Tiki Magic with Pinup Girl Clothing

We all know I love tiki. I think it comes from my love of the beach growing up. While I don’t get there anywhere near as much as I used to (thanks to adult life of work and running a small business) I still love sun, surf and water. I guess for me tiki is almost the pinup equivalent of celebrating things I love. Now I was unlucky enough to miss out on the amazing parrot tiki pants in PUG’s last tiki capsule and when I saw the awesome print of this releases trousers, like HELL I was missing out a second time. I parted ways with some things I hadn’t worn in forever and snapped myself up the HighWaisted Trousers in orange tiki print and the Harley top in Orange. 

Scarf ~ Baby Blue Nylon Scarf from Daisy Jean Floral Designs
Hoops ~ Hollywood Hoops from Retro Resins
Brooch ~ Large Dew Drops brooch from Dottie Delite
Top ~ Orange Harley top from Pinup Girl Clothing
Pants ~ High Waisted Trousers in Orange Tiki Print from Pinup Girl Clothing
Shoes ~ Wooden Tiki mules by Pinup Couture (bought on ebay)

I was beyond excited when my parcel arrived just 3 days after placing my order. The speed of Fedex boggles my mind sometimes (I’m using to dealing with Australia Post) and the colours in the print were even prettier in person. The orange was definitely a great match, though I was originally a bit hesitant about the orange Harley due to not being sure I could style it with more (seemy how I styled it post here!).  The first thing I noticed, was that despite going off the size chart and getting the Large,  I was going to have the same issue with the Harley top as I had all those moons ago when I tried on a Harley dress: my shoulders are too small. While it fit me well on my waist, it was slightly too big in the bust and the shoulder section actually sat above my shoulders slightly as oppose to sitting on them (I really pulled and pulled it down to get it to sit right for this shoot, but it made it bunch around my waist).

Thankfully, this isn’t too big of an issue, my super padded bra did help with the bust size but I doubt I’ll buy another Harley top outside of this one. Its sad, they are great tops but I’m finding more and more that as a small busted gal with a bigger bottom half, there are some styles that are difficult on my shape. This is one of them. As I have similar issues with peasant tops (my shoulders are very rounded which means peasant tops end up halfway down my arms, making them not appropriate for a job that requires covered shoulders) so I picked a lesser of two evils. At least I don't have to worry about straps or sleeves sliding down on this one!

So body size/fit issues aside, this top is beautifully made. The straps are thick and can take a bit of strain for the bigger busted gals. Its lined and features a back zip for easy and comfortable wear. Because of my bigger hips, I do find the zip bunches a little at the bottom but it’s nothing major. The colour is super vibrant in person and is definitely more versatile than I initially expected. I’d recommend sizing up if you are between sizes though, as there isn’t much stretch in the fabric. But pear girls with smaller busts, be mindful that the fit will be a bit tricky. On a quick side note, a neat little trick for hiding bra straps with this is to wear a halter bra and pop a small hoop on the inside of either bust so you can tuck your strap into this hoop, which pulls it out of sight!

I had a bit more success with the fit of the pants. I own a pair of the High Waisted Trousers already but I know they have a bit of stretch to them from wear the past few years, so I opted to size up to the XL to play it safe. I’m glad I did. While they fit really well everywhere, the waist is loose. I knew this would be the case when I bought them and once my weight settles a bit more (those who follow me on Instagram know I’m currently in the process of dropping the excess weight I gained over the last 18 months) I’ll get some darts put in the waist. Its an easy fix. 

One feature I do love about these trousers is the back zip and elastic in the waistband at the back. It makes them a comfortable fit with a seamless from.  These pants are going to be such a fun pair over summer. These aren’t too thick which means I should be able to wear them in summer without much of a fuss. I’m excited to try and style it with other tops that aren’t orange, as the print allows for such versatility!

These gorgeous tiki pants retail for $88USD which equates to around $115.54AUD, depending on the day and the exchange rate. The Harley top (which comes in a variety of colours) retails for $66USD which equates to around $81.40AUD, depending on the day and the exchange rate. Despite the slight fit issues I absolutely adore this outfit and I cannot wait to wear it more and style the other pieces different ways!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this review lovelies! As always, I’m more than happy to answer any questions you may have in the comments or on my other social media for this review!

Til next time darlings!

Standing tall in Miss L Fire Lila heels from Royal Vintage Shoes

Its not secret I've become a bit obsessed with the 1940s era of clothing. I may have mentioned it once...twice...multiple times online and on this blog space! Its an era of a simple glamour about its ladies that I absolutely adore and while I am incredibly anti-war, I find the notion that these women stepped up to the plate to help get their nations through a time of hardship to be incredibly inspiring. As I'm starting to build my 1940s wardrobe a bit more, I honestly couldn't go past the incredible Lila 1940s platform heels from Royal Vintage Shoes, made by Miss L Fire.

I was so excited when these pretty shoes arrive in the box for me, all the way from the big USA. These are my second pair of Miss L Fire shoes, which without a doubt are the best pair of shoes I currently own!. So comfortable, practical and easy to wear I so super pumped for my next pair. The first thing I noticed was the height. After trotting around in my Betty sandals for most of the summer I suddenly felt like a giant! The height did take some getting used to but once I did I felt unstoppable.

Flowers ~ Red Rose Double from Daisy Jean Floral Designs
Snood ~ Ebay
Brooch ~ Jubly Umph
Dress ~ Word from the bird

Firstly, lets talk about that all important breaking in period! You will need stockings for the first 4 or so wears. I personally found that on the third wear they gave my blisters around the ankle strap on the inside, but after another wear in stockings the inside fabric on the strap has softened enough to stop that happening. Aside from that I had no issues during the wear in period. No blisters around the back of the ankle and none in the front toe section. Incredibly comfortable from the word go.

Next up: detailing. The construction and detailing of these shoes is incredible! The front is black velvet featuring a small knot at the top of the foot. The heel base and platform are covered in small silver dots! How absolutely adorable is that! Such a great understated shoe that could easily be both formal and casual.

I did find the fit of these to be slightly bigger than my Betty Sandals. I bought the 7.5, which is the same size as my other Miss L Fire but find they do slip a bit on my smaller foot. While they do run a little big, I feel sizing down would have made them too small and its nothing a jelly insert in the back of the smaller heel cannot fit!

The price of these shoes, considering the quality, amazing construction and comfort is very reasonable. These babies price in at $120US which is $166AUD or 85 British pounds). Until I got my first pair of Miss L Fire shoes I was somewhat sceptical of their price but I can honestly say these shoes are in investment. Not only will the last but your feet will honestly thank you, especially if you are someone like me who gets a lot of tension and cramps in their feet when their feet aren't supported properly! Royal Vintage Shoes ships worldwide as well, so all ladies can have incredible shoes!

Also can we just take a quick moment to admire how beautiful this vintage dress is! Its my first ever vintage 1940s dress and I think I am honestly in love. I was unsure about the pleats originally but now I think they look amazing! Excited for Autumn to wear this baby! A big thank you to Word from the Bird which is where I purchased it from! Her vintage store is amazing and she stocks bigger sizes!

If you loved my little Jubly Umph brooch, keep your eyes peeled for a blog post of her new range on my blog over the weekend!

Thank you all so much for reading, I hope you've enjoyed it!

Til next time darlings!

I hope you all enjoyed this 

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. 

Put some Spring in your summer ~ The Belinda Skirt and Melissa top from Hell Bunny

Hello darlings!

Its summer right now here in Aussieland and its honestly been a scorcher this year. Not only has it been hot but the humidity has been an absolute KILLER! I'm talking sweaty before you even put clothes on after you hopped out of the shower kind of humid. In short, as a pinup, its sucked and I've really been trying to find clothes that are lighter in make to help my skin breath. I was so incredibly excited when Gwynnies got some of the newest Hell Bunny releases in stock, I knew I had to have them in my life!

As I've said before, I'm a sucker for floral prints. I'm also a sucker for pastels. More and more I'm adding pastels to my wardrobe, especially since going blonde because there's just something about being blonde and wearing pastels that I love. I was super excited when my parcel arrived the next day and I was excited to see how pretty this skirt looked in person.

Flowers ~ Pink Rose Double from Daisy Jean Floral Designs
Necklace ~ Blue Beads from Debstar Designs
Brooch ~ Blue Wren Brooch from Erstwilder (discontinued)
Top belt & skirt ~ Melissa top in white, lilac retro belt and Belinda skirt from Hell Bunny bought from Gwynnies
Shoes ~ Halina shoes from Royal Vintage Shoes

So lets start with sizing! I bought the medium skirt which is my regular size in all hell bunny swing skirts. I've never had one that wasn't true to size. The top I bought a medium, worried about the fit but found that it actually had a fair bit of stretch and easily could have sized down. The top actually completely opens, like a jacket zipper at the back which means no smudging make up on it when you try and get it on. 

Something to note about the skirt, as a lighter coloured skirt, the creases in this skirt do show up. Not as obviously as a plain coloured skirt but still a fair bit, especially if you sit a lot. I find the patterned fabric does make it not as obvious.

I was so excited when I saw the Melissa top! As a former redhead, I don't have a whole lot of white tops. My hair used to transfer onto my tops and turn them pink, so I'm only now starting to buy more white tops now that I don't have to worry about this transfer happening. I love the versatility of this top, it will be great for wearing with my other pastel skirts. The only downside to this top is that it is quite thin and if you aren't wearing beige undergarments, they will show through the white.

The price of both of these items is very reasonable. $49.95AUD from gwynnies snaps you up this truly gorgeous skirt and the top is all yours for $35.00AUD. For such fun, versatile pieces that BREATH in this warm weather they are definitely worth the investment!

Thank you so much for reading this review! Sorry for not as many photos as usual, it was incredibly warm on my shoot afternoon and I've not been feeling 100%. Happy to answer any questions you may have on these gorgeous pieces!

Til next time darlings!

“Wit beyond measure is man’s greatest treasure” ~ Harry Potter Goodness and Saddle Shoes

Its only really been this year I realised I was a bit of a geek, though apparently it was no secret to everyone else in my life! I've always had a love for learning. Even now I try and learn something new every day. During my school years I chewed through books and documentaries. I don't read anywhere near as much as I used to but I still chew through documentaries when I can! They are my background noise of choice when I'm working on stock for Daisy Jean. I love learning, I love finding out new things and I guess for that reason I've always felt a bit of an affinity with Ravenclaw as a house (hence my not so subtle tribute with my hair scarf). When my mum gifted me two Harry Potter tops for Christmas, I saw these as the perfect match for my new Saddle shoes from Royal Vintage Shoes!

Scarf ~ Closet Confessions Boutique
Top ~ Target
Skirt ~ Black Doris Skirt from Pin Up Girl Clothing
Shoes ~ Saddle Shoes from Royal Vintage Shoes

So saddle shoes. I know what you're thinking...they aren't exactly something that I've had a lot of in my wardrobe before now....in actual fact these are my first pair! Styling wise I've always been incredibly intimidated by this style of shoe because I just couldn't figure out how to work them into my look. That and the fact I was a little worried they'd make my legs look short due to the colouring. But, with the purchase of my first pair of Freddies of Pinewood Jeans (which with the help of healthy eating are starting to fit again after a rather indulgent holiday) I took the plunge and got them along with my Halina shoes! 

So lets start with the nitty gritty: breaking in! The first wear I wore sockets, which on my part was a complete amateur move (managed to get proper socks before a blister outbreak!) but in my defence, these are my first pair! Once wearing them with proper socks, they were stiff for the first two wears and loosened considerably after that. They are now comfortable enough to wear for upto 8 hours with only some slight rub at the back but this is only on my smaller foot (will discuss more in the sizing section).

So why am I liking these shoes? In short, they're fun. They are flat. They are comfortable and they are a great alternative for days I don't want to wear heels or ballet flats. I'd honestly LOVE to try these with some bobby socks at some point as I think they would look adorable! I am still struggling a little with the styling aspect of these but I think as I play with them more I'll become more confident. Its fun sometimes to step outside your comfort zone and take risks on things you originally thought wouldn't work.

So...sizing! I got the 7.5 as thats my normal size (I have narrow feet with a medium to high arch and over half a size difference between my feet). Initially they were SUPER snug on my bigger foot. I actually had to really push (with all the glamorous accompanying faces) to get it on. But once it was on and worn once, it loosened but pretty quick. I do find that on my smaller foot they did stretch a bit which now has given me a little rub at the back on that foot with long wear (more than 6 hours) so I just need to pop an insert into the back to help stop that problem. When worn with socks in the length shown I have no issues. For someone looking for a flat retro shoe that is practical these are definitely a pair to consider. I also love wearing these with wide leg jeans and I intend to give them a whirl very soon with my swing pants as well!

Price wise, these also don't break the bank! They are $65US ($93AUD) with international postage available averaging a 2 week delivery turn around. Considering the only saddle shoes I see in Australia are 'costume' shoes and look REALLY tacky, the price is worth the quality!

I hope you've enjoyed this little blog post! As usual, thank you so much to Royal Vintage Shoes for selecting me as a brand ambassador! I'm loving working with this amazing store and its one I can highly recommend!

Til next time! Stay safe 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. 

Loving Lina ~ A Voodoo Vixen Review

Morning all!

Its review time! Today I'm reviewing the amazing Lina Dress from Voodoo Vixen!

Now days I tend to look for clothes that I can easily make fit into both my work and my personal life. Working full time in an office now days means that my purchases of plunging neck lines and halterneck tops have really faltered in the past 6 months, as they simply aren’t appropriate to my line of work anymore. Sure I still buy them, but nowhere near as regularly as I once did. This gorgeous dress jumped out at me because I felt the simple two tone colour-ways made it a versatile little number! Easy to accessorize because of its block colours and create multiple looks. This pretty has become a much loved piece in my corporate wardrobe!

 In this blog post I'll be talking about the fit, quality, my thoughts on this dress and styling!

First Impressions

My first impressions of this dress was the I loved the colour! Growing up, I was such a SUCKER for blue.I wore pretty much exclusively blue from around 12-14 and I’ve been trying to incorporate it back into my wardrobe again. The lighter accents throughout the dress also stood out to me as really pretty touches and the bust line/capped sleeves meant it would be an appropriate work number for me.

The Fit

I found the fit of this dress to be spot on and true to size. I got the medium, which is my most common size in pinup repro clothes and it fit perfectly. I can comfortably wear it with or without my foundation garments but much prefer it with, as it really enhances the cut of the dress. The bustline of the dress I found to be comfortable, it sat high enough I wasn’t showing off my bust, which I feel is more work appropriate. The colour also gave it a more formal feel, lending it for a night out as well as a day at work. The capped sleeves also meant I was able to wear a dress with sleeves without having to worry about it being too tight/cutting in. The length was perfect for wearing with a crinoline for some extra volume as well as without.

Quality

I cannot fault the quality of this dress. The button detailing down the front is perfect, there were no imperfections in the sewing and there have been no issues with the zip. Overall, I have been very impressed with the quality from Voodoo Vixen! And the cuts of their designs are adorable!

Styling

This dress is a styling dream! Being made up of two block neutral colours, it means you can accessorise it in a lot of different colours! I’ve so far worn mine with red, white and pink. I’d love to try it with some other colours too! It can also be worn with patterns as well! For this shoot I opted for the white, as I love how crisp it looks against the dark! My hair flowers are from Daisy Jean’s Signature Rose collection! My brooch is from DeerArrow and my beads are from Debstar Designs! My shoes are the Pin Up Couture cutie heels in pink. My belt can be found on ebay.

If you are after a dress that'll work with most occasions, this one is a goer! I've fallen in love with this dress, its versatility, its functionality and its overall look.

Thats it for me today! If you have any other questions or comments feel free to leave a comment!

I hope you've enjoyed this review. The lovely photos were taken by Russell J Thomas.

Til tomorrow!

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

Wishlist Wednesday~ Be a Starlet

Hello all!

So I had the absolute PLEASURE recently of being one of three new models for the new Australian Brand Starlet Fever (blog post about that experience is coming very soon!) and my goodness, I am in love! There are quite a few pieces atm I am DROOLING over and would love to get, some I had the pleasure of modelling and I really cannot wait to add these to my wardrobe!

This brand is Australian Made and for bigger butted girls like me, their wiggle styles are incredible as they are made to hug curves without tearing.

Here are a few pieces I hope to add to my collection before the end of the year! To shop their range, head to their store by clicking here.

Marie Day Dress Black Floral ~ $170.00AUD

Marie Day Dress in Navy Blossom ~ $170.00

Olive Sleeveless top in Leopard ~ $105.00

Antoinette Blouse Boysenberry ~ $165.00

Adelaide Skirt Antique Pink ~ $120.00

Wilhelmina Gown Ivory Print ~ $390.00

Delphine 3/4 Sleeve Blouse Fuchsia ~ $155.00

Adelaide Skirt Black Floral ~ $120.00

Thats it for today, looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow!

Til then

Brooch Queen ~ My ever growing addiction

Hello all,

So I promised you all a little peak into my brooch collection and here is the post as promised!

After a recount (I forgot a few!) and the brooches I have in the post coming I currently own 71 brooches! How crazy!

Erstwilder

This is where the love of brooches started and is an area that continues to grow in my collection, currently being the most brooches I own of any brand! Erstwilder designs are amazing, playful, quirky and limited edition, meaning you’d be hard pressed to find some of these pretties again!

Creep Heart

I was introduced to Ella Mobbs’ Brand Creep Heart when she sponsored me earlier in the year! I have since fallen in love and have been back to purchase more! Her design and style are incredible and I always get compliments on her pieces!

Deer Arrow

I was introduced to Deer Arrow when I won an IG comp late last year and have been slowly adding to my collection ever since. They were my first wooden brooch brand and I will no doubt continue to go back for more!

Atomic Mingo

A new brand to the brooch scene, she’s release some amazing movie inspired pieces! I snatched up this pink ladies brooch and adorable pineapple a while ago! Her designs are incredibly original and I’m so thrilled to see she’s doing so well!

Soda Sweethearts

I love this little brooch so much! Being a lover of ocean based goodies, I adore this little atomic mermaid brooch! She also does mermaid inspired hair pieces!

Heidi and Gretel

This brand caught my eye when they release their Audrey 2 brooch, inspired by little shop of horrors, one of my favorite movies! I knew I needed to make her mine and am currently eyeing off a few others I quite like.

Hungry Designs

Another brand with amazing originality! Flounder was one of my first purchases and I’ve since been blessed with a small collection of their AMAZING mounted head brooches! Ladies seriously, get on these!

Glitter Paradise

This brand is great for ladies with a love of retro lingerie! My first purchase of theirs was this adorable girdle and I am now eyeing off a bra and girdle matching set. So fun and playful!

Smitten Von Kitten

I won this pretty in my runner up pack last year for Miss Picture Perfect! Such a cute little brooch!

Cutie pop Creations

A new edition because honestly, who doesn’t love a pink glittery darth vadar! Her range is HUGE and her designs are amazing!

A miscellenious bunch of brooches that I’ve been gifted over time from friends

Self made

I’ve made myself a brooch from time to time, including these cuties

Im Lucky Charm

Who doesn’t love Jessica Rabbit. Being my inspiration for red hair, I knew I had to make this pretty mine!

Daisy Jean

I kept a brooch for myself of each design of my own brand because flowers are always pretty!

Debstar Designs

I bought this pretty to match a pair of earrings I bought from Deb and I adore this brooch!

Ms Batty Boutique

You can never have too many mermaid brooches! And this pretty acrylic piece is so pretty. 

A special mention to two of my newest editions that arrived today! Another Erstwilder for my collection and my second Glitter Paradise piece!

A special mention to Jubly Umph, who I also have my first brooch from them still in the post! See below for the design I ordered!

Special mention to amazing stockists Gwynnies, Vintage Pip and Coconette-Oz, for all your brooch needs!

I personally store my brooches in a bowl, so I can pick and choose what one i want and have them visually on display. Thought its getting to the point I need another bowl lol!

I hope you've all enjoyed this post!

Til later this week!