Pineapple Express - A Collectif Clothing Review

When it comes to vintage fashion most people to tend to go all in! whether you're a pinup princess or rockabilly chick, the outfit selected tends to be only a small part of the the overall look. I see girls dressed to the nines with victory rolls in their hair, winged eye-liner and countless tattoos to achieve the look they want. In my case I take a different approach when I wear vintage items. 

Luckily for me many things that are typical of the style feature in my personal style. I don't remember the last time I went out without my eye liner winged or when red lipstick wasn't my preferred shade. When it comes to styling vintage outfits I, like many other women consider every element to my look. A few weeks ago I bought a new Doll dress from Collectif. When I first spotted the Fairy Pineapple Print Doll Dress on the website it simply had to be mine! Admittedly I don't tend to buy clothes that have food images or prints on them but something about this one caught my eye. I usually purchase the Dolores Doll in a size 20 but I thought I would opt for a size 22 in this style for a more relaxed fit around the bust and a little less cleavage. 

I really wanted buy a bright and fun dress for the summer and was thinking about what sort of dress I might take with me if I get the chance to reach a sunny destination on holiday. Not only were pineapples a really popular feature in summer fashions this year, they also happen to be one of my favourite fruits so I figured I should make this dress my first ever food print item lol. 

The spaghetti straps are a really nice feature and make this dress really comfortable to wear. If like me you enjoy that little bit of extra coverage then a cardigan or jacket would be a nice addition to the look. I'm wearing a jacket that I borrowed from Hanna. This one was available in a previous collection by Old Navy. In keeping with the white of the dress and the choice in jacket I wanted a pair of white shoes. This pair of white brogue style shoes from a previous collection by George were my choice as I wanted something breathable and flat. 

What I really enjoy is taking an item and putting my own stamp on the look. I love getting dolled up like a pinup princess but I wanted a more casual and easy look for this dress. I wanted to bring in elements of my usual style and keep things simple. I wore my fringed black hair scarf, signature hoop earrings, and my usual style of makeup. Hanna being the queen of lipsticks borrowed me a burnt orange shade from her collection to match the colours of the dress. 

If you like this dress and want to try it out for yourself I have some good news, it's currently on sale! This dress is now just £14 reduced from £55 and I have to say it's an amazing fit and such a nice one to wear! There are some other pineapple print items from Collectif too have a look and see what you might fancy!

Remember whatever you wear, feel fabulous in it and wear it with a smile!

Rocking In The Seychelles! A Gemma Collins Review

*This Dress Was A Gifted Item

There isn't a single woman around who hasn't seen a friend of theirs or another female they admire turn up in something that makes her look absolutely fabulous! Not so long ago I had that reaction when I saw my friend and fellow blogger Nancy rocking a gorgeous Pink Gradient dress designed by TOWIE star Gemma Collins. The seychelles dress to me was a real show stopper! I loved how the colours complimented Nancy's skin tone so beautifully and her tattoos were on show for all to see. Often when I see a dress I like on someone I really want to try it out for myself but too be honest I wasn't sure this particular shade of pink would suit me.

Recently when Hanna and I were at the Evans store in Marble arch I stumbled across this dress on one of the rails and to my surprise, and my luck the seychelles dress was available in a mixture of blue tones! You all know that blue is my all time favourite colour and this was the very dress I had my eye on a few weeks prior so I just had to try it on! Wearing this one in a size 22 I have to say I really love how it feels on! The fabric is really slinky and silky and sits really softly against the skin. The weight of the dress is enough to keep a great silhouette in a strong wind and I love the length. 

I really like how the ruffled crossed front compliments the shape of the waist and accentuates the bust and I actually like that this dress is sleeveless. As most of you know I tend to cover my arms but I think that this dress has just enough going on that added sleeves might just be a little too much in the design, just my opinion. I think if I were to wear this out one night I may pair it with a shawl or short jacket of some kind.

I decided to wear this one with my Michelle shoes from Hotter for comfort and a little added height. I kept my makeup to a it's minimal state and I wore this holographic clutch. In keeping with my usual look hoop earrings were added and some added blue bits. A small blue daisy bracelet was a must and a new statement necklace that I had been given to review. 

Happiness Boutique recently contacted me and asked if I would like to try something out. I jumped at the chance as I love a good statement necklace! They sent me the most incredible blue and white stoned chocker and I have to say I love it! Check out their site and see what incredible bits and pieces are on there with a selection of fun accessories and gorgeous clothes it's worth a look!

Unfortunately the seychelles dress is no longer available on the Gemma Collins section of the Evans website but do go into your local store as you may find one there just as I did. I feel amazing in this dress it's a colour I love, fit that I enjoy and it's a show stopper! If you see a dress that just does it for you try it out! You never know you might just feel great in it!

Remember whatever you wear, feel fabulous in it and wear it with a smile!

Relaxed Summer Style - An Evans Clothing Review

*All Items Worn Have Been Gifted 

Summer is drawing to a close and we are being treated to the odd day of sunshine. As Autumn is starting to creep in we are in one of those transitional periods when selecting items for our wardrobe can get a little tricky. I am currently still trying to battle some of my former confidence issues and with that I aim to continue to push myself out of my comfort zone, until things get comfortable for me that is. Many of you who are familiar with my blog will know that I don't like showing off my upper arms. My biceps have always been one of my problem areas and I have tried to pick out clothes to force me to go bare armed. I find that when I do things to push myself in a different direction, I tend to end up liking the way that part of my body looks.

Hanna and I recently took a trip to Evans in London's Marble Arch to check out the current collections and select a few items for review. I saw this emerald green tunic from Live Unlimited and really wanted to try it out. The thickness of the shoulders and the cut of the garment is one that I knew would flatter my shape really nicely. The included pockets are a bonus too as they are deep enough to store your phone, purse and your lipstick! I'm wearing this in a size size 24.

Green isn't a colour that I have bought a lot of over the years. I really like how certain shades of green bring out the golden tones in my complexion but I haven't been lucky enough to find that many items I like. I really enjoy wearing this tunic as it's comfortable, spacious and a great length. I thought it would be nice to pair this one with a pair of wide leg trousers for a relaxed summer look. I opted for this pair of white, wide legged linen trousers, I'm wearing these in a size 24. I love the lightness and the easiness of these 2 items worn together. For a really comfortable and simple look that is really nice in this transitional period, these items work really well together. The richness of the green really makes the white pop. 

Tackling a bad hair day I opted for my black fringed hair scarf. I love having hair-wear that works with pretty much everything in my wardrobe, and so I have been collecting bandanas and scarves for several years now. 

To finish off the outfit I pulled out my nude patent open toe heels. I think everyone woman should own a pair of nude heels as they work with so many colours and can offset a look in a different way to classic black shoes. 

I love my silver jewellery it's no secret that's in my preferred shade when it comes to accessories. I really like the contrast between my skin tone and the sparkly silver. My signature hoops were a must and were complimented nicely by my caged stone necklace, this one is currently available from the Dorothy Perkins website in a rose gold. You may still find the silver version in selected stores however. Finished off with this square cuff bangle from Topshop and my outfit was just as I wanted it.

I kept my makeup to it's usual style and added a sparkly pink lipgloss from Rimmel. I opted for a deep green silk finish polish from Barry M on my nails. I have recently become obsessed with nail polish and have racked up quite a collection! More will be revealed soon on the blog...

So you know what I always say, aim to have clothes that are suitable for all occasions and moods. Seperates can make this idea easier to achieve. I find that with separate items I can wear some things that were meant for the previous season into the next one, if matched with something carefully. I dress to my mood and comfort level so although I sometimes love to wear a fitted outfit or have my cleavage on show, there are times when I just like to keep it simple with a little something extra for style. 

Remember whatever you wear, feel fabulous in it and wear it with a smile!