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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 -
Kiana Tutti Fruitti Dress [Collectif Loves Top Vintage]
More rainbows from me today, especially fitting for Pride month! 🏳️🌈 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 I’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 I’ve worn it here, with the the straps from the centre chest which is a really pretty option.
It doesn’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.
There’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 you’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 it’s quite roomy on the bust and has stretch so you’ll be able to fit comfortably in it though you may want to size up if you’re really blessed up top as there’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 you’re in between sizes you’ll be fine too.
The Kiana Tutti Fruitti is in stock in all sizes (6-22) for £59 and this is one that’s only available to buy online at Top Vintage or Collectif, or in Collectif stores – you won’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 don’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 SplendetteFor reference:
I’m 4’11” wearing 4 inch heels and my stats are 33:24:33. I’m a standard size 6 in Collectif clothing and I’m wearing the 6 in this dress above. -
Emilia Gingham Cherries Top and Dakota Skirt [Collectif Clothing]
This adorable set was a birthday gift from a beautiful friend who knows me VERY well! What could be better than a cute frilly cropped top and swing skirt adorned in a big gingham print with scrummy cherries?! So perfect!
The Emilia Gingham Frill Top is a real darling of a little top with a frilled sweetheart neckline. I ironed down those frills to make them more uniform and set them in place.
There’s a row of domed black buttons to the front, but these don’t open. Instead it’s an elasticated back which is easy to get in and out of and adjustable straps which cross over at the back. It’s so great when adjustable straps are included with elasticated backs as they fit just about everyone. I would say it’s true to size. I’m actually wearing a size bigger than I usually wear which feels a little looser but not noticeably, especially with the straps adjusted. As it’s cropped it goes more by your bust size and as I’m almost a size 8 bust, I think that’s why it works ok for me. So I’d recommend you buy your normal size but if that isn’t available, a size up will likely work too.
The matching Dakota Gingham Cherries Skirt works so well with the top. I have the Dakota in another colour way already but this is a different fabric and much stretchier so you may be able to size down with it. There’s a buckled belt included and belt loops around the skirt which is great to keep the skirt from twisting around. There are two side pockets to the front with a fold over detail in the black trim and these are large enough to keep whatever you want (except the kitchen sink – hands usually suffice haha).
Fold over details to the pockets It has a centre back zip and it’s pretty gathered, fitting a petticoat underneath just fine. I wore a black one underneath but I’ll wear it without too.
The length is lovely and just past my knee, though bear in mind the petticoat will be lifting it a little so it’ll drop a little without one.
I absolutely love the print of kitschy red cherries over black and white gingham, giving it such a classic retro look. I was such a lucky (and spoilt) gal to receive this gorgeous set. It’s going to be super versatile too, not only wearing it as a set but wearing the top with a variety of jeans, skirts and trousers and the skirt with a range of different black, white or red tops. So many options!
The top is £27.00 and currently available in sizes 10-22 and the skirt is £49.00 and available in sizes 6, 18-22 (both available as a set, here) and sizes 8-16 available for the skirt over at SilkFred.
For Reference:
I’m 4’11” with 4 inch heels on here. I’m a standard size 6 in Collectif, but I’m wearing a size 8 in the top and a size 6 in the skirt. My measurements are 33:24:33.Also Wearing:
Hair Flowers, Earrings, Necklace and Sunnies: Old stock Collectif
Bangles: Splendette
Shoes: E5P old stock -
Rigel Star Top Review [Collectif Clothing]
What could be better than rows of rainbow stripes and stars? The Rigel Star jumper is a great little jumper for Spring. It has block coloured, three quarter, sleeves in teal and a small rounded collar in the same colour.
The stripes continue on the back too which I absolutely love! Such a cool feature to be fun from the front AND the back!
The stars and stripes combo is so unique, and really eye catching. It fits really well and has lots of stretch. It hits just at the top of my hip and looks great with high waisted bottoms. I wore it with the pink Maddie jeans from a few seasons ago which have a lovely high waist. You can get a little tuck in too if you’d prefer to not see the bottom of the rib.
I also really like the puffed sleeves which you can see better here on the left. They’re so sweet and how cute are those rainbow stars?!
The Rigel is a great staple to bright up your wardrobe and is available in sizes 6-22 at £45.00. If the rainbow life isn’t for you, there’s also a darker version [here] in a fabulous red and black combo x
For reference:
I’m a standard size 6 in Collectif and wearing the 6 above in the photos. I’m 4’11” and wearing 4 inch heels.Also wearing:
Pink Jeans: Maddie from previous Collectif season
Sunnies: Previous Collectif Season
Hair flowers: Both from previous Collectif seasons
Bangles and Earrings: Splendette
Shoes: E5P -
Giordana Gingham Dress Review [Collectif Clothing]
You all know by now that I go a bit gaga for gingham and the gorgeous Giordana is no exception! With its large black and white print and bardot neck, I was smitten!
The fabric is the super light and made from viscose making it perfect for all your upcoming Summer soirées! Don’t expect it to be a heavy fabric as it is very thin – which suits me as I want to wear something as light as possible in the heat of Summer!
The neckline is unique as it’s one piece and the shoulders are hand tied into bows. When untied, the top half of the dress is in two pieces. I was a little bewildered by this at first, but then realised it’s actually a great feature as you can tie them as tight or as loose as you need to, making it fit for all body types and there’s plenty of room for those blessed up top. There’s also a side zip for ease of getting in and out.
That neckline is just scrummy! I really love the way you can change the neckline and chose to wore it higher on one side and lower on the other which I felt right for me as it’s the way I usually wear things with a wide neck. You can wear it straight across too if you wish.
There’s a full swing skirt to the bottom, with pockets, woohoo! I did try a petticoat on underneath as there’s plenty of room for one, but prefer it without personally.
Feelin’ cute amidst the blossoms It comes with a black belt which has holes (hurrah!) and fits below the knee. Obviously on me it’s at my calf but that’s my preferred length for vintage dresses, so it works for me. Size wise, this comes up pretty true to size though roomy in the bust area.
I was delighted to get this dress out on such a sunny day and it was perfect, keeping me cool but glamorous. I can’t wait to wear it more this year!
The Giordana is available in sizes 8-22 at £59.00 from the Collectif website.
For reference:
I’m wearing a size 6 in the photos above, and I’m 4’11” with 4.5 inch heels.
Stats:
For size guidance, I’m 33:24:33Also wearing:
Bangles: Splendette
Sunglasses: Collectif (previous season)
Earrings: Collectif (previous season, part of the Natalie set)
Shoes: E5P
Hair flowers: high street many moons ago
Parasol: bridal store but you can find them on eBayDisclaimer:
This item was gifted to me, but all my views are my own and I only ever post honest reviews.
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Dorothy Rainbow Chevron Dress Review [Collectif Clothing]
I was always a fan of a rainbow dress (you probably know I have quite a few in my wardrobe already), but with everything that’s happened over the past year, they’ve come to mean more to everyone and project hope and better times ahead. It was a done deal as soon as I saw Dorothy from the new Spring/Summer 2021 collection – she needed to brighten my days. If you’re umming and ahhing over whether you need ‘another’ rainbow dress, let me tell you that you do haha.
The Dorothy is similar in style to the Nova designs, but features a fabulous 50’s inspired fold over trim to the bust and wide, adjustable straps in pastel pink. There’s also a matching, heart-shaped, belt in the pink which is super cute and a lovely touch.
Now let’s just take a minute to appreciate that fabulous chevron rainbow print! I absolutely love bold, bright colours, and the addition of the ric-rac style chevrons definitely makes you stand out and spread joy wherever you go!
That fold over detail is just darling The neckline is v shaped and there’s a centre back zip to fasten. As always, we love some pockets and this dress has two deep, side seam, pockets to plunge your hands into…..perfect!
Pockets suitably plunged The swing skirt is pleated at the top but has plenty of fullness for a petticoat still. I tried it with and without (shown with in the main photo). My preference for dresses is usually without a petticoat but some days I do like that extra poof. It works well both ways.
With petticoat on the left, sans petticoat on the right It falls just below the knee on me which is a good vintage length. It’ll be shorter and on the knee for the taller amongst you. The fit is great and I actually prefer the fit of this design to the Nova. I found it true to size with a bit of room on the waistband.
This dress has been really popular already so if you can get your hands on one, do! Currently available in sizes 6-14 on the website and £65, though if you use code VIP20 it will get you 20% off full priced items until midnight on the 15th March. If you’re in love with the print but it’s out of stock in your size, there’s also the Dolores top and Marilu skirt combo which would work well together as a set and both are available in all sizes (see here).
Dorothy deserves to return home with you <3 Also wearing:
Cardigan: previous Collectif Jessie design
Parasol: old Collectif stock
Bangles and Earrings: all Splendette
Hair flowers: a selection including Miss Bella’s Blooms and Collectif
Shoes: E5P
Necklace: Kreepsville 666For sizing info:
I’m a standard size 6 in Collectif Clothing (my measurements are 33:24:33) and 4’11” tall with 4.5” heels on in the photos. I’m wearing a size 6 Dorothy dress. -
How Star Will You Go Dress Review [Harkel Clothing]
Something a little different to round the week off – though not too much of a stretch as I’m easily won over by atomic stars!
The How Star Will You Go dress by Harkel Clothing is a really cool little shirt dress with an all over celestial print featuring an array of bright stars and planets. It has a Peter Pan style collar which you can do up to the top if you prefer, but I like to leave shirt styles open.
It comes with its own thin blue belt but I swapped it out for a wide red one to tie in with my hair and accessories instead. You could get away with lots of belt options as there as so many colours you could pick out from the design. It also has round buttons with a moulded star shape on them which I thought was a nice feature.
It has a fitted bodice and full gathered skirt with two seam pockets which is great. Harkel don’t sell my size so I checked the sizing guide and the 8 was more of a 6-8 measurement so I took a punt. It is a little roomy on me but the good thing with shirt dresses is you can pull them in with the belt and nobody would know! It’s pretty bang on a 6-8 rather than a true 8 so I’m really chuffed to get away with it. The individual sizing charts are a really handy feature on each item. It sits just below my knees which is a good length for me. It will obviously be shorter on taller gals and in their description they note it’s aimed to be above the knee, so expect it to be cute and short if you’ve got those extra inches I don’t have hehe.
If you’re looking for some different styles to add to your wardrobe, it’s worth a look. I stay pretty much with 50’s styling but this is such an easy wear with a stand out print so it really caught my eye and I’m glad I went for it. Delivery was pretty quick.
I ordered this last month when it had 50% off and though that ship has now sailed, Harkel are always on sale and currently doing a promo with 40% off (code HAPPY40) so it’s still a good price and available currently in sizes 8-20 (no size 12’s though sorry dolls) x
Further info:
I’m 4’11” wearing 4.5 inch heels and a standard size 6 in clothing and ordered the 8 in the dress above. It’s more like a 6-8 than a true 8, a little roomy to be expected but not too much. Use the size guide on the product page to ensure you order the right size for you.Also wearing:
Splendette bangles
Orchid hairpiece from the high street
True vintage beltYou May Also Like
Collectif Pick of the Sale!
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Check, Please! Amber and Suzanne Valley Reviews [Collectif]
So I didn’t realise just how many checks I’d ordered in the sales until they arrived ha. I guess it turns out, I really do like checks! I’m so happy with my choices though, they’re all unique in their own way and such great dresses.
First up is the Amber Holiday Romance Pencil dress in a glorious red and white pattern.
Lady in red! I have an Amber Evergreen pencil dress already from a few years ago so I sort of knew the fit to expect with this, though obviously it’s a completely different fabric so I did kinda hope for the best. As it turns out, the fabric is actually much thicker and quite firm. It’s such a great choice for the colder months and I really like it. I dream of days when all pencils will be lined but I feel like my tights will actually have more chance of not sticking to my dress with this fabric.
It has a wide scoop neck and half sleeves, a fitted bodice and a classic wiggle cut for added va va voom!
It’s a lovely modest length below my knee and has a zip at the back with a hook and eye fastening. Fit wise, I’m glad I bought my normal size as it’s a good fit for me. There is some stretch in the fabric, but if you’re in between sizes you may need to size up as the waistband seam doesn’t move much. It’s a really comfortable fit for a wiggle dress. I also added a belt too to pull the waist in further and true vintage gloves to complete the look. It’s available in all sizes currently and only £15.75 with code BS50 until Sunday night!
As well as a pencil style, there are also swing versions of this dress. I have Amber-Lea’s which have a gathered full skirt to the bottom with the same top half, but I don’t have the Amber swing so this is a new style for me and when I saw the bold print of the Amber Scholar Check Swing Dress, I just knew I had to have it! I mean, look at these colours!
This one is a Modcloth collaboration and has the most fantastic, stand out, black, green/blue, yellow and pink check print. The style is the same as the pencil above the waistline with the wide neckline and half sleeves, but includes a full swing skirt to swoosh about in. It’s a really flattering fit and an amazing colour combination.
I wore it with a complimentary yellow belt and shoes with a smaller heel and it still sits nicely just below my knee so a great length for me. I bought my normal size and again that was the right choice for me. If you’re a size 18 or over make sure you check the sizing chart for the dress as Modcloth have their own sizing for these sizes. Anything under an 18 is the standard Collectif sizing. Waistbands usually have a little more stretch in the seam for the swings, I’ve found, and this is no exception. So if you’re in between sizes, you’ll be fine with your normal size for the swing version. It’s currently available in all sizes and down to £27.19 in the sale with the code. I’m absolutely delighted the collabs are included in the sale.
Another collab I had to have but waited patiently for was the Suzanne Valley Check dress from the Top Vintage collection. It has the most glorious print in green, orange, yellow and black which brightens up any dull day! I’m a bit in love with the Suzanne dresses and admittedly already have two – the black white check, here, and I was treated to the beautiful Berry Check this Christmas from a good friend, here, but you can never have too much of a good thing!
It’s such a classic style with a gorgeous bateau neckline, tailored princess seams and a fitted waist. Three quarter length notched sleeves and a really full swing skirt also add to that fabulous 50’s feel. There’s also a matching fabric belt which is one that sadly doesn’t have a buckle but I use Velcro dots to fasten it in place which is a handy tip if you struggle with these kind of belts!
There’s a centre back zip and two lovely pockets to the side seams. I have my normal size in my other two Suzannes and they’re perfect fits so I did the same with this TopVintage collab and hit the jackpot. The length is great for me too, hitting my mid calf. Though the fabric has a small amount of stretch, there’s no stretch in the waist, so if you’re in between sizes and/or if you’re busty, you will need to size up in this one. The fabric is great for winter too, being thicker than normal – though not as thick as the Amber. A great winter staple for every vintage lovin’ gal!
This is one of those dresses which is even better than you’d imagined and I’m so glad I managed to get my mitts on it. It’s only available in sizes 6, 8, 12 and 18 now for the sale price of £33.75, so if you can snag one, do it! Remember the sale ends midnight on Sunday and works on these TopVintage and Modcloth collab beauties x
Additional info:
I’m 4’11” and wearing 3-4 inch heels in the photos above (Susans are 4 and the yellow Juliette is 3). I’m a standard size 6 in Collectif Clothing and bought that size in all of the dresses above.Also wearing:
With Amber Holiday Romance:
Susan red heels by Lulu Hun (previous season)
Natalie Red Necklace by Collectif
Adore Heart Belt by Collectif (previous season)
True vintage red gloves
Starburst bangles by SplendetteWith Amber Scholar Check:
Juliette shoes by Lulu Hun (previous season)
Thrifted necklace
High Street belt from moons ago
Flamingo Carved Earrings in pink by Splendette
Bangles by Splendette and Bows & CrossbonesWith TopVintage Suzanne Valley Check:
Susan green heels by Lulu Hun (previous season)
Carrie Orange bag by Collectif
Kirin Necklace by Collectif
Wide Carved Bangle Set by Splendette -
Moxy Holiday Check Trousers Review [Collectif Clothing]
What did you manage to grab in the sale? There’s always that one item you order that you’re not sure about but think, “well, I can always send it back!”. Then it turns out to be the best thing you bought and wonder why you didn’t just go for it sooner!
For me, that’s the Moxy Holiday Check Trousers. I coveted these for ages but I just wasn’t sure because of obvious height issues for me as well as sizing concerns. They’re a brand new style so I had no point of reference about how they sized up.
They’re a wide legged trouser with an amazing large checked pattern in dark green and red with a light green background. I don’t know why, but they seemed yellow on my screen before I ordered and when they arrived, they are indeed a gorgeous soft green with no yellow whatsoever (I wouldn’t mind them in yellow though – maybe next time!). Here’s a close up of the fabric.
The fabric is actually quite stiff and thick which make them perfect for winter. There are two large pockets to the front and the thick fabric does make them stick out a little at the sides with the cut but I don’t mind this so much – especially as I love a big pocket for hand stuffing and they’re incredibly comfy!
It has a super high waistband which is fitted and fastens with a zip to the front of the trousers as well as a concealed hook and eye above it to keep them secure. You also do up two, black, covered buttons above the zip so these babies are staying put! The waistline is pointed where it meets the cute matching fabric straps and these crossover at the back. There are matching black buttons on the braces both front and back and a buckled matching belt. I’m loving these little details!
The straps have double buttons to fix them in place and, as I’m petite, I’ve used the highest button hole only to fix them and shorten the straps for my frame. I’ll hop on the sewing machine and add another button hole to the braces so I can have them both in place as they should be, but it’s not too bad without that effort. I’ll also slightly shorten them but to be honest, I was super surprised that they weren’t longer as Collectif trousers do tend to be super long. Maybe not one for the really tall gals among you but average and shorter girls will be rejoicing!
I bought my normal size and they fit great. There’s some stretch in this fun fabric which is good as I often find the waistbands are sewn in tight and don’t stretch. That’s not the case with these so if you’re in between sizes or have a big lunch, you’ll be fine!
I really like these vintage style trousers, which surprises me as I didn’t think they’d suit me at all! So if you’re like me and were wavering, I fully recommend taking the leap! They’re currently still available in all sizes from 6-22 at just £19.50 with the discount code BS50. The full price should be £55 – total bargain! x
Additional information:
I’m 4’11” wearing 4.5 inch heels and I’m a standard size 6 in Collectif.Also wearing:
Morgana top by Collectif (previous season)
Tiki earrings and Natalie necklace in green both by Collectif (last season)
Splendette bangles
