9 December 2015

Christmas Glamour - Glamour Bunny 'Jessica' dress

One of my favourite things about the festive season is the excuse to go overboard - eating, drinking, and dressing up are all taken to extremes. It's the time of year you get to wear your ridiculous heels, 'that' dress and every item of bling you own.

I love the twinkle of lights, warming up over mulled wine and the feeling of excitement in the air. It's a time that people spend thinking about others, catching up with friends and family and celebrating with colleagues.

I've been saving a couple of outfits especially for Christmas and the 'Jessica' dress from Glamour Bunny is one of them.


I'm sure you can see why! It's everything you could want in a dress all rolled into one. Sparkly, curve hugging and show-stopping! The Jessica (in any of it's four colourways) is perfect to make a statement at any party. The sequins give sparkle from every angle and will guarantee you twinkle under the Christmas lights.


It's also just a really well fitted dress. Fully boned through the bodice and free over the hips, it's structured while still giving you room to move. You're also in no danger of it slipping down and accidentally revealing more than intended as the bodice is firmly supportive. The dress hits just knee length on me at 5'5'. I got a small because it was the only size left in the red. I knew this would be a risk as it's slightly under my measurements but it fits perfectly everywhere albeit a bit tightly across my upper back (damn all those early morning gym trips!). While I imagine the sequins might get a bit scratchy after a few hours it's otherwise super comfortable and will allow space for a bit of Christmas indulgence if you size wisely.


While the red is sold out now you can still snap it up in a Small in blue or Small and Medium in pink with a huge discount at £24 down from £80. Glamour Bunny also have a great range of wiggle dresses and some cracking bargains in their sale section so they are well worth a look! 

What are you planning on wearing this party season?????

30 November 2015

A Pin-Up Christmas Gift Guide.............

So I've been pretty absent from posting lately, partly due to tightening the purse strings for Christmas and partly to do with an exciting new project I'm working on (all will be revealed very soon!) but I've been doing a LOT of wishlisting ahead of Christmas so I thought I'd pull together a gift guide for those of you shopping for a retro gal (or for those of you wanting to start planning your sales shopping!

Personally I think it's super easy to buy for the vintage/pin up/retro inclined because there's so much choice and loads of decent stuff in all price ranges. However, we can be very specific about what is decent and what isn't so unless you've got the inside scoop on the best brands or the right websites it can be a bit of a minefield!


Under £10
Let's start with the cute little extras that won't break the bank! These would all make great secret santa gifts or stocking fillers.

1. Hellbunny cinch belt, Audrey Stars Boutique website, £5.95
2. What Katie Did retro seamed stockings, £8.50
3. Splendette butterscotch carved bangle, £8.00
4. Bow and Crossbones silver holographic linda hoops, £8.00

£10-£25

Medium sized gifts that'll put a smile on the face of any retro lady :)

1. Erstwilder diner brooch, Audrey Stars Boutique website, £16.95
2. Atomic Swag Texas t-shirt, Campbell's Crafts website, £17.00
3. Luxulite winter scene brooch, £16.50

£25-£50

For most retro style clothing this is still a reasonable price range so go for a staple cosy top or a kitsch print in a less luxurious brand...

1. Collectif Chrissie Fair Isle jumper, £39.50
2. Tara Starlet tie front shirt, £45
3. Lindy Bop cocktail print Audrey dress, £29.99


£50-£100

This is where pretty much most of the statement pin up style pieces fit, it's that little bit much to justify spending on yourself too often so any of these classics will go down a treat!

1. What Katie Did Maitresse Set, Full set £86.50
2. Lady K Loves classic jeans, £65
3. Seamstress of Bloomsbury Lauren Siren Suit, £89
4. Vivien of Holloway Red Rose Halter Dress, £69

£100+
This is pretty much the stuff most of us only ever dream of or save up for 6,000 years to buy so will probably be accompanied by squealing or, if you're me, crying (I'm not much of a cryer generally but big gifts always open the flood gates!)

1. Pin Up Girl Clothing Monica dress, Deadly is the Female website, £135
2. Violets in May Jessica Dress, £100
3. Miss L Fire Alpine Boots, £134.99


Hopefully that little round up will give you some inspiration or at least a place to start. I'm definitely lusting after a few of these myself - hopefully Santa thinks I've been good this year! What are you hoping to find under the tree this year????

8 November 2015

Hair no more...........

So any of you who follow me on Instagram will have probably seen that I've had a little bit of a haircut.......

Photos from Hula Hair (see link in video below)


Going from boob-length green hair to less than 1cm long has been an interesting experience. Shaving my head is something I've always wanted to do and talked about for years. Working up the courage to actually do it was another matter. Since taking the plunge I'm not sure why it was such a big deal. I suppose there's something innately scary about a major change to the way you look. You get kind of used to yourself a certain way and changing it seems like it might change who you are somehow. There's also a major association with long hair and femininity. Almost without exception every person I told beforehand tried to convince me not to do it, or at least expressed concerns that it was too big a change. The words 'but you're so pretty', while extremely complimentary, uncovered an ingrained assumption that girls with short hair can't be considered as attractive or as female as those with long, flowing locks.

The reactions I've received post-shave have therefore been pretty surprising. The positivity has been overwhelming and come from people in varied contexts. I expected my friends to be supportive and positive as they're all people pretty similar to me but I was taken aback by work colleagues and strangers telling me how much they liked my new look. I realised on receiving these reactions that I'd been expecting people to treat me like I was weird or unstable for doing such a thing. These may well be ridiculous concepts in the broad range of human existence but they are often gut reactions to difference. While I can't deny I've been getting some odd looks on the bus and I'm pretty sure the group of lads on a stag night last Friday wouldn't have tried to talk to me had I been wig-less, the majority have been completely cool. It's actually helped to identify the sorts of people that I am more likely to connect with and encouraged my already present lack of fucks about criticism of the way I look.



From a fashion perspective I've been able to be more of a chameleon than ever. I already owned a ton of wigs but I'm much more likely to reach for one now that I have more of a prompt and changing my hair colour, cut and length to match my mood is revealing a layer of expression I hadn't necessarily always noticed. Dressing to match my mood is now even more apparent. While I think I'm going to keep it short for a while I can imagine limitless possibilities for growing it out!

I've definitely found a cliched sense of freedom in doing this and I'm interested to see how it will continue to develop. To see the complete transformation visit https://vimeo.com/144728699 and watch the video Molineaux Productions made for me!



21 October 2015

Welcome to the jungle........

I love a good animal print. Bold and brash, you're guaranteed to feel as fierce as the animal that inspired it. As someone who tends towards 'in your face' outfits an animal print always fits the bill. Yes, they can be trashy but I don't think that's a bad thing. Sometimes you just want to feel unapologetically bad-ass!

When I saw the Deadly Dames tiger print cigarette pants, I fell in love. Cue months of checking the PUG website everyday to see if they had been restocked. I was signed up to the email alert on them but you never know I might have got there a few minutes sooner! You know what it's like when you see something you just have to have no matter what the cost, effort or the fact that it quite possibly won't suit your body shape. All that went out the window the moment I saw them and they are finally mine (insert evil villain cackle here....)

Boom - power stance!


I'm not usually a huge fan of trousers as I tend to carry my weight on my thighs and tummy but I had to make an exception for these. High-waist, tapered to the ankle and all in a killer tiger print.

These trousers are a cotton-spandex mix and are super skinny fit. After reading lots of helpful reviews on the website from other PUG girls I went with the Medium. They are a bit tight for me on the thighs as predicted but I was just happy to be able to get them up! Be warned there is very little stretch to the fabric so if in doubt size up in these!



They fasten with a small zip and a button at the back. This confused me completely at first when I put them on back to front (no excuses I'm just slow). Every time I've worn these since I got them has involved far too much growling and probably made drunk me a little bit sassier than my usual silly drunk self. 

These are currently available in every size except Medium and go up to a 4X. At $82 they're very reasonable for PUG. If anyone wants to get me the matching top for Christmas then that would be just fine! The combo looks absolutely amazing on the gorgeous Michelline Pitt (the Deadly Dames designer and all-round superwoman) - take a look......


The trousers also come in a range of plain colours, leopard print, harlequin print and a new houndstooth print. They're a Deadly Dames staple so if they don't have the size you want in your chosen fabric it's worth adding yourself to the waitlist. After all when you fall in clothes-love any wait is worth it ; )

When wearing tiger print one must crawl around on one's bedroom floor and growl - it's the law.
What do you think - are animal prints too brash? Or do we all need a bit of brash now and again?!


*All photos by the lovely Sally Molineaux



13 October 2015

Sweet dreams with Glamour Bunny

Is it just me or has Autumn snuck up on us? It seems I've barely blinked between choosing sundresses and having to take my winter coat in for repairs!

The leaves are really amazing shades at my work at the moment and I'm taking great pleasure in the rustle as I cycle over piles of fallen gold and red. Despite the fact I'm a summer girl at heart and hate the drop in temperature there's something kind of magical about this time of year. Perhaps it's the witchy darkness creeping in or the tinkle of Christmas slowly approaching (or just the knowledge we can get the really dressy clothes out for party season) but the change of season always seems exciting. 

Having said that my post today is holding on to the summer for just a little bit longer. Pale lemon layers, delicate white lace, I give you the Glamour Bunny Lulu night set.....


Isn't it just every retro girls dream? Nightwear is mostly overlooked on the vintage and repro scenes yet I bet we've all spent time scouring eBay looking at old nighties! There's something about a baby doll night dress that conjures up vintage romance and, indeed, glamour.




Glamour Bunny has two different night sets in stock at the moment, the Lulu and the Fifi, and they're both currently on sale for £36 down from £48. Have you noticed I like a bargain!

I chose the Lulu as it has a softer, dreamier look to it, whereas the Fifi is full on sass. I also really loved this pale yellow. I'm not usually a huge fan of such light, girly colours but I thought this would go great with my hair and it's not a colour you see very much of. 

The set consists of a babydoll nightdress and matching gown. Both are fully lined and feature white lace and yellow ribbon detailing.



The material is mostly polyster but it feels light and soft due to the free waist and hips of the nightdress and the gathered sleeves on the gown. I went for a size Small for these reasons as I feared a gaping bust if I sized up! 

As soon as I opened the parcel I couldn't wait to put them on and pretend I was part of the Grease girls sleepover! That film was a serious part of my childhood people! And actually that's one of the best parts of retro and vintage, to feel like you're playing a part, re-creating something lost. A kick-ass pencil skirt suit can make you feel like a 40s femme fatale and a full circle dress can make you feel like you're off to the prom. It's all playing dress-up really and that's what makes it fun!

Not sure how this posing lark would have gone down with Rizzo....
If you too would like to have a little nostalgic make-believe n your life, get over to Glamour Bunny and snap up one of the remaining nightwear sets - then let's all have a sleepover!


All photos by the lovely Sally Molineaux




6 October 2015

Oh Erika!

I don't think it's a secret that Pin Up Girl Clothing are one of my favourite brands.

They have a huge range of pin-up products, quick delivery (from the States), the quality is always outstanding and they have some of the best sales around. If you are not already signed up to their newsletter DO IT NOW! You'll get new product notifications and will be the first to hear about the sales where you can pick up some treasures for a fraction of their original prices. This also means that you can take a chance on something you might not be too sure about. I did exactly that with the Erika Dress....


I'd fallen in love with the print but don't tend to go for anything quite so figure hugging. I was also concerned that it was so dressy I'd never wear it (forgetting how easy it is to find reasons to wear beautiful dresses!). It hit the sale at half price for $60 in the last online yard sale so I went for it and I love, love, love it! 

The fit is perfect. I chose a Small and with minimal shapewear it clings but flatters. Here I just had some trusty Spanx underneath (which you couldn't see through the dress despite being black).

It's the details that really make this dress though.





The print I got was Vintage Red Rose, sumptuous red and orange roses on a white background with dark green leaves. Ruching around the bust creates a flattering shape and would work especially well for bustier ladies! The velvet bow beneath the bust is an extra cute detail that breaks up the pattern a little.



The back features a kick-pleat, giving you room to move as well as a classic chic look.



Did I mention it comes with a matching Bolero? 



I was worried this would be too tight on my arms due to some dabbling in weight-lifting but it fit perfectly. I have relatively broad shoulders so this might be something to consider when thinking about sizing - the Bolero was a lot more snug than the dress. 


Although this version is no longer on the site the Erika dress is available in three other colourways -  Vintage Rose which is a soft pink on a dark grey background, Yellow Rose (in plus size too) which is a yellow rose on a white background, and Yellow and Plum Rose (in plus size too) which is a purple rose on a yellow background. Just search 'Erika' on the site. Although currently all full price at $120 dollars these are show-stoppers that would be ideal for a special occasion, I've used more pictures than usual today simply because I was happy with every single one in this dress, not a fault of my wonderful photographer but my own pickiness. This is a classic, classy and elegant dress that will definitely turn heads and continues my love affair with all things PUG.





*All photography by the lovely Sally Molineaux








28 September 2015

Joining Freddies Chain Gang...

Despite wearing repro and pin-up style clothing for a few years now, I'd never bought anything from amazing repro brand Freddies of Pinewood before. This was mainly due to my compulsive fear of denim and specifically, gulp, jeans. These being Freddies speciality I'd browsed but never committed to a purchase before. 

Seeing the Chain Gang jumpsuit in the sale for only £45 was the push I needed.....


A true 1950s greaser dream. The Chain Gang features a shirt style top, cropped trousers and a medium width, adjustable belt to provide that killer silhouette. While it has a denim effect look in grey pinstripe the suit is actually mostly cotton making it a little more lightweight than denim. The fabric has the perfect balance between being stiff enough to keep it's shape but flexible enough to cling to your curves. 


As I don't have the biggest waist to hip ratio I tend to choose sizes based on the waist measurement. There's nothing worse than having something fit everywhere else but cut in uncomfortably around the waist, especially if you want to, you know, sit down or something. Making the decision to have slightly roomier hips but not get cheese-wired every time I moved I went with a size 28. The measurements on the Freddies site are provided in cms which I found a little strange and, I'll admit, meant I had to use an online converter tool for. The 28 has a roughly 28 inch waist measurement and 43 inch hip measurement. This was actually a little loose on the waist and as you can see definitely gave me space to spare generally but I'm pretty sure the size down would have been far too small (with a 26 inch waist where mine is a 27). I actually liked having a bit of room in this as it's the sort of thing I'd wear out for a casual meal or drinks when it's nice not to have to get the shape-wear out. I used the belt to cinch the waist in a bit and made the most of being able to move by dancing like crazy the first time I wore it out.



Despite having to tab between browser windows to convert measurements I found the Freddies size guides really useful as they feature extra measurements that some brands don't. For example, thigh and inside leg measurements which have caught me out in the past. As a majority online shopper this was a real selling point! It was also great to know the length of the cropped trouser leg on this piece which ended up being the ideal length on me when paired with a heel. 


Overall I really enjoyed my first Freddies of Pinewood shopping experience and love this jumpsuit! You can still get it in Freddies sizes 24 and 30 in the sale section of the site for £45. As something which I know I'll be getting a lot of wear out of through Autumn and Winter I'd recommend snapping one up!


*All photos by the lovely Sally Molineaux




10 September 2015

Cuban Heat!

Following on from my last post here's another little beauty that I meant to write about for ages and haven't really had much chance to wear yet (plus also being a little bit scared about the amount of leg it exposes!).

Introducing the Cuban Heat Ruffle Romper by The Oblong Box Shop..............


The Oblong Box Shop are an American online retailer with an emphasis on bright and bold retro inspired fashion. Browsing their website is a colour injection that can't help but make you smile. Their novelty print skirts are a must for fans of kitsch and chessecake styles and they stock a great range of block coloured tops so that you can match any outfit. They have also introduced a range of men's button-downs and t-shirts. I've always found it strange that there isn't more stuff out there for the retro fellas so it's nice to see some options for them! 

I couldn't resist the playful yet relaxed look of this playsuit. Compared to a lot of my wardrobe which is pretty dressy this feels more casual but still glam and works well for transition from day into evening wear - something you can't always say for pin up style clothing!


As you can see it's pretty short! Something which I usually avoid but the wide neckline helps to balance out your bottom half if this is something you're nervous about. I'll admit that I did first wear this with leggings but with a pair of heels on the length isn't quite so scary.

It's a simple piece but I love the bright colour. I don't own much blue but since I went green with the hair it's something I've tried to wear more of as I love the colours together. The neckline is the only detail you need and gives a more demure edge to it than some other playsuits as it covers the bust. Personally with something this short I couldn't cope with also having a low neckline so it's a good gateway playsuit if you will!



As the fabric is stretchy I went for a Small and it fits perfectly. While I had to pay shipping costs these weren't too high and I didn't get any random extra customs charges so for something I will probably wear holiday after holiday I'm pretty damn happy. 


While this style is now sold out they have a lovely range of Hawaiian playsuits in stock and the Copa Cobana dress, which has a similar feel around the neckline but with much more length, is now in the sale in five different colourways! I'll definitely be ordering again!


All photos by the lovely Sally Molineaux


4 September 2015

Seashells and sun

Well, summer hasn't really arrived this year and most of my sunshine-y wardrobe has been gathering dust at the back of my over-stuffed wardrobe. As someone who is constantly cold, pin up styling can sometimes be a bit of a problem as it does involve a lot of dresses, skirts and little tops that just don't work with modern layering. When you've taken the time to put together a really cute outfit, throwing a long cardigan or jumper over it is the last thing you want to do. So to show off the fabulousness of some of those retro pieces you sometimes just have to deal with goosebumps and colds. Beauty is pain right ; )

I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for a late blooming summer, a few days or weeks of unbroken sunshine and the opportunity to go hosiery free and step out in some of my summer bargains. The summer sales have been abundant with tempting swimwear and picnic dresses that I know in my heart I probably won't be able to wear until next year. Not that that's stopped me investing in a few pieces to save for a sunny day.......particularly when the Collectif sale started..........

Collectif are one of my favourite brands for affordable, modern pin up styling. They usually run a couple of ranges each season, one inspired by more traditional vintage and another with more of a modern pin up vibe. Their summer pieces this year have been gorgeous - pineapples, strawberries and flamingos printed across a range of pieces. It was their beachy prints that caught my eye when they were first released though and my first basket addition as soon as the sale hit.

I snapped up this pleated skirt, covered in shells and seahorses for £27.50 down from £55.



The skirt has plenty of room for a petticoat and sits at the perfect point on the waist to hide the fact you've eaten 674 Mr Whippy's....


I paired it with a pair of old Topshop chunky heeled sandals to give a bit of height as I don't have the longest legs in the world and the skirt falls at a traditional vintage, below-knee length.

Now, let's talk about the cardigan.......

That cardigan has been reappearing in my dreams all summer and I kept dithering about buying it until it disappeared from the Collectif website, all sold out :( 

I kept hoping it might make a reappearance, bought the skirt anyway and waited to no avail. Then, while browsing other sales, found it with a £10 discount on the Audrey Stars Boutique website and did an internal fist pump before swiftly checking out!

Just look at the little lobster! 


I don't know why it makes me so excited but it does, it's just beautiful in all it's embroidered, crustacean glory! 

This cardigan is also a perfect shape and fit for wearing alone with a skirt or shorts as I did, or layering over a top or dress. The sleeve length is my ideal as I tend to turn up long sleeves and a short sleeve sometimes leaves me a little chilly. It teams perfectly with the skirt and would be lovely for a day on the beach collecting shells or afternoon tea at a coastal cafe.......


After thinking I'd never get my hands on that cardigan I was thrilled to track it down and don't mind that I may have to wait until 2016 to give this combo a proper outing. You can still get the cardigan in the sale in a size 10 at Audrey Stars Boutique along with lots of other retro bargains. The skirt is sold out on the Collectif site but you can get the similar Florence skirt in the reverse colourway in a size 12 or the Adele dress in this print in a size 22. You'll have to be quick though as the sales are almost over for this year!

All photos by the lovely Sally Molineaux


21 August 2015

Creep Heart

I discovered Australian art and jewellery designer Creep Heart through the wonderful Curve Creation's instagram account (go and give her a follow, she has fab hair and a serious brooch addiction!).

Ella Mobbs, the brains behind Creep Heart, describes her designs as 'haunting and romantic', something that's definitely reflected in the 'Night Dreamer' brooch that I chose. The acrylic layers give a feeling of depth and texture to the brooch and the beautiful design is captivating.



It's so cute I had to theme an entire outfit around it!



The best thing about Creep Heart, though is the love that Ella puts into each piece and the care for her customers. My brooch arrived in the cutest packaging and Ella had even popped in a free gift to say thanks! A cat ring no less!



Added extras like the beautiful postcard have left me longing even more for payday so I can go back for more! As I've just ordered a new phone I think one of the wooden phone cases may be next......