OH MY Ebay

I may be a little bit addicted.

If you are a reader of shewearsfashion.com, you will know that the beautiful Kavita is always finding absolute bargains on ebay.

And now I am too.

My sister is a massive ebay fan and now that I've found some absolute steals, I'm thinking, why didn't I do this sooner?!

I mean, be careful, because you could end up spending a lot of your time and money on ebay- but with the right amount of discipline, you should be alright and have some fabulous pieces to add to your collection.

Grandad Jumper

This is vintage *read: may need a wash* and with p & p literally cost, like £1. It's oversized, cosy, wam....slightly sheer when worn which adds a sexy-can you see my old man chest hair peeking through-vibe.

With red lips, nails- I'm bringing old people sexy back in a big way.

Boots

These glorious boots were £9 in the end....New...with a tag on them, original cost £60. I could cry with bargain happiness.

Sexy Legs

I've been looking for something like this for a while, ever since I went to Topshop on Oxford Street and saw a similar pair.....for like £45! No thanks, Sir Philip. I wanted something halfway between a trouser and a legging...not 'hey, who wants to see my bum?! and yet also not 'un.sexy.'

I think these are a vision in black. And for about £8, a bit of a steal.

I love picking up winter bits in summer, always ensures a bargain. And let's face it, in this country, who knows what you're going to get on a 'summer' morn! Hats and scarves at the ready, people!

My Top Ebay Tips

• Know what it is you're in the market for- having a clear idea will help you cut to the chase and not end up spending an entire evening (easily done) sifting through Spongebob Squarepants print t-shirts.

• Put things on your 'watch list'. Ebay's a predatory ground when bargains are sought by many. If an item you've got you're eye on is for auction a few more hours, don't jup in straight away- keep it on your watch list and be ready to pounce at the last minute!

• Search by 'time: ending soonest'- you can literally snap up a bargain for mere pennies with just seconds to spare!

• Having said that....don't rush in to anything silly. Like with tip number one, know what you're going there for. Don't just bid on something because it's cheap. Bid on it based on how much wear you're going to get out of it- ie, its value for money. It's one thing looking at those Spongebob t-shirts. It's another thing wearing them....

Primark Haul

I don't live in a city with a Primark anymore *sad face*

Well, in fact, I don't live in a city at all....

So when I do go back from 'whence I came', it's always one of the places on my hitlist.

The one at home has had a makeover too- it's even bigger, even more bargainous and yes- even more busy- than ever.

Nevertheless, when a gal's on a mission, she will stop at nothing until a haul-worthy bag of goods is in her possession.

Bold? Brash? A little extreme? I love love LOVE these trousers. They had such a wide selection of patterns, I could have had them all. Unfortunately, budget constraints and 'how many pairs of trousers does a girl need, exactly?' sensibility stopped that from happening! So I went for the ones that I will get the most wear out of and which immediately caught my eye. That's right people- Normalface is one step closer to the dream of having every piece of clothing known to man in a leopard print style. I'm like that woman off Coronation Street.

I think these will look great dressed up (heels, white shirt) or down (tucked in to boots)...but maybe just not on me!...

Pretty self-explanatory. I got these because they are AMAZE.

Casual top with scallop-trim. Quite basic, but can be dressed up or down. And was half-price. Super.

Can't decide which colour to go for? Now you don't have to! Pick them all with these rainbow-inspired sandals!

Because we all love a bit of swan-print. It's a classic wardrobe staple!

No seriously, Primark seem to have a lot of these style tops nowadays. Which is quite nice. They're handy, can be thrown on with leggings and boots or dressed up with a pencil skirt.

And let's face it, who doesn't love a tank top?!

Leopard Print Trousers- £10

Red Shoes- £12

Scallop-trim top- £2

Sandals- £6

Swan-Print Top- £4

Jewellery- Supersize

I'm a fan of a big earring or two.

I've been known to wear ones so big, I've needed a lie down after a few minutes of loping them about (or lobing them about, as it were).

But when in Rome- or wherever it is my holiday travels take me in a few months' time- just go for it.

No one wants to be in that awkward 'you've overpacked, pay us an extortionate fee if you want your precious goods to see ou on the other side of the plane journey' situation. So a capsule wardrobe is a must.

These are the pieces I will be taking on holiday with me. So if you see someone lying exhausted on a sunlounger with earrings big enough to act as sombreros, you know it might be me....

Tribal style earrings- Primark £2
Bangle- New Look (sale) £1
Feather/ shell earrings- Topshop (sale) £3
Gold earrings- New Look (sale) £2

Patterns

I don't know what on Earth attracted me to these leggings.....but I was on a Primark spree, picking up bargains left, right and centre, an eye for a pattern and....BAM! In to the basket you go, aztec-print £6 leggings.

They've been in my rapidly-expanding wardrobe for a while until I finally thought 'you know what, Normalface? Just go for it, fool.'

And I did.

And you know what? I love them.

They're so comfy. I wore them on (yet another) Primark shopping trip- where I picked up (yet more) daring leg wear. I'd wear them again tomorrow if I could....I just don't think they'd go down too well in the office.....

Leggings- Primark £6
Bag- Primark (sale) £3
Scarf- Primark £4
Leather Jacket- £25
Boots- Primark (sale) £8

Weighing on my mind

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/jun/10/body-image-anxiety-eva-wiseman?newsfeed=true

I’ve been thinking about this article since I read it yesterday afternoon. I’m sure I’m not the only one.

I realised that for the past 23 years. TWENTY THREE YEARS. I have struggled with a nagging feeling of inadequacy.

I don’t want to be a big head, but I feel like I’ve achieved quite a bit so far- and I'm sure you have too.

Good grades, degree, post degree, getting and doing a job that I absolutely LOVE and which I work very very hard at.

I have this blog, which I hope to develop.

I have a great family, a loving relationship, wonderful friends.

So WHY should I, and should many young women like me, feel like frauds?

Simply put- because we don’t feel like we look good enough.

I realised yesterday after I read that article, I am subconsciously going through life with the mantra ‘when you lose three stone, you will be so much happier. When you look like Scarlett Johansson, life will be better’ playing on repeat in my head.

Looking at photographs of Rihanna or Kelly Brook splashed on the Daily Mail and feeling a stab of panic.

I’m not sure what has conditioned us to think in this way- like Eva Wiseman says in the article, it is much too simplistic to blame ‘the media’ or ‘Hollywood’.

For the moment, the one person I’m blaming? Myself.

We’re bombarded with these images on a daily basis, told by a world outside ourselves that we’re not good enough unless there’s a gap between our thighs.

I blame myself for bowing to that pressure and thinking that because I might have a dimple of cellulite or two, NOTHING ELSE I’VE EVER ACHIEVED MATTERS.

And it’s BOLLOCKS.

I eat healthily, I work out. I’m blessed to have a body that works, that sees me through some of life’s most amazing experiences. One day, hopefully, it will allow me to have children.

But is this a world I’m not sure I’d want to bring a daughter in to.

To think that she might feel that same nagging feeling that she’s not good enough because she’s a size 14 despite how intelligent and funny and kind she is- it’s heart breaking.

But the only person that can change it is me. And you.

Like is said in the article, the media and the fashion industry will not change extremes now- technology has never reversed, we won’t start seeing un-airbrushed images or size sixteen women with their kits off on the front of magazines.

So what do we do? We take no notice. We hold our heads high, appreciate other women for their beauty, but we remember that no one is perfect- and just because she’s got a flat stomach, does not make her better than you.

I understand that primarily my blog talks about clothes and beauty. But I want to use those things to celebrate who I am, not hide me. I want to wear those fabulous new clothes when I experience some of the best days of my life.

And I don’t want to have the nagging feeling that if I lost some more weight, those best days might be better.