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!

The love affair with Erstwilder

Evening all!

Thought I'd finish off this post and get it published before I headed to bed tonight and that post is about my primary brooch affair with the one and only Erstwilder.

Erstwilder is an Australian brand based in Melbourne, VIC that makes brooches, earrings and necklaces out of resin. I first discovered Erstwilder in 2-013 and at the time the idea of wearing a brooch had never occurred to me. But as I delved more into understanding elements of pinup/retro/vintage style, I discovered brooch wearing was a popular element, so I figured I'd give it a try. The love affair, for me anyway, started with a fox.

Fleur the foxy brooch to be exact, though she is sadly no longer with me (I lost her at the movies). This first brooch, spawned a love affair that has lasted on til 2015, which is only continuing to thrive! In the last 2 years I have grown my collection to currently stand at 24 brooches (would have been 25 with Fleur!) and 1 set of earrings! And I know its only going to get bigger!

I love this brand for its creativity, originality and attention to detail that comes from Erstwilder. No matter where I go, I forever get compliments on my Erstwilder brooches and while I am expanding my tastes into other brooch brands now, Erstwilder will forever hold a special place as my first brooch love! They are just so unique, their design is so playful and the variety is incredible! The colours truly pop and the layering allows for a depth I haven't seen with other products. They are also a great way to give an outfit a vintage vibe without going overboard and are a great versatile accessory for beginner pinups!And they are budget friendly, averaging around $30.

The quality is incredible! Some pieces in this collection are over 2 years old! And the introduction of locking clips on the back means you won't have to worry about losing your goodies! One or two of mine have even taken an unintentional ride in the washing machine and still been fine. The quality is testiment in the fact I'll cart these round, put them in my handbag, forget to take them off clothes and they are still soldiering on!

See below for some examples of me just recently rocking Erstwilder!

Phoebe the Fairy Wren

Pauline the Pearled Emu

She's So Foxy Brooch

Fargo the Frog

Flamboyant Flamingo

Marilyn's Mermaid earrings and Martha Mermaid brooch

Pouncing Paulette

And these are honestly just from the last few weeks!

But this Cinderella also got to go to the ball! I had the absolute PLEASURE of working with Erstwilder and Lilla Rosten at the Reed trade fair earlier this year and it was honestly a BLAST! I got to learn so much more about a brand I love, I got to meet some of the amazing people who stock these products (and who I purchase from!) and I also got to meet and work with the Erstwilder team, who taught me SO much in my 4 days with them!

Day 1 with Lilla Rosten

Day 2, with Lilla Rosten

Day 3

Day 4

This is a brand that is definitely here to stay! Such good quality, such a unique approach to bringing fun, affordable designs to pinup ladies and others and definitely a brand I will continue to wear and share the love for!

I am still SO grateful to have been given the opportunity to work with them over the 4 days I did and hope to one day have the pleasure again in the future!

Some places you can buy Erstwilder online are The Vintage Pip and Gwynnies!

Til tomorrow!

Pinup shopping on a budget

Now I know this one has been LONG awaited and its one I'm honestly asked ALL the time, so I thought I'd push out my cigarette pants review and deliver it to you all!

Pinup shopping on a budget!!

Now, I know...when you start out...it can be really hard to justify spending a LOT of money on pinup things. I know I was. I was worried still it wasn't for me, I was losing weight at the time, I was filled with a LOT of uncertainty AND...I didn't have a massive money allowance to build my wardrobe with. All these things meant I picked up a lot of ways to build a wardrobe without breaking the bank! A lot of these now feel like common sense to me but beginning a new dress style can be scary! So lets begin!

Get your basics cheap!

 There are a lot of 'basic' pinup things that can be purchased from cheaper stores that actually are ok quality that are GREAT for all pinups. For example, almost all of my cardigans are from either kmart or a cheap shop. I think the most I've paid for a cardigan that isn't a branded one is $12. The kmart ones I paid $8. They come in a variety of colours, are warm, compliment my outfit and don't break the bank. The same goes for shoes. Most of my flats come from the likes of Kmart again or Rubi Shoes. Good basic shoes that go with most casual outfits that leave my money free to purchase other things that might be more expensive. My first hair flowers were kmart flowers and I think I paid $3 each. While the quality wasn't great, they were an ideal starting point for a beginner. 

Below are my list of things that I did buy/still buy from no name kind of stores that I can work into my look and really helped me starting out:

• Cardigans
• Singlet tops (for reducing boob for tops to be more work appropriate)
• Scoop neck style tee's are great with swing skirts
• Ballet flats
• Accessories
• Bags
• You can occasionally kind awesome skirts/dress of a vintage feel in cheaper stores

Outlets are your friend!

I love the Dangerfield brand. Sadly, I find 99% of their clothes don't work with my proportions but when I was starting their brand really helped me find the confidence to step up to the brands I now love that are higher end. I bought 100% of my Dangerfield stuff from the Clearit outlet in Newtown, which sells last season stuff CHEAP! I still check them out for tops occasionally! You'd be surprised how many stores have clearence outlets. For example? An Aussie pinup girl who loves Alannah Hill cardigans? In Birkenhead point Sydney they have a clearance outlet....Review is just across from them if they also tickle your fancy. These are great places to snag some savings and get items that can be great staples in your wardrobe later down the track!

Sales are your friend!

One of my dreams is to go to a Pin  Up Girl Clothing Yard sale! Why? Because I see the incredible savings my US lovelies I follow make when they attend these events! As a pinup sales are honestly your friend because I've found...not much really goes out of fashion. There are certain cuts/styles that are pinup but most is open to personal interpretation. I wear things I bought 2 years ago and still get compliments. You can wear it over and over and its not an issue. Therefore, sales items are your friend. I recently saved over $100.00 on two skirts I bought from PUG because I got them on sale! If you see a brand you like, sign up to their newsletter! Get the inside scoop on sales and when they are happening. Try and keep a little bit of rainy day money tucked away for when these sales drop, because the savings are honestly worth it, especially when it comes to the higher end brands!

Get on the buy/swap/sell pages on FB!

These are honestly a treasure trove for ladies looking for pieces to buy. I've made some INCREDIBLE savings in this department and it gives you access to things that mightn't be stocked any longer. It can also help put you in touch with other pin up clothing loving ladies! These are a growing trend and I think they are absolutely awesome!

Ebay!!

 Now eBay is truly where I shine bright in bargin hunting! I can easily say that around 50% of my wardrobe comes from eBay and I've paid around half price or less for most near new items! My most recent score was a vintage swing skirt suit by Tatyana Boutique that I scored for less than the cost of just the jacket on eBay! I mean the savings can be incredible! However, its also very easy to be duped and waste money on imitation stuff, so here is the hints I have that I live by!

1. Be specific in your brand searches! I found imitation after imitation by just doing a broad search of 'Pin up' but found a heap of second hand PUG stuff by searching the full brand name 'pinup girl clothing'
2. Be wary if they don't post up photos of the actual item and just use images that are used by other sites like PUG
3. Save your searches! That way you can check on newly listed items!
4. Don't be afraid to buy good brands like PUG/tatyana's boutique second hand. Most of my stuff I bought was worn a handful of times when I bought it and is still in perfect condition 2 years later.
5. Ask questions. If you are interested in an item but have some questions, ask the seller. Remember, they want to sell the item, they'll get back to you (most of the time)!!

Some of my saved searches on eBay are:

• Pin up Girl Clothing
• Pin up Couture
• Bettie Page Clothing
• Deadly Dames
• Hell Bunny
• Stop Staring
• Voodoo Vixen
• Rock Steady

And I've found some AMAZING savings through these! 

Honorable Mention

I'm going to mention op shopping purely because I know SO many girls who have success with it but I honestly have never had any. If you have time to thrift and know the right areas you can find yourself some gems. I feel like this takes practice, a skilled eye and a bit of luck. I prefer the slight certainty of being able to look at my leisure.

I hope this has been helpful to a lot of ladies and I look forward to more posts like this soon!

Much love!

Modcloth Monday ~ Summer Cutie

Hello all!

So being the end of summer, though the warmer weather is still lingering at the start of autumn, I wanted to do a post that was dedicated to summer for my Modcloth Monday today! Keeping it short and sweet as I'm currently prepping for the Rock n Roll Markets next week!

Dress ~ Mover and Holiday Maker Dress ~ $89.99

Shoes ~ Flaire to Spare wedge in white ~ $54.99

Bag ~ At All Coasts ~ $39.99

I absolutely love the pattern and cut of this dress...I'm such a tiki lover and I thought these simple but beach themed accessories complimented it beautifully!

Much love, 

Review ~ Petal Berri

Morning all!

So today I'm going to be posting a review about the adorable headband and earrings set I got sent which I absolutely adore! Today's review is on the brand Petalberri!

Petal Berri is an Australia brand based in Adelaide NSW that make hair bows and headbands with matching earrings! I mean, two pinup accessory staples in one hit! 

My set arrived and I was excited that the colours were different to what I normally wear, it meant I could try something new. 

The earrings and headband are well made and looked great! The fabric is very vibrant in person and the earrings were comfortable to wear. I decided to opt for a 60's look when I wore mine out and matched it with lilac! 

Headband/earrings - Petal Berri
Brooch - Deer Arrow
Dress - Pin Up Girl Clothing

I wore it out all day! I found it comfortable to wear. It didn't slide or move around on my head, even without bobby pins. It's width helps to keep it in place!

The thing I think I love most about this headband however is it's versatility. Tie it a different way to achieve a different look!

And the matching earrings are such a finishing touch! They really help to complete a look that includes this headband and draw focus to the pattern.

I'd highly recommend this Aussie brand to any pinup girls looking for cute affordable pinup accessories!

You can find Petal Berri on facebook, on instagram by searching @petalberri and on etsy.

Til tomorrow!

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

Vivien of Holloway - Sarong Dress in Hawaiian Royal print & Ramarim pumps from Nude Stiletto

Hello all! Its review time!

I was fortunate enough recently to be asked to review a brand I haven't owned before and I jumped on the opportunity, especially after having seen one of their dresses on my Instagram feed the day before!

Vivien of Holloway is a retro/pinup brand based in the UK. They make amazing reproduction dresses! The cuts and fabrics have really caught my eye over the past few months especially and I am so pleased to bring you a review of one of their pieces!

I also will be talking about this amazing brand of shoe that you are all going to love! I know I'm certainly sold!

Outfit Details:

Dress: Vivien of Holloway Sarong Dress in Hawaiian Royal print

Shoes: Ramarium pumps in yellow from Nude Stiletto 

Flowers: Hair orchids from Daisy Jean Floral Designs

Bamboo Earrings: eBay

So this dress is honestly one I am completely in love with! I choose this pattern because I am such a lover of tiki! This pattern in person, that features whales, islands, flowers, ocean and boats is honestly stunning. The vibrancy of the fabric is incredible and it really makes for a stand out piece in any pinup wardrobe!

One feature I really loved about this dress was the boned bodice. It gives the dress incredible structure across the waist and the bust line which gives a great line to the body! The thick halter strap will also be a godsend to bigger busted lasses where as a smaller busted gal like me found it give nice framing to the sweetheart neckline which I really loved! Also, because the bodice is boned you don't get a lot of pull on the halter neck strap, which is also fantastic!

The final detailing I'd like to talk about on the dress is the stunning front sarong style. The fact its stitched is great as it means you aren't having to constantly adjust it through your day/night and  feel it breaks the skirt perfectly, allowing for a stunning finish! I opted to keep my accessories simple as the dress was so busy! I wore my bamboo hoop earrings and pink/white orchids from my store Daisy Jean for a finish.

The only downside for me was that being rather small in the upper body but big in the hips, the matching bolero on my was rather big, though still wearable! I do personally prefer the dress as a stand alone item to be honest. 

Now lets talk SHOES because I am honestly in love! Ramarim is a Brazillian brand of shoe being hailed for its comfort....and I CAN SEE WHY! I put these babies on when I arrived at the shoot and I actually was stunned with how absolutely comfortable they are! I mean, I am not kidding! Hands down the most comfortable hair of heels I now own! Its insane! 

I went for the yellow to keep the dress as the statement piece and after walking around in them for a few hours on location in a garden these will definitely be a staple in my wardrobe for future outfits! To ladies after a nice heel that won't kill your feet, these are amazing!

I'm going to leave this review here for today! I'm so excited to be doing my first big review like this for you all!

Also a BIG thank you to my photographer Russell Thomas for these amazing shots and someone I look forward to working with again!

I hope you've enjoyed this post! 

Disclaimer: Whilst I received these shoes and dress as part of a sponsorship with Vivien of Holloway and Nude Stiletto, all opinions expressed are honest to help ensure the most accurate information for my readers. 

Pinup hair ~ styles and tips

Hello all!

So before I did my pinup shopping on a budget post, I wanted to finish up my Beginner wardrobe post by talking about pinup hair styles and in a later post pinup make up styles that are commonly found/associated with the style as I feel these two go together really well and they really do help make a complete look/outfit

So...I'm going to start with hair!

Pinup Hair

Pinup/vintage hair can feel very daunting when you're a beginner! Believe me, I've been there! That's part of why I'm saving for a better computer and a webcam for tutorials! I know there are a lot out there but every pinup brings their own knack and style for pinup hair and while one mightn't work for you, another might! 

When starting out, there are a few basic styles that were my go to's when I first started so I thought I'd share them here. Remember to practice, have fun and don't be afraid to try new methods!

Curls

Curls are the easiest way to get an instant pinup look as they were the preferred hairstyle of most woman in the 40-60's in various styles. If I'm wearing my hair out, its usually in curls!

There are two different types of 'curls' that you'll primarily see in pinup looks, that's a heat set done with curling tongs or hot curlers/rollers and a wet set which is a set done with pincurls or foam rollers that you sleep in when hair is damp.

Trial and error is the best way to find what setting style works best on your hair! I've briefly described the two different styles below

Heat set

Me with a heat set achieved with bendy curlers

Ashlee Marie with a headset done with curling tongs

Heat curl set

A heat set is just how it sounds! Its a curl set achieved with hot rollers or a curling iron! The biggest advice I can give to gals doing a heatset: 

• Pin your curls to cool! This helps it keep the shape and lets it last longer! You can use bobbypins though I recommend pin curl clips (can be found bulk on ebay!) See blow for an example

• Use a heat spray to protect your hair from the heat! You can get these from most stores that stock hair supplies. This will help stop your hair getting super damaged from the heat. You simply spray it on before use! Experiment with different products to as everyone's hair is different!
• Experiment with different types of heat setting to find one that works best for you! Again, everyone's hair is different! I also finger only a light brush out is needed for a heat set

Wet set

Marilyn with a wetset

A wetset I did ~ Photography by Lauren Horwood

Ashlee Marie with a Wet set

Wetset I did ~ Photography by Billy June Photography

A wet set is the more traditional way of achieving curls. For me personally, a wet set is my go to because it holds curl better for me. The concept behind a wetset is to sleep in it overnight on damp hair and take it out and style it in the morning.

You can pin curl or foam roller. I do both, depending on how much effort I feel like putting in. Its important that hair isn't too damp or it won't dry in time and that you use a setting lotion. Again, experiment with different styles of setting and different products to find one that works with your hair!

Also remember to be gentle when brushing out! Brushing out takes practice and time. Brushing out too much will reduce your curls! 

Victory Rolls

Myself with Victory Rolls

Bernie Dexter 

Nikki Napalm 

Dita Von Teese

Miss Victory Violet

Victory rolls are instantly recognizable as pinup! While they take a while to get to knack of, once you have them down pat they are a great way to style hair, especially when you want something quick and easy! They are also incredibly versatile! Have two in the middle, one bigger one smaller, with a fringe, with no fringe, one more to the side...whatever tickles your fancy! Instant pinup hair in minutes! Advice for victory rolls: don't be affair of teasing!! You need the tease for a strong foundation for your rolls! And have fun! Because they are fun within themselves! Some wrap the hair around things (circular foundation bottles, toilet rolls, their fingers) some just wrap it themselves. Play around and find what works for you! Curling the hair beforehand will help!

Bangs

Micheline Pitt with Bettie Bangs

Miss Mosh with Bettie Bangs

Me with Faux Bangs

Ashlee Marie with Faux bangs

There are two types of bangs that pinups tend to wear that are again stereotypical of the pin up look. Bettie Bangs hail from Bettie Page and a lot of pinup girls rock them! If you don't feel like committing full time to Bettie bangs you can invest in either clip ins or master the faux bang, which as a favorite of mine when my hair was longer. Faux bangs are great for days when you want minimal effort. It can be achieved with either a hair rat/hair donut cut in half or by teasing and shaping! Curling the hair underneath can help make a faux bang easier to achieve. Worn with a scarf or flower its an instant pinup look

Beehive & swoop fringe

Me with Faux Bangs and a beehive 

Ashlee Marie with a beehive and a swoop fringe

Diablo rose with a swoop fringe and a beehive

Beehives are another way for instant pinup hair and a great on dirty hair! They are relatively quick and once you get the hang of them they are honest AMAZING for days when you want quick hair! These are also great in summer as they are off your neck! Again, don't be afraid of teasing!! Teasing may seem scary but its not! Also a LOT of hair spray.

The swoop fringe takes a lot of practice to get right and again, a lot of teasing but once you can do them, they are amazing for instant pinup hair! Curling the hair beforehand will help. 

Lastly, the suicide roll

The suicide roll is a curl at the front of the hair, normally with victory rolls, beehive or a hair scarf/bandana. These are a great fringe alternative to the bangs and swoop style fringes and when done right look AMAZING! Again, teasing is your friend as is practice! Curling the hair beforehand will help! 

Hair accessories to compliment your style!

Pinup's are ALL about accessorising and there are a few primary types of hair accessories that pinups use that I've listed below for you all to finish this post!

Scarves and bandanas

Doris Mayday wearing a scarf from Pin Up Girl Clothing

Micheline Pitt wearing a scarf from Pin Up Girl Clothing

Ida Van Munster wearing a bandana

Scarves and bandanas are a great simple way to finish a look, especially on beehives and loose curls. They instantly add colour and can also be used as a cover for hair that isn't styled or is messy!

Flowers

Me wearing Daisy Jean Floral Designs Flowers ~ Shot by Miss Mookie

Micheline Pitt Wearing Flower Crown from Pin Up girl Clothing

Me wearing Lady Rowe hair flowers ~ Shot by Billy June Photography

Pinups LOVE hair flowers! They are an instant way to finish pinup hair with style and elegance as well as brightening up an outfit. There are literally SO many amazing ladies (myself included) who craft pinup hair flowers so you literally have hundreds of amazing designs brought to life by different ladies at your fingertips!

Bows

Me wearing a Charlie Heart Breaker Bow

wa

Ashlee Marie Pinup Doll

Bows are another great way of finishing a pinup outfit, especially if flowers aren't your thing! Again, as with flowers there are many amazing products and brands to choose from!

Lastly Clips/Combs...

Micheline Pitt wearing a comb from Pin Up Girl Clothing

Me wearing a diamonette clip ~ Photography by Lauren Horwood

Cherry Clip

Clips and combs are great touches to an outfit, especially if you are after something more formal. 

I'm going to leave it here tonight!

I hope this has helped everyone!

More to come tomorrow

xXx