So what an amazing weekend its been. The Curve Fashion festival took place on Saturday, its first outing and wow what an event it was.
I was incredibly lucky to be doing the social media for the festival which meant I got to experience every single aspect of an itinerary which was quite frankly packed to the rafters.
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| Me and the brown eyed crew at 5am-yep you read that right 5am |
The morning kicked off with a celebrity press call for the events ambassadors American blogger and Marie Claire contributing editor Nicolette Mason, Plus size supermodel Tess Holiday, Hayley Hasslehoff and Model and blogger Louise O'Reilly from Style me curvy.
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| Girl Gang Goals! |
Unsurprisingly they all looked stunning. I was totally crushing on Nicolettes Breton striped chic with pink accents (including her hair) and Tess's sequinned cape and bag.
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| Nicolette looking amazing in stripes |
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| Cape love |
Louise O'Reilly looked as immaculate as always in a beautiful orange cape jacket and Hayley Hasslehoff was an absolute vision in floor length white. What a way to introduce the festival to the press!
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| How fab is this cape jacket |
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| Soft white layering from Hayley Hoff |
Illustrating clearly how the fashion press is beginning to sit up and take notice of Plus size fashion Marie Claire magazine were there filming interviews and I got to spend a lovely hour with them as they chatted to the ambassadors. Buzzfeed were also in attendance working on a piece about plus size style.
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| Chatting to the press |
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| Louise being interviewed by Marie Claire magazine |
And it wasn't just the bloggers and models being style queens. While this was taking place the queues of eager fatshionisatas were growing outside waiting for the doors to open. There was some really inspiring style going on.I went outside and snapped some of my favourites.
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| All the babes |
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| Street style at its finest |
Then the doors were open and it was time for the festival proper to start!
The Manchester Central was such a good choice of venue, light, plenty of space for all the brands and so much to see and do.
There was fashion, jewellery, beauty stands, massage tables even a small photography studio.The mix of brands was perfect lots of big names like Evans, Simply be, Scarlet and Jo and Taking Shape but also some really cool indie designers (including my very own brand Nicky Rockets) and stores like Topsy Curvy and Apples and Pears.
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| My own brand Nicky Rockets was in attendance |
Up and coming fashion designer Rosie Astbury (who also writes the blog a rose like this) unveiled her new collection and the winners of Miss Beauty Curve were there making sure there was lots of sequins and sparkle.
Lisa Riley launched her new range Just Be You, choosing a group of bloggers to act as her models for the day. They all looked very glam and Lisa was so excited about her new range which sounds like it has been a real labour of love.
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| Just be You-Lisa Rileys new range |
I am always most excited to see the fashion shows at these events and they really didn't disappoint.So many beautiful clothes by brands big and small. The production values were brilliant, the music was mixed to perfection and there were some really strong looks on the catwalk. Here are some of my favourites.
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| Simply be |
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| Monifc |
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| Taking Shape |
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| Pink Clove |
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| Monif C |
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| Studio Untold |
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| Studio Untold |
The shows ended with Tess Holidays new "Eff Your beauty standards tees which looked suitably girl gang cool and ended them on a real high.
As well as the fashion shows the event also held meet and greet sessions with Tess Holliday, Nicolette Mason and Hayley Hasselhoff. This was such a nice opportunity for fans of their blogs or modelling to come and say hello,grab a picture and I have to say they were all absolutely lovely.
There was no sense of them wanting to rush through people or just wanting to sign something and go to the next fan, they really wanted to engage with their followers and they left lots and lots of women very happy.
And it wasn't just American bloggers in attendance oh no it was a veritable whose who of plus size bloggers.Danie Vanier, Callie Thorpe, Georgina Cox, Becky Barnes, Kate London James ,Em Smyth (fresh from her recent Yours campaign) Georgina Grogan, Hollie from Pretty Big Butterflies and Toodaloo Katie were all there looking magnificent. Youtube sensations Em from itsemchannel, Kim from Just call me Kim and Gloria Shuri Henry were also there vlogging away.
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| My beautiful freinds |
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| Nancy, Rosie and me looking stunned |
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| Georgina from Fuller Figure Fuller Bust |
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| Spending lots of the day with Tess Holliday was a real treat-she is very lovely indeed |
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| Kathy Siney artist who brought me this picture she had painted of me |
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| Tutu love with the always brilliant Youtube star Gloria Shuri henry |
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| Felicity Haywood, Nicolette Mason and Callie Thorpe taking in the shows |
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| Hollie from Pretty Big Butterflies and Toodaloo Katie who was also running the Eff your beauty standards store |
In fact there were so many plus size bloggers and influencers there that they even took this picture to promote the hashtag #thisisplussize and yes that's me pushing in at the front blocking everyone with my stupidly big heels/hair combo. Sorry!
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#thisisplussize
The event closed with two Q and A sessions, both chaired by Slink Magazine editor Rivkie who did a great job.
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| Rivkie from Slink Magazine |
The first seminar was with Nicolette Mason and Louise O'Reilly and the second one was with Nicolette, Tess Holliday and Lisa Riley and was about Women in the media.
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| Discussing social media and blogging |
I live tweeted quite a lot of this over on the Fashion festival twitter if you are interested. It was inspiring, informative and very funny (Tess Holliday is hilarious) As a blogger, brand owner and writer myself hearing from other successful women forging ahead and making things happen was such a treat. Nicolette revealed she is bringing out a runway inspired line of clothing with Additionelle and Tess announced there will be an "Eff your beauty standards" range of clothing and jewellery and also a book! Exciting times.
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| Lisa Riley talking about her time in the spotlight and what she has learnt about social media. |
And then it was over.Such an amazing day. I loved every moment of it working for both the festival and the lovely Curvissa who very sweetly provided my outfit for the day and who allowed me to take over their media channels over the festival. It was just awesome and I can't wait until next year.
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| Stick a fork in me I'm done! |
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