zara | Vertically Challenged

BIKINI BODY READY?

ARE YOU READY FOR SUMMER?

GET YOUR BIKINI BODY IN TEN DAYS!

It may be a skyline filled with rain and grey cloud as far as the eye can see, however it is very nearly Summer and the bikini’s are rearing their ugly head from the draw under the bed, like the boogie man taunting you from the darkness. I’ve already taken the plunge, I had the most fantastic short break in Malta just a few weeks ago and that involved summer dresses and two-pieces. Safe to say, it’s a daunting prospect for most of us, myself included, with trips to the nearest common in mind, pool days and of course the next holiday (to Croatia) I have to remind myself that what may seem like a mountain of cellulite and whale blubber to me is nothing to everyone else. As women we now have an extreme stigma of beauty to up hold, this pressure is worse than ever with girls as young as 9 suffering depression and anxiety due to issues with body image. Really.

I’m not usually one to dress for my size per say, I own cullotes, shift dresses, men’s shirts all which shouldn’t be worn by those of a certain breast size, height, body shape. I plan on focusing on the positive, wearing what makes me feel comfortable and overcoming all those nagging insecurities, see ya, bye bye now.

So here is a mini hit list of some of my go to items of the Summer, the basics you might say…..

The age old question asked by girls every where when embarking on a night out… ‘Are you taking a coat?’ echo’s around the house, whilst you’re stuffing your lipstick, bronzer, and various necessities, of any night out into your handbag. Now if I look back to 5/6 years ago, when I was a student this wouldn’t even be a question as paying that extra £1 for the cloakroom was simply not an option. Time’s have changed however at as we enter the second half of our twenties, we now consider a coat as a necessity not only for those bitterly cold walks to the tube or long waits for a cab but as part of our outfit.

I never used to be a lover of a coat, I would always avoid buying one as I thought they didn’t suit me, until I realised I just needed to find the right shape and cut for me. Once found, I can’t get enough of them. There are so many styles out there you can always find the one for you, oversized, bomber, trench, longline, cocoon and so on and so on. I always felt being short and not a size 6 I would need a coat which nips me in at the waist, complete opposite I have found, my personal favourite style is the cocoon and oversized. So when looking for a coat what I recommend, try them all, an oversized coat may seem as if it is for someone of the model variety, but you may find it is what suits you and your style the best. Also don’t be afraid of a coloured or patterned coat, I bought a cobalt blue one last year and still love it again this season!