IWOOT Christmas Jumpers*

*[AD- Review. This post features products that were sent to me in exchange for a review. As always, all words, opinions, and photos are my own].

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without wearing a fun Christmas jumper at every opportunity. We wear them to the Christmas lights switch on, curled up watching Christmas movies on the sofa, for decorating the tree, and of course, to embrace the festive spirit at the office Christmas party and on Christmas Day itself. They're now as much a part of Christmas as Christmas trees and mince pies, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I don't know about you, but I love a good Christmas jumper, and own several I like to wear year after year to enjoy the festivities. Even so, I can never resist window shopping for new designs each Christmas to see what I can add to the collection, and when IWOOT got in touch and invited me to review a couple of Christmas jumpers for them, I naturally jumped at the chance.

IWOOT invited me to choose two jumpers to review from their extensive selection of Christmas jumpers, which was no easy task as they have hundreds of amazing designs to choose from this Christmas. Their designs cover everything from cult films like Harry Potter and Star Wars, to retro computer game characters and consoles like Super Mario and Nintendo; Christmas films like Home Alone, Elf, and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation to Marvel and DC Comics' superheros, and cute festive motifs. No matter your tastes or interests, there's something for everybody, and you can even kit out the whole family as they do Christmas jumpers for men, women, and children!

I eventually narrowed down my favourites and chose two Christmas jumpers that I think you're going to love as much as I do. I was hoping to model them for you to show you how they fit, but I'm still recovering from a neck injury, so I've had to go with a few flatlays instead. Sorry guys.

My first choice was the Muppets Pattern Christmas Sweatshirt* in grey, which I think I was drawn to as The Muppets Christmas Carol has been one of my favourite Christmas films since 1993, when my Nana gave us a copy of the film on video for Christmas. It's been a staple part of my Christmases for nearly thirty years now, so it wouldn't be Christmas without watching it at least half a dozen times each December. It's a classic! I don't think I've ever seen a Muppets Christmas jumper before, though, so I was excited to see this design, and knew it was the one for me.

This officially licensed Disney sweatshirt features a white Christmas print with festive images like snowflakes, presents, Christmas trees, and Santa in his reindeer-led sleigh, and the colourful faces of everyone's favourite Muppets mixed in for good measure. There's Miss Piggy, Animal, Fozzi Bear, and Gonzo, plus Kermit in a Santa hat, and even a couple of baubles designed to look like Dr. Bunsen Honeydew. The design is so cute, and perfect for any Muppets fan- including my Mum, who has already attempted to steal it from me!

The sweatshirt is a lovely light grey and as it's made from 95% cotton and has a fleecy lining, it's super soft, and so warm and cosy to wear. It's a medium-thick sweatshirt, but not to thick, so it's the ideal Christmas jumper for keeping warm in without overheating. If grey isn't your thing, the sweatshirt also comes in black, and both colours are available for men and children, as well as women. The women's jumper comes in sizes XS to 5XL, which the size guide says translates to a UK 24. Knowing sweatshirts like these often come up a little on the small side and hoping for an over-sized fit, I decided to size up, and requested a 5XL, hoping it wouldn't be too big. I'm glad I did, as this sweatshirt is definitely at least a size smaller than advertised, and while it still has a relaxed, roomy fit on me, it's not over-sized and doesn't have a lot of room to spare around the hips. I think the size down would've been too snug for comfort, so I'd recommend sizing up at least once, if possible, especially if you prefer a slouchier fit.

The second Christmas jumper that I selected was the Friends Happy Holidays Women's Christmas Sweatshirt*, a thick white sweatshirt with a colourful illustration of Ross Geller dressed up as the Holiday Armadillo on a bright blue background across the chest. 

When I first laid eyes on this sweatshirt, I may have gotten a little overexcited, and knew this Christmas jumper had to come home with me. You just can't have Christmas without The Holiday Armadillo, your part Jewish friend for all the southern states, aaaand MEXICO! (And all the counties of the UK and Ireland, too, of course)! The episode is a Christmas classic and one I still enjoy watching every year because it's hilarious, and never fails to make me laugh.

In all the years since that episode was released, I have never seen a Holiday Armadillo Christmas jumper before, so this officially licensed Friends sweatshirt is so unique, and one you're unlikely to find every other person wearing at the office Christmas party... at least this year because everyone is going to want one when they see you wearing it! Luckily, the sweatshirt caters to both men and women in sizes XS to 5XL, so most people can join in the fun with you!

Like the Muppets sweatshirt, the Happy Holidays design is small sized, and I'd recommend sizing up at least once- if not twice- for a more comfortable fit. It's snug on the hips on me, even though I sized up from my usual size to a 5XL, and quite fitted everywhere else, too. Not quite the over-sized fit I was hoping for, although, it's still loose enough to wear comfortably. It's not quite as soft as the Muppets sweatshirt, either, but as it's made from 80% cotton, it's still soft and snugly and it's fleecy lining will keep you snug as a bug (or should that be an armadillo??) while you're Christmas shopping or strolling around the Christmas markets.

Both jumpers retail for a very reasonable £24.99 each, and they're currently on promotion for just £14.99, so now is the time to treat yourself to a new Christmas jumper for the holidays, and grab yourself a bargain.

If The Muppets or Friends aren't your thing, IWOOT have almost two thousand other Christmas jumper designs to choose from, featuring all kinds of popular movies, TV shows, cartoon characters, and more, and you can find their full range of Christmas jumpers here.

IWOOT have also kindly provided me with a discount code to share with you, so be sure to enter code XMASLOUISE at checkout to save yourself 30% off their range of Christmas jumpers!

What would feature on your perfect Christmas jumper?

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JD Williams Knitwear Review

I'm one of those people who rarely wears a coat or a jacket; I prefer to just layer a jumper or a cardigan over most of my outfits because I get over heated really easily. (Thanks, spine). I find that knitwear is usually more than enough to keep me warm and cosy, and though I wear some form of knitwear almost every day, it had been a while since I last added some cosy new pieces to my wardrobe.

So, when online fashion brand JD Williams invited me to review some knitwear, I was more than happy to oblige! I was asked to choose some pieces from their current selection, and I chose three cosy pieces that I think you're going to like as much as I do!

First up is this wonderfully quirky fairisle poodle jumper* by Marisota, which I chose because of the cute motif. Any excuse to add a bit of whimsy and personality to my outfits! Motif jumpers are big news this season, but the poodle is so different to any other design I've seen, and definitely one of the best! If you're sad to pack your Christmas jumpers away for another year, this jumper is a great alternative and unlike your Christmas jumpers, you can keep wearing it through 'til Spring! (And beyond if you fancy it!) 

This jumper is one of the softest, cosiest jumpers I've ever worn; it as cosy as a fleecy dressing gown, but with the added bonus of being a socially acceptable garment for wearing in public. It's like wearing a giant hug! It's surprisingly warm for a light-weight knit, and it's just the right thickness for layering. As you can see, I layered mine over a heart-print skater dress, and just folded the hem under a couple of inches for a neater look; I really like how the two pieces look together. This jumper is so versatile; I think it would look great with everything from dresses to jeans, to skirts and shorts; it's the perfect cream jumper!

If ivory isn't your thing, the poodle jumper also comes in red, which I'm quite tempted to treat myself to. Both colours are currently just £10-11 in the sale, and available to sizes 12/14 to 28/30. I'm between two of the dual sizes, so I sized up to the 20/22. It's a little loose on me, so I'd say it's pretty true to size. 

I wear cardigans almost every day, so I couldn't do a knitwear post without including one! They are a wardrobe staple, after all. I was drawn to this bold heart print cardigan* the moment I first saw it; I'm not much of a pink person, but the amazing heart print won me over. It's exactly my style.

When I picked it, I was expecting a run-of-the-mill cotton cardi, so I was surprised to discover how thick and warm the fabric was! It's made from acrylic, but it feels just like a thick wool jacket. It's the perfect Winter cardigan to wear with jeans and dresses without freezing to death! When I took this photo, it was barely above freezing, but with this cardi on I was comfortably snug outside in the bitter air- and I only had a thin chiffon dress and leggings underneath! The quality of the fabric is incredible for the original RRP of £20, and it's even better now that it's on sale for a purse-friendly £15! The cardi is available in sizes 12-32, although I think it could cater to a couple of sizes larger, too. I got the cardigan in my usual cardi size, but as you can see it swamps me. I'd say it runs about two sizes big, so size down at least once, where possible. If you're looking for a statement cardigan this January, I highly recommend this one.

The third and final piece I chose was the popcorn-knit love jumper* by JD Williams, which has got me out of dresses and in to my first pair of trousers in about two and a half years! Yes, really! Do not adjust your screens; this really is me wearing something other than a dress! Hello, jeggings; it's been a while!

This jumper features a textured 'love' motif made from yarn and eye-lash knit, which I think is really eye catching. I love the design! I'm not usually a fan of clothes that have large words or logos on them, but this one is really tasteful, and I don't think you can ever go wrong with a chunky cream knit over a pair of dark blue jeans or jeggings. 

What sets this one apart from all the other cream motif jumpers is that it's a popcorn knit. I had never heard of a popcorn knit before I saw this jumper, so this one is a whole new experience for me. After doing my research, I learnt that a popcorn knit is made up of lots of clusters of stitches that give it a bumpy texture and look like little flat bobbles. The stitches have been spaced quite far apart for this jumper, so it's got quite an open weave, and isn't completely opaque- although you can't really tell in my photo. You can see my bra and skin through this jumper, so you may wish to wear a top underneath to protect your modesty and / or to keep you warm. It doesn't hold the heat in as well as most chunky knits.

I'd also recommend sizing down at least one size, if not two as it's very generously sized. I made the mistake of sizing up for an over-sized fit, but the jumper swamps me. You can't actually see just how baggy it is on me in the photo, but it's two or three sizes too big, and not in a good way. It's a shame as it's a gorgeous jumper and the right fit would turn this in to a winter staple, but it'll still be perfect for curling up in to relax with a good book on a cold winters day. This knit comes in sizes 12/14 to 32/34, and is priced at £35-41, depending on size.

So, that's just three of the lovely pieces in JD Williams current knitwear collection. If you'd like to check out what other knitwear they have to offer, you can find their full selection of women's knitwear here. The brand stocks a fantastic selection of fashionable knitwear in sizes 8-36, and with almost 400 pieces in their current selection, there's likely to be something for almost everybody.

Have you bought any new knitwear lately?

*JD Williams provided me with the featured knitwear in exchange for a review. As always, all words, and opinions are my own.

30 Plus Size Christmas Jumpers

Love them or hate them, Christmas jumpers are everywhere right now. There are more designs to choose from than ever before, with the majority of fashion brands jumping on the festive jumper band waggon.

And the good news for all of us plus size ladies is that there is no shortage of Christmas jumpers for us this year! Most of our favourite plus size brands have added a fun selection of festive sweaters to their Christmas collections, and we've really been spoilt for choice this year.

I've put together 30 of my favourite plus size Christmas jumpers to show you what's out there! While some cater right up to a 34, others may stop at 24, and there are also a few from "straight-sized" brands that only go up to a 20 or 22. And for that, I'm sorry! I've tried to include as many across the board as I possible, and there should be at least a few jumpers for each size from a 16-34. (There are some that start at a size 6, too). We all deserve to cosy up in a silly Christmas jumper during the festive season, what ever our size, and I hope this list helps you find your perfect one!

 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6

7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12

 13 // 14 // 15 // 16 // 17 // 18

 19 // 20 // 21 // 22 // 23 // 24

25 // 26 // 27 // 28 // 29 // 30

I think there's a fantastic selection of designs in plus sizes this year. The hard part is deciding which one to choose.

I treated myself to the Boohoo+ Home Alone 2 "Merry Christmas Ya Filthy Animal" jumper (7) in green before it sold out, and it's the best piece of knitwear I've ever owned. If you go for one jumper from this list, that's the one I'd recommend. I can't wait to wear mine this Christmas as I enjoy the festivities, and I'll be sure to feature it in an OOTD later this month!

I find it funny how just a couple of years ago we wouldn't touch Christmas jumpers with a barge pole, but now everybody is embracing the fun trend. It just goes to show how much fashion influences our clothing choices, and how a lot of us will only wear something if we've been told it's on trend; even if we don't particularly follow the latest trends. 

I remember my Mum forcing me to dress in colourful fairisle jumpers when I was little, and I hated them. They weren't cool back in the nineties at all; wearing a Christmas jumper was one of the nerdiest things a person could do. Just think of Carlton from Fresh Prince dancing in his ugly Christmas jumper, and you'll probably get why everybody steered clear of them!

These days? I actually enjoy and look forward to wearing my Christmas jumpers. I don't take myself or my style too seriously anymore, and I love any excuse that let's me wear a novelty print or motif! Plus I'm a Christmas geek, and love all things Christmassy, so I'm in my element here, with so many fun jumpers to choose from!

Have you got yourself a Christmas jumper yet? 

Which of these do you like best?

My 15 Favourite Christmas Jumpers 2013

Morning lovelies,

Can you believe it's just eleven days until Christmas? I honestly have no idea where the last two weeks have gone; and I feel so disorganised this year. The decorations are up, the presents are all wrapped, but I still feel like I have a million things to do. So, as usual I'm just going to procrastinate some more and talk about clothes instead of doing something a little more productive at home. Sound good? Okay.

So, let's talk some clothes! Christmas jumpers, to be more precise...

Novelty Christmas jumpers have become one of this season's biggest trends, and they're everywhere we turn. Yes, we wouldn't touch one with a barge pole just a couple of years ago, but today, we can wear our reindeer jumpers proudly without everyone gazing at us in pity- because they're all embracing them, too!

Have you got yours yet? If not, don't panic- there are hundreds out there to pick from! I've done the leg work for you and compiled my top fifteen to make life even easier for you!

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12 // 13 // 14 // 15

Aren't they brilliant?

1, 2, 3 and 11 are my favourites of the 15. Which ones do you love best?

I tried to select jumpers which cater to plus sizes as much as possible. Everything goes up to at least a size 20 UK, with about half catering up to at least a size 28UK, and up to a 32/34UK. Many of them also start from a size 4. I'd say New Look Inspire has the biggest selection for plus sizes this year, but there are at least a few in almost all fashion shops.

Oh, and I have one more for you I forgot to add to the collage...

Isn't this the best Christmas jumper in the history of Christmas jumpers? I think so! 

Leah of Just Me, Leah, bought these jumpers to everyone's attention a couple of days ago, and of course, everybody pounced on them straight away! (Including me; I bought one in black!) They're sold in a variety of colours by Fashion Avenue on eBay and the best part is they carry sizes to fit from a size 8-10 up to a size 28-30!! I purchased mine within a minute of reading Leah's post, and can't wait to wear it this Christmas. I hope it fits!

I grew up watching Home Alone 1 and 2, and they've always been two of my favourite Christmas films. I'm sure I've uttered those five words dozens of times over the years, so it's just perfect. I'd seen dozens of bloggers wearing similar jumpers recently, and was gutted to learn they were from boohoo.com, who obviously don't manufacture plus sizes. So, this one is a much size-friendlier alternative and costs just £12.99!

Have you got yourself a Christmas jumper or two yet? Will you be wearing yours with pride this Christmas?

Red Velvet and Reindeer

I've been going really stir crazy over the last couple of weeks. I've learnt to deal with being house bound and stuck in bed most of the time, and I accept it- but every now and then I get really frustrated with being cooped up, and would give anything to get out of the house. Anything to be out in the fresh air, just doing normal every day things... things that I used to take for granted. The ~cabin fever~ usually passes after a day or three, but I still miss living my life outside the confines of these four walls. I miss having the freedom to live a normal life; to go wherever and do whatever I want to do; to make plans or act on impulse, and just be me, I guess... but, c'est la vie. One day it will end.

My sister gave me a temporary break from captivity at the end of the week by taking me to Sainsburys for groceries. (Ooh, aah!) Yes, I live such an exciting existance! I did come home with a new jumper, though, so it wasn't all bad. I wore it out in to the garden the next day to get some fresh air, and test out my new boots on the patio.

It may only be mid-October, but yes, I'm wearing a reindeer jumper! I regret nothing. 

I saw the jumper in Sainsburys and I couldn't leave without it. (Mostly because my sister wouldn't have allowed me to). I don't know what it is, but I love fairisle patterns, especially on knitwear. My Mum used to dress me in the things when I was little, and then I spent the next decade or so avoiding them like the plague... it's funny how tastes change, and styles come back in to fashion again. Fairisle prints and Christmas jumpers are everywhere again. Bill Cosby would be proud! 

The jumper is so thickly knitted, and so cosy. It'll be perfect when Winter sets in. It was really chilly (and raining) when I took these photos, but I felt lovely and warm wearing it. The background is cream, and the pattern is in red and navy, with a burgundy reindeer. It was only £20, which is a pretty good price for a lovely, good quality sweater.

I had an urge to try it with my black velvet sparkly skater skirt that I bought from New Look last Winter, and opaque tights, and I really like how all these pieces look together. I'm not hugely comfortable in jeans, but I think the jumper looks cute over a skirt. I think I'll be trying to recreate looks like this through Autumn and Winter.

I was also wearing my new studded ankle boots from Simply Be that I treated myself to a month or so ago. This was the first time I'd worn them out of the house, and although I was a little underwhelmed when I first got them, I'm now loving them more and more each time I look at them. Looking at these photos, I think they look quite nice on. The colour is lovely, and they fit so well. They're wide-fitting boots (I got the EEE as I've got really wide feet), and I don't think I've ever had a pair of boots that fit so well. They're so comfortable, and there's even width to spare! I must get the other colours!

Who says a girl can't sparkle on a dreary drizzly Friday in October??

Close ups of the pattern, and my messy red hair.

The boots are a rich burgundy, and they are studded on the outer sides. Sorry about the crap photos. The zip feature makes it super easy to get them on and off. Always a bonus with wide feet!

I wore my anchor ASOS ring.

And I wore an old Evans ring on my other hand, which is missing a couple of gems and looks unsightly, but I still love it. 

I went for a burgundy nail polish (Barry M's 'Raspberry'), and added a red and black glitter polish to the tops of the nails (Barry M's 'Ruby Glitter'.

Outfit Details

Jumper-TU at Sainsburys // Skirt-New Look Inspire- Tights-Evans // Boots-Simply Be // 

Anchor Ring-ASOS // Black Gem Ring-Evans // Nail Polishes-Barry M

Well, I don't know about you, but I think I've found myself a casual Christmas outfit!

Clothing Shopping Haul

Don't you just love it when you come in to some unexpected money, and are able to treat yourself to a bit of whatever you fancy? I sure do!

It was only recently I confided how between September and the New Year I can't afford to spend much on myself, with Christmas and four family birthdays to think about, and how as a result, I don't really have much of a winter wardrobe. I was trying to decide which item on my wish list or need list to treat myself to... And then suddenly I found myself with a little (and gratefully received) extra cash and decided I would splurge a little, and fill a few gaps in my wardrobe.

I bought most of the clothes in this post in Sainsbury's last week, when they had 25% off all of their TU clothing and accessories. So not only were the clothes inexpensive to begin with and fantastic quality, but they were a complete bargain on sale, and my bank account thanked me for it.

I bought this adorable fox motif jumper, which is so thick and warm, and will be perfect on days when it snows or there's a heavy frost on the ground. Until this shopping trip, I didn't have any thick knitwear in my wardrobe at all (shocking, right?!), and although I over heat really easily, there are days when something thick like this is needed. This jumper was £18.75 on promo, usually £25.00. It comes up quite large.

I couldn't resist this cute Scottie dog jumper, either. I've always loved Scottie dogs, and motifs of them are far too irresistible. This jumper is a little thinner than the fox one, but still thick, warm and cosy, and will look perfect over jeans with a pair of boots. It was £15.00, originally £20.00, and you'll probably need your usual size.

I also picked up a bunch of basic cardigans in a variety of colours that were missing from my wardrobe.

I've been searching for a red cardigan for a couple of years, and I finally found one I liked in Next with a covered panel over the buttons, which I can't wait to wear. I also bought the same cardigan in a gorgeous forest green colour. They were £18 each, and they come up small, so size up from your usual cardigan size.

The black, purple, and light teal (which is much darker in colour than in these photos) cardigans were all from TU at Sainsbury's and they are just about the softest cardigans I've ever found in my life. Seriously, they're lovely. The sizing is very generous, so sizing down is advised. They cost £11.50 on promotion, £14.00 normally.

I originally went to look for a long line boyfriend cardigan, and I found one which ticks all the right boxes for a basic black cardigan. It's super soft, has pockets, and is a decent length, too. It retails for a reasonable £14, and it comes up large so size down if you can; I should have. 

Sorry I couldn't get a decent photo of it; my camera didn't want to capture it wherever I tried.

I fell in love with this lovely plum coloured waterfall cardigan, and the photo really doesn't do it justice. It was another garment that was proving a nightmare to photograph. It's a beautiful plum colour, and is flecked with pink, purple, and teal thread, which is a little different, and it may be a contender for the cosiest cardigan ever to grace the earth. Seriously, it's like a giant hug. I was surprised to see how large the sizing was; I tried on the XL and then the L, and they swamped me. In the end I bought the M but it's still really over sized on me; I could have bought the S! It will be ideal for wearing over dresses, and was a steal at £18.75 down from £25.00.

I had to treat myself to some new PJs as everything I own is on its last legs. These Scottie dog print ones just leaped in to the trolley; I don't know how that happened! They're pretty true to size, and as I'm wearing them as I type, I can tell you they're very comfortable. They retailed for £16.00 and I bought them for £12.00.

This polar bear and snowflake print onesie also came home with me because I fell in love with the print.  I love me a cute print. This is my first onesie, and the XL fits me really well, but ladies with larger chests may struggle with it as it's buttoned up from the waist band up. Still, it's lovely and not too thick, so should be great for chilly winter nights. I really wanted the daschund print version, as well. I paid £12.00 for it, and it originally retailed for £16.00

And finally, I just had to treat myself to the Pink Clove tartan skater dress that every plus size blogger and their dog have gone absolutely crazy for. I'm sure you've already seen it on many blogs. It didn't wow me as much as I hoped, but it's lovely and the quality is amazing. I sized up, but it's stretchy and your regular size should be fine. The dress has recently lowered from £30.00 to £22.00, so get in there fast, guys!

So, that's my recent clothing haul. I've managed to buy the staple pieces I've needed, and a few lovely treats for my A/W along the way. They'll all be coming to outfit posts really soon, I'm sure. I just need the weather to get colder so I can wear them!

I've also bought a few little accessories this week and some stationery, too, but I shall share those with you in a couple of separate posts really soon.

What have you been buying lately?

What a Week!

We may have only just welcomed 2013's arrival with open arms or a tentative hand shake, but our first eleven days together haven't exactly seen our relationship off to a good start.

On Tuesday we lost a treasured family pet, my sister and brother-in-law's German Shepherd, Holly. Technically, she wasn't my pet, but she might as well have been. Holly was always ecstatic to see me, and I loved that beautiful creature as if she were my own. My sister had to make the difficult decision to end her suffering, but deep down she's knows it was the right thing to do.

 In December Holly was diagnosed with cancer, but at the time she was so healthy and happy you would never have known. We didn't. During the last three or four weeks, the cancer took hold shockingly fast, and it was heart breaking to see how quickly she deteriorated. Freeing her from her pain and suffering was the right thing to do, but we're all heart broken without her. She was a beautiful animal, with such a loving, affectionate nature, and a mischievous side thrown in for good measure.  I don't think any other dog will ever have the same impact on our lives as Holly did.

So, I've been staying with my sister on the south coast to help her through the loss, while her husband is away on a detachment overseas. The house is so empty and quiet without Holly here to bark at postmen, or to claim the free seat on the sofa beside me. My sister and I have mostly been lounging around in comfy clothes and watching a ton of movies to distract her from the loss; although I have been getting dressed so have an outfit to share with you today!

Oh, look, my skin blends in with the door, and my jumper with the walls!

In my world, comfortable clothes aren't often just about pyjamas. I find dresses and leggings a comfortable combination. I've worn this outfit a couple of times together this winter, as I quite like the fox jumper over this brown bird print dress, and think purple and various shades of brown compliment each other well. The only accessory I bought with me was the giraffe necklace, as I completely forget to pack any, and I know it doesn't go.

Apologies for my make up less face and the state of my hair. I've felt too ill to care. I should hopefully get it dyed this weekend, and see about trimming my fringe myself if I can. I'm seriously considering getting my hair cut shorter again in to a long bob, but I haven't come to a decision yet.

The jumper is fairly thin and super soft, and has a beautiful fox on the front with a crown on top of his noble brow. Neutrals don't do much for my skin tone, but I adore this sweater. The dress is sleeveless, with a fitted waist, and a cute bird print all over the fabric.

Outfit Details

Jumper: Dorothy Perkins
Dress, worn as a skirt: Dorothy Perkins
Leggings: Evans
Necklace: Accessorize

Whilst staying with my Sister, I managed to get an appointment with her doctor's surgery. I went in to get some antibiotics for my infected big toes (they've been bad since mid- September and won't heal); I came out knowing I have to have toe surgery to treat them! 2013 is the year that just keeps on giving! I was however impressed with how efficient the Doctor and Nurse I saw were. My GPs do little more than say 'here, have some tablets, bye!' These ladies swiftly looked at my toes, got a second opinion, checked the pulse in my feet, and checked my blood sugars to rule out diabetes, which I'm happy to say was quickly ruled out. I was scared there for a second.

I've been able to make an appointment with this practise to see about my disc injuries, and I'm curious to see if they'll offer any help or solutions, because in sixteen months I've yet to see a medical professional in my county who has tried to help me or even prescribe drugs strong enough to take my pain away. (So far nothing has even touched the surface). Keep your fingers crossed for me!

So, 2013, sorry to be frank, but it's not me, it's you. I think we should see other people. I'm concentrating on my career right now... oh, and if you see 2011 on your travels, ask him if he would return for another year in your place. Merci beaucoup... et au revoir.

Christmas Jumpers

Love them or hate them, Christmas jumpers are still the must-have knit this Winter. It doesn't matter if you favour the scandi-chic fairisle patterns, or prefer a fun motif, there's probably a jumper out there for you!

 I personally adore fairisle patterns, and will be wearing my cream fairisle cardigan with my velvet skater skirt, and studded slippers this Christmas. It may in fact end up being my Christmas Day outfit.

I browsed the virtual racks to find the best festive knits. I was hoping to put together a selection that catered to both plus size and straight sizes (I hate that phrase).What I found was that most brands had either sold out of the fabulous knits I'd been admiring all season, or had few sizes left in stock. Some in this collage even disappeared whilst I was putting this post together.

These were the best of what I found...

1. Next fairisle pattern lambswool rich sweater £38.00 (up to size 22UK)
2. Dorothy Perkins grey penguin jumper £28.00 (up to size 22UK)
3. Dorothy Perkins grey snowflake jumper £28.00 (up to size 22UK)
4. Joe Browns at Simply Be love heart jumper £45.00 (up to size 32/34UK)
5. Matalan falmer heritage fairisle hooded cardigan £25.00 (up to size 20UK)
6. Next penguin sequin sweater £32.00  (up to size 22UK)
7. F&F at Tesco
8. New Look Inspire

Which one is your favourite?

 I think mine are the lovely red fairisle knit, and the two grey penguin jumpers. They'd look great with a pair of skinny jeans and boots, or tucked in to a skirt with ballet pumps.

All of these Christmas jumpers go up to at least a UK20/22 and the lovely bold Joe Browns one goes up to a UK32/34. They all start from a size 6 or 8, except for number 8, which begins at an 18.

They'd all be perfect for snuggling up in front of the fire with a Christmas movie and a glass of wine, or for a Boxing Day walk to steal half an hour's peace from a crowded house. Admit it, you find any excuse to escape for a while when your relatives are driving you crazy, too!

I hear that Primark have a pretty good selection of Christmas knits, too, so it could be worth braving the chaos if you fancy embracing the trend this Christmas.

Do you love or hate Christmas jumpers?

How would you wear one this season?