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

Mean Green Mutha' From Outer Space

Hello darlings,

I hope this blog post finds everyone well!

I'm wanting to deviate from my regular clothes obsession for a quick minute and chat about one of my favourite films- Little Shop of Horrors. This movie has many elements that I absolutely love; great fashion, catchy songs, an upbeat musical score as well as a young Rick Moranis and dark undertones...perfect! What more could a girl ask for?!

This will always be one of my ultimate feel-good movies and I feel compelled to watch it every several months (I've actually just finished re-watching it for probably the hundredth time with my little sister this very morning!) so you can imagine my delight when last August one of my favourite clothing brands -Pinupgirlclothing- announced that they were planning to release a dress honoring this film. Well, I'm not exaggerating when I say that this dress had my heart fluttering from the offset. I could picture it so vividly- the bright purple colour, the swing skirt, the bold print.... everything about it sounded like a dream! This dress was the brainchild of the wonderfully gifted designer/model/artist/ultrababe Micheline Pitt (follow her on instagram here!) and was born from her increasingly fabulous "Deadly Dames" collection for Pinupgirlclothing. 

After relentless online stalking of their facebook, instagram and twitter pages I contacted Pinupgirlclothing direct to ask for a release date of this amazing dress-of-my-dreams. Originally I was told it'd be out for October 2014, however this date was pushed back on two separate occasions due to the print of the fabric being not quite perfect, which whilst slightly annoying at the time is more than anything a true indication of the perfectionist nature of the design team at Pinugirl - only releasing the dress once every issue was addressed. The actual release date of this dress ended up being March 2015, and you can guarantee that I mine was one of the first orders in- after months and months of waiting this dress was finally going to belong to me, making all of my kitschy Audrey 2 dreams come true! 

So, what was my verdict when I received the dress? 

Unsurprisingly, I loved it! This dress exceeds all of my expectations and is a true marvel, and surprisingly is one of the most comfortable pieces of clothing I've ever put on my body - It literally feels as though i'm wearing pajamas! The print is absolutely divine and adds a brilliant element of whimsy that i'm totally in love with- Audrey 2's cute and creepy animated makeover is definitely something I support fullheartedly.

For anyone considering buying this dress, or placing themselves on the wait-list for it to be restocked in various sizes, here's an extract of information about the Venus Flytrap Hotrod Honey Dress direct from the Pinupgirlclothing website (and link to purchase here!):

"The comfort of your favorite t-shirt meets the design you love from Deadly Dames with the Hotrod Honey Swing Dress! Made of a high-quality cotton stretch knit, the Hotrod Honey features a wide scoopneck, 3/4 length sleeves, and a full swing skirt that is slightly gathered at the elasticized waistline. Comfortable and cute, this dress is available here in Micheline's custom Venus Fly Trap print and comes with a faux leather belt." 

I can 100% vouch for all of the above information. 

In fact, I loved this dress so much that I decided to organize a little photoshoot to show off how amazing it is!  For the occasion I decided to do something a little different and go for some big 60's style bouffant hair- something that the original Audrey herself would be proud to wear! 

Suddenly Seymour

To get my hair looking so big and fabulous, I went to a fantastic little local salon called Myka and was styled by the wonderful Cheryl Bowes, salon owner and vintage hair enthusiast extraordinaire! Making use of my lovely little headpiece that I picked up at the Scottish Tattoo Convention (flower clip is by Alternate Normality - follow this link to purchase!) Cheryl curled, backcombed and fixed my hair into place and set it with an atomic serving of ultra-hold hairspray; this girl really knows what she's doing and set me on my way with a giant smile on my face and my high hair skimming the door frame on the way out! 

My lovely friend Jenni came over to my Bathgate home to shoot - we are working on a body positive photo project that i'll share more about soon but also used the opportunity to photograph this gorgeous dress- and I had a delightful time doing so! I've really been enjoying getting back in front of the camera after such a long hiatus, it's been fantastic for my self-esteem and I've been loving the images that i'm getting back too- an added bonus! Jenni is an incredibly talented photographer and made the experience wonderfully positive & comfortable. We shot mostly outside in my shared garden area and my lovely neighbour even let us use her decking. Check out the results of our little collaboration below:

 

Wearing seamed stocking from What Katie Did to give this outfit that little bit extra 

 

Overall, this dress is everything i'd hoped for and more! It's soft, comfortable, wonderfully constructed and even comes with a free leather effect belt. It's absolutely gorgeous and so easy to wear due to the comfortable jersey material. This dress is currently sold out in most sizes but if you add yourself to the wait list that I linked to above you'll be notified as soon as it comes back into stock.

I hope that you enjoyed my little review and photoshoot- let me know what you think about this dress in the comments below.

Until next time lovelies! 

Lovelustloves x0

The Long Sleeve Heidi Dress featuring Carolyn Henry Photography

Hello darlings! 

Today's blog post is all about a dress- a beautiful dress that incorporates many of my favourite elements- floral print, sleeves, pockets, a sweetheart neckline and a giant swing skirt. This dress is none other than the Long Sleeve Heidi Dress from the inimitable Pinupgirlclothing.com . 

It's no great secret that I am an avid fan of Pinupgirlclothing- from their unique style, fantastic quality materials and kitschy prints they really epitomize what good quality vintage reproduction clothing should be. I've been ordering clothes from their website (linked above) for years and am yet to be left disappointed. Starting their clothing line at an XS and going up to a size 4X (roughly the equivalent to a UK 22/24) their key marketing phrase "Couture for every body" is certainly realized through their extensive sizing options. 

Being plus-size myself, I am always on the lookout for clothing options that meet my needs of being fun, flirty and colourful- I'm a strong believer in dressing for yourself and disregarding the opinions of others... if it makes you feel good- wear it! This dress certainly meets those aforementioned requirements, stands up to my scrutiny and makes me feel amazing to boot!

I'm wearing my usual size (2X) in this dress and it is an excellent fit- in fact I'd even argue that this dress is slightly on the roomier side and I probably could have got away with sizing down. 

The sweetheart neckline is incredibly flattering and plenty spacious for my 36G chest. There's also more than enough wiggle room for me to do up the lengthy back zipper without assistance. As the dress comes with a matching belt, it's incredibly easy to cinch in your waist and create an hourglass shape with the large circle skirt balancing out the dress' proportions nicely.

The one problem I thought I may have with this dress was the arm room- I have quite large arms and I couldn't find any information about the sizing when I was ordering this dress back in February. Thankfully the arm space is very accommodating and perfect for covering up in the chiller months (being from Scotland I can foresee this being incredibly useful throughout the majority of the year, so I'm sure to get plenty of wear out of this dress!)

Wishing to showcase this dress in all of it's glory, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to enlist the help of my lovely friend Carolyn Henry. Carolyn is an amazing photographer that I've had the pleasure of working with on a number of occasions and she always makes me feel right at ease. Her style of photography is something marvelous to behold- soft yet captivating, powerful and dynamic- who better to help me get back into the world of vintage/pinup/plus-size modelling?! 

If you are based in Scotland and are looking for a photographer for an event, wedding or just to have your own little photoshoot, I honestly cannot recommend Carolyn enough. She can be contacted direct via her website here 

Carolyn and I shot these photographs at Linlithgow Palace, a gorgeous historical building situated within my hometown of West Lothian and famously, the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots. The dark stone and cobbled exterior were a perfect backdrop to such a bright and vibrant ensemble, which I completed with simple black flats and contrast nude seamed stockings.

Overall I am absolutely delighted with the Long Sleeve Heidi Dress from Pinupgirlclothing. The colours and the print are bright and engaging, it is well sized and easy to style up or down depending on where you are going and what you are doing. The matching belt is a welcome addition and the concealed pockets are just fantastic for storing your keys, phone, lipstick etc. I think this will quickly become a wardrobe staple of mine and I look forward to giving this gorgeous dress its next outing!

Dress: Pinupgirlclothing.com

Hair Flower: Accessorize 

Shoes: George at Asda 

Ring: Primark

Stockings: What Katie Did

Until next time sweet readers,

Lovelustloves x0