Everyday Retro Lingerie with the What Katie Did Maitresse set

Its not secret I’m a lover of retro lingerie. With finding a love of corsets at 12 due to living near a beautiful bridal corsetry, it was a natural progression I think that I came to equally fall in love with other aspects of vintage lingerie. I began experimenting with suspender belts and stockings in my late teens, but it wasn’t til I discovered the wonderful world of reproduction vintage lingerie. Now days I rarely wear anything else and I’ve grown to a place where I love sharing my vintage foundations with my followers, especially on Instagram and Facebook as a way of hopefully sharing the knowledge I’ve gained through my own foundation wearing experiences over the past 3 years of wearing them almost every day and one brand I definitely wear lot of is What Katie Did.

Maitresse Suspender Belt set with Red Glamour Seam stockings from What Katie Did

One of my go-to styles to wear is a suspender belt and stocking combo, normally with a vintage styled bra (unless I need an extra boost in bust size). I love the simplicity and elegance of a suspender belt set as a way of adding that little bit of glamour to an outfit, even if its only a touch I’m going to know is there.  I recently reviewed the Liz Suspender set, which is also a favorite but today I wanted to share probably my most worn lingerie set, the Maitresse Set from WhatKatie Did, which comes in not only a suspender belt but a girdle too.

The Maitresse set from What Katie Did is a wonderful set for beginners to vintage lingerie who want a more structured garment than the Liz set. One thing that I love about the Maitresse set is the sheer variety of components for this set. You have 3 different brief styles to choose from (thong, small knickers & full knickers), a deep or narrow suspender belt, a girdle and bra sizes from an A cup all the way through to an F. These size ranges and the variety of different pieces make it a great set to find your best fit and what works for you! For this review today I’m going to be sharing my favorite pieces which are the Bullet bra in the Nouveau style, the suspender belt and knickers along with the girdle as well from this set. All are items I wear a lot of on a regular basis.

Starting with the suspender belt, I personally have a preference for deeper suspender belts as I have a bit of a tummy. The deeper belt offers some coverage as well as some smoothing across the tummy and hips. For ladies who prefer a narrower fit, this suspender belt also comes in a narrow style. I love wearing this suspender belt for a number of different reasons. Firstly, I find it to be comfortable. While not as stretchy as the Liz set, this suspender is still comfortable to wear every day (I’m actually wearing it now as I write this review!) without hindering your movements or digging in. It sits well on my waist and comes down over my hips to help streamline my figure and accentuate my waist. Made of stain and power mesh, this suspender belt is ideal for ladies who want some shaping without a lot of restriction. The satin is kept to a geometric diamond at the front, which beautifully matches the knickers from this range. 

 The Maitresse suspender belts feature 6 straps: 3 on each side for stocking hold on the front, side and back. Now days I generally won’t wear a suspender belt unless it has the 6 straps at a minimum. These straps are adjustable as well as having abit of stretch to help you find the right fit. The suspender clips are metal which is a MUST for me now days (plastic is such a pain and I find they always release on me) and they are easy to click your suspenders too. This belt has 3 different loop sizes at the back, just like a bra so if your weight fluctuates a bit like me during the month you can still wear your belt. It features a deep front with a shorter back, which means it won’t squish your butt. I wear a size AU16 in this style, it is however available in a size range of a AU8 through to an AU22.

The Nouveau bullet bra is one of my favorites and one of my first direct purchases from What Katie Did. This super comfortable bra is perfect for giving an outfit a more vintage feel by adding a vintage shaped bust line, since the moulded cup bras of the world today weren’t really around in the 40s and 50s. The Nouveau bullet bra and Curve Bullet bra are both wireless styles that offer a true vintage bust shape. This style is a soft cup bra, so if you aren’t used to soft cup styles it may feel a little daunting at first. This bra style features a fitted band with elastic in the front (under the cups) and a small portion at the back to help with the best fit. This is a feature I really like as it makes wearing this bra much easier at times when I may be a little bloated as well as having two different eye hook size clips at the back. Made from Satin, this bra is a great staple to any vintage wardrobe and definitely adds a bit of glamour to any look. If you find you don’t quite fill the ‘point’ of a bullet bra, What Katie Did also sell bullet bra inserts to help fill it out. I’m wearing a 38C, which is my normal bra size. If you are a DD or over, the Curve bra is the same style just made for a fuller bust! Available in a range of an A cup right through to an F cup.

With this set I opted for the full size knicker, as I find they give me the best shape. The knickers are made of the same power mesh as the suspender belt with a matching satin detail at the front. Worn together this really is a nice subtle addition to what would have otherwise been a plain black set. The attention to detail with something as simple as knickers is something I adore as none of the seams create lines or bumps to your silhouette and I actually love wearing these under pants on their own as the power mesh helps smooth out my shape. Definitely a comfortable and gorgeous pair of briefs and a pair I get a lot of wear out of! If full briefs aren’t your jam, a ‘little’ knickers are also available, which have the same front pattern but are just a narrower style. There is also the thong, which again has the same satin front but instead offers a more revealing back. I wear the briefs in a size AU18. I probably could have sized down but prefer my briefs to be a bit looser for comfort. The knickers are available in an AU size 8 through to 22, meaning these can be worn by a variety of ladies of different shapes and sizes.

The Maitresse girdlette is a step up in the shaping department from ladies who want a bit more from their foundations than the suspender belt offers. Their girdlette is a cross between a suspender belt and a girdle, but without the extreme firmness most girdles provide while still offering smoothing and shaping. The Maitresse girdlette is my most comfortable foundation in my lingerie drawers and is one I reach for regularly. The Maitresse girdlette is especially lovely as it’s a roll on which is also great for beginners who may be intimidated by the hook and eye closures of more firmer undergarments. Made of a single layer of corsetory power mesh, this girdle is great for giving smoothing under tight garments without a heap of lines as well as worn under swing styles for a smoother finish. 

Like the Maitresse suspender belt it features 6 suspender clips (front, side and back) which are metal for a sturdy fixture. The straps on this girdlette aren’t adjustable however they do have a fair amount of stretch. I personally love wearing this girdlette over the bottom half of my corset to help reduce the lines and bulk that show up under clothes as well as wearing it on its own. A truly comfortable piece of lingerie, its definitely one I’d recommend to ladies who are intimidated by firmer girdles but still want the look or to get a feel for what a girdle entails. I’m wearing the size 18, it does however had a decent amount of stretch and in reality if I’d wanted a ‘tighter’ fit I could have sized down. The Girdlette is available in an AU8-18.

Overall I’ve been wearing this set for a number of months now and I find the wear and tear to be incredibly minimal, with no loose strands or breaks. I hand wash my foundations weekly then air dry them and find they respond really well to that method. I’ve also found these styles great for warmer weather, especially the girdlette for days I still want shaping but its too hot to wear a corset or something more restrictive. A set I adore and would definitely recommend for not just beginners but ladies who regularly wear foundations and want a simple but elegant set for regular wear.

I perfectly teamed my set for this shoot with a pair of red glamour seam stockings from What Katie Did. I reviewed these not long ago on my blog as a great style of stocking for ladies with thicker thighs as the wider stretchier welt makes for a better fit. You can read that review and read my comparison of the glamour seams to the original What Katie Did stocking style by clicking here.

The Maitresse set is reasonably priced for our poorer Australian dollar too, with shipping that also won’t break the bank and a 10 day average time to arrive in Australia. The prices of the Maitresse set are:

Nouveau/Curve Bullet Bra - $51.50AU

Narrow Suspender Belt - $51.50AU

Deep Suspender Belt - $55.00AU

Full Knicker - $39.00AU

Little Knicker - $31.50AU

Thong - $28.50AU

Girdlette - $61.50AU

With shipping to Australia $22AUD.

You can shop the What Katie Did Store by clicking here.

I hope you’ve all enjoyed this review and I have no doubt you’ll keep seeing me wearing this glamourous set on my Instagram!

Til next time darlings!

Disclaimer: Whilst I received some of this lingerie as a brand Ambassador for WKD, all opinions expressed are honest to help ensure the most accurate information for my readers. 

1940s Seamstress magic with The Black Pinafore

As a small business owner, I know the amount of effort that goes into running a small business. So when I can, I try and support other small business owners as I’ve been so fortunate to be supported in my own business endeavours.  Seamstresses in particular are a group of women I admire. I’ve been wanting to learn to sew forever but can never seem to find the time to do. I feel like learning to sew would be especially helpful with my love of the 1940s, as my hips are a constant hurdle for this era. So I recently took the plunge and ordered a commission of a 1940s style dress I adore from Italian Seamstress The Black Pinafore.

Flowers ~ Black Rose Double from Daisy Jean
Necklace ~ Black Beads from Debstar Designs
Brooch ~ Peggy Carter Brooch from Miss Lady A Broad
Dress ~ Custom 1940s dress made from a Vintage Pattern by The Black Pinafore
Shoes ~ Marilyn pumps in red from Royal Vintage Shoes

The Black Pinafore is a small one woman seamstress store I found while hunting for 1940s goodies on etsy. I followed them on Instagram for what felt like forever before I got up the courage to contact owner Deborah to make a purchase. With the Australian dollar not being as strong as the Euro, I contacted Deborah about paying a purchase off in instalments. Thankfully Deborah was super understanding and the instalments were easily broken up into individual listings for me, so I could pay them with ease when I was ready. 

Once my custom dress was paid in full, the fun really started.  Deborah, the owner and Seamstress of the Black Pinafore was great in keeping in touch and keeping me upto date. I selected my fabric from a variety she sent me to choose from and the construction began. Her attention to detail during this construction period was wonderful as she also contacted me to choose my button and matching belt buckle detail. Once construction started it only took a couple of weeks to complete. Shipping from Italy was around 3 weeks and it was tracked, which was wonderful for helping me keep upto date with where my parcel was. My dress arrived well packaged with a gorgeous set of matching earrings. 

As this was my first ever made to order item, I must admit I was a bit nervous. My body shape doesn’t fit the standard ‘form’ for clothing (I’m quite short in the torso but with small rounded shoulders but big in the hips) so I was unsure if it would fit despite measuring myself a couple of times. I was delighted to find this dress fits beautifully with or without foundation garments! The belt is the perfect size and I love the touches of the vintage buckle and matching button. To get this garment on I simply unbutton the front and pull over my head. Having been made from a vintage pattern this dress has such a wonderful true vintage feel. And the fabric colour is currently one of my favorites in my wardrobe as well! The construction has been beautifully done and I noticed there has also been some hand sewing done too, which is a beautiful touch to a handmade garment. The only thing I'd change would be to make the dress a few inches longer. Otherwise its perfect.

The perfect brooch for this gorgeous dress was my PeggyCarter brooch from Miss Lady A Broad! A gorgeously made piece designed and made here in Australia, it’s a subtle way of paying homage to one 1940s woman I adore. You can also match her with Captain America, who is also in the Lady A Broad store. 

My custom made commission from The Black Pinafore cost me $158.05AU split over 3 payments and $48AU for tracked postage to Australia. Being able to break the payments down made this a manageable purchase for me and I have absolutely no regrets about adding a beautifully made custom piece from a Seamstress into my wardrobe. I’m hoping it won’t be my last custom made piece! While her commissions list is currently full til October 2017 (she is definitely worth the wait though people!) she also has a small selection of ready made goodies in her etsy store as well!

I hope you’ve all enjoyed this review darlings!

Til next time 

Celebrating a Subtle Summer in Love Ur Look Clothing

When we think summer fashion, we automatically tend to think bright statement colours and prints. Summer is fun, bold and statement making. While bright prints are super fun, they definitely aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. As a retro gal who adores bright colours and works in the corporate world, I often find myself walking as a lone brightly clad figure in a sea of black, navy and grey. While I do love this contrast, I definitely also have days where I like to celebrate the brighter things in less of a super statement way which is why I’ve found myself completely in love with one of my newest wardrobe additions from Love Ur Look Clothing.

Flowers ~ Melody clip from Daisy Jean
Brooch ~ Calming Miranda from Miss Lady A Broad
Dress ~ Tiki keyhole dress from Love Ur Look Clothing
Shoes ~ No brand yellow peep toe heels

For those who aren’t familiar with Love Ur Look Clothing, I’ve shared them with you twice before. A great retro inspired clothing brand hailing from the UK, Love Ur Look Clothing make some very unique style dresses in fun fabrics. Two things that for me have always stood out about Love Ur Look is their unique necklines and dress backs along with the fact their dresses are made from cotton, something that for me is so important during the scorching Australian summers. Love Ur Look is also ethnically made which is something this brand is very proud of!

The Tiki Keyhole dress is a very pretty dress from their newest release which is perfect for the spring and summer seasons! (Or winter, if like me you’re in denial about how cold and wet it is!). This dress is also fabulous for people who require more discrete necklines without taking away from their pinup styling. Made of a 100% cotton, this dress breathes beautifully while still being warm in the cooler months. It features a back zip which had no snags or catches when doing up , a matching fabric belt and did I mention deep hidden pockets in the skirt too!? We all know how girls lose it when something has pockets!

The fabric is a stunning ‘distressed’ tiki print, which is a much softer tribute to summer florals than one normally sees. I absolutely adore this aspect of the dress as I found it gave a greater freedom to style it without accessories clashing or getting lost. It also wasn’t as overpowering on days I felt like lifting my mood without walking around like a colour beacon. The fabric is beautifully soft to touch and the soft pastel colourings through the dress are truly perfect for outdoor spring events and other summer social gatherings…or just a trip to the shops because I’m dressed up 90% of the time anyway!

The softer fabric also makes this dress great for a more casual look. It doesn’t look out of place with my unstyled hair and some simple make up but is also easily dressed up for an event. I talk in almost every review I do that for me, versatility is such a massive thing when I add things into my wardrobe! This dress definitely ticks that box on so many levels. Dressed down or up, this dress is a show stopper.

As I said before, the different bust and back lines of Love Ur Look clothing is one of the things that really sets them apart. In the Keyhole Tiki dress, there is a beautiful subtle cut out pattern along the bust. For me this detailing works very harmoniously with the print, as its enough to make a small statement and look incredible pretty without overpowering or trying to compete with the print. Size wise this dress is pretty true to. I’m wearing the XL which according to my measurements is best for my natural shape, but being an open hip dress I can easily enjoy this dress laced into a corset or without as well.

The perfect brooch for my shoot styling was the Calming Miranda brooch from Australian Store Lady A Broad. This brooch is extra special too! $5 out of each Calming Miranda brooch gets donated to the Headspace, an organisation that works to improve youth mental health. This smiling Miranda is helping to support young people battling their own demons and I think that’s a truly beautiful thing. You can purchase a Calming Miranda brooch by clickinghere.

I hope you’ve all enjoyed this review! I absolutely adore this dress and I’m really looking forward to this coming spring (which is still 2.5 months away!!) to be able to wear this dress so much more! I can also tell its going to be a summer staple, as our summers down under just keep getting warmer and this cotton will breath so beautifully.

The Tiki Keyhole dress retails for £58.00/$96.72AU + postage, which is a great price for such a beautifully made dress.

I’ve got some more coming this week so keep your eyes peeled! Lingerie reviews are also going to start dropping from next week so keep your eyes open for those.

Til next time darlings!

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