Lady in Red: I WON at the UK Blog Awards!! #iwillwearwhatilike

Winner, winner, chicken dinner…! I couldn’t resist that expression – it just about sums up the craziness of this weekend that was the UK Blog Awards.

What can I say – I’m STILL totally and utterly in shock at the fact that I was the Individual Fashion and Beauty Winner at what is probably the UK’s biggest blogging awards event (you can read more about it in last Friday’s post). I had convinced myself this year that I wasn’t going to win after being shortlisted twice before, so I went simply to have a great evening with the girls from the Over40Collective, celebrate all things about the blogging community and just be proud that I represented the over 40s in what is always a very tough category for older women.

However, not only did I win, but Midlifechic was Highly Commended: So 25% of the category was won by over 40 bloggers. That in itself is an incredible boost for the 40+ blogging community, and I’m immensely proud to be part of that.

Anyway! Today’s post is all about the outfit (I’ll discuss the event and what it was like to win in Friday’s #SaturdayShareLinkUp post) – these photos were taken during the calm before the storm so all I can say is: CHECK OUT THAT DRESS!!

There’s no getting away from it – I had to pour myself into that dress, but boy was it worth it… I won’t lie, and there’s no use being modest here, because I absolutely felt like a MILLION dollars. I can see why celebrities have such confidence on the red carpet: Put on a magnificent red carpet-worthy dress and it changes everything about the way you stand, the way you move, the way you feel. Being somewhat restricted is actually a benefit because there is no slouching, all night long. And mine wasn’t even designer, it was high street – the Abriella red dress from Coast which is currently on sale at Zalando. And also available in black, direct from Coast.

Once I knew I’d been shortlisted I knew I had to find a dress that would top last year’s fairy princess outfit – it seemed like a completely impossible task. That outfit was stunning, it was so pretty and floaty and sparkly… What do you do when you have to beat THAT?

SHOP THE LOOK:

There was only one thing for it: WEAR RED. Look at any red carpet and the dresses that stand out are usually a bright colour, and as I did neutrals last year I thought pillarbox red was just about the only option I had. And once I saw this photo of Kate Winslet in Elie Saab at the Emmys a few years ago I knew that was the look I wanted.

I won’t bore you with the details, but after much searching I found the dress from Coast and that was that – all it then needed was the right sparkly box clutch, crystal earrings and red suede heels (they didn’t have to be too high because you really couldn’t see them – comfort FTW, yay)!

I totally took inspiration from Kate’s hair that night and I’m not ashamed to admit I did a copycat hairstyle. (If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?) The same went for makeup: I kept it simple and saved the red lippie for another time, choosing a pinky nude colour instead, and pink nails that would contrast with the dress (where red ones wouldn’t).

I so, so want to witter on for ages here about how proud I am and how grateful I am to everyone that voted for me to get shortlisted, I want to thank my blogging BFFs for coming to the event to support Nikki and me, I want to thank my Instagram husband Keith… But that’s Friday’s post. But I have to say a quick and mahoosive THANK YOU to all my readers for all the support and congratulations… I’m still trying to catch up with all my thank yous on social media even now – I will reply, I promise!

Today was just about the outfit – I couldn’t have loved it any more if I tried. And as I did on the night, I’ll mention it now and then not again: Yes I KNOW my boobs were “out there”, and they never normally are – I loved the dress too much to reject it on account of it making me too boobilicious. To say that’s out of my comfort zone is a massive understatement, for once I simply had to OWN them. I had no other choice if I wanted to wear that dress.

But don’t get used to it, they’re going back under wraps from now on…!

And in case you’re wondering, we photographed these shots with a tripod and remote in the middle of Chelsea, just off the King’s Road. It’s a popular spot for bloggers to shoot apparently and I can see why: Beautiful trees lining a gravel drive where no one really walks (there are pavements each side so there’s no need to walk on this bit). Yes, we got a lot of stares but as I often say (HAVE to say) now as a blogger:

Stares? Who cares!

A video of the winning moment

Luckily Keith filmed the winning moment and I posted it on Facebook – once Midlifechic was read out as a highly commended I just relaxed because I thought there was NO way I’d win if she was a runner-up… you can see the look of shock on my face:

Come back Friday and read all about the event and what winning means to me…!

Link up: Do add your outfits to this week’s link up – and if you’ve added a link to here or my button to your post you may be featured next week!

I CAN’T THINK OF ANYTHING TO ASK HERE SO I’LL JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SUPPORT!! DO COMMENT BELOW 🙂

OTHER RED GOWNS TO TRY:

(20% off Phase Eight with code SPRING20)

Photo credit above and below: Greetje, No Fear of Fashion

Posing with the girls from the Over40Collective, L-R: Michelle Tyler, The Barefaced Chic, The Sequinist, Me (with my award!), Midlifechic, Lady of Style. Unfortunately What Lizzy Loves couldn’t make it 🙁