Throwing some sass with Lady K Loves

In the world of ‘body shapes’ I’m considered a pear shape, which means basically that my bust is smaller than my hips with a small waist. I’ve always struggled with body labels and being called a pear in my earlier twenties use to bring to my frustrated tears of denial as I didn’t want to be ‘labelled’ as something different. It was particularly hard coming from a family of women who were all pretty petite and column shaped as once puberty hit I always felt like the odd one out.  While pear shaped women are being represented more now than they ever were in the 1990’s and 2000’s (though the hourglass of a large bust and big hips still seems to take the centre outside of the more petitie ladies), I find the ‘pear shape’ is still twisted into something mostly unobtainable for most women, so I wanted to share these fun photos of me with my natural shape. Now don’t get me wrong: my love of shapewear isn’t due to self-loathing or self-hate now days. I love how fun it can be to tweak my shape to suit different looks or eras and it really helps me fit into clothes better as well as giving my shape neater lines, but I do find most brands don’t really cater for pear girls. I normally have to compromise waist size to fit my hips and my bust is normally left behind completely in firm fitting one pieces. So I was incredibly excited when I received an amazing parcel of UK Brand Lady K Loves to find these amazing gingham Wendy trousers (not that I own much of it but I’m actually gingham crazy!!) and finding that they fit my body without any smoothing or cinching. Pear ladies, these pants are a must!

Scarf ~ Baby Blue scarf from Daisy Jean Floral Designs
Earrings ~ A few seasons ago blue earrings from Sparklelux
Beads ~Pastel Pink beads from Debstar Designs
Brooch ~ War Paint brooch by Vixen by Micheline Pitt from Vintage Pip
Top ~ No brand Marilyn style top
Pants ~ Wendy Trousers in Blue Gingham from Lady K Loves
Shoes ~ Kmart

LadyK Loves is a UK based brand that make retro and vintage styled pieces in limited runs. When I first heard of Lady K Loves it was due to their incredible curve friendly jeans early last year. Upon further inspection I found they also stock a tops, playsuits, skirts and outfit sets as well as their well-known jeans. One thing I’ve noticed through looking through their Instagram and hashtag is that ladies of a variety of sizes and shapes wear their clothes, so their products aren’t just suited to the girls with bigger curves. Made with fun prints and patterns, they’ll have a piece for everyone’s tastes! I was incredibly excited for the Wendy Trousers in blue gingham and after wearing them a few times to be able to give you all the best feedback, I can honestly say I’m in love! 

Firstly, I actually love gingham print! One of my aims is to bring more gingham into my wardrobe over summer and it’s such a great summer colour too in pastel blue! Blue Gingham not for you? No problem, because the Wendy trousersalso come in Black and White Leopard, Cornflower Blue, Leopard, red gingham, rose red, black and a teal stripe pattern. The Wendy Trousers are made from what feels like a cotton (their website doesn’t say but they are super breathable!) and feature a darted high waist with a tapered cigarette style leg. This high darted waist is a lifesaver for gals with a small waist and a decent size difference between their hips, as it stops any gaping (especially at the back) and the belt loops allow for the option of throwing in a pop of colour and some extra cinching. 

The Wendy trousers are done up with an invisible side zip and button, which is another great feature for smoothing the figure. I tend to carry a fair bit of my weight on my tummy, but by moving the zip to the side it reduces the bulk on the front and smooths everything out. My tummy has never looked flatter in such a light coloured pair of pants and its one of my favourite things about them. These incredible trousers not only fit my tummy but they also fit my hips and booty, which is my biggest issue with firmer pants. They aren’t too firm on my hips or my thighs and I don’t get any pulling through the crotch area (awkward) when I sit down or bend over. This for me makes these pants TRULY awesome and is one of the reasons I cannot wait to add more to my wardrobe. 

The styling potential for these pants is huge! Being such a soft pastel blue I’ve loved teaming them with baby pink so far! But I’d love to try other colour matches once I invest in some more summer tops in the next few weeks! For this shoot I kept accessories simple in white and pink to let the Wendy’s truly shine. I don’t think I’ve ever loved a firm fitting pair of pants as much as I love these ones!  I’m actively trying to not wear them constantly (which is always a good sign right?!) and I cannot wait to add some more colourways into my wardrobe. 

For reference, at a 30/32 waist and a 44/45 hip I’m wearing the size large. Some of the colours have more stretch than others (make sure you check the description and size chart when ordering!!) so it depends on if you prefer a looser more casual look or a firmer fit. Wendy trousers are normally £48/$77AUD/$58USD but their older colour ways are currently on sale for £38/$61AUD/$46USD, so if you are loving these pants now is the time to snap yourself up a pair! I received my parcel from Lady K Loves in around 10 business days internationally and it was beautifully presented!

I hope you’ve all enjoyed this review! I’ve got some more gorgeous Lady K Loves goodies coming your way very soon!

Til next time darlings!

Disclaimer: Whilst I received these pants as part of a sponsorship with Lady K Loves, all opinions expressed are honest to help ensure the most accurate information for my readers. 

Step into swing with Pinup Girl Clothing Doris Pants

I’m going to start this blog post darlings, by saying you cannot believe how difficult swing pants are to get decent photos of! I’ve been trying for MONTHS to get good enough pictures of these incredible pants to review them and I just kept coming up short. These pants are so beautiful, with the flowing crepe and the wide leg, that they were hard to photograph so you could see their details, the little things that make them amazing. But, I finally managed it and here they are!

Flowers ~ Yellow double from Daisy Jean Floral Designs
Earrings ~ Retro Hilary earrings in fine gold glitter from Daisy Jean Floral Designs
Brooch ~ Yellow ribbon gold fish brooch by Luxulite from Coconette-Oz
Top ~ Robin top in antique green from Collectif
Pants ~ Doris Swing Pants in Black from Pinup Girl Clothing
Shoes ~ Saddle shoes from Royal Vintage Shoes

Have you ever seen a store you follow post a preview and know almost instantly how much you need it? Like the need is almost primal? That’s the reaction I had to those pants. From the moment I saw the sneak peak online, I knew I needed to have them! I put the notification reminder on my pinupgirlclothing account and when they were released I did a mini clear out of things I don’t wear anymore and used the money to take the plunge and buy them. My wait wasn’t long, with my fastest ever pug deliver EVER (ordered Thursday night and arrived Tuesday morning) and I was so incredibly excited when I unwrapped them once I was home. The crepe came flowing out of the bag like magic and I hurriedly put them on to find…my feet surrounded by a heap of extra fabric.

Now I had been expecting as much. I was nervous about the sizing, as I’m normally a large on the bottom half with PUG in skirts but pants have always been trickier to gauge. So I opted to size up to the XL to play it safe. Now for reference, I’m 165cm tall. So I’m not exactly short short but I’m hardly tall.  This meant that even with platform heels on, I still had drag on the bottom. So before I could wear them properly I took myself to the local alterations store and had them hemmed, so that I could wear them with flats as well as heels. The alterations set me back around $30, as the pants are lined so there were two layers and I was thrilled to have them back and fitting my shorter frame within 24 hours! I bought my Doris pants direct from Pinup girl clothing and with the exchange rate they cost me $173AUD ($128USD) + the $30US fedex.

So what can I tell you about the PUG Doris pants? Firstly, I can tell you they are amazingly comfortable. These pants are made of a pebble crepe which gives them a wonderful vintage feel. They are also fully lined which makes them an incredible winter pant as not only are they comfortable they are warm. They feature an elastic back and a rear zip, which leaves you looking smooth at the front while also allowing some give. I adore wearing these when I’m feeling a bit bloated as they smooth everything out and the elastic allows them to still fit comfortably. The Doris pants also feature POCKETS! Which we all know are a win for any girl. The pockets in the Doris pants are deep and practical because let’s be honest, no one likes impractical pockets! I am so incredibly happy I took the chance and bought them! Absolutely no regrets!

Goldfish brooch by Luxlite.

Yellow Rose Double and Hilary Retro earrings in Gold from Daisy Jean Floral Designs

The styling of these pants is also incredible! I’ve worn it dressed up with a more formal style top. I’ve worn it casual with a knit top or a retro tee. I’ve worn them with printed blouses. Their black colour makes them incredible versatile to style. The ultimate 1940’s pants for ladies who want a pair that can do it all! For my shoot I went casual with my styling, opting to team it with more muted tones of soft green and yellow and a more classic styling of a saddle shoe.

I hope you've all enjoyed this blog post! As always, I am more than happy to answer any questions you may have in the comments on this post or on my social media pages! I truly do love these pants and hope to be bringing you some more PUG reviews soon!

Til next time darlings!

Resin accessories from Deluxe Creations

Deluxe Creations is an Australian Australian small business who I recently decided to make a purchase from, after seeing my friend Ruby purchase from them. As a small business owner myself, I decided to make a more active effort in 2016 to start supporting other small businesses and I must admit, my expectations were exceeded with Deluxe Creations.

Resin Dachshund brooch from Deluxe Creations 

Deluxe Creations comes to you from Perth Australia, created by the lovely Samantha and her husband. Their aim was to bring retro inspired jewelry that suit their vision to people and I think they did a marvellous job! I placed my first order for a pair of earrings and was delightfully surprised when my first order arrived and I found a cute little extra brooch had been sent along as well.

My parcel arrived in good time and I soon had my box of goodies in my hands! I was delighted to see such gorgeous packaging and attention to detail. They arrived beautifully wrapped in tissue paper and ribbon. I loved the different shape of the earrings. I purposely ordered earrings outside what I normally wear and what drew me to them was their gorgeous blend of colour. The adorable dachshund brooch was such a lovely added extra!

The earrings are made of resin, both clear and colored as well as glitter. They feature two tear drop shapes, one smaller for the ears and one that hangs down. I got mine in stud backs, as I have my ears pierced. The blue and pink glitter is blended at the front on a clear layer of resin with a solid pink colour resin in the back.

 

To wear I found them to be incredibly comfortable, which for me is really important. They didn’t impede on my ability to use the phone, which is a must for my work. The only downside was that my right earring had a habit of hanging sideways, but this is an issue with my ear more so than the earring. Overall I’m incredibly happy with my new earrings and hope to have opportunities to wear them more in the future!

It’s hard to believe with such a massive brooch collection in my drawer, that I didn’t own a dachshund brooch! But this lovely surprise from Samantha certainly fixed that! I wasn’t expecting anything other than my earrings and was pleasantly surprised when I opened it to find this little guy along with my earrings! His gold colouring makes him a versatile piece to style and I’ve been loving him with my more preppy styled outfits recently (see above). I cannot wait to try and style him different ways!

If you are after well-made resin jewelry with a vintage flare that are limited edition, than I strongly suggest you check Deluxe Creations out! I paid $12.60AUD for my earrings (using a 30% coupon code from one of their Instagram sales!) and shipping was $7.50AUD which came with tracking.

You can find deluxe creations on:

Etsy

Facebook

Instagram

I hope you’ve enjoyed this blog review! As always, I am more than happy to answer any questions you may have in the comments or on my other social media!

Til next time darlings!

Disclaimer: Whilst I received part of this order as a gift from Deluxe Creations, all opinions expressed are honest to help ensure the most accurate information for my readers. 

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. 

Put some Spring in your summer ~ The Belinda Skirt and Melissa top from Hell Bunny

Hello darlings!

Its summer right now here in Aussieland and its honestly been a scorcher this year. Not only has it been hot but the humidity has been an absolute KILLER! I'm talking sweaty before you even put clothes on after you hopped out of the shower kind of humid. In short, as a pinup, its sucked and I've really been trying to find clothes that are lighter in make to help my skin breath. I was so incredibly excited when Gwynnies got some of the newest Hell Bunny releases in stock, I knew I had to have them in my life!

As I've said before, I'm a sucker for floral prints. I'm also a sucker for pastels. More and more I'm adding pastels to my wardrobe, especially since going blonde because there's just something about being blonde and wearing pastels that I love. I was super excited when my parcel arrived the next day and I was excited to see how pretty this skirt looked in person.

Flowers ~ Pink Rose Double from Daisy Jean Floral Designs
Necklace ~ Blue Beads from Debstar Designs
Brooch ~ Blue Wren Brooch from Erstwilder (discontinued)
Top belt & skirt ~ Melissa top in white, lilac retro belt and Belinda skirt from Hell Bunny bought from Gwynnies
Shoes ~ Halina shoes from Royal Vintage Shoes

So lets start with sizing! I bought the medium skirt which is my regular size in all hell bunny swing skirts. I've never had one that wasn't true to size. The top I bought a medium, worried about the fit but found that it actually had a fair bit of stretch and easily could have sized down. The top actually completely opens, like a jacket zipper at the back which means no smudging make up on it when you try and get it on. 

Something to note about the skirt, as a lighter coloured skirt, the creases in this skirt do show up. Not as obviously as a plain coloured skirt but still a fair bit, especially if you sit a lot. I find the patterned fabric does make it not as obvious.

I was so excited when I saw the Melissa top! As a former redhead, I don't have a whole lot of white tops. My hair used to transfer onto my tops and turn them pink, so I'm only now starting to buy more white tops now that I don't have to worry about this transfer happening. I love the versatility of this top, it will be great for wearing with my other pastel skirts. The only downside to this top is that it is quite thin and if you aren't wearing beige undergarments, they will show through the white.

The price of both of these items is very reasonable. $49.95AUD from gwynnies snaps you up this truly gorgeous skirt and the top is all yours for $35.00AUD. For such fun, versatile pieces that BREATH in this warm weather they are definitely worth the investment!

Thank you so much for reading this review! Sorry for not as many photos as usual, it was incredibly warm on my shoot afternoon and I've not been feeling 100%. Happy to answer any questions you may have on these gorgeous pieces!

Til next time darlings!

Summer Swing ~ The Harriet Dress from Dolly and Dotty

There's something about a swing skirt teamed with a petticoat that is inherently fun. I've mentioned before that I have a habit of twirling in empty car parks and swishing my petticoat on purpose as I walk through the shops and some days I do truly miss wearing them in my daily life, as now being a corporate pinup I can only really get away with them on casual Fridays or weekends! Some dresses you can get away without a petticoat. But some dresses are just made for them.  The harriet dress from Dolly and Dotty is one of them!

Flowers ~ Red Rose Double from Daisy Jean Floral 
Necklace ~ Blue necklace from Debstar Designs 
Brooch ~ King of the Bush brooch from Erstwilder
Dress ~ Harriot dress from Dolly and Dotty
Shoes ~ Miss L Fire Betty Shoes from Royal Vintage Shoes

This super fun dress, is the perfect thing to brighten a drab day. The tartan style fabric pattern is fun and playful. For me the pattern is definitely what makes this dress such a winner. It definitely lifted the feel at work the day I wore it, as my workplace LOVE when I wear colour! The design is simple yet pretty! I LOVE the bow embellishment on the waist  and the neckline allows support via thicker shoulders for ladies with a larger bust!

I was pretty happy with the overall fit of this dress. The shoulder straps are comfortable, the sizing was true to and it was the best kind of length for my shape! The skirt has an amazing flare to it being a full size swing skirt and looks incredible when worn with a petticoat! However it can also be worn without one as it does feature lining under the dress, which is a feature I love as it means I don't have to wear a slip when I wear stockings. I love the styling versatility of this dress thanks to the multiple colours of the tartan print! The invisible zip did snag a little at the waist seam on the way up (this was minimal, enough just to be annoying) but came down with ease! The dress feels well made and well structured. It fits comfortably with and without shapewear on me and the fabric does have some stretch allowing for a comfortable fit. I'm wearing the size 12.

This dress features a beautiful neckline that sits high enough that its work appropriate. The waist features a band which helps the dress give you a bit of a natural tuck in without being restrictive. I do love the bow detail on the waist of this dress too! As it takes away the necessity for a belt. I accessorised my Harriet dress with my blue Debstar Designs beads in blue and my King of the Bush brooch from Erstwilder to give this dress a bit of a patriotic feel!

The Harriet dress is currently available for $27.99USD (which translates to $39.79AUD) which for a dress is an absolute steal! It also comes in a range of colours and patterns if the tartan isn't for you. Shipping is also reasonable for international, though to make the most of it I'd recommend getting 2 dresses as opposed to 1. 

Thank you darlings for reading this lovely review! More exciting posts coming in the next week!

Til next time!

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

Shirt Dress Glamour! ~ The Zelda Dress from Dolly and Dotty

There's something about retro style shirt dresses that have always fascinated me. I guess its because I kind of see them as the 1950s casual wear for women. I lost count of how many times I swooned over Betty Draper in a shirt dress. And while I do own some styles that pay homage to the shirt dress, I haven't actually owned a button up the front shirt dress before. So when I was contacted by Dolly and Dotty, a new UK based retro brand to collaborate, I knew that the Zelda dress was one I needed to have.

Flowers ~ Peach Rose Double from Daisy Jean Floral Designs
Brooch ~ Mint Radio Brooch from Deer Arrow
Dress ~ Zelda Dress in brown from Dolly and Dotty
Shoes ~ Betty Shoes in brown from Royal Vintage Shoes 

I opted for the Zelda dress in brown, purely because I have a LOT of bright colours and have been wanting to play around with some more neutral colours of late to change up my look. This dress also comes with two options of a brown tie belt or a traditional white belt. For the shoot I went for the tie belt as I thought it gave the dress a nice look and was something a little different.

So how did I find this dress darlings? Overall I'm pretty happy with it. Its comfortable to wear, the invisible side zip behaved well being done up, the light elastic in the sleeve ends isn't enough to make it uncomfortable but fills the function on keeping the sleeves in place. The buttons are sturdy and don't pop (which I was SUPER stoked about!) and overall it is a comfortable dress to wear.

I liked the simplicity of the polka dot pattern. It was fun to style and the mix and match belts mean the dress can have a completely different feel without having to buy any extra pieces. The fabric felt good against my skin and after sitting all day had minimal creasing in it, which is also a good thing! the only thing that didn't work for me, was the length.

Being a girl with a bit more behind than some, I found the dress as the back was considerably lifted by my butt. This was due to the dress being more of an A-line cut of skirt than a swing. The first day I wore this dress, I did so with stockings and suspenders and spent the whole day pulling the dress down at the back as it crept up. This is a dress I'll be wearing more on my errand days when I tend to wear flats and no stockings or when I visit family, purely for the length factor. I do have a hip of around the 44 inch mark, so if you aren't as curvy in the lower half this isn't an issue you'll really encounter.

I opted to wear this cute little Deer Arrow Brooch I bought from Portobello Princess. I loved the mint against the green and thought that is really popped nicely, while definitely keeping a retro feel.

This pretty dress comes in an array of different colours and is currently listed as $24.99US (Thats $36.20AUD for the ladies reading at home) which is an absolute steal! Postage is $30.99AUD ($21.40USD)  however so its definitely worth your while to get two dresses and make the most of it!

I hope you've enjoyed reading this review! I'm more than happy to answer any questions you may have if you leave them in the comments! 

Til later darlings!

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