• Kiana Tutti Fruitti Dress [Collectif Loves Top Vintage]

    More rainbows from me today, especially fitting for Pride month! šŸ³ļøā€šŸŒˆ The Kiana Tutti Fruitti swing dress is an absolute dazzler from the latest Top Vintage collab with its vibrant rainbow stripes. I love how vivid and bright the stripes are as Iā€™m not much of a pastel kinda gal.

    It has a beautiful sweetheart neckline to the top which is edged in a contrasting red band and the adjustable straps are red too. The straps can be worn multiple ways with hook fastenings concealed on the inside for various combinations including straight straps, crossed straps in front, crossed straps behind, completely strapless or as Iā€™ve worn it here, with the the straps from the centre chest which is a really pretty option.

    It doesnā€™t come with the belt, I added the red one from another Collectif dress which worked really well as I prefer to have a clearly defined waist.

    Thereā€™s also a fitted bodice to the top and gathered swing skirt to the bottom with lovely big pockets. The skirt is full enough to wear with a petticoat as I did here:

    If youā€™re not much of a fan of petticoats, it also looks great without one too!

    The length is well over my knee and fit wise itā€™s quite roomy on the bust and has stretch so youā€™ll be able to fit comfortably in it though you may want to size up if youā€™re really blessed up top as thereā€™s a centre back zip so you are limited with the amount of room you have for boobage. Unlike many of the Collectif dresses, the waistband also stretches so if youā€™re in between sizes youā€™ll be fine too.

    The Kiana Tutti Fruitti is in stock in all sizes (6-22) for Ā£59 and this is one thatā€™s only available to buy online at Top Vintage or Collectif, or in Collectif stores –  you wonā€™t find it at stockists. I think of them as a limited edition range, so if you want it, you need to buy it when you see it as they donā€™t restock. I really love this cheeky little number – so much fun to wear with so many different ways to wear it, but such an elegant style too. Live your best colourful life! x

    Also wearing:
    Hair flowers: Collectif Kahula and old high street
    Earrings, Belt and Sunnies: previous Collectif seasons
    Petticoat: Hell Bunny
    Shoes: Lulu Hun Lorena
    Bangles: all Splendette

    For reference:
    Iā€™m 4ā€™11ā€ wearing 4 inch heels and my stats are 33:24:33. Iā€™m a standard size 6 in Collectif clothing and Iā€™m wearing the 6 in this dress above. 

  • Jill Rainbow Stripe Dress Review [Collectif X Modcloth]

    Another day, another gloriously rainbow striped piece from the sunshine filled array of gorgeousness over at Collectif! Iā€™ve been keeping a close eye out for the new ModCloth collaboration pieces to drop since I saw them go live at ModCloth a few weeks ago. My patience paid off when they dropped last week and I snapped up the Jill dress sharpish.

    I love the shape of the Jill design – a flattering sweetheart shape to the neckline, wide pin tucked straps, a pleated skirt and THAT amazing print!

    I do have a confession though – I usually steer clear of a Jill as I find the straps to be too long for me. But as soon as I saw the rainbow stripes I was ALL IN, and Iā€™m actually super pleased I took the leap. The straps are a touch long for my body but not nearly as much as Iā€™d expected. I had planned to pop some body tape on my shoulders to hold them in place but to my delight, I didnā€™t need that at all and they stayed firmly where they were meant to. So the straps are definitely workable and not to be avoided going forward (which is wonderful news as Iā€™ve always adored the cut of this dress and there are many more Jill dresses which Iā€™m going to need now!). I think the ModCloth version is sized a little smaller than the Mainline range which has worked in my favour.

    I really like the tailored pleats on the flared skirt which make a nice change from a full circle. Itā€™s such a classic shape and very pretty. And although itā€™s not a full circle, there is still plenty of room for a good swish about.

    The Jill is meant to fall on the knee but Iā€™m itty bitty so it falls below mine (which I prefer). My knees donā€™t often get seen but swishing around I dared to bare the hint of a knee – what a devil! haha

    Thereā€™s a centre back zip for getting in and out of the dress easily and unfortunately no pockets but maybe these will appear in time (pocket lovers, I know you feel me). Made from 97% cotton, the dress is light enough for summer but the fabric isnā€™t at all see through, so although itā€™s a white dress with a diagonal print, there are no embarrassing moments stood in front of light sources! The fabric is great quality and thereā€™s a little stretch in it too.

    Thereā€™s also a matching yellow belt (sans holes but it does have belt loops and a stopper). I really like that the yellow has been picked out from the dress to accent with the belt – not least because yellow is my favourite colour but also because itā€™s so darned cheery! I also picked out the yellow with my necklace and hair flower, and chose to compliment the rainbow theme matching the green and yellow stripes of the dress with my heels and earrings. Plus, bangles (because we know you can never have too many of those!).

    Fit wise, if youā€™re plus sized, be sure to check the ModCloth sizing chart (which can be found on the last pic for the dress on the website). The new ModCloth range is sizing a little differently than last year so check your measurements against the new charts. For the rest of the sizes, itā€™s pretty standard and I bought my normal size which fits fine for me, but as I mentioned above, does feel smaller than the Mainline sizing (which Iā€™d tried on previously). So if you usually size down for a Jill, donā€™t with this one as itā€™s pretty true to size.

    Available in ModCloth sizes 4-30, this one is priced at Ā£93 as itā€™s a collaboration piece and there is another Modcloth collab Jill with a sweet lemon print which dropped at the same time (see here). If thatā€™s a little out of budget, there are non collab Jills in other prints (here) which are priced at Ā£55 and an array of other joyful rainbow goodies to choose from if the dress isnā€™t for you (here). I have my eye on a few more! Which will you go for?

     

    For reference:
    Iā€™m a standard size 6 in Collectif Clothing and 4ā€™11ā€ tall (small) with 4 inch heels on here.
    Iā€™m also wearing:
    Hair flower: Miss Bellaā€™s Blooms
    Bangles: Splendette and Bow & Crossbones
    Necklace: Thrifted
    Earrings: Collectif