Is there anything more classic, more timeless, than black and white? No matter the situation or event, it’s always appropriate, and thanks to this little combination, always chic.

Dress: Julien dress gifted by Unique Vintage [A/L]
Shoes: Black Lizard and Soft Beige Rosa heels gifted by Hotter Shoes
Hat: Black Straw Headband Disc Hat gifted by Unique Vintage [A/L]
Bag: Vintage Style Bag previously gifted by Lola Von Rose

Typically I dedicate an entire blog post to just one item, but considering how well these items pair together, can you blame me for featuring them all at once? So strap in, this review is gonna give you triple the details!

Let’s start at the tippy top and work our way down, so first up is this glorious disc hat. I’ve been looking for a black straw disc hat for several months now, only managing to find items either way out of my budget or not quite in the exact style I wanted. The second I saw this hat on Unique Vintage I knew I’d found the one! Made of black straw, it’s both elegant and distinguished with its wide brim and shallow crown. Sitting at a precisely jaunty angle, it’s fixed to a fabric covered thick headband that keeps it secure in place all day, as well as making it easy to don for those of us not used to positioning headwear nor battling with hat pins. Whether you’re looking for the right hat to perfect your outfit for a big upcoming event or simply looking to polish off your daily vintage look in true style, this disc hat is ready to serve you well.

Next, there’s the Julien dress, also by Unique Vintage, and also just as ready to keep it classy. Made from a stretch blend fabric, this dress is as comfortable as it is tasteful. The obvious stand-out feature is, of course, the white wide lapel collar, which finishes below the gathering of the bust with a sweet bow. This beautiful contrasting design pulls the eye to the neckline, while the dress still remains fairly modest on the whole. The full gathered swing skirt will house any volume petticoat with delight, creating that cinched waist silhouette we pinups love, and sits below the knee. Meanwhile the three quarter length sleeves each boast two buttons and loops, creating a delicate cuff that is more interesting to the eye than your average sleeve.

I asked for this dress in the 1X/16 and it’s a great fit. The waist measures 36 inches flat with stretch to 40, while the bust is 40 inches flat with stretch to 46 inches. The dress closes with a hidden mid-back zipper and the skirt is 26.5 inches long. There’s so much stretch in this dress that the sleeves and armholes are fully comfortable, despite my large upper arms.

And now…the shoes! From Hotter, these duochrome beauties feel to me like a very modern reinterpretation of spectator shoes. The key design feature for this pair is the two-tone colourblocking, but this style is actually available in three colourways, their differing finishes producing different feels. The two plain colourways, beige and navy, are patent for the bulk of the shoe, with the outer cross-section made from suede. The third colourway, as featured here in this post, is made from a lovely black lizard-effect leather for the bulk of the shoe, with the cross-section crafted from a buttery leather in a soft-beige that easily reads as ivory during wear. Those two-tones create a cross-over effect detail on the vamp that captures attention with ease. 

I generally wear a size 7 shoe across most brands and stores, but because of my experience with Plantar Fasciitis over the past 6 months I’ve become more cognizant of how shoes do and should fit, eager to avoid tightness especially around my toes. From the pictures of this shoe online the vamp (that’s where the top of the shoe ends on the top of your foot) looked a little higher to me that a lot of my other shoes, so I asked for this pair in a size 7.5 to allow for a touch more room to avoid any potential pinching or rubbing. The result is a truly perfect fit, made even more comfortable by the Silk Touch Leather lining and insole. As the heel is sturdy and low, measuring only 2 inches, even the heels-wary among us would no doubt find themselves capable and secure walking in these pretties. 

The Black Straw Headband Disc Hat [A/L] and the Julien dress [A/L] are both from Unique Vintage, the latter available in sizes XS-5XL (US 2 to 26 equivalents.) The Rosa heels are available in UK sizes 3-9 from Hotter in the above featured Black Lizard and Beige colourway, as well as all Truffle and all Navy colourways.

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Disclaimer: The featured dress and hat were both gifted to me by Unique Vintage, and the heels were gifted to me by Hotter Shoes, all in exchange for providing an honest blog review of these items. The bag was gifted to me previously by Lola Von Rose to feature in an honest blog review 3 years ago. All opinions expressed are truthful and my own, with no input from any brands, companies or individuals. Items marked with (A/L) are Affiliate Links that would earn me a small commission from your order if used.