Sparkles and Tartan [Hell Bunny]

Posted on November 2, 2016 by missamymay

Let’s just get it out of the way: Hell Bunny are killing it this season. I previewed their line earlier this autumn at London Edge, noting down several pieces I knew I’d have to get my hands on, but even then I didn’t realise there were plenty of pretties I had somehow overlooked. When I was shown their complete catalogue a couple of weeks later there were suddenly 10 more pieces I wanted to add to my wishlist, no joke.

I loved their Spring/summer line this year, but I think this might be Hell Bunny’s best line yet. Several of my favourite pieces will be coming to the blog over the coming weeks, but in case you can’t wait here’s the online catalogue so you can see the full line in all it’s glory.

The first pieces from the new line that I saw and exclaimed over were the Angette top and the Doralee skirt. Hell Bunny fans will probably recognise this tartan print from last year’s Aberdeen dress, which I own and love in the navy and green Dublin tartan version. Last year, even though I bought the dress version, I still desperately hoped that the print would also be released in a skirt as well, because it just seemed like such a no-brainer winter piece. When I saw my desired skirt versions at London Edge, I was thrilled.

Hanging not too far away from those tartan-tastic skirts were the Angette tops, short sleeved lurex tops in the winter-wonderful shades of red, green and white. The moment I saw them I knew many of you lovely readers would be taken by them: sparkly, cute, and perfect for the upcoming festive season. What wasn’t to like?

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October Outfits Round Up

Posted on October 31, 2016 by missamymay

Finally, autumn has truly come. Some of the sleeved dresses I bought at the end of last winter or this spring have only this month been possible to wear, now that the temperature has begun to drop and the rain (sigh) is back. I’m not crazy about how difficult this wet, cold weather makes shooting for the blog outdoors, but I am definitely happy with the chance to play with darker colours and heavier fabrics.

Custom grey coat dress by eShakti, thrifted belt, Charcoal bangles by Splendette, old season Everything5pounds.com heels

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Polly Wants Some Trouble [Miss Fortune]

Posted on October 3, 2016 by missamymay

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 →

September Outfits Round Up

Posted on September 30, 2016 by missamymay

September messed with us all here in England. It kept being (quote unquote) hot again. Which is fine–given we generally have crap summers you’d think we would be excited to have some surprisingly warm stretches in the first month of autumn. Sort of, but not really. Because I’m so ready to dig out my autumn wardrobe, as well as wear the new additions to it I’ve been buying the last few weeks, and so far there has rarely been the chance. My tartan, tweeds and plaids have gone unloved, my checks and flannels have been sadly unattended to. My summer clothes are pretty, but damnit I just want to wear the fall stuff.

So let’s be more sensible, October, shall we? You don’t have to rain or even get dreary (in fact, it would be kind of convenient for my blogging needs if you didn’t,) but a bit of a chill would be seasonally wonderful, if you would do me the honour. Okay? Okay. Just think about it, is all I’m asking. In the mean time, here’s the frustrated and temperature-confused collection of outfits I put together in September.

Lady Hay dress by Hell Bunny, thrifted belt, old season Everything5pounds.com heels

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Timeless Eva Marie [Unique Vintage]

Posted on September 28, 2016 by missamymay

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 →

Can’t Beat Caterina [Collectif]

Posted on September 21, 2016 by missamymay

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 September 19, 2016 by missamymay

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 →

Twinning in Saint Tropez [The Pretty Dress Company]

Posted on September 5, 2016 by missamymay

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]

Posted on August 22, 2016 by missamymay

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 →

Lady in Black, Lady in a Garden [Bluebelle]

Posted on August 12, 2016 by missamymay

Bluebelle is a Singapore-based vintage inspired clothing company run by sweetheart owner Ammy. She began the company in 2013 because she and her sister, vintage lovers that they are, had trouble finding vintage inspired clothing to wear in Singapore. She began by stocking established European repro companies on her website, then branched out into producing her own Made By Bluebelle line last year. Her Lady in Black tea dress was so well received that European stockists began requesting to stock the piece themselves, a turn in the tables of her position of just a couple years prior.

The line, originally catering to the petite sizes of ladies in Singapore, is now looking to branch out their sizing to include UK sizes 14 – 18. Their original hit Lady in Black tea dress is the first piece in the range to be extended. Given its classic modest cut and simple yet elegant floral print, I can see why.

Shop Bluebelle Lady In Black Tea Dress Plus Size Continue reading →