Spring may be on its way–hell, technically speaking, it may already be here, but judging by the winds whistling down my chimney and clattering against my windows, the weather itself didn’t get the memo. I feel wholly justified, therefore, in reaching not only for sleeves but for plaid, and this Brooklyn dress by Unique Vintage is the perfect choice for both.
Is there anything more classic, more timeless, than black and white? No matter the situation or event, it’s always appropriate, and thanks to this little combination, always chic.
My favourite thing about this season is, without a doubt, the changing and falling of the leaves. Watching the trees that line my route to work gradually shift colours over the course of a few weeks genuinely makes my drive a happier experience, and the chance to step on a crunchy leaf whenever I’m on foot fills me with glee. What better way, then, to celebrate my leafy love of the season than to don a dress that sports exactly that–it’s Voodoo Vixen time.
I like plaid. Big plaids, small plaids. Green, blue, grey, brown, red plaids. Subtle plaids, obnoxious plaids. I don’t think I’ve ever met a plaid I didn’t like, but admittedly the plaids that populate my wardrobe all tend to be rich or bright in colour, proud to be plaid and loud. I don’t yet have the kind of plaid that flies under the radar, that can host a dinner party without looking very seasonally eager. Well, I didn’t have that kind of plaid. Now, thanks to Sally, I’m Dinner Party Plaid ready.
We all know the quote from the movie The Devil Wears Prada; ‘Florals, for spring? Groundbreaking.’ Floral prints in spring and summer may not be innovative, but it does feel nice to sport something reflective of the season you’re enjoying. It would be expected, therefore, that florals are off-limits for autumn and winter, when most leaves even give up the ghost, let alone flowers. It’s definitely possible for a good winter floral to exist; special attention needs to be paid to colour schemes and flower types to create a print that doesn’t feel out of place in colder weather and dimmer lighting. As someone with no experience in fabric and clothing design, I imagine that’s hard to do. If so, congratulations are due to Hell Bunny, because this Blue Bell dress is a winter floral gem.
They say that everyone has a base colour they build their wardrobe around, either black, navy or brown. For me by neutral base has always been black, with a leaning towards navy in summer. Brown, though, has never really interested me, whether in pale near-grey tones or rich chocolate. Until recently. Suddenly, in my ever-expanding love for autumn styling, I’ve begun to wonder whether brown tones suit me, and whether it’s a colour I should be adding in to my wardrobe. So when I saw this Charlotte dress by Lindybop, I knew I had found the contender that could make me try.
It’s been a quiet month again since, much like August, my foot pain has limited how far I can travel and when I can be social. Still, I’m excited it feels truly like autumn now, even if the leaves haven’t begun to change yet. Soon there’ll be pretty colours, snuggly evenings on the sofa and the chance to break out my most fabulous and warm winter coats. Bring it!
Me-made Weasley sweater (how to blog post next week,) Blue Jade dress by Collectif dyed Dylon Olive Green and worn as a skirt, Chestnut Jewel shoes by Hotter, self coloured and cut clip in bangs from eBay, Irresistible Me Rosewood 99J full lace human hair wig.
It’s been a strange month. Starting off hot then dipping into cooler and wet weather that made it feel a lot like Autumn had arrived early, it’s been hard to decide a lot of the time what to wear. It’s also been a busy month, with 4 family birthdays being celebrated, and my schedule on the whole complicated by the fact that I’ve been nursing a foot injury for more than 4 weeks. I finally went to the doctor and was diagnosed with Plantar Fasciitis, resulting in me being signed off work for 2 weeks to heal because my job was constantly irritating my foot into a worsening state that couldn’t heal. As such, there’s been several times this month I’ve had to abandon plans to shoot outfits for review on the blog because my foot has been too painful to stand or walk, which is why it’s been a quiet month on here. I’ve also had to abandon the footwear displayed in these photos several times during social events for a pair of memory foam slip-on trainers when the pain has become too much.
Foiled Outlaw jacket by Collectif, Panthera 50s dress by Hell Bunny (discount code AMYMAY20!%), self coloured and cut real hair clip-in bangs from eBay, Full lace front real hair Rosewood 99J wig by Irresistible Me, Velvet ballet pumps from New Look
It’s still hot here, blah blah blah, heatwave, pale English people unequipped, blah blah blah.
You get the gist, right? We’re all fed up of it, all over the world, and honestly it’s a wonder my pasty English arse bothered to get pinned up at all this month, because the humidity is slowly sapping us all of strength. We did have one rainy day, though, which gave me the chance to wear one of my winter dresses, which was genuinely exciting, so that was fun.
Banana Leaf Jade dress by Collectif, old belt, Kelly Green Tootsie Cropped Cardigan from DMU, Meghan flats by Hotter, sold out Forever 21 bag, Real hair claw ponytail 99J from eBay, self cut and coloured real hair clip in bangs from eBay
I’m not usually one for lobster motifs. These little red critters are a popular novelty feature in the vintage realm, but the reasoning behind that has always flummoxed me. Who would want a crimson crustacean featured on their clothes? I wondered, confused, as my Instagram feed filled each summer with beautiful modern pinups buying item after item in lobster print. I just don’t get it.
…And then, as always, I found the one dress that made me finally understand something I hadn’t previously, and now I’m like ‘lobsters? How cute!‘ So to whom do I owe the credit of this bending of my previously steadfast opinion? Collectif, step right up!
Miss Amy May 