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Collectif x Modcloth Isaboo Suncheck Dress Review
I am obsessed with yellow. Along with turquoise, it’s my joint first place happy colour. Add a dash of yellow to any outfit and you are instantly cheered. So, although I have the beautiful Margherita sun check dress already (see that review here), I love the print so much that I needed to get the Isaboo too when it was released, and, you know, she’s a totally different style obviously, so it had to be done….
Unlike Margherita, (who is on the shorter side), Isaboo has a long, full, gathered skirt (with pockets – yay!), which will really please taller ladies. Though I am obviously just teeny, she is quite long on me, (which I was expecting as the description states her total length is 42 inches) and I was thinking I’d have to hem it up. However, once on and with heels, I think I can get away with this true vintage style length, so I’ll probably leave her as she is.
I love her open collar and sleeveless style, which is so reminiscent of the 50’s. This collaboration is absolutely Mrs Maisel-worthy! (who else wants her entire wardrobe?). There are darts to the bust, a side zip and a matching fabric belt. I found the fit perfectly true to size. If you are lucky to have a larger bust, you may want to size up, but if you’re in between sizes, you’ll probably be ok with your normal size as there’s a little stretch in the fabric and at the waist. I really hope both the Margherita and the Isaboo return in future seasons with equally fabulous prints, as they’re so stylish and classically vintage.
Isaboo open neck and matching belt details I paired my sweet Isaboo (how cute is that name?) with the Jessie Tropical Palm cardigan, which I bought originally to match the skirt (see here), but (as with all Collectif cardi’s), they’re easy to mix and match with other outfits too. I love the greens on the leaves (one is almost turquoise, squee), so I added in black and turquoise accessories to set off the yellow, which works so well together (happy colour heaven).
The Jessie Palm Cardigan and Lorena Heels add black and teal touches I love a Jessie cardi, and have quite a few now as the cropped style suit our vintage inspired frocks so well. The darling pearl, green, buttons are a lovely addition and the fabulous applique leaves in 3 colours are just dreamy. I have a thing about Monstera plants so this design fills me with glee!
Palms in many colours <3 I would size up in this one as it is a little on the smaller side. I have my normal 6, which is fine for me, but a teensy bit tight on the arms with the 3/4 sleeves, so an 8 would have been a better choice. I can’t wait to wear this ensemble again though, as it was so perfect on a sunny day.
Happy’ometer max’ed out! Remember, with any Modcloth collab piece, you can only find them on the website or in store, stockists aren’t allowed to hold these. So if you see an item you love in this collection, make sure you nab it as they’re available in limited numbers.
Also be aware of the sizing difference between Collectif and Modcloth for the plus sizes. Up to size 16, the Collectif sizing chart applies, but from size 18, you then need to refer to the Modcloth sizing chart and go by their measurements. Hope this helps, happy shopping! x
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For reference:
I’m a standard size 6 in Collectif (33:24:33) and bought a Collectif x MC size 6 in the Isaboo dress
I’m 4’11” and wearing 4 inch heels hereAlso wearing:
Shoes: Lulu Hun Lorena (previous review here)
Jewellery Set: Collectif Natalie in turquoise (previous review here)
Bracelets: Collectif, Bow & Crossbones, Splendette and Vintage
Sunglasses: Collectif previous season
Hair Flowers: High Street many moons ago -
Crazy for Coloko! Shoe Review
I’m a bit of an Imelda Marcos if truth be told. I have hundreds of pairs of shoes but only one pair of feet – go figure! But I can never resist a cute pair of shoes and these low flats by Coloko tick all the boxes! I’d been wanting a pair of jelly style shoes since forever, but everything I’d previously seen reminded me too much of actually wearing jelly shoes to school in the 80’s! So I was delighted to finally find a pair that feel more grown up, but fun at the same time.
The Blossom style I chose is an open shoe with covered heel and toe, featuring a double bow on top. I opted for the blue and it has a speckled effect (almost like glitter but it isn’t at all shiny) and a small heel of 15mm making them super comfortable to walk around in for long periods.
Coloko Blossom side and sole The footbed has a really sweet pattern on it too, as well as the sole of the shoe – they haven’t forgotten about keeping things pretty when they’re not on your feet, which I love (and think of all the cute patterns you’ll leave while walking on the beach!).
Coloko Blossom Footbed I was a bit concerned about them being open and thought they may slip on and off my heel, but they’re a perfect fit and don’t do that at all. I would say I’m a small 4 (37) and they’re true to size.
Recently I’ve been trying to make better choices for the planet, so being a vegan friendly product is such a plus too. The packaging is fully recyclable as well (though I tend to keep all the boxes my shoes come in so they don’t get dusty).
If you sign up to their newsletter there’s a 15% off code for orders and delivery is free over £30. They have other ballerina flats and sandals too, which are obviously going to be next on my list!
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Collectif Review: Sasha top and Dakota Skirt
It may still be dreary outside, but I’m still planning all my summer outfits! And this one is an outfit I really love (together and as separates).
The Dakota skirt is a beautiful shade of red and a good vintage length on me. She has deep pockets that feature a flap over style and shiny red button affixed for decoration. The swing style is very flattering and it comes with a matching belt that has eyelet holes (woohoo!).
This is a new style for this season and I bought it when it first launched, but it wasn’t warm enough to wear it until recently! I hadn’t noticed how pretty the pleat detailing is to the front. This is such a lovely design and I really hope it returns in ALL the colours in future seasons as it’s a great alternative to a full gathered skirt. I found her to be a perfect fit and true to size.
She’s very versatile and easy to dress up or down. I could wear this with a Penny top for evening drinks or with my Arizona tshirt to make it super casual.
I chose to pair it with a Sasha vintage palm top, (which is another new shape and design for this year), and my goodness, what a star this little top is! The neckline is sweetheart, but can be altered by pulling the ties at the centre either tighter or keeping them looser. I’m not gonna lie, I pulled them quite hard because I need all the help I can get in that department! It’s great to have the option to be more modest though, and will suit a range of bust sizes.
The elasticated sleeves will sit just off the shoulders or on them; I quite liked having them on my shoulder a little as pictured. If it was warmer though, I’d likely slip them down.
Collectif Sasha Palm Top The palm tree print is fab and really stands out with the white on black, and the fabric is a jersey so it’s soft and stretchy. It’s true to size but with lots of stretch so buy your normal size and if you’re busty, there’s plenty of room.
I’m so glad I bought the Sasha – I know they’re going to be a firm staple of my summer wardrobe. I bought the plain colours too and there’s also a cat print available (here).
I really loved this look and highly recommend both products. Please note I changed the belt to one of my Collectif white ones as I wanted to tie the white in with the palm trees of the top. The skirt comes with a gorgeous matching red belt.
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For reference:
I’m a standard Collectif Size 6 (33:24:33) and 4’11” (wearing 4 inch heels here)
Also wearing Collectif Sunglasses (previous season) and Collectif Natalie earrings from the bead set -
Supplier Spotlight: SilkFred.com and Collectif Jemima Review
With so many online shopping sites popping up, it’s difficult to know who to trust sometimes. I’d seen SilkFred appear on my social media newsfeed occasionally but I wasn’t really properly aware of them until recently – when I found they now stock Collectif!
SilkFred are an online company based in London which provides a sales platform for a range of boutique, independent, brands. So if you’re looking for something a little different, SilkFred is a pretty good option to start your search! You can find other reproduction vintage brands like Glamour Bunny on there too, accessories from Crown and Glory or maybe some true vintage to add to your wardrobe, like Pop Sick Vintage?
I made a beeline for the Collectif store front (obviously) as I saw they had in stock the Jemima dress I’d been after, in my size! (yes, a chorus of ‘Hallelujah’ did start playing in my head when I saw it). Out of stock everywhere else, it was meant to beeeee! I already have the cream version which I bought back in January when it first launched (see full review of the dress here). Do you ever get buyer’s regret? I’ll be honest, it doesn’t happen to me often (I’m like a good soldier and never leave a pretty dress behind!)…..but as I’d bought quite a lot of new releases, I decided to buy just the one colourway of the Jemima and go with cream, leaving the black behind.
BIG mistake! I couldn’t get her out of my mind, could I?! Typically she was super popular and snapped up by everyone so I thought all was lost. Then SilkFred came to the rescue! I quickly bagged myself a 6 and had spoken to Collectif about the company – it’s all legit and the process is exactly the same as if you order via Collectif direct. It was easy to register, checkout and I received my DPD updates and speedy courier delivery as always. The great thing about SilkFred is there is FREE DELIVERY on orders over £50! so you save money on shipping too. I like that they use their own photos as well, so you can see how it looks styled differently and at diffferent angles, which you may not have previously seen on the main website.
I was super happy with my purchase. I’d signed up for SilkFred updates and they notify me of certain things (you can opt out of this if you prefer). Apparently they send discounts that way too so it’s always worth signing up to a newsletter I think.
Overall, it’s a great format in addition to the main site and gives us another outlet to buy from – which is always a good thing. So if anyone is unsure, go for it!
Obviously I’m over the moon with my black Jemima dress – still available in most sizes on the main site (here) or on SilkFred (here). I found it came up slightly smaller than my cream version (though still true to size), so order up if you’re in between sizes or busty. I’ll be using SilkFred again in future (alongside the main site), as it gets a huge thumbs up from me. And now my wardrobe is complete……until the next dress release!
Collectif Jemima dress in black Outfit details:
Dress: Collectif
Jewellery Set: Collectif
Sunglasses: Collectif
Bangles: Collectif and Bow & Crossbones
Shoes: Lulu Hun
Hair Flower: Miss Bella’s Blooms
Brooch: ErstwilderAll products bought by me and the thoughts expressed are my own.
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Collectif Wanda Review
Wow, Wanda is full of sass! A figure hugging pencil dress with matching, wide, belt and the cutest, winged, neckline detail to the front. It also has heart buttons with a faux centre opening (great for girls with bigger busts that hate gaping buttonholes). There is actually a zip at the back and a halterneck tie.
I picked up both the polka dot and the green version last Summer but as they’ve been rereleased (here) I thought a review would be helpful for those wanting to grab it this season – especially as they’re adding new colours to this range, including a gorgeous little black dress option.
The black and white polka dot version is so much fun! It’s a stretchy cotton and is true to size. If you’re in between sizes though, or have a larger bust (D+) you will probably want to size up. I love to jazz mine up with red accessories – who doesn’t like a little monochrome with a splash of red?
Black & White Polka Dot Wanda I also added the hat I featured here to it the other day, along with sunglasses and jewellery all from Collectif. Perfect for warm days basking in the sunshine – look at that sweet wing-tipped neckline!
The light green one is a really lovely colour. Again, it has stretch in the fabric, however the waist band doesn’t really stretch and is bang on true to size – so if you’re in between sizes or even a little over the Collectif measurements for your normal size, size up with this one. This green is marginally smaller than my polka dot version and as I’m within the measurements, it’s fine – but I definitely won’t be wearing it to an all you can eat buffet unless I buy the bigger size (which I may still do, cause, you know, cake).
Light Green Wanda They are really cute dresses, perfect for wearing casually with a cardi and flat sandals or vamping up with killer heels and a (faux) leather jacket. I highly recommend them; just size up if you need to and keep your eyes peeled for more styles coming too!
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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! -
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 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
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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!).
