That girl's got roaches in her hair!

 

Hello my darlings! 

Hoping once more that this blog post finds everyone well and enjoying themselves. Today I've got some exciting news to share with you all- I've joined a blog hop! 

After speaking with my beautiful fellow blogger Kobi Jae  over facebook, she told me all about an exciting new collective of queens that go by the name Alternative Curves. Alternative Curves are an international group of bloggers who all embrace their personal style and share this with one another in the form of monthly outfit challenges. This sounded right up my street as I love finding outfit inspiration from a wide variety of places, and I was sold as soon as I heard the title of May's challenge: "Cult Movie". 

As I'm sure many of you can guess (I'm certain that I've mentioned it enough times!) I am an absolute movie geek. My penchant lies primarily with all things horror and gore but I also have a special place in my heart for movie musicals and anything by John Waters - they are without a doubt my ultimate guilty pleasure! The characters... the colours... the filth- what's not to love?!

This "Cult Movie" challenge got my head spinning immediately with ideas - the Red dress from the  Tommy Wiseau underground sensation "The Room"? Some edgy goth style a-la Nancy from "The Craft"? So many options, so little time! Eventually I settled on the decision to emulate my ultimate style role model from my favourite film of all time- Tracy Turnblad from John Waters' classic 1988 "Hairspray". 

Being a Hefty Hideaway girl

For this look, I decided to whip out a beautiful frock that I purchased last year but have never found the perfect occasion to wear yet- the inimitable Roach Dress from indie designer Candy Strike. This brand is the brainchild of the multi-talented Elizabeth Denneau and I'm not over-exaggerating when I say she is absolutely phenomenal. With a plethora of bags, dresses, crop tops and quirky skater skirts all created with the unique Candy Strike brand in mind, it's easy to lose yourself lusting after their entire website! Taking influence from the likes Absolutely Fabulous, Pretty in Pink, Cry Baby, and indeed Hairspray, Elizabeth's illustrations are brought to life through fun and bold prints in beautiful fabrics - something I can definitely get on board with! 

The bag says it all (just change "Blonde" to "Ginger"!)

This particular dress is inspired by Ricki Lake in the "Miss Auto Show" scene of Hairspray where she responds to the claim "She's got roaches in her hair!" made by arch-rival Amber Von Tussel by wearing a dress covered in cockroaches and leading a dance to the novelty song "The Bug" by Jerry Dallman and the Knightcaps.  This iconic scene is one of my personal favourites and I'm so glad that this dress has been recreated for the masses!

Ricki Lake killin' it, as per

This fabulous frock is absolutely wonderful. It's made from a super comfortable stretch scuba-knit fabrics that is soft and luxurious, and the screen-printed love heart roaches are just adorable. I ordered this dress in a size 2xl to be on the safe side but this ended up being far too loose. 

Rather than return this lovely outfit (who can be bothered with the hassle or returning to America from Scotland, amiright?!) I instead had it tailored to have a few inches of excess fabric removed from the waist and a couple of inches off the straps to make for a closer fit. (Thanks Grandma!) For reference my measurements are as follows: Bust 45" Waist 36.5" Hips: 46" which as you can see lie pretty much right in the middle of the XL and 2XL sizing from Candy Strike's Website:

 

My advice if considering a purchase from the wonderful Candy Strike if you happen to be between sizes such as myself would definitely be to size down - most of their clothing is made of material with some degree of stretch (such as the scuba knit or spandex/polyester blends) so if you're after a closer fit this is the way to go.  

The only thing better than hairspray, that's me!

Another thing that really make me excited to be supporting this magnificent brand is the amount of diversity within their range of models. Candy Strike use models for their clothing from a size small all the way through to a 3XL so you can really get a good idea of how their clothes will look on your body. Their models also encompass a wide range of different skin tones and ethnicities which is something I love to see. Their models have tattoos, big bellies, long waif-like limbs, big hips, small boobs - but all are absolutely stunning in their own unique way. This is something I wish more designers would take on board- women want to see how clothes will look on their bodies!  

 

 

When i'm in full spin as with these photos above, you can really see the sheer volume that lies within this gorgeous skirted dress - perfect for dancing and jiving a la Miss Tracy Turnblad! 

I paired this outfit with some sweet little black and white brogues and lacy tights for contrast

Outfit details 

Dress: Candy Strike (size 2x)

Cardigan: Primark (size 16) 

Belt: New Look (size M/L) 

Hair bow: Claire's Accessories 

Shoes: New Look (old)

So that just about wraps up another blog post- I hope you've enjoyed my little Tracy Turnblad-esque take on the Alternative Curves "Cult Movie" theme- I am curious to know now though dear readers, what are your favourite movies? Do they ever influence the way you dress or style yourself? Let me know in the comments! 

Lastly, to find out more about the amazing women behind the Alternative Curves movement, check out the #AlternativeCurves hashtag on Instagram or Click Here to see how all the other lovely ladies of the blog hop have styled their Cult Movie ensembles! Enjoy! 

Until next time my darlings, 

Lovelustloves x0

Shopping for plus-size vintage; 5 tips and tricks

Hello once again lovelies! 
Hope you're all feeling fabulous and being kind to yourselves; as I've mentioned over on my facebook page  this week (11th - 17th May) is mental health awareness week in the UK. This means a great opportunity for plenty of self-care, mindfulness and looking after number one- yourself! One of my favourite forms of self care when i'm feeling blue is pampering. This can take many forms: whether it's a long soak in a Lush bubble bath, painting my nails, taking some empowering selfies or simply doing a bit of retail therapy. 

Bearing this in mind, today's blog post -as promised- is all about one of my favourite things- shopping for vintage fashion!

I've been a big lover of vintage ever since I was in my early teens. My first vintage clothing experience is one that will stay with me for the foreseeable- I was 15 and searching in Edinburgh for something fun to wear. I'd been looking all day and hadn't found ANYTHING to take my fancy; I was despondent but driven to find a magical garment to transform me into a queen (can you tell I've always had a flair for the dramatic?!) Finally, after hours of traipsing my poor mum around the high street there it was! In a box hidden deep at the back of a little Miss Selfridge shop hosting a vintage collection: The dress. Not just any dress, but the vintage dress of my dreams. Layers of peach and duck-egg blue tulle, internal corseting, floral print with delicate straps, a soft sweetheart neckline and the lightest of ruffles to accentuate the neckline. It was perfection, and as it transpired was also an absolute steal at only £25! That dress was the start of a life long love affair with vintage clothes and accessories which is exactly what I want to discuss today. 

A literal vintage Valhalla 

Unfortunately, not all vintage clothing is well sized. As a girl who can often be found rushing around vintage fairs looking for a bargain or endlessly searching the rails in my local vintage emporiums I know from experience there aren't nearly as many plus-size options as there are straight sized ones. Good quality plus-sized vintage isn't something that is always easy to come by, and it's quite easy to feel let down by the lack of options. 

Despair not however! I am here to tell you that there are options out there for you big and beautiful ladies. They might require a little extra sleuthing or thinking creatively about your clothing but you should not give up. Vintage should be accessible to everyone and my five little handy tips and tricks should help to make you realize that vintage clothing can work for you.

 

Searching the rails in "Beyond Retro" in Brighton

Bearing all of the above in mind, without further adieu here are my top five tips when shopping for plus-sized vintage: 

Tip number 1: Try things on! I honestly cannot emphasize this point enough to all of you beautiful voluptuous ladies out there. Vintage sizing is in itself a bit of a mystery; From personal experience I have personally been able to fit into vintage clothes marked from a size 12 (which I am most definitely not) up to a size 20. In short, vintage sizing is all over the place. If you see something beautiful at a vintage fair but it's marked as a size 16 when you're closer to a 20 - try it on! If you see a lovely blouse but it doesn't look like it'll contain your ample bosom- try it on! If you see anything at all that you fall in love with- try it on! Try it on, try it on, try it on!! You'll never know how an item looks on your body until you physically put it on and see yourself in it. Vintage clothes often don't look all that spectacular when on the hanger, but once on the body they transform and are brought to life which can be quite a magical thing to see! 

A 1940's vintage tea dress (size 14) circa 2011

Tip number 2: Elastic is your friend. Elastic is quite a marvelous creation, isn't it? Even more so when found in vintage clothes. One of my favourite items of vintage was picked up at a Judy's Affordable Vintage Sale that I attended whilst on holiday in Brighton last year. This item is a bright, colourful 80's style pleat skirt that has a pattern reminiscent of the opening scenes of "Saved by the Bell" and is more than likely handmade. There are no distinguishing markings, patterns or labels on this skirt aside from it's elasticated waistband which really was the cinch for me when making this purchase. There is nothing worse than a case of vintage regret (see tip number 5 for more details) and I really didn't want that happening with this skirt, I wasn't able to try it on at the time of purchase due to being in a rush but knowing that the waist was elasticated I was certain it would be a good fit. Was I right? Of course I was! Chances are, if an item looks to be similarly sized to you and has an elastic waist or empire line, you'll be able to make it work for you. 

My favourite vintage skirt, quickly styled with a Noel Fielding t-shirt & alternative normality hair piece

I just love how colourful this pattern is!

Tip number 3: Outerwear. Coats, Jackets, Blazers, Cardigans....never underestimate the power of a good piece of outerwear. For many plus-size women, finding well fitting vintage can be quite the struggle, however the great thing about outerwear is that it fits a far wider range of sizes than say blouses or dresses. Even if you can't find a beautiful vintage 1950's ballgown in your size, chances are you will still be able to find a beautiful faux-fur coat or astrakhan jacket that will suit you wonderfully- jackets and coats do not need to be worn done up either, which gives a bit of variety when deciding now to style them. 

If you're new to the world of vintage clothing, investing in a nice jacket or coat can be a brilliant way to revamp your style without going full 1940's or 50s. If you're a fan of the vintage aesthetic i'd suggest anything leopard print to make an instant statement (see below!)

My favourite vintage coat (circa 2010)

Tip number 4: Shop online. Unfortunately, not everyone has instant access to vintage shops, vintage fairs or even good quality second hand shops. I am fairly privileged to live within a stone's throw of both Edinburgh and Glasgow, meaning that when Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair comes to town it isn't any trouble making the pilgrimage through to raid the rails of vintage goodies. I'm also blessed to have easy access to huge vintage emporiums such as Mr Ben's and Armstrong's however I am aware that not everyone has this advantage. Luckily we do live in an online age where everything we need (well, mostly!) can be purchased at the click of a button. Buying vintage online is obviously a risky game, however sometimes it is the only port of call and the payoff can be immense. If you aren't able to get to a vintage store locally, I've added some hyperlinks to some lovely shops that sell beautiful and great quality plus size vintage!

Here are a few of my favourite online stores to find beautiful plus-size fashion:

1. Size is just a number 
2.Thrifty vintage kitten
3. Doll face Productions

Tip number 5: Don't get vintage regret! Vintage regret is a horrible phenomenon that occurs when you find a one of a kind beautiful piece of vintage clothing and don't end up purchasing it. This item of clothing then proceeds to haunt your dreams with you imagining every possible scenario in which you could wear it and the variety of ways in which you can style it but unfortunately, it is not yours. 

I can't count the amount of times that this has happened to me - most often when I put something down hoping to return to it later or spend time swithering over if it's worth the financial investment. Let me tell you - it is! There are few things more annoying that vintage regret and if you find a beautiful piece of clothing that fits you well and is one of a kind you should take the plunge and make that purchase!

Channeling my inner Nancy from "The Craft" in a vintage button-down tea dress 

Paisley princess 

Hopefully this information has given you a little bit of an insight into the world of plus-size vintage shopping. I hope that if anything this post will have given you a bit of hope to  explore the world of vintage- it isn't just for the straight sized gals amongst us! It is a wonderful cacophony of vivid prints, beautifully cut, well made and above all else, unique pieces of clothing. With a little bit of searching and creative thinking, vintage clothing can absolutely work for a multitude of plus size figures. 

Are you a fan of vintage clothing? Let me know what you think in the comments section!

Yours until next time, 

Lovelustloves x0

A love affair with Lady Voluptuous

Hello darlings! 

Hoping that this post finds everyone well and enjoying the lovely month of May, I know I have been!

Today on the blog I'm going to be showcasing something particularly special - the arrival of a UK based plus size vintage reproduction clothing line  - Lady Voluptuous and a particularly special beautiful outfit. 

Unless you've been in hiding, living under a rock without WiFi for the past few months, chances are you'll have heard all about this amazing new innovative range of plus size dresses (going from a UK size 16 up to a UK 30/32 might I add!) that have been designed by none other than my lovely friend Georgina of the blog FullerFigureFullerBust and more recently of Plus Size Wars fame. 

At the time of writing, Lady Voluptuous has 5 key styles of dress as well as a lovely circle skirt, available in a wide variety of prints and block colours, each equally as stunning as the last. These are the Medusa, the Phoebe, the Lyra, the Bellatrix and my personal favourite, the Cosette. You can check these all out at the following link here.

Georgina looking phenomenal in the Cosette dress

I was incredibly grateful (and slightly awed) when Georgina approached me and offered to send me one of her newest designs. After a great deal of umm-ing and aah-ing over her gorgeous behind the scenes photographs, I decided upon the beautiful Cosette dress; a sleeved swing dress with demure (yet still decidedly sexy!) wrap-over bust. I chose the red rose on lilac fabric as I thought this was a unique colour combination that I was keen to try. I don't own any lilac clothes and was slightly concerned that the pale pastel colour wouldn't suit my complexion, but I needn't have been worried at all - in fact, this is quite truthfully one of my new favourite outfits of all time!

 Once it arrived and i'd gushed over the amazing quality of this lovely frock, I found the fit of the Cosette dress to be fairly generous. According to the size chart I should have been in between the sizes 18 & 20, however going by Georgina's instruction I went for the size 18. For reference, my measurements are bust 46" waist 37" and the measurements of the Cosette dress in a size 18 were bust 43" waist 36". As you can see I don't quite match up with these at all, but this dress is generously cut (I could have got away with the size 16) so i'd recommend sizing down when ordering. 

One thing I was fairly worried about were the sleeves on this dress- i'm always fairly apprehensive of sleeves as I have quite big arms, however I needn't have worried. The sleeves of the dress fit brilliantly with plenty of room, so I don't feel constricted at all and they are a lovely length that isn't too long nor too short. 

Another key aspect that I think is important to highlight with this outfit is the belt. All too often when I purchase dresses in larger sizes, the belt nowhere near matches the waist measurement rendering it unwearable. Luckily this isn't the case for the striking Cosette dress and I found the belt to be a comfortable fit (when corseted I wear the belt on the 3rd loop and when un-corseted I wear it on the 2nd loop). It's also well structured so won't bend or loose it's shape over time- another added bonus.

 

The attention to detail on the hem of this dress, as well as the collar and cuffs is also second to none. The stitching is magnificent and really makes the garment feel expensive, although with a £50 price tag I find this dress to be a bit of a steal! 

I should mention that when I took all the photos for today's blog it was raining fairly heavily so I made due and accessorized with a funky umbrella. I was worried that the pink would clash against the lilac and red pattern of the dress but in reality I found it to be quite complimentary. I may even try accessorizing this dress with a little more pink next time as it just so happens to be one of my favourite colours. 

 

Red lipstick is "Chilli" by MAC

Singin' in the rain...

Another feature of this dress that I found to be a huge plus is the bust on this dress. It is a delicate v-neck that has been sewn shut so there is no risk of over-exposure or gaping - a big plus in my eyes! This helps to make the dress a lot more work wear appropriate also, as the concern over flashing too much is already taken care of. 

The only thing I could possibly fault this dress on is that the side-zip fastening feels a little flimsy. The dress itself is exquisitely made with a lovely high quality fabric (cotton sateen) bu I feel as though the zip may not live up to the general wear and tear i'll have getting this dress on myself. I certainly wouldn't let that deter you from purchasing however, as zips are easily replaced yet gorgeous plus size frocks unfortunately don't come around that often.

One thing that I find particularly exciting about the Lady Voluptuous line in general (not just the Cosette dress) is that it comes in sizes 16-32. This is a great example of how plus-size clothing should be sized, it is non-exclusionary and doesn't presuppose that those at the bigger end of the plus-size spectrum couldn't/shouldn't/wouldn't wear clothes that are loud, colourful, fitted, flared or any of the above. Upon release, many of the dresses sold out instantaneously - proving that plus-size women are literally begging for affordable and beautiful clothing that doesn't discriminate. Georgina has really responded to a gap in the market with the Lady Voluptuous line and done so taking into account the needs wants and desires of the plus-size community. 
Brava George, I applaud you!

Outfit Details 

Dress: Lady Voluptuous 

Shoes: BHS 
Earrings: Accessorize

Fascinator: Diablo Jo's

Stockings: What Katie Did 

Umbrella: Lidl 

I always think it's important to showcase an outfit/dress/ensemble in as many ways as possible, and so here are some more beautiful bloggers sharing their Cosette dress reviews for your perusal, as you can see they are resoundingly well received - click on the links for direct access! 

U Can't Wear That
Arched Eyebrow
Lolly Likes Fatshion

That about wraps (haha, see what I did there?!) it up from me for this post - next time on the blog I'll be sharing my vintage shopping tips for plus size darlings and how to avoid falling into a polyester nightmare, inspired by a recent shopping trip to Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair in Edinburgh. 

Until next time sweethearts!
Lovelustloves x0

**This dress was kindly gifted to me for review, however all opinions stated here are completely my own**

Springtime Florals part two

Hello again sweethearts! 

Once again hoping that this post sees you all well! 
This is the follow up to my original post about springtime florals, which if you're interested in you can find here. This post features more heavily on another of my wardrobe staples and springtime fashion loves, the inimitable Grace dress from Vivien of Holloway in the enchanting "Wild Rose Cerise" print. 

Stock photo from the Vivien of Holloway website

For those who don't know, Vivien of Holloway is a vintage reproduction company based in London, England and has been gracing the pinup and vintage scenes in the UK and beyond officially since 2000. In 2009 they moved premises from a little shop above a mechanic in Camden to a much larger boutique space in Holloway Road and the brand really took off - being worn by the likes of Imelda May,  Kelly Brook, Nigella Lawson and my ultimate lady crush - Paloma Faith. 

Vivien of Holloway have really carved a name for themselves and have now become synonymous with 50s glamour, with circle skirts, wiggle dresses, swing dresses and evening gowns aplenty - they have something for everyone whether you're a Betty, a Peggy or a Joan. Many of the dresses that VoH stock on their website are staples in the wardrobes of many a vintage loving girl, but one dress in particular has really managed to capture my heart- the appropriately named Grace dress.

I've mentioned the inimitable Grace dress once before, on my post all about the Miss Scottish Pinup Pageant which you can read here, but I really cannot convey just how wonderful this dress really is. When I find a dress that i'm in love with, I have a tendency to go a little overboard and bulk buy that dress in as many colours and prints as I can (case in point, the Delores Doll dress from Collectif featured on my last blog post) and this little beauty is no exception. I not only have the Grace dress in Wild Cerese Print as seen here, but also in a delightful red and white "sweetheart" print that features hundreds of tiny hearts and in a more demure black lace print that I wore to my University graduation back in 2013.

The Grace dress in black lace print, circa summer 2013

I love this amazing dress for a number of reasons: The skirt is so full and luxurious, the material (cotton sateen) is silky soft and not only looks but also feels delightful, the wrap bust is perfect for formal occasions and the print is divine. 

Forever twirling and swirling

This dress was perfect for my "Springtime florals" photoshoot with the wonderful Michala Oborna, as mentioned in my previous post. The bright colours really popped against the serene Arthur's Seat background and really convey the beauty of spring. The floral print isn't too overpowering and ultimately adds, not distracts from the amazing elements of the Grace dress. 

A cheeky flash of leg

In this dress, I ordered a size 22 (which differs to a traditional High Street size 22 as VoH use vintage sizing on their garments). If you're making a purchase from Vivien of Holloway, i'd definitely recommend checking their size chart and seeing how it matches up with your own measurements just to make sure you're getting the perfect fit. In my experience these garments run very true to size, however the Grace dress' wrap over bust means there is a little wiggle room for those who fall outsize the size chart (my 36G bosom fits in just fine).  The measurements on the size 22 dress are as follows: Bust 44", Waist 36" & Hip 48" - a near perfect match with my own sizing. 

The skirt of this dress already has a great deal of volume, but for added effect I added two full skirted petticoats to create even more fun and flair. Both of these petticoats photographed here are from Lady Jojo's Boutique, a delightful vintage shop in the heart of Edinburgh's Grassmarket. The pastel pink petticoat was purchased as is, however the purple petticoat was originally white - I decided to spruce it up a bit with a cheap Drylon fabric dye and this lovely colour was the result.  I wear both of these petticoats on a fairly regular basis however for ultimate floofyness (this should definitely be a real word!) I decided to double up by wearing both together. 

A view from the back

I've really been trying lately to push myself outside of my fashion comfort zone with a look that isn't all about a big swing skirt and nipped in waist, but with so many beautiful gowns and frocks out there it's so damn hard! This is definitely my natural go-to look, but I don't think that's necessarily such a bad thing. Personal style is exactly that- personal. My preferred aesthetic is big, colourful and frilly (like me!), so this dress is perfect for me and the theme of "Springtime Florals". 

Outfit Details 

Dress: Vivien of Holloway 

Stockings: What Katie Did

Petticoats: Lady Jojo's Boutique

Hair Flowers: Assorted - Claire's Accessories

Shoes: Irregular Choice 

And that just about wraps up another blog post!

Stay tuned as in my next post i'll be reviewing a very special dress by a very special lady, the Lady Volup "Cosette" dress by Georgina of Fuller Figure Fuller Bust fame. I hope you've enjoyed my foray into the Springtime Florals, let me know what you think in the comments!

Until the next time my darlings, 

Lovelustloves x0