• 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

     

  • 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