Window shopping: Top Summer sale fashion finds!

It’s Summer sales time, and this year’s bad weather means there are even more items to choose from as people are a bit cautious of spending too much on flippy Summer dresses and strappy sandals when most days are still spend in tights and coats! It’s a great time to stock up – particularly if you have a Summer holiday coming – so I’ve picked some of my favourite sale finds to help you along. There are loads of lovely shoes and some fabulous Summer frocks, and nothing on this page costs more than £35 (except one pair of fabulous Carvela shoes I couldn’t resist including). Personally, I’ve got my eye on a pair of fabulous wedges that’ll give height with a bit of added comfort, and a really nice bright 50s dress to wear for my birthday in August. What’s new, eh?!

5 fab online shoe shops you may not have heard of…

If you’re a huge shoe fan, you’re probably well aware of the sites I’ve listed here. But if your online shoe shopping is usually restricted only to old faithfuls like Office and Schuh, or if you tend to buy everything offline, you may not have stumbled upon these great footwear emporiums yet. But trust me when I say they’re all worthy of your time, whether you want the perfect pair of brogues, a bargain on a boutique brand, a pair of knee high boots that actually fit, or someone to take all the hassle out of shoe shopping and pick the styles for you. These are some of my latest favourite shoe shops for easy online shopping and great choice…

Tried & Tested: Fitflop Mukluk boots

With a couple of meagre inches of snow bringing the whole of the London train system to a standstill, I’ve spent a fair amount of time working from home the past week. But various events have forced me out of the comfort of my flat and onto the icy roads (and the blessed snow-free tube), and only one footwear option has been suitable.

Forget non-waterproof Uggs, impractical wellies or leather boots with flimsy, slippery soles. This year, my feet have barely left my new Fitflop Mukluks. And it’s safe to say I’m sold…

Top Ten: even more ‘buy now, wear later’

There’s no real link between these ten products except the fact I love them and I will be investing in some of them ready for when the Sun finally shows its face! This Summer, I’ll be eschewing the more off-the-wall catwalk trends (jogging pants? Leather shorts? I think not…) for something a bit more flattering.

On the relaxed, bohemian side there’ll be an update on last Summer’s gladiator sandals, pretty maxi dresses, nude wedge sandals, 50s sundresses and vintage-inspired doctors bags. For something a bit more dramatic, I’m thinking chandelier earrings, waterfall frills, graphic print dresses and military inspiration. All these items are available now, so get shopping before they sell out…

Big Girl tries Very.co.uk wide fit shoes

Regular shoes usually fit me fine around the foot, but I often struggle to fasten ankle straps because of my chunky ankles and high arches. And boots? Forget it. They all seem to be cut for women with insanely tiny ankles and calves. So I’m always impressed to see more retailers branching out into wider fit shoes and boots.

Very.co.uk are the latest to take the plunge, and they carry a decent selection of wide fit shoes to compliment their size 16+ So Fabulous! range. I was lucky enough to be sent a pair to try recently…

Fall in love with Dorothy Perkins ‘Luxe’ footwear

Shoes are the Big Girl’s secret weapon! No matter how much your weight fluctuates they’ll always fit, and an amazing pair of heels can add inches, make legs look slimmer and – most importantly – make you feel like you rule the world. High Street retailers know this all too well, which is why they’re continually upping the ante each season with more ostentatious offerings. Dorothy Perkins have just announced ‘Luxe’, a collection of premium styles named after some of the world’s top jet-set destination. I’m in love, and I bet you will be too!

Dress for confidence: top 10 ways to make the most of your curves

Being comfortable with your curves is the key to looking greast, and I have so much admiration for voluptuous women who wear what they want regardless of the fashion ‘rules’ (who wrote them anyway?). But the truth is many women have confidence issues and would kill to look a few pounds slimmer. Whether it’s your tum, bum, boobs or thighs that you struggle to dress, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with admitting you have bits you’re not so happy with. Until you have the confidence to say “to hell with it, I’m gorgeous!” dressing to flatter is key to feeling good about yourself, and I don’t think it’s anything to be frowned upon. That said, hiding it not an option! So throw away those shapeless sacks and work with what you’ve got instead…

Big Girl’s Ultimate Shapewear review – updated!

Forget the corsets and girdles of old. The new breed of hold-you-in foundation garments give you a sleeker silhouette without the pain of more old-fashioned alternatives. Since we’re bigger on average than we used to be, it’s no surprise that women are queueing up to buy products that’ll make them appear slimmer or more toned. But which do you go for? To help, I’ve tried everything from smoothing tights to powermesh slips in my search for the best shapewear. Here’s the first part of my review, with everything from Spanx slips to M&S ‘magic pants’ covered…

Fitflops tried & tested: The workout while you work

I am a sucker for a new gadget, gizmo or wonder product. When I heard about Fitflops, my first thought was ‘what a load of rubbish’, but as usual I eventually got sucked in by the marketing, the good press, the celeb fans and the great reviews. What interested me more than the supposed toning / cellulite busting qualities of these new-wave flipflops, was the fact they were lauded as being so comfortable…