Got myself a Harley.............

That's right a Harley dress by Pinup Couture at Pin Up Girl Clothing!

I've gone a bit PUG mad lately. Ever since I got the Laced Up Jumpsuit and an awesome vampire mouth bag back in March and fell in love with the quality of the products and the wow factor they somehow weave in there. I'd seen so much of PUG on other blogs and Instagram but was put off by the pricing - comparable with other repro brands but then there's the cost of shipping to the UK - and not really knowing the brands. With my favourite UK brands I know enough about them to be able to work out what should suit me, which size to go for etc but PUG was a complete unknown and I was wary of making mistakes. I'm so glad I put that aside and just went for it as I now feel confident in their shipping (super fast) and the quality of their products. I'm still working out the sizing but more on that later - let's take a look at the dress!

Lets just get out of the way the fact I didn't have time to iron it before the photos - it looks a million times better with an iron run over it. And, yes, I now have green hair....

Anyway........the dress......I went for the peach colourway, as my first choice (the pastel yellow) was out of stock and I don't have much of this sort of colour in my wardrobe. Coincidentally it also compliments the green hair very well! I agree with Miss Amy May that the dress is more of a coral colour than peach but it's still a lovely soft colour that should work well with different skin tones. Unfortunately I hadn't read Amy's Harley article (you should though, she's great) before purchasing and I definitely made a mistake on the sizing.

I went for a medium as I have a 28 inch waist and the guide said 28-29 inches. It does add that you should size down if you are in between but I figured the S would be too tight at 26-27 inches and I quite like being able to sit down with cutting myself in half. However, as you can see this is too loose in the waist and, more obviously, in the bust which I overlooked in selecting a size. I'm not the most busty of gals so this could relate more to my sizing than the overall fit of the dress as the neckline felt very comfortable. I could have returned and exchanged it but I left it too late to qualify while I mulled over the fit and the hassle of posting back to the US. It's such a pretty, quality piece that I'll probably alter it or get it professionally taken in at some point. Or I'll just use it as an excuse to eat lots of chocolate!

I popped a Hell Bunny petticoat on underneath to give it shape but it is wearable without as it is a very full circle skirt. The Hell Bunny petticoats aren't too voluminous so I'd probably wear this to go out unless it was for something very dressy or a 50s themed event where I wouldn't look too insane with a giant petticoat! The length is a classic 50s below knee that finished about mid-calf on me at 5 ft 5 in.

Overall I'm pretty happy with this despite my error in the sizing. It's something you have to learn when trying new brands and could have gone a lot worse so I'm more than happy to carry on experimenting!


All photos by the lovely Sally Molineaux

Sunny times are here again...........

I've been tricked into thinking summer has arrived a hundred times already this year before the clouds rolled over and the rain trickled down..... I'm still convinced it's just around the corner though and, like every other person in the British Isles, I'm ready for it. I bought a new bikini months ago, I've already packed away my winter coats and taken all of my light summer dresses out of storage (the suitcase under my bed). One thing I really wanted was new sunglasses, but I kept getting distracted by other things - dresses, playsuits, shoes - and overlooking accessories. It's easy to forget the little touches in favour of the centre-stage items but often they are the additions that really lift a look!

Finally, Bow and Crossbones came to my rescue when I spotted their amazing range of sunglasses (and jewellery - check out their sparkly, wonderful jewellery!). From perfectly rounded 60s stunners to elegant 50s cat-eyes they have something for every retro enthusiast and at £8 a pair they won't break the bank as so much other retro stuff can. Naturally I then bought three pairs because 'they're such good value', 'I'll probably sit on a pair', 'I can co-ordinate to any outfit' etc. etc.

Just look at them! Bedazzled cat-eyes, leopard print and a chunky cream dream Jackie O herself would be jealous of. You can see why I couldn't limit myself to one pair....

Each of these is so compatible with different looks yet gives an instant retro feel. The black cat-eyes would be perfect for those with smaller faces as they're quite dainty in comparison with the others and are perfect for a 50s rockabilly look. The cream pair have a beautiful tan/orange tint to the lenses that soften the blocky shape and create a hazy romanticism that'll make you want to wear daisy chains. The leopard print pair are a classic style that should suit most face shapes (unless you've got a very delicate face) and are my personal favourite. They go with almost everything and make you feel like a film star - what more can you ask? As they are so reasonably priced they're obviously not the quality of designer brands but I've had them rolling around at the bottom of my bag and they've survived just fine so you won't have to instantly replace them. You also don't have to worry about losing them or snapping an arm off which is something I find with £200 sunglasses - you will actually wear these without panicking!

Here they are on in a nifty collage (yeah my IT skills rock!)

And here's another of the leopard print just because.......

 

Laced up with PUG

The Laced Up Jumpsuit by Pinup Girl Clothing (PUG to the fandom) was one of those items beautiful model Masuimi Max made look amazing but I instantly put into the 'I could never wear that' category. Hello plunging neckline (hello nipples :p), hello figure-hugging flesh coloured fabric, hello tight long trouser legs. All things on my no way, not ever, list.

But, in the spirit of trying to be brave and try new things - including this very blog (don't look directly at it, I'm nervous!) - I held my breath, turned my head away and clicked the order button. I had been spreading the cost of buying a few PUG items as my sister has moved to the US and I was visiting in April so I finally felt able to justify treating myself. Some PUG items are on the higher end price scale but without the shipping costs to the UK I could stretch to it. OK, so I was looking for any excuse but I'd been eyeing up so many items on the website for so long it was starting to get weird. Like stalking clothes.......(we've all done it, come on now). The jumpsuit itself was a steal at $48 and arrived super quick at my sister's house so it seems that domestic shipping is really efficient.

I had to wait a little longer to be united with it and even longer to wear it as it is such a striking piece  (not really appropriate for a night out down the local even for the most established pin up girls). I decided to brave it for my housemates birthday as we were having a big party and I knew it would be far too warm to wear over the summer months. So without further stalling, here it is............

Excuse the balloons and such in the background, I needed a few drinks before I felt comfortable wearing it and the party was in full swing by then.

I decided to style it with some futuristic hair and dark black lips as I felt that full red lips and tumbling curls would need a much, much fancier event. I knew the outfit itself would attract enough attention so I kept the rest minimal.

My discomfort was entirely my own making, the suit fit like a dream and was actually much more flattering on than I anticipated. A little tape was needed to secure the neckline but once that was on I didn't feel in any danger of exposing myself if I leaned forwards. This may be a problem for the bustier ladies out there. I have a very modest bust compared to my other curves but it might feel a little too risque if you're more well endowed (I still think it'd look awesome though!).

All in all this was the greatest problem with this outfit. It's all in the confidence. At first I felt very uncomfortable, even in front of my own friends. However, with a little dutch courage (mainly in the form of White Russians) I began to relax and embrace it. Before long I was walking confidently through a crowded bar without a second thought. And that's the best thing about taking the risk and wearing something like this. I realised that my worries about it being so clingy and accentuating every curve, those I love and those I struggle with, were all in my head and actually I don't really care about what other people think as much as I thought I might. It ended up being empowering and I'm so glad I took the risk. Thanks PUG - here's to you!

(All photos by the lovely Sally Molineaux)