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Lulu Hun and Bright & Beautiful SS20 Preview
If you missed the previous Spring Summer 2020 previews, you can click for Collectif and Menswear and see what delights next year holds! Today is all about my favourite picks from Lulu Hun and Bright & Beautiful though, and first up, we’ll take a look at Bright & Beautiful.
To be honest, I don’t buy a great deal from this range as the era isn’t something I wear much of (it has a very 70’s vibe), but occasionally there are some beauts which I just can’t be without!
For instance, the Astrid. I’ve spoken about this style of dress previously here. It’s boat neck and flared skirt design easily lends itself to the 50’s and it’s the main dress from the range which I really look forward to seeing from B&B every season. Next year, we have this gorgeous Deckchair version coming!
Bright & Beautiful Astrid Deckchair Dress It’s a showstopper for sure. I love the rainbow stripes and the addition of the red ric rac trim (it’s often lace that features on the edge instead). If you’re not an Astrid fan, then this print appears in a few other styles too so there’s something to suit everyone.
If you are an Astrid fan, then you may be delighted to hear that it’s also coming in a new pencil style!
Bright & Beautiful Astrid Gingham Pencil This looks like it will be a Summer staple for most with it’s classic gingham check and perfect crossover for work wear, lunch date or a mooch around the shops with friends. I really like how the main best sellers are all getting an upgrade next year to incorporate new versions of a very popular design.
The gingham continues with this gorgeous red checked dress called Iris. It has a shirred top and flared skirt – again, perfectly passable for a fifties style. Just add the picnic.
Bright & Beautiful Iris Gingham Dress The knitwear was a massive hit with me. There are so many cute, short sleeved, jumper styles coming, including this yellow check Sydney.
Bright & Beautiful Sydney Check Jumper and the Bella Harlequin jumper in blue
Bright & Beautiful Bella Harlequin Jumper Both of these have the sweetest details at the back with a row of false buttons. You could probably wear it either way around too.
Next up is Lulu Hun. This range just keeps getting better and better – I just love all the novelty items and the accessories which match perfectly with the designs of the dresses.
The sandals are always a big hit and they have some fabulous styles coming, including these orange, strawberry. monstera leaf Lottie sandals and the Phoebe starfish version.
Lulu Hun novelty sandals galore! True vintage fans will also like this 40’s inspired, mock croc, matching bag and shoes.
Lulu Hun 40’s style mock croc I also really like this wedged sandal which has a removable flower!
Lulu Hun Kellie wedges with removable flowers You can just see underneath where it has a brooch and hair clip attachment. So you could pop it in your hair if you don’t want it on your shoes. Clever!
The bags were so fun and fabulous as always. I particularly liked these bright gingham saddle bag styles with co-ordinating fruits and flowers. There’s also a little padlock feature to the front and lots of room for all your essentials.
Lulu Hun Gingham Bags And lastly, a pastel pink perfection bag with something I happen to say rather a lot.
Lulu Hun heart shaped bag This heart shaped bag sums up the collection rather well I think! Will you be broke next year because there’s so much stuff you want?…..HELL YEAH! (sorry, not sorry) x
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Miss Bella’s Blooms Review
I must start by saying I already own one of Miss Bella’s Blooms and wear it quite often (it’s the large yellow hydrangea you will see in my pics a lot). So I already knew these hair flowers are amazing quality and beautifully made with so much work gone into them.
I was lucky enough to receive a wonderful package of pretties in the post and to my utter delight, I have now radically upp’ed my hair flower game!
Beautifully packaged and free pins! I received 4 stunning, custom made, pieces in different shapes and styles which suit me perfectly and go with so many of my outfits, I can’t wait to wear them all just as often as my yellow piece.
First off is this pretty yellow and green Ranunculus & Alstromeria hair flower which I wore on my last outfit post (here).
It’s bright and cheery but subtle at the same time and with a mix of colours, I can wear it with so many different outfits. There’s also a splash or orange/red too which ties in well with my hair, especially as I love to accessorise with red, but all red would have been too much. It measures 7″x 5″ and is perfect to add some vintage glam to every outfit.
On to the next piece which is a dazzling blue Hydrangea and Tweedia hair flower. This is just amazing and I think it’s my favourite piece of all (also because I’m just such a sucker for hydrangeas, my heart swoons when I see them).
The blue is so vivid and the clip measures 10″x 4″ making it lovely and long to wrap around the head.
Luckily, Miss Bella’s Bloom’s thinks of everything and some branded pins were included for me to place the top end of the hair piece down where I wanted it.
I adore orchids (they were my wedding flowers) and so the last two made me leap with glee! This Green Orchid Hair Flower clip is 5,5″x 2.5″ and features clusters of pale yellow and white hydrangeas (dreamy combination for me!) and white cherry blossoms too.
It’s a really delicate piece and perfect on its own or with extra flowers added too.
The final piece was this gorgeously bright and fun Lucina Tropical Orange Orchid clip which is just utterly fabulous with all it’s tiki vibes!
It measures 4.5″ x 4.5″ and as well as the orange orchid, there are also orange and yellow Alstromeria on green leaves which add interest all the way around – so from whatever angle you’re seen, you’ll be blooming gorgeous!
They are priced so reasonably for the amount of workmanship that has gone into making these. The orange one above is only £7.50 and the green orchid cluster is just £10.90. You could also contact the very lovely owner, Claire, and commission something if you have a preference for particular flowers.
The work that goes into these is fantastic and not only do you get beautiful hair flowers, but they also double up as corsages! So you can wear the most beautiful floral brooch on your vintage styled outfits. Look at the handiwork on these with options for hair or corsage on each piece:
Even the back is beautiful, and look! it’s also a brooch! I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing my new collection and no doubt you’ll see plenty more as I just love a hair flower to finish off a vintage look!
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Disclaimer: These were gifted to me by Miss Bella’s Blooms and I have chosen to write an honest review (I wasn’t asked) in support of such a fabulous, independent, business (please buy more from small businesses if you can). I will continue to buy from this company as I had previously (in fact, I made an order today!).
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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 -
ASOS Design Straw Hat Review
Despite the April showers we’ve been experiencing, I managed to sport this gorgeous new straw hat from the ASOS Design Summer collection on the 1st, while bathing in the glorious sunshine we had for a minute.
Soaking up the sunshine in my new hat It’s a steal at £18.00 and the has two interchangeable ribbons – one is plain black as above (which is very elegant) and the other is more of a casual, nautical blue stripe.
Alternative nautical ribbon Alternative ribbon insitu What I love most about this hat is there are adjusters hidden in the band! As I’m petite, I have a rather small head which never fits standard sized hats. So I can fawn over all the beautiful hats but know they will never normally fit my teeny tiny bonce. This feature is ingenious! By pulling the elasticated strings together, it will fit any sized head as well as those with a standard fit that don’t need them (just leave them loose).
Internal elastic adjustment Elastic tied to fit It has a curved, wide, brim and is made from 100% straw.
Side View The perfect accessory to keep you cool in the coming months and looking chic in your vintage outfits. I am so thrilled to have finally found a hat that is a perfect fit for me.There are a range of other choices too from ASOS (see here); I particularly love the boaters which work well with our vintage style too. Have fun choosing something for your own summer collection!
See you in St Tropez! -
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 -
Collectif Previews at London Edge January 2019 Part 1
Hello lovelies, it’s that time again! I had the pleasure of attending London Edge at the weekend and ogling all the new pretties heading our way – my goodness, wall to wall fabulousness!
Collectif at London Edge 2019 It was so great to see everyone there and catch up with all the staff, models and stockists. I wore my Winona Slither dress with the Carmella coat I bought in the sale – she is divine! With black Lulu Hun Mara shoes upon my feet, I was head to toe in Collectif!
La Petite Pinup at London Edge 2019! So, what have we got to look forward to? Well, everything! Basically, we will all be broke for the next year because we’ll be buying all the new Spring/Summer pieces and the amazing Autumn/Winter collection. I’d already seen SS19 at last year’s London Edge and have a few pieces already (see here), so I was really looking forward to previewing AW19 and the brand new Menswear range – and oh happy days, it didn’t disappoint! There’s so much I want to share with you that I’ll have to break this up into three parts (SS19, Menswear and AW19).
There are some amazing summer prints heading our way, with pretty pastels as well as bold primary colours too. Faithful staples like the Dolores and Caterinas return in new colourways as well as a whole new range of exciting tops and dresses…and the all important swimwear!
Swimwear launched very recently at Collectif with the Playful Promises collaboration. It’s great to see two independent brands teaming up to produce such a pinup perfect collection! My favourites are the leopard print swimsuit and bikini and the green palm bikini. In a couple of months, more of the collection will be available, including these gorgeous items:
Parrot bikini Flamingo swimsuit Watermelon bikini The Watermelon bikini is awesome! I love the cupped styles and some also have light padding in too for extra support. They’re perfect for lounging around a pool with a cocktail in hand at your next beach holiday! I am also considering pairing the leopard swimsuit with slacks to wear for an evening look.
Moving on to separates, there are a dazzling array of new tops coming this spring, including all of these:
Bardot and slash neck style tops The bardot and slash neck tops are such a great addition as they’re such a staple for a retro gal’s wardrobe. You can pair them with anything and instantly feel a little rockabilly. I like wearing mine with capris or wide leg trousers, circle or pencil skirts or under dungarees (check my instagram for styling ideas as I wear these a lot).
There’s also a return to the light sweater tops which are so perfect for spring. These Wendy tops are so reminiscent of the era. I really hope a matching cardigan will come in the future too as twin sets are a personal favourite of mine.
Lovely light sweaters for spring An alternative to the Dolores tops which I know you are all big fans of, is this lovely gypsy style top with elasticated sleeves and button front will be available in a lovely light cotton in black or white. This is going to be great to slip on with anything.
Pretty elasticated sleeve tops I love broderie anglaise for summer and so I was delighted to see it on a Sammy shirt. Sammy shirts go so well with denim, light trousers or shorts. The tie detail at the front is great for a pinup feel with a bandana in your hair, and I also like to tuck the waist ties into trousers for a slightly tailored look. This one is available on the site to buy now.
Sammy blouse The Amanda top was very popular last year and it’s returning in a beautiful, vibrant, red this year! I know this will make a lot of you very happy. I have this in last year’s navy and the button feature at the shoulder is just darling.
Amanda top The biggest new addition was the range of tshirts which are coming! Yes, you heard it right, tshirts! Such cute retro themed designs which you’ll be able to tuck in or over cute denim on casual days. I adore these and will need the whole set.
Retro tshirts Speaking of denim, these sweetheart dungaree shorts and button feature jeans really stood out for me. I love the detailing with the brown buttons at the top.
Denim Dungaree Shorts Button denims Moving on to skirts, I loved this new red style which has deep front pockets with a covered button and is begging to be paired with the slash neck stripey tops or a bardot.
Red swing skirt The Jasmines are a style I’ve always really liked as they suit so many of us, whatever the size or shape and a full gathered skirt is a perfect 50’s pick. The fruity fun of recent years continues with limes. There’s also a Jade dress in this print and a matching cardigan (we all love a matching cardi!).
Jasmine Lime Skirt Jessie Lime Cardi The fabulous knitwear continues with the ever gorgeous Chrissie jumpers. This season features the amazing palm print detail to the shoulders in a muted green.
Chrissie Palm Sweater Now, it’s time for the dresses! The Cecilia Lemon print from last year (I have the pencil version of this and it’s beautiful!) has been added to the Dolores collection and as a full swing Cecilia. These look so pretty and the fabric is lovely. Definitely one (or two) to add to your wish list! As you can see from the photo, there’s also a matching lemon cardigan coming too which pairs exquisitely.
Dolores Lemon Dress Cecilia Lemon Dress & Lemon Cardi Following on from my previous post about the new Jemima dress, the mini polka dots are being extended to the Dolores range! So if Jemima isn’t quite right for you, grab this print in the Dolores.
Mini Polka Dot Dolores This red palm tree print is stunning and will be available as the Dolores shown here, but also in other styles too and in a range of colours. It’s a perfect summer print!
Dolores in red palm print For the Caterina fans, there are new shades like this beautiful pale grey, , a large blue check and a pink and blue check too which are so 50’s!
Grey Caterina Blue check Caterina Pink/Blue Check Caterina There’s some radiant sunshine yellow pieces this season too, including the Aria shirt dress with a fresh new look. I love everything yellow – it brightens up even the coolest of summer days!
Aria in Yellow The Ocean Map wrap dress is very cool (there are a few other styles in this print available online here), teamed with the matching mermaid cardigan.
Ocean Map Dress Mermaid Cardigan I also really like this light cotton cactus dress and the totally bananas Lorena (so fun!).
Cactus Dress Lorena Bananas Dress One of my all time faves from last year , the Wanda (I have it in green and the black/white polka dot version already), returns in pastel pink, woohoo!
Wanda in Pink I’m also a big Outlaw jacket fan and have 3 of the previous styles, but I know this shell pink version will really appeal to the pastel princesses out there!
Outlaw Shell Pink Jacket The accessories and shoes this season are also off the scale! They’ve really outdone themselves! So many colourful jewellery sets, belts, bags, hair pieces and fantastic summer sandals!
Accessories for days! I mean, look at these iridescent mermaid shoes and matching bag!!
Accessories for a Modern Mermaid Shell detail I particularly love the cute cactus bag, which is also coming in a natural shade.
Wicker Cactus bag And I am always a fan of a novelty sandal and a gingham ballet shoe for summer outfits
Novelty sandals in every colour Crab sandals & bag to match my Josie skirt! Gingham summer flats The gingham continues with these sweet wedges and matching bag. I think the bag would match the black and white Suzanne and June dresses I bought last year too.
Gingham wedge and matching bag As always, this is only a snippet of my own picks, and there will be so much more coming, so if we don’t have the same tastes, rest assured, there will be something coming which will totally grab you!
So many choices! There’s something for everyone <3 I hope you’ve enjoyed the little preview of the new collection and parts 2 and 3 will be coming up shortly with menswear and autumn/winter, so subscribe below to be notified of the new posts going live x
Edit: Part 2 is now live and available to read here and Part 3 can now be found here.
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Fakelite and Resin Earrings on the High Street
Over the last couple of weeks I’ve bought a few bargain earrings from Primark and noticed there’s a trend for tortoiseshell resin/fakelite tiki style earrings flooding the high street at the moment. Here are a few of my top picks:
Firstly Primark, whose £2 and £3 earrings are fantastic. I snapped up the bottom two sets and was also tempted by the first wooden one too. I’ll be pairing them with sarong dresses and bamboo bangles.
Primark Resin and Wooden Hoops Next up is Tesco. Supermarkets have really upped their game and I was pleasantly surprised to find all of these, available at £6 a pair.
Tesco (F&F) Resin Earrings New Look also has a few in a similar style, including some influenced by the 60’s geometric trend.
New Look Resin Earrings Brown oval drop earrings currently in the sale: £2.00
Brown Faux Tortoiseshell Teardrop, Green resin (also available in red and yellow) and Green Resin Wide Hoops: £4.99
Brown faux tortoiseshell hoops and Blue linked resin: £5.99
Red Square drop earrings (also available in yellow): £6.99
Brown Tortoiseshell Resin Geometric Drop: £7.99
Have you found any in other high street stores? Pop your finds in the comments section below x
