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[London Edge Feb 2020 Part 3] Bow & Crossbones
I’d missed the fabulous Bow & Crossbones last time they exhibited at London Edge as I ran out of time, so I wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice! Heading over to their stand, I was greeted with such a friendly welcome from Camilla and Taz. It’s so nice when people you only know via social media turn out to be as lovely in the flesh as they are online.
Bow & Crossbones make fakelite and 50’s inspired bangles, necklaces and earrings, but also sell true vintage, kitschy cool, items. I love Cam’s work and often wear her pieces which you’ll have seen in previous posts – in fact I was actually wearing some Bow & Crossbones when I met her! You know I love a good accessory.
Bangle stacking is easy with B&C! The Kane Wicker collection (which I’m wearing above in Coco and Black) is just unbelievably good, made better only by the fact that part of the new season pieces are two tone wickers! That’s right, you heard correctly, TWO-TONE!
Spot them on the second row up in all their funky glory I have no idea how it’s even possible, but it looks incredible. With earrings to match, these are so ridiculously cool. I think I may have let out an audible yelp when I first saw them. So they’re definitely on the list!
Offering us another sneak peek of what’s to come, these awesome octagonal bangles were showcased too, look at all the gorgeous carving:
I love shaped bangles but they never fit my teeny wrists, so when Cam said the new collections going forward will always be available in all 3 sizes (Princess, Queenie and Goddess), I was thrilled! Such great news, right?! whichever size you need, we’re all catered for.
There were lots of gorgeous earrings to look at too and I’d already spotted the Dot earrings which were released recently. They’re double hoops and super cute.
Dotty about these! Photo credit: Bow & Crossbones To my surprise, when I picked them up, they were so much lighter than I expected! No droopy lobes for us, ladies! I’m going to be bagging a few of those too.
Hope you’ve enjoyed a little preview of all the goodies coming this year from B&C, in the meantime there are so many pretties available on the website and make sure you drop by on Friday evenings for the market nights which are fab! x
Look out for Part 4 of my London Edge round up which will be coming soon. You can subscribe to the blog below which will notify you when it publishes to be a step ahead 🙂
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Happy 2020! [Collectif Mimi Clueless]
Happy new year you gorgeous lot! Hope this year is amazing for you. I have sashayed my way into it with this gorgeous Mimi Clueless dress which my lovely sister bought me. I missed this the first time it came around so I was delighted to receive it for Christmas (along with some Splendette goodies – that gal knows me well!).
I’ve written about the Mimi before as I loved my pumpkin check version (see here) and this print certainly doesn’t disappoint. It’s so bright and cheery with reds and blacks mixed in to the check. Yellow is my favourite colour (alongside teal) so I was pretty much swishing around with the dress pressed against me for quite some time at Christmas haha (no joke though).
Yummy yellows The sweetheart neckline is so flattering and has black bias binding around it. I found it tts and the same fit as the pumpkin, despite hearing it came up smaller for other people. I’m glad I went with my normal size.
It’s a mid calf length on me and I strutted my stuff around Market Harborough in it while attending an Afternoon Tea event hosted by the Vegan Cakery (check them out, they’re award winning, and rightly so!). Food porn below.
Diets start in February, right?! I was wearing my Lulu Hun Selma boots which are so comfortable and the cobbled streets were no match for them. For stylish, you can see them on the pumpkin check post. I was also snuggled up in my Carmella coat as the Pearl would have been too big to take to the venue (which is the quaintest little building on stilts as you can see in the main photo).
Close up Carmella car selfie These products are all available in the big Collectif sale at the moment with a whopping 50% off (code SALE50) so snap them up while you can! The Carmella is from 2018 so the black isn’t available any longer, but there’s a beautiful camel colour way this season in that style. The Mimi is currently only £17.49 with the code! I’ve had a little splurge too during sale time and will post my bargains up soon xx
Also wearing:
Cardigan – Jessie Geek by Collectif Clothing
Earrings – Catkin hoops by Splendette
Bangles – A selection from Bow and CrossbonesFor reference, I’m a standard size 6 in Collectif Clothing and wearing a 6 here. I’m 4’11” and wearing 2.75 inch heels.
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Mimi Pumpkin Check Dress by Collectif Clothing
I’ve been meaning to write about this gorgeous little number for about a month now, but never got around to it, so I’m popping it up now while we’re still embracing the beautiful, autumnal, colour palette. Everywhere I go at the moment everything is golden, orange or fiery reds – love it! (though I’m definitely feeling the cold already brrrr!),
The Mimi Pumpkin Check dress is a really lovely shape with its sweetheart neckline (trimmed in black), featuring a little gathering at the bust, and cute, puffy, sleeves. The swing shape isn’t a really full circle skirt but there’s more than enough room for a petticoat underneath if you wish to add one. Sadly, there aren’t any pockets to this one – but maybe we can keep our fingers crossed these will come in time.
The print itself is just divine with those amazing oranges and blacks – it’s a real headturner. The fit is true to size, so if you’re in between sizes on the waist, you should size up as the fabric doesn’t stretch. The length is a little shorter than the Dolores style (which is great for me!), so it cut nicely at my shin.
I’m really pleased with this style and will be buying more Mimi’s. They’re a very comfortable, easy, design to wear and perfect for popping some tights and knitwear on colder days. I would have liked a lining on the skirt part to sav me wearing a slip but that’s just a minor detail. This style comes in a range of other prints too but this one is still available in sizes 8-22 and costs £52.50.
Also wearing:
I paired mine with yet more orange and black (couldn’t resist living my own pumpkin dreams!)Billie Cinch Belt – Collectif Clothing in orange (these are such handy little elasticated belts to have, I bought them in a few different colours).
Bangles – Splendette in Fox
Bangles – Bow & Crossbones in Black Weave
Bangle – Collectif Clothing Carrie in black
Necklace – Collectif Clothing Natalie Bead Set in black
Earrings – Splendette
Boots – Lulu HunFor reference:
I’m a standard size 6 in Collectif Clothing and wearing the 6 above. -
Collectif x Modcloth Ayana Rainbow Shorts Review
Rainbow shorts! Who knew I needed these in my life?! But apparently I do and I believe most of you do too as they’re such a fantastic print. This is the bespoke pastel rainbow fabric from Collectif which they’ve used in a collaboration with Modcloth to create another style to their rainbow range.
The Ayana shorts are a lovely high waisted piece with full pockets and a white button to the side (along with hidden side zip).
I love this pattern and the fabric has some stretch in. I could have probably sized down in these but I’m grateful for the extra room to enjoy summer barbeque parties and extra puddings! The Modcloth sizing is the same as Collectif’s until you hit the extended sizes, for those, you need to follow the Modcloth sizing chart only for a true fit.
I have a few pairs of Ayana’s and they’re a really comfortable pair to wear casually or jazzed up. I’ve paired mine with the white Mahina top from last year which is no longer available but there is now a black to purchase (here) which would also work, along with the Sasha tops (the plain white would work great, previous Sasha review here). Also wearing my clear pastel rainbow bangle stack from Splendette which have coloured stones in them. They’re a perfect match for this outfit, I think, and finish it off nicely with my pastel pink Outlaw jacket from Collectif.
Full outfit These are such happy shorts, they were perfect for the sunshine today and I recommend snagging a pair before they’re gone as there aren’t many available!
With the Pink Outlaw Jacket from Collectif ___________________________________________
For reference: I’m 4’11” and a standard size 6 in Collectif, wearing 4 inch heels.
Also wearing:
Sunglasses: Collectif (previous season)
Pins on jacket: Punky Pins and Sass & Belle
Shoes: Lulu Hun Lorena
Other bangles: original vintage and Bow & Crossbones -
It’s all in the details; accessorise your life!
Today we’re going to take a look at the fabulous new range of accessories from Collectif. They were showcased last year and I instantly fell in love with all the tropical goodies and fifties inspired sets. Adding accessories can totally change an outfit and breathe new life into it, so here are a few of my favourite picks.
Nothing makes me happier than matching my jewellery to my clothes. The new Natalie necklace and earring sets are perfect for instantly making an outfit have more vintage appeal.
Collectif Natalie Necklace and Earring Bead Sets The bead sets come in red, yellow, orange, turquoise and olive. I bought all of them except olive (I love the colour, but personally don’t wear that much which would go with it, although I am reconsidering as it is so pretty!). Important to note the orange is more of a peachy coral rather than a bright orange, it is gorgeous and I hope a bright comes out too at some point (and every other colour of the rainbow to be honest!). The stud earrings are pierced and a really nice size. The necklace beads are graduated in size, growing larger to the centre, which is a style I really love. The sets are priced at £15 each.
Moving now on to bangles – and who doesn’t love a good bangle?! Oh my goodness, have they pulled it out of the bag with this set of Carrie bangles. Each one has its own design – the red has strawberries, the green has leaves and the yellow also has leaves but in a different pattern. Obviously, I had to have them all. One is never enough, especially when they’re this good. They’re plastic resin and £11.50 each with an inner diameter of 67mm. The tropical designs are just dreamy.
Collectif Carrie bangles. Pattern details They look great with the Natalie necklace which I’m wearing here. I’m also wearing the Mansfield silver earrings which are great for an instant pin up look:
Wearing Collectif Carrie Bangles, Mansfield earrings and Natalie bead necklace All the colours!! I wish I could wear all the necklace sets all at once haha
Collectif Carrie Bangles & Natalie Bead Sets Next up is the Sunny hair flower. This beautiful hydrangea comes in blue, pink, green or purple. I have thus far managed to resist the other colours but I doubt that will be for long! I bought the blue as one of my favourite flowers is a blue hydrangea. She is quite a large piece, but I prefer larger flower sets over small ones (if you’re going to do it, do it big!). There is a clip at the back to hold it in place. Little tip from me, I always place two bobby pins criss crossed over each other then pop the flower clip through that to make it firm and stay put all day. The Sunny hair flowers are £12.50 each
Here’s my fully ensemble, sporting the Sunny hydrangea, Natalie bead set in red (wearing both the necklace and earrings) and Carrie bangle in red. They work so well together, I already know they’re going to become a staple part of my outfits. Hope you’ve enjoyed a little look at the selection I’ve chosen.
Collectif Sunny Hair Flower, Carrie Bangle and Natalie necklace and earring set
