I love black watch tartan. I’ve wanted a dress or full circle skirt in that colour of tartan for ages, but each time I find one it’s always out of stock. So imagine my delight when I found the Hell Bunny Aberdeen dress in just that print.
When I went to Frome, Somerset, back in September to do a spot of modelling for Deadly Is The Female I was lucky enough to shoot additional outfits for the blog with Deadly team member, Gayle, aka Porcelain Photography, with Deadly H&MU artist Lolita Noir on hand as well to style my hair. All three of us brainstormed what we would shoot and how, wanting to do something fun, and a Snow White inspired suggestion was quickly made then pounced upon.
Collectif’s AW line has been bumper this year, with tons of gorgeous pieces and new prints. Of the latter, one of the most popular has to be the Woodland Bloom print, a gorgeous dark blue topped with blooming flowers in dusky pinks, muted greens and soft pops of periwinkle blue. It’s such a pretty and seasonal appropriate floral print that for a while I couldn’t decide which piece I wanted of those made in this print; the swing skirt, or dress, or pencil dress? Finally I decided on the swing dress, Maria. It gives me broody, autumnal feelings, in a pleasant fairytale kind of way, so I took to the woods to shoot it.
November is the month of poppies because poppies symbolize the fallen of the First World War on Remembrance day, November 11th. In Britain especially it’s a somber, respectful time, with red poppies flashing at you from the lapels of workmates, family, friends and strangers almost everywhere you go not just during the week of November 11th, but for much of the month.
For me, poppies hold a second association. On November 23rd 2003, my dad passed away following a 2 year battle against cancer. It was a difficult time and I barely remember anything much of the week and a half following his death. I remember coming home from the hospice and changing into the pair of clean spare pyjamas we had taken for him, not sure how long he would be in hospice–2 days–and I remember sitting at our lounge table a week later, trying to decide what to write on the little card presented to me that would be pinned to the flowers that would be lain on his casket.
We had poppies.
I remember the poppies. Continue reading
I don’t have a huge amount of experience with Stop Staring! I’ve only tried some of their wiggle dresses before while modelling for Deadly Is The Female and In Retrospect. I’ve always wanted to try some of their swing dresses but none had taken my fancy enough to order internationally until I saw this grey plaid Dorathy dress on Miss Victory Violet recently.
I put it into my cart on the SS website just ‘in case’ it ever went on sale then promptly forgot about it. Within a few weeks Stop Staring! held a $85 dresses sale, and what would you know, not only was the Dorathy dress included but I also happened to be in the states, meaning I could get free domestic delivery rather than shelling out the fees to receive it in the UK. Time for me to give Stop Staring! a whirl!
If you’ve never come across The Pretty Dress Company prepare to begin some intense coveting, because their name is apt and honest. When I saw this gingham Femme Fatale prom swing dress for the first time a few months back my want was immediate and intense. I’ve daydreamed about it ever since–that may sound sad, but I don’t care. I like pretty dresses and I cannot lie. Shan’t and won’t. And this, my little darlings, is definitely a pretty dress.
If you’ve been following me for a while you’ll have seen past mentions of Doll Me Up . They’re my number one choice for getting LA Splash lip products delivered inexpensively to the UK, and my black evening dress gets a lot of wear, particularly as it’s easily thrown on when I make last minute plans. It’s comfortable and simple, yet people always compliment me on it. I’ve recently bought it in red and know that this dress, too, will become a wardrobe staple that receives constant wear.
Doll Me Up have really expanded their stock lines this year, offering a wide selection of cardigans, both cropped and not, one of the prettiest selections of hair scarves I’ve ever come across, and tons of separates to mix and match. More often than not I’m a dress wearing girl, but DMU have plenty to offer there too. Recently I got my little British paws on the Sunrise to Sunset dress, one I’ve been wanting for an age, and took to the Texan woods to photograph it for you with help of my dear friend Sarah.
Hell Bunny always release a selection of new coats in their new Autumn/Winter lines each year, this year releasing 7.
Top L to Bottom R: Elvira coat, Rock Noir coat, Bacall Trench, Lulu Coat
The new line is gorgeous but none of the coats were quite what I was looking for. I wanted faux fur for warmth and a bit of glamour, and I wanted the a-line shape that would define my waist but allow the flare of my skirts. The new range looked to me like they would sit too boxy on my frame, so I looked at their AW range from last year and decided their Shonna coat was perfect. Continue reading
It’s time for another pretty dress from Chi Chi Clothing! Last weekend I attended the wedding of a dear friend in America, flying over from England to attend after a year’s wait for the happy event. That year long of knowing I would be coming meant I was constantly on the look out for what dress I would wear on the big day. I changed my mind several times, of course, but after I discovered Chi Chi Clothing a couple months back I just sort of knew at the back of my mind I would end up choosing something Chi Chi in the end. I even ordered a dress custom made by another company and was excited to wear that for the wedding, and yet as soon as I saw the Cassandra dress a couple weeks later I knew I had found the winning dress.
With a full pleated skirt that features netting and requires no petticoat, thin spaghetti straps, and a high neckline that is modest but still displays some collarbone delicacy, I fell for the simplicity and understated glamour of this dress.
I wanted to be glamorous and vintage for the wedding, but didn’t want to be too bold or step on any toes, my usual aim for being a pinup at someone else’s wedding, so I decided to pair this with a large faux fur white stole to keep with the glamorous feel and provide a little warmth. I added clear crystal bracelets and a crystal brooch for some pops of glitter, and, because it’s me, I chose my red bedazzled heels and matching bedazzled box clutch.
Typically I’m not one for statement accessories beyond a big crystal necklace. I tend to play it safe and classic with my style choices, even though that sometimes means I fall in love with a lemon wedge shaped clutch bag or a handbag shaped like a house and talk myself out of buying it because I’m not sure how to wear it. Every once in a while I realise how silly that is, since my motto in general is to wear whatever you want because life is too short not to indulge in even the smallest of things that make you happy. Which is why today I’m writing about Vendula London.
Vendula London is, in case you couldn’t guess, a UK based brand, who are 100% animal friendly. They offer a range of unique, funky and quirky bags, from clutch bags to handbags, totes to cosmetic bags, luggage tags, tablet cases, you name it. They’re stocked globally, and when I saw some of their book style clutch bags and quaint traditional English building inspired bags I fell in love.
Miss Amy May 