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Collectif Jenna Dungarees Review
First of all, oh my gawd, how cute is the black palm embroidery on these? To be honest, as soon as I saw that, I was sold! For someone who wasn’t a dungarees-wearing kinda chick, I now have quite a few Collectif pairs and I love each pair.
Palm tree embroidery detail I think my fear previously with dungarees was that, because I’m petite, I’d end up looking more like a kid than an adult, but with the Collectif range that never seems to happen because of their great finishing details.
The Jenna dungarees are made of a gorgeous cotton twill fabric. Anyone that has the old Franky trousers (I have them and am besotted with them) will recognise it as a similar fabric – thicker than a normal cotton making them feel more structured and a little bit of stretch in it too.
It has a gathered and tucked bust line which is amazing and definitely elevates them from any other dungarees. The neckline swoops around giving a lovely line and can be worn with a thin top underneath in cooler weather or without any if it’s warmer. I’m personally loving it just as it is!
Gathered bust detail I don’t usually wear red against my top half as I don’t like the clash with my hair usually, but these are the exception! Look at that glorious, vibrant, red! The fit is bang on true to size for me and the adjustable straps are perfect for accommodating a range of heights.
There’s a side zip, pockets and the upper half is fitted to your body, with wide swing trousers. I highly recommend these, I can’t wait to wear these in the sunshine! The Jenna dungarees are available in sizes 6-22 and are £65.
La Petite Pinup in the Collectif Jenna Dungarees For reference, I’m 4’11” wearing 4 inch heels and have taken up the length. The inside leg measurement for a 10 is 31 inches. I’m a standard Collectif size 6.
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Collectif Emery Dress Review
This divine, blue satin, gown dropped into the Spring/Summer collection recently and it is such a pretty dress; I knew it would be perfect for a wedding I’ll be attending this summer so snapped it up.
It features a bardot crossover neckline with fold over vintage styling to the collar which wraps all the way around. The skirt hangs beautifully with the box pleats, though I’ve also added a petticoat underneath mine too for extra fullness (I will steam it, I just couldn’t wait to try it!).
The bodice is boned giving it great structure and there are rubbery strips on the inside of the dress which keep this gorgeous dress firmly in place. The bust is padded which is an awesome feature for anyone wanting to go braless. I wore mine with a strapless bra though.
Here’s the view from the back – I love the sweeping v shaped detail on the collar line.
Fit wise, I found it quite roomy in the bust area and will need to make some small adjustments. If you’re busty, this won’t be a problem! The waist was true to size and the length was a perfect vintage cut on my calf.
I highly recommend the Emery dress for any summer occasion you have coming up. It would look fantastic at a prom or swing dance too!
It’s available in sizes 6-22 and is dry clean only – so no testing it in the washing machine, lovelies! Have fun being twirled around in this amazing frock!
For reference, I’m a true size 6 (33:24:33) and bought the 6. I’m 4’11” and wore 4 inch heels in the photo.
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Collectif Previews at London Edge (Part 2 Menswear)
Hi lovelies, hope you enjoyed Part 1 of the previews which showcased some very lovely things coming this season (spring/summer 19). Today it’s time to talk about Menswear! Yes, you heard right, the Collectif team have worked their magic and summoned up an awesome array of menswear for the men in our vintage lives (and the ladies, some pieces will crossover well).
Vintage styled menswear is sadly lacking currently so this whole collection is really going to fill that gap in the market, and it’s very reasonably priced too. I was so impressed with the range, here’s a few snippets for your viewing pleasure (there will be many more coming).
Knitwear & Plaid Shirts Everyone loves a checked shirt! There were lots of lovely plaids to choose from and some atomic, argyle and mod themed knitwear.
Cardis & Polo necks For a more relaxed look, I loved the tshirt range featuring the Collectif ‘C’ embroidered logo. Great under a blazer with turned up jeans.
Tshirts Formal and fun shirts were available too. The wing tipped collar is a really nice detail
Wing tip shirts A selection of casual jackets to match was also included in the collection. The linings were really nice (each one a little different) and some had matching scarves!
Light Jackets I particularly liked these checked blazers too and short trench style coats.
Blazers & Coats We will have to wait a little longer for the launch of this range which will be due in the summer, but there should be pieces starting to trickle in by Easter. I can’t wait, it’ll be the perfect one-stop shop for you guys and dolls! No more partners sitting in the shoe area at Camden while their gals try on pretties – he can be browsing the rails for himself while he waits instead! What a great summer we have to look forward to.
Part 3 of the London Edge previews will be coming shortly, with a glimpse at some Autumn/Winter wear. Subscribe to the blog below and you’ll be notified of the new post and see it all first!
EDIT: Part 3 is now live! you can read it here
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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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Collectif SS19 – just add sunshine!
Hello lovelies, hope you’re all managing to wade through January and sale time has helped put smiles on your faces. I always look forward to the sales (though this year I haven’t bought much as I’ve been lucky to get what I wanted through the season), but more so as I know it’s the beginning of the new season stock which starts to dribble in.
I’ve bought a few pieces already and thought I’d share them with you, including review information so those of you wanting to buy the pieces can get some fit advice before ordering. I’ll also be doing a full run down of the whole spring/summer collection but that will be in a separate post (as there’s just too many goodies to talk about here!).
So, first up, skirts! These are the two I bought which caught my eye last year:
Tropical Palm Skirt at the preview The Tropical Palm skirt is kind of a mix of last year’s ric rac and cactus skirts crossed with the cherry vintage skirt – a longer length and more of a half swing than full skirt, with the addition of a wide belt with holes which is fantastic. No pockets, but it hangs beautifully. I’ve paired it with the Chrissie black jumper below as it’s a bit too cold for summer tops right now and I think it works really well for brightening up wintry days too.
Tropical Palm Skirt I love leaf prints and monstera leaves in particular, so this design screamed ‘buy me’ as soon as I saw it. The greens are so bright and add a lovely detail to the bottom of the skirt.
Tropical Palm skirt detail The skirt material has stretch and if you’re in between sizes, you should be fine to order your normal size. I ordered my normal size and there’s still a little room left for puddings – perfect! The skirt is a little longer for some with petite gal problems, but I actually like this length on me and would wear it with flats too. It’s a good length even for petites and has a zip at the back.
There is also a matching cardigan to this which I’ll be bagging to be matchy-matchy of course!
Tropical Palm Cardigan at the preview Next up is the Josie Crab Skirt – look how cute this is! Little red crabs on patch pockets and a rope tie belt for a jaunty, nautical, theme (I’m wearing it with the navy Penny top).
Josie Crab Skirt The material is really lovely with a nice sheen to it. I’ve chosen to tie the rope belt just at the front and in a bow, though it does fit the whole way around if you wanted to wear it differently. There’s lots of volume in the skirt and the length is good. There is stretch to the material and waistband so order your normal size. It has a zip at the centre back .
Josie Crab details Again, there will be a matching cardigan available if you wanted to wear the whole ensemble.
Matching Crab Cardi Moving on to dresses (my favourite category, obviously). The Jemima Polka dot frock was the stand out dress for me at the previews last year. With its cute pastel dots on a cream background, pearl buttons, sweetheart neckline and matching belt with holes – dreamy!
Jemima Dress Jemima at the preview Jemima close up detail The fabric is really good quality and has a linen look to it but it’s cotton – which is great as I’m always worried about showing my wares when fabric is such a light colour! It’s not at all see through so no need to worry about that.
Jemima Fabric Detail (actual colour) It has deep set, side seam pockets. The only thing I would have preferred is to have adjustable straps (they are fixed), so I’ll need to move these a little for my frame but an averaged height gal will have no such issues. The buttons to the front all open, there isn’t a zip. The fabric has a light stretch so if you’re in between sizes you’ll be fine to order your normal size. I found it true to size on the bust so if you’re lucky enough to be larger than a D cup, you may want to size up. This dress is also available in black (more like a muted black as this is a pastel princess’s dream so a hard black would look too harsh).
Jemima in black Finally, I bought the Jade Tropical Fruit dress. You’ll recognise the print from the skirt version which was released last year. Unfortunately I can’t wear the border print skirts as they’re too long for me and shortening them would ruin the detail, so I missed out on this fabulous fun print last time. I have around 6/7 Jade dresses as the style is so flattering and snapped this one up as soon as it was released as a dress.
Jade Oranges dress The fruity novelty design on this dress is so much fun! I can’t wait to wear it in the summer.
Jade detail Jade detail As with all the Jades, it has side seam pockets, pretty double strap detailing with a bow (the straps are adjustable, yessss!), a concealed back zip, full skirt, sweetheart neckline and a wide belt with holes. The length is great on me, it hits at mid shin (a flattering vintage length) and being cinched in with a belt is always a style I favour. The fabric is quite stretchy compared to my other Jades and this one is definitely a little looser on me on the top half, so some of you could size down in this if you’re not busty (if you are, hurrah, there’s lots of room!). I may run the sides in just a little as this doesn’t come in a smaller size for me, but I’m very glad to get my hands on it and add to my Jade obsession. I also have a shoe collection to rival Imelda Marcos, but have suddenly realised, I don’t own any orange shoes! This will need to be rectified, obviously.
Another early release is the much loved Nova Rainbow dress. I was lucky enough to buy this last year in the limited run that was produced, but it’s out again now and I know many of you missed it, so there’s another chance to bag it. This is a really special dress, with hidden pockets at the side, purple belt with holes and delicate straps which are adjustable. It is true to size and a little bit stretchy so you’ll be fine in your normal size. Spread rainbow joy everywhere!
Nova Rainbow Dress I hope you’ve enjoyed a little glimpse of the new stock in real life pics and I’ll add my full new season stock review soon. Now, we just need some sunshine and we’re good to go!
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For reference, I am a size 6 (33:24:33) and 4’11”, usually wearing 3 inch heels in my photos.
All items above were purchased from the lovely Into The Moon (super speedy delivery!).
