Thursday 3 December 2015

wish you weren't here

An incident took place this week that has been playing on my mind. Usually I refrain from writing my opinion on the internet when it comes to topical issues for fear of I'm adding to the white noise that perpetuates the internet however, I was thinking how important it is for people to voice their opinions on things they desire change in.

overweight haters, bopo, body positivity, underground fat-shaming, fat-shaming, fat shaming postcards, callie thorpe, from the corners of the curve
(Image Sourced from The Guardian)























The issue was brought to my attention by blogger Callie Thorpe (check out her amazing blog here) via her Facebook page when she discovered that people had been handing out fat-shaming postcards on the tube in London to unsuspecting fat people just going about their everyday lives and daring to exist. This group referred to themselves as 'Overweight Haters' on the cards and presented some very strong and interesting  predictable arguments as to why being fat is inherently wrong and disgusting. Furthermore, they have single-handedly managed to solve the obesity epidemic (much to the British governments joy) with the insightful suggestion that fat people should just "eat less". My suggestion is that we should turn to these great minds and ask for their help with other important matters, like their opinions on Syria...

 I hate the simplification of issues. The assumption that being fat can be so easily defined and consequently, solved. People are diverse. We all have different experiences and ideas and perspectives. We are raised in unique environments and we face different obstacles. This is regardless of size, colour of skin, height, gender and any of the other things we like to divide and define ourselves by. You don't just get one type of fat person so how can we apply one easy solution to 'fix' the problem. Anyone who thinks that being overweight is as simple as eating too much is stupid. You expect this simple thought process from children but not from adults. Not from people that know how complicated life can be. 

The part the amused me most, was the promise that with weight loss comes unfaltering happiness. After all, none of us know any slim people who are unhappy or, dare I say it, single. Slim people don't suffer from mental health problems such as anxiety or depression. That's an exclusive club for overweight people and one that I currently hold a membership for. The argument that fat equals unhappiness and slimness equals happiness is a shallow and ignorant theory but that isn't too surprising of people who refer to other human beings as ugly, label themselves as 'haters' and think they have the right to comment on other people's bodies. Also, when did single become such a dirty word? 

What is it they resent? Apparently fat people "consume" too much but last time I checked that was the entirety of the western world. Our society is built on consumption and consequently we buy more than we need, waste more than we should and then we pump all the crap we've wasted our slave-waged money on into the ground and then quibble over having to spend five pence on a plastic bag but, I digress.

The argument that overweight people are wasting NHS resources is weak and, as always, overly simplified. The NHS is a 'publically funded national healthcare system' which is 'funded primarily by taxation, providing[sic] free or low-cost healthcare to all legal residents of the U.K'. It is condition free and paid for by tax paying residents so please tell me why fat people aren't entitled to seek the medical help they are paying for? If this is the case then cut our taxes because why are we paying into a system that we aren't allowed to benefit from.

 Regardless of whether a persons' health issues are self inflicted or not, the NHS was set up to care for people. If we take the argument that self inflicted illnesses, injuries and medical problems should not be included in/nor is the responsibility of the NHS, as it is a waste of money, then we have to consider all of the ways in which people inflict health problems on themselves. You can't just marginalize one group. Smokers, alcoholics and drug users being the obvious examples but we then have to include people with eating disorders and people that self harm. We would also have to include those that go drinking on a Friday/Saturday night and consume so much alcohol that they end up scaling a wall, falling off and breaking their leg. Based on the 'Overweight Haters' argument, they are, also, not entitled to seek medical help as their injury was caused by their inability to exercise their self control when it came to alcohol consumption. If you were to remove self inflicted health problems from doctors surgeries and hospitals you wouldn't have many patients left. The NHS would be rich but, you'd also have a society of ill people unable to work and left to sort themselves out despite the system they were paying into each and every month.

People who smoke, do not smoke because they want lung cancer, alcoholics don't want cirrhosis of the liver and overweight people do not want heart disease. They also don't want people giving them shitty postcards while they are on their commute home from work, informing them that they are 'fat, ugly humans'. Everybody has the right to exist exactly as they are. No one needs to be 'fixed' or should have to apologise for they way the look or the choices they make (even if the choices people make are inadvisable). People need help and support and kindness. If people want to make changes for themselves they should do so, not because they feel they aren't good enough or because they have been humiliated in public.


As J.K Rowling once said,

'Is 'fat' really the worst thing a human being can be? Is 'fat' worse than 'vindictive', 'jealous', 'shallow', 'vain', 'boring' or 'cruel'? Not to me.'


Maybe someone should print that on a postcard and hand it out.


Tuesday 27 October 2015

things i love about autumn


















































[Jeans & satchel - Asos, Pumps - Evans, Jumper - Simply Be, Scarf - Forever 21]

































Bonfire night 

It's finally soup season

Fluffy socks

Jumper weather

Every outfit requires a scarf

Pumpkins and gourds galore

Instagram becomes overloaded with autumn snaps

Every path is sprinkled with a confetti of leaves

The air smells cold and fresh and smokey

Seasonal drinks (gingerbread lattes, praline flat whites and orange hot chocolates..ughhh)

Time to dig out my ankle boots

My black cherry Revlon lipstick (see above)

Wednesday 14 October 2015

my body; my fashion


























The last few months have been busy. I've been working a lot (in a where-the-hell-are-all-the-post-grad-jobs job which has been...well yeah you get the drift) and, also, my sister came home from Australia for five weeks (and flew back last week) so we've been hanging out and going out shopping and drinking coffee and baking so it hasn't been all bad, but despite doing lots of lovely things I haven't updated my blog which I don't feel too good about.  The truth is, I've felt uninspired. Despite having money to buy myself a beautiful autumn wardrobe and feeling very inspired with my style etc, I've not known what to post about on here. I think my brain has just been a bit cloudy the last few months.

I decided the solution was to start a new blog. Get a fresh start and put all my spare time and energy into it but, when it came to posting on my new blog I realised it wasn't the solution and that like before, I still had nothing to write. I felt like this blog had a lot of issues and I wanted a chance to leave those issues behind however, this blog has been a big journey so far. Since starting it in 2010 my style has developed so much, as has my confidence (not just in what I wear but in how I view myself). When my blog first started out, I only posted photos of my face, having always avoided photos that showed my body and now I post full length photos, wear things I never would have worn and I don't give a crap about what people think. My body; my fashion.

Anyway, this is just a welcome back to my blog and I can't wait to show you all the beautiful Autumn pieces I have bought so far.

[leather - new look, skirt - simply be, scarf and crop top - forever 21, shoes - evans]




Tuesday 26 May 2015

5 couldn't-live-without beauty products

clinique, herbal essences, john frieda, sanctuary, the body shop, beauty products, beauty blog, beauty review, beauty



























You know that game you used to play when you were kids...the one where someone would say, if you were stuck on a desert island and could only take one person/food/book etc with you, what would you take? Well this post is kind of similar except, it's about beauty products and I refuse to only pick one so I've narrowed it down to five...


Body Shop Seaweed Deep Cleansing Facial Wash (£8.50)
If you have been following by blog for sometime, you will know that a couple of summers back I did a beauty test (see here) where I trialed out a new skincare regime. Despite not being a fan of either the day or night cream and being somewhat indifferent to the toner, I loved and have continued using the cleansing facial wash. This facial wash leaves my skin feel clean and fresh and does an amazing job at stopping my skin from producing too much oil. It also doesn't have a strong fragrance to it which, for me, is essential as I like facial products to smell light and fresh and natural, not overly perfumed!

clinique, herbal essences, john frieda, sanctuary, the body shop, beauty products, beauty blog, beauty review, beauty


Clinique Moisture Surge (£34.00)
I'm not one to jump on beauty bandwagons but when every blog I read and vlog I watch recommends a product, I find myself being subconsciously drawn to it while I'm out shopping. Every time I ventured into town, I would, somehow, find myself lingering at the Clinique counter, sampling out this product and being talked at by the sales assistant, each one describing it as a "drink for your face". One even sneakily gave me a tester pot and after trialing it out for a couple of weeks, I found myself desperate to purchase it. However at this point I couldn't justify the price but, at the start of last month, I finally bought myself a pot and I have been using it daily.
 This moisturiser sinks into my skin quickly, leaving it feel soft and fresh. It doesn't feel sticky and you don't have to use much to get a good coverage. Despite it being expensive, it is also said to last a long time which is great as I couldn't afford this price too regularly. Over the years, I have had an endless struggle with finding a good moisturiser that works for my skin, so now that I have found one, I plan to stick with it until it is discontinued or I find something better.

John Frieda Sheer Blonde Leave-in Conditioner (£5.89)
This time last year, I got my hair ombred blonde for the first time (see here). Before this I had never dyed my hair or anything close, so bleaching it really scared me. My hairdresser told me that my hair would feel dry and it was important that I gave it as much moisture as possible so, being the nervous nelly that I am, after my hair appointment, I walked straight into town and headed for the John Frieda section of Boots. I bought this leave -in conditioner (as well as deep conditioner) and have used this product religiously after every hair wash. Even though the blonde has worked it's way out over the year, the tips are still blonde and beside this, the product suits me. It has built in heat protection and helps to keep my hair healthy and hydrated...did I mention it smells amazing?

clinique, herbal essences, john frieda, sanctuary, the body shop, beauty products, beauty blog, beauty review, beauty


Sanctuary 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask (£10.50)
I first purchased this when I was out shopping with my sister. We each bought a couple of tester face masks and planned to try them out that evening after we got home. As soon as we walked through the door, I was running upstairs to apply this. I loved the idea that it was a warm mask and I remember hoping I hadn't been a victim of false advertisement but sure enough, this product exceeded my expectation and since, it has been my go-to face mask. It leaves my skin feeling fresh, soft and visibly clearer. I have tried other products and have liked their results but nothing beats this mask. In fact, writing this post made me desperate to apply it (hence the picture above...attractive, right?) so I took a break and gave myself a little pamper session.

Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Intensive Mask (£4.79)
I have a tried a few deep conditioners over the years. All of them have been more expensive than this one (some a lot more and others only a tinsy bit) but none have given me the same results. Despite being an inexpensive drugstore/supermarket product, this hair mask/conditioner is amazing. Firstly, it smells like summer holidays in a bottle, all coconutty and tropical but it's not just about the smell. The conditioner immediately hydrates and leaves my hair silky, tangle free, shiny and, strangely, brings out the blonde in my hair. Also, a lot of heavy conditioners can weigh your hair down and leave it looking limp and lifeless but this products gives movement. In my opinion it is worth a lot more than £4.79 so go buy one before Herbal Essences catch on to this! 


Beauty products are complicated. Each person has their own issues and struggles but the important thing is to do plenty of research (fellow bloggers and vloggers are a god send) if you are thinking of buying into expensive products. However, I think it is also important to try and be open minded. There are some amazing lower-end products out there so don't assume that you have to pay up to get a good product, especially if, like me, you don't have an endless budget for beauty (or fashion or food or just life in general).

Anyway, I hope you liked this post and please let me know which five beauty products you'd take to a desert island with you?



Saturday 18 April 2015

dressing appropriately

Although I write about a variety of different things on my blog, this post is a little more personal than usual and is, somewhat, mixed in subject matter. It is 50% about my holiday and 50% about how I dress for things which sounds vague and a little pointless but, stay with me and all will become clear...

plus size, plus size blogging, plus size fashion, beauty blog, body confidence, fatshion, body positivity, eff your beauty standards, mountains, france, chamonix, snow, french alps, winter fashion

When I was younger, and a lot less confident than I am now (mainly during the latter of my teenage years 15-19), I struggled to dress for occasions. By this, I mean, I had a set few items of clothes I limited myself to and that I felt comfortable in and unfortunately it became a one-outfit-fits-all-occasions kind of situation. I mostly wore leggings, a dress of a certain length, a cardigan and ballet pumps because that is how I thought I looked best. When summer came I didn't lose the cardigan or the leggings so I was crazily hot. A terribly embarrassing example of this occurred while I was away on holiday one year in Spain. I must have been about about 15 and we were spending the day on the beach. I remember being sat under an umbrella in a maxi dress with a cardigan on and under my maxi dress I had on a pair of leggings! It was the middle of August and the weather must've been 30 degrees Celsius (or more) and I was feeling so hot, I almost felt sick. I wanted to be in my swimwear like everyone else and go and swim in the sea but I didn't have the confidence so instead I just put up with the heat and it was a miserable day and needless to say, I must've looked ridiculous. Looking back on this makes me feel annoyed and sorry for my old self but also happy to be in a better place. 

Things weren't much different when the winter came, I hated how boots made my legs look short so, once again, I used to wear pumps and freeze my feet off (even when it was practically snowing I didn't let up). Autumn and Spring were easier months because they were less radical but throughout the rest of year, I always felt fed up with how I looked and felt. In scenarios where casual clothes (jeans, t-shirt, trainers etc) were appropriate I would stand out and when things were more dressed up, I could make my outfit a little more dressy but still, I felt bored by it.  

plus size, plus size blogging, plus size fashion, beauty blog, body confidence, fatshion, body positivity, eff your beauty standards, mountains, france, chamonix, snow, french alps, winter fashion, chanel,







































I've loved fashion since I can remember so restricting myself so much was frustrating and pretty crappy. Then I reached an age where things seemed to change and I gained a better perspective of things. This change probably began when I first read Gabi Gregg's blog Gabi Fresh (which was then called Young, Fat and Fabulous). I began wearing season/weather/situation appropriate clothing and from this, I started enjoying things a little more.

As I said at the start of this post, the point of this wasn't just about my confidence in the past, it was also, somewhat, about the holiday I just got back from (which actually prompted me to write this). Whilst I was away this Easter in the French Alps, I realised that I was actually wearing appropriate clothing that I felt happy in. I found it funny when I thought back to how I would've dressed had my 16 year old self come instead of my 22 year old self. It just felt like a bit of progress that for some reason, I decided I wanted to share! Although I didn't get any decent photos of my outfits on my DSLR I got some pretty good ones on my phone that I shared on Instagram (follow me @hheartsfashion) so I decided to share them on here as well. Don't get me wrong, my outfits aren't amazing and my make-up and hair were low key but that's the whole point, I guess. 

plus size, plus size blogging, plus size fashion, beauty blog, body confidence, fatshion, body positivity, eff your beauty standards, mountains, france, chamonix, snow, french alps, winter fashion


plus size, plus size blogging, plus size fashion, beauty blog, body confidence, fatshion, body positivity, eff your beauty standards, mountains, france, chamonix, snow, french alps, winter fashion


































Anyway, if you made this far, thanks. This was a slightly longer post than usual but hopefully it was worth the read!

Please let me know your thoughts and feel free to share any similar experiences or comment about the craziness of me wearing leggings on a beach!