• Collectif Reviews – Bonnie Trousers, Mona Shirt and Bright & Beautiful Astrid dress

    So as well as a trip to London Edge, I also sprinted over to the Camden store – mostly to catch up with the team there whom I adore. They are truly special with so much care taken with every customer, making them feel absolutely beautiful inside and out and giving them a guiding hand if unsure. The service is always provided with a very warm welcome and nothing is ever too much. The customer service is impeccable in store and it’s the reason I travel so far to visit time and time again (as well as the fabulous clothes obviously!), but the friendly staff always make it a very special day for anyone that visits.  Looking at that amount of Collectif stock at the Edge had made me need to purchase something though, and there are still plenty of bargains to be had – in store currently has an extra 15% off sale items too! Amazing! 

    I tried on a few things (I normally take half the shop into the changing room with me) and decided upon these in the end. The first of which I’d been hankering after for a few months because, well look at this awesome check! One of my favourite colours to wear is yellow, and this yellow and blue tartan just screamed for me to buy her since she launched (but I waited as I’d gone completely mad last season, as with all seasons I guess!).

    Bright & Beautiful School Check Astrid

    The School Check Astrid has a full skirt and is lovely and soft. She has flattering boat neck, teal trim to the edges and a side zip. Although she doesn’t have pockets, this can be forgiven for how beautifully vibrant the dress is and it’s total swish-worthiness (yes, I just made up a word). I paired mine with the Lulu Hun Juliette heels in yellow and found it true to size (bought my normal 6) with room to spare around the waist. Plenty of room for puddings!

    My next bargain buys were items I’d previously never considered. Being petite, I struggle with high waisted trousers as the rise is often too high for me. However, being a gingham freak (I clearly went gaga over this black and white check as I bought it in every style, including the shoes! see my previous posts), I figured I’d keep everything crossed and give them a try. 

    To my absolute delight, they fitted really well! The Bonnie Gingham Trousers are a cigarette style, with a fitted top half and slim leg further down. They’re fastened with a side zip and hook and eye and have a pocket at the back. I bought my normal size and found them spot on true to size. There’s no stretch in the waist though so if you’re in between sizes on the chart, you’ll need to order up.

    Collectif Bonnie Gingham Trousers and Mona Shirt

    I tried them on with the Mona shirt, which again, I hadn’t looked at previously (as I don’t wear workwear clothes), however, I soon realised this blouse is just perfect for a classic, pin up, weekend look too. The white works really well with the trousers I think, and I paired red shoes and a cinch belt for a pop of colour. The Mona has a the most gorgeous open v neckline with a lovely collar, three quarter sleeves with cuffs and the fabric has light stretch. I found her true to size and very flattering on the décolletage!

    The Astrid was £30.38, Bonnie’s were £12 and the Mona was £11.62 – so two full outfits for £54! The extra 15% off sale items ends on Sunday 10th (in store only), so be quick and remember there’s the Outlet Sale weekend at the end of the month too so if you’re local (or even if you’re not – I’m not and I’ll be there!), pop along for limited edition and sold out styles with dresses from £10! See you there x

  • A Very Collectif Christmas!

    Hi everyone! Hope you all had the most wonderful Christmas and a very happy New Year to you all!

    I had a few gorgeous treats this year from Collectif and thought I’d share them and sizing info for you before we all hit the sales tomorrow!

    Collectif Christmas Goodies!

    I’m not one for short jackets usually as they don’t tend to sit right on me (being half the size of a normal person!). However, the Molly jacket is absolutely amazing and I wish I’d noticed her sooner! 

     Molly jacket in Olive Green

    In a beautiful olive green, and belted with the sweetest lining, she’s a perfect fit for me – I found her true to size, however I know some ladies have to size up. I would suggest if you’re anything over the Collectif size guide then size up but otherwise it’s bang on. It has a lovely wide belt that matches and a detachable fur collar for days when you feel like being less fancy – though when are those days?! Always be fancy!

    Next up is the black and white Marilu skirt which had a revamp in 2018, being a slightly different fabric to its predecessor of 2017. I much prefer the new one and it’s fully lined too which is a dream to me!

      Marilu Skirt

    This skirt is absolutely true to size with no stretch, so again, if you are a teeny bit over the size guide, size up. Mine is in my normal size which will be perfect for me when I stop eating all the Quality Street! 

    The Ines Tropical Fruit Pencil dress I tried on in the summer at Camden and decided to take the Cecilia Lemons instead (another beautiful summer print!), as I didn’t think I needed 2 pencil dresses that day – but I totally regretted not picking it up at the time!

     Ines Tropical Fruit Dress

    I was delighted to receive this frock with it’s fab fruity print and deep front pockets (I love shoving my hands in pockets – mine, obviously!). It is true to size for me and has a lovely matching belt to cinch you in.

    I was also treated (no, spoilt) and given these two amazing frocks which I absolutely adore! The first of which is the Winona Slither Check Pencil Dress. Who doesn’t love a good tartan for winter? And I know the Harry Potter fans were loving the whole range. 

     Winona Slither

    The Winona dress has a pretty black collar, long sleeves (I favour longer sleeves in winter) and pockets (winner!). This is such a versatile dress – easy to dress up or down but always stylish.

    The second dress I received was one I hadn’t considered before it was made in the Make A Wish print (so sparkly!) because I’d assumed the shoulders would be too high for my frame – how delighted I was to be so very wrong! 

     Vanessa Make A Wish Dress

    The Vanessa Make a Wish dress oozes sophistication and style. I loved the Make a Wish range with its shooting stars on sumptuous black velvet, but I’m unable to buy the Trixie version of this as it’s too big in the 6 for me (tip: always size down in the velvet Trixies). So I was over the moon to be able to have this print in another style, I absolutely love it! There’s plenty of stretch so it accommodates my over indulgence at Christmas and if you’re in between sizes, you’ll be fine with your normal size. This is currently out of stock online but may be available in stores. I’ll be looking out for next year’s Vanessa’s now I know what a great choice they are!

    Lastly, my new Lulu Huns, which I’d been eyeballing since last year! The Mara is such a classic style and so easy to pair with everything.

     Lulu Hun Mara Shoes

    I love the burgundy colour with red velvet trim and bow detail. I actually size down in most of my Lulu Huns and this was no exception. I have a narrow foot so find it suits me better – if you have a wider foot, go with your normal size though. I prefer to wear a lower heel in the day so these are perfect at 2 1/4 inches. 

    I’ll be posting pics of all of the above on my Instagram so give me a follow there if you’d like to see how they look in real life.

    Which vintage inspired treats did you find under the tree? I hope you all manage to get what you want in the sale too! 

  • The Megan Dress IS Magic!

    This dress was the showstopper for me when I saw it back in February at London Edge. Channelling Wonder Woman design vibes (I am a huge Wonder Woman fan so this pleases me immensely), it was a match made in heaven for me! In the main image I’ve also paired it with the gold Collectif lamé jacket from a previous season, because obviously I needed my own kind of superhero cape to wear with it.

    Megan premiered at London Edge Feb 18

    As soon as it dropped on to the website on Friday afternoon, I nabbed one straight away and much to my delight it arrived on Sunday morning which is amazingly fast!  It’s a lovely midnight blue shade and a different texture to the normal bengaline with it being coated (which I love). The sweetheart neckline and belt are made from a copper coloured coated bengaline. Blue and copper are such a great pairing and it’s subtle yet wow on this dress.

    I bought my normal size (I’m a true size 6) and it was a perfect fit for me.  It has awesome boning to the top, making it wonderfully fitted. However, I would say if you’re lucky enough to have a larger bust or are in between sizes for the bust or waist on the Collectif size guide, you should size up with this dress as it is very true to size. The fabric is a stretchy bengaline but the top part isn’t as stretchy due to the structural boning. 

    Showing the detail of the neckline

    The bottom half of the dress has a slightly furry backing which makes it perfect for wearing to winter parties. I’m a huge fan of lined dresses so I can wear tights, but this was a great compromise for my cold limbs. The other thing I really loved is the addition of a belt loop! Many of our gorgeous Collectif dresses come with a belt which doesn’t stay put (tip: I usually use a velcro dot or hair tie in the same colour as the belt) but there were no such worries with the belt loop. I wore it all night and it didn’t budge once! Fist pump! woohoo! 

    Belt loop of dreams!

    Although it is a longer length pencil dress (35 inches), it still works as a great vintage length for petites (I’m 4’11 and with heels it cut on my calf). The taller ladies amongst you will look fabulous in it too. I cannot recommend this dress enough, it was everything I hoped it would be.

    Enjoy the Magic, ladies! Available to buy here for £49.95

  • Lulu Hun Marianne Shoes Review

    Lulu Hun Marianne Shoes at Pure London 2018

    Back in July, I first caught glimpse of this gorgeous set of shoes and knew I would need them! Having gone particularly potty over the large gingham check dresses Collectif have released this season (see previous post  here for full details and sizing advice), I knew they would be a match made in heaven! The little red buckle is a darling detail to tie in with the red on the dresses. As well as the June Dress, I also now have the Suzanne which is the swing version so they’ll get lots of wear!

    Collectif June Dress
    Collectif Suzanne Dress
    Marianne Black & White Check

     

    They are described as a high heel but the angled block makes the 3 inch heel feel very comfortable to wear as well as the mary jane strap to keep your foot secure. I’m a size 4 (37) and found them absolutely true to size, the 4 fits me perfectly. 

    Marianne Red & Black Check
    Marianne Black Suedette

     

    Available in the black and white check I’ve bought, they are also come in red and black check (perfect with a Mara dress!) and a plain suedette black (which would be great for work or adding a plainer shoe to a jazzy print dress). As well as my checked dresses, I’ll be wearing my black and white pair to add interest to plain black outfits and also adding some mustard into the mix (you can’t have Autumn without mustard!). Catch my outfits on my instagram for how I style things.

    They are priced at £43.75 and come in sizes 3-8 (36-41).  Currently Collectif are offering free delivery over £50 until the end of the month yay!

    Lulu Hun Marianne ready to go!
  • 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

  • Collectif June Pencil Dress Review

    It may be September, but I’m all about June right now! Having highly anticipated this gorgeous dress, I snapped it up as soon as it went live on the website and I’m so glad I did as it’s already out of stock in my size (be quick Collectif fans!).

    Collectif June Dress. Photo Credit: Collectif

    Superb service from Team Collectif as always too; I ordered on Monday afternoon and it arrived the next morning at 9:15am via my usual cheerful DPD delivery driver.  

    This beautiful black and white gingham pencil dress has flashes of red detailing on the cuffed sleeves and circular belt – such a classic combination and it works really well.

    It’s actually listed as polyester, but, along with their previous autumnal styles using this, it doesn’t feel like polyester, it’s much softer and closer to a cotton texture.

    Fit wise, it’s listed as true to size with little stretch, and I found this to be spot on. If you’re in between sizes, especially on the waist, size up as there’s no stretch there at all. I’m a true Collectif 6 and it was a perfect fit. The sleeves aren’t too long (which for petite gals is often a problem but not in this case), and the hem sits at a true vintage cut on my mid calf which is my preferred length to look a little more authenticly vintage in style.

    June has previously been available in a few different prints (leopard and stripe trims on black) but I hadn’t really taken notice of her before this gingham version. Now I’m thinking I need ALL the Junes!

    There will also be a flared version of this gingham dress which will launch later in the season, called Suzanne, which is really lovely too. However, unfortunately Suzanne doesn’t include the red detailing on the sleeves in the swing style (such a shame, but still a very gorgeous dress).

    Collectif Suzanne Dress. Photo Credit: Collectif

     

    Suzanne Dress Previewed at the London Edge show

    The June is a perfect wiggle to dress up or down and I love everything about it. The only thing I would have wanted is for it to be lined so I could wear tights underneath in winter without it riding up, but that’s personal choice and lining on dresses is limited to only a few styles in Collectif (fingers crossed for more!). I look forward to many more Autumn stock hitting the site, but in the meantime, all hail, gingham! 

  • Pure London AW18 Collectif Preview

    I had a ball at the Pure London Show last month, meeting up with some of the fabulous team at Collectif, and previewing their AW18 range. I’d seen some of it at London Edge back in February but there was much more to see and my goodness, we are in for a treat!

    Those of you who are ardent fans of the Dolores and Caterina styles won’t be disappointed! There are plenty more coming in wonderful, woodland inspired, and tattoo style, rockabilly prints, including more gnomes! And pockets, lots and lots of glorious pockets! We all love a pocketed dress, I know.

    Dolores Forest Friends Dress
    Close up of the Forest Friends pattern
    Collectif Atomic Cats Dolores
    Collectif Caterina Acorns Dress
    Collectif Caterina True Love with a glimpse of gnomes on black backgrounds

    There was also a range of quirky prints which shone like a beacon for me – anything remotely geeky or nerdy I am all over! I especially love the book print which appears on a range of styles, the atomic cats which are really cute, and the oodles of gorgeous checked prints in brights and autumnal shades.

    Collectif Book Shelf Jasmine Skirt
    Collectif Mimi Clueless Check Dress

    The great thing with Collectif is the co-ordinates. You can buy separates and be as matchy-matchy as you want (for me, that’s to my heart’s content!). The themes follow through from dresses, skirts, tops, cardigans and on to trousers.  For instance, the True Love dresses have some pretty cardigans to cover up, which are already available here and the Forest Friends dress will have this adorable deer cardi launching soon. I’m in love with the geek cardigan too with glasses and pencil detail.

    Jessie Forest Friends Cardigan

    And then there’s the velvet – of which I always need one in every colour available.  We will be seeing a range of sumptuous velvets in jewel tones, beautiful evening dresses ahead of the party season and glamorous coats to keep us warm when the nights start to draw in.

    Collectif Angelina Dress Red Wine actual photo
    Collectif Anjelica Red Wine Dress

    The popular Anjelica dress of last year is back with a revamp in a deep red (wine) colour. I absolutely adored my black version which is stretchy and clings to all the right bits. I would pop this on your wanted list as they sold out quickly last year! The black has returned this year and makes a fabulous party stopper staple.    (insert black link)

    The velvet continues in the form of flocked animals – flamingos and cats pop out from plain backgrounds, making a fun alternative. 

    Dolores Flock Flamingo Dress

    The ‘Make a Wish’ range is the season must have though. Glittery, shooting stars in silver, burst across black velvet.  This is available in a variety of styles so whatever your preference, you’ll be able to find the perfect outfit for you – which is one of the many reasons I love this brand, because it caters to so many of our different tastes. There are matching accessories too, which I absolutely adore.

    Collectif Trixie AW18 Dress
    Lyra Occasion Dress
    Collectif Claudia Coat and Cape

    Speaking of accessories, you’ll be spoilt for choice with gloves, bags, hats, and of course, most importantly, jewellery! There are some lovely, sparkly, pieces to dazzle the night away in at evening soirees – including these beautiful earrings!

    The fabulous and ever popular Pearl Coat makes a return in new colour ways and even a velvet! She also brings a few new friends to the party – faux fur in abundance to keep the chill off in the depths of winter and new trenches for those in between season stages in similar shades. I have both a Korrina and a Pearl and would highly recommend either for feeling fine and divine!

    Collectif Olive Green Coat
    Callie Velvet Coat
    Collectif Korrina Green Trench Coat

    I was also delighted to see that a skirt which was named after a good friend of mine is getting a couple of new colourways this year. The fabulous Kayleigh skirt will be available in the True Love print (which the real Kayleigh would have loved I think). Kayleigh was also a huge fan of Collectif and  pencil skirts so she would have been thrilled to have a skirt range named after her. 

    Kayleigh Suede Skirt

    Lulu Hun shoes and accessories have been amazing this year and continue to be so for the fall. A range of flat and heeled shoes and boots await (some of which can be customised!), along with cute novelty bags for the upcoming festivites. The pumpkin bag is a favourite! Halloween is just around the corner and I was delighted to receive the ‘Call Me‘ bag pictured here in the goody bag at the event. I’d been lusting after it for a while so I was over the moon to have one. Both the black and red versions are still currently available on the site.

    Lulu Hun Pumpkin Bag

    I’ll be at London Edge AW18 in a couple of weeks so I’m sure there will be more delights to share then (subscribe to the blog for updates). In the mean time, hope you’ve enjoyed a sneaky peek at what’s to come and you’re not spent up from the Summer Sale as the New In selection is gathering pace! Goodbye Summer, hello Autumn! x

     

  • London Edge

    I was lucky enough to go to London Edge last month and catch a glimpse of all the Spring/Summer collections from the top leading brands in the alternative fashion industry. 

    Having been an avid fan of Collectif for years, I obviously made a beeline for their stand and set up camp for quite some time admiring all the new prints and pieces! Dolls, you are going to love what’s coming! 

    From their classic staples, like polka dots and ginghams, to pastel border prints and holographic jackets – there is truly something for everyone.

    Ice Cream Dress and Pastel Rainbow Skirt

    The ice cream dress has just launched I’m happy to say! Go grab one while you can (I have one winging its way to me).

    Collectif Holographic Jacket, gingham shirt and pastel blue Maddie trousers

    A little note about all the gorgeous new prints which you’ll notice as you start to receive them is they all have the Collectif brand logo on them now. Hidden pretty well in a complimentary colour, when I asked about this (as I don’t normally like having the brand on my clothing), I was told it’s to prevent copies being made using their prints, which I completely understood and support.


    Along with the SS18 collection, there was a good selection of the Autumn/Winter season to preview and the pic above is from that. Full of vibrant reds, greens and blacks, along with some really gorgeous autumnal and cool novelty prints.  Lots of new coats which I am a huge fan of (already owning quite a few) in maroon, black and red, a red Anjelica velvet dress (this is a must have dress which I adore and have in the black already), a black velvet caped coat with stars on (to match the velvet star printed full length dress they’ll be launching).  We will be truly spoilt! 

    AW18 goodies
    Autumnal prints with woodland scenes
    Velvet Star Cape Coat
    Matching dress

    Also on display were the accessories by Lulu Hun and Collectif. My favourites included a palm and lobster bag, novelty sandals and the cute watermelon umbrella.

    Here are a few more pics from the day with the SS18 collection on the rails – enjoy!