion of a global plus size market, and recently started releasing larger sizes. In Malaysia, the plus size clothing industry is still rather limited, but gradually improving. While size UK14 is still considered XL in Malaysia while UK16 is 2XL, I've heard that size UK16 is no longer labeled as plus size in the US due to vanity sizing!

After much research and hours of browsing clothing stores, I've come up with a few of my favourite stores to shop. It's still a jungle out there, but hopefully by sharing some of my favourite plus size stores, it would serve as form of inspiration to all you lovely plus sizers out there. We've all got to be clothed, haven't we? And there's no excuse to bum around all day in baggy T-Shirts (I used to do that, guilty as charged).

So, let's march towards plus size fabulousness!

Here are some of my favourite plus size stores:

1. Jessabella Plus Size Stealz (or JPSS for short)
One of my favourite places to shop online - carries a huge selection of plus size clothing, up to sizes UK22-24! I love the fact that Jessica (the owner) always measures the clothing for reference, a key deciding factor towards buying online.

Since we can't touch, feel or try clothing online, the only indicator would be photos and measurements, and  her measurements are almost always accurate! I really love her leggings, shorts and blazer selections. She also responses quickly to emails, and sends out the parcels regularly. I would highly recommend her store!

Price: from RM15 - RM60

Plus-o-meter: 4/5 Stars

Red Blazer (Slim Vivicut Jacket) from JPSS - RM48
Black Slacks from Brands Outlet - RM69,
Inner Tube from FOS - RM9 (if not mistaken)
Heels from Vincci - RM42
Bag from Fiorelli UK - RM120

Black Top from Cotton On - RM15!
Denim Shorts from JPSS - RM35
Heels from Walk In - RM42
Bag from Bonita - RM37
Belt from Primark UK - £2
Moustache Necklace from store in Paradigm - RM10

2. Cotton On!
If I could only shop in ONE store for the rest of my life, it would surely be Cotton On. I'm hopelessly in love with the simple yet fashionable pieces at super affordable prices - especially when they have storewide sales up to 70% off! I kid you not...I bought a few shirts at only RM15 each, shoes at RM10 and even dresses from RM30!

They also carry sizes up to AU14 or US10, which measure up to about UK14-16. My top tip: Spend some time browsing the sales racks! You might just strike gold. And their salespeople are generally helpful and friendly.

The only qualms I have with Cotton On is the fabric tends to stretch and lose its shape after a while, but with proper maintenance it would last a little longer.

Price: from RM10 - RM100+

Plus-o-meter: 4.5/5 Stars

White Lace Dress from Cotton On - only RM45!
Heels from Walk In - RM15 only!

Flowery Print Skirt from Cotton On - RM15
White Shirt from PDI - RM10
Heels from Walk In - RM15!
Bag - it was a gift, not sure about the price
#Likeasir Necklace from a little shop in Paradigm - RM10

Can't get enough of #LikeASir accessories! Only RM10 each!

3. H&M
My definition of H&M would be 'Holy Moly'. Because I can literally spend hours in the store till my teeth fall out, my legs give way and I ascend to heaven saying 'Holy Moly'. Lately I've been obsessed with printed pants - flowery, graphic, leopard?!, black & white, polka dots - just can't get enough of it.

So when I found a pair in H&M that actually fit me (their sizes go up to EU42 - which is about UK12-14), I was ecstatic with joy, but not so ecstatic about the price. It cost a whopping RM119, which was a little too much considering the material was rather thin and sheer. With a heavy heart, I placed it back on the rack. Till next time, my flowery friend.

My experience with H&M in the UK has been far better - managed to pick up a few pieces at only £5 to £10! Particularly love their dresses and sheer tops.

Prices: from RM29 - RM100+

Plus-o-meter: 4/5 Stars

H&M Outifts:
Top Left - Orange Dress £5
Top Middle - White Dress £7 & Black Stockings £2

4. Nichii/Kitschen
Now this is mostly a hit or miss with me - sometimes I find really good pieces but they don't have my size, and other times it doesn't fit well on my body.

A couple of times, I managed to snag deals from their sales racks. Kitschen categorizes their sales items according to size - which makes it much easier to find your size. Unfortunately, the sizes only go up to XL or XXL. But if you're patient, you just might score. Gotta try your luck!

Prices : from RM25 - RM99+

Plus-o-meter: 3.5/5 Stars

One-Piece Formal Dress from Nichii - RM49

White Sheer Top from Nichii - RM39
Shorts from JPSS - RM35
Heels from Cotton On - RM35
Bag from Bonita - RM37

5. Jusco Scarlet Plus
Jusco, or now known as AEON, has a dedicated section for plus size - which I appreciate very much. The sizes go up to UK26 (!) and the selections are quite good as well. However, I have yet to find pieces that suit my age group - I believe their target market is for more mature women.

However, you might just find good formal shirts and slacks there, at pretty reasonable prices too!

Prices: RM30 - RM79+

6. Other Online Stores
Just to name a few:

• Zalora has a Plus Size section at slightly steep prices, but good quality nonethless
• Asos Curve has fabulous pieces, offers free international shipping - and if you're pretty confident to shop online AND know your size well, go for it!
• Trendy Confessions is another local online plus size boutique that I have yet to try, but I love their designs and style! Have my eye on this awesome Button Down Shirt.

Oh, and I picked up THREE pairs of shoes for less than RM100. Yes, I'm cheap like that ;). Walk In was having a sale at Paradigm Mall, and I believe these were from seasons past, all going from RM15 per pair! My inner shoe addict kicked in, and well, here's the aftermath.

Let me know what you think about this post! I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback on the outfits - I'm no Vera Wang - but I do love playing around with different pieces to see how it would look on my body. What are YOUR favourite style tips? Share with me!

Have fun and stay fabulous!

xoxo,

Mabel.