Why are grey vintage inspired clothes so hard to find? You would think every autumn/winter repro line would be full of greys, tans, brown and navy, overflowing with tweed, houndstooth, herringbone, but that’s not necessarily the case. Last winter I searched desperately for a woolen or tweed grey circle skirt, eventually finding one that turned out to be disappointingly-sized and -made given the cost ($84 and it made me look fat. I’m just saying.) I sold the skirt on and felt my soul sigh, knowing the search for my perfect grey winter skirt would have to continue next winter.

Well, it is now the next winter and the pinup gods have heard my prayers. And by ‘pinup gods’ I mean Collectif, because they gone done right by me yet again this season. (Previous doing me right? See my review of their Jasmine skirt.)

The Rosie skirt is not only a grey full swing skirt, but she has pockets and…SPARKLES. This rich charcoal tweed is threaded with tiny lurex fibres, giving the skirt a fun, twinkly shimmer you might miss at first glance. For ladies who find tweed or other heavy winter fabrics too tame for their liking, this sparkle factor will be sure to perk them up. And, oh ho, you think the Rosie skirt alone is all Collectif is offering in grey tweed this winter? No, no, my little apple strudels! The Rosie skirt is joined by the hooded Heather cropped jacket, the Rita wide legged trousers, and the Mena pencil dress, meaning you can mix and match your winter wardrobe to be tweedy and sparkly and warm in any number of ways. I know, it’s almost too much. Take a moment to breathe and then we’ll do the pictures, okay?

Okay.

Skirt: Rosie Sparkle Tweed Skirt by Collectif Clothing
Jacket: Heather Sparkle Tweed hooded jacket by Collectif
Boots: Black knee high lace up boots from eBay
Brooch: Red Poppy field by Erstwilder

I’m not really a sparkly-clothing person, preferring to wear my twinkle quota as a glitzy necklace or crystal bracelet, but I think the sparkles in this tweed-effect fabric are fun and not as overpowering as full-on lurex sweaters tend to be. It’s the perfect winter grey, dark enough not to evoke memories of school uniforms. The material is weighty and warm, exactly what I want for these colder months, and I love the longer length on the skirt as it helps keep my legs covered on chilly days, especially when paired with boots.

The Rosie skirt comes with a faux leather belt, closes with a back zipper, and has pockets, the perfect practical touch which allows me to store my phone between errands as I run around town in this toasty two piece. The Heather jacket is cropped to hit you at the waist, perfect for pairing with both the swing skirt or the high waisted trousers also available, creating a flattering silhouette. It’s lined, has lightly padded shoulders, and a double breasted button front. Best of all is the large, roomy hood. And when I say the hood is large, I mean it. The problem with hoods usually is that, yes, they keep the rain off, but in the process they squash your lovely vintage styled hair that you spent so long pincurling and crafting. This hood won’t do that, which in my book makes it a little vintage winter miracle. I don’t want to be the weird girl who gushes about her coat–but I’m now a weird girl who gushes about her coat. It’s just who I am now. You and I will both have to accept that.

I opted for my usual Collectif size 16/XL in both pieces and they both fit true to size. The skirt is 30.5 inches long and measures 35 inches in the waist with no stretch, so if you normally rely on stretch to fit into your preferred size then you’ll have to size up for a comfortable fit. The same lack of stretch is present in the jacket, though not quite as rigidly as in the thick waistband of the skirt, so the waist of jacket measures 37 inches flat with two inches of stretch. The bust will fit 42-44 inches, but the double breasted buttons restrict stretch so if you have a large bust you may have to size up or resign yourself to leaving the top two buttons open. I find closing the top button to feel tight on my bust, so I’ve mostly been leaving that top button open and wearing a black camisole underneath. The sleeves are 25.5 inches from shoulder to cuff and the armholes are also 25.5 inches.

The Rosie Sparkle Tweed skirt comes in UK sizes 6-22 and costs £62.50. The Heather Cropped Sparkle Hooded Jacket comes in UK sizes 6-22 and costs £57.50. Both items qualify for free UK shipping from Collectif.co.uk, are available for shipping internationally, or can be found in-store in one of Collectif’s 4 UK shops. Additionally, Collectif have online and in-store stockists all over the world.