Category: Fashion

Dolly and Dotty Fashion.

Whenever I see photos of Old Hollywood Stars, I’m always reminded of one thing in particular, how truly timeless they are. So many of the images look like they could have been captured within this century and with vintage inspired dresses being readily available from modern stores, it just goes to show that the fashion from the 1940s and 1950s have never gone out of style.

Another Retro Style Fashion Brand I recently discovered is the simply gorgeous, Dolly and Dotty! Their beautiful fashions range from UK sizes 6 – 24, offering a huge variety for many customers. What I absolutely love about this Brand is that each style of dress has a different name, with many colours and patterns on offer. Therefore, if you have a favourite choice, you can simply click on that specific name and look at all the different versions available. However, with all of the products being so stunning, it’s no easy task choosing just one favourite dress, but, that’s definitely not a bad thing!

Ultimately, I finally narrowed my top picks down to three different styles and names; Annie, Natalie and Katherine. I wanted to select three significantly different dresses that simply had one thing in common – Vintage Style!

The Annie Retro Lace Floral Swing Dress I chose was the gorgeous combination of Pink and Grey. As soon as I saw this beauty, which is currently in the newly released section, I knew that I had to add it to my wardrobe. I think the colours together create a beautiful mix and are perfect for the Christmas Winter Season! I can’t even emphasize how intricate and awe inspiring the detail on the dress is, it definitely exudes Flapper Vibes and makes me feel like I would fit perfectly in a Speakeasy Bar! My favourite style of dress to wear is most definitely a swing style, as not only does it fit beautifully, it’s comfy too and no one can deny that’s not a must have!

The Natalie Retro Floral Swing Flamingo Story Dress, is quite possibly one of the best things I have seen in a long while. Not only is it a beautiful Peppermint Green, which is one of my best loved colours to wear but, it features multiple Flamingos, with the pink shade complimenting the green wonderfully. This item is amazingly in the sale section at the moment and the only reason I can assume why is because people may possibly be intimidated by the shade, which is such a shame as it’s absolutely stunning! The sweetheart neckline is another one of my favourite styles, as it’s so classically vintage and truly flattering for everyone. I’ve said it before and as we know I’m about to say it again, the little details are to me, the best part of clothes and the gathered bust and button detail is just perfection.

Last but not least in my wonderful trio of dresses is the Katherine Long Sleeve 50’s Swing Dress, which I chose in the Black/Pink/Gold Floral shade. With the Winter very much here, I really thought a long sleeved style would be most definitely appropriate and the added bonus of not needing a cardigan was also a plus too! The gorgeous pattern is so reminiscent of the Classic Hollywood Era and I feel is very transitional from both day to night. I’m all about accentuating the waist and the Katherine dress comes with a belt attached, which can be fastened either at the front or the back. Furthermore, when a dress has hidden secret pockets, you know that it’s most definitely a keeper!

Please note, I pride myself in making sure I write honest reviews and although I was fortunate enough to be gifted these items, I was not told to say any of the following statements I have made.

Lastly, a huge thank you to Polly from Dolly and Dotty for making this collaboration possible, I honestly can’t recommend them enough. Their clothes are such high quality and truly pieces of art, they make a modern girl feel very much like her true vintage self!

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TopVintage Retro Boutique Fashion.

As someone who lives her life in the 1940s/1950s Aesthetic, it truly brings me so much joy when I come across Modern Vintage Style Fashion Brands, the latest one being the beautiful, TopVintage Retro Boutique. This amazing Company was founded nine years ago and has since continued to grow from strength to strength, receiving many awards and recognition for all of their hard work.

Furthermore, not only does TopVintage stock over 40 Retro Brands, it features a huge variety of vintage style clothes ranging all the way from the 1920s to the 1970s. The main inspirations for Angelique, the creator of TopVintage are these four incredible Icons, Marilyn, Brigitte, Sophia and Audrey. The irony behind this is that all four of these Old Hollywood Stars, (one in particular – I’m sure you can guess who!) just happen to be some of my favourite ladies – a coincidence? I like to think not!

Therefore, as soon as I came across, The Florence Dress In Winter Red I knew that I simply had to add this beauty to my wardrobe! Not only do I love wearing red, this particular shade is without doubt a huge favourite of mine, especially in Lipstick form – which I’m sure you may have noticed. I just adore when a dress is fitted in all the right places, but is still comfy to wear all day long – people may say that beauty is pain however, The Florence Dress proves this no longer has to be the case!

Although this dress is described as 1950s style, it’s incredibly unique in that it features so many trademarks from each decade! The butterfly sleeves give me 1970s vibes, the pleated bust takes me back to the 1940s, whilst the  simple but eye catching waist detail oozes 1950s glamour. With a fully lined top, no zippers or buttons and 95% viscose material, you can guarantee to look and feel like you’ve stepped out of the Silver Screen! However, if the Winter Red colour isn’t your shade, you can always choose black and remember, it’s impossible to go wrong with a Little Black Dress!

Anyone who knows me will be know that I wear dresses pretty much every day, therefore, it’s just wonderful when you find a dress that is perfect for both Day and Night! The Florence Dress can easily be dressed up for a night out or dressed down for a simple day, it’s all about the added accessories and style. To complete the Vintage Look, I decided to pin curl my hair and style the front pieces up into Victory Rolls, with a few added red floral clips to finish the Retro Style.

Not only is the quality of the TopVintage dresses beautiful, the packaging and overall aesthetic is so detailed and definitely doesn’t go unappreciated! I especially love the adorable gifts included in the parcel; a mini compact mirror and sweets, such a unique concept and thoughtful idea! I truly could spend hours browsing through their website, not only does it feature such a huge variety of dresses, there is Swimwear, Beauty, Nightwear and Accessories to purchase also! Every item available on there is inspired by Classic Hollywood and makes you feel like a true Vintage Star.

Lastly, a huge thank you to Anne and Laura at TopVintage Boutique for making this Collaboration a reality!

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Vivien of Holloway Fashion.

Before I even start to talk about Vivien of Holloway the Brand, I simply have to say how much I love that the lady herself, Vivien, spells her name just like one of my Old Hollywood Favourites, Vivien Leigh. If you don’t know who she is, I’d advise checking IMDB as soon as possible. Inspirations aside, now that I’ve shared my little Fan Girl moment, it’s time for me to focus on another favourite subject of mine; Vintage Fashion!

Vivien of Holloway was founded in 2000 by the lady herself, who from a young age had huge enthusiasm for 1950s Fashion and almost twenty years later, it has became a major phenomenon for all Vintage Lovers like myself! One of the unique things about Vivien of Holloway is that all their clothes follow vintage sizing, which continues the authenticity of creating wonderful reproductions from the era. I think this is such a unique concept, but definitely important to mention as if you know anything about Old Hollywood Fashion, you’ll know how different sizing was.

Research shows that the majority of sizes from the vintage era now vary by two, for example, I’m a UK Size 8 and my Vivien of Holloway dress is a Vintage Size 12 – with the measurements being 34-26-38. Although my hips are roughly 34-35 inches, the garment I’m wearing is fitted on the bust and waist but flared on the hips, so this didn’t affect the fitting.

Technical information aside, as my favourite eras for fashion are the 1940s and 1950s, Vivien’s dresses are an absolute dream and honestly, if I could afford to buy all the dresses – I’m pretty sure I would! There is so much variety in style, colour, length and pattern so I can pretty much guarantee there’s something for everyone on this amazing website.

As soon as I saw the, “1950s Halterneck Midnight Rose Dress“ I knew that I simply had to have this in my wardrobe! Floral patterns are without doubt my favourites to wear, I love recreating the 1940s and 1950s look, it makes me feel like my true self. Furthermore, it just so happens that pink is the colour I adore the most and roses are the flowers that have a special place in my heart. Plus, with the base colour being black, this adds further class and glamour by creating a bold shade contrast.

At £89.00, the clothes may not be the cheapest available to buy, however, if you want an authentic vintage reproduction and a beautifully made product, then every penny is truly worth it. This dress is simply made for the Summer Season and if you’re like me and live in dresses – you might as well wear it all year round! I love that Vivien’s dresses have so much versatility, not only would this look great for a Party, you could also happily wear it for a Picnic on a lovely sunny day. Plus, with the cotton fabric, you’ll feel comfortable all throughout the day and the stunning boned bodice creates extra curves and definition, giving you the ultimate 1950s Pin Up figure!

Although the dresses don’t come with petticoats or belts, there are a huge number of choices and colours to choose from on their website. However, if you don’t fancy spending money on further accessories, there’s no need to worry as the clothes look just as lovely without – it’s just great to have more options and Vivien of Holloway definitely has them!

Lastly, a huge thank you to Vivien herself for creating such an incredible Brand for all the Old Souls and Vintage Lovers!

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Lindy Bop Fashion.

One of the great things about Social Media, is being able to discover new things and especially if you’re me, finding Vintage Style Modern Fashion Brands like the amazing, Lindy Bop! Founded in 2011, Lindy Bop has gone from strength to strength in becoming a huge favourite for Vintage Lovers like myself and is available to buy worldwide. The great thing about 1940s and 1950s clothing is that it’s truly timeless, with many pieces looking like they were made yesterday. Over half a century on, hundreds of clothes are still inspired each Season by the bygone days of Classic Hollywood. Therefore, when you like to pretend you’ve just left Graumanns Chinese Theatre on the arms of Clark Gable, discovering a Brand like Lindy Bop is simply a dream come true!

There is a huge selection of gorgeous designs to browse through online and I could honestly spend hours doing so! From pencil skirts to my favourite floral prints, there truly is something for every body, even if you’re not into the whole Vintage Fashion, which is incomprehensible to little old me, but, each to their own! The two dresses that I simply had to choose were the following, “Lorelei” Tropical Pin Up Floral Print Halterneck Swing Dress and “Nadia” Print Tropical Bird Print Cotton Swing Dress. Both are just £30, yes, I really did just say that. In fact, my two favourites are currently on sale and just £15 each – that’s basically two amazing dresses for one incredible price!

What is really amazing about Lindy Bop’s dresses is that they look exactly as they’re photographed, there’s no colour variation or style differences – what you see really is what you get. Furthermore, sizing is most definitely accurate, so you know that you can stick to what you normally wear.

The Lorelei Dress had won me over by just the name alone, Marilyn fans will understand my excitement straight away! Not only is it the perfect summer clothing, with a gorgeous vibrant tropical pattern – it features real pin up drawings by Roy Best and Jules Erbit! I actually didn’t even realize these amazing works of art were even on the dress until it arrived – so you can imagine how overjoyed I was! Another huge bonus about the dress is it has two side pockets, something which is pretty much essential but sadly quite rare. I absolutely adore the sweetheart neckline and flared style skirt, it’s so very flattering for all shapes and sizes and quintessential vintage. What stands out the most on the Lorelei has to be the stunning halterneck bow, which is ultra feminine. Ultimately, I cannot fault this gorgeous clothing.

The Nadia Dress is made from breathable quality stretch cotton fabric, a must for the Summer Weather, especially if you’re taking it with you on Vacation. Not only is the style incredibly comfy but it’s beautifully fitted, what more could you ask for?! My favourite sweetheart neckline is once again present however, this time it is accompanied with cap sleeves that add definition to the style. Once again, side pockets are designed into the dress, but are discreetly concealed so they don’t stand out or take away from the style. With the flared skirt, you have plenty of room to twirl around like a 1950s Princess and there’s definitely no feeling of being restricted or uncomfortable.

I am overjoyed with Lindy Bop’s Clothes, they are made with such good quality, have a signature style and are available for an incredible price – what’s more to love!? I can’t thank Lindy Bop and in particularly Jade, for making this collaboration happen and I will definitely be adding many more dresses from this amazing Brand to my wardrobe in the not too distant future!

Please note, I pride myself in making sure I write honest reviews and although I was fortunate enough to be gifted these items, I was not told to say any of the following statements I have made.

Lastly, a huge thank you to Lindy Bop for making a Modern Vintage Girl’s dream come true!

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Marilyn Monroe Design Centre Chelsea & ONGallery Exhibits.

I have just returned home from London after spending a wonderful three nights there to see the temporary Marilyn Exhibition held at the Chelsea Design Centre. Marilyn Collector David Gainsborough Roberts has announced he will be selling his large collection of costumes and personal items at Julien’s in November. Before then, they will be displayed all over the world with London being the first stop until 20th June. Also being sold are personal items of owned by The Estate of Lee Strasberg, who Marilyn left 75% of her belongings to when she passed in 1962.

I’m very lucky to be able to say I’ve seen quite a lot of Marilyn’s items since I discovered her in October 2010. I previously saw a fair amount of David’s Marilyn Collection in March 2012 and as soon as I heard about him selling all of his items in November 2016 I knew I had to see them one more time, as well as Lee Strasberg’s which are also being sold. Marilyn fans are very fortunate that a lot of private collectors such as, Scott Fortner and Ted Stampfer kindly continue to share their Marilyn owned items with us. However, so many of her items get sold and tragically are never seen again which is incredibly upsetting as I always like to think if Marilyn belonged to anyone, it was to the public who loved her so much.

It was so lovely to see how beautifully displayed Marilyn’s items were at the Design Centre in Chelsea, as soon as myself and my mum arrived the staff asked if I was here for the Exhibition, I guess I don’t hide my excitement very well! As soon as you enter the building you are surrounded by beautiful portraits of Marilyn that are displayed from ceiling to floor. It gets even better when you walk through the doors and sense what’s to be seen in only a matter of seconds!

The first collection that you witness is Lee Strasberg’s Marilyn items, so everything from make up, jewelry, letters, shoes and sketches! I had not seen any of these personal belongings before and was truly amazed at what was just a few inches in front of me. Of course I am slightly biased, but everything really was truly stunning and ever so special. I think one of my favourite items would have to be Marilyn’s sketches, in particular one called, “Lover watching his lover sleep.”  I instantly thought of Marilyn sleeping whilst Arthur gazed at his beautiful wife.

The collection of jewelry was effortlessly glamourous. Most Marilyn fans will know that Marilyn did not think Diamond’s were a girls best friend and was much more interested in books than the perfect ring. Therefore, because of this I think the items that were on display were extra special, as any items Marilyn owned must have had some special personal attachment or value. I absolutely adored the Revlon Lipstick, I think if I could own anything from that part of the collection this would be it. Of course, red lipstick is forever linked to Marilyn’s image, but I just loved the vintage display of it, so effortlessly glamourous. I actually tweeted Revlon telling them that they should re-release this shade to coincide with the auction and they liked my tweet so, I shall keep my fingers crossed!

For me, what I found most special in Lee Strasberg’s owned items were all of Marilyn’s personal letters and stationary. I recognized a lot of the writings as it is featured in the amazing book Fragments – a must for any Marilyn fan! Of course a lot of it was very sad to read as Marilyn suffered so much with her anxieties, but what warmed my heart were the beautiful inspiring sayings she would write to herself, “Dare not to worry” being a favourite.

Part of me feels reading the items is an invasion of Marilyn’s privacy and to an extent it is as I’m sure if Marilyn was still alive we probably wouldn’t be reading them. However, reading these items shows a lot of the true Marilyn which is sadly so often hidden by conspiracies and inaccuracies. These writings so a talented artist who forever wanted to learn and improve and a beautiful, vulnerable soul who ultimately just wanted to be happy. I’m sure after reading these a lot of people would have more respect and admiration for Marilyn and I’m sure that would mean a lot to the wonderful lady herself.

After experiencing this amazing collection I then walked through to the final part of the exhibit; Marilyn’s film costumes and clothes owned by David Gainsborough Roberts. The display lay out was absolutely stunning, all clothes where shown on a circular display with two levels, and four huge posters of Marilyn wearing the clothes hung at the top of the ceiling. Some of the costumes even had blu-ray footage of Marilyn wearing the clothes which was a wonderful addition.

It was fascinating to see the age range of people visiting the exhibition, it just further emphasizes the impact Marilyn has on everyone, she truly is loved by people of all ages. I think if I could choose one item from David’s collection to own it would have to be the Green Leotard Marilyn wears in Bus Stop (1956) to sing, “That Old Black Magic” I just adore it. Everyone who viewed the items kept saying how tiny Marilyn was, I still find it fascinating that people are shocked by this when her measurements were 35-22-35.

The exhibit was truly beautiful and a must see for any Marilyn fan or lover of Old Hollywood. The only thing that was sad to see was The Prince and The Showgirl dress was now displayed on a directors chair instead of a mannequin compared to the last time I saw it. I guess it’s become extremely fragile now, if only sixty years ago people realized how important these costumes would be! I also wished that all of the clothes had photos of Marilyn wearing them, I have seen her in all but three of the items so it shouldn’t have been to hard to find. One of my favourites, the costume Marilyn wears for, “There’s No Business Like Show Business” when she sings “After You Get What  You Want, You Don’t Want it” was displayed on the upper level. I found this to be a shame as it would have been lovely to be able to have seen the dress with clips from the film of her wearing it like some of the other costumes.

I was fortunate to be able to visit the exhibition twice during my stay in London and when leaving for the final time I felt pretty sad that the majority of the items I will probably never be able to see again. However, I realize how fortunate I am to have had this opportunity and the memories will stay in my heart forever.

I also managed to visit the ONGallery which is currently displaying the Happy Birthday Miss Monroe exhibit until 30th June. As soon as I walked a lovely staff member named Keith said I was looking very, “Marilynesque” which made my whole day! He realized I was a huge Marilyn fan and he was wonderful to talk to, loved photography and you could tell he appreciated Marilyn as an artist which was very refreshing. It was so wonderful to see photographs from all of Marilyn’s career, beginning in 1946 and ending in 1962.

While I was there I noticed two older men who had been fans since Marilyn was alive and they were very sweet. I was looking through a portfolio of vintage photos and noticed one of them was taking pictures of me! I looked up and he asked me if I was a Marilyn lookalike and I told him that was very sweet but no I wasn’t. He then said that I was absolutely gorgeous and he used to be a portrait photographer so wanted to take my picture. I almost teared up, I’ve rarely had such sweet things said to me face to face. I then heard them asking about a picture that I was looking at from 1952 and I helped identify the event for them, I don’t know why but they reminded me of my Grandad and it really was a lovely moment.

I continued to talk a lot with Keith, especially about the Frank Worth photos of Marilyn from 1953 and 1954 which are pretty rare. I told him how I had sent off for the free Marilyn print they offered in the Daily Express for Marilyn’s 90th Birthday and I mentioned an image Worth had taken of Marilyn and Sammy Davis Jr. which was pretty rare. Keith then told me that the image I was talking about was actually offered previously and he would give me a print, I couldn’t believe it!

I had such a wonderful time in London and truly recommend both exhibits to all Marilyn fans, actually, I recommend them to everyone! Admissions are free for both events and they are extremely special and simply a must see.

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Cath Kidston Love.

If there’s a shop I’ve always adored from afar it would definitely be, Cath Kidston. My earliest memory of this beautiful store is from when Nokia collaborated with the brand and released limited edition versions of their 6111 phone, so yes – a long time ago! Over the years I’ve had a number of their products, but I’ve never bought any clothes from them before, to be honest I didn’t really know clothes were available!

However, all of that changed when I walked past their beautiful shop yesterday and spotted a lovely floral dress in the window. As someone who adores all things vintage and especially floral patterns, this is practically my dream place to shop! What’s even better is the products are inspired by actual vintage patterns, so they feel even more authentic! I ended up trying on four (!) of their dresses but, managed to control myself and just buy one.

The dress I chose to buy is slightly different from my usual choices, apart from being blue of course! It has long sleeves , a V neck and a ruched in waist which contrasts with the loose fitted bust. I get a very 1960s boho chic vibe with this, I feel like it’s something Brigitte Bardot would have worn in her heyday and I absolutely love it! It’s also lovely to have one with long sleeves, I have no problem with sleeves – I just rarely seem to find any dresses with them!

At £65 it wasn’t the cheapest dress you’d find, but from the quality you can definitely tell it’s worth it and will last for a long time! This is from their new Spring/Summer Collection and I will definitely be back in there to have a browse! The shop is just so aesthetically pleasing and beautifully set out, I would love to work there! Also, the staff were lovely and very helpful, I felt like they were almost my friends, you really can’t beat the little things.

My dress was wrapped in pretty floral gift paper which I shall definitely be keeping! Before today I’d not even been on their website, I’d not even realized they would have a shop online actually, how silly of me! However, it’s just wonderful and I know I’m going to have to stop myself from buying the whole store!

Out of the four I tried, I was so tempted to buy another, but sadly it was far too revealing on the bust. Therefore, I tried a size up but it was too loose on my shoulders, I’m so happy I had the chance to try it on though.

To sum this post up, if you love the classic vintage style and patterns, Cath Kidston is the shop for you! 

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Charlotte Tilbury Velvet Underground Lipstick.

There’s nothing I love more than a beautiful lipstick and with Charlotte Tilbury’s products, that’s definitely what you get! I picked up this beauty yesterday after spotting it a few weeks before Christmas, when I fell in love with Lost Cherry.

It’s a slightly different style to Lost Cherry which is from the Matte Revolution range, whereas Velvet Underground is part of the K.I.S.S.I.N.G collection. The first thing that caught my attention was the shade of the lipstick, a vibrant fuchsia pink! Although I adore the colour pink, I tend to wear red lipsticks a lot more, I’m not really sure why, I guess I just feel they suit me better.

However, something about this pink felt a bit different to me, almost quite daring compared to the warm barbie shades I’m used to. I was pretty sure that I didn’t have another lipstick like it, however, I did realize a few hours later that this sadly wasn’t the case. When you have as many lipsticks as I do, this happens quite often, but fear not, Velvet Underground has a more glossy fuchsia finish compared to my other hot pink matte shade from Rimmel.

Charlotte Tilbury is quickly becoming one of my favourite make up brands, although I’ve only tried their lipsticks so far, they are so aesthetically pleasing and such good quality! I look forward to trying all of their other products one day too. Compared to the Matte Revolution collection, the K.I.S.S.I.N.G collection have a normal shaped lipstick tip, but still apply wonderfully.  There are currently 10 other shades available, my most wanted being of course, So Marilyn – need I even explain why?

Another lipstick on my wish list has to be Amazing Grace, I actually tested it the same day I bought Velvet Underground and it looked like a beautiful rusty red shade. I’ve said this before in previous posts and I’ll say it again, what I love about this brand is the lipsticks are so clearly inspired by so many Old Hollywood Beauties. That’s not just me assuming either, it’s stated on the website!

I decided to wear my new skater dress I bought in the January Sales on Very from South, for just £15 (!), it’s now gone down to £12.99 and is also available in black and pink as well a my colour, cobalt blue. I absolutely adore dresses that are modern but look like they’re from the 1940s and 1950s and this one is just that.

The lace detail creates such a classic vintage feel and it also goes in at the waist – a must for vintage lovers. It’s the rare combination of fairly fitted but comfy, personally, I wish it was slightly tighter on the waist but a belt shall fix that. However, for such a bargain price I really can’t complain! I absolutely love the simple button detail on the back of the dress, the littlest things definitely make the most difference.

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Flower Fever.

Happy  New Year lovely readers! I hope you all had a wonderful time, I myself had a very uneventful evening – but Silver Linings Playbook was on the TV, so that kept me very entertained. I don’t know about you, but I’m relieved it’s 2016, 2015 for me was a strange year – it started off pretty good but, the second half of the year couldn’t have been much worse, alas, that’s another story.

This year I’m definitely going to try and start putting myself first, I’m really working hard to beat my OCD and Intrusive Thoughts and I’m also trying to be kinder to myself. I need to start treating me like how I treat other people and stop putting myself down all of the time.

I thought I’d write an outfit post today as I think lipsticks especially are starting to take over my blog, not that it’s a bad thing, but it’s nice to change it up! 

Today I wore a fairly new dress, it’s by a Brand called South and from Very and I’m pretty sure I bought it in the sale. Speaking of sales, I’ve just checked the website now and found at least two of my other dresses in the sale for around £8.40, now that’s a bargain!

What I love about this dress is it’s fitted around the bust and waist, but it’s comfy – that’s the perfect thing about Skater Dresses! What could be better? It’s such a lovely fit and perfect for Summer or Winter, just add a cardigan! The pattern is so lovely too, often you’ve got to be careful with prints as they can sometimes overwhelm an outfit, but I think it’s done very tastefully and has such a Spring feel to it. I teamed the dress with a simple black cardigan to match, I really don’t think you can go wrong with the colour black, it’s so flattering and really does go with everything!

As for my hair and make up I decided to return to my favourite look – the 1950s! The past couple of times I’ve washed my hair I haven’t bothered to pin curl it, I thought I should give it a bit of a break. Therefore, the past week I’ve been plaiting my hair after washing it which creates a mermaid look, think Daryl Hannah in Splash. However, my hair is no way near as beautiful as hers, but I try to work with what I have!

It’s refreshing to currently have pin curled hair again, although it can look pretty short on the first day, it often drops and I can end up creating a variety of curls within the space of just a few days! Today I decided to brush each curl after I unpinned it, in doing that it makes my hair look a lot thicker and loosens up the curls a bit, think Jayne Mansfield Curls in Kiss Them For Me (1957) – well, that was my inspiration any way.

I completed my everyday make up with my current favourite lipstick, L’absolu Rouge in Rouge Rayonnant in 47. I realized after blogging my latest post I forgot to take pictures of me wearing it – eek! Therefore, I’ve worn it today so you all can see the actual shade.

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Merry Christmas!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! The last couple of days have been unusually busy for me, hence the late post – so I do apologize! It’s so surreal to think in just a couple of days we will be starting a new year! Time is flying so fast, this year has definitely been a mix of emotions for me, the first half was pretty good  and the second half, well not so good. Therefore, I’m hoping that next year shall be a lot kinder.

I got a beautiful dress from the Myleene Klass Very Collection to wear for Christmas Day and I absolutely love it. It’s very 1950s and floral – definitely my favourite style! It’s now in the sale for just £41.50.

I was very lucky to receive such lovely presents this year and straight away I took photos of my new make up as I simply had to share them with you all! I actually chose the lipsticks a couple of weeks ago with my mum, but this was the first time I was going to see them properly and try them out – what could be better?!

The two lipsticks I got are by brands I’ve not used before, Charlotte Tilbury and Lancome and they are absolutely beautiful!

After creating one of my favourite colours, a rusty red, by mixing a coral red and brown/nude lipstick together I was determined to find an actual lipstick similar to that shade. The shade I thought came closest was L’absolu Rouge in Rouge Rayonnant in 47.

What I especially love about this lipstick is the shape of the lipstick, I’ve not got any like it! It’s a distinct oval shape which is perfect for defining your lips and the quality of the lipstick is so smooth and hydrating! I actually felt if I wanted I could apply the lipstick without a lip brush due to it’s shape. The colour is a glossy vibrant rusty red and perfect for all vintage lovers, it’s definitely one of my favourites – I’ve worn it twice already!

I also adore the packaging, you truly do get your moneys worth with quality products, that definitely cannot be denied. The black and gold packaging is so complimentary and gives the lipstick such a classic feel, it also looks extra lovely with the silver covering box. I definitely can’t wait to purchase more products from Lancome, especially their Doll Eyes Mascara – I’ve wanted to try it for so long!

The second lipstick I got was Charlotte Tilbury’s Matte Revolution in Lost Cherry, which is a beautiful matte redish pink, another classic colour for vintage lovers. I actually stumbled across this lipstick unintentionally, as soon as I walked past the make up stand I was in complete awe! This brand has such an Old Hollywood vibe to it, with lots of references to stars, one lipstick was even called So Marilyn – which is on my wish list!

The packaging is simply stunning, I feel like I’ve just picked up the lipstick out of a 1950s boudoir! You can’t really tell in the photos, but the container is tinted a beautiful shiny pink, so unique! The shape of the lipstick is even more unusual, I love trying different styles of lipsticks and this is definitely a must because the square tip is such a good idea! What’s even more amazing about the lipstick is the texture is matte, but your lips feel so hydrated and it glides on so smoothly. I look forward to posting about more Charlotte Tilbury products in the future!

I also got a No.7 Lash Impact Mascara and I cannot get enough of the packaging! For the last couple of years this seems to be available at Boots near the cash counters at Christmas and I’ve always loved it because of the vibrant glittery red  colour – it’s so unique! Although I wasn’t as impressed by this mascara as Benefit’s Roller Lash, it’s great for the price and I really like to use it on my lower lashes.

Lastly I got a new bottle of my favourite perfume – Chanel No.5! It’s such an iconic perfume and obviously incredibly popular because of a certain someone called Marilyn. Although it’s not for everyone, it’s definitely for vintage lovers and definitely makes me feel closer to my favourite star! Plus it’s my favourite number! It’s very expensive though, definitely one to get for your Birthday or Christmas or in the January Sales!

Speaking of Chanel, I just have to take a moment to say how much I adore the new No.5 advert! It’s directed by one of my favourites, Baz Lurhmann and I think the cover of You’re The One That I Want by Lo-Fang is just stunning.

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Funny Face (1957)

My absolute favourite thing to do is see an old movie on the big screen and having a FACT Picturehouse close to me, I’ve been fortunate to watch a few as they specialize in Vintage Sundays.

Yesterdays film was an Audrey Hepburn classic – Funny Face (1957) and being  a pretty big Audrey fan I was extremely excited! Although I’ve got most of Audrey’s movies on DVD, I’ve only watched Funny Face once (!) and that was a while ago, so it was almost like seeing a new movie. I’m pretty sure I sat with a smile on my face throughout the whole film, it was just beautiful.

Naturally, going to see Audrey Hepburn on the big screen, I had to dress up myself! I decided to wear my green shift dress from Dorothy Perkins – I bought it as a potential birthday dress for my 21st last year and a year on – I still love it just as much.

Being a shift dress, the style is very 1960s and although I prefer the fit of 1940s and 1950s style dresses, I absolutely adore this one. Although the dress line is straight, it still fits fairly tight it and it’s always nice to change up your dress style every now and then. My favourite part of the dress has to be the neckline detail, the jewels compliment the green colour perfectly. It almost looks like you have sewn a set of leaves and added them to the dress.

Below the collar, the dress does separate and shows a bit of cleavage, more than I’m used to if I’m honest! However, don’t be daunted if you’re a bit self conscious like myself, you’re concealed very well and they key hole opening is fairly small. I find it pretty hard to spot green dresses, so this one is pretty special! It’s definitely one of my favourite colours to wear, I feel the colour green can almost have some stigma attached to it, but it’s all about finding the write shade and daring to be different.

As for my hair I pin curled it the night before and was very happy with the results, for a vintage film it’s only suitable that I have vintage styled hair after all! I decided to wear my cute little bow clips from Primark, I’ve got a few hair accessories from there over the years and they’ve lasted so well!

Also, I finally had a chance to wear and review my make up products for you all that I got for my Birthday;

The first item I tried was my concealer by NARS in Chantilly – the lightest shade. Before my new NARS products, I’d only tried one of their lipsticks from their Audacious Collection in Brigitte and I must say, it’s one of my favourites.  Therefore, after finding the beautiful Em from My Pale Skin on YouTube and seeing her use this countless of times, I knew I had to try it! I’ll be honest, this is actually the first concealer I’ve ever used, I don’t know why as I’ve never been against them, I’ve just always stuck to Foundation and Powder. However, I’m so glad I branched out! The shade matches me perfectly, which is usually quite rare as I’m so fair skinned and I applied it after my Foundation and Powder. To my surprise, it blended in perfectly and I didn’t need any powder to control the creamy effect. I know it’s not very noticeable in the pictures, but I could definitely see the difference and will be continuing to use this in my day to day make up routine.

The second product I received was a blusher by NARS in Orgasm and I’ve heard great things about this blush so I was looking forward to trying it out. I’ve had the same pink blusher for years and whilst it’s very nice, I wanted to change it up a bit and try something new. The compact is so classy and the texture is really nice too, it has an unusual rubbery feel to it. I especially love when make up products have mini mirrors inside and NARS didn’t disappoint me! The blusher is a pink mixed with a slight coral tint and after applying I noticed it had an almost shimmery effect so further highlighted my face.

The final product I used was Benefit Roller Lash Mascara and I was beyond excited to try this item! I’ve always loved the Benefit Brand because it has such a vintage look to it and I absolutely adore the packaging for this mascara. The pink and black compliment each other perfectly and it’s so unique, I don’t think I’ve ever seen another mascara like it! The wand also matches the outer packaging and straight away when trying it out, I noticed the brush kept my lashes separated. Furthermore, unlike other mascaras, I could apply multiple coats and not see any clumps, I’ve not got very long or thick eyelashes so this is essential for any mascara I use. The brush has a special, “Hook ‘N’ Roll” effect and I found it fairly easy to change my hand position whilst applying the mascara as the brush fitted all aspects of my lashes.

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