Florals at Christmas [Lady V London]

Floral prints are typically associated with spring and summer clothing, understandably. There’s some gorgeous flowers that are favourites for autumn and winter though, like poppies and poinsettias, so I’ve often wondered why it isn’t more common to find floral prints for the colder seasons that feature these flowers. At the very least, it wouldn’t be so hard to create a floral print in darker, autumnal colours that would work well through the end of the year, even if the flowers featured in them aren’t technically winter bloomers.

Well, Lady V London have fulfilled my yearning for a winter floral with their limited edition Christmas Floral Print Lyra dress. The Lyra dress is actually a key bestseller piece from Lady Voluptuous, Lady V London’s plus sized range designed in collaboration with Georgina of Fuller Figure Fuller Bust, with all designs available in UK sizes 16 to 30/32. The Lyra dress in particular makes for a perfect Christmas outfit not just because of this gorgeous seasonal floral, but also because it’s so damn comfortable to wear. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party for friends, busting a move at the office work do’ or eating your way through the house on Christmas day itself, Lyra has got you covered in style and comfort.

Lady V London Lady Voluptuous Lyra Dress limited edition Christmas Floral Print Continue reading

Apple of My Eye [Love UR Look]

I know I’m an adult (technically, by age, perhaps not so much by personality)–but I hold a grudge against apples. They make me sort of grumpy, likely to pull a stubbornly ill-accommodating face like a 6 year old offered spinach. I am known to describe powdery apples as ‘tasting of disappointment and hell.’

It’s because during phases of my life when I was determined to be several dress sizes smaller than it is naturally comfortable for me to be, I ate so many apples that I am now permanently sick of them…in their natural form. In an apple pie or a crumble, however? Apples and I are very definitely friends again then. In a strudel, for sure, load me up. Apple danish, fritters, muffins–basically any way in which you can take an apple and improve upon it by caking it in sweetened crusts, batter and actual cake, I am entirely on board. But off a tree? No thank you, only to pose with for adorable late summer photos.

Well, as it happens I’ve found another way I don’t mind apples: wearing them. Namely, in the form of the Love UR Look Green Apple Shirt dress. It’s cute, it’s quirky, and it has the added benefit of not potentially widening my waistline like my other preferred servings of apples are likely to do.

Love UR Look Green Apple shirt dress Continue reading

Party Dress: The Chic Claus [Dolly & Dotty]

We’ve had plenty of sparkles and sass so far in this year’s party dress series. We’ve had some understated tartan, an irrepressible LBD, and some shimmering metallics. So it’s time, with our last party dress, to reach for something truly classic and monochromatic. Ladies who like to keep it simple and chic, who don’t like frills, glitter, bows or prints. The ladies who feel Audrey got it right the most of any woman throughout history, this dress is for you.

(…And for any ladies who like things simple but also don’t mind a touch of adorable Christmas fun, I’ve thrown in a red cape too, because it’s the holidays and I cannot be stopped.)

But seriously, this is the classic, understated elegance dress of the series, and best yet? It’s a total bargain.

Dolly & dotty Black White Stripe Anna Dress Red Sabrina Cape Continue reading

Party Dress: Touch of Tartan [Miss Candyfloss]

We’ve done 3 dresses that are shimmering and shiny in different ways, so let’s look now at one that is the very epitome of Christmas, in an understated, classy way, of course. We’re chic vintage ladies, after all. No brash white-fur lined red velvets here (she says, blatantly lying, because she loves that kind of thing too.)

The Ella-Gia dress from Miss Candyfloss features three of my favourite colours for this time of year, rich emerald green, moody lush burgundy, and gorgeous burnt mustard. Put all that together with an eye-catching tartan panels feature and you’ve got yourself a winner, especially for this time of year.

Miss Candyfloss Ella-Gia Tartan dress Miss Victory Violet Continue reading

Party Dress: Sequin City [Zoe Vine]

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for sequins. Oh yes, it is time for sequins.

There can’t be a festive party dress series without a little black dress offering, because little black dresses for many ladies are the backbone of the party season. They’re the no-brainer first choice option for feeling glamorous and sexy, chic and classy, slinky and sassy. Add in a healthy dose of sequins and you’ve got a perfect LBD combination. Oh, and did I forget to mention that it’s stretchy? Yeah, it’s stretchy. There we go, now it’s the perfect LBD combo.

It’s the Ava Black Sequin wiggle by Zoe Vine and it’s party time fine.

Black Sequin Ava Wiggle Pencil Dress by Zoe Vine Continue reading

Party Dress: A Flourish of Smoke [Heart of Haute]

It’s that time of year again, babycakes! Time to make lists, begin hoarding chocolate and, most importantly of all, pick your party frock. Whether you’re looking for something festive but still comfortable for Christmas day, something chic for your office holiday party, or something glitzy for New Year’s Eve, I’ve got you covered with 5 of my top picks from some of the leading reproduction and vintage inspired brands, across a variety of budgets. There’ll be some sequins, a little tartan, a few metallics, some slinky LBD action, and a heavy dose of timeless vintage glamour.

So let’s kick it off with a dress that has immediately become one of my all time favourites, the Heart of Haute Monte Carlo dress in the Flourish Smoke print. Ladies, get ready to swoon.

Heart of Haute Monte Carlo Flourish Smoke dress Continue reading

Tweedy Does It [Collectif] 

Collectif Sparkle Tweed Rosie Skirt Heather Cropped Hooded Jacket

Why are grey vintage inspired clothes so hard to find? You would think every autumn/winter repro line would be full of greys, tans, brown and navy, overflowing with tweed, houndstooth, herringbone, but that’s not necessarily the case. Last winter I searched desperately for a woolen or tweed grey circle skirt, eventually finding one that turned out to be disappointingly-sized and -made given the cost ($84 and it made me look fat. I’m just saying.) I sold the skirt on and felt my soul sigh, knowing the search for my perfect grey winter skirt would have to continue next winter.

 

Well, it is now the next winter and the pinup gods have heard my prayers. And by ‘pinup gods’ I mean Collectif, because they gone done right by me yet again this season. (Previous doing me right? See my review of their Jasmine skirt.) Continue reading