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. 

Red hot curves in Vivacious Vixen Apparel

Curves are something that have been a part of my life since I was a teen. I developed relatively early in my teens and while my body has changed considerably since then, the fact I've been curvy has continued to be the case. Now days, I try and dress to flatter my curves as best as I can. As I've talked about in earlier posts, I gained weight last year and its only been in recent months I've been challenging myself to wear tighter styles, as they are something I've recently been shying away from. But, with some persistance and self love wiggle styles are making a comeback into my daily look, so when I was contacted by Vivacious Vixen Apparel to collaborate with them on one of their wiggle dress styles, I knew I couldn't say no!

Earrings ~ Gold Hoops from the Desperate Beatnik
Flowers ~ Red Roses from Daisy Jean Floral Designs
Brooch ~ Señorita Sherry Blossom Brooch from Miss Lady A Broad
Dress ~ Reversible Aurora Dress from Vivacious Vixen Clothing
Shoes ~ Marco Gianni Black Suede heels

Vivacious Vixen Apparel is a Canadian brand of clothing which started with one woman sewing clothings that she wanted to suit her. She begun selling her creations on ebay and now has her own store! When she suggested the Aurora dress, I was instantly sold on its versatility. A dress for both the office and the evening! Who can say no to that!

The Aurora dress is the ultimate dress for pinup ladies who like to work hard and play harder as its actually two dresses in one! On one side, you have a boatneck front for the office, allowing you to mesh dangerous curves while still being conservative for the office. Flip it around the other way for evening wear and you have a plunging neckline. Made of a comfortable Poly spandex blend, this dress has no zippers and is simply pulled over the head. The fabric meshes to your body beautifully and if you carry a bit of weight on your tummy like I do, the peplum covers it beautifully.

I must admit, the day I wore this dress I felt incredible! It was so comfortable to wear, I felt like an absolute babe and I got a lot of compliments and looks! While the length is a little shorter than I'm used to, I love the overall look of the dress which for me balances it out. I'm wearing the large and it fits beautifully. The fabric has a lot of stretch and even when stretched out fits beautifully.

This amazing dress retails for $64.99CAD which works out to be $68.95AUD as the Canadian exchange rate is incredibly more forgiving than the US or the UK dollar! She does ship worldwide too!

You also have a chance to win this incredibly versatile dress for yourself as well! I've teamed up with Vivacious Vixen Apparel to offer one lucky winner a chance to win this dress for themselves! Simply head to my Instagram and share the competition image for your chance to go in the draw! The competition ends this weekend!

I do love the Senorita Sherry Blossom brooch from Miss Lady A Broad with this outfit. The red on red with her comb detailing. I have a blog post coming later this month about the incredible Miss Lady A Broad!

I hope you've all enjoyed this blog and good luck to all the ladies who have entered the competition! This month is shaping up to be an amazing blog month, so I hope you all enjoy the posts coming your way!

Til next time darlings!

Disclaimer: Whilst I received this dress as part of a collaboration with Vicacious Vixen Apparel, all opinions expressed are honest to help ensure the most accurate information for my readers. 

Nautical Wiggles with Tatyana Boutique and Collectif ~ Embracing my curves

I've always been on the curvier side. Whether its at my smallest or my biggest. That has never changed. Probably never will and its something for the most part I'm ok with. I have found though, since putting on a bit of weight last year that I've been shying away from wiggle styles which is sad as they are a style I used to adore and wear very regularly. While I am trying to work a healthier lifestyle back into my recently changed life and hectic schedule, I have also made the decision that I don't want to let my insecurities rule me and as a result I've been trying to work wiggle styles back into my wardrobe.

Scarf ~ Repro red nylon scarf
Earrings ~ Gold glitter hoops from Daisy Jean Floral Designs
Brooch ~ Happy Feet Brooch by Erstwilder From Coconette Oz
Top ~ Discontinued from Tatyana Boutique
Skirt ~ Agarva Linen Navy Skirt by Collectif bought from Gwynnies
Shoes ~ Loraine Heels in red from Royal Vintage Shoes 

I picked up this gorgeous nautical blouse by Tatyana Boutique on sale at the Sydney Rock n Roll markets quite a few months ago and didn't really have a whole lot to wear it with. I was hungering for a navy wiggle skirt to wear it with and had been attempting to hunt down the original skirt they made to match, however its been discontinued for quite some time and I wasn't successful. When snapping myself up a gorgeous jumper from Gwynnies recently, I saw the Agarva skirt by Collectif in the sale section, on a whim I added it to my cart with the idea of this combo in mind.

So this gorgeous skirt arrived and despite getting the large I remember holding it up to look at it and feeling rather unsure. It didn't look very big and the straps looked huge. I tried it on and while the skirt fit pleasantly well, despite being a little loose in the waist, the straps due to my teeny shoulders were HUGE. So I removed them (they attach with buttons) and wore the skirt as a stand alone piece.

When I wore them together I was absolutely thrilled that they went so perfectly together! So much so I’ve had a lot of comments about it looking like a dress. I love the dip in the front of the waist. It really does help accentuate the waist and really brings something different to the look. As I mentioned above, this skirt does come with matching straps that are attached via buttons. As I suspected, the large straps on the skirt would be too big, despite needing the large for hips. This is easily fixed though, as popping new button holes further up the straps will make them smaller and better for wear.

I must admit, putting this outfit on, I felt like an absolute babe. I had a wiggle in my walk and a wiggle in my talk. I felt incredible and that is something beautiful. It can be incredibly hard in the world today to feel good about how you look but sometimes all you need is a killer outfit to help make you feel that way. This outfit certainly helped do that for me. The Agarva skirt is currently on sale from Gwynnies for $52AUD. It’s a skirt I can see myself getting quite a bit of wear out of and its one I’d recommend!

To style this shoot I decided to mix and match my colours a bit. I wore a red scarf to pop the colour of my shoes. I wore my gold glitter hoops from Daisy Jean Floral Designs which are currently my favorite thing. And keeping with the nautical theme without being too clique I opted to wear the adorable Happy Feet penguin brooch by Erstwilder that I got from Coconette Oz! Who doesn’t love a happy penguin!

I hope you’ve all enjoyed this post. As always, I’m happy to answer any questions you may want to leave in the comments!

Til next time lovelies!

A little black dress. Something so very timeless, classic and sexy about it, yet its something that up until recently has been incredibly under-represented in my wardrobe. In reality, I actually tend to steer clear of black. I find it to be a bit too bland for my liking and I prefer brighter happier colours. However, when seeing the Patti dress in black from Karina Dresses, I knew I had to give it a try!

Flowers ~ Red Rose Double from Daisy Jean Floral Designs
Beads ~ Vintage
Brooch ~ Marilyn Brooch from Deer Arrow
Dress ~ Patti Dress in Black Pointe from Karina Dresses
Belt ~ Off another dress
Shoes ~ Red Lorraine Heels by B.A.I.T Footwear from Royal Vintage Shoes

The Patti dress is a straight cut dress made of black pointe. As with all Karina Dresses, this beauty is crease free with no need to iron. Simply hand to dry after a wash! Karina Dresses also don't have zips, you simply pull them on which is also a feature I adore as I find sometimes zips can bunch and wrinkle the fabric around them. This dress also features pockets, which is amazing for a wiggle style because honestly, who doesn't love pockets in anything!

The Patti dress also features a square neckline with short sleeves. I likes this shape as I found it could lend itself to both casual and formal looks, while being practical for work. The just above the knee length is also a great versatile length for functionality and practicality. 

I got this dress in a M/L, to accommodate my rather fuller lower half which is my normal size for my Karina dresses! Surprisingly, I didn't find the shoulders too loose which is a huge win as they normally are. This dress is comfortable to wear and flattering with or without foundations. 

I absolutely LOVE the styling options for this dress as well! For this shoot I decided to go with red and white, as I feel they contrast SO well against the black. By belting with such a bright colour it really does highlight the smaller waist. I also love how my Marilyn Brooch from Deer Arrow absolutely pops out from the black background of this dress. My red Daisy Jean Floral Designs Signature Rose Doubles also help bring this look into more of a formal feel.

This dress retails for $108USD which is around $142AUD. I can attest that the price tag is totally worth it! This is my third Karina Dresses dress and I absolutely love them! They are so incredibly comfortable, versatile and practical! And they do ship worldwide!

I hope you've all enjoyed this review! As always, I am more than happy to answer any questions you may have if you pop them in the notes!

Til next time darlings!

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

Judy dress

2016 is quickly shaping up to be the year of the 1940s for me. After a few years of fluffing around the 1950’s, more and more 1940s pieces have recently been sneaking into my wardrobe. The Judy dress is one 1940s style dress from Hell Bunny I’ve been eyeing off for quite some time…however only being able to find it overseas (with ridiculous exchange rates/postage costs attached) really meant it stayed on my wishlist, always feeling slightly unobtainable. Then one night I was browsing the Natasha Marie Clothing website and saw she had it in stock at a steal price so instantly snapped it up to add to my wardrobe.

Flowers ~ Daphne's Daffodils from Daisy Jean Floral Designs
Beads ~ White bead necklace from Debstar Designs
Brooch ~ Spellbound Rose Brooch from Deer Arrow
Dress ~ Judy dress in Tobacco by Hell Bunny from Natasha Marie Clothing
Shoes ~ Betty heels in brown from Royal Vintage Shoes

I can honestly say, this dress blew me away on all levels. The cut, the fit, the comfort, the look. Its just a truly incredible dress. The dress features sleeves that go to the elbow that feature a cuff and 3 button detailing as well as pleating/ruffling along the bust along with buttons under the V neck. It also features a pleated skirt, which is great for wear without a petticoat for an authentic 1940's look.

The first time I wore this dress I got so many compliments from people to and from work. Despite being repro it does have quite an authentic 1940s look. I bought the medium, which is my normal size for Hell Bunny swing styles. I was a little worries about the arms being to tight when I first got it home but found that they had a surprising amount of stretch which was awesome. Made of polyester its incredibly comfortable and can give a little. I have worn this dress with and without shapewear and both are super flattering thanks to this amazing cut.

I love this dress in the tobacco colour. For some reason, for me it just gives it a more authentic look. Since going blonde I've found my interest in wanting to dress in a more authentic look, as it just feels more doable with blonde hair as oppose to fire engine red. Plus, I also feel like the block colour allows for a broader range when it comes to accessorising. For this shoot I decided to brighten it up with a yellow daffodil hair flower, white beads for a classic look and a pretty brooch.

I truly love this brooch from Deer Arrow. The spellbound rose brooch is a layered resin brooch that gives it a 3D effect. Reminiscent of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, this brooch is such a gorgeous finishing touch to any outfit. I love how the pink pops against the brown on this dress. They work so beautifully together. 

The price of this dress is an absolute steal! I snapped mine up from Natasha Marie for $34.95AUD + postage. Natasha had it in the post to me the next day and I was so excited when it arrived. I can highly recommend Natasha Marie for Australian pinup gals!

I hope you've all enjoyed this blog post and I'm loving being back!

More reviews coming this week and next so keep your eyes peeled! As always, happy to answer any questions left in the comments!

Til next time

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas ~ The Voodoo Vixen Bernadette Dress

Living in Australia, you can kind of feel a bit out of tune with the rest of the world when Christmas rolls around. The Northern Hemisphere, in the throws of winter is for the most part sharing their winter Christmas posts of sweaters and mittens and snowmen, warm fires and snow angels. I’ve always dreamed of a white Christmas thanks to the media forever showing Christmas as winter. However, the reality here in Australia is very different. Most of our Santas used in adverts feature board shorts and thongs. Summer is sweltering hot, I normally swim or play cricket with my family and avoid the dreaded sunburn! It seems, without travelling abroad, a white Christmas could never be mine.

When Voodoo Vixen brought out the Bernadette dress, I knew I had to have it and I was thrilled they felt the same way too. I felt this dress would be the perfect way to throw some white Christmas vibes on an Australian Christmas without dying in the heat. When it arrived I was thrilled to find that the snow flake detailing as just as perfect in person as it looked online and instantly knew this dress would be a much loved addition to my wardrobe!

The Bernadette dress is made up of two layers, giving it a soft floaty feel. The underneath is a thin strap black dress, which has then been overlaid with a sheer black layer that features the snowflake embroidery. The dress features a centre back zip with a button closure at the top. A sweatheart neckline is present in the black underdress which is visible through the sheer upper layer. The sheer layer though allows this dress to be a bit more on the modest side, which for me makes it ideal to dual as a work dress.

The wearing of this dress I found incredibly comfortable. Its very flowy, there is some stretch in the fabric and it sits nicely when worn. The sheer top layer wasn’t too warm to wear on a hotter kind of day and I found that the fabric moved nicely when I walked. Wearing this dress to the shops after the photoshoot on the hunt for some lunch, I got a lot of compliments on it. It truly is beautiful in person. Its long enough that I can comfortably wear a petticoat or crinoline with it if I want to and I found this dress to be true to size (I’m wearing this dress in a medium).

The simple design and colours also make this dress a versatile number, which means you aren’t restricted to wearing it just to spread festive cheer!  I accessorized mine with white and two Christmas brooches (because two is better than one!) for the shoot, however I can see a lot of potential to accessorize this dress with a lot of different colours and I’m excited to see what I can come up with it in the next few weeks.

You can definitely expect to see this dress popping up in my outfit of the day photos as it truly is a stunning piece!

Outfit details:

Flowers – Daisy Jean Floral Designs White Gardenia Double

Beads – Debstar Designs White Beads

Brooches – Deer Arrow limited Edition Christmas Snow Flake and Erstwilder Deck the halls brooch

Dress – Bernadette Dress from Voodoo Vixen

Belt - off another dress I own

Shoes – kmart

I hope you’ve all enjoyed this post and I’m more than happy to answer any questions or feedback you may have in the comments!

Amazing photography done by Russell Thomas!

Thank you all so much for reading!

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.