Jungle Love feat. Vivien of Holloway

Hello sweethearts, 

It's no great secret that I've been a fan of the pinup style for many years - the fun and flirty silhouettes of the 1950's are staples within my wardrobe. From giant meringue petticoats to the more sultry fitted pencil dresses, the ladies of this era really knew how to dress!

I often receive messages from women asking for advice and support on how to get involved with pinup fashion. They say they love the look on other people but don't know quite where to start or how to break into this eye-catching style. Whilst I do agree that dressing "pinup" can be daunting to a newcomer, it really doesn't need to be! The best thing to do when dabbling with retro glam is to find a silhouette that works for you and start exploring new looks that are in keeping with your personal style. 

One place that I always advise enthusiasts to look into is vintage reproduction gurus Vivien of Holloway.  I've previously written about my love for this amazing brand in an older blog post that you can check out here but for clarity purposes I'll explain a little more about why I adore this brand. 

Vivien of Holloway have been changing the pinup game and adding their magic to the world of retro clothing since 2000. Creating stunning ensembles in beautiful fabrics and prints, they've easily carved a name for themselves and host an impressive list of celebrity clients as proud VoH customers. 

Whether you're a long-time pinup enthusiast such as myself or a relative newcomer to the scene, Vivien of Holloway have something to offer everyone. I was recently sent this stunning (and aptly named) Jezebel dress and just couldn't wait to dash out for a fun photoshoot to really show it off!

 

As I've recently been committing myself to the world outside of my fashion comfort zone this dress was a great choice. Still in keeping with my personal style, the bold leopard print and fitted style really make this dress a stand-out whilst hugging all of my curves and showing off my shape. 

Whilst once upon a time I'd have balked at the very idea of wearing a fitted pencil dress (especially without a corset or cincher underneath) I now instead jumped at the chance to try something a little different and I am so glad that I did! I felt absolutely incredible in this getup and the way this dress hugged my body increased my confidence tenfold.

This dress is a Vivien of Holloway size 20, which is roughly the equivalent to a UK 16/18. Below you'll find my current measurements and the measurements for this dress in this size, as you'll see there's a fraction of variance but not enough to make any substantial difference. 

My measurements: Bust: 45.5" Waist: 36" Hips: 47.5"

VoH size 20 measurements: Bust: 44" Waist: 36" Hips: 48" 

When thinking of how best to style this dress I decided to go full on rockabilly pinup. I felt as though the leopard print was really begging for some bold and fun accessories so I opted for a feather and rose hair comb, red heels, a black chunky bracelet and a fun little faux septum clicker that I recently acquired from boohoo. I've been toying with the idea of piercing my septum for some time now so this seemed like a perfect way to test the waters (side note; I love it!) 

I hope you enjoy the photos below, and as always I've included an easy little link to buy at the end of this post for all you pinup fans! 

Outfit Details 

Hair Flower: Brighton Market Stall (old)
Faux septum clicker: Boohoo
Bracelet: Accessorize

Dress: Vivien of Holloway

Stockings: What Katie Did

Shoes: BHS (customised with rhinestones) 

What do you think of the Jezebel dress - is Vivien of Holloway a brand that you love too? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time sweethearts, 

Lovelustloves x0

**This dress was gifted to me from Vivien of Holloway but, as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own**