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**

Fat girls shouldn't wear stripes...

Hello darlings!

Firstly, let me alleviate any fears or misconceptions you may have had when reading the title of this blog- I am a firm believer that ANYONE can wear absolutely ANYTHING they so desire. Fat, thin, curvy, tall, disabled, apple-shaped.... it doesn't matter! (So no, you haven't stepped into the twilight zone; I'm still the same loud and unapologetic body positive activist I've always been!)

It's no great secret that I find clothes and the act of clothing oneself to be a pivotal experience both in terms of existing in a heavily politicised body and in terms of expressing yourself through a creative medium. I simply adore the idea that through dressing up you can be seen as walking art - the perfect outlet to proudly display who you are for the world. It isn't always an easy task mind you- especially when you consider the limitations enforced upon us to conform to that elusive little beast, the societal "norm".

As someone who self-identifies as a fat woman, I'm used to being bombarded with messages through mainstream media on what is and is not socially acceptable for me to look like and what I can and cannot wear. Encouraged relentlessly to be a "good fatty" who is openly self-loathing, always dieting, always apologising for my presence and taking up space - this kind of thing really takes its toll! 

Don’t wear sleeveless tops. Don’t wear fitted clothes. Pencil skirts? Forget about it! Top ten tricks to make yourself look slimmer! Don’t wear white. Only ever wear black. Oh, and most importantly- never wear stripes!

Ugh- give me a break! 

The thing is, if you are plus size, bigger, chubby, fat -however you want to label it- then you'll look that size regardless of what you're wearing. Sure enough, you can dress to flatter your figure and take heed of all those presupposed "fashion rules" outlined above but ultimately you will still look the size you actually are (and by the way, that's perfectly OKAY).

I personally am completely fed up of being told how to exist within my own body. Being told what and what not to wear, it's exhausting! Not to mention demoralising and at times even embarrassing.

My own brand of personal style is something I see as an ever evolving entity - it changes and adapts depending on many factors. My mood, my inspiration, my passions... I dress for myself and myself alone. And guess what? If I want to wear stripes, bodycon, loud prints etc. I'll god-damn well wear them! (And I'll look good doing it too!)  

 

This little outfit is something I threw together from pieces already existing in my own wardrobe. Whilst styling this outfit I was conscious to ignore that little voice in the back of my head saying "You shouldn't wear that!" and "This won't look good on you!" (sidenote: after years and years of being subjected to media critique of larger bodies it is HARD to shake that nagging little voice!) but overall, I'm really happy with how I look and how I felt on this day. I was overwhelmed with feeling incredibly powerful and liberated when taking these photos, which I think is reflected in the overall result - I think these are some of my favourite photos ever taken!

 

 

Outfit Details 

Sunglasses: Primark
Dress: River Island
Hair flowers: Pinupgirlclothing (sold out, similar here)
Rings: Accessorize

Tights: Primark

Shoes: Bordello

Being a fat girl breaking so many fashion rules - no stripes, no bodycon and definitely no VBO (visible belly outline) was a euphoric experience and something I'll definitely be repeating in future.  

What do you think of fat girls wearing stripes? How about breaking fashion rules? Please let me know! 

Until next time darlings, 

Lovelustloves x0

Jump-suiting for joy!

Hello beautiful humans!   

I do hope that this blog post finds you all well. I've recently been hit with a huge burst of fashion inspiration and I've felt compelled to get my creative hat on and start thinking about fun topics and clothing to write about. For today's post I'll be focusing on something that until a few weeks ago was completely alien to me and lacking entirely from my wardrobe- the jumpsuit.

Jumpsuits are something that I've always admired, but never thought I could make work for my body shape. I've envied and coveted the likes of plus-size fashion bloggers ArchedEyebrow and Callie Thorpe rocking their beautiful jumpsuits, full of confidence and pride and wishing I too could find something so fabulous to fulfil my wishes. 

Enter, the retro jumpsuit from River Island: 

When I first stumbled upon this pretty little number in my local River Island, I actually didn't realise it was a jumpsuit. I had been in the market to pick up a fun printed shirt-dress for work and thought this might just do the trick; little did I know it would be the answer my prayers and put a quick end to my jumpsuit woes! 

There are many things that I really love about this wee gem of a jumpsuit, from the short shorts that are just the right length between modest and risqué, the printed belt that cinches the waist and the tiny gold buttons that add just the right amount of glam factor. One thing really stood out for me though....

The print. 
Isn't it simply divine?!
 I'm not usually one to be a fan of browns and beige shades, but the vibrancy of the 60's inspired print completely overrules any colour choices in my book! The large floral motifs read really nicely both closer up and farther away, giving this jumpsuit an interesting appeal.

If you read my blog regularly or know me either online or in real life, you'll know that I'm pretty much obsessed with prints. The stranger and more unusual the better! This ticked all of those boxes and more for me.

 

In regards to sizing, I'm wearing a UK size 16 here. Now- full disclaimer- I am definitely not a size 16. This jumpsuit is very generously sized and aside from a little gaping around the chest area, it fits more of less like a glove. I was very impressed with the generosity of sizing, particularly in the bum area as this is one region in which I am particularly blessed! 

If you're thinking of making a purchase of this lovely item (and why shouldn't you- it's currently on sale!) I'd recommend trying this on for size if that's an option for you, but if not I'd argue that you would be safe to size down. I've included a wee link to purchase at the end of this post for any interested parties!

 

Oh, and just in case you were wondering- it looks just as good (arguably if not better!) from behind:

To properly show off this beautiful outfit in all it's glory, I decided to enlist the help of my beautiful friend Leigh to organise a little impromptu photoshoot in my living room. We chose to go for a "you better werk" vibe which basically translates to me looking sassy as hell and channelling my inner bad-ass boss bitch- something that works really well with this jumpsuit! 

We were both overjoyed with the results, and hope that you like them too:

 

 

Outfit Details 

Hair Flower: George @ ASDA

Jumpsuit: River Island

Tights: H&M

Shoes: Primark

Et voilà! I hope you've enjoyed seeing my jumpsuit joy - is this something you'd wear, or do you have another wardrobe lust you're looking for? Let me know!

I've recently been fortunate enough to be blessed with something of a rarity for me these days- free time! So if you read and keep up to date with my blog you'll be seeing more of my face around- I promise! I've been involved with a few really exciting projects lately, including a collaboration with the beautiful Leyah Shanks of The Body Confidence Revolution which I'm hoping to post about soon! 

Until next time my darlings
Love and kisses, 
Lovelustloves xo

One dress, two ways

Hello my darlings,

I hope you're all enjoying the start of Autumn- it's well and truly here in Scotland now! Today's post is a quick review of a shirt-dress that's incredibly versatile and Autumn-friendly; and I'll be showing you two different ways to wear it. 

This dress comes from a clothing brand who until recently were completely off my radar- Monki. Monki are a Scandinavian-born fashion brand that promote a fun street-style aesthetic that is big on eclectic prints, beautiful basics and incredibly trendy pieces. Whilst they aren't an exclusively plus-size brand, many of Monki's clothes are loose-fitting and oversized, meaning they fit a wide variety of body shapes, types and sizes. To my knowledge Monki don't currently have any Scottish stores, but if you're a London gal they do have a reportedly fantastic store on Carnaby Street- well worth checking out!

This shirt-dress was first brought to my attention via the beautiful Bethany, of ArchedEyebrow.com fame. (For her review and styling of this Monki ensemble, please click here. I must admit that this piece didn't really capture my imagination when I first saw it online at ASOS.com, but after seeing it styled up and on a plus-size babe, I thought I'd take the leap and make this purchase. (huge kudos to my homegal Sarah for convincing me to buy this- I love my fashion enabling friends!)

 

#Monkistyle

If you're a regular purveyor of my blog or Instagram, you'll know that this look is a real far cry from my everyday style! As a girl who usually wears full-skirted, nipped-in-waist dresses that showcase my bust, this shirt-dress is almost diametrically opposed to my style norm, but after seeing the many different ways in which it could be styled it really struck my imagination.  If I'm being completely honest, first seeing this dress in its loose and free-flowing form it did strike me as being a little "Grandparents in Charlie & the Chocolate Factory" although I am incredibly pleased to report this comparison existed only in my head, and doesn't translate when it's on my body and styled up with pretty accessories! 

As you can see from the photograph above, when nipped in with a waist belt this dress takes on a whole new shape and style- it really transforms it into a cute semi-structured and loosely-tailored outfit that is perfect for work and play. It's no secret that I'm an avid fan of a waist belt (they feature in nearly all of my outfits!) and I believe that this ensemble is tantamount to the power of the belt insofar as it's ability to transform an outfit. This is the first way to wear this shirt-dress, and I've included a few more photographs of this look below for your perusal: 

 

I'm in love with this bold print! 

 

To make this look cohesive, I decided to add some printed tights (another personal style signature) and some exceptionally high-heeled boots alongside some fun illuminati-inspired earrings I picked up from H&M. I think this really brings the style together and could be worn to a variety of places; this week already I've worn this outfit to work, to go for drinks and on a date - talk about versatile!

To focus quickly on sizing for a moment- as I mentioned earlier Monki clothes tend to be  deliberately loose-fitting and are generally available in XS, S, M or L (measured on their website as being a UK size 8, 10, 12 and 14 respectively.) I decided to purchase this shirt-dress in a size L, and the fit is incredibly accommodating. Fellow blogger babe Danielle Vanier recently wrote an article for The Debrief about Monki as a brand for plus-size people, so I'd recommend having a read of this here.

Arguably my favourite thing about this shirt-dress is the eclectic print, to me it's incredibly reminiscent of 60's wallpaper which oddly enough is of huge appeal! The ability to wear this dress more than one way is also hugely appealing, below I've posted photos of this look without the added belt to highlight how good it looks with or without - look number 2. I'm also absolutely infatuated with the finer details of the shirt, it even has concealed pockets which are fantastically practical - another great selling point.

 

Pockets! 

 

Another reason for this purchase (not that I need one, I've already sold this dress to myself four times over!) is that I'm slowly getting more involved in my local Northern Soul scene, and whilst I've never been able to fully embrace the 60's mini-dress silhouette I do believe that this is a step in the right direction. In actuality I cannot wait to tear up the dancefloor with this pretty little dress, grooving to the likes of Frankie Valli, The Supremes & Eddie Spencer.

I've really enjoyed taking this little step outside my comfort zone and this dress has fast become a wardrobe staple of mine - I hope you'll agree that it looks good both ways, either with or without a belt! 

Outfit Details

Shirt Dress: Monki (purchased via ASOS)

Belt:  New Look

Earrings: H&M

Shoes: Amazon

Tights: Primark

And so, that concludes another wee look at a fun, flirty outfit that I'm absolutely in love with. I hope you've enjoyed seeing how I've styled this lovely shirt-dress, and will keep it in mind for a cute autumnal style. What do you think of the brand Monki? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time angels,
Lovelustloves x0

Ava Maria

Hello darlings!

I've got a new frock and I'm incredibly excited about it!
The dress I'm going to be discussing today is one that is known, revered and loved by the pinup community and has been for a long time... none other than PinupGirlClothing's astounding Ava dress! 

The Ava dress is one that has been on my radar for a number of years. When it was first released in 2010 it instantly blew up amongst pinup and retro enthusiasts alike, due in part to the similarities between the style of the tight, fitted Ava dress and the beautiful ensembles worn by Christina Hendricks in Mad Men; this dress quickly became known amongst the community as the "Joan" a fitting homage to Hendricks' character.  

Not only is this dress absolutely breathtaking when on, but it also comes in a huge range of colours so there really is something to suit everyone! From the lovely plum hue that I'm showcasing here to teal, red, black, blush, peach and a whole host of rainbow shades - I feel no shame in wanting this dress in all the colours!

As you can see the Ava dress is incredibly big bust friendly!

When I first came across this beautiful frock I was only 18 and reasonably new to the rockabilly/pinup scene. My first thought (slightly embarrassing as it may be) when viewing the Ava in its stunning Plum hue was that it would make the perfect bridesmaid dress for my hypothetical future wedding. Fast forward a few years and I no longer have any rousing desire to actually get wed, however my love for the Ava dress has remained. 

I purchased this dress last year in advance of my 23rd birthday with hopes of wearing it out to celebrate. Unfortunately at the time I found that it didn't quite fit me right so it was sadly shelved. I found that my regular size of 2X in Pinupgirlclothing dresses was too tight across my bust in this dress and crammed my breasts together in a most unflattering way creating a "shelf" effect. It was also a little too tight across my midsection and generally didn't fit well overall -cue assorted boos and hisses-

Luckily enough, I recently re-discovered the Ava lurking at the back of my wardrobe and being a naturally curious person, I decided to try it on once more. Due in part to some recent weight loss this dress now fits me like a glove and I couldn't be happier with it! My advice to anyone considering purchasing this dress is to keep in mind that it has minimal stretch, so be sure to check the size chart vigilantly before making a purchase. 

Pretty in plum

Another great aspect of the Ava is that this dress is made from a luxurious shakira satin so has a lovely iridescence to it - the fabric looks so good in the sunshine! The tulip style skirt is incredibly flattering over my ample hips and the faux-wrap bustline is sexy without showing too much or being too risqué (not that this is something I ever bother myself thinking about!) 

Look at how the Shakira satin catches the light- I'm in love!

One thing I found quite difficult to wrap (haha, see what I did there?!) my head around was the sash of this dress. Luckily for me, the lovely Micheline from PinupGirlClothing was kind enough to make an explanatory YouTube video showing us the correct way to wrap. I've attached this below for anyone else who struggled as I did to get this just right:

Lastly, in terms of accessorizing this outfit, I wanted to keep things interesting so added a few key pieces to really make this dress pop. I added a fun statement handbag that I recently swiped in a Primark sale for the meagre sum of £3, a couple of my signature hair flowers in complimentary purple and grey/silver hues and some big glittery shoes. These platform wedge shoes are absolutely stunning but due to their sheer impracticality they don't get worn as often as they should- something I will need to duly rectify! 

Because this dress is such a statement piece on it's own I didn't think it needed too much accessorizing. I feel like this would be the perfect outfit to wear to a friend's wedding or a swanky awards ceremony- it's still very "me" but at the same time ticks all the right boxes of being bold, beautiful and fancy - a winning combination! 

Outfit Details

Dress: Pinupgirl Clothing

Tights: New Look

Shoes: Schuh

Handbag: Primark
Hair Flowers: George at Asda

Do you have an affinity for the Ava dress or something similar? Let me know in the comments section! 

Until next time my darlings, 

Lovelustloves x0

True Romance

Hello darlings! 

I hope as always that this blog installation finds everyone in good spirits and enjoying themselves as we reach optimistically towards summer! In the nature of summer and having been recently blessed with a highly unexpected heatwave across central Scotland, I decided to make today's blog post a fun little outfit that's warm-weather friendly whilst still maintaining a strong visual impact. I've also chosen to feature a wonderful indie clothing brand hailing from my homeland of Scotland known as Abandon Ship Apparel (or ASA for short!) 

Bold, bright and beautiful!

Abandon Ship are a wonderful little organization running from the centre of Glasgow. They've been in existence since 2011 and specialize in clean and high-impact t-shirt designs - however they have now ventured into the world of dresses, skirts and boxer shorts. Their aesthetic is particularly bold and beautiful, with their striking statement prints being coveted the world over. ASA are definitely the epitome of effortless cool and I'm a huge fan of their style and flair!

What's more- in 2014 Abandon Ship were the proud recipients of the "Scottish Retailer of the Year" award at the Scottish Fashion awards as well as the "Scottish Online Retailer or the Year" award at the Heralds Online Retail Awards. This wonderful brand are really carving a name for themselves and you'll find them plastered all over instagram and tumblr. 

Whilst I'm a fan of all of ASA's clothing, I have a particularly strong affinity for their's crop-tops & the "True Romance" print that I'm showcasing here is particularly beautiful. I love everything about this, the character design is powerful and the black and white palette creates a strong visual image. I feel that this works rather well with the black, white and red colour theme of this outfit- I'm usually one to stay away from limiting my colour choices but I feel that this just kind of works. I especially love the lustful couple placed here on my left boob! 

In terms of sizing, the Abandon Ship crop top that I'm wearing here is a women's size XL. These tops run fairly true to size and this is well accommodating for my 36G chest - as you can see the pattern isn't too distorted or too overly-stretched. For reference I usually wear a size 16/18 (UK) in tops 

 

I decided to pair this gorgeous little crop-top with a simple red miniskirt and some fishnet tights for maximum impact. I've been trying my best lately to take steps out of my fashion comfort zone and miniskirts are usually something I avoid like the plague, hence trying one out in this post! I've always adhered to the "tits or legs" rule of dressing and usually it's the bust that comes out on top (literally!) but what's life without spontaneity (and the occasional flash of your pins!?)

Over the past few months I've been feeling increasingly comfortable within myself and have definitely been experiencing a great influx of body positivity which has been a real aide to this fashion push. I've of course welcomed this with open arms and have been embracing the little fashion challenges I've been setting for myself - as I once read on a motivational post: "A comfort zone can be good, but nothing ever grows there". Never is this more true than within the confines of fashion - swing dresses and circle skirts may be well and good but even I need to push myself out of this every so often! 

She's got legs- she knows how to use them

Lastly, the shoes I'm wearing here are from TUK - I absolutely adore these. They're big, bold and beautiful- three of the most key aspects to my personal aesthetic. I've had these for a number of years but due to their sheer impracticality they don't often make it into my regular wardrobe rotation - something I may need to rectify! I'm also a huge fan of the she-devil pinup girl print of these shoes, it's particularly relevant to my interests and I think it ties in quite nicely to the tattoo-inspired print of the Abandon Ship crop-top; a little Sailor Jerry-style influence! 

Outfit Details

Crop top: Abandon Ship Apparel 
Skirt: Primark 
Bracelet: Claire's Accessories

Fishnet tights: Primark

Shoes: TUK 

Also, in other unrelated news I got a killer new tattoo a couple of weeks ago - this is my little tribute to the bloodthirsty Audrey 2 plant from the amazing movie musical "Little Shop of Horrors" done by the fantastic Rizza Boo at Bath Street Tattoo Collective in Glasgow. I highly recommend Rizza - she also did my stomach tattoo in April of last year and her skill is really second to none; just look at those vibrant colours!

And so my loves that brings us to the end of another blog post! I have an incredibly packed schedule coming up - this week and next I'm headed to Manchester, London, back to Manchester, doing a photoshoot with the inimitable Gary Crozier then to Wickerman festival - all whilst trying to flat hunt in Glasgow -  Phew!

Due to my travels I'll be taking some inspiration from my many jaunts and activities and in the very near future I'll be blogging about some festival-chic plus size style and I'll hopefully be able to disclose what it is that I've been getting up to down South! (It's all very hush hush at the moment!)

Keep your eyes peeled for my latest ramblings! 

Until next time my darlings, 

Lovelustloves x0