• 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

     

  • [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