Tropical 1940s Florals from Karina Dresses

I think by now we all know my obsession with 1940's styling is well and truly beginning to thrive. As I've been shifting out 1950's items from my wardrobe that I knew I wouldn't wear anymore, I've been adding in more and more 1940's inspired items to my wardrobe and I've been absolutely loving the experience. There is something about the 1940's that just keeps drawing me in. Its elegance, its sophistication, its class. I always feel absolutely incredible in 1940s styling, so when I saw the Margaret Dress in Navy and White tropics, I knew I needed to make it mine!

The first thing that drew my to the margaret dress was this pattern! Karina dresses are available in multiple different patterns but this one for me just looked for incredibly true to the decade. As my 40's obsession grows, I've been doing a LOT of reading up on characteristics of patterns of that era and this one for me screamed 1940s. The pattern is actually even prettier in person than the pictures, the navy works so well with the fabric and the white really does pop beautifully! 

Flowers ~ Red Rose Double from Daisy Jean Floral Designs
Earrings ~ Bryona Earrings in Cobalt from Revere Folie
Necklace ~ Yellow beads from Debstar Designs
Brooch ~ Scotty Dog brooch from Miss Lady A Broad
Sunglasses ~ Jayjays 4 years ago
Dress ~ Margaret Dress in navy and white tropics from Karina Dresses
Shoes ~ Red Loraine heels from Royal Vintage Shoes

For those who aren't familar with Karina dresses, they are a stunning USA brand that make dresses that for me, hark back to the 1940s in their stying and they are iron free, as they dry crease free. Another feature I love about my Karina Dresses is they fit incredibly well thanks to them simply pulling over your head: no zips or bunching around zips which leads to a seamless silhouette. If I ever want comfort and class, Karina Dresses are my go to! I now have 4 of their gorgeous creations in my wardrobe and they get a lot of wear. 

  One thing I do adore about the Margaret dress is the length. The slightly longer length gives a more authentic shape to the dress as well as giving the wearer a nicer shape. The Margaret Dress also features a built in belt/sash of the same fabric, which I love using the cinch in the waist. The sleeve length is also ideal for ladies who, like me carry a bit of weight on their arms, as they are long enough and loose enough to help slim you down.

I'm wearing their M/L which is my regular size. I find this to be incredibly ample and in reality I could more than likely size down to the S/M without any issues as their dresses have a considerable amount of stretch. If you enjoy comfort and style, Karina dresses are a brand to keep you eyes on. These dresses are amazing for summer (they are incredibly light!!) but for winter I do wear a full slip with them, for that extra layer, ontop of my normal shapewear really does make a difference!

I love styling this dress. Red with the navy and white just absolutely pops and I often find myself throwing in hints of yellow as well to really lift it. For the styling of my shoot I opted for my red rose double from my business Daisy Jean Floral Designs. The red here tied in beautifully with the red background of my brooch and my shoes. The Scotty Dog brooch from Miss Lady A Broad is the perfect 1940's addition to my outfit. As I aim more for authentic styling, I find myself getting SO much wear out of my MIss Lady A Broad brooches. They have such a true vintage look about them and really do go with anything! I have a blog review of Miss Lady A Broad coming to my blog later this month!

Scotty Dog Brooch from Miss Lady A Broad

Bryona Earrings in cobalt and yellow beads

Loraine Heels from Royal Vintage Shoes

The Bryona earrings in cobalt from Revere Folie were also the perfect match for this outfit, as if they were made for it! I reviewed these gorgeous earrings recently on my blog, you can read the review by clicking here. My red Loraine heels were also a perfect red pop and I actually find myself wearing these shoes more and more as they just go with SO much!

The Margaret dress retails for $108US which is around $146AUS. I can give testament that these dresses are definitely worth the money and for pinups on the go Karina dresses would be ideal for their versatility and iron free maintenance! They ship worldwide and their styles are available in a range of different patterns!

I hope you've all enjoyed this blog! I'm endevouring at the moment to bring better blog posts to you all and I really feel like my blog is getting to where I always wanted it to be!

As always, I'm more than happy to answer questions and comments both on my posts and on my other social media pages!

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. 

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. 

Shooting wth Starlet Fever Clothing!

Happy Saturday!

I hope its going great for you all and you are enjoying the weekend! Its post time!

This blog post is dedicated to fulfilling a dream! Its quite personal, so I hope you enjoy it and all take something from it.

When I first got into pinup modelling two years ago, I held dreams of modelling for a brand. I remember at the time it felt completely unobtainable! I felt like a nobody, still being a newbie (though I do often still feel like this to be honest) and I kind of shelved the idea. It was something I never thought would happen for me, thought it was something that always kind of haunted the back of my mind.

Then 2015 started! I'd pegged it as being my year at the end of 2014 but it ended up being a killer. I had a lot of issues with where I was living which caused a HUGE spike in my anxiety. I went back into full time work as well and my modelling came to a screaming HALT after 18 months of growth and traction. This, along with an 8kg weight gain from stress, left me feeling very down about myself and my body, especially when some of my favorite clothes stopped fitting me. 

In June, I decided to take back my motivation and my self confidence and make a big change: I went blonde. Something that initially petrified me. I'd been a proud red head for 3.5 years and the thought of such a big change felt really scary and uncomfortable. But I went ahead. I was feeling SO stagnant within myself I needed change. And going blonde would allow me to hit the water again after years of barely swimming due to my red bleeding when wet. So, I saw the lovely Miss Ruby Rabbit from Retrobillia and we took the plunge! (To read about my transition from red to blonde, click here) Little did I know, that taking this plunge would open up the opportunity for me to fulfil a dream and model for a brand!

In July, I had the pleasure of being sponsored an amazing new dress (review here) to review here on my blog. The quality of the dress is incredible and I instantly fell in love. A few weeks after receiving it they contacted me again to ask if I'd be interested in modelling for their website as a blonde. I remember initially being so nervous I didn't know how to reply straight away! Especially with the weight I'd gained in the past few months! But I soon did and the shoot day was organised for the day after I got my hair done blonde! We were shooting in the Wollongong Botanical gardens, which is a place I truly love.

So the day came and it meant a VERY early start! I drove down to Wollongong, to have the amazing Ruby take out the set we'd done the day before for the shoot. Then I went and had my make up professionally done before heading to the gardens and setting up to shoot.

Hair flowers are from Daisy Jean Floral Designs, Heels are all Pin Up Couture

The team were lovely! I was also stoked to finally be shooting with Cupcake Photography after we got rained out for our first real shoot together earlier in the year. We packed up our clothes rack of goodies we were shooting and the big collapsible change room and we headed to our first location!

The first outfit we shot was the Eleanor Dress in High Risk Red which is a dress I fell in love with! It was SO comfortable and with my amazing hair. It was a good dress to start with as red has always been my power colour!

The day pasted in a blur of pretty clothes and pretty poses. As I relaxed I felt more and more at ease and my poses became more natural!

Being adjusted by Suz

Suz working the angles for some amazing photos!

Behind the scenes snap

Playing with Shadows

Drink break! And all the glamourous expressions!

A day that started at 6.30am for me wrapped up at 4.30pm! It was a massive day but I honestly had such a blast shooting! It was such an incredible experience to get the opportunity to work for a brand and its a brand I can honestly say know their stuff. Their quality is incredible and I adore their products and their dedication to flattering pieces!

Here are some of the shots from the shoot which I adore!

The Marie Dress in Navy Blossom

Antoinette Blouse in Boysenberry and Adelaide Skirt in Antique Pink

 Antoinette Blouse in smokey blue and Adelaide skirt in Taupe

Delphine 3/4 Sleeve Blouse in Fuchsia and the Adelaide skirt in black floral

It was so incredibly exciting to see these pictures and more up on the Starlet Fever website and it definitely gave me the boost I needed to start taking my life back. Not only did this shoot fulfill a dream I never thought would eventuate, it also gave me my self confidence back, reminded me that I was more than my weight and that I can achieve amazing things, even if I don't think I can. Never doubt yourself, you are capable of SO much more than you give yourself credit for! 

I would truly like to thank Starlet fever for giving me the amazing opportunity you did to model for your company! The experience is truly one I will cherish for ever and I intend to add more Starlet Fever to my wardrobe in the coming months! Also a thank you to Suz of Cupcake Photography for being such a pleasure to shoot with!

Til Monday!

Be a Starlet ~ The Starlet Fever Vivien Dress in Classic Blue Review

Hello all!

Happy Tuesday! Its review time! I am so excited for today’s review!

In July, I was contacted by an AMAZING new Australian brand called Starlet Fever that makes vintage inspired dresses and seperates! I was beyond thrilled when they asked me to give one of their dresses a try. After feeling a bit overwhelmed by their incredible choices, I settled on the stunning Vivien dressin Classic blue. I’ve been trying to add blue back into my wardrobe, after wearing it SO much in my teens and this seemed like the perfect opportunity!

The dress arrived and it was perfect! I could instantly feel the quality in this dress. The colour was as vibrant as their website pictures depicted and the fabric felt incredible in my hands! The stitching was incredible and the little button detail was adorable! The invisible zip was a good quality one and didn’t snag or catch either with wear, which I loved. There is nothing that ruins a dress more for me than a crappy zip that constantly snags. From memory I pretty much wore it the very next day!

Photo taken by Cupcake Photography for Starlet Fever

The first thing I need to sing the praises for this dress about, outside of the quality which I’ve just talked about is how the wiggle portion of the skirt is sewn. As a girl with quite a booty, I struggle with wiggle skirts and some of my wiggle dresses. I’d had to have every wiggle skirt I own repaired at least once because by butt has ripped the seam above the split. And I find most dresses put a lot of pressure across my butt because of how they’re sewn. Not this pretty! This dress is sewn in such a way that it more hugs your butt instead of being sewn to sit flat across it. This made it INCREDIBLY comfortable to wear as there was no uncomfortable firmness.

Photo taken by Cupcake Photography for Starlet Fever

 I also found that the shoulders didn’t swim on me or that the bust didn’t gape. As I normally have to size up in to accommodate my backside and hips in wiggle dresses, I was pleasantly surprised that this dress fit both perfectly, which was such a great change! I also loved that this dress can be worn to work! Now days, with so much of my time spent in an office, I REALLY look for pieces that I can wear to work, which means halternecks and strappy dresses are not as prominent in my wardrobe anymore. This style fit perfectly into what I was looking for with my corporate pinup look!

 I bought the size 12, which was right for my measurements and it fit like a dream! This dress retails for $190.00AUD which considering the quality is definitely worth it! The fabric is beyond glamorous and whenever I wear this dress I get a LOT of compliments!

For this shoot I accessorised this amazing dress with pinks and peaches! My brooch is by Luxulite from Coconette-Oz and my flowers are Daisy Jean Floral Designs Signature Rose Double in peach!!

I also had the pleasure of modelling for the Starlet Fever website in August and will be doing a post about that amazing experience later this week! I honestly cannot sing the praises of this brand enough and look forward to adding more to my collection from their range before summer hits!

Photos (except those marked otherwise) were taken by the lovely Russell Thomas.

Looking forward to bringing you my post about shooting with Starlet Fever later this week!

If you have any other questions about this dress, please feel free to comment below.

Til tomorrow!

Disclaimer: Whilst I received this dress as part of a sponsorship with Starlet Fever Clothing, 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.