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

Springtime florals part one

Hello my loves! 

I hope this post finds you all well and that you've all been out and about making the most of this gorgeous springtime sunshine we've been blessed with over the past few weekends. I've been enjoying the lovely weather and thinking more and more about spring- my second favourite season of the year.

Personally I find that spring reminds me of all things bright & beautiful- baby animals, picnics with friends and fields full of florals. Tulips, Daffodils, Pansies, Carnations... the list goes on! It's no great secret if you take a peek in my wardrobe that I absolutely adore flowers and floral prints are one of the greatest and most repeated influences in there. I've always been a big fan of floral prints ever since I was a little girl and I think this is, in part, due to the fact that floral prints can be so diverse. I currently own at least 30+ items of clothing that feature a variety of roses, sunflowers, daisies and a whole garden's worth of flowers and yet no two pieces are too alike.

Baby me rocking some green floral 90's dream dress 

This apparent fascination with all things floral print has stayed with me into adulthood, and most recently has manifested itself into my love of UK-based vintage reproduction giants Collectif Clothing. Collectif have made themselves known in both the pinup and plus size clothing community by standing out with strong prints, impeccably cut clothing and high-end tailoring with an affordable pricetag. 

I've been wearing Collectif for about 4 years now and one dress in particular has been a wardrobe staple for me over this time frame, culminating in me now owning a whopping 9 (yes, 9!) of the same dress in a wide variety of colours and prints! What is this amazing dress you ask.....?

 

Why it's the Delores Doll dress of course! Modeled here in "Summer Bouquet" print by the beautiful Georgina of FullerFigureFullerBust what's not to love? This dress is incredibly big-bust friendly and very flattering on a variety of body shapes. The full skirt is perfect for twirling (something I do a lot of, as it's one of my two staple dance moves, the other being "the awkward dad at a disco jive") and the little cap sleeves give a nice amount of coverage and can be worn on or off the shoulder. 

Information about this dress from the Collectif Website:

"Bring some sunshine into your day with our Dolores Doll dress in Summer Bouquet. Bright, zesty and bursting with joy; this cotton print features a white background with bright floral blooms. Combine with our Elizabeth bolero in yellow classic cotton for an elegant, fun outfit for summer garden parties." 

In terms of sizing for the Delores Doll Dress, most reviews I've read suggest sizing down as this particular style has a lot of give. Now that I own 9 versions of this dress, this advice is something that i'd reiterate. I'm wearing a size 16 in the Summer Bouquet Print (i'm usually an 18, given my 46" bust and 36" waist) and it fits incredibly well. It's accommodating for my bust yet still fits neatly around my waist, helping me to achieve that hourglass figure and pinup look. 

Another aspect of this dress that I absolutely love is the sweetheart neckline. It's flattering without being too cleavage-heavy and can be pulled up or down depending on how much skin you wish to show. Within the plus-size blogging community the Delores Doll dress has become a wardrobe staple for the masses, coming in a plethora of different prints and styles - one for every occasion imaginable! It's not hard to see why this dress is such a winner in the eyes of so many!

I shot these images with the wonderful Michala Oborna, of Michala Oborna Photography up the historical point of Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh. The Scottish Gorse bushes provided the perfect backdrop to offset the bright yellow florals of the Delores Doll Summer Bouquet dress and as you can see, the cloudless blue sky provided a lovely contrast. 

I have shot with Michala previously several years ago when I was a member of a burlesque troupe and modeled for a pinup company in Edinburgh and can confirm that years later, she is still every bit as fun, professional and sweet as ever. Michala gives fantastic instruction - she is direct yet overwhelmingly positive which ultimately led to a wonderfully fun photoshoot that yielded some great results! If you're Edinburgh based (or Central Scotland based for that matter) and are looking for a talented photographer then you need look no further. Michala can be reached via her facebook page linked above and I guarantee that you'll enjoy every minute of your photoshoot experience with her. 

Outfit details

Dress: Collectif 

Flower Crown: Etsy 

Stockings: What Katie Did

I hope that you've enjoyed my little springtime styling. Keep an eye out for the next installment of my springtime florals update, where i'll be sharing an absolutely breathtaking gown by vintage reproduction faves Vivien of Holloway. 

Until next time my darlings, 

Lovelustloves xO