Hello lovelies! How has life been treating you? With the holidays in full swing, I've decided to snap and post a few outfit & beauty posts to revive this blog. 

So recently, I've been inspired to focus on a single piece and create multiple looks for a variety of occasions. My first experiment is this basic tankdress with a polka dot print. I've had this tank for ages and lately discovered how versatile it is.

I purchased the tankdress from Mirrorcle in Fahrenheit 88, which carries Korean/Taiwan inspired fashion pieces. They've got a branch in Tropicana City Mall as well.

Featured item: Polka Dot Tankdress, RM29.90 from Mirrorcle (Fahrenheit 88)

Jeans: New Look UK,  £10

Belt: H&M UK,  £2

Bag: Gift from a friend

Shoes: Forever 21, RM49

Necklace: Charmz Paradigm Mall, RM8

Laidback & casual, the first emsemble is something I would wear on a mall shopping trip, movies or an outing with the girls.

White shirt: Brands Outlet, RM35
Celine Inspired Bag: Glossy Addiction, RM79
Shoes: Ti Amo, RM59
Ring: Lovisa, RM10

Time to get dressed up with a white button-down loosely tied at the waist, a structured bag and nude heels. Perfect for a special night out or drinks with your significant other.

Cardigan: Kitschen, RM49
Belt: Jusco, RM10
Bag: Glossy Addiction, RM62
Shoes: Vincci, RM42

Time to get working by layering on a cardigan, skinny belt and no-nonsense pumps.

Inner shirt: Jessabella Pluz Size Stealz, RM15
Bag: Gee Bag in Sungei Wang, RM35
Shoes: Random shop, RM50
Hello Kitty Glasses: Belongs to my younger sister

Bring out the inner child with a uniform-inspired look, a satchel bag and sneakers. In fact, I used to wear something similar back when I was studying in the UK (minus the glasses)!

With Shu Pin on the superbly clean grass!

Well I hope you've enjoyed reading this post as I have enjoyed creating it - let me know what you think in the comments below! :) I will be brainstorming for more similar ideas and content really soon.

Thank you & if you're celebrating, Selamat Hari Raya! :)

Love,
Mabel.

Stepping into a dressing room can feel like a collision between heaven and hell. Some days, you wind up with the best fitting clothes while on other occasions, nothing seems to want to look right on your body.

Last weekend, it was that time of the month to battle with the wrath of the dressing room. I have to admit, like many other girls out there, I indulge in the satisfaction of snapping away (unless there's a mile-long line queuing outside, of course). If you can't have it, at least you've got a photo of it!

I've also recently been watching 'Inside the Dressing Room' vlogs featuring Amanda from Fashion, Love and Martini's. I love the concept but to actually film in our dressing rooms would actually be a challenge. So, photos will have to do for now.

My colleague mentioned that Brands Outlet was having a 'Buy 1 Free 1' sale at only RM69.90 for formal/sheer blouses, so I headed over to the Paradigm outlet for a spin. They had a huge selection of shirts: from casual button-downs to checkered boyfriend shirts to formal blouses. 

I selected a few from the racks, and here's the outcome:

Shirt #1: Sheer cotton blouse with studs on the sleeves and collar.

I loved the flowing material that oozed sophistication yet effortlessly casual for work and play. Fit-wise, it was loose on my body but just right around the arms. The only downer would be the wrinkles that came with the package, which meant more ironing. (insert collective sigh here)

Shirt #2: Formal sheer button down blouse with lined pockets and puffed sleeves

This one looked awesome on the hanger, but when I tried it on, it was a wee bit tight around the boobage area (another collective sigh). Unfortunately, I couldn't go up a size since the largest was XL. A shame, indeed.

Shirt #3: Semi-sheer button down top with electric blue sleeves

Yet another disappointment due to Mr. Boobage there. But I loved the colour combination on this blouse - one of my favourite combos, anytime!

Shirt #4: Black cotton shirt with rolled-up sleeves and tiny buttons down the front

The first thing I noticed when trying this on was the super comfy material! I almost bought it just for that reason. Only...the cutting on the top was slightly off, and if I'd bought it, I would have to fix an extra button between the first and second buttons to avoid looking like a nun (sorry don't think that made any sense but yeah). This was a no-go for me either.

Shirt #5: Electric blue cotton blouse with studs on the sleeves

I can NEVER get enough of this colour. And Mr. Boobage strikes again! The sleeves alone were a definite yes factor. Oh well.

Shirt #6: Casual printed button-down denim-like blouse with functional pockets

Denim is BACK, and here to stay. This blouse looked amazing on the mannequin, and I started playing out all the possible outfit combinations in my head even before entering the dressing room. However, once I put it on, it didn't seem right, and the material was a bit too stuffy for my taste. Loved the print and style though, but this just wasn't meant to be (cue sobbing fest).

My Thoughts:

To sum it up, I picked up the Shirt #1, and almost bought Shirt #4 and #6, but ended up sharing the Buy 1 Free 1 deal with my sister instead. But I couldn't get enough of the shirts, so I went to the Sunway Pyramid outlet and bought 2 more shirts (which may appear in future outfit posts, maybe). 

The only downside would be the limited sizes - the largest size is XL - however, keep searching and you might just find the right cut to flatter your body shape.

Since we're on the topic, I went to Padini a couple of weeks back and snapped up these two blouses! All hail the long-sleeved sheer blouses trend!

Left: Nude sheer formal top with white collar

Right: Semi-casual sweater with sheer coral sleeves (love this!)

My Thoughts:

Unlike Brands Outlet, Padini carries many brands varying in sizes and measurements. These two blouses were from the Seed line, and available in up to Size 10 (not sure about the equivalent in UK or traditional sizing). They also have Buy 2 for RMXX promotions that run from time to time.

Some Dressing Room Tips:

1. Before battling the dressing room, be prepared! Try to wear a black tank top or camisole underneath. Not only will this be more sanitary - it will give you an idea of the coverage you need for sheer tops/low cut dresses.
2. Keep it bare! Remove all earrings, jewellry and accessories to avoid snag and tear incidents.

Well, we've reached the end of my first Inside the Dressing Room (Plus Size Edition) post. Let me know what you think about this series, and hope to see you around soon!

Till then, stay gorgeous!

xoxo

Mabel

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.