If you’re a regular reader of the blog you might remember me featuring the Hell bunny lighthouse skirt several weeks back, and my not-so-sheepish declaration that I was sorely tempted to get the dress in the same print as well. Hahaha, Amy is so hyperbolic in her enthusiasm, you probably thought. Hahaha, surely I wouldn’t get a dress and a skirt in the same print, right?

Wroooong. I so would. And thanks to the babes over at Blue Banana, I so have.

What can I say? When I like a print, I like a print. And this Lighthouse dress, as well as featuring a print I love, includes an adorable feature bust bow, pockets, and adjustable straps, so it was basically inevitable. I’m not going to pass up a cute, practical summer dress like that. I’m no fool!

Dress: Lighthouse 50s dress C/O Blue Banana
Bag: Red Snakeskin Clutch bag C/O Blue Banana
Shoes: Old Red Wrap up wedges by Bamboo
Cardigan: Old Primark

In addition to the practical features mentioned above, I was thrilled to put on this dress and realise just how comfortable it is. That is to say, entirely. It has shirred side panels and sizes a little larger than other Hell Bunny styles so that’s something you may have to bear in mind when picking your size (more fit details below,) but for me, someone who has developed a chronic fidget of adjusting seams where they sit at my waist and shoulders, that just means that little extra looseness in this dress brings me some fidget-free relief and delightful ease of movement. Plus, the belt allows me to still cinch in my waist, so it’s all good.

In addition to sating my obnoxiously print-hungry urges with the lighthouse dress, Blue Banana also sent me this red snakeskin style purse from their own accessories range. It’s not real snakeskin, obviously, but that style finish does mean it’s an easy wipe-clean surface if you do get any dirt or marks on it while you’re out and about. I love the padlock style fastening because I’m a sucker for interesting design details that transform a simple, even plain piece into something more unique. All you have to do is twist the small notch in the middle of the padlock and the whole lock then swings up to open the bag, revealing the brown soft lining inside and the spacious open wall pocket you can store your smaller essentials in. If you like going out dancing it would make for a perfect handbag because the shorter-than-usual shoulder straps mean it would hang safely and snugly under your arm without bumping awkwardly around your hip or swinging accidentally around behind you where somebody might be able to get into it without you noticing. Plus, if you’re anything like me (aka an obsessive red accessoriser) you’ll always find use for more red handbags in your life.

As mentioned previously, the sizing of the Lighthouse dress is a little looser even than Hell Bunny’s typically on-the-large-side sizing. This size 16/XL flat measures at 36 inches in the waist and the shirred panels allow it to stretch up to 39 inches. The bust is 39 inches flat with stretch up to 45 inches, so you can see what a difference the shirred panels make. Additionally the shoulder straps cross over at the back and rejoin the back of the dress by the fastening of the button, which has 3 different button holes of choice that allow you to customise your fit. The skirt is 25.5 inches long and will fit a medium volume petticoat, though I wore it happily without one on this day. It’s also machine washable, which is always useful when a dress so heavily features white.

The Lighthouse 50s dress is available in sizes XS-2XL for £46.99 and their Red Snakeskin Clutch bag for £19.99 from Bluebanana.com. They offer international shipping at reasonable prices, like £2.53 to the USA for this dress alone or £4.55 for both items together. Considering the UK shipping is £2.99, that’s an amazing rate for international shipping.