I've found myself on a bit of a 70s kick recently, falling in love with flowing bell sleeves and sun ready silhouettes. When I saw this swing dress from online brand Pink Clove, there was something about it which made me stare at it with cartoon heart eyes! It's not my usual style, but sometimes it's nice to step outside and try something new and this had the perfect balance for me - somewhere between flower child sweet and becoming the next supreme!
I think it was the bell sleeves which initially drew me in. The lace pattern is so pretty, with the relaxed shift design being both comfy and easy to wear.
The swing dress is three sizes bigger than my usual dress size, but it's not so much that it comes up small, and more that I liked the idea of a really relaxed fit. I could probably have easily just gone up by one size to get that effect. * Dress sent for review. All opinions are honest and my own.
The strong design of the lacing at the front gives the dress a little more edge. It flits the line between 70s chic and gothic glam depending on how you style it, and I love that it is such a versatile item in that way.
I teamed it with a very simple black, wide brimmed sun hat, and left the house feeling both protected from the sun and like I could win any competition to become the next supreme. A flash of red lipstick broke up the head to toe block of black, and I feel ready to channel Stevie Nicks as I walk through London!
I've found myself on a bit of a 70s kick recently, falling in love with flowing bell sleeves and sun ready silhouettes. When I saw this swing dress from online brand Pink Clove, there was something about it which made me stare at it with cartoon heart eyes! It's not my usual style, but sometimes it's nice to step outside and try something new and this had the perfect balance for me - somewhere between flower child sweet and becoming the next supreme!
I think it was the bell sleeves which initially drew me in. The lace pattern is so pretty, with the relaxed shift design being both comfy and easy to wear.
The swing dress is three sizes bigger than my usual dress size, but it's not so much that it comes up small, and more that I liked the idea of a really relaxed fit. I could probably have easily just gone up by one size to get that effect. * Dress sent for review. All opinions are honest and my own.
The strong design of the lacing at the front gives the dress a little more edge. It flits the line between 70s chic and gothic glam depending on how you style it, and I love that it is such a versatile item in that way.
I teamed it with a very simple black, wide brimmed sun hat, and left the house feeling both protected from the sun and like I could win any competition to become the next supreme. A flash of red lipstick broke up the head to toe block of black, and I feel ready to channel Stevie Nicks as I walk through London!
With our Summer being a complete wash-out at the moment, it's hard to know whether to leave home in sandals, boots or a wet suit! Layers have become my go-to option but it's difficult with temperatures soaring the second the rain stops. Summer is definitely clinging on by a thread, but I'm not quite ready to completely pack away the sandals and shorts just yet. It's all about those transitional pieces which straddle the seasons with ease, especially those picked up as cut-price bargains.
Department store House of Fraser really know how to put on a sale, with a plus size section filled to bursting with discounted dresses, shoes and more. I was kindly asked if I would like to review some of their items, and quickly found myself swooning over cute prints and pretty shapes. There were so many brilliant options that it was almost impossible to choose!
My first pick was this stunning floral print dress from Samya. The two things which struck me were the Autumn colour palette and how the full, vintage styled a-line shape was given a modern update with the gold exposed zip to the front. The material has a lot of stretch, so I was able to buy my usual size to fit my waist and not have to worry about it being too tight along my bust. It was also stiff without being too heavy, and teamed with leggings, boots and a cardigan, was a perfect option for an Autumn day.
The other item which caught my eye were these "sporty" sandals from Evans. House of Fraser have a huge selection of wide fit shoes and bootsavailable online, but I loved the versatility of these ones in particular. Extra wide for comfort, they have a padded sole and a zip back fastening but also work with everything from dresses to denim. They are the sort of shoes which you can walk in for hours and feel like you're merely cloud hopping! I'm off to the Lake District in just under two weeks, and am hoping that the weather dries out a little as these sandals would be perfect for exploring in. I love that they are both pretty and functional, and are the perfect run-around shoe for warm and busy days. There are lots of plus size bargains to be had on the House of Fraser website, so if you're looking for some new shoes or an outfit, click here!
Until next time,
Even though London has just experienced a scorcher of a weekend, Autumn's colourful explosion is starting to get to work. The breezes are brisker, the leaves are starting to turn and the golden light filled dusk is getting earlier and earlier with each passing day. Autumn has always been my favourite season, so it makes me so happy to see the transition as Summer starts to wane. It's as much in my wardrobe choices as it is the weather, having finally started to start to delve into the beautiful prints and textures of AW15. It seems apt that my first foray into inter-seasonal style is the stunning red leaf prints from George, a lovely design which featured on a variety of different pieces at their recent press day.
The print features on everything from swimwear to separates, and I was lucky enough to be sent it in both a 3/4 sleeve top and tunic form for review.
The Leaf Print Top (£16) is the perfect option for when you're not sure whether to go with a jumper or top. Half way between the two, it's a light polyester knit which is perfect for cooler nights or chilly days. It has cropped sleeves and a step back hem and is an easy way to inject a bit of colour into your wardrobe.
The Leaf Print Tunic (£12) features a slightly brighter version of the print on a long tunic with an eye-catching y-neck. The length makes it almost dress like, and as such, is very easy to just throw on with very little thought. For me it's the perfect item to wear when working in the studio, as it was comfortable and filled with stretch. However it's also a great late-holiday item to pack in the suitcase, as it's the perfect beach cover-up to avoid getting sun burnt!
This print was just the tip of the sartorial ice-berg for George's AW15 collection. You can see lots more photos from when I visited their press day here, but the video below also shows off just how incredible it is. You might even spot me doing what I do best - drinking tea and swooning over clothes!
There are also some photos on the George at Asda Pinterest board, which can be found here. I'm so excited that it's beginning to drop, and have a wish list as long as my arm! Those gold brogues and biker jacket must be mine at some point!
There's nothing like a good biker jacket to make you feel like a 50s bad girl, and this sale bargain from H&M does just that! Normally I don't like things being overly tight on me, but somehow this jacket which is at least a size too small got a pass. I think I just really liked the design (and the price!) too much to pass it up.
H&M have really been great recently, and I've found some good items amongst their main and plus range. This simple black dress from them is one of my go to favourites, with the thick fabric holding it's shape and being a great pick on cooler days.
Dress: H&M
Biker Jacket: H&M
Tights: Primark
Boots: Simply Be
Rose: Pearls & Swine
Necklace: Bete Noir
I think it's pretty clear that I am aiming to be Rizzo when I grow up. There are worse things I could do, right?
With the weather being so interchangeable right now, I am all about the layers. Big cardigans over tea dresses seem to be my go-to outfit of choice, and I've found myself getting a lot of use from one of my older and much loved vintage finds.
I love a good 1980s-does-50s find, and this puffball of a floral dress felt like I'd hit the vintage jackpot! Found on a rail of dreariness in a Kentish Town charity shop, the bright colours caught my eye and I muttered silent prayers to the fashion gods that it might be in a size I could wriggle my way into!
The label showed that it was an 80s C&A creation, a company who really did the "modern" twist on 50s shapes well amidst all the shoulder pads and power suits. It always seems to be a C&A dress whenever I find something in near perfect condition from the 70s or 80s, so that must say something about the level of quality in their production!
Dress: Vintage from C&A
Cardigan: H&M
Flower: Pearls & Swine
Ring: Vintage Hello Kitty Pink Head from Tarina Tarantino
Roller Necklace: Pip Jolley
Ballet Flats: Primark
The dress is an absolute dream - it creates a soft tulip shape from the waist down which flutters as you walk, and I love the modest yet interesting neckline. It's a little tight around the bust for me, but I've sewn along the buttons in the hope that it'll keep the ladies contained. It's the perfect Summer dress for frolicking around in, and for a whole £6! As much as I love rummaging through rails of vintage, you sometimes cannot beat a charity shop bargain!
I love a good 1980s-does-50s find, and this puffball of a floral dress felt like I'd hit the vintage jackpot! Found on a rail of dreariness in a Kentish Town charity shop, the bright colours caught my eye and I muttered silent prayers to the fashion gods that it might be in a size I could wriggle my way into!
The label showed that it was an 80s C&A creation, a company who really did the "modern" twist on 50s shapes well amidst all the shoulder pads and power suits. It always seems to be a C&A dress whenever I find something in near perfect condition from the 70s or 80s, so that must say something about the level of quality in their production!
Dress: Vintage from C&A
Cardigan: H&M
Flower: Pearls & Swine
Ring: Vintage Hello Kitty Pink Head from Tarina Tarantino
Roller Necklace: Pip Jolley
Ballet Flats: Primark
The dress is an absolute dream - it creates a soft tulip shape from the waist down which flutters as you walk, and I love the modest yet interesting neckline. It's a little tight around the bust for me, but I've sewn along the buttons in the hope that it'll keep the ladies contained. It's the perfect Summer dress for frolicking around in, and for a whole £6! As much as I love rummaging through rails of vintage, you sometimes cannot beat a charity shop bargain!
There's no doubt in my mind that Wednesday Adams is one of my all time style icons. The fact that my wardrobe contains so many black dresses with white collars is a testament to just how much of an influence she had on me from a very young age.
There's no doubt in my mind that Wednesday Adams is one of my all time style icons. The fact that my wardrobe contains so many black dresses with white collars is a testament to just how much of an influence she had on me from a very young age.
It's been a while since I've done a beauty post, but I wanted to write about an amazing high street find I've recently fallen in love with. I feel like I've spent ages hunting down a non-clumping, lash lengthening magician of a product, and Lash Sensational Mascara from Maybelline does just that.
The mascara comes with a wand designed to catch every single lash, even the tiniest of them. It takes a little bit of getting used to as it's easy to catch the side of your eyes with the outer-bristle design. However once you've got the hang of the wand wiggle, you're left with flutter-worthy peppers which are well defined and clump free.
The brush is actually really clever - it features short bristles packed closely together on a curve, and it ensures that the mascara meets the root of the lashes. The longer bristles comb it out to the tips, and it just takes a coat or two to achieve lashes with volume. The formula is buildable without clumping or flaking, and even on the most humid of days, doesn't leave you with the dreaded panda-eye smudge.
If you're looking for a full-on false last effect, simply use a fan brush to distribute some setting powder over them before applying the mascara on top. It helps to extend the lashes if you want a little more oomph.
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