If you are anything like me, Christmas Day is the perfect excuse to buy a new outfit. A new dress, some summery shorts, perhaps a cute pair of heels to show off at Christmas lunch; there are lots of options! But also many variables to consider, where are you going? Will there be physical activities involved (games etc)? Are you with family or friends, or in-laws?! If you are having all of these dilemmas and have none of the answers, read on, because I’m here to offer some insight.

For me, I want to make sure that I am going to be comfortable allll day. It’s Christmas and I live in Australia, which means summer – which means HOT. I’m a plus size girl, so if the weather is hot that means I am hot. I like to wear things that will allow me to keep cool, and also (in case I do start burning up) won’t show marks or get sweaty. Paired with this pre-assumed uncomfortable heat, the last thing I want to be worrying about is my strapless bra digging in and falling off, so there’s another prerequisite for my outfit of the day; supportive bra friendly. For most families Christmas Day can start pretty early and carry through until the evening, which means I want an outfit that doesn’t require a lot of  touch ups or fiddling; also something that is going to hide my bloat from too much punch and Christmas ham. Finally, I want to make sure that I’m going to look nice in EVERY Christmas day photo, because let’s be honest, Grandma is going to be showing people those photos for the whole next year.

So, with those things in mind, I have put together a little collection of comfortable shoes, on-fleek earrings (because, they are the ultimate accessory) and fabulous outfits to help you survive Christmas day!

 Outfit one includes this beautiful Bohemian Trader’s Dreamer Dress (which may or may not already be hanging in my wardrobe). This dress is 100% rayon, which means it is super cool and perfect for a hot summers day! Available in a few different colours (check the website), this bright raspberry is the perfect festive/yet cool combo and a great alternative to the normal Christmas red. It comes with a waist tie which you can tie mid waist or hip for 2 different looks, you can also remove it completely to wear as a shift dress! Festive and  practical! The soft and floaty design means that you can go back for second helpings of that Christmas pudding and no one will know! Sitting at about knee length means you don’t have to sit out of Christmas afternoon games (cricket anyone?), and paired with these sparkly Palmaira flats and Bee Twomey Earrings makes it stylish and still perfect to chase the kids, dance with your grand dad and try out that new scooter your niece got for Christmas.

If dresses aren’t your thing, never fear, this City Chic combo will take you from opening presents to your fancy Christmas lunch. Once again keeping in mind my outfit requirements, although fitted, the Cascade Sleeve Top is a comfortable wrap style, available in black to hide any evidence of summer heat. The stunning sleeve details tie in beautifully with the exaggerated fill on the bottom of these Palm Play Shorts. Further on the shorts, the high waist band and the loose leg make me feel better about shorts in general, as I like to avoid possible love handles or accidental flashing at family members. These are actually available in a range of patterns (I have 2 other pairs at home), so if the palm print isn’t you’r thing you can always change it up a little bit! This time I’ve paired the outfit with these super cute Espadrille Wedges from Diana Ferrari (which I am VERY in love with); I personally love a good heel and short combo, it feels so fancy to me. The Espadrille wedge on these helps to keep the outfit casual and also wedge heel = super comfortable and ideal for backyard Christmas cricket. I also recently found Rowdy Designs at my local Etsy market and her Oval Stud Earrings add just the right amount of summer casual to this outfit combo. Bra friendly, in law appropriate, dressy enough to be on mums wall for the next 12 months – tick, tick, tick!

This last combo is for those of you ready to shake up Christmas a little. Who doesn’t LOVE a good jumpsuit!? This Little Party Dress Floral Jumpsuit ticks all the boxes for me; straight away – the shoulders mean you can wear a normal bra, the colour will hide any awkward summer marks, no need to readjust anything all day it’s all tucked in there, and people will be asking about your outfit all year when they see the photos! Once again, a jumpsuit is a great option if you’ve got young kids or activities planned as part of your festivities as you can move and jump around as much as you please. The pattern in particular is nearly faux festive, with its floral theme and hints of pinks and oranges. I’m pairing this with a super comfortable pair of Novo shoes, a block heel will help see you through the whole day. And I’m also loving the slide style and the mesh design as it will also become the perfect summer shoe (see honey, multiple uses, totally worth the money!). Topped off with these gorgeous Liona Lee Dangles, which just happen to compliment the jumpsuit print, this outfit will be perfect for any Christmas day occasion!

I’m a big believer in the fact that being plus size shouldn’t hinder your fashion style, change your style or stop you from dressing up! I hope these outfits and handy hints help you prepare for your Christmas day, however you may celebrate, and if you’ve found them useful make sure you tag me #prettyforplussize in your fabulous outfits! As for me and what I’ll be wearing for Christmas, you’ll have to wait and see…

Love,