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Aleksi Pencil Dress Review [Collectif Clothing]
Hey gorgeous, hope your January has been full of exciting new things and possibilities! January usually drags on forever for me, but this year it’s actually skipped along at a reasonable rate – helped along obviously by adding more things to my wardrobe….I mean, that’s what Januarys are really for, right? The SALES! hehe. The Collectif sale has been in full swing and the fabulous Aleksi is currently down to an amazing £16.50!
The colour of this dress is so lovely. It’s described as ‘petrol’ and is a dark teal blue shade. It has the most beautiful diamond shaped neckline and half sleeves to keep you a little warmer during the colder weather. I really love the pleated panels down on the front of the dress which go down to the waist. There’s a lovely contrast with the deep red used for accents on the dress such as a double row of military style buttons (which sit on the pleats) and the matching belt.
The belt is removable and has a buckle fastening with holes (it’s not one of the old belts which slide about) and there’s a zip at the back for ease of getting in and out of the dress. The material is polyester and I found it quite light for an Autumn/Winter style. It would have benefited from being lined as it is very thin. Having said that, I do still love it and it looks amazing with a short jacket for a forties/fifties inspired look!
I love this cropped Marilyn style jacket over a pencil for some 40s/50s chic Fit wise, I found it came up quite big for my normal size but the fabric doesn’t stretch at all – s0 that may suit us all very well after the delights of Christmas! I know it was quite forgiving for me haha. It felt more like a size up though, being wide on the top and bottom half so it may be something you want to consider when ordering. There’s plenty of room for bustier gals I would say. The length was cut on my lower calf for a nice vintage feel and there’s a small split in the back to get your wiggle in your walk.
The Aleksi is a great style to take us into Spring and there’s also a swing version for £16.25 if pencils aren’t your preferred style (see here), which would look awesome with a deep red petticoat underneath! Both styles are available in all sizes from 6-20 (the pencil goes up to a 22). How would you style yours? x
Additional Information:
This item was gifted to me but all thoughts are my own and the review is my honest opinion.I’m a size 6 in Collectif usually and wearing a 6 in the photos above which feels more like an 8 on me. My stats are 33:24:33 and I’m 4’11” wearing 4 inch heels.
Also wearing:
Monroe Jacket – Collectif Clothing (past season)
Mansfield Earrings – Collectif Clothing
Red gloves – True Vintage
Bangles – Splendette and thrift store
Susan Heels – Lulu Hun (past season) -
[London Edge Feb 2020 Part 2] Sheen Clothing
With a range of vintage and modern styles, I was delighted to meet the lovely team at Sheen on my visit to London Edge. I mentioned them on the blog at my last visit (see here) as I really liked the Helena dress which was showcased on the catwalk that day.
Helena Dress With it’s beautiful neckline, long sleeves and full skirt, this was a stand out winter dress for me. More recently, I fell in love with the aptly named Heart dress which is so insanely pretty, it truly captures hearts.
Photo Credit: Sheen Clothing This year, the stand was bursting with colour and unique prints, featuring their Spring/Summer looks.
So many styles! In every colour and print There is something for everyone, from fun and flirty playsuits to casual day dresses, all the way to evening wear. My favourites from the current line are these playsuits which have the sweetest details:
Arlene Playsuit Jana Playsuit The charming Summer prints, daisy buttons and lace detailing at the sweetheart neckline make these a perfect choice for lazy Summer days or exploring on your holidays. The Jana went down the runway and looked gorgeous. Just add a wide brimmed straw hat, sunglasses and some wedges and you’re set!
Jana Playsuit From the new collection, my favourite picks were from the Capsule Collection. These nautical fancies are just spectacular!
Ahoy there! Sailor Trousers Sailor Skirt I adore a novelty print and these cute little crabs on a blue and white stripe really make a statement. The waistbands with their double covered buttons are a really nice feature too. They’ll be available as cropped trousers or a swing skirt, both with pockets (yay!).
Then I spotted this dress and I couldn’t contain my excitement:
With a little nod to the super hero in all of us, this elegantly styled dress has beautiful detailing to the shoulders and neckline. And with a border of cheery crabs scuttling around the hem (I couldn’t fit it all on one photo sorry!), this fun design is bound to be a big hit.
You may also be able to pick these two out of the stand photos which I really liked:
Photo Credit: Sheen A casual shirt dress with a fun print is my ideal sunny shopping day attire. For cooler days I’d throw on a cardigan and tights with brown boots. This style of dress is very versatile so the Morgan Shirt Dress appealed to me.
Bette Dress Photo Credit: Sheen And then there’s Bette, with her fabulously bright toucan print, combining my favourite colours (turquoise and yellow). This halterneck pencil dress ties at the neck and features a sweetheart neckline wth bow tie to the front. It’s the perfect cocktail dress for a tiki bar or summer barbecue party.
There are many more styles coming too, and while the brand is usually only available via stockists, Sheen has exciting things planned. In around a month’s time, a new ecommerce store will be available on the website, meaning we can buy direct! And everything is available in sizes 8 to 22 which provides a good range.
You may also have noticed on the stand that the brand name will be changing – from Sheen to Timeless. There’s a definite shift happening within the company and while most items are available in cotton currently (some polyester), they’re becoming a more environmentally conscious brand. To that end, the textiles they plan to use going forward will be sustainable which is a great step forward for those of us that enjoy fashion but want to think about our footprints on the planet too.
I’m looking forward to exploring the new website when it launches!
Look out for Part 3 of the London Edge previews, or subscribe below to be notified of the next publication x
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Christine Pencil Dress Review (Collectif Clothing)
I thought it was time for a little pencil dress feature, and oh my, is this one a beauty! In a gorgeously soft, mustard, fabric and three quarter length sleeves, the Christine is a perfect winter addition to everyone’s wardrobe.
To the front, there’s a wonderfully sweet peter pan collar with a fixed, black velvet, bow detail. The velvet is continued with four feature buttons across the chest and at the waist on the adjustable belt (which has eyelets – woohoo!).
The sweetest velvet details This classy piece has a centre back zip and a split to the rear (so you can wiggle but still walk). It falls at a perfect vintage mid calf length on me with my heels. There is a little stretch in the material but I find it true to size. If you’re busty or wider on the waist or hips than the Collectif chart, you should size up.
I really like this dress which you could easily wear for work or play depending on accessories. I’ve kept mine simple and paired it with some black Lulu Hun heels. There’s also a swing version of this dress available if you’re not really a pencil kinda gal, which can be found here. Both versions are currently available in all sizes and I do hope more colour ways come out in future collections as it feels lovely to wear – fingers crossed!
For reference:
Height: 4’11” wearing 4 inch heels
Stats: 33:24:33 and a standard Collectif size 6 (which I’m wearing here)
