Holidays. Palm trees, clear seas, sandy beaches…. there’s very few things I don’t like. But dressing casually in the heat as a size 16 is definitely a royal pain in the bum. Maxi dresses are rammed down our throats as the ideal solution for the fuller figured woman who wants to air her legs, and I have to agree. Not only do they skim over your bumpy bits, they also allow you to wear knicker shorts to protect those thighs from chaffing. With so many simple shrugs and boleros on the highstreet at the moment, you can also get away with sleeveless dresses like these from Kaleidoscope.

Kaleidoscope are a UK based women’s fashion store - available both online and via catalogue. Whilst they’re garnered a fierce reputation with the over 40s (I’m heading there myself), they actually have a wide range of bold prints and fashion forward styles for the younger woman. There’s also a holiday shop that’s crammed full of stylish solutions for women of every shape and age for the summer months. With this in mind, they approached this baby-faced blogger and gave her a suitcase full of holiday clothes help her feel a little more fabulous lugging around the few stone of baby weight that she’s been too lazy to shift.

MAXI DRESSES

This Firework Print Beach-to-Bar Dress is just £37 and is exactly what I needed for evenings out or strolling along the beachfront. It perfectly skims my ankles (I’m 5ft 4) making it ideal for pairing with wedges and flats, and the colour pops beautifully against an early tan. I really love the copper bead detailing and empire line which draws the attention away from my hips and tummy. The print also does a fab job of drawing eyes around my frame rather than focusing on my worst bits.

I chose to wear a vest top underneath the dress as the keyhole detail on the bust is low, but the neck straps are adjustable if you’re feeling brave but need a little uplift. The back is elasticated for comfort and has a similar keyhole design (so you won’t want to wear a bra with it, but a halterneck bikini would work for a fresh-from-the-beach look).

The best bit is the lightweight polyester & elastane crinkle effect fabric. This means you can literally sling it in your suitcase and whip it on when you step off the plane - no ironing, no creases. For a busy mum this is just a godsend. It feels soft and cool against the skin and there’s tons of movement when you walk - all in all it’s a real statement dress and simply more unique than highstreet alternatives.

I was also sent this Ethnic Print Beach-to-Bar Dress priced at an equally fab £35. This is the easiest to wear dress I’ve ever owned. As the keyhole is not as low as the firework dress you can easily wear a bra or swimsuit underneath and it’s super generous around the bust to accommodate the bustier woman.

In figure flattering and cool to touch jersey, it feels like silk against bare skin. Although the print loops horizontally around the body, the Pucci-esque patterns mean the eye won’t linger where you don’t want it to. Again it’s the perfect length on me at 5ft 4, but I do like long floor-length dresses - it wouldn’t be as easy as the other dress to take up due to the print.

My only negative, and this is me being totally picky, is that its a little awkward to tie up behind the neck - if you’re not a contortionist, you will need to enlist your other half. Once you have it tied up as you like it, I’d recommend simply whipping it over your head for washing. (don’t keep undoing the tie each time).

SUMMER EVENINGS

Next up I was sent a Multi Colour Sweater for cooler evenings. The colours are actually really subtle but they’re definitely in there with pink, yellow and blue threading though a white open knit. The effect is great and it looks fabulous flung atop a vest top and worn against skinny jeans. This isn’t an obvious choice for me as I usually stay away from tops that finish above the waist, but this actually looks more flattering than I initially gave it credit for. This is perhaps perhaps owing to the fact it doesn’t have much shape to it so can’t cling to my tummy.

At £39, it is expensive for a casual sweater, and it does lose a little bounce when washed, but it’s an easy one to sling in the suitcase for occasional wear.

ACCESSORIES

To accessorise, I was also sent an oversized Wooden Necklace Set (£19) that coordinates beautifully with the ethnic dress above. The best way to describe it is that the blue stone looks like cracked pool tiles which is really pretty against the dark wood. The bangle does look a little awkward against my wrist, but I love the necklace which sits neatly on top of my bust bringing some overdue attention to my boobs! It works for tons of outfits, whether against a simple white shirt, a swimsuit or evening dress.

Finally, my Bird Print Scarf (£15) has been absolutely worn to death, although not literally, obviously. I simply LOVE it.

To sum up, the Kaleidoscope experience has been excellent. I’m really impressed with the choice, wearability and sizing of their clothes and I’ll definitely add it to my list of online shops to visit every month. There’s so much I have my eye on in the Kaleidoscope Holiday Shop SS15 that would suit my chunky frame - it’s great to see a retailer cater for us fuller figured ladies.

Check them out for yourself at www.kaleidoscope.co.uk, or follow on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram for style tips, sale news and look books.