• 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)

  • Molly Jacket Review [Collectif Loves Top Vintage]

    I was lucky enough to bag this beautiful jacket in a competition! I know, so jammy haha. I already have the Collectif Molly in Olive Green (which I featured here) so I knew how it fit and what the style was like. This collab version is just as glamorous and comes in a gorgeous teal colour this year.

    It’s such a great choice for the colder months as it’s super warm with the faux fur trim. This is also removable if you prefer to wear it without, or if we catch a warmer day in winter and fur is just a bit too much! It makes a really smart jacket without the fur but I really love it attached.

    There’s a matching buckled, wide, belt in the same fabric and substantial buttons to the front which have a really lovely pattern on them.

    It has a very 1940s vibe with a slight peplum to the hip and works well with your entire vintage style wardrobe. I’m wearing it with a long pencil skirt but it looks great with trousers and dresses too.

    I find the Molly fits perfectly and I don’t need to size up at all – although if you’re busty you definitely should as there’s no stretch, or if you want to wear something thick beneath it. The teal collab version isn’t available in my normal size though so I had to size up in this one. It’s a little roomy on me but gives me options to wear thicker jumpers underneath which is always a bonus as my other one I can only wear with thinner layers.

    I love the colour of this one (the truer representation is on the belt photo as it’s like a greeny-blue; really gorgeous. It’s so warm too, you’ll definitely feel snug as a bug in this jacket. It’s currently available in all sizes from 8-22 at £94.99 on the Collectif website and at Top Vintage in sizes 8-18.

    Hope you’re all keeping safe and warm! See you next time xx

     

    The boring bit:
    In case you need it for reference, my stats are 33:24:33, I’m 4’11” and wear a size 6 in Collectif Clothing. I’m wearing an XS (size 8) in the photos above.

    Also wearing:
    Pencil Skirt: Alexa by Collectif
    Bag: Carrie in orange by Collectif
    Hair Flower: by Miss Bella’s Blooms

  • [London Edge Feb 2020 Part 6] Collectif Sneak Peek AW20

    We are nearing the finale of our roundabout tour of London Edge this year and in this penultimate edition, we’ll be taking a glimpse at the upcoming Autumn/Winter collection from Collectif. For anyone that missed my highlights of the Summer launch, you can read about them here and check my latest reviews for SS20 lines which are currently out already.

    Firstly, there are the beloved Caterinas, which we all love with their classic shirtwaister style. There will be plenty of  glorious new updates to this design, but two gorgeous checks at the show were this one with it’s fabulously autumnal yellow and rusty hues:

    The colours are so scrummy on this one

    And this one, which has a lovely red and black check on a cream background and gives me awesome lumberjack chic vibes:

    Both with matching belts that have holes in, yay! 

    I also really liked this cute Mary Grace Swing dress which is an alternative shirt dress style:

    This design first appeared as a dress last year (Meow print) and I’m so pleased to see it’s return with this sweet cherry pattern, neck tie and bold red buttons. It’s definitely on my list.

    I don’t often go for suits, but this one really struck me. I just love the bold green check and the cut of the jacket:

    Adorned with velvet buttons, you could either wear this with the matching items or as a single piece, which is how I think I’ll style it (with black trousers most likely). It’s so incredibly scrummy, I can’t wait for it to launch!

    I thought this was the most perfect Autumnal outfit:

    Next season’s Babette jumper will appear in a vivid orange and the border print skirt with orange falling leaves is a match made in heaven.

    On to the Dolores, which is a super popular design, and this year will be arriving in a gorgeous purple check:

    Seriously, how good is that print? 1 of each, please!

    Now my ghouly gals, Collectif have you covered whether it’s just for the Halloween period or living spooky every day!

    This Elvira style print with its fun Hocus Pocus design will send you batty, I’m sure!

    And the Peta dress returns in sumptuous velvet with the coolest spooky print in glitter.

    There was also a range of Beetlejuice inspired designs at the show which were amazing, including this one:

    This Eliana Pencil dress will be a sure hit – it’s insanely good. I need one.

    Moving on to coats, we saw the return of the leopard lined Sheena and Hazel cape and coat in a deep wine colour this time:

    There will also be a couple of new Pearl coats, one of which was in orange:

    Ideal for popping over all those seasonally fabulous outfits!

    Lastly, the sought-after Trixie for Autumn Winter period will include this dazzling green version:

    It has an array of glittery stars, cascading over luscious velvet. Perfect for all your festive events and celebrations.

    I hope you’ve enjoyed this sneaky peek of the exciting things coming to Collectif later in the year. Do you have any favourites so far?

    To see what’s ahead for Bright & Beautiful, Lulu Hun and Collectif Menswear, stay tuned for the next (and final) instalment of the AW20 previews x

  • [London Edge Feb 2020 Part 3] Bow & Crossbones

    I’d missed the fabulous Bow & Crossbones last time they exhibited at London Edge as I ran out of time, so I wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice! Heading over to their stand, I was greeted with such a friendly welcome from Camilla and Taz. It’s so nice when people you only know via social media turn out to be as lovely in the flesh as they are online.

    Bow & Crossbones make fakelite and 50’s inspired bangles, necklaces and earrings, but also sell true vintage, kitschy cool, items. I love Cam’s work and often wear her pieces which you’ll have seen in previous posts – in fact I was actually wearing some Bow & Crossbones when I met her! You know I love a good accessory.

    Bangle stacking is easy with B&C!

    The Kane Wicker collection (which I’m wearing above in Coco and Black) is just unbelievably good, made better only by the fact that part of the new season pieces are two tone wickers! That’s right, you heard correctly,  TWO-TONE! 

    Spot them on the second row up in all their funky glory

    I have no idea how it’s even possible, but it looks incredible. With earrings to match, these are so ridiculously cool. I think I may have let out an audible yelp when I first saw them. So they’re definitely on the list!

    Offering us another sneak peek of what’s to come, these awesome octagonal bangles were showcased too, look at all the gorgeous carving:

    I love shaped bangles but they never fit my teeny wrists, so when Cam said the new collections going forward will always be available in all 3 sizes (Princess, Queenie and Goddess), I was thrilled! Such great news, right?! whichever size you need, we’re all catered for.

    There were lots of gorgeous earrings to look at too and I’d already spotted the Dot earrings which were released recently. They’re double hoops and super cute.

    Dotty about these! Photo credit: Bow & Crossbones

    To my surprise, when I picked them up, they were so much lighter than I expected! No droopy lobes for us, ladies! I’m going to be bagging a few of those too.

    Hope you’ve enjoyed a little preview of all the goodies coming this year from B&C, in the meantime there are so many pretties available on the website and make sure you drop by on Friday evenings for the market nights which are fab! x

     

    Look out for Part 4 of my London Edge round up which will be coming soon. You can subscribe to the blog below which will notify you when it publishes to be a step ahead 🙂

     

     

     

  • [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

     

     

  • 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)

  • 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!).