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Big Sale Bargains Collectif Clothing
Happy Friyay lovelies!
Hope you’ve all enjoyed a little splurge on the sales. Isn’t the January sale always AMAZING?! I confess, I do tend to buy throughout the seasons as and when things appear so by sale time, I’m thinking I’m pretty much done and don’t need anything. However, then I flick through the sale pages and realise I NEED IT ALL!
I’ve been pretty tame this year and just bought a few things. Some went back as the sizing wasn’t right for me (which is my own fault as I knew a different size wouldn’t fit me but one can dream) and these are the items I kept (there are a couple of others but they were duplicates of things I already have).
Firstly, the peter pan collar obsession continues with this beautiful Clemence Pencil Dress. This was one of my must haves when I saw it a trade show and I’d been patiently waiting for it to launch, which it did, shortly before Christmas. Having been a bit extravagant at Christmas, I waited for the sale and bought it at 50% off and my goodness am I so glad I managed to snag it! and for that price too!
The gorgeous meadow print is used on a couple of other seasonal styles. It has a large green, white and black check and the sweetest details, including covered black, velvet, buttons which run down the front and little black buttons on the sleeves. Yes, that’s right gals, I said SLEEVES! How fantastic is it to have a dress with sleeves during the winter months. I always feel the cold so I am over the moon as sometimes three quarter sleeves aren’t enough for me little chilly wrists.
There is also an optional ready made, adjustable, bow which can be worn or excluded. I really liked both options and will also be using the bow on my other dresses and blouses. Such a great feature!
Fit-wise, I found it a little roomy for me. It seems larger than some of my others, but you know, that’s just room for puddings. I also found it longer than other pencils I’ve had. They normally cut mid calf but this one sits on my lower calf. I may end up having it altered slightly to be a tiny bit shorter, but I was happy with the overall fit and look. I’m also removing the buttons on the skirt part as I prefer them just on the top half. Hopefully I won’t make any holes! I paired it with my black Lulu Hun Susan Heels and some Christmas decorations which were still up at the time I took the photos haha
Next is one I’d forgotten about until I happened to remember that some Modcloth items are included at sale time. The polka dot print on this Caterina is the same as those on the Jemima and Dolores dresses we’d had previously, but in a glorious navy instead.
The 50’s shirtwaister style is such a classic for a vintage lovin’ gal. I have a number of dresses in this style but this is definitely my new favourite. The polka dots against the navy are really lovely.
I tend to size down with Caterinas and I did with this Modcloth collaboration too and it fits perfectly. There’s a matching belt in the same fabric and pockets in the side seams. I also much prefer the buttons on this one which are metal with a little pattern around the edge. Caterina’s are so easy to wear wherever you’re going (or not going – just add a pinny over it at home for 50’s housewife chic!).
Lastly, this is a sale item I didn’t expect to be keeping as I thought it wouldn’t work for me, but I think it does! woohoo! The Dolores Palm Jumpsuit was from the last Summer collection and I didn’t take much notice of it as I don’t suit Dolores styles, and with the petite aspect, jumpsuits often don’t work with my shorter frame. But I threw caution to the wind (as you often do during sale time) and figured, what’s the worst that could happen? I end up with a saggy crotch? Ok, that sounds pretty bad, but luckily it didn’t turn out that way!
The top of the jumpsuit is a normal Dolores style with slim fit trousers. Genius! Firstly, this print has been amazing and I’ve picked up a few styles with this palm tree design. I’ve always loved the look of a Dolores on others, but for some reason, I can’t get my body to make it work. So the jumpsuit option made my little Dolores-wannabe heart sing! There’s a centre back zip and a pocket on your butt. It’s a comfortable fit with stretch in the fabric. She’s going to get worn a lot this Summer as you put it on and instantly launch SASS mode. I popped a wide red belt on to cinch in the waist and some white heels to fully embrace the sassiness.
Unfortunately the jumpsuit is no longer available, but fingers crossed for a return this year in a different print (or check the Collectif buy/sell group for this version). The Clemence dress is in the sale, along with the full swing version too. I recommend snapping these up! The Modcloth Caterina isn’t in the sale section so I was lucky to get that with the 50% off code, but it will no doubt enter the sale at some point so keep your eyes peeled.
Having all shopped til we drop, I’ve been patiently awaiting the launch of the Spring/Summer 2020 collection and was delighted to see the new additions to the site this week (although strangely they’re not in the New In section, you have to look for them by category). I’ve bought a few items which I’ll share next time with you (I know it’s still winter, but I’m already wishing it was Spring). Some of them will crossover with a cardi and tights added for winter so I can get double the wear! In the meantime, enjoy your sale items and look out for further reductions x
For reference:
I’m a standard size 6 in Collectif and 4’11” usually wearing 4 inch heels in the photos above.
Bangles: Bow & Crossbones
Necklace: Charity shop find
Shoes: Lulu Hun and Everything5pounds
Silly Doggo spying in one of the pics: Model’s own -
Review: Collectif Giselle Palm Print Dress
With glimpses of Summer starting to come back, today I tried on my Giselle Palm Print dress which I’ve had for quite a while now. I especially love the amazing palm print and vibrant teal background of this one which I paired with yellow accessories to make it really pop!
I just love a bardot neckline and this one is fully elasticated, (as are the arms), so you can wear it on your shoulders or off, whichever you prefer. I actually preferred mine on my shoulder with this one. The neckline is also a sweetheart shape and has a little tie at the front to make it more or less revealing – much like the Sasha tops I previously discussed here. I really love this feature which enables the more busty and the not so busty alike to find the shape that suits them.
Also just have to mention, POCKETS! whoop whoop! We all love a dress with pockets. It also comes with a waist tie which you can use at the front or back (I chose the back), or not at all! It makes a great hair band or neck tie if you want to be matchy matchy in a different way! There’s a swing skirt to this dress with a bottom ruffle which isn’t a style I would normally go for, but this dress is really pretty and looks different on to how I imagined it may look with a big ruffle on a short girl! It was actually quite windy in my photos and I loved how the wind kept lifting up the ruffle and making it super floaty – but never enough to be unbecoming of a lady!
The fit advice for this dress is to size down for a pin up look and that was absolutely the right advice I found and would suggest you do go one size down in Giselles. I bought the smallest size so I couldn’t actually size down unfortunately, and it was a little big on the top for me. but I still love it and it will get lots of wear this Summer (as long as the sun sticks around!).
Available in all sizes 6-22 currently, and reduced to £44.00 in the sale, there are also a couple of other Giselles to choose from if you prefer a different print.
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For reference: I’m a standard size 6 in Collectif and 4’11” wearing 3 inch heels
Also wearing:
Necklace and Earring Set: Natalie in Yellow by Collectif
Shoes: Lulu Hun Juliette in yellow
Sunglasses: Collectif old season
Bangles: Vintage and Collectif Carrie in yellow
Hair flowers: High Street many moons ago -
Collectif x Modcloth Isaboo Suncheck Dress Review
I am obsessed with yellow. Along with turquoise, it’s my joint first place happy colour. Add a dash of yellow to any outfit and you are instantly cheered. So, although I have the beautiful Margherita sun check dress already (see that review here), I love the print so much that I needed to get the Isaboo too when it was released, and, you know, she’s a totally different style obviously, so it had to be done….
Unlike Margherita, (who is on the shorter side), Isaboo has a long, full, gathered skirt (with pockets – yay!), which will really please taller ladies. Though I am obviously just teeny, she is quite long on me, (which I was expecting as the description states her total length is 42 inches) and I was thinking I’d have to hem it up. However, once on and with heels, I think I can get away with this true vintage style length, so I’ll probably leave her as she is.
I love her open collar and sleeveless style, which is so reminiscent of the 50’s. This collaboration is absolutely Mrs Maisel-worthy! (who else wants her entire wardrobe?). There are darts to the bust, a side zip and a matching fabric belt. I found the fit perfectly true to size. If you are lucky to have a larger bust, you may want to size up, but if you’re in between sizes, you’ll probably be ok with your normal size as there’s a little stretch in the fabric and at the waist. I really hope both the Margherita and the Isaboo return in future seasons with equally fabulous prints, as they’re so stylish and classically vintage.
I paired my sweet Isaboo (how cute is that name?) with the Jessie Tropical Palm cardigan, which I bought originally to match the skirt (see here), but (as with all Collectif cardi’s), they’re easy to mix and match with other outfits too. I love the greens on the leaves (one is almost turquoise, squee), so I added in black and turquoise accessories to set off the yellow, which works so well together (happy colour heaven).
I love a Jessie cardi, and have quite a few now as the cropped style suit our vintage inspired frocks so well. The darling pearl, green, buttons are a lovely addition and the fabulous applique leaves in 3 colours are just dreamy. I have a thing about Monstera plants so this design fills me with glee!
I would size up in this one as it is a little on the smaller side. I have my normal 6, which is fine for me, but a teensy bit tight on the arms with the 3/4 sleeves, so an 8 would have been a better choice. I can’t wait to wear this ensemble again though, as it was so perfect on a sunny day.
Remember, with any Modcloth collab piece, you can only find them on the website or in store, stockists aren’t allowed to hold these. So if you see an item you love in this collection, make sure you nab it as they’re available in limited numbers.
Also be aware of the sizing difference between Collectif and Modcloth for the plus sizes. Up to size 16, the Collectif sizing chart applies, but from size 18, you then need to refer to the Modcloth sizing chart and go by their measurements. Hope this helps, happy shopping! x
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For reference:
I’m a standard size 6 in Collectif (33:24:33) and bought a Collectif x MC size 6 in the Isaboo dress
I’m 4’11” and wearing 4 inch heels hereAlso wearing:
Shoes: Lulu Hun Lorena (previous review here)
Jewellery Set: Collectif Natalie in turquoise (previous review here)
Bracelets: Collectif, Bow & Crossbones, Splendette and Vintage
Sunglasses: Collectif previous season
Hair Flowers: High Street many moons ago