Like a tiger with Ursula from Lady Volup

Would you believe me if I told you that prior to my 20s I was pretty much a fashion victim. I felt lost and confuddled in the world of modern clothing. Nothing seemed to suit my curvier shape or speak to me in the way pinup does. When I found pinup/retro styling, it felt like I was coming home and that I'd found my fit. Sometimes, you find a dress that can still give you that wonderful warm feeling. I got that with my Ursula Dress in Bohemain Tiger Print dress from Lady Voluptuous.

Flowers ~ Orange Double Roses from Daisy Jean
Earrings ~ Hollywood Hoops from Retro Resins
Bangle ~ Butterscotch Maiden Bangle from Spendette
Dress ~ Bohemian Tiger Print Ursula Dress from Lady Voluptuous
Shoes ~ Addie Heels in navy by Miss L Fire From Royal Vintage Shoes

This is my second dress from Lady V London, my first from the Lady Voluptuous range which is their plus size range and I must admit its definitely a very welcome addition to my wardrobe (you can read my first review by clicking here). Lady V London/Lady Voluptuous is a UK based brand that specialising in fun prints in swing and wiggle style dresses. Their cuts are timeless, flattering across a range of figures and comfortable. Their dresses feature conventional 'pretty' pinup prints in florals as well as fun different prints like the Bohemian Tiger print Ursula dress. It was this unusual print that drew me to this stunning dress.

The Ursula cut of dress is a stunning V 'wrap' front style bust, which allows for cleavage with also offering some coverage. The skirt is a swing style with some front pleats that are great for smoothing the hips and tummy. This dress is also super flattering with or without a petticoat on due to these pleats. This dress features a back zip that didn't catch and zipped with ease. The short sleeves also offer some upper arm coverage for gals who prefer sleeved styles to sleeveless.

This Bohemian Tiger print is also so beautiful. I love the play of colours through this pattern. The main focus of this pattern is the water colour tigers head, but this print also features other goodies like pineapples, tropical leaves, peacock fathers, hibiscus and lotus flowers. The colours are so fun and varied which makes it such fun to accessorise! For this shoot I had fun teaming it with navy and orange, who colours that play strongly through the print.

For size reference, I'm wearing the size 16. I do find it a bit loose in the shoulders, but this is a common issue I have as my shoulders are quite narrow and rounded. In this style though it definitely doesn't hinder the wear of this dress. I can also comfortably wear this style with or without a corset, which was my aim. I prefer dresses I can wear with or without shapewear, as there are definitely days I don't feel like rocking a corset. 

I'm so grateful to the amazing retro brands that have helped me find myself in my mid to late 20s. For making such beautiful clothes that we can enjoy and wear to help embrace our own unique beauty and I love being able to share that with you all!

This gorgeous Ursula dress is currently on sale for £35.00/58AUD + postage, which for such a fabulous dress is an absolute steal! This is a dress I'm definitely going to get a lot of wear out of this coming spring and I'm looking forward to the weather warming up enough so I can enjoy it more!

I hope you've all enjoyed this review lovelies! 

Til next time

Disclaimer: Whilst I received this dress in collaboration with Lady Volup, all opinions expressed are honest to help ensure the most accurate information for my readers. 

Spring dreaming in Carolyn from Karina Dresses

Winter has definitely arrived here down under in Australia. The morning air definitely bites and nights are spent rugged up infront of the heater or under warm blankets simply trying to warm up. Now while I adore spring and autumn, for the weather balances they offer, winter is definitely my second favorite season, ahead of summer as my least. While its chilly, it makes layering up in my pinup clothes manageable. Something that can definitely be an issue in the height of summer. And while most people normally tend to lean towards greys, blacks and whites in the cooler months, I do like to buck that trend and continue wearing my favorite colours and florals all the way through the season. So despite our cooler weather, I was still so excited to see the Spring range that’s arrived at Karina dresses in time for the USA Spring/Summer and I certainly wasn’t going to let the cold bring me down. 

Flowers ~ Red Rose Double from Daisy Jean
Necklace ~ Green Beads from Debstar Designs
Brooch ~ Enchanted rose brooch from Deer Arrow (discontinued)
Dress ~ Carolyn Dress in Pink Lily from Karina Dresses
Shoes ~ Nita Heels from Royal Vintage Shoes

I’ve been featuring Karina dresses on my blog for well over 12 months and I’ve adored sharing them with you!  They are a great brand for pinups who want a low maintenance look, so perfect for ladies on the go a lot who just don’t have a lot of spare time to iron and steam outfits. This has also become my favorite dress to travel in due to its comfort and easy wear. Their crease free material as not only super comfortable but also very stylishly cut with their shapes suiting a variety of body shapes and sizes. Another fun thing about karina dresses is their shapes stay the same but they release new prints, which means confidence in knowing how a cut of dress will look on you but still adding a different look to your wardrobe!

This is my first Carolyn style dress from Karina Dresses and like my others, it definitely ticks a lot of the boxes. Karina dresses don’t have zips, you simply pull them over your head. This allows the dress to not be hindered by bunching zips. The Carolyn features a V front, capped sleeves and a waist band. I particularly love this cut of dress for a more 40s feel on days I don’t feel like wearing a petticoat and the bust shape offers enough coverage to wear with my bullet bras. The cut of this dress makes it a great all rounder too. The top style is great for in the office, out to an event or just for a casual day. As a gal who likes dresses I can wear for any occasion, versatile pieces are a must and as always, my latest Karina Dresses dress has ticked all the boxes!

The print of this dress is also absolutely beautiful. I adore florals and Karina dresses seem to have a knack for creating pretty floral patterns for their designs. This pink lily pattern is very elegant, helping lift this dress to a more formal attire with the right accessories. Pink and green are two of my favorite colours, so to have them together in a dress is absolutely lovely. As per usual I’m wearing my usual size of a M/L. Karina dresses also fall nicely over my curves which is always a win and helps to flatter curvier and slimmer body shapes.

Karina dresses retail for just $108US/$136AU + postage and as I always say, they are worth the investment. A dress that can be worn across a multitude of occasions, that’s comfortable, figure flattering and beautiful. What more could a girl want.

I hope you’ve all enjoyed this review! It was definitely a chilly morning to brave out in the park for this shoot but totally worth it!

Til next time darlings

Disclaimer: Whilst I received this dress in collaboration with Karina Dresses, all opinions expressed are honest to help ensure the most accurate information for my readers. 

Sultry with Veronica ~ Lingerie loungewear from My Retro Closet

Its no secret I adore my foundations. I wear them almost every day now days and I’ve loved expanding my foundations wardrobe to include goodies I never thought I’d try and enjoy. But my love of lingerie doesn’t just stop with stockings and bullet bras. I also have a love of robes, nighties and other ‘lounge wear’ from the vintage eras. There’s something so elegant and sensual about flowing fabrics over a bullet bra. A peak of stocking from under ruffles. Fearing I wouldn’t use it, I previously have been lacking in this part of my wardrobe. But thanks to my Retro Closet, that void has begun to be filled.

Wearing Lingerie from What Katie Did with the Veronica Midi robe by My Retro Closet in Red

My Retro Closet is a small business based from the UK that features a mix of items from much loved lingerie brands and handmade items too. Why does this brand sound familiar you may ask? Well I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to interview the seamstress and owner of My RetroCloset last month (click here to read). One thing that is so special is that Abi not only hand makes all the items in her My Retro Closet range, but she designs them as well. When I reached out to her to interview her, we thought it would be great to share an item that I loved with my followers and the item that caught my eye the most was the Veronica Midi robe.

My Veronica robe arrived beautifully packed in lilac paper all the way from the UK. I was so excited to pull it out of the paper and find it as vividly red as I’d hoped and so soft. It felt so luscious running through my fingers and I couldn’t wait to get it on. This resulted in what would have been an amusing afternoon for my neighbours to witness, as a flounced around my unit in my suspender belt and bullet bra, feeling lime a glamour queen in my new robe. The Veronica Robe is as comfortable to wear as she is to touch and can keep enough warmth in without making you too hot.

Now this robe does come in a one size fits all, as its open and the sleeves are flowy. Length wise, I'm 165cm tall and it comes down to my mid calf. I like the length as it adds a bit of drama without it dragging across the floor and getting dirty. The Veronica robe features soft mesh ruffles along the sleeves and bottom which I absolutely adore. I've surprisingly worn it a lot around the house since owning it and its my favorite thing to slip into after I have my shower and get read for the day. 

Overall, I’m super in love with my Veronica Robe and I’m already planning another My Retro Closet addition later this year! The Veronica Robe is comfortable yet practical. It makes me feel so sexy walking around the house in it and it adds a bit of glamour to my evenings and mornings. It also comes with an optional waist tie too, if you want to wear it closed. If red isn’t your colour either, the Veronica Robe is also available in Baby Pink, Lilac and Powder Blue as well as having a matching baby doll as well! Its beautifully hand crafted. I could not find a flaw in the craftsmanship and the love Abi has for her creations definitely shows. This is a hand made brand that will not disappoint.

The Veronica Robe retails for £80.00/$133.90AUD + postage which is a wonderful price for such a beautiful hand crafted item! It can be hard sometimes being an aussie in pinup with our exchange rate but some things are definitely worth the investment!

I hope you've all enjoyed this review and I'm really excited to be getting back to my regular blogging next week after a crazy Miss Pinup Australia weekend!

Til next time darlings

Disclaimer: Whilst I received these items in collaboration with My Retro Closet, all opinions expressed are honest to help ensure the most accurate information for my readers.