Monday 24 July 2017

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. 

Wednesday 19 July 2017

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. 


Friday 14 July 2017

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. 

Friday 7 July 2017

Nude foundations with House of Satin


Its a bit crazy sometimes for me to think how much my love of lingerie, especially vintage lingerie has grown over the past 2-3 years and how much its helped me flourish into a young woman instead of a young girl. Vintage foundations were something I'd long been interested in but had always been intimidated by, something I know many women feel. But making the leap to wearing retro foundations and undergarments pretty much full time has been one of the best choices I've made for my confidence. I am so grateful too that I have such amazing followers who allow me to embrace my love of foundations even with a curvy body. A brand I featured early on in my lingerie wearing days was House of Satin and its here again on my blog after they've recently relaunched. 

Wearing Foundation Control brief in nude, Foundation Lace suspender belt in nude, Foundation Lace Classic Bra  in Nude and Nude back seam stockings from House of Satin
House of Satin is a young brand from the UK was also just starting when I was. At the time I purchased and incredibly comfortable longline bra and suspender belt set. Originally known for its low priced designs which were possible due to using offcuts to make their pieces, they revamped their brand completely in 2016/17 to bring a better quality product to their store. Their new designs have a wider variety and nicer detailing as well as having a broader range. They've also introduced some gorgeous Deco styled bedwear, which is stunning in its simplicity.


With lingerie becoming a more regular occurrence on my blog and in my social media spaces, I was super excited when House of Satin reached out to me to share my thoughts on some pieces from their Foundation in Lace range, which is one of their new 'everyday friendly' lingerie collections they released with their revamp. I opted for beige, as I'm trying to get out of my comfort zone (I wear so much black now days) and it would be a good option under my white and cream wardrobe items. 


My set arrived pretty quickly with a pair of complimentary stockings and I was excited to give this set a try! It quickly became clear that the control brief packed a bigger punch than I'd expected and the sheer fabric made it impossible for the suspender belt that matched my natural measurements to stay up. A quick conversation with the wonderful House of Satin team quickly saw the size issue rectified and I soon had a set that fit comfortably. 


Firstly, I love this set. I love the soft lace and it has a subtle femininity that I find myself really enjoying. Its well made without any loose threads or noticeable flaws. I'll note here House of Satin make their lingerie in the UK. Its perfect for wearing under my lighter garments and its nice to be introducing some beige into my wardrobe. It has its pros and cons on my curvy form so I'm going to go through each piece and share the sizing with you and my thoughts on each.


Starting at the bottom, the suspender belt first. I really love the suspender belt. Its pretty, its simple and its comfortable. The stocking clasps are metal which is a big tick for me and I didn't have any of them pop out throughout a day of wear which is awesome. The straps are adjustable as well, which is great for a variety of shapes and I enjoy wearing it. It features 6 straps, with 3 on either side which I've previously said is the minimum I like to wear now days. When I wear the control brief with it I wear a size 12 in the suspender belt but without it I can comfortably wear a size 16 (the 16 slides down and won't stay up when worn with the control brief). The control brief on its own is also great. I've been loving wearing it with my vintage longline bra to give a smooth streamline under trousers and to help smooth me out. I wear a size 18 in this brief and while I love it, I am very conscious of the muffin it gives me without that smoothing of a longline bra. Matched with the House of Satin longline bra I think it would be an amazing combo for great shape.


Now while I adore these two items individually, I find them difficult to wear together. I've worn them together a couple of times now and it always has the same outcome. The slippery fabric of the Nylon/Elasticine blend, the suspender belt shifts around a lot and moves around a lot. In hindsight I feel the Nude full lace brief from this range would have been a better match for me and my curves, as it would have given a smoother transition from my bust to my hips. These briefs are definitely on my wishlist atm, as I feel that with the matching Longline bra and the lace briefs, this set could be a great versatile set to mix and match!


On that note, I absolutely adore the bra. Featuring lace cups that are mesh lined, I love the subtle detailing this gives to what would have been an otherwise plainer looking set. The small bow at the centre is also a soft feminine touch. This bra features comfortable adjustable straps that aren't too narrow and I adore the vintage shape this bra can give under a blouse or a tee. While its definitely no in 'bullet bra' territory, its a great soft cup wire free bra option for vintage gals looking for comfort and a vintage feel without too much point. For size reference I'm wearing a 38C which is my normal bra size.


I was also sent a pair of their new seam stockings to try, as these are an option they've recently added. These stockings are soft to touch and well made with a nude welt and a back seam (available in sheer black and nude). While very pretty and comfortable on my legs, I did struggle with getting the welts to accommodate my fuller thighs, which did made them a bit pinchy through the inner thigh area which was a shame. But I am aware my thighs are a bit fuller than most so its often hit or miss for me in the stocking department. My thighs atm are around 27-28 inches at their biggest, so ladies with slimmer thighs than mine should have no issue with the fit of these!


I hope you've all enjoyed this review and will give House of Satin a look! While some of my items feel a bit mis-matched, I've been incredibly happy with the quality and fit of my pieces and I'm very excited to see what House of Satin release next!



You can shop their Foundation in Lace set in Nude by clicking here. If nude isn't your colour its also available in Black and White as well. The items featured in this review are priced below:


While they aren't the low cost brand they once were, their prices fairly reflect their new higher quality pieces and wider ranges without breaking the bank and they ship worldwide! I'm definitely looking forward to adding some more House of Satin to my lingerie wardrobe and seeing what else they release in the future!

Til next time darlings!

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



Wednesday 5 July 2017

Into the woods with Erstwilder

Wearing King of Our Forest Brooch & Fallen Acorn Earrings from the Woodland range
Darlings, I don’t think I’ve ever been as excited for a range as I am about the new Erstwilder Wood Land range. A range with fun pieces that make my autumn loving heart happy, this range is full of beautiful critters and quirky lumberjacks meaning there is something to suit everyone’s tastes! I wanted to share 3 of my favorites with you in today’s post as this stunning range has just dropped online so you can snap yourself some of these goodies now!

Wearing King of Our Forest Brooch from the Woodland range
My absolute favorite from this range is the King of ourForest brooch! Being born in May, Autumn is naturally one of my favorite times of the year. In regards to nature, its also such a beautiful time of the year too. When the lush greens of summer fade to a beautiful symphony of golds, oranges, reds and browns. While I find winter quite sad with its lack of colour and life (my area has a lot of deciduous plants in it, so its looking rather bare), autumn just makes my heart sing. I’ve seen a few autumn style leaf brooches come through, but I was yet to find one that really caught my attention. Until I saw the King of Our Forest brooch in the new Woodland Range from Erstwilder. The beautiful dual toned purple colourings really caught my attention as something different and in person incredibly beautiful. It’s a very simple design that really is captivating and I love that the purple changes colour slightly with movement. The purple colour also means he’ll be easy to wear year round and not just in autumn as well as being the perfect size to pop on an outfit without overpowering it. 

Wearing Fallen Acorn Earrings from the Woodland range
This range also saw me falling in love with a pair of earrings, which is outside the norm for me. As I work in a job role that requires a lot of phone time, I find earrings can be quite cumbersome. But the FallenAcorn earrings were just too cute to pass up! These simple dangles are such a pretty addition to any look and as a girl who wears a lot of earthy tones already I know they’ll go with so so much. I also love that these can be worn with other brooches and not just goodies from the woodland range. They’d look equally as cute with bunnies, foxes and other gritters from other collections too! I’m excited to start styling these and see what looks I can create with them.

Wearing A Fallen Acorn earrings and A Fairy Wish brooch from the newest Erstwilder Woodland Range
And finally my Fairy  brooch dreams have been realised with the perfect blue woodland called A Fairy Wish in this range! The cutest little fairy holding a golden star, she’ll melt your heart. I love her sassy little foot flick and her wings. I can tell this little beauty is one that’s going to get so much wear in my wardrobe as she’s going to go so well with the abundance of pastels I have in my wardrobe. Her blue dress also makes me think of Navi from Zelda, with her blue glow! Definitely an absolute cutie who will fulfill the hearts desires of any fairy loving lady!

Kind-Hearted Keresh

Forest Fun Guy
The two other brooches I’ve absolutely fallen in love with in this range are the Kind-Hearted Keresh and Forest Fun Guy. After recently watching Bambi when my siblings came to visit (and subsequently balling my eyes out because its Bambi) I found myself really drawn to Keresh. He’s such a majestic looking fellow yet his kind hearted nature is shown by his bird friends on his antlers, which also offer a pop of colour! The Forest Fun Guy was also an instant love affair as I actually have a mushroom dress he’d look absolutely killer with! Plus I do adore mushrooms in general, they tie in so well with fairies and I’d love to wear the two together!

Wearing A Fallen Acorn earrings and A Fairy Wish brooch from the newest Erstwilder Woodland Range
This range is now live on the Erstwilder website! You can also snap it up at some of my favorite Australian stockists:


But its a highly anticipated release so be quick! Til next time darlings!

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

Tuesday 4 July 2017

Totally on fleck with Lady K Loves

 

We all know I’m a sucker for separates. As a pear girl, separates are a great way to get a fab fit on both my top and lower halves. I do also lean more towards authentic cuts of separates with a strong versatile feel as quite simply, they go with more. One company I love for fun separates is Lady KLoves and for me, their  Jess top in GreyFleck ticks all those boxes.

Flowers ~ Red Double from Daisy Jean
Beads ~ Red Beads from Debstar Designs
Brooch ~ Hello Phone brooch from Deer Arrow (discontinued)
Top ~ Jess top in Grey Flick from Lady K Loves
Skirt ~ Black circle skirt from Hell Bunny
Petticoat ~ Banned Apparel Petticoat from Natasha Marie Clothing
Shoes ~ Lorraine Heels from B.A.I.T Footwear


Lady K Loves is a brand I’ve featured before on my blog. A great brand based out of the UK, I love their authentic look and curve friendly designs. Known in the online retro community for their ‘curve hugging’ jeans, this is a brand that is great for curvy girls looking for garments to give them a killer fit. Earlier this year they had some smashing new pieces drop on the website, one of those being the Jess top in grey flick (also available in a stunning mustard too! Which I also have in my wardrobe) which is a great staple for any time of the year, namely due to its simple print which can help bring something fresh to any outfit pairing.



The Jess top is a simple short sleeve cotton jersey top with a relaxed collar. This simple cut of top means it lends itself to a variety of different outfits, whether it be in the office, a casual day out or a night out with friends. This is a top that can easily swap from one to the other with ease depending on what you pair it with. For this shoot I styled this top in a smart casual look which I’d happily wear to the office. This look can easily be achieved with their darling skirt in black and the feel of the outfit can change completely depending on the accessories you decide to team with it. I opted for a bold red to contrast the darker tones, which give a great pop of colour.


Being made of jersey cotton, the Jess top does have a bit of stretch to it and breaths very well making it a good option all year round. On the first wear I did find the sleeves a bit snug, but that quickly passed. I’m wearing a size large and absolutely loving it. The cut also has a great authentic feel to it, which is enhanced by wearing a vintage soft cup bra (as I did for this shoot). This top would also look fabulous with their trousers as well! This simple yet comfortable top is a great staple for any gal who loves to be able to mix and match their separates to the max. 


 

The Jess top is also incredibly budget friendly for a UK to AU brand, only costing around $50AU + postage! I find their postage turn around time is very quick too, I normally don't have to wait more than 10 business days for it to hit our Aussie shores either.

I've got some more Lady K Loves coming to the blog this month, so keep your eyes peeled.

Til next time darlings!

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


Saturday 1 July 2017

Monthly overview ~ June 2017

Hello darlings! 

Another month has come to a close and we've reached the halfway point of 2017! How insanely crazy is that. Busy trying to stay positive and make the most of every day, as everyday is such a gift (even if it doesn't feel like it at the time!).

So what did I get upto here on the blog in June?

Well I reviewed one of my favorite winter dresses with you, the Lola from Voodoo Vixen!


I reviewed a great winter cardigan in the form of the Jenny from Vivien of Hollway! They recently released it in some fabulous pastel hues too!


I got to give you all a peak at the newest range from Royal Vintage shoes in the form of their Evelyn oxfords! Which are the perfect 1920/30s shoe!


I visited the Boudoir in some amazingly glamorous bedroom wear from Australian Designer Evette Dubois!


Got my sweater girl on with the most adorable sweater brooch combo ever from Miss Fortune UK and Luxulite!


Took a trip back into the 1940s with the gorgeous Emma Dress from Lindy Bop.


Dreamed of summer with UK brand Love Ur Look Clothing!


And took a peak into the custom seamstress side of retro with The Black Pinafore.


And spent some time talking about my favorite Lingerie set from What Katie Did with you all!




So its been a pretty busy month. Ontop of that I've been hard at work on a new accessory release for my business Daisy Jean (which dropped last night! You can shop the range here) as well as just working through the emotional aftermath of a recent car accident. However as the month of June wraps up, I'm finding I'm back to feeling like my positive self again and I'm looking forward to some awesome things coming in June!

I also had some great outfits in June, with my favorites being below. Which is your favorite?


I hope you're all looking forward to seeing what comes to my space in July 2017! I'm also nearly finished and exciting project which I cannot wait for!

Til next time darlings!