Monday 27 February 2017

Weekly Outfits ~ 20th February 2017

Hello darlings,

Its crazy to believe that this week see’s the end of February and the start of March. Where is this year going?!? I’ve been super busy with so much already lined up for 2017 and so much already happening. I’m off to New Zealand next month too which I cannot wait for! Just a short week on the blog this week as I have some big things I’m currently working on that are taking up my time.

Plus I'm also in Mardi Gras next weekend for Retro Equality again this year! Now what to wear....

So without further ado, here are my outfits for last week. 

Monday

Necklace ~ Blue beads from Debstar Designs 
Brooch ~ Snap Happy Vintage Camera Brooch from Jubly-Umph (use CURVECREATION for 10% off)
Top ~ Priscilla blouse in burgendy from Lady K Loves 
Skirt ~ Boardwalk skirt in Amsterdam print from Miss Fortune
Shoes ~ Brown Peggy heels from Royal Vintage Shoes


Tuesday

Hat ~ vintage
Brooch ~ Retro brooch from Luxulite 
Dress ~ Nell dress from Hell Bunny (old style)
Shoes ~ Nita Heels from Royal Vintage Shoes

Wednesday

Flowers & snood ~ Red Rose double and orange snood from Daisy Jean Floral Designs
Brooch ~ Ocean Trotter brooch from Erstwilder 
Dress ~ Megan dress in autmn print from Karina Dresses 
Shoes ~ Brown Dolores heels from Royal Vintage Shoes

Thursday

Flowers ~ Jean double from Daisy Jean Floral Designs (discontinued)
Brooch ~ Scotty the Stegasaurus brooch from Erstwilder
Blouse ~ 1940's blouse from jacks Daughter
Belt ~ Brown leather belt from kmart
Shoes ~ Black betty heels by Miss L Fire from Royal Vintage Shoes

Friday

Skirt ~ Palm springs skirt by Banned Apparel INC from Gwynnies
Shoes ~ Brown T bar sandals from Rubi shoes

Sunday

Earrings ~ Shell earrings from Revere Folie
Pants ~ Wendy trousers in blue gingham from Lady K Loves

That’s it for this week lovelies!

Keep your eyes peeled for what’s coming this week, including some 1960’s vibes for a change!



Friday 24 February 2017

A statement little black dress with Stop Staring Clothing


They say ever woman should have a little black dress. A dress for any occasion. That ultimate go to.  A dress to turn heads and feel amazing in. I however, have never been a girl for a little black dress. As a big fan of colour I tend to gravitate more towards bold colour statements. But who says a little black dress only has to be black? When I saw the Arana dress from Stop Staring, I knew it could fill all my little black dress dreams.

Flowers ~ Triple Rose Clip from Daisy Jean 
Earrings ~ Retro Hoops from Retro Resins
Necklace ~ Yellow beads from Debstar Designs
Brooch  ~ Oleandar Bloom brooch from Miss Lady A Broad
Dress ~ Arana Dress from Stop Staring Clothing
Heels ~ Marco Giani

Stop Staring is a reproduction vintage dress company hailing from Los Angeles in the USA. Founded in 1998, their dress designs beautifully give homage to the 1940’s and 1950’s with their sophisticated cuts, attention to detail and impeccable fit. My first ever ‘retro’ styled dress was actually their 30’s bombshell dress in baby pink, which is still a favourite in my wardrobe! So when I had the opportunity to add some more Stop Staring to my wardrobe, I naturally jumped at the opportunity!


The Arana dress caught my eye for is swing skirt design and fun sweetheart bust detailing. This dress is also cotton which meant it was breathable for our humid weather in Sydney. When this dress arrived all the way down under, I noticed straight away how bright the flowers actually are in contrast to the stock photo on the website. They truly do pop and bring a beautiful romantic feel, making me think of wine and roses. The straps are actually 3 straps together, which makes it a perfect date night dress! As a smaller busted gal I simply adore the sweetheart neckline. It truly makes me look much larger in this department with the help of a padded bra (which is never a bad thing) and I adore how teaming it with a red belt cinches my waist as well.


I’m wear the XL in this dress and I advise buying the dress closest to your measurements. While it has a small amount of stretch, being cotton as opposed to bengaline means it’s nowhere near as stretchy as their other designs. As those who follow my Instagram will have seen, this dress has been seeing a LOT of wear in my wardrobe recently and I can’t see that changing anytime soon. Its sexy, comfortable and it makes me feel confident as hell. I love the longer hem line too. It really lets the bust line be the hero without having too much else going on.


I kept my accessorizes simple for this shoot. My main statement piece was my 3 red rose clip from Daisy Jean, which feel ties in perfectly with the pattern of the dress. Gold hoops from Retro Resins and a yellow necklace play to the yellow tones amongst the flowers and I popped on my Oleander Bloom brooch from Miss Lady A Broad for a fun addition to the bust line. I love the Miss Lady A Broad collection as they go so well with a range of different outfits and in this case it was no exception!


I hope you’ve all enjoyed this review and I can promise you’ll be seeing more of this dress on my Instagram in my ootd posts. I really want to experiment more with colours to team it with, especially since we’ve still got a few weeks of hot weather here! The Arana dress is $185US/$240AU + postage and they ship worldwide. I know that may seem a lot for our rather weak Aussie dollar, but the quality of Stop Staring is amazing. I have one of their dresses that I bought second hand on ebay and after 3 years its still going strong! This is a brand that is timeless and will keep in your wardrobe.

I hope you’ve all enjoyed this review! Til next time darlings!

Disclaimer: Whilst I received this dress as part of a sponsorship with Stop Staring Clothing, all opinions expressed are honest to help ensure the most accurate information for my readers. 

Monday 20 February 2017

Garden musings with Lady V London


In 2017 I wanted to challenge myself to step outside my comfort zone and buy outside the brands I tend to stick to. One brand that’s been on my list for quite a while is Lady V London. When I spotted this gorgeous Taupe floral tea dress of theirs at Tragic Beautiful, I decided to take the plunge and add it to my collection, making it my first ever Lady V London dress.

Flowers ~ Peach double from Daisy Jean Floral Designs
Earrings ~ Pastel Pink Eclipse studs from Revere Folie
Beads ~ Pastel pink beads from Debstar Designs
Brooch ~ Fox brooch from Erstwilder (Discontinued)
Dress ~ Taupe Floral Tea Dress by Lady V London from Tragic Beautiful

I ordered this dress through Tragic Beautiful and as with my past orders it arrived really quickly. This dress caught my eye for its pretty colour scheme of muted greens, pinks and whites. In person, the colours are even more beautiful than I had expected. The computer screen doesn’t do the colours justice. Made of 95% polyester and 5% elastacine its soft to touch and very comfortable to wear. Though this is definitely not one for the super humid days we’ve been having, as the fabric doesn’t breath all that well.


Unsure of sizing I went with what the size chart suggested was my size which was a size 16. Once I had it on though, I could tell that the fabric was a lot stretchier than I expected and realistically in future I should have no issues sizing down to a 14, especially for a better fit around the bust though thankfully I have a sewing whiz mum who can take it in for me so I get a better fit. It does feature an attached back bow, which is a great feature for pulling in the waist to help give a more hourglass look and I find the V back is a nice contrast to the straight front style. The zip does up without any major issues and stayed up all day despite the day I wore it being quite strenuous (movement wise).


The length is a lot shorter than normally wear and I actually think I don’t mind it. Its not so short that its unflattering or to not be able to wear my stockings with it. The length is fun and great for warmer weather days (though not hot days as already mentioned) and I’ve found the length means its versatile enough to be worn with or without a petticoat as well (though if I’m going to be honest, petticoats are more fun). While the dress is a bit big in my bust I find it to be flattering, comfortable and practical: all things I love in a dress.


For accessories I played to the muted pinks and browns in the dress. I wore one of my favorite fox brooches from Erstwilder (she's now been discontinued but these gems do pop up occasionally in recolours and on ebay/buy swap sell pages) and some pastel pink beads from Debstar Designs. Tying into the pink theme I wore eclipse studs in pastel pink from Revere Folie and a peach rose double from Daisy Jean Floral Designs, all of which are Australian businesses.


I hope you’ve all enjoyed this review. Overall I’m super happy with my first Lady V London dress and I cannot wait to add more Lady V London to my wardrobe! While this dress is now sold out on the Lady V London website, it is available from Tragic Beautiful for $109AUD + postage!

A massive thank you to photographer Phil Ingram for these gorgeous snaps too.

Til next time darlings! 


Friday 17 February 2017

Autumn musings with Keely from Hell Bunny


As a bigger hipped girl, I’ve definitely been incredibly excited to see some of my favourite brands have recently bought out some more 1940’s style items. With a 44 inch hip and a bit of a tummy, it can be rather hard for me to find true vintage 1940s pieces that fit…and sadly most reproduction companies seem to favour the 1950s and 60s than the 40s. Hell bunny bought out an amazing 1940s range over the past few years and I’ve loved the pieces from this range that I have in my wardrobe. So when I saw the Keely dress from Hell Bunny at Atomic Cherry, I knew I needed to add it to my wardrobe as well!

Flowers ~ Red Rose Double from Daisy Jean Floral Designs
Brooch ~ High Heels Traditional Tattoo Brooch from Bel Air Baby
Dress ~ Keely Dress in red by Hell Bunny from Atomic Cherry
Shoes ~ Nita heels from Royal Vintage Shoes (read review here)



With much excitement I made my purchase from Atomic Cherry and had my Keely dress in my hands within 48 hours, much to my delight. The Keely dress is made of a textured polyester crepe fabric which I’ve found has been surprisingly light and breathable in our recent hot Sydney climate. It has shoulder pads, which help give a more authentic 40’s shape and the buttons up the front are functional: no zip here! You button yourself in and then back out. It does feature a nifty little press stud near the button at the waist button to help keep that part of the dress snug and closed which helps create smooth lines and a cinched waist.
 

The Keely dress features darts on the back of the bodice to help nip even more at the waist. I do love the looseness of the skirt in comparison to the beautiful subtle detail in the top half of this dress. The shoulder pads also help to balance out my pair shape and make me appear more hour glassed. I’ve found as well the cut of this dress is great for gals who don’t always want to wear a petticoat. I tend to wear this dress without one as I find it gives it a more authentic 1940s feel. It still is super full skirt though, just the weight of the fabric means its not as light and fluffy as other cotton skirts are.


The front of the Keely dress is truly the statement piece however. The pin tuck detail at the top of the bodice and the pleats in the under bust give this dress character and style. Its classy without going too over the top and its block colour makes it fun to accessorize with different colours. For this look I chose to keep it simple with blacks and reds. My Nita heels from Royal Vintage Shoes gave the perfect 1940s feel, though I also love teaming this dress with my Royal Vintage Spectator heels in both brown and black!


For this review I felt a simple brooch was enough of a statement. I opted for this gorgeous Tattoo style High Heel brooch from Australian small business Bel Air Baby. Sizing wise I bought the Large but could have easily sized down to a medium comfortably. In truth the large for me is a bit big in the shoulders and bust. The Keely dress is quite generous in its sizing.


I hope you’ve all enjoyed this review! For those who follow my Instagram I’ve worn this dress a fair bit the past few months because I absolutely adore it. Its such a great dress for days when I don’t want to wear foundations as well as days when its too hot for clothes. The texturing in the fabric really helps it breath despite it being quite heavy. I bought the Keely dress from Atomic Cherry for $99AUD + postage. A stunning dress I know I’m going to get a lot of wear out of! Now just to find all the amazing hats to wear with it!

Also, can you tell by the 'autumnesque' setting I'm in denial that its still a scorching summer here? Bring on winter!

Amazing photos courtesy of Photographer Phil Ingram

Til next time darlings



Monday 13 February 2017

The season of love with Karina Dresses


Valentines Day is almost here and I must be honest, its not really a day that I celebrate. I don't believe personally in having one day to show my love and appreciation for my partner. However over the past few years I've come to view Valentines Day as a day not judged by how much you love a partner based on the cost of the gift we buy them, but as a celebration of loving myself and a celebration of sharing many days of love with my partner. But we still want to look our best and the New Trudy Cherry Blossoms dress from Karina Dresses definitely ticked all the boxes for me!

Flowers ~ 3 rose clip and Rose doubles in peach & peaches & Cream from Daisy Jean
Necklace ~ Pastel pink beads from Debstar Designs
Brooch ~ Love Letters from Miss Lady A Broad
Bag ~ Red Retro Bag from Lola Von Rose
Shoes ~ White pumps from Kmart

I've been a lover of Karina Dresses for quite some time now, which is testament by their feature on my blog over the past 12 months. Comfortable, low maintenance, figure friendly and suitable for an array of different occasions this new pattern from Karina Dresses in a favorite dress style is perfect to brighten this coming autumn for us in the Southern Hemisphere as well as Spring for the girls in the Northern Hemisphere.


This is my second Trudy dress. My first Trudy was in the stunning Navy and Red pattern and its definitely one of my favorites. So when I saw the stunning new Cherry Blossom pattern in the same gorgeous cut, I knew I had to make it mine. One reason I love the Trudy dress is as a smaller busted girl, it makes my shape look more of an hourglass thanks to its sweetheart neckline. It features small sleeves which help give some coverage. Featuring a wider waist band it helps give shape to the waist as well as flattering the figure. 


Karina Dresses are comfortable. I say this every review but they really truly are. Karina Dresses don't feature a zip, they are stretchy enough to simply pull over your head, while still keeping their shape and structure. They are truly the ultimate travel dress as well, I know what I'll be wearing on my upcoming trip to New Zealand next month. Great for long trips on planes, public transport or in the car. Light enough to wear in an Australian summer and for winter wear simple wear with a slip, stockings and a cardigan. Karina Dresses are also a minimal effort kind of dress as well. Simply wash and hang, no need to iron! Its crease free.


The pattern truly does pop in real life! Featuring a mix of reds, pinks, greens and purples this dress will turn heads no matter what time of year and I know I'll get as much wear out of this stunning dress as I do my other Karina Dresses. For styling for this shoot I gave it more of a 1960's feel for a change, whereas 40's is normally my go to. A fun beehive with coral colours and lots of flowers to help bring a Valentines day feel to this look. My Lola Von Rose red handbag was the perfect addition to this outfit for the finishing touch! For reference I'm wearing the M/L size but have sized down to the S/M before in other styles without issues.



The Karina Trudy dress retails for $108US/$140AUD + postage and they do ship worldwide. I know this may seem a lot but this is honestly a dress that you can wear to anything: work, a night out, a casual day, a trip, a day which demands a bit more of a physical than a normal day. So why not treat yourself to something fabulous this Valentines day! 

Don't forget to love yourself, compliment yourself and nurture your self love relationship!

I hope you all enjoyed this review as much as I did braving the wind to shoot it!

Til next time darlings!


Disclaimer: Whilst I received this dress as part of a sponsorship with Karina Dresses, all opinions expressed are honest to help ensure the most accurate information for my readers. 

Sunday 12 February 2017

Weekly Outfits ~ 6th February 2017

Hello darlings!

Its hard to believe another week has flown past in 2017 and that its already almost the middle of February is kind of blowing my mind. I had an exciting week, I got to announce that I'm off the New Zealand next month to help my partner celebrate his birthday and I'm very excited to get to take a mini trip to New Zealand. 

Sydney has just scorched through our hottest heat waves on record but I survived! But definitely looking forward to autumn coming at the end of March.

But anyway, here are this weeks looks! I obviously liked that pink dress enough that I wore it twice!

Monday
 Flowers ~ Triple Rose clip from Daisy Jean Floral Designs
Necklace ~ Red Beads from Debstar Designs
Brooch ~ Miss Be Mine brooch from Miss Lady A Broad
Dress ~ Naylad Pink wiggle dress from Stop Staring (review coming soon)
Shoes ~ Loraine heels in red by B.A.I.T from Royal Vintage Shoes

Tuesday
Necklace ~ Pastel beads from Debstar Designs
Brooch ~ Big Blue Brooch from Erstwilder
Dress ~ 1940's Style dress by Hell Bunny
Shoes ~ Brown Peggy Spectator heels from Royal Vintage Shoes

Wednesday
Flowers ~ Triple red rose clip from Daisy Jean
Brooch ~ Senorita Sherry Blossom brooch from Miss Lady A Broad
Belt ~ Red Retro Belt by Hell Bunny from Gwynnies
Dress ~ Arana swing dress from Stop Staring Clothing (review coming soon)
Shoes ~ Loraine heels in red by B.A.I.T from Royal Vintage Shoes

Thursday
Flowers ~ Red Rose Double from Daisy Jean
Beads ~ Yellow necklace from Debstar Designs
Brooch ~ Ocean Trotter Brooch from Erstwilder
Dress ~ Trudy dress from Karina Dresses
Shoes ~ Addie pumps in Navy by Miss L Fire from Royal Vintage Shoes

Friday
Flowers ~ Blue Rose Double from Daisy Jean 
Brooch ~ Blue Blowdryer Brooch from Bel Air Baby

Dress ~ Handmade by my mum
Shoes ~ An Old pair from rubi shoes

Saturday
Flowers ~ Red Rose Double from Daisy Jean Floral Designs
Necklace ~ Red Beads from Debstar Designs
Brooch ~ Miss Be MIne brooch from Miss Lady A Broad
Jacket ~ 1940's vintage suit jacket purchased from Two Old Beans
Dress ~ Naylad Pink wiggle dress from Stop Staring (review coming soon)
Shoes ~ Loraine heels in red by B.A.I.T from Royal Vintage Shoes


Friday 10 February 2017

Timeless 50's dresses with 1950s Glam


Classic vintage styled sleeveless cuts of dress are one of my favorite go to’s in the warmer months. They’re timeless, comfortable and a dream to accessorize. Plus they can easily be made winter wear with layering of a blouse or long sleeve shirt underneath, or a cute cardigan. With their ease of wear and styling, they are a great wardrobe staple for both the beginner and seasoned retro girl and this stunning dress from 1950’s Glam is no exception.

Flowers ~ Red Rose Double from Daisy Jean Floral Designs
Necklace ~ Red heads from Debstar Designs
Brooch ~ Hello Telephone Brooch in Red from Deer Arrow
Dress ~ Blue Porcelain Vintage Dress
Belt ~ Hell Bunny retro belt in red from Gwynnies
Shoes ~ Red Lorraine heels by BAIT from Royal Vintage Shoes
 1950s Glam is a small business based in Sydney Australia. Started by two retro loving girls who admire the fashions of times past, they specialize in dresses from the 1940’s through to the 1960’s with dress styles available for both day wear and evening wear. They stock both swing and wiggle dresses and even have beautiful dresses that would appeal more the ladies who prefer a more modern twist with a light touch of vintage in their wardrobe. With their huge range of designs I opted for a stunning blue patterned dress, which I knew would be fun to accessorize and looked great for the warmer summer months.


My Blue Porcelain Vintage dress arrived and I was so excited to see how pretty the pattern looked in person. It was a bright vibrant blue and the floral pattern really gives this dress a timeless feel. It features a bateau neckline, which is great for gals who need necklines that are more work appropriate or work in a corporate environment. While this is a sleeveless style a cute cropped cardigan or bolero can quickly give coverage while not hampering the overall look of the dress. A high waist line with a circle skirt bottom allows for this dress to give the waist a cinched look without foundations. 



While this dress does come with a faux black leather belt, I personally prefer to team dresses with bright retro belts that match my outfit. In this case I went red, which matches my styling of my heels, red phone brooch, flower and necklace. Red is a great colour to team with blue but I also love matching pinks, yellows, purples with blue as well for a very pretty contract. The BluePorcelain Vintage dress also features a hidden back zip for easy wear that doesn’t disrupt the lines of the dress. Easy to wear with or without a petticoat (worn for this review with a crinoline) too, which is versatile for ladies who either prefer not to wear petticoats or for work reasons can’t. For length reference, with a petticoat is sits just above my knees and without it sits just below.


Size wise I went with the XL.  As this dress is 100% cotton, it does have a bit of stretch and as my upper body is the smallest part of my shape I could have sized down if I’d wanted to. But for a more comfortable fit, I went with the XL which was true to my measurements. A belt easily pulls in the waist too if you have a bit of a bust its easy to make the waist look fitted if you need to size up to accommodate your bust. I've worn this dress a couple of times now and its wonderfully comfortable. The sleeves don't dig in under the arms, the zip stays up and doesn't catch and even without a petticoat on this dress is flattering and comfortable.


The Blue Porcelain Vintage Dress is $95.30AUD and they do free shipping regardless of where you are in the world! Which is amazing for gals who love their stock who don’t live locally!

I hope you’ve all enjoyed this review and this dress as much as I do. You can also find 1950s glam on facebook and Instagram!

A massive thank you to photographer Phil Ingram for these gorgeous snaps too.

Til next time darlings!

Disclaimer: Whilst I received this dress as part of a sponsorship with 1950s Glam, all opinions expressed are honest to help ensure the most accurate information for my readers. 

Wednesday 8 February 2017

1940's Princess with Royal Vintage Shoes



With my love of a 1940’s aesthetic feeling like its reaching a peak in 2017 (I’m so ready to start making my own 1940’s creations as well as expanding my 1940’s wardrobe more) I’m excited to share my favourite pair of shoes from the Royal Vintage Shoes first release with you all: the Nita heels. As I learnt more about the 1940’s look, I learnt that the shoes are a big part of creating a finished look. My love for the Nita comes from her versatility: the perfect heel for both day wear and evening.
Hair Clip ~ Lovisa
Earrings ~ Vienna earrings in silver from Revere Folie
Dress ~ True Vintage 1940's Ball gown bought from Word From the Bird
Shoes ~ Nita heels from Royal Vintage Shoes
The Nita heel is a 1940's style sandal heel that features an ankle strap. These are a gorgeous reproduction based on an actual 1940's shoe. As an Aussie gal who not only struggles to find the amazing true vintage heels of my US and UK counterparts down under and whose foot is a tad wider at the front (making my confidence a bit shakey when buying true vintage shoes online) I'm so happy to have found a pair of heels that I can wear with my true vintage 1940's items that give an authentic look.





The Nita heel's design is very subtle but truly makes them such a stunning shoe. Across the toe there is a feature cut out, which also includes subtle stitching as well. The cross over a the back of the ankle is equally a stunning feature of this shoe while not overpowering the front detail. The heel is a sensible 3 inches and has been molded from an original 1940’s heel, which makes them comfortable for long periods of wear.  Perfect for a day at the office or a night on the town. Featuring leather lining along with its super soft suede exterior, I didn't really need to break these shoes in at all. I've had no problems with blisters, fight pressure or rubbing of any sort. I've worn these to work, to nights out and had no issues with support on my aches or comfort. These really are an incredibly made and comfortable shoe.


For this review I wanted to showcase how these heels could be worn in a formal setting, so chose to shoot them with this gorgeous 1940's ball gown I bought from Australia Vintage store Word from the Bird. They are an amazing pairing and I honestly cannot wait to wear this outfit out to a real even and not just to a photo shoot!


The Nita heels retail for $145USD/$192AUD + shipping, which I normally have in 1-1.5 weeks all the way down under in Australia. For size reference I'm wearing a 7.5 which is the same as my B.A.I.T footwear size.

As a girl who used to skimp on shoes and live in cheap ballet flats and poorly made heels...I can vouch that if you can it is totally worth spending the money on well made shoes to help lift your pinup look. My best shoes are without a doubt my Royal Vintage Pairs followed closely by my Miss L Fire heels (which are also from the Royal Vintage Store). They mean less blisters, less aches and happier feet which has definitely made my life a whole lot easier. 

I hope you've enjoyed this review and have loves this look as much as I have! I definitely need more 1940's gowns in my life! 

Also if you haven't signed up for the Royal Vintage newsletter or follow them on Instagram you totally should! I hear whispers of a new release of their collection coming in 2017 and after loving their first range so much (see my other reviews of their shoes here and here) I am so excited to see what amazing vintage designs they bring to us in 2017!

A massive thank you to photographer Phil Ingram for these gorgeous snaps too.

Til next time darlings!


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