Can’t Beat Caterina [Collectif]

Posted on by
3

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 →

Suavecita Grooming Spray [Deadly is the Female]

Posted on by
10

There’s a lot about vintage hairstyling that is difficult and takes time to master. There’s almost no style at all that I feel confident even saying I’ve mastered, and that largely comes down to how frizzy and hard to manage my hair is. I have a lot of it but it’s very fine, prone to flyaways and frizziness no matter the weather–although humidity, is, of course, my worst enemy, because it makes a bad situation so much worse.

Often I’ll brush out my pincurl set, add in all my sectioning clips and hairspray everything into place, feeling content I did my best with my limited skills and even more limited patience…And then I’ll move to somewhere with different lighting, or go to take a picture against a lightly coloured wall, and realise there’s a ton of frizz in my set that I hadn’t noticed while styling it against the dark background that’s reflected in my getting-ready mirror. At that point, with all the hairspray in place, I just have to let the style stand as it is, because trying to alter it would likely end up in an even bigger state. Continue reading →

A Touch of Jasmine [Collectif]

Posted on by
11

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] 

Posted on by
3

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] 

Posted on by
2

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] 

Posted on by
3

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 →

August Outfits Round Up

Posted on by
5

Oh August. You were a mixed bag. It was a surprisingly hot month, as far as us Brits are concerned anyway, so there was lots of dressing for comfort and humidity. There was also a bad run of luck on my end specifically, with a broken camera lens and then a severed phone line removing my access to wifi that made taking and uploading outfit photos and blog posts a big challenge.  Basically, I am very ready for September and cooler weather. (Bearing in mind, I reserve the right to then complain about how difficult that bad weather might make taking blog photos once it sets in. I know. I’m a complicated woman sometimes. Just go with it.)

Now, let’s say farewell to summer with August’s outfits.

img_9375

Leslie Dress by Voodoo Vixen, Red Strappy Heels by New Look

Continue reading →

DIY Project: Alika Peplum Blouse [Tatyana]

Posted on by
2

I don’t wear a lot of trousers or pencil skirts. I’ll be honest, as body positive as I am, I still find it hard not to feel self-conscious of my stomach in tight fitting clothing. It saddens me sometimes that I force myself to overlook dresses, skirts or trousers I want because I know I won’t have the confidence to rock them as consistently as I would need to in order to justify the purchase.

However, it’s just not practical to live all of one’s life in a swing dress. Sometimes pants are required. Sometimes a pencil skirt is just much more appropriate and attractive. And for those occasions I found the perfect solution: the Alika top by Tatyana.

walika7

Ivory Alika Blouse by Tatyana

Continue reading →

Photoshoot Bloopers & Outtakes [Round 5]

Posted on by
6

I probably put about 5-10 hours of work per week into the blog. Prepping for and shooting outfits, selecting and editing the photos, drafting and tweaking each post’s text to try and make it as informative and digestible as possible so that you lovely readers can maybe shop a little easier, get a touch of inspiration, and feel better knowing what products shape up to be the best investments for your money. So you can imagine how thrilled I am that I am universally assured that everyone’s favourite posts are these blooper posts, the ones where the facade cracks and you can see, without a shadow of a doubt, what a clumsy, silly goofball I really am. Ha! No faux-perfection here, this is a country girl who fell into blogging almost by accident and is just bumbling her way through as best she can. These pictures make that painfully clear. Continue reading →

Lady K Loves Giveaway WINNER

Posted on by
Reply

Oh hey, what’s up? How’s your Wednesday going? Mine’s pretty good, I had dinner on the beach last night, which was lovely, and at work today there’s–

No, I know, you’re not here for that. You’re here to find out who won the Lady K Loves giveaway. You want to know if you’re the lucky person who gets to pick herself out a piece of Lady K Loveliness, something like what I’m wearing below.

Lady K Loves Lydia Patio Top and Darling Skirt

Well I won’t torture you any longer. Continue reading →