Y’all, hold onto your butts, because I’m wearing PINK. If I weren’t surrounded by beautiful bluebells, full of joy and spring, I might have worried that hell had frozen over. But no, it’s all good, and I really am wearing pink. A muted, very dusky pink, it must be said. Why? How? Short answer: sometimes it’s good to try something different. Long answer: um, let’s look at the pictures first…

Dress: Alison dress gifted by Hearts and Roses London
Blouse: Andra blouse by Collectif*
Bag: Black box bag previously gifted by Lola Von Rose
Belt: Old New Look
Hat: Black Cartwheel hat previously gifted by Unique Vintage

So, me and pink. You might not know that I’m not a fan it because the fact that I don’t wear pink means it’s mostly not relevant here on the blog, where I, you know, show you the things I wear. To simplify matters I usually just say ‘I hate pink,’ but the truth is there’re caveats to that phrase–I like all kinds of pink for lip colours, and I’m quite partial to a light pink paired with black in lingerie, and I even like a pink floral print, because all flowers are pretty and pink ones are probably some of the prettiest. But despite all that, and despite the fact that as a blonde ringlet-haired child I lived in a pink t-shirt and my favourite pink-and-red paisley skirt (woo, the early 90s!), by the time I became a teenager I hated it. I could write an essay on all the ways that pink triggers my hatred of the patriarchy (as well as all the ways I know that liking pink can easily be a fabulous feminist act, and also Not That Deep,) but to keep things short it mostly boils down to this–wearing something in solid pink just doesn’t feel like me.

So, bearing all that in mind, you may very well be thinking ‘So…uh, why this dress then?’ and the answer is quite simply that I like it. It’s a subtle, rosy pink that I always think pairs beautifully with cream and white, as well as with natural materials like wicker, straw, wood and bamboo. The first time I saw it online I thought ‘Oh, that’s really lovely!’ because it is. The fabric has a chevron weave that creates an understated striped effect which plays with light beautifully, and my love of diversity in texture and material finishes appreciates that greatly. It’s a simple sleeveless V-neck cut with a matching fabric belt and a flared skirt, with decorative fabric covered buttons trailing the full length of the dress down the centre.

Altogether, every design choice creates a charming, gentle feel to the dress that I find very sweet. Upon spotting it I instantly pictured it worn with a wide brimmed straw sunhat and some cute wedges, and I know that when I start mentally styling a dress that means I like it. So here we are, my darlings, with me in pink, because sometimes you like things you don’t normally like and not only is that okay, that’s actually really great. 

As you can see from these pictures, I had to lean into my preference for pale pink paired with black for its first styling because a classic is a classic for a reason. I love the way those two colours contrast one another so that the black cuts through the pink, breaking up its softness. As the Alison is such a simple shaped dress you can get fully creative with your stylings and layers, pairing it with richer tones to punch up your outfit, layering differing textures to totally alter the vibe–a sheer, gauzy sleeves blouse worn underneath, say, compared to a faux leather jacket atop–and even having fun with prints, as leopard print would work great with this. Clothes are meant to be fun, so you’re free to get as much fun as you can out of this dress, as with all others. 

I asked for this dress in a size 20. The waist flat measures 38 inches with stretch to just over 40, while the bust flat measures 45 inches with stretch up to 48, so it lines up well with the size chart. The flared skirt is 29 inches long and is flared so it only has room for a slim volume petticoat. The dress closes with a hidden back zipper. 

The Alison dress is available in UK sizes 8-26. Hearts and Roses London ship worldwide and have select stockists around the globe, both in store and online.

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Disclaimer: The dress featured in this review was gifted to me by Hearts and Roses London in exchange for an honest review. Items marked with an asterix* are items I bought myself from companies that have previously gifted me other items for review.  All opinions expressed are truthful and my own, with no input from any of the companies listed or any other individuals. 

COVID-19 NOTE: These pictures were taken alone and safely in a secluded outdoors area with no other individuals present or passing, thus practising strict social distancing measures in an effort to help reduce the spread of Covid-19.