I have found it hard to write this post but I really wanted to share this with you as I know that being a girl you can be faced with appearance and weight issues all the time. We all know that when you settle down in a serious relationship you get a little too comfortable (even more so when you move in together) and you end up sitting in front of the telly stuffing your face with Chinese takeaways and wine most weekends. It probably didn't help that I stopped smoking (yes, I know it's better for my health but I put on close to 2 stone after I stopped). 

I have always been self concious about my body and I have never felt comfortable with wearing a bikini on a beach (even before I piled on the pounds) however within the last year I have been so upset and embarrassed about my body that I hated going out and dressing up because I always felt fat, I always wore loose fitted clothes to avoid anyone seeing my real shape and my fiancé noticed how upset and self concious I was as when we went to a Spa or on holiday as I refused to be seen in a bikini or to allow anyone to see my body shape. If I was to go on the beach or in the pool I used to wear a kaftan or a beach top to hide my body and I hated that I had lost my confidence, I know that when your age goes from 18 to 21 to 24 your weight and body will change dramatically because you are growing and your body develops but it still didn't stop me hating it any less and I ended up getting worked up about it. 

I used to let it get on top of me so much I used to cry all the time and I never felt comfortable when buying new clothes, on holiday or even when I was just with my fiancé and family. I had tried just cutting out the crap but I didn't find it worked as my weight seemed to yo-yo from me losing a little then putting it on, and if I am honest I got impatient. I started doing more fitness and trying to eat the right foods, I found my biggest effort was eating breakfast as it used to make me feel sick but then I would snack about 11am which meant that my body had been fasting since the night before (this is really bad for you!) Because I was so embarrassed and disgusted with myself I also hated the thought of joining a gym or doing fitness with my friends, I did try but I didn't feel comfortable mainly because of my weight but I suppose it didn't help that I am a complete amateur at fitness. I was still determined so I asked my fiancé to help me, he helped me do work out routines at home where I felt a little more comfortable, I also started running with my friend/neighbour where I kinda felt comfortable but I was still very embarrassed (especially as I run like Phoebe from friends). 

After getting engaged last October, I went to try and look at wedding dresses with my mum. Put it this way I have only been once! I hated myself in every single dress, I was disgusted how I let myself put weight on when I really didn't realise how much I had changed and I left the wedding dress shop feeling awful and when I got home I cried for ages. I think this was the wake up call that I had needed to change my health, my weight and to change how I looked. 

In November 2013 I joined Slimming World, mainly because my mum was joining and I was happy to try anything to find something that worked for me. I was nervous at first as I imagined it to be like one of those meetings where you have to be weighed in front of everyone, whilst they judged and commented on your appearance but it really wasn't like that. Our group leader is a lady called Sonia and she really is fantastic, she is the most down to earth and bubbly person and I feel comfortable going to group every week, even on those days when I have been a little naughty. I was trying lots of new exciting recipes and as weird as it sounds I found myself eating a lot more than I used to (I even enjoyed eating breakfast). I have been very impressed with the results and how Slimming World has changed my life, I am still a member now and I will continue to be as I find going to the groups really helpful as I learn so many tips and great recipes or ideas. I also feel that knowing that I will get getting on the scales each week even if I am at target will help me mentally control what I eat as I know that if I was to be a little naughty and have a pig out day then I could make myself get back on track and stick to eating what's right for me. 

My Typical Day:

Breakfast (9:30/10am)

2 Poached Eggs with 2 small slices of Wholemeal Toast and some Chopped Tomato's OR Porridge with Fresh Raspberries

1 English Breakfast tea with Skimmed Milk, no Sugar.

Snack (11/11:30)

1 Satsuma and Chopped Melon

Another Cuppa Tea.

Lunch (12:30/1:30)

Salad - Mixed leaves, Cucumber, Mixed Peppers, Plum Tomato's, Spring Onions

Grilled Chicken Breast OR King Prawns

Extra Light Salad Cream

Muller Light Fat Free Yoghurt 

Snack (3/3:30)

Handful of Almonds OR SW Hifi Bar (I love the Rocky Road ones)

Dinner (6:30)

Baked Potato OR Cous Cous/Boiled Rice OR Slimming World Chips 

Grilled Meat (Turkey/Chicken/Pork Loin/Steak)

Steamed Vegetables

Any-who I know I have waffled on for a while so I will get to the parts that you really want to see, the photos! 

I'm just going to go straight in by saying if you haven't heard of Niche Bags yet you really are missing out. Claire (the Owner and Designer behind Niche Bags) has created a wonderful collection that will never date. The collection is chic and stylish giving you that eye catching statement bag at an affordable price. 

'Amelia' bag in Navy - £115* Link

I absolutely love this bag! The bag is a soft leather and can be worn in two different styles, as a tote bag and with the longer strap. I must admit I didn't expect the bag to be as beautiful as it was, I mean I loved them before I receive it but when it came I fell in love. I have used this bag a couple of times since receiving it and I have been approached by so many people to compliment me already. 

The bags come in 4 colours at the minute - the timeless classic Black, Navy, Red and Gold. They are all beautiful and can be worn for either day or night wear. 

I also managed to catch up with Claire to find out a little about herself and Niche Bags and how this upcoming Fashion Brand was created. 

Tell me a little about yourself Claire.

I am 36 years old and from Leicester. I went to school in Leicester and I have always loved art/drawing etc.. My Granddad was Polish (and so had a Polish maiden name ‘Nycz’) and I have 3 sisters (myself being the 2nd eldest). I worked in the travel industry for a while (part of the Internet team) but ultimately worked for a packaging company called ‘Keenpac’. This is where I learnt about making handbags. I started work in their ‘accessories’ division, where we made fabric handbags for the likes of Kookai and warehouse. I loved that job and eventually got promoted (which meant I moved on to luxury paper packaging for high end stores). I have been married 2 years (together 11 this year and I have 2 step daughters, Holly & Amelia.

What inspired you to create Niche Bags?

There are many reasons why…I have always had a passion for bags and shoes (typical female!) and after leaving work I always dreamt of creating my own line. I knew how to do it and we have kept in touch with some contacts/factories from my days at Keenpac. 

So last year a close friend of mine got married. I needed a bag for a hen night and was prepared to spend a fair amount of money on a bag but I couldn't find anything at all. I realised that the ‘evening’ bag I wanted didn't exist unless I spent hundreds of pounds on a designer bag. When I was shopping, all I could find were tiny little sparkly bags to cheap looking clutches! The only ones that I would have wanted to buy were designer and then the prices went into £800 onwards, which I didn't want to spend. I wanted a ‘designer’ fashionable handbag that I was comfortable taking out without spending a fortune.

So I started designing lots of bags at home. I draw them by hand and started having some samples made, really just as a hobby in my spare time. I wasn't intending on doing anything with the bags at the time, but a hotel in Nottingham (Langar Hall Hotel) that we go to often, asked if I wanted to show them at one of their evening events and so I agreed. I got a small selection together and I only showed them as ‘samples’ as I had not placed an order yet with my factory. I wanted to see what people thought and to see if people would buy them. The response was fantastic and so I decided to do it seriously as a business.

What was the focus for your designs?

Mainly I want a UK ‘designer’ bag that doesn't cost £1000 (Like Chanel/ Dior for example). I also feel that there is a gap in the market for my age group/demographics. One of my favourite brands is REISS but they have a limited selection of handbags, apart from this brand I find there are no other brands that fill that gap. If you take the other brands for e.g Ted Baker, it’s too flowery and young for me. DKNY - Very ‘work’ orientated bags. So you start to see that there is a market for this, plus I am a keen follower of fashion too so I like to look at seasons and trends and also compare them to classics. Now that I have started though, I plan on creating an ‘evening line’ and also ‘work’ handbags, like the female equivalent of briefcases, but in beautiful bright leathers.

It's a great achievement to have a successful business. What would you like your next great achievement to be?

I would love Niche Bag's to be a global brand, something that I could pass down in generations. I would love to see Niche Bags in department stores, not just int eh UK but globally.

Do you have any other designs up your sleeve?

Yes, I am also working on pastel shades for the summer.

Who is your inspiration within the Fashion Industry?

I love the classics. For me Coco Chanel was really ahead of her time and a true artisan and has a unique style. In the bag world, for me - Anya Hindmarch is truly special. I also love Mulberry, Dior and Prada as fashion Houses. Recently though I love Victoria Beckham, Her style is again very classic

and finally Olivia Palermo, I think she always looks effortlessly chic.

If you could have anyone wear your designs, who would it be and why?

Hmm that’s difficult ! Probably the ones I have mentioned above….and Anna Wintour !!

What advice would you give to any young women wanting to start their own business?

Do what you love, love what you do…and perseverance is key. If you love what you do then it won’t be hard work, but keep going and never give up. The most successful people in the world will tell you how many times they have failed, before they got to where they are now…and so never give up on your dream and always listen to your gut instinct.

I love how passionate Claire is about her business, I think it is really important for people to love what they do and you can see that Claire really does. I was so fortunate to get sent this gorgeous bag and it really is such a statement piece, I can't wait to see Claire's other collections coming soon as I know they will be just as fabulous. 

Which bag is your favourite?