By Diane from Fat Girls Like Nice Clothes Too

No sooner is Christmas and NYE is over and done with, Valentine’s Day comes hurtling towards us at breakneck speed. For couples who have been together for years the day may just come and go with no real event to mark the occasion, but if you are about to embark on a first date with a new man then this is a very special day indeed.

Years ago I went on a first date with a guy I met at a party. He was handsome, funny, smelt great and I was looking forward to seeing him again on what I hoped would be the first of many dates. He arrived at the rendezvous point still handsome, still funny, still smelling great but dressed in what I can best describe as a beige leather Thriller type jacket with beige drainpipe trousers (thankfully not leather) that were a good 3cm too short- the perfect outfit if it had been 1983. It was the mid- late 90’s and a whole decade before the 80’s would come back into fashion again and even now in the full throes of the revival, I’ve yet to see anyone sporting anything quite as retro-tastic. I spent the entire date avoiding eye contact with everyone, fearful that I would catch people staring at him or worse- laughing at me.

To this day that is my lasting impression of him even though I did see him on a couple of occasions since that night with only moderate improvements on that initial ensemble terrible. The moral of the story- apart from don’t write off a perfectly good man because he wears a dodgy outfit, is that first impressions truly do last.

If you are trying to make a good first impression on Valentine’s you could do worse than opt for this outfit which is feminine without being too girly but also comfortable and looks like you made an effort without trying too hard.

Jacket- £55, Evans

Dress-£22 Yours

Jeans- £28 ASOS Curve

Shoes- £60 Topshop

Bag- £22 Miss Selfridge

Visit Diane’s blog here.

The most romantic day of the year has come around again and plus size lingerie specialist Simply Yours has some top tips to help the men out there impress their beloved. From corsets and French knickers to babydolls and Balconette bras, the collection at Simply Yours will fit any size, style and budget and is ideal for flattering and enhancing your partner’s curves.

Along with a range of gorgeous lingerie sets, the experts at Simply Yours have some top tips for men who want to treat their lovely lady to more than a box of chocolates this Valentine’s Day.

Top Tip 1: Find out her bra size
If you don’t have a clue what kind of lingerie your partner prefers, or what size she is then one big tip we would give you is take a sneak peak in her lingerie drawer. Buying her a size too small or too big can give you a lot of ear-ache on the day! But if you don’t think you can get away with being that sneaky then don’t feel afraid to ask your significant other’s best friend or sister.

Top tip 2: Don’t be afraid of colour
If your partner likes a walk on the wild side think about brighter colours and patterns such as leopard print. Pour Moi? has an extremely sexy leopard print set complete with Balconette bra, high-waist waspie and thong all for just £23.82 (act quickly as this in the Sale!). Obviously the best sellers on Valentines are red, pink and black with lace and silk satin being the favourite fabrics, but don’t be afraid to go for more unusual combinations.

Top Tip 3: Think about her curves
Sexy lingerie should always enhance a girl’s cleavage so if your partner is a little flatter than most girls, then bear in mind lingerie with a little padding which will make her “bangers look boobilicious” as Gok Wan would say! If your partner has curves to be proud of, but is a little self-conscious about the stomach area, take a look at the range of babydolls and slips available at Simply Yours. They flatter the figure and look extremely feminine especially in silky fabrics. For example, the pink underwired Dreamgirl Babydoll with matching thong is perfect at £42. Remember that if your partner has been blessed with more than a handful, a Balconette or plunge bra is better for their shape – half cup bras are not recommended for D+ breasts. Corsets and bustiers are great for giving your partner the va va voom factor and French lacy knickers flatter any size of bottom!

Top Tip 4: Make it match
Always make sure you buy the matching lingerie set as it can be hard to make two different designs look sexy and flattering. Miss Mandalay has a gorgeous red bra and ruched brief set with stunning semi-sheer panels which will make her feel beautiful and your eyes pop!

Top Tip 5: Shop Online
Every man knows that the most intimidating thing about buying lingerie for someone you love is stepping into the shop and attempting to avoid the ‘stares’ from other shoppers, not to mention avoiding the shop assistants. With Simply Yours you can view all the products online at your own pace so there is no need for a snatch, grab and pay shopping disaster!

Take your time looking at the different sets and styles available, so you know you’ve made the best choice. It’s probably best to do this at home rather than on your lunch at work, with nosy colleagues walking past!

Bonus Tip: Add a little extra
If you want to earn extra brownie points then why not add a little extra to your present by putting some chocolates in the gift bag or giving her a bunch of flowers.

Simply Yours offers a broad range of lingerie, including bras, corsets, slips and knickers from brands such as Miss Mandalay, Panache and Curvy Kate.

Simply Yours plus size lingerie is available in sizes 8-32 with back sizes 30-50 and cups A-JJ and up to K and L in selected sizes.

To treat your partner to something special this Valentine’s Day simply visit www.simplyyours.co.uk

For a special treat for your wallet, use code HXKA6 for a 20% discount at the check out.

Happy Valentine’s Day!