Category Archives: Clothing Reviews

Custom Made [HeartsandFound Etsy]

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For a long time, I’ll admit, I didn’t actually know what Hearts and Found was. I saw the account tagged on Instagram many times in ladies outfit posts but somehow I never twigged that it was a custom made Etsy maker, probably because their Instagram account is focused on posting collections of 40s and 50s era photos, rather than pictures of their hand made goods. When I finally twigged earlier this summer and took a look at the Etsy store, I immediately saw at least a half dozen items I wanted to buy. All were totally affordable in vintage-style terms, even when delivered to the UK from Vietnam where the maker, Marjorie, is based. I dithered for weeks over what I wanted to order first, changing my mind not just over which item of clothing but also which print, before finally settling on the Sunday Picnic Penelope dress.

Hearts and Found custom Sunday Picnic Gingham Penelope Dress Continue reading →

Polly Wants Some Trouble [Miss Fortune]

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I’m gonna get this out of my way right at the start: I am not normally a leopard print fan. I once heard someone say that (paraphrased) it is a print that is abundantly used in the fashion industry by the very cheap and the very expensive, and I think that perfectly encapsulates how I feel about the print on the whole. When done well, it’s sexy and chic and luxurious. Done badly, it looks…well, cheap. And while there’s nothing wrong with building a wardrobe in a thrifty manner, I think we all tend to hope our £3 bargain we were excited to snag doesn’t actually scream ‘THIS COST £3!’ We just want to be able to say that in an enthusiastic half-bragging fashion when someone cooes over how gorgeous it is. There’s a difference.

So with leopard print, I feel it’s a fine line. For that reason, I’ve stayed clear of it in the past, overlooking it in favour of prints or patterns that are less difficult to ‘get right.’ In recent months, however, I’ve found myself drawn to the print. Perhaps being in the pinup community means I’ve simply been exposed to a lot of brands who have got it right by leaning on their vintage inspirations to nail the sexy, stylish essence of the print. No matter the reason, lately I’ve been searching around for a leopard print top I can pair with a black pencil skirt and a sassy attitude to feel as slinky as the jungle cat it mimics. Thanks to Miss Fortune, I’ve found that top: the Leopard Polly Blouse.

Miss Fortune UK Leopard Print Polly Blouse Continue reading →

Timeless Eva Marie [Unique Vintage]

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Unique Vintage Black and white Eva Marie Swing Dress

When you’re a bit of a shopaholic, sometimes you have to tow the line and pass over buying something you really want. If you’re lucky you’ll later be pleased you saved your pennies, because your shopping lust for that dress (or lipstick, or pair of shoes) dissipated faster than your attraction to that cute looking dude you saw on the street last week who turned around only to reveal he was sporting a rat’s tail hairstyle.

Those are the best case near-misses. You get to pat yourself on the back and congratulate yourself at your Supreme Adulting. Continue reading →

Vendula Creative Bags [Downton Edition] 

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Vendula London Downton Black Book Cover Clutch Bag

I have a massive thing for hard cased or structural bags. Whether it’s a wicker box purse, a vintage-style acrylic handbag, a sturdy frame handbag or a well structured clutch, I always just find them to be so interesting and chic. One of my particular favourites within this field is the somewhat new trend of the book clutchbag.

Bags that look like books are just too cute for me to handle, bookworm that I am. I’ve fawned over many of them, but I kept waiting for the specific cover art that would best suit my wardrobe. Over time my bookcase continually overflowed but nothing novel was being added to my bag collection. I kept waiting. And then earlier this year, while modelling for Vendula London‘s AW16 line, I discovered they were offering a new book clutch for this season, and a gorgeous one at that. The time had come! Continue reading →

Can’t Beat Caterina [Collectif]

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If you haven’t checked out Collectif’s lookbook for this season yet then I heartily recommend that you do. Their Autumn/Winter line features so many items that make me feel so many ways that I almost don’t know what to do with myself. There’s the sparkly  grey tweed suit sets that make me think of chic vintage ladies strutting sassily down the street, doing all the things they need to do in the most elegant way possible. There’s the faux leather line that makes me feel a bit badass just looking at it. There’s the sophisticated faux fur trimmed pieces that make me want to host an elegant dinner party with glamorous friends holding chilled cocktails all round.

And then there’s the checks, plaids and the tartans, the styles that are so fully the epitome of Autumn that they make me want to frolic in fallen leaves and snuggle down with some hot chocolate. The Caterina dress evokes those very sentiments, available this season in a new gorgeous green chaise check that just makes me happy. Frostily, cozily happy.

Caterina Chaise Check swing dress Collectif Continue reading →

A Touch of Jasmine [Collectif]

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Let me introduce you all to my new favourite skirt, the Jasmine skirt by Collectif.

This season Jasmine comes in two Abstract Floral prints, blue or burgundy, but I’ve already asked Collectif to please release her in all the plain colours for upcoming seasons to fulfill all my skirty needs and dreams, because I have become wholly and immediately smitten.

Jasmine isn’t a totally new piece for AW, as you might recognise it from their paint pot print line this past SS16. I very nearly got it in the yellow colourway then, but for some reason I kept assuming it would be too short on me, or less voluminous than I prefer. I was totally wrong on both counts and I’m so excited to share my new love with you now. It might have taken us a while to come together, Jasmine and I, but we finally have, and it’s real. Expect an invite to our engagement party any day now.

Jasmine Abstract Floral Print Skirt Blue Collectif Continue reading →

Those Venice Nights [Trashy Diva] 

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It was only earlier this year that I finally acquired my first Trashy Diva pieces, but in doing so they swiftly became one of my favourite vintage inspired brands. I only own 3 of their dresses so far, but literally every time I wear them they receive compliments. The designs are always so beautiful, with even their plain coloured pieces featuring eye-catching design details that set them apart. With the new Venice Nights line released this week, there’s no plain pieces in sight, only gorgeous, vibrant styles sporting a fun 40s-inspired novelty print, the likes of which Trashy Diva are renowned for producing.

Gondolas, bridges, and Venetian buildings all make an appearance in this print set against a rich blue background. The collection features 5 dress styles, 1 blouse and 1 skirt, so there’s plenty of style variety to choose from. I was sent the Circle Day Dress, a beloved older style that Trashy Diva are excited to be bringing back. After strolling and twirling in this piece at sunset, I can see why.

Trashy Diva Venice Nights Circle Day Dress Continue reading →

Librarian Fantasies [Miss Candyfloss] 

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Y’all. Prepare yourselves, because the Miss Candyfloss Librarian collection releasing this Autumn is alarming levels of perfect. I’m talking. IN. SANE. Unreal. Vintage Autumn countryside wonderfulness. I know that sounds dramatic, but every preview I’ve seen has given me the grabby-hands and I’ve begun stalking their website daily to check for new releases. Good thing too, because within an hour of the Chloe-Britt dress’s release it was sold out in multiple sizes. I very nearly missed out, but thank Floss I got lucky.

The Chloe-Britt is a rust and tweedy brown dose of Autumn elegance and I’m in love with it. Both brown and shades of orange are colours that I typically stay away from because I don’t feel they do anything for me, but this dress was so pretty I had to take the leap and just hope against hope that it worked out. Happy, happy sighs, I do believe it did. I’ll let you judge for yourself.

Miss Candyfloss Librarian Collection Chloe-Britt Dress Continue reading →

Twinning in Saint Tropez [The Pretty Dress Company] 

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When it comes to the company I keep, I’m a real girl’s girl. I enjoy talking about makeup, hair and clothes, all the clichéd things that then take on a whole new life of their own when you’re someone who’s adopted a vintage style. Luckily, my pinup friends are happy to indulge me in these subjects, and none more so than my bestie Giselle.

Beautiful, whip-crack smart and stylish in all manners, Giselle is most definitely my better friend-half. We share a lot of the same loves and opinions, one of which is that we adore The Pretty Dress Company. When the opportunity presented itself for us to twin in one of our favourite pieces from their Summer line, the Saint Tropez dress, we needed zero convincing.

The Saint Tropez pencil and swing dresses are exactly as chic and classic as the name would suggest. Available in white and silver stripes, as we chose, white and pink, or pink and silver, in every colour it’s a simple dress that still easily stands out. While I’m a swing dress girl and Giselle more of a wiggle fan, we recently donned our matching frocks during a weekend of fun together to show you just how wonderful this dress is.

The Pretty Dress Company Saint Tropez Pencil Prom Dress Continue reading →

Lovely Nora-Lee [Miss Candyfloss]

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Miss Candyfloss won me over when I purchased their Gigi jumpsuit at the end of last year. It’s chic, classic and modest, which happens to be a description that can be applied to their entire line. Their signature design feature is their pleated bust detail, which is flattering and pretty on all bust sizes. Earlier this summer I went on a little mission to check out what other pieces they offer besides the Gigi with that bust detail, looking for something with a full skirt and a summery feel because, shock horror, for once we were actually broadcast a decent summer. I decided upon the Nora-Lee dress.

I’ve been massively into blues lately, of almost all shades, but especially soft shades like periwinkle and cornflower blue, so this dress immediately drew me in. Once you add in the fact that it has punctuations of red, my favourite accessorising colour, I was sold.
Miss Candyfloss Nora Lee dress Continue reading →