Throwing some sass with Lady K Loves

In the world of ‘body shapes’ I’m considered a pear shape, which means basically that my bust is smaller than my hips with a small waist. I’ve always struggled with body labels and being called a pear in my earlier twenties use to bring to my frustrated tears of denial as I didn’t want to be ‘labelled’ as something different. It was particularly hard coming from a family of women who were all pretty petite and column shaped as once puberty hit I always felt like the odd one out.  While pear shaped women are being represented more now than they ever were in the 1990’s and 2000’s (though the hourglass of a large bust and big hips still seems to take the centre outside of the more petitie ladies), I find the ‘pear shape’ is still twisted into something mostly unobtainable for most women, so I wanted to share these fun photos of me with my natural shape. Now don’t get me wrong: my love of shapewear isn’t due to self-loathing or self-hate now days. I love how fun it can be to tweak my shape to suit different looks or eras and it really helps me fit into clothes better as well as giving my shape neater lines, but I do find most brands don’t really cater for pear girls. I normally have to compromise waist size to fit my hips and my bust is normally left behind completely in firm fitting one pieces. So I was incredibly excited when I received an amazing parcel of UK Brand Lady K Loves to find these amazing gingham Wendy trousers (not that I own much of it but I’m actually gingham crazy!!) and finding that they fit my body without any smoothing or cinching. Pear ladies, these pants are a must!

Scarf ~ Baby Blue scarf from Daisy Jean Floral Designs
Earrings ~ A few seasons ago blue earrings from Sparklelux
Beads ~Pastel Pink beads from Debstar Designs
Brooch ~ War Paint brooch by Vixen by Micheline Pitt from Vintage Pip
Top ~ No brand Marilyn style top
Pants ~ Wendy Trousers in Blue Gingham from Lady K Loves
Shoes ~ Kmart

LadyK Loves is a UK based brand that make retro and vintage styled pieces in limited runs. When I first heard of Lady K Loves it was due to their incredible curve friendly jeans early last year. Upon further inspection I found they also stock a tops, playsuits, skirts and outfit sets as well as their well-known jeans. One thing I’ve noticed through looking through their Instagram and hashtag is that ladies of a variety of sizes and shapes wear their clothes, so their products aren’t just suited to the girls with bigger curves. Made with fun prints and patterns, they’ll have a piece for everyone’s tastes! I was incredibly excited for the Wendy Trousers in blue gingham and after wearing them a few times to be able to give you all the best feedback, I can honestly say I’m in love! 

Firstly, I actually love gingham print! One of my aims is to bring more gingham into my wardrobe over summer and it’s such a great summer colour too in pastel blue! Blue Gingham not for you? No problem, because the Wendy trousersalso come in Black and White Leopard, Cornflower Blue, Leopard, red gingham, rose red, black and a teal stripe pattern. The Wendy Trousers are made from what feels like a cotton (their website doesn’t say but they are super breathable!) and feature a darted high waist with a tapered cigarette style leg. This high darted waist is a lifesaver for gals with a small waist and a decent size difference between their hips, as it stops any gaping (especially at the back) and the belt loops allow for the option of throwing in a pop of colour and some extra cinching. 

The Wendy trousers are done up with an invisible side zip and button, which is another great feature for smoothing the figure. I tend to carry a fair bit of my weight on my tummy, but by moving the zip to the side it reduces the bulk on the front and smooths everything out. My tummy has never looked flatter in such a light coloured pair of pants and its one of my favourite things about them. These incredible trousers not only fit my tummy but they also fit my hips and booty, which is my biggest issue with firmer pants. They aren’t too firm on my hips or my thighs and I don’t get any pulling through the crotch area (awkward) when I sit down or bend over. This for me makes these pants TRULY awesome and is one of the reasons I cannot wait to add more to my wardrobe. 

The styling potential for these pants is huge! Being such a soft pastel blue I’ve loved teaming them with baby pink so far! But I’d love to try other colour matches once I invest in some more summer tops in the next few weeks! For this shoot I kept accessories simple in white and pink to let the Wendy’s truly shine. I don’t think I’ve ever loved a firm fitting pair of pants as much as I love these ones!  I’m actively trying to not wear them constantly (which is always a good sign right?!) and I cannot wait to add some more colourways into my wardrobe. 

For reference, at a 30/32 waist and a 44/45 hip I’m wearing the size large. Some of the colours have more stretch than others (make sure you check the description and size chart when ordering!!) so it depends on if you prefer a looser more casual look or a firmer fit. Wendy trousers are normally £48/$77AUD/$58USD but their older colour ways are currently on sale for £38/$61AUD/$46USD, so if you are loving these pants now is the time to snap yourself up a pair! I received my parcel from Lady K Loves in around 10 business days internationally and it was beautifully presented!

I hope you’ve all enjoyed this review! I’ve got some more gorgeous Lady K Loves goodies coming your way very soon!

Til next time darlings!

Disclaimer: Whilst I received these pants as part of a sponsorship with Lady K Loves, all opinions expressed are honest to help ensure the most accurate information for my readers. 

“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. 

Pretty in pink while taking the B.A.I.T ~ Reviewing the Halina shoes from Royal Vintage Shoes

 

Do you want to know a secret? Promise not to tell? Well when I was growing up....I actually didn't like pink all the much. I lived in blue. It was my colour. Growing up I had a deep fascination with the ocean and blue just seemed to be my way of expressing that. I liked pink enough as a red head but since going blond, I find myself rocking the pink more and more because honestly, there is just something amazing about pink and blonde that makes me feel so powerful yet simultaneously sweet. But that dear ones, is a conversation for another time!

What I am really here today to mostly talk about (as I know I will no doubt get distracted and tell you about this dress at the end as well) are the incredible shoes on my feet! Today I want to chat to you all about the Halina shoes by B.A.I.T that I got from Royal Vintage Shoes!

Flowers ~ Daisy Jean Floral White Signature Double
Brooch ~ Weasley brooch from Franny Lou Designs
Dress ~ Hell Bunny Mae West dress in pink from Natasha Marie Clothing
Shoes ~ Halina shoes by B.A.I.T from Royal Vintage Shoes

 As a pale lass, white shoes are a bit of a holy grail for me. Just like that mystical cup, finding a pair that is comfortable, practical and affordable can be incredibly difficult at times, especially in vintage styles. While I do wear a lot of darker styles, I find that pastels and softer colours, like my dress today are better matched with softer lighter shoes and to be honest I've struggled in finding the perfect pair. 

I'd been umming and aahhhhing about these shoes for a while. I'd seen them on the website and it wasn't til just before Christmas that I finally took the plunge and got them before Christmas to make sure I got them before my work shutdown. They were a hit at my work Christmas Party while my holiday period did steal any real chance of wearing them out (SOMEONE forgot to wear sunscreen!) as well as Sydney's unpredictable weather (SO much rain) I've finally been breaking them in as I return to work full time and therefore dress up in my pinup best daily once more.

By now you are all probably wanting me to hurry along and tell you what I thought of these amazing shoes so I'll stop jabbering on and tell you all!

The first thing I want to say about these shoes is that being synthetic, I find the breaking in period is a few days wear. I recommend during this time to wear stockings! I made the mistake of not doing that on my first wear of them (MISTAKE!) and my poor feet paid dearly with blisters. However, once you've worn them a couple of times they rub a lot less and the top will lift allowing the foot to fit more comfortably. I found mine to be a bit snug across the top still til after I wore them at home with socks for a few hours one night. This really did hep them loosen a little.

Aside from the breaking in period, I have honestly fallen in love with these shoes for a number of reasons:

1. As someone who walks a lot in their life when not at work (I catch public transport and like to go for a walk on my lunch break to help clear my head) I've found them to be comfortable to wear the whole day. I haven't needed to swap my shoes around which is awesome.
2. The heel height is also idea for a lot of walking. My arches don't hurt after wearing these shoes for around a 10 hour day (leaving the house, going to work, lunch time walk, coming home) which is always a bonus
3. The simple cream colour and design makes them so easy to wear with a variety of outfits
4. I do truly love the lighter shoes for summer.

Also, as a girl on the paler side who struggles to find beige heels that match I find these white shoes to be a great alternative. Dark shoes can sometimes make my legs look a LOT shorter than they actually are, where as the white helps make them look that little bit longer, which is great when I'm already wearing lighter colours! 

These shoes also have a definite vintage feel without looking too grandma-ish. I can foresee these being able to be worn with not just reproduction clothes as I have, but also with true vintage due to their design. 

Price wise these shoes are also pretty affordable compared to other 'retro' brand shoes! These total $72US ($103.57AUD) with reasonable shipping considering the size of the box they come in! Plus, even if you aren't in America you get tracking with USPS which Royal Vintage use and none of my deliveries have ever taken more than 2 weeks to arrive! Which is pretty awesome!

I wear between an Australian size 7 to an 8. I actually have one foot that is just over half a size bigger than the other which can make buying heels that lack a strap very difficult as well as having a foot thats quite narrow with a semi high arch. I got the 7.5 in these and while initially they were quite firm on my larger foot, once they had been broken in the fit was perfect. They fit perfect on my smaller foot from the get go and still do which is awesome! I love brands that do half sizing It really does help ladies like me with 'difficult' feet.

So before I finish up, how about this GORGEOUS dress?? Well I snapped up this Hell Bunny Mae West dress in pink from Natasha Marie Clothing on sale for just $39 + postage! I was STOKED! I'd been struggling to find it on ebay (its an older style/colour) and love my navy and polka dot version! This version goes SO well with my now blonde locks and was the perfect match for these shoes thanks to its white accents!

And just quickly too! How adorable is my little kitty brooch! The Weasley brooch is such a fun little brooch! Made my two kitty loving ladies of Franny Lou designs and only $14.95!

So just like Cinderella before she left for the ball, I love them. They are such a pretty, simple, versatile and practical shoe that I know I'll wear a lot being a pastel lover! Nothing beats a cream pair of basic heels as a pinup, especially when you are a pastel one!

A big thank you to Royal Vintage Shoes for taking me on as a brand ambassador! Its SO good to have access to a great camera now to start bringing for more great posts like this one!

Til next time! Much love

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. 

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas ~ The Voodoo Vixen Bernadette Dress

Living in Australia, you can kind of feel a bit out of tune with the rest of the world when Christmas rolls around. The Northern Hemisphere, in the throws of winter is for the most part sharing their winter Christmas posts of sweaters and mittens and snowmen, warm fires and snow angels. I’ve always dreamed of a white Christmas thanks to the media forever showing Christmas as winter. However, the reality here in Australia is very different. Most of our Santas used in adverts feature board shorts and thongs. Summer is sweltering hot, I normally swim or play cricket with my family and avoid the dreaded sunburn! It seems, without travelling abroad, a white Christmas could never be mine.

When Voodoo Vixen brought out the Bernadette dress, I knew I had to have it and I was thrilled they felt the same way too. I felt this dress would be the perfect way to throw some white Christmas vibes on an Australian Christmas without dying in the heat. When it arrived I was thrilled to find that the snow flake detailing as just as perfect in person as it looked online and instantly knew this dress would be a much loved addition to my wardrobe!

The Bernadette dress is made up of two layers, giving it a soft floaty feel. The underneath is a thin strap black dress, which has then been overlaid with a sheer black layer that features the snowflake embroidery. The dress features a centre back zip with a button closure at the top. A sweatheart neckline is present in the black underdress which is visible through the sheer upper layer. The sheer layer though allows this dress to be a bit more on the modest side, which for me makes it ideal to dual as a work dress.

The wearing of this dress I found incredibly comfortable. Its very flowy, there is some stretch in the fabric and it sits nicely when worn. The sheer top layer wasn’t too warm to wear on a hotter kind of day and I found that the fabric moved nicely when I walked. Wearing this dress to the shops after the photoshoot on the hunt for some lunch, I got a lot of compliments on it. It truly is beautiful in person. Its long enough that I can comfortably wear a petticoat or crinoline with it if I want to and I found this dress to be true to size (I’m wearing this dress in a medium).

The simple design and colours also make this dress a versatile number, which means you aren’t restricted to wearing it just to spread festive cheer!  I accessorized mine with white and two Christmas brooches (because two is better than one!) for the shoot, however I can see a lot of potential to accessorize this dress with a lot of different colours and I’m excited to see what I can come up with it in the next few weeks.

You can definitely expect to see this dress popping up in my outfit of the day photos as it truly is a stunning piece!

Outfit details:

Flowers – Daisy Jean Floral Designs White Gardenia Double

Beads – Debstar Designs White Beads

Brooches – Deer Arrow limited Edition Christmas Snow Flake and Erstwilder Deck the halls brooch

Dress – Bernadette Dress from Voodoo Vixen

Belt - off another dress I own

Shoes – kmart

I hope you’ve all enjoyed this post and I’m more than happy to answer any questions or feedback you may have in the comments!

Amazing photography done by Russell Thomas!

Thank you all so much for reading!

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. 

Voodoo Vixen Allison Dress

Hello all,

So I recently had the pleasure of receiving my first ever VoodooVixen goodies all the way from the UK and I was so excited to see them in person! I’m going to be sharing with you my thoughts on the amazing Allison dress in this blog post, around how I felt about the look, fit, quality and the brand.

So being Winter time in the land of Australia, I was a bit unsure initially of getting the Allison, as I was a little unsure of how I would be able to make her fit into my work life and the current weather, but the pattern was so cute I couldn’t pass it up! When she arrived, I knew I made the right choice and being a lover of layering, I quickly paired her with one of my sheer blouses to make her more winter and work friendly as well as also matching her with cotton long sleeve shirts.

To be honest, I’ve fallen in love with this dress. I sized up to a large, as is my norm with wiggle dresses to accommodate my booty. I’m also a bit weightier than I normally am atm (currently attempting to shed some stress weight I gained earlier in the year) and as such have been a little bit intimidated of giggle styles, but found that I felt comfortable and confident in the Allison dress.

The Look

I love the versatility of the Allison dress. It can so quickly go from being a date dress by wearing with cute heels or a casual look with flats. I like to wear my Allison to work by teaming it with sheer blouses or cotton long sleeve shirts. The print is amazing, lending itself to a range of different accessory options and the soft baby pink background of the fabric gives it a very feminine feel. It does come with a belt of the same print but I prefer to wear mine with other block colour belts.

The fit

While initially I found the fabric to be quite stiff, after a wash and wear it’s become incredibly comfortable and suitable for everyday where. I found the large fit being very true to my measurements, fitting just a tad loose around the bust but being firmer on my lower body. Not being a super tight dress on the legs too I’ve been able to wear my Allison dress with minimal issues around my stockings and welts showing, which is always a win.

The Quality

I was very pleased with the quality of my Voodoo Vixen purchases. They had no fraying at seams and were constructed well. The Allison features a quality invisible zip which I haven’t had issues with after multiple wears and beautiful button detailing at the front of the bust.

Since receiving my first package I’ve also purchased my first Voodoo Vixen skirt which I’ve fallen in love with! You can expect to see a lot more Voodoo Vixen coming into my wardrobe and being reviewed here in the future!

I have more Voodoo Vixen reviews coming your way over the next few months so keep your eyes peeled!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this review!

Til tomorrow

Much love!

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. 

Morning all! Its review time again!

I’ve never owned a coat before as a pinup as the last few winters here in Aussieland haven’t actually been cold enough. But when winter set in this year it became apparent very quickly that winter this year was going to be quite cold and bitter and that I’d need to invest this year, so I began the hunt for a coat to call my own. I ended up settling on the Hell Bunny Shona Coat in black!

The Coat

I settled on the Hell Bunny Shona Coat for a few reasons. The first being that like so many other things, I’d seen it floating around and loved how beautiful it looked on actual ladies I follow on Instagram. I loved how absolutely decadent it looked and while I loved coats from Collectif like the pearl coat, I worried that my daily commute on rather rough public transport would trash the fur hemline. I wanted something glamourous but practical and I found that in the Shona. I went with Black purely for its versatility as a colour and made my purchase. The Shona is 90% polyester, 8% viscose 2% elastane and has a detachable collar and cuffs (though I haven’t been game to try yet). It has a fabric button clasp at the front as well as hidden buttons for a seamless look. This beauty also comes with pockets, which was definitely a winner for me and is flared enough that it can be easily paired with swing styles. It also comes in red and teal.

The Fit

I ordered the medium in this coat, which is my usual size for hell bunny and the fit was spot on, though it isn’t as firm in the waist as I would have preferred. The arms weren’t tight and uncomfortable either. I personally find this coat to be comfortable to wear and there has only been one occasion, when the wind was extremely fierce that I have felt chilly and that was primarily in the arm section of the coat. The fabric loop button at the front is a great feature too as often I won’t feel like completely buttoning up my coat but this fixture allows for it to be closed when wearing, which I like. The pockets are also a big winning feature for me as they make my morning commute much more comfortable. In nearly a month of consistent wear this coat is still in amazing condition and has been faring well with daily wear. The colour was a very good choice as well as I find it has worked with everything I have worn so far. I’ve found it to be warm, comfortable and easy to wear.

Where to purchase

I found my Shona coat on ebay in a UK store and paid $90AU with free shipping. I did have to wait 2 weeks for it but with a retail price of $150AU or more in Australia I was happy to wait.  If you would prefer yours now I’d suggest checking Australian retailers of Hell Bunny.

Verdict

I am so beyond happy with my Shona Coat and I’m definitely happy I made the purchase. It makes me feel so amazingly fabulous when I wear it and it definitely turns heads on my commute to and from work. I can foresee me making more coat purchases in the future from Hell Bunny after this success!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this review and look forward to sharing more with you in the next few weeks!

Much love!

Review ~ Mermaid love with Hell Bunny and Erstwilder

Good morning all!

Its review time again in this follow on review from my earlier pastel princess post, which features the Paula skirt in mint featured in that post, click here to read it.

As I mentioned earlier, I'm a bit of a mermaid enthusiast/lover and after I purchased the Shelli top, when Gwynnies got the Bubble and Sweet Blouse back in stock (pictured above) I KNEW it had to be in my wardrobe! So, another order later, she was in my hot little hands! 

I bought this blouse in a size Medium, the same as the Shelli (you can view my measurements here) with confidence it would fit, and it did. I had the same slight bagging in the bust as mentioned in the Shelli review, but aside from that she fit perfectly. The lack of sleeve meant I didn't have to worry about tightness and being patterned I found this fabric a bit less sheer as the Shelli counterpart. 

The fabric of this blouse is honestly a dream. It features sea horses, shell's and bubbles on a soft blue fabric. The collar is slightly scalloped in shape and has the same ribbon tie detail at the front of the blouse and features the most ADORABLE silver shell buttons! I actually love this blouse slightly more than my Shelli, purely based on the buttons. I did find the same issue with the ribbon ties being a bit too long, which means they catch with movement (for example against my desk while sitting) and pulling the bow loose but its a minimal issue for such a pretty piece. 

My favorite thing to match with this blouse? Why Erstwilder of course! Easily the biggest part of my brooch collection, Erstwilder is a brand I've previously discussed (read here) and even had the absolute privilege of working with (click here).  My Sandy the Shy Seahorse brooch from their 'By the Seaside' collection was the obviously perfect match! Made of out layered resin, Sandy compliments the Bubble and Sweet blouse perfectly, finishing it off beautifully. Being layered resin means she has a great depth of colour and really pops off the collar.

I also decided to match my outfit with a pair of Daisy Jean Floral Designs signature rose doubles in lilac. Daisy Jean is my little business venture and I truly love being able to create whole looks with them. I chose the lilac double to tie in with the purple belt, which is also Hell Bunny. I have 4 of their retro coloured belts and they are  my daily go to for finishing off an outfit. The elastic means they are comfortable and not constricting and the range of colours means they are incredibly versatile.

With the Bubble and Sweet Blouse, I bought my first Paula skirt in mint. I bought the medium which is my go to size for Hell Bunny and it fit perfectly as I knew it would. I went with the mint as it would work with both my blouses and I honestly want more! This is my first ever block colour Hell Bunny skirt and she is honestly amazing! Having a block skirt really allows for colour and detail on top. I tend to go for patterned skirts and block colour tops so its been nice to swap things around for a change. This skirt can be worn with either a petticoat or without, though they really pop with one. The only downside to the lighter pastel is how clearly creases show up in the skirt but I do find this is primarly across the back where I sit and not really across the front, but I really felt it was a small price to pay for such a cute outfit!I can definitely say she won't be my last block colour skirt purchase.

I hope you've enjoyed this review and found it helpful! I still have more reviews coming, so keep your eyes peeled!

Thank you for reading lovelies!