Plus North - AKA weekend of dreams. PART 3

So the afternoon was over and all focus was now on getting getting ready for the evening do. I had bought this dress a few months ago for an event I never ended up going to, and I had been looking for a good reason to wear it ever since. I can't tell you how excited I am to finally own this dress, it had been my absolute dream dress since I was a young teen.

I just have to say this; since I was a young teen and just finding my groove in the world, I started dressing in "alternative" clothes, and I always had this image in my head of how I wanted to look. I would see pictures of rockabilly girls and just despair at the fact I could never look like that. I always thought I had to be skinny and pretty and, you know, tick off all these ridiculous boxes to achieve this look and even then I thought I probably couldn't pull it off.

When I put on this dress and put on my bandanna (stolen from Mel), I turned around and looked at myself in the mirror and I had to do a double-take. I looked exactly how I had wanted to look for so many years! I just couldn't believe that was me in the mirror! Looking like that! I'm not usually one to blow my own trumpet at all, but I looked so great I was really quite overwhelmed!

Dress (UK24) petticoat & satin belt - Hot Corsets (buy it here!)
Cardigan - Evans
Leggings - Sainsburys TU
Shoes - Asda George
Bag - Madame Butterfly (LYDC)

I'm so sad these are the only two full-length pictures I have of the dress as you can't see the bright red petticoat underneath. I teamed the dress up with a short-sleeved cardigan, my favourite handbag (which I love because it looks a bit like a bowling bag), and my more comfortable platform sandals.

Anyway, back to the Plus North story. Mel and I arrived yet again (fashionably) late. We actually arrived just to see the models coming out of the main room after their catwalk appearance. I was quite sad that we had missed it because they all looked absolutely incredible!!

Mel and I may have had a couple of bevvies before we arrived so we decided to waste absolutely no time in getting on the dance floor.

Mel enjoying the stage

Mel and Lisa making their own fashion show

Rachel in "that dress". Wowza

I LOVE HER SO FREAKIN' MUCH SERIOUSLY I WANT TO MARRY HER PLEASE OK

Utter babes. 

I made everyone sing Nelly on karaoke then I spent the whole time filming them. Also CHLOE <3

Bathroom selfie with my beautiful bestie <3

Bathroom selfies

I freakin' adore this lot <3

Love these two (plus the best bloke at the party in the background)

OMG HOW DO YOU EXIST IN REAL LIFE OLIVIA CAMPBELL?!

Two words for this lady: fabulous, darling.

Jump around!

Do yo thang

If you liked it then you should've put a ring on it.

AAAAAAMAZING.

I may have blinded Kathryn with my flash :/ oops <3

Dancefloor queen.

What an arse.

No idea what song this was but Mel was loving it

<3

LOLLY <3

<3 <3 <3 Stolen from ultimate babely babe Lisa

Lisa, Lyndsey and I having a moment outside <3 Stolen from ultimate babely babe Lisa

Gorgeous Rachel and me clearly feeling the love <3 Stolen from ultimate babely babe Lisa

Me and hot mama Lolly <3 Stolen from ultimate babely babe Lisa

I believe I announced "I'm being Howard Moon!" right before this was taken :/  Stolen from ultimate babely babe Lisa

This happened.

One of the highlights of the night was when Gemma sang Wuthering Heights on karaoke. Hopefully the following photos will accurately demonstrate what happened:

It was genuinely one of the greatest nights of my life. I don't think I stopped laughing from start to finish and I definitely spent the whole day in the absolute greatest company imaginable! I wish I could spend every single weekend for the rest of my life with these people! Every person there seemed so open and loving and just so happy to be there, and the feeling of love seemed to be literally dripping from every surface. Granted, we had all had a few drinks, but I know for a fact I could have remained sober for the entire night and it still would have been the greatest night.

Thank you to everyone I met for making it such a dazzling moment in my life, and a HUGE thank you to Becky and Toni for bringing us all together in this way. What a beautiful event to exist, and what beautiful and genuine humans all of these people are. <3

Part 1  -  Part 2

(If you would like copies of any of my photos, or alternatively if you would like to be tagged (yes please) or have the photo taken down altogether, just get in touch with me via email or facebook.) 

Plus North - AKA weekend of dreams. PART 2

PLUS NORTH DAY WAS UPON US! I woke up so freakin' excited! Mel had to go off for some Plus North related shenanigans after breakfast so I got dressed very slowly (burning myself on my straighteners in the process) and headed off to town to meet Mel when she was finished.

Market St. was super busy and the sun was beating down. There was a three-piece band blasting out the Jungle Book. Then we saw some INCREDIBLE street art including a guy who was drawing these amazing Beatles posters. Already it was shaping up to be a really great day.

With huge smiles on our faces we stormed on up to the Arndale Centre. First stop was Yours Clothing. We just called in to have a look really, but as soon as we walked in I spotted a dress so beautiful I couldn't stop staring at it. I tried to avert my eyes but there was a magnetic force pulling me in. I had to have it.

We then went on a search for Dorothy Perkins but our search just lead us to Primark. I ended up with quite the Primark haul including the most comfortable tartan stretchy treggings EVER. I also found some red boots that I had literally dreamed about. With time running out we hurried back to the hotel to get ready.

Dress: Yours Clothing

Leggings: Sainsburys TU

Dream boots: Primark

Belt: Primark

Necklace: Primark

See Mel's blog for more info on her outfit.

We arrived (fashionably) late so Mel had to run off to get ready for her catwalk appearance. I joined Lisa and Rachel just in time to see Mel strutting her stuff. We tried to be as loud and supportive as possible for everyone. Here are some of my favourite outfits from the whole day:

(Please click on the photos to enlarge them, they look a little blurry on my main blog page.)

Steph for Excite Clothing

Sian for Curvissa

I had such a great time. All of the big names were there, for a full list of exhibitors check out the official Plus North website for links :)

There was such a great vibe in the room all afternoon. I had an absolute blast with some of my favourite pals and I also met some amazing new friends. I didn't manage to get too many photos, the afternoon just seemed to fly by. I also only managed to go in The Mighty Boof photo booth once this year! I did go in 12 times last year though so I'm not too upset.

Here I am with two of my favourite humans on Earth Lisa and Rachel

Here are a few photos of some of the stunning people I had the pleasure of hanging out with:

Danielle, Rachel, Lisa, Elena, Kerry & Lolly

Lisa, Gemma, Toni, Kerry

I really can't put into words how much of a great time I had, and the day wasn't even over yet! The afternoon drew to a close and it was time to go home to change into the evening outfit.

One last selfie of my "afternoon hair"

One last pose in the hotel lobby. I really adore this dress.

Part 1  -  Part 3

(If you would like copies of any of my photos, or alternatively if you would like to be tagged (yes please) or have the photo taken down altogether, just get in touch with me via email or facebook.)