There’s almost no opening pre-amble I can give for this coat, because it is practically too perfect for words. A winter coat that combines my love of faux fur trims, elegant but detachable capes, and genuine winter practicality of providing warmth, having pockets and being able to fit over my full-skirted swing dresses? HELL BUNNY YOU HAVE SLAIN ME.
YOU GUYS, I AM TOO EXCITED TO EVEN DO ANY PREAMBLE FOR THIS POST BECAUSE LOOK, LOOK AT THIS INSANE PLAID DRESS AND PERFECT GREEN CAPE I’M FEATURING TODAY! YEAH, EXACTLY, IT’S AMAZING, SO LET’S JUST GET RIGHT TO IT BECAUSE I CAN’T WAIT!
There are parts of autumn and winter fashion that just scream ‘chic’ in a way that can’t be denied. Houndstooth print, faux fur accents, moody autumnal colour palettes, capes! This season Voodoo Vixen are ready to serve up delicious examples of each one of those features, and boy, oh, boy, am I excited about it.
Ah, Collectif; does anybody do coats better than you? Certainly I don’t think any other vintage inspired brand is as well known for their coats, especially when you consider the fame and fervor surrounding the yearly release of their Pearl coat. For me, it was the Riley coat that made my heart go a pitter-patter when I first glimpsed its preview, a coat so classic and beautiful I have already said a million times to anyone who will listen that I want to just wear it as a dress. I’m more than partial to a winter cape as well, so when the brainwave hit to pair the Paige velvet and faux fur cape with the Riley for hood coverage and extra warmth on very cold or drizzly days, I wasn’t just pleased with myself for the practicality of the idea, but downright obnoxiously proud of the glamorous combination it created. Behold, a pairing fit for most any winter wonderland!
You know when you really like a thing but you aren’t really aware you especially like that thing until someone points it out to you? Like, you’ve been collecting clothing of a similar style without even realising they’re similar? Yeah, that’s me and black mesh overlay items of clothing, or so I only realised when I sent a picture of this dress to my friend Hope and she said that as soon as she saw it she thought of me. Because apparently I like dresses or accessories with black mesh overlays, which I did not even fully realise until she listed the clothing I had that fell in that category, all of which I had forgotten about.
So, as it turns out I love a sheer black design detail in my vintage inspired clothing, and I also love capelets, so this dress and cape set were, really, basically destined to mine. Still, I held off purchasing it for quite a while because I kept trying to tell myself I need to be an adult. But then, as has happened in the past, I realised Deadly is the Female were stocking this piece, so my resolve dissolved somewhat once the 6000 miles of a Unique Vintage order evaporated as a sensible hurdle. Eh, who needs savings anyway, right? Sure, houses keep you safe and warm and dry, but do they make you look super fabulous for cocktail evenings and dinner party? No, no they do not. The dress won. Meet Luna.
I first spotted the Sabrina cape by Dolly & Dotty at London Edge earlier this year. I’m fond of capes and capelets in general, but as a curvy woman I do tend to feel when I actually don one that all the extra fabric results in me losing my waist, which is something I can’t really visually afford when constructing an outfit. This particular cape is a more cropped length, which not only makes it adorable but also stops it from eating up the outline of one’s body, regardless of curviness, as well as making it petite-appropriate. I was certain it would end up being the perfect incarnation of my cape-love so I’ve been eagerly awaiting its release since I first spotted it in January. I’m thrilled that it’s finally available!
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.
Miss Amy May 