French Fancy in Doll Deluxe

I rarely plan outfits in advance. Its normally a decision made while I'm styling my hair first thing in the morning and seeing how it turns out. But occasionally, I see an item that really catches my attention and it causes a chain reaction of my brain to start piecing together a complete look from different components. This outfit was one of those times. I saw this amazing Doll Deluxe dress and knew I needed to make it mine. After much umming and ahhing I bit the bullet and contacted Deborah about popping this gem on layby, which actually worked incredibly well as it let me have the time to pull together other aspects to give this dress the complete look!

Beret ~ True Vintage Red Velvet Beret purchased from Etsy
Earrings ~ Byrona Earrings in Cobalt from Revere Folie
Beads ~ Red bead necklace from Debstar Designs
Brooch ~ Be Mine brooch from Miss Lady A  Broad
Handbag ~ Red Repro bag from Lola Von Rose (review coming soon)
Dress ~ Madeline Dress in Navy from Doll Deluxe
Belt ~ Kmart
Shoes ~ Red Lorraine heels from Royal Vintage Shoes

2016 for me is the year I started embracing my curves again after hiding them away for a 12 month period. Weight gain can often be a difficult thing to deal with and as I got larger wiggle dresses became harder to feel confident in. But I decided it was time to start investing in them again and celebrate my body again. Its been an incredible journey. A lot of my previous wiggle dresses no longer fit me and I've parted ways with most of them to make way for new items. After placing this dress on lay-by I spent a good while searching for the perfect hat, finding this bargain beret for just $14AUD + postage. I was so excited to get them all together and the end look was as perfect as I'd hoped it would. 

So this dress...where do I start?! Firstly, made of bengaline its incredibly comfortable and has a lot of stretch. I went with the size that my measurements best suited which is the size 16, in hindsight I could have sized down as the fabric has more stretch than I expected but I feel for me the size I got is the right fit for easier wear, as I'll be able to wear it without shapewear as well as with. I found this dress was incredibly curve hugging, a feature which I absolutely adore but it isn't so firm that its unflattering. The collar and sleeve detailing of this dress is one of the main things that drew me to this dress: the subtle splash of tartan against the navy is honestly so pretty. The collar is sewn flat, so you don't have any risk of it flying up or sitting at an odd angle post wash and the red bow that joins at the front is made of red velvet.

For hugging curves, this dress is amazing. As a heavier bottomed girl, this dress perfectly flatters my curves and smooths. The bengaline gives stretch in all the right areas while still giving good shape. Being a thicker bengaline too I found it meant my foundations weren't as obvious through the fabric either, which is something I find important. The sleeves are comfortable and have give, the collar sits well and its overall a truly stunning dress.

As a red lover it also means I have so many red accessories to team this dress with and I must say, they all came together beautifully for this finished look! I wore this outfit to the Miss Pinup Australia to so many wonderful compliments. This finished look is so incredibly sophisticated and sassy. Its also a dress that is incredibly versatile and I can wear to work during the day as well as out to events.

The Doll Deluxe Madeline Dress in Navy is currently on sale for $149AUD + postage. Doll Deluxe is an Australian brand and these are made in Australia. Deborah, who is the owner of Doll Deluxe is incredibly lovely and helpful, if you have any questions regarding sizing and other product information. Her customer service on this purchase was above and beyond and I cannot recommend her enough. I am so glad this outfit came together as I hoped it would and it was even better in person than it had been in my head!

You can find Doll Deluxe in the following places:

Their Store

Facebook

Instagram

I hope you've all enjoyed this blog post! Til next time darlings!

Weekly Outfits ~ 8th August 2016

Hello darlings!

My oh my what an incredibly busy week I've had! Prepping to move and my little business is keeping me especially busy!

I'll more than likely be a little quite on my blog over the next two years while I move house this coming weekend and settle into my new house and routine. I am honestly SO excited for what this move is going to mean for my blogging here! Along with a room for Daisy Jean, this space will also be allocated for blogging/wardrobe and my photography adventures! So be prepared for better quality content coming across my social media in the coming months as a settle into a routine!

But after a weekend visiting family and trying new things (if you follow my instagram you'll know what I'm talking about!) I'm absolutely wiped out! So here are this past week's outfits, with the exception of Tuesday as I was quite unwell that day!

Monday

Scarf ~ Navy nylon scarf from Daisy Jean Floral Designs

Brooch ~ Sorceress brooch from Jubly Umph

Top ~ Red Robin top by collectif from Gwynnies

Pants ~ Doris pants in black from Pinup Girl Clothing

Shoes ~ Payless Flats

Wednesday

Flowers ~ Red rose double from Daisy Jean Floral Designs

Necklace ~ Pale pink beads from Debstar Designs

Brooch ~ Tulip Bouquet from Erstwilder

Dress ~ Katherine Dress from Karina Dresses 
Shoes ~ Payless Flats

Thursday

Scarf ~ Baby Pink Nylon Scarf from Daisy Jean Floral Designs

Necklace ~ Pale pink beads from Debstar Designs

Brooch ~ Lipstick brooch from Daisy Jean Floral Designs

Top ~ Princess Blouse in pink from Honey L'Amour (review coming soon)

Skirt ~ Winter Weight Floral Skirt from Honey L'Amour

Shoes ~ Payless Flats

Friday

Necklace ~ Pale Pink beads from Debstar Designs

Brooch ~ Cera says hello brooch from Erstwilder

Top ~ Sweetheart top in black from Doll Deluxe

Skirt ~ Peplum skirt from Hola Chica Clothing (discontinued)

Shoes ~ Payless Flats

Sunday

Scarf ~ Vintage green nylon dress

Necklace ~ Yellow beads from Debstar Designs

Brooch ~ Bronte and bub from Erstwilder

Dress ~ Audrey dress in red gingham from Lindy Bop (discontinued)

Belt ~ eBay

That's all for now darlings! I hope you've enjoyed this weeks outfits and I'm so excited to be bringing better quality photos of my outfits after the end of this month! Also so much exciting stuff is coming to my blog between now and the end of the year! I can't say much more yet but its going to be amazing!

Til next time darlings!

Winter Glamour with Royal Vintage Shoes

The summer season spoilt my feet with gorgeous sandals and strappy shoes. But by winter, I was finding these much beloved styles were leaving my feet freezing cold and often wet (winter is often a damp affair here in Sydney Australia) and I found myself longing for a heel that was enclosed, allowing both protection for my stockings from the wet and a bit of warmth during the cooler months. I’d never bought a pair of oxfords before but after much umming and ahhing about which ones I liked I settled on the Moscato Oxfords by Chelsea Crew from Royal Vintage Shoes and they are exactly what I was looking for!

This is my first pair of Oxfords and I can be honest in saying I didn’t know what to expect. This is also my first pair of Chelsea crew shoes as well. After reading the sizing info I went with my usual BAIT and Miss L Fire size of a 7.5. They arrived to me in Australia in just under a week, which is incredibly quick considering they were coming from the states. RoyalVintage Shoes is always incredibly prompt with posting out items and they always arrive so quickly! I was excited to get them home to try them on, especially as the week they arrived was a particularly wet one! I was thrilled that the 7.5 fit with only a little bit of extra room on my smaller foot.

The first thing I noticed about these shoes is that they are incredibly soft to touch. The sides had a lot of movement and on the inside felt soft to touch. I knew instantly they were going to be incredibly comfortable. The first day I wore these, I wore them with stockings as a safety against blisters. I was delighted to find my first wear only saw some very minor rubbing on the tops of my little toes, with no other discomfort to note at all. The laces were easy to tie and stayed tied the entire day. The heel is high enough to give shape to your legs without causing any noticeable tension through the bottom of the foot and for winter they are a great option, keeping my feet warm and dry during recent bad weather!

The Moscato oxfords are a two tone oxford which is something I was new to styling. Originally feeling a little intimidated by the two colours, as oddly enough I felt when I got my first pair of saddle shoes, I was soon styling these shoes with a variety of different looks (see below!). These shoes are absolutely amazing for a more authentic 1940s/50s look and I absolutely adore it with my suits as well as with a swing skirt! The two tone colouring for me puts them in a similar realm of saddle shoes as well and I really want to play with these shoes and a more casual look as well. 

I can honestly say these shoes have been a dream! With virtually no breaking in period at all, I can wear them easily now with or without stockings. They are comfortable, durable, easy to walk in and absolutely amazing for the cooler weather. I’m honestly having SO much fun styling them and they have quickly become a staple in my weekly shoe wardrobe!

These Chelsea Crew Moscato oxfords retail for just $65US which an absolute bargain! That equates to $84AUD depending on the day. Postage is also very reasonable through Royal Vintage Shoes and incredibly cheap. If the two tone oxfords aren’t to your liking she also has a variety of other oxford styles in block colours as well! There is a pair of oxfords for every taste and style. 

This pinup is also incredibly excited about the new vintage reproduction range coming out by Royal Vintage Shoes, with Pre-Orders now available! These incredibly stunning shoes are so truly beautiful and I cannot wait to share my favorites with you all! So much love, attention to detail and time has gone into making sure this range is just right and if this is what the first range looks like I cannot wait to see what else she achieves! Pre-Orders also have discounts as well, so jump on in and get yourself an amazing pair of Royal Vintage Shoes amazing first range!

That’s all for today darlings! I am so incredibly excited for my upcoming move as well, as it will allow me a greater freedom for my blogging so expect more reviews, better quality photos amongst other things! So keep your eyes peeled for that in September!

Catch all you lovelies later this week!

 Disclaimer: Whilst I received these shoes as an ambassador with Royal Vintage Shoes,  all opinions expressed are honest to help ensure the most accurate information for my readers. 

1940's suit glamour with Jack's Daughter

As my love of the 1940’s has continued to flourish, one thing that has continually caught my eye is the suits. There is something just so amazingly fabulous about a 1940’s suit. It’s a power suit. Strong yet with how they were worn incredibly feminie. I bought my first suit, an amazing red one which is an early 50’s make earlier this year and I instantly fell in love. It was my first authentic  vintage suit, though I do own two other suits that are reproduction which I adore just as much. One thing I have struggled a bit with though, is finding styles of blouses I like that feel authentic enough to wear with my suits. I ummed and ahhed about Jack’s Daughter for quite a while before taking the plunge and I’m honestly glad I did!

Hat ~ Black velvet vintage hat
Suit ~ True Vintage from Word from the Bird
Blouse ~ 1940's repro blouse from jacks' daughter
Brooch ~ Senorita Sherry Blossom Brooch from Miss Lady A Broad
Shoes ~ Moscato Two tone Oxfords from Royal Vintage Shoes (review coming soon)

Jack’s Daughter is a small hand made reproduction vintage store on etsy, based in Australia. It was one of those stores I found early on in the piece but kind of just browsed through on occasion…never really feeling 100% sure that it was for me. As my love of the 1940’s swelled, I knew I wanted to add more 1940’s styles to my wardrobe and I found myself repeatedly coming back to their blouses. The fit and overall look suited the aesthetic I was wanted. After adding the blouse to my cart and having it sit there for a fortnight I finally took the plunge and made my purchase. The thing I loved most about this purchase is that it was made to my measurements. Which means that I didn’t have to worry about it not fitting.

I placed my order and I had a note sent to me by the owner, just letting me know the time frame for making my top. I was kept in the loop and a little over a week after I placed my order I got my notification that my blouse was on its way to me. I ordered the blouse that had the red detailing and buttons. It arrived quickly for Australia post times and I was so thrilled to see that it looked just as gorgeous in person as it did online. I tried it on and was delighted to find it fit perfectly. I added an extra inch to the arm measurements for a more comfortable fit and it was spot on. The attention to detail was beautiful and its such a comfortable blouse to wear!

I am so pleased that its gone so perfectly with my vintage suit. I’ve also worn it with my swing pants and absolutely loved the look. The high collar is something a bit different for me but I still feel like it works. The button detail with the small bust opening means I don’t feel so covered and the slight puff to the sleeves means that I appear to have slightly bigger shoulders than I actually do, which is a feature of most 1940’s suit looks. As an avid red wearer I LOVE that this has the red rick rack line across the front and it ties in so beautifully with the red button detailing.

This blouse is incredible easy to get on and off, featuring a side zip and simply undo the button at the front. I would advise however to put makeup on AFTER you put it on, as the collar and front opening can rub along the face quite a bit which can transfer the make up onto the shirt. It’s well made, comfortable and a dream to style and wear. I’m already planning my next Jack’s Daughter purchase of another gorgeous blouse! It breathes well which is also a BIG thing for me as I’m finding my skin isn’t coping well with fabrics that don’t breath. Jack’s Daughter also make a variety of other items from skirts, dresses and playsuits of varying eras.

I paid $75AUD for my custom size ordered Jack’s Daughter blouse plus $8.50 postage, which considering it was made to measure is well priced. I received it in a timely fashion and I’m over the moon with the product. This is a store I can strongly recommend for gals after retro styled items that are made to order!

I hope you’ve all enjoyed this review and I look forward to bringing my review of these gorgeous shoes included in some of today’s photos to the blog this week!

Til next time darlings!

Weekly outfits and weekly overview ~ 1/8/2016

Morning Darlings!

We’ve hit August and it’s still so cold here in Aussie Land. While I’m looking forward to spring (I have SO many cute pinup outfits that need the warmer weather) I’m absolutely dreading the boiling hot summer that will follow. Last year’s summer was one of the hottest on record for Australia and the humidity trashed my skin. 

But…positives are here too!

My fella and I signed a lease on our own unit on Saturday, which will mean a massive life change which I am so super ready for. I also had my first ever shoot with Australian Pinup photography goddesses Sherbet Birdie and it was one of the best experiences of my life! You can check here on my social media for sneak peeks!

But for now let’s recap my favourite outfits! Later this week I’ll have my favourite outfits of July up on my blog too! Lots coming this month from Royal Vintage Shoes, Dressific, Lola Von Rose, Doll Deluxe and more! Keep your eyes peeled!

And now onto last week’s outfits!

Monday

Flowers ~ Red Rose Double from Daisy Jean Floral Designs

Necklace ~ Red beads from Debstar Designs

Brooch ~ Orange retro brooch from Dottie Delite Jewellery

Top and Skirt ~ Dream Master blouse in off white and Take a Hike skirt in red by Banned from Gwynnies

Belt ~ Kmart

Shoes ~ Brown Betty Sandals from Royal Vintage Shoes

Tuesday

Flowers ~ Peach Double from Daisy Jean Floral Designs

Beads ~ Lilac necklace from Debstar Designs

Brooch ~ Cheery Cherry blossoms from Erstwilder

Dress ~ Jennifer Dress by Hell Bunny (purchased on ebay)

Shoes ~ Brown betty Sandals from Royal Vintage Shoes

Wednesday

Flowers ~ Jean double from Daisy Jean Floral Designs

Brooch ~ Senorita Sherry Blossom Brooch from Miss Lady A broad

Blouse ~ 1940's blouse from Jack's Daughter

Suit ~ Checkered suit from Tatyana Boutique (discontinued)

Shoes ~ Moscato Two Tone Oxfords from Royal Vintage Shoes (review coming this week!)

Thursday

Flowers ~ Red Rose Double from Daisy Jean Floral Designs

Necklace ~ Red beads from Debstar Designs

Top ~ No brand green knit

Belt ~ Red retro belt by Hell Bunny from Gwynnies

Skirt ~ Black Cannes skirt by Hell Bunny

Shoes ~ Black Betty Sandals from Royal Vintage Shoes

Friday

Flowers ~ Blue baby peony double from Daisy Jean Floral Designs

Earrings ~ Cobalt Bryona Earrings from Revere Folie

Necklace ~ Harmonious Hydrangea necklace by Erstwilder

Dress ~ Margaret Dress in Blue Vintage Florals from Karina Dresses (review coming soon)

Shoes ~ Black Betty Sandals from Royal Vintage Shoes

Saturday

Beret ~ Vintage red velvet Beret from Etsy

Necklace ~ Red beads from Debstar Designs

Brooch ~ Be Mine brooch from Miss Lady A Broad

Bag ~ Red Lucite inspired bag from Lola Von Rose (review coming soon)

Dress ~ Madeline Dress in navy from Doll Deluxe (review coming soon)

Shoes ~ Red Loraine Sandals from Royal Vintage Shoes

I was especially excited for Saturday’s outfit as it was one I planned mentally over a period of a few weeks and when it came together it was as perfect as I’d hoped!

That’s all for today darlings!

Catch you all tomorrow!

Evening Elegance with Pinup Girl Clothing

 

It’s something every pinup needs: the perfect evening dress. One that can be worn to not just a formal event but something that is just dressy. You want something that is comfortable, versatile and glamorous. Something to turn heads in the best sort of way. Something that is timeless, classical and a statement piece. For me, I found all this in the Monica dress from Pinup Girl Clothing.

So what makes the Monica dress so special? For a long time I didn’t know. It felt unobtainable due to the international exchange rate and every time I wanted to purchase it, it was seemingly out of stock in my size. Then, by chance an amazing person from my past gifted me one and I was overjoyed! Finally one of these incredible dresses was mine. To hold a Monica it feels almost magical. Due to the internal structure its quite heavy but the external matte knit fabric is slinky to touch and truly elegant in person! I couldn’t wait to try it on, though due to the disgustingly HUMID summer Australia experienced, I didn’t get the chance til April, once the weather had cooled.

One amazing thing about the Monica is that is has built in shapewear. I’ve worn it both with and without foundations and on both occasions I’ve turned heads. The fabric, which is a matte knit falls beautifully around this dress and helps hide and unwanted lumps, bumps and bulges, which makes it the perfect dress for any ladies who might sometimes feel self-conscious with something firm fitted. Do be aware though it is quite firm, if you aren't comfortable with tight clothing I'd suggest sizing up. One thing I will note here too is that the bust ALSO features the built in shapewear. If you are big busted or pear shaped, this may cause a bit of an issue. I’ve read that some girls who were bigger busted found it too flattening/firm across the bust. For a smaller busted girl like me, I find without a super padded bra I look even smaller busted than I actually am, but the dress does right the bra quite a bit. I’ve seen a few girls who have had this taken out of the dress and it’s something I think I may do myself to allow for a fuller bust look.

The Monica features 3 quarter sleeves and a V style bustline. These are two features I absolutely adore. The bustline is super flattering and as a smaller busted girl helps my bust look a lot fuller than it is. The longer sleeves also help smooth my arms out, as at present my upper arms are a problem area. Something else to note about this dress is the zip. It features an invisible zip in the side seam. I’d heard a lot of mixed reviews from girls prior to getting my own, about the zip catching or being perfectly fine and decided not to tempt fate with my track history of zippers, especially invisible ones. With a bit of wiggling however I can pull this dress down over my head (even though their website says not to, there is NO WAY I could get this dress over my hips) and if you aren’t as big in the hip as I am I’m sure you’d be able to shimmy this dress up. Once on though it stays very much in place. I do experience a little creep around the hips but I put this down to my bigger hips. 

My Monica is a Large and while I could have sized up to an XL, I feel like it would have made it too big in the shoulders. I do struggle with styles that fit sit on my shoulders as they are rounded which means styles easily slid off. This dress does have an incredible amount of stretch for something with shapewear and even with my 44 inch hip the shapewear does cover almost all of my butt. Overall I find this dress comfortable, easy to move in and incredibly glamourous. Whether I’m laced or not I always get so many lovely compliments and it’s such a versatile style to accessorisze too!

The Monica retails for $144USD which equates to around $189AUD, exchange rate depending as well as shipping. Its worth every penny! The Monica is available in a variety of colours and is also now available in a mermaid version! I’d Love to get this dress in a red colourway and have the sleeves shortened to match a similar dress Marilyn once wore. Basically, I love my monica and I wear it at every appropriate opportunity. 

Also a MASSIVE thank you to Saycheese Cake photography for allowing me to use the photos from our recent shoot at Sky Sirens in this review!

Til next time darlings!

Weekly outfits ~ 25th July 2016

Hello darlings!

Another week has come and gone which is incredibly crazy as today ushers in a new month. We are officially in the later part of the year and I am kind of feeling a bit overwhelmed by how fast 2016 is flying by. This is without a doubt my fastest year of my adult life and I’m just trying to saviour it as much as I can!

I had a busy week last week with reviews from Miss FortuneUK, the Ambrosia Bowl and The Magic Thread Cardigan. I’ve got a fun week on the blog this week with Royal Vintage Shoes and Jack’s Daughter for you all!

No weekend outfits this week as I spent my Saturday in a tub in goth Glam with Miss Mercy Photography and Sunday being a domestic goddess.

But here are last week’s outfits!

Monday

Scarf & earrings ~ White Nylon Scarf and mint green holly hoops from Daisy Jean Floral Designs

Brooch ~ Evil Sorceress brooch from Jubly Umph

Top ~ no brand coloured knit

Belt ~ Retro Belt in White by Hell Bunny from Gwynnies

Skirt ~ Spiderweb Jenny from Pinup Girl Clothing

Shoes ~ Moscato Two Tone Oxfords from Royal Vintage Shoes (review coming soon)

Tuesday

Flowers ~ Jean's beginner double from Daisy Jean Floral Designs

Brooch ~ Retro phone brooch in red from Deer Arrow

Dress ~ Discontinued wiggle dress from Tatyana Boutique

Heels ~ Loraine heels from Royal Vintage Shoes

Wednesday

Scarf ~ No brand lime green Nylon Scarf

Earrings ~ Green Mint Glitter Holly Hoops from Daisy Jean Floral Designs

Necklace ~ Dark Purple beads from Debstar Designs

Brooch ~ Black cat brooch from Creep Heart (discontinued)

Top ~ No Brand black knit top

Skirt ~ Voodoo Vixen Amelia Skirt from Gwynnies

Shoes ~ Betty Sandals in black from Royal Vintage Shoes

Thursday

Snood and flower ~ White snood and peach rose double from Daisy Jean Floral Designs

Earrings ~ Pink pastel eclipse earrings from Revere Folie

Brooch ~ Marilyn brooch from Deer Arrow

Dress ~ Ingrid dress in green from Natasha Marie Clothing

Belt ~ White retro Hell Bunny belt from Gwynnies

Shoes ~ Lacey heels from Royal Vintage Shoes

Friday

Brooch ~ Harley Brooch from Jubly Umph

Dress ~ Aurora Dress from Viviacious Vixen Apparel

Shoes ~ Lacey heels from Royal Vintage Shoes

Til tomorrow darlings!