We’ve collaborated with the lovely @WhatLauraLoves. Read our interview with Laura Ferry to find out more about the collection and her styling tips.
What made you want to work with Curvissa?
Curvissa have the plus size woman at the heart of everything they do, it comes from such a genuine place and this couldn’t be more in line with my values. I’ve been blogging for over 8 years now and I’ve collaborated with Curvissa in the past, so putting together this edit has really felt like my hard work and determination has come full circle.
I’ve been a customer for years, so I already know how amazing their products are first hand. When you feel a Curvissa garment in your hands, your touch will tell you how well made it is and with fabrics that are easy to care for, many of which are created in timeless styles, you’ll know that they’re going to be in your wardrobe for years to come. That’s the kind of quality brand I want to collaborate with.
Working with Curvissa has been a dream come true. They just get it. They understand me, what I’m all about and respect my integrity. From the start, they’ve really listened, valued my honesty and creativity and trusted me with so much control which has enabled me to curate a collection that’s truly me, for the plus size woman whose confidence, happiness and self-belief I really do care about.
Fashion should be inclusive, as style doesn’t have limits, so working with a brand that carries sizes through to a 32 was important to me and I’ve been so happy with how receptive Curvissa have been to my ideas and thoughts throughout this process. This has been a huge step for both myself and Curvissa as a brand. It’s a first for me and for them too but I’m sure we’d both agree that it is so empowering and inspiring to see a truly plus size woman feeling confident and fabulous wearing their clothes on their website and in their catalogue. My body shape is largely underrepresented in plus size fashion and I know that it will mean so much to so many women to see me up there living my best life, knowing that my body is just as worthy as anyone else’s.
What’s your favourite piece from the collection & why?
Without a doubt my favourite piece from the collection is the faux fur gilet. It is the epitome of autumn winter dressing and is one of those key pieces you can wear day to night. Heading out Christmas shopping? I’d wear my gilet with the burgundy dress. Going out for Christmassy drinks or a cinema date night? I’d pop it on over a long sleeved black top, black skinny jeans and some ankle boots, with a little added sparkle from my jewellery. This gilet is everything that I’ve been looking for in recent years but haven’t been able to find for plus size women. Now that I have and its part of my collection; I couldn’t be happier!
If someone could only buy one piece from the collection, what would you advise?
A classic little black dress is always a worthwhile investment and the one from my collection is a timeless piece that’ll never go out of style. The shape suits everyone, it’s the perfect length regardless of how tall or short you are, and the sumptuous velvet bodice is the perfect fabric detail for the festive season.
What I love the most about it is the sheer mesh sleeves. I speak to so many women who are on their own journey to true body confidence and the arms are an area that women repeatedly tell me they feel as though they must cover yet they’re also the area that they’d love to feel free in getting out. I want to inspire other women to try on this dress and feel as comfortable and confident in it as I do. The mesh gives you that coverage without feeling and looking as though you’re covering up and that can be a great confidence booster within yourself and towards trying other new styles and outfits.
What are the key pieces from the casual collection?
The black shirt dress is a key piece for me, it can be dressed up or down and worn as smartly or casually as you like. Wear it bare legged when the weather is warmer and on colder days, pair it with leggings, wear it over jeggings or tuck it loosely into a skirt. Layer a camisole underneath it for added warmth in the autumn and pair it with the faux fur gilet and boots for a cosy and stylish look.
The jumper dress is another staple style and I’ve made sure that there are a few to choose from in my collection. These are great for workwear, day wear and can be dressed up to look smarter should you be going to the theatre or meetings friends on an evening.
What tips would you give for someone who struggles to feel comfortable in their everyday clothing? How could they adapt their wardrobe to feel more comfortable?
A lot of women who feel uncomfortable in their clothing tend to be wearing items that don’t make them feel great or fit well. Usually they’re wearing pieces that they feel society, the media and the lack of fashionable plus size styles in the past have pigeonholed them into wearing. They’ve become stuck in a rut through fear of what others will think of them and society’s ‘fashion rules’. It’s time to break these rules that don’t even exist.
Search online for inspiration and save images of styles you love then look online or in catalogues for pieces that emulate that style. Set yourself the goal of putting together at least one full outfit, because then you can find more items to mix and match in with those pieces to create other outfits later.
Order lots to try in the comfort of your home, in your own time, with plenty of space around you and free from the harsh lighting of a changing room! If possible, order a size above and a size below the size you’d usually go for so that you can make sure you’re getting the best fit for your body as the better the fit, the more confident you’ll feel in how you look. Sometimes you’ll need to go up a size in an item and there’s absolutely no shame in that, it’s just a label. Similarly, a lot of women hide under items that swamp them rather than getting something to fit their figure and this is where trying on the next size down can make a wealth of difference. I used to stick to jersey fabrics that were full of stretch but I now feel so much more comfortable and confident in more form fitting basics like jeggings or tailored trousers and I’m not afraid to show off my body in a great fitting jumper dress.
How do you like to take outfits from day to night, and what tips would you give people for dressing outfits up?
Having clothes in your wardrobe that you can transition from day to night is essential if you’re a busy woman like I am, or simply want to get the most from your wardrobe. Changing up your footwear, adding jewellery, switching to a smaller bag, giving your hair a bit of oomph and some lippy can easily make an outfit look dressier. It’s all about that little bit of extra thought and effort, plus the smile that comes from feeling confident and comfortable in knowing you’re wearing a great outfit.
How did you pick the occasionwear in the collection?
Giving women a choice was important when it came to occasionwear. Many women will often message me saying they feel as though they’re stuck in leggings and would love to have the confidence to wear a dress. My advice is usually to start with a long dress as it’s not far from the comfort zone of ankle length leggings, and to work their way up the hemlines as they gain confidence. Moving from leggings to fitted trousers can work wonders for an outfit but going to a maxi dress can open a whole new wardrobe for many women. I wanted to have the option of a maxi dress for formal occasions, especially for those who are trying new styles, as well as shorter party dresses for those who are confident getting their legs out like I am. For the same reason, I’ve chosen some dresses that work well with tights and some that can be worn with flats as well as heels.
The occasionwear from my collection is perfect for the festive season, and I’ve chosen timeless pieces that will be in style for more than one winter. There are different colourways available, I chose to wear navy because I find it softer against my skin. I also wanted to have the option of smart casual pieces that could be dressed up such as the embellished jumper dress, and the top and jeans combo as not everyone wants to wear a dress to their Christmas party. The lace top is absolutely gorgeous and can be worn with a bra underneath as I’ve styled it or with a camisole for more coverage. It looks awesome under a faux leather jacket too.
What tips would you give someone struggling to pick an outfit for an upcoming occasion?
I’d say don’t set your heart on one particular style or garment; give yourself plenty of time to order and return lots of different pieces in a variety of sizes and styles.
Check out sources of inspiration online, such as Instagram, for style inspiration and find the confidence within you to try something new; what’s the worst that could happen? You’ll not like it, put it back in the bag and get a refund, easy. On the flipside, you could find an item that makes you feel a million dollars!
Try the items all on in the comfort of your own home wearing the underwear that you’d actually wear with them and take this as an opportunity to try them out with your own accessories and footwear, styling them up as you would actually wear them. It’s a good idea to do your hair and makeup a little, if you wear it, to really give you an idea of what the outfit would look like on the night. Look at how fabulous you look in the mirror and if you smile back at yourself and feel comfortable and confident, then that’s the outfit for you.
