• Makira Shoes Review [Honiara Vintage]

    If you’re not aware of Honiara Vintage yet, you’ll be forgiven as it’s a relatively new outlet from the very fabulous Charlie Stone. With a tiki twist for pin up loving, vintage style, gals, Honiara Vintage focus on vegan leather shoes for summer styling.

    I chose the Makira heels in white and it took about a week to arrive and I was especially happy to see a compostable bag included for any returns too. As well as being kind to animals, they’re also being kind to the planet 💚

    The packaging is really lovely and feels special with a branded box and dust bag, which features a pink ribbon closure. Both shoes are then in individual dust bags too so your shoes arrive perfect and well cared for during transit.

    Upon opening the bag, you’ll let out a little squeal with delight as your new pin up shoes emerge. They are absolutely gorgeous! I really love the diamond lattice details on the Makira which really emulates the 50s style of shoe.

    Also note the close up of the foot bed in this photo which is super cushioned. It’s honestly the most comfortable summer heel I’ve worn. This is a classic feature in Charlie Stone collections and it’s great that they’ve continued to think about comfort for summer wear too. I could happily wear these all day and night and for anyone that dances, these are the shoes for you! The 2.5 inch heel makes it very easy to wear too. They’re low enough to be practical but high enough to add a little spring in your step and elongate your legs in your outfits for that perfect pin up look.

    The strap is a quick release style; lifting it up easily over the hook to get in and out of without having to do the buckle up. This style of closure is great when you’re in the cutest wiggle dress but can’t actually bend down (oh yes, I’ve been there!), or if you have disabilities/arthritis issues it’s super practical too.

    Trying them on for the first time, it felt like my foot slipped into Cinderella’s shoes – the perfect fit! They feel really good on, so incredibly comfortable and as I chose white, they’ll go with so many of my outfits. Size wise, be aware that this is a style which comes up large and is suited to regular/wide feet. I have quite a narrow foot so following the guide on the website and with help from Honiara Vintage too, we decided a size down would work well for me, which was absolutely spot on as the fit is really good. To ensure you order the correct size, check the sizing guide or contact Honiara Vintage and they’ll recommend the best size for you. 

    I love a peep toe sandal and combined with the security of a small strap, they’ll be a staple for my summer outfits. I wore a palm tree playsuit to add some tiki inspired, pinup, vibes and they work so well together.

    What I love most is that they’re so practical and comfortable but delicate and daintily styled too. The strap sits just low enough to highlight the curve of your ankle whereas a lot of sandal straps completely cover this area which makes your legs look smaller (especially if you’re of a petite nature). 

    As well as white, this style is also available in red, gold and black and cost £59 with FREE worldwide shipping! I think I may need every colour haha and look forward to wearing the Makira at every opportunity this summer! x

     

     

    For reference:
    I’m a size 4 (37) in shoes normally but the above are a size 3 (36). 

    Disclaimer:
    These shoes were gifted to me as a Brand Ambassador for Honiara Vintage. I only give honest reviews and all thoughts shared about the product are my own. 

    Also wearing:
    Mahina Playsuit, Sunnies and Hair Flowers – Collectif Clothing (previous season stock)
    Bangles – Splendette

  • Gemma Western Cactus Shirt [Collectif]

    I swear sometimes Collectif read my mind. Lately I’ve been hankering after a good western shirt with long sleeves, and lo and behold – one appears on the website! So obviously I snapped it up and it was delivered the very next day. Superb!

    The Gemma Western Cactus Shirt is made from black cotton and features a fabulous embroidered cactus design emblazoned on the front. There’s a dainty collar with piped green edges and a row of red popper style buttons. 

    The pattern also has western style swirls in green and to add a little sparkle, there’s studs dotted through the design which catch the light beautifully.

    It has long sleeves which end with matching green faux winged cuffs and feature two, red, popper buttons. I love how it all ties in together and the green, black and red work really well together.

    The shirt is a fitted style with darts for a more tailored finish. The length is great for me – enough to tuck in to high waisted bottoms or you could wear it over if you prefer (I’m a tucker inf’er). It fits perfectly and is true to size for me. The cotton is light enough to wear over Summer and I’ll be adding a cardi for Autumn. It’s one I’ll want to wear from season to season.

    I wore it with a black denim mini skirt and cowboy boots to continue the western theme. I’ll also wear it with high waisted jeans, black shorts and red trousers for alternative looks. 

    The Gemma Shirt is available here in sizes 4-22 and costs £49.00. Are you a fan of the vintage western look? 

    For Reference:
    I’m 4’11” and wearing 2.64” heels. I’m a standard size 6 in Collectif and wearing a size 6 in the photos above. 

    Also wearing:
    Denim Skirt: PrettyLittleThing
    Boots: PU from Zulily 
    Hair Flower and Sunnies: Collectif previous seasons

     

  • Giordana Gingham Dress Review [Collectif Clothing]

    You all know by now that I go a bit gaga for gingham and the gorgeous Giordana is no exception! With its large black and white print and bardot neck, I was smitten!

    The fabric is the super light and made from viscose making it perfect for all your upcoming Summer soirées! Don’t expect it to be a heavy fabric as it is very thin – which suits me as I want to wear something as light as possible in the heat of Summer!

    The neckline is unique as it’s one piece and the shoulders are hand tied into bows. When untied, the top half of the dress is in two pieces. I was a little bewildered by this at first, but then realised it’s actually a great feature as you can tie them as tight or as loose as you need to, making it fit for all body types and there’s plenty of room for those blessed up top. There’s also a side zip for ease of getting in and out.

    That neckline is just scrummy!

    I really love the way you can change the neckline and chose to wore it higher on one side and lower on the other which I felt right for me as it’s the way I usually wear things with a wide neck. You can wear it straight across too if you wish.

    There’s a full swing skirt to the bottom, with pockets, woohoo! I did try a petticoat on underneath as there’s plenty of room for one, but prefer it without personally.

    Feelin’ cute amidst the blossoms

    It comes with a black belt which has holes (hurrah!) and fits below the knee. Obviously on me it’s at my calf but that’s my preferred length for vintage dresses, so it works for me. Size wise, this comes up pretty true to size though roomy in the bust area. 

    I was delighted to get this dress out on such a sunny day and it was perfect, keeping me cool but glamorous. I can’t wait to wear it more this year!

    The Giordana is available in sizes 8-22 at £59.00 from the Collectif website.

    For reference:

    I’m wearing a size 6 in the photos above, and I’m 4’11” with 4.5 inch heels.
    Stats:
    For size guidance, I’m 33:24:33 

    Also wearing:
    Bangles: Splendette
    Sunglasses: Collectif (previous season)
    Earrings: Collectif (previous season, part of the Natalie set)
    Shoes: E5P
    Hair flowers: high street many moons ago
    Parasol: bridal store but you can find them on eBay

    Disclaimer: 

    This item was gifted to me, but all my views are my own and I only ever post honest reviews.

  • Dorothy Rainbow Chevron Dress Review [Collectif Clothing]

    I was always a fan of a rainbow dress (you probably know I have quite a few in my wardrobe already), but with everything that’s happened over the past year, they’ve come to mean more to everyone and project hope and better times ahead. It was a done deal as soon as I saw Dorothy from the new Spring/Summer 2021 collection – she needed to brighten my days. If you’re umming and ahhing over whether you need ‘another’ rainbow dress, let me tell you that you do haha.

    The Dorothy is similar in style to the Nova designs, but features a fabulous 50’s inspired fold over trim to the bust and wide, adjustable straps in pastel pink. There’s also a matching, heart-shaped, belt in the pink which is super cute and a lovely touch.

    Now let’s just take a minute to appreciate that fabulous chevron rainbow print! I absolutely love bold, bright colours, and the addition of the ric-rac style chevrons definitely makes you stand out and spread joy wherever you go! 

    That fold over detail is just darling

    The neckline is v shaped and there’s a centre back zip to fasten. As always, we love some pockets and this dress has two deep, side seam, pockets to plunge your hands into…..perfect! 

    Pockets suitably plunged

    The swing skirt is pleated at the top but has plenty of fullness for a petticoat still. I tried it with and without (shown with in the main photo). My preference for dresses is usually without a petticoat but some days I do like that extra poof. It works well both ways.

    With petticoat on the left, sans petticoat on the right

    It falls just below the knee on me which is a good vintage length. It’ll be shorter and on the knee for the taller amongst you. The fit is great and I actually prefer the fit of this design to the Nova. I found it true to size with a bit of room on the waistband.

    This dress has been really popular already so if you can get your hands on one, do! Currently available in sizes 6-14 on the website and £65, though if you use code VIP20 it will get you 20% off full priced items until midnight on the 15th March. If you’re in love with the print but it’s out of stock in your size, there’s also the Dolores top and Marilu skirt combo which would work well together as a set and both are available in all sizes (see here). 

    Dorothy deserves to return home with you <3

     

    Also wearing:
    Cardigan: previous Collectif Jessie design
    Parasol: old Collectif stock
    Bangles and Earrings: all Splendette
    Hair flowers: a selection including Miss Bella’s Blooms and Collectif
    Shoes: E5P
    Necklace: Kreepsville 666

    For sizing info:
    I’m a standard size 6 in Collectif Clothing (my measurements are 33:24:33) and 4’11” tall with 4.5” heels on in the photos. I’m wearing a size 6 Dorothy dress.

     

  • Carmella Polka Dot Mesh Swing Dress Review [Collectif]

    This darling of a dress was launched last year but was rereleased this Summer and I’m so glad it was! I totally missed out last year having thought – do I really need another evening dress?! Well, clearly the answer was a resounding YES! Always buy the dress haha. 

    It’s such a pretty design with two layers. The overlay is really delicate with a sheer fabric and velvet polka dots scattered over it. It’s fully detachable so you can wear it over other dresses too, which is a great feature.

    It has sweet little buttons (with elastic hoops for ease of closure) to the front and one at the neck where it fastens into a keyhole shape. There’s also a belt which goes through belt hoops on the outer layer too for a snatched waist. My belt was a bit long so I folded it over, but would do my usual trick of a Velcro dot when I’m out on the razzle dazzle!

    As the buttons stop at the waist, the overlay doesn’t meet at the front, so you always catch glimpses of the under dress, which looks really elegant and flattering as you move. The overlay is unfinished at the hem which I really like as you can see the mesh floating over the dress instead of being drawn to a heavy border.

    Underneath, the base of the dress is a strappy bengaline number with a sweetheart neckline. The straps adjust, which is brilliant as it can fit taller and shorter gals in one short tweak of the straps. I always size up once when I buy anything made from bengaline and I made the right choice with the larger size for this one. Aside from that, it’s a perfect fit and I really like the length which is cut on my mid calf as all good vintage dresses should be. I’m thrilled with it! It’s a full swing skirt so I’ll likely wear a petticoat underneath it for a more fancy pants look, but in the summer sun, I couldn’t handle a petti! 

    Squinty McSquinty in the Summer sun

    Just look at those gorgeous little sleeves and the shirt style collar! To die for. If you missed out on the Carmella Polka Dot dress too, or overlooked it by any chance, it’s reduced down in the sale to an amazing £27 from £90! The mid range sizes are all still available at the time of writing so I’d bag yourself this bargain (and size up once) – you won’t regret it!

    Now, off to a socially distanced, end of summer soirée!

     

    For reference: 
    I’m 4’11” and wearing 4 inch heels in the photos. I’m a standard size 6 in Collectif, but wearing a size 8 in this one which is the size of a 6.

    Also wearing:
    Earrings: Starlet Jewellery
    Hair Flower: High Street 
    Sunnies: Collectif old stock
    Shoes: Iron Fist old stock

  • Jemima Cool Palm Swing Dress Review [Collectif]

    I bought this gorgeous dress prior to the sale when it first launched and totally forgot to write about it, so forgive my much belated review…oops. I have previously posted about Jemimas (here and here) as the polka dot versions stole my heart and although I have a couple already in my wardrobe this cool palm print was everything and I had to have it!

    Just look at that totally tropical design! What’s not to love?! It screams sun-filled paradise, and let’s be honest, we’re all dreaming of days like that at the moment.

    The palm design looks fantastic against the navy background. I have a thing for gigantic leaves (my house is full of them) so walking around like one is always my first option!

    The Jemima has a sweetheart neckline with wide shoulder straps (still not adjustable unfortunately, the only downside to the Jemima), a fitted bodice and full, gathered, swing skirt. Running down the centre is a row of the red buttons used on a few other designs. I don’t mind the red as it always co-ordinates with my hair, but I think brown wooden buttons would have worked better on this one (like those on the previous Kimberly) as there aren’t any other red elements to it. There isn’t a zip so this is how you get in and out, using the buttons at the front.

    There’s a matching buckled belt in the same fabric which can cinch in that waist. I really love that the Jemima’s always have belts in the same fabric as the dress. They also have side seam pockets! Which is obviously a must – where would we be without pockets?! And I much prefer side seam pockets to patch, so hurrah!

    I teamed it with the Collectif Jessie Palm Cardigan which works really well together as the day got cooler. The cropped cardigans from Collectif are great for these styles as they sit just above the waistline, not covering the belt so you can clearly see where your waist is defined (but stay warm).

    I also paired it with green shoes and turquoise, blue and green jewellery which matched the colours in the print perfectly. Picking out the colours featured in whatever you’re wearing always makes the best accents. 

    Size wise, I’m wearing my usual size and again, it’s true to size for me. However, if you’re a D cup or above, you’ll likely need to size up. There isn’t any stretch to the bust so those bestowed with bounteous boobage would struggle in your normal size. It sits at the top of my calf which is a lovely length for this style of dress (it’ll obviously be shorter on taller gals).

    It’s 100% cotton and feels so nice on. The sale has been raided so unfortunately you won’t find any on the Collectif site anymore but at the time of writing, there are quite a few sizes over at Succubus (a reliable Netherlands based company) if you need it as much as I did.

     

    For reference:
    I’m a standard size 6 in Collectif and wearing a size 6 in the Jemima above. I’m 4’11” and wearing 4 inch heels in the photos.

    Also wearing:
    Cardigan: Collectif Jessie Palm (old stock)
    Necklace: Collectif Natalie (old stock)
    Bangles: Bow & Crossbones and Splendette
    Earrings: Splendette
    Shoes: E5P (old stock)
    Brooch: Erstwilder
    Hair flower: Collectif Lili (old stock), high street and eBay.