• Linette Mermaid Scallop Dress Review [Collectif Clothing]

    As soon as I saw a mermaid design was coming to the collection, I knew I had to have it! Who doesn’t want to cover themselves in the pattern of a sea goddess!

    The Linette design isn’t new as it’s been in previous seasons, but it is a new one to me as I haven’t tried it before. It features a gorgeous petrol blue base with an Art Deco inspired scallop pattern made from small dots over the fabric. The Art Deco influence makes it look really classy as well as being reminiscent of a mermaid.

    Close up detail of the Art Deco mermaid scallop print

    I really like the contrasting white trim over the blue which is used around the sweetheart neckline, on the buttons, turn up cuffs and on the matching belt (buckle fastening, hurrah!). The buttons at the front are false fastening as the dress does up at the back with a concealed zip.

    The bodice section is fitted but has lots of stretch. It actually comes up a little big on me so I would ideally have sized down in this one. Those with bigger busts will rejoice as there’s plenty of room for the girls! The lower half comprises a full swing skirt and I’ve worn a white petticoat underneath mine to add extra poofiness although it has plenty of volume without and has great swishability!

    Best of all (as with most dresses), this one has pockets! I love a good pocket. The length is great for me and is below the knee giving a classic vintage feel. I don’t like swings to look too long or too short and the petticoat fits nicely underneath it without showing.

    Overall I really like this style, especially the neckline and contrasting details. I’ll definitely consider another Linette in future. Have you tried one? 

    The Linette Mermaid is currently available in all sizes from 6-22 for £17.25 which is an absolute steal down from £68.99. However, with code JAN50 until midnight on Monday 31st January it’s another 50% off down to an unbelievable £8.63! Xx

     

     

    Additional Information:
    This was a gifted item in exchange for an honest review and all thoughts are my own. 
    I’m 4’11” wearing 4 inch heels in these photos. I’m a standard size 6 in Collectif Clothing and wear a 6 in this design, though a size down would have suited me better. My stats are 33:24:33 for comparison if that helps 🙂

    Also wearing:
    Bangles and Earrings: All Splendette 
    Necklace: Collectif Clothing (past season)
    Shoes: E5P (past season)

     

  • 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)

  • Catalina Knitted Dress Review [Collectif Clothing]

    Hey there, Autumn! It’s been a while and the chillier weather has now descended with darker evenings drawing in. It’s definitely time to think about cosy knits and keeping warm as glamorously as possible.

    The Catalina dress by Collectif is a great option for staying toasty as it has a ribbed fabric and long sleeves. 

    You can see the material is really substantial and it feels warm to wear. It also comes with a brown, faux leather, buckled belt – though this did crack as soon as I threaded the belt through, so I’ll likely use another with it.

    It has a wide, scooped, neckline which is quite open and looks better with a strapless bra than one with straps as it sits so broadly. The waist is semi fitted giving a slightly tailored look, and the skirt is a half swing with plenty to swish about but not enough for a full petticoat (a cotton one for winter would be good). Unfortunately there isn’t any lining so it’ll stick to tights (which I was wearing) but I tend to pop a half slip on to prevent this – a light spritz of hairspray on the underside is a good little trick too, but don’t stand next to any naked flames!

    I love that it’s so easy to throw on (no zips or buttons) and you can dress it up or down. I chose to wear it casually with my faithful Lulu Hun western boots (previous review here and you can still find small sizes in the other colour way here) which tied in perfectly with the brown from the belt.

    The fit is really good and the fabric is stretchy. I have it in my normal size and the length is just past the knees which is great for vintage looks. It will become an Autumn staple for me and I’ll pair it with small heeled ankle boots as well as heels to change the look.

    I adore the knitted styles from Collectif and hope there will be more in further Autumn/Winter ranges. Sadly there aren’t any pockets in this design, so maybe it could return with those next time (fingers crossed!). Currently the Catalina swing is available in a few sizes on the website at £64.99, and for those that prefer a pencil dress, there’s a wine coloured version in sizes 10-22 for £58.99 too. But Black Friday is coming so maybe you’ll get a cheeky discount! x (Edit: Black Friday code is now live. Use BF50 for 50% of this style)

     

     

    The boring bit, if it helps:
    I’m a standard size 6 in Collectif Clothing and wearing a 6 in the photos above. My stats are 33:24:33 and I’m 4’11” in height.

    Also wearing:
    Hair Flowers by Miss Bella’s Blooms
    Bangles and earrings by Splendette
    Kira Necklace by Collectif 
    Jolene Boots by Lulu Hun
    Brooch by Erstwilder

     

  • 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

  • Demira Gingham Daisy Pencil Dress [Collectif Clothing]

    What a great new style for the Spring/Summer 2020 collection! This bloomin’ gorgeous dress is the Demira Gingham Daisy Pencil dress and is a stand out piece – radiating happy vibes wherever you wear it!

    I managed to bag it in the sale (still currently on) having ummed and ahhed over it since it launched. I absolutely love the bold, bright, print but I was a bit concerned about the higher neckline and puffed sleeves – not things I would normally go for. I almost bought the pencil skirt instead (which is also very cute) but I’m so glad I took a punt and bought the dress – it’s a triumph!

    The puffed sleeves are elasticated and actually add a sweet detail to the top of the dress which is more conservative with a round neck. They’re comfortable on the arms and not tight at all. At the back of the dress, the neckline dips into a lovely v shape and there’s a centre back zip making this easy to get in and out of.

    I found this style to be true to size, with limited stretch at the waist, so if your widest part is there, you may want to size up. It falls on my mid calf giving a great vintage feel and accentuating that wiggle when you walk!

    I wore the Demira with accents of yellow, picked out from the daisy print. This goes really well but you could pair it with white, blue or black accessories if you preferred to be matchy matchy but not so bold with yellow. 

    To get your gingham daisy fix, this dress is still currently 50% off at £26.25 (utter bargain!) and available in all sizes. If a pencil isn’t your thing, then have a look at the other items available in this design too (available here). I’m still thinking I may need a few more pieces in this print, but if you prefer spots over gingham, then Collectif have also just launched this new polka dot design! Which will you choose? x

     

    Also wearing:

    Pineapple bag and cinch belt: Collectif Clothing
    Yellow shoes and Blue shoes: Lulu Hun
    Hair flower: Miss Bella’s Blooms
    Earrings: Bow & Crossbones
    Bangles: Splendette
    Necklace: Vintage

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

     

  • Mirtilla Oranges Pencil Dress Review [Collectif Clothing]

    We’ve reached the end of another week – a miserable one here in the UK sadly with all the rain (but our gardens are thankful!). Better weather is on its way though and what better way to hold on to hopes of blue skies and endless sunshine than by adorning yourself with a taste of Spain (when I see sweet juicy oranges, I always think of Valencia).

    I managed to purchase this one during the 50% off sale and my size happened to appear (it was meant to be!) so I snapped it up immediately. The Mirtilla style is new this season and what a fab little pencil she is! Emblazoned with oranges on a navy cotton sateen, she has a casual feel with the polo style top but still dressy with the tailored wiggle. I absolutely love this new design, especially the bespoke orange print, it’s just delicious.

     

    The collar has a couple of buttons to the front and turn up sleeves on the arms. There is a side zip on this one which, to be honest, I found incredibly difficult to get on with a pencil style. They work much better for swing dresses and I do wish it had a centre back zip instead as I have to ruin my hair to get it on. I much prefer to step into dresses and I felt a bit like I needed to be double jointed to get into it with side zip haha. Once on though, it’s super comfortable to wear and it has just the right amount of stretch. 

    It falls on my mid calf which is just perfect for a good vintage length. I love that it’s more of a casual style but still in my beloved pencil shape. I really hope to see more of this design returning (but fingers crossed for a centre back zip). There are also swing versions of this design if you’re not a pencil lovin’ kinda gal, but not in the oranges print.

    I paired mine with the orange Billie cinch belt and Natalie orange bead necklace from last year’s Collectif accessories, the parasol I picked up at a Collectif outlet sale event a couple of years ago, the Aaliyah orange orchid hair flower from earlier this season at Collectif, shoes from Lulu Hun (featured earlier on the blog, here) and bangles by Splendette and Bow & Crossbones which were a perfect match with this dress. I felt totally tropical! Bring back sunny days x

     

    For reference:
    I’m 4’11 and wearing 4″ heels, I’m a standard size 6 in Collectif and no alterations have been made.