Downtown Moto Dame

When Pinup Girl Clothing released a sneaky preview of the Deadly Dames faux leather range I was instantly in LUST and started saving my pennies, awaiting the arrival of these amazing pieces. After months of stalking the 'Coming Soon' section of their website, lots of posting on social media and non stop chatter about the items to my husband they finally arrived and instantly I scooped up my stand out favourites.

I'm a biker/moto jacket addict. I have around eight styles in leather, faux leather and cotton. I have black, plaid, I use to own brown and pink but my dream has always been to have the perfect cropped style. Micheline Pitt answered all my prayers and released the Deadly Dames moto babe bolero! I've never lusted after any item in my life as much as this and I'm sure after seeing the fit and style you will understand why.

Firstly I have to state that these styles run small so under the advice of Pinup Girl Clothing's awesome staff I sized up for the perfect fit. I know buying a garment one size up can annoy some folk but for this it's needed.

Wow. Just wow. I think I've found the outfit I want to wear for the rest of my life! Sleek, naughty, figure hugging and exquisitely tailored, the Downtown Dame dress in Faux Leather is a dream to wear. I have many of the DD Vamp dresses and tops in my collection but I think the Downtown Dame is my new favourite as it packs a little bit more vavavoom.

Deadly Dames Moto Babe Bolero in Black Faux Leather - $120.00

Deadly Dames Downtown Dame Dress in Faux Black Leather - $180.00

As you can see it's a body hugging style with a structured bust, matching belt and boned bodice. The fit of the 2xl is bordering on the standard XL so while this fits in the bust and the waist perfectly there is still a little wiggle room in the skirt. For PUG items I've always worn a XL and then even a Large for a super stretchy garment but when they advice to size up you always need to listen. Just cut the tag off if it bothers you. 

I feel like the ultimate 'Bad Girl' in this outfit and wish I was not stuck in Australia during summer so I could wear this out constantly. The fit is perfection and the matching Bolero is what dreams are made of. I opted to get both the black and red so I could mix and match all items. 

The Moto Babe Bolero - Absolute genius!! Such and amazing fit, just the right length and and hugs your bust perfectly. Uniquely designed, fully-lined in stretch charmeuse and features silver tone snaps and zips. This is absolutely perfect and will be worn to death. Now I need to buy more Deadly Dames dresses to wear beneath this style.



Deadly Dames Moto Babe Bolero in Red Faux Leather - $120.00

Deadly Dames Deadly Curves Skirt in Red Faux Leather - $90.00

Why choose between red or black in the bolero? Just buy both! I honestly could not choose and knew that both would get so much love and wear in my life. While the black is classic and easy to style the red version offers that hot pop of colour in a beautiful cherry red faux leather. I've only owned one red leather moto before and it really did not cut it for me. The colour was off and the fit - icky. But this babe is absolutely rocking! I can't wait to wear these with my red and black polka dot vamp dress but which do I choose?



I paired the babe bolero with the amazing Deadly Dames Curves Skirt in Red. The red faux leather is soft and really molds to your shape. I never knew a faux leather skirt could be so comfortable. In the 2xl the waist is perfect yet roomy  and as you can see it's loose on the hip as well. I think I might have been able to size down for this one item but for now I'm still loving the fit. The room offers you to tuck thicker fabric tops under the wiggle skirt and pair lots of waist belts.

These two red hot items stole this shot so I chose to dress down top wise and just paired my own plain black tank with the outfit. I'd love to style this with a vamp  or jailbird top from the Deadly Dames range. All styles featured here are in available in 3 colours - black, red and pale pink. Obviously I'm not a pink girl so I naturally gravitated to red and black versions.

I have to give a huge amount of love and thanks to Brooke Orchard who took these amazing shots and snuck my into her last Melbourne trip. Now that my favourite girl has moved state I'll take any chance I can to see and work with her.



Woodland Creature

While we are stuck in the middle of a heatwave in Melbourne, my heart is across the sea dreaming of cooler climates and autumn and winter fashion. Luckily Collectif have recently released their Autumn/Winter '15 lookbook and all my winter fabric dreams have come true! My husband and I are heading to the UK in 2016 for a year, so I'm already adding amazing garments into my collection with our that location in mind. 

This season Collectif have created new style winter florals and tartans that make my heart sing and I've captured my stand out favourite styles with the help of Brooke Orchard. 

Dolores Tai Tartan Doll Dress -  £50.00

Bordello TEEZE-11 Black Velvet Shoes - $113.00

This is the third Dolores I've had the pleasure of slipping into and it's absolutely amazing. A short while ago I reviewed the Atomic Flamingo print in this style and I found the fit to be really, really roomy. I own this in a size 16 in a plain black fabric and find that to be a super close fit but both this fabric and the previous flamingo version are super roomy. That roomy that I could go down to a size 14 or even a 12 as they are super stretchy. But this roomy fit issue is easily fixed with a waist belt in a complementing colour. 

Can we take a moment to swoon over this stunning tartan print? A beautiful mixture of red, blue and black that works for both warm and cool months. This print inspires me to accessories, layer and pair this dress with stockings, maroon and black knee high boots, fur collared cardigans and woolly winter coats. 

If you are looking for a figure flattering swing style dress that compliments all shapes and sizes, the Dolores is the dress for you, and Collectif have both pencil and swing style versions of this dress. There are also a selection of Dolores style tops and a new 3/4 sleeve version of both of the dresses. I must warn you though, when you buy one of this style, you'll be hooked and won't stop until you have them all.

Beau Cherry Pointelle Jumper - £39.50

Tammy Tai Tartan Swing Skirt - £30.00

As you can see, my love for the Tammy Tai Tartan is so strong I could not stop at one item. I've worn a good variety of Collectif skirts, and this style is hands down my absolute favourite. From the hourglass complimenting swing style to the pleats and the flattering knee length, this skirt sits right on your waist and flows beautifully. I'm wearing the Swing Skirt in a size 16 and it's very comfortable on my waist with an extra inch or so to move. 

Keeping with the winter theme, I chose my second knit from the Collectif collection and I'm sold on this super snuggly and adorably designed jumper. This ruby red jumper features a cherry pointelle pattern and a super cute keyhole bust detail with a bow tie. The fabric is think yet stretchy and I'm wearing this in a size 16. I could size down to a 14 if I was wanting a super tight and firm fit but I fear the cherry print would stretch on the bust.

It's taken me a long time to love pinup knitwear as I've always feared that it will make my chest look bulky or bigger than it already is, but this jumper is perfection and I can't wait to pair it with pencil skirts and high waisted jeans and pants in the cooler months. 

 Trixie Pencil Dress - £40.00

Stop your searching for the perfect little black dress because I've finally found the most vavavoom style for girls with curves to kill! The Trixie Doll is a figure huging, curve creating, low cut and super flattering wiggle dress that will make you feel like an absolute bombshell. Made from a stretch bengaline, this dress hugs you in all of the right places and shows off all my favourite features. 

I adore the cross over gathered bust bust as it makes boobies look full and amazing, plus the 3/4 sleeve hides my problem areas. Fitted through the waist and to the knee, this style accentuates my hour glass figure. I'm wearing my Steel-Boned Longline Underbust Satin Corset (CS-426) from Orchard Corset beneath this dress and a simple bodysuit from Bella Bodies. This creates a really smooth base for a super tight wiggle dress.

I'm really smitten with the length of each item featured in this post. When purchasing vintage repo or inspired items, I find that some can be a little long and give you a more frumpy feel. The Trixe Pencil dress is the perfect mixture of chest, legs and packs lots of sex appeal. 

Available in black and red, this is a must have all year round. You can also find a swing style version of this frock named the Trixie Doll Dress. This style is sold out at the moment but I'm crossing my fingers and toes in the hopes that it will return and be fully stocked in black, red and teal as I need one of each in my wardrobe.

Trixie Pencil Dress worn as a top - £40.00

Jasmine Woodland Bloom Swing Skirt - £45.00 

Inspired by Miss Victory Violet's brilliant outfit conversions (dresses to tops, cardigans tucked into belts etc) so I turned my Trixie into a top. Why hunt high and low for a top to match this amazing skirt when I have the perfect dress to wear beneath? I also love the fact that both Ella and I fell for this amazing print within weeks of each other. Great minds think alike! 

The Woodland Bloom floral print instantly won my heart when I viewed the current season look book. I'm a huge fan of feminine floral prints but I find all too often they are all focused on the warmer months and never really include my favourite colours. A dark navy base with soft pinks, greens, and stunning sky blue flowers this print will be your autumn/winter uniform. 

As with each item reviewed in this post, I'm wearing a 16 and I find this style to be a little more firm and tight at the waist. Size chart wise it will fit up to a 33 or 34 inch waist.If you are worried about fit I highly suggest you size up as there is little room to budge.  The full skirt style and pleats give this skirt so much volume that no petticoat is needed which absolutely brilliant.

I'm so excited to have this wintery print in my wardrobe and I can't wait to go crazy once the weather cools down with sweaters, brown and black leather gloves, heels or boots and some rich maroon stockings. This skirt needs lots of rich colours and lots of layers. Love the skirt but want a little more coverage? Well luckily there is a Dolores Pencil Dress and Maria Swing Dress in this stunning fabric. The Maria is definitely next on my list as I love the short sleeve a cross over bustline.

How amazing does the Trixie look as a top? I think this is definitely a style Collectif should consider in a more structured cotton fabric as it's so versatile and would look amazing with jeans or skirts.  

Thank you to my amazing friend Brooke Orchard for shooting these images with me and for all the fun and giggles we have had this year and over the last few years shooting together. Brooke is moving to South Australia and I'm going to miss her and her work like crazy! So I best start saving my pennies and plan a few trips over for catch ups and play dates. Be sure to check out Brooke's amazing work and book a shoot with her asap. No one in Australia does Pinup like she does and her eye for vintage fashion photography is amazing. Gonna miss you girl!!!! 

 

Adore Pinup

Just a small mid-week post to tell you guys about a great Australian publication that I was lucky enough to be featured in this month!  Adore Pinup issue 2 focuses on body positive articles, amazing curvy girls and bold fearless women. Featuring both Australian based and international models, this publication is brilliant!

Paired with my amazing images, shot by the pinup queen Brooke Orchard, is a full interview about being body positive and well, to put it simply; just being you. Whenever I'm interviewed, I always want to push one main point; we are all women and we all have issues one day then feel awesome the next. Don't promote body shaming of any size. Respect, love and embrace what you have and what others have. Let's start supporting each other as opposed to attacking.

A back cover feature as well! My fiance pointed out that the back cover can also be used as a poster. I love it! 

This issue has already sold out but will be reprinted so you've not missed out just yet. Be sure to follow the Adore Pinup facebook page and instagram for more details, sneaky previews and more.

You can purchase both outfits via Pinup Girl Clothing's webstore here : The Mustard Birdie Dress - $118.00 and the Green and Black Lauren Dress - $124.00. The perfectly paired green pumps are the Reel Power heels from Luichiny.

Outback Bunny

It's that time once again. Time for a full blown Hell Bunny post featuring my current favourites from the latest range.

To help me create this post, I teamed up with an amazing local photographer Brooke Orchard who specializes in pinup and retro styles. From the moment I found her folio, I was smitten! Brooke has an eye for that real 'retro' look and creates the most amazing imagery. 

Our location for the shoot was an very old empty farmhouse located just outside of Melbourne. This location was so fun to work with! Hope you all love the results as much as we do. 

So enough chatting; let's talk clothing! 

Red Bandana 50's Skirt - £24.99

Doris Top in Red - $52.00

Burgundy 25" Petticoat - £29.99

Luichiny Eye Doll Platforms in Red - $89.99

Now that I've worn this outfit, I think I will have to live in it every day for the rest of my life! The Red Bandana skirt is a cute western print swing style skirt that is brilliant for day or night. The print is very cute and the closer you get the more you see hiding within - skulls, wings and little pistols! 

I'm wearing this skirt in a size Large. This is now my go-to size in all Hell Bunny garments (on very rouged backs, I can even work a Medium). It fits my waist perfectly and has ample room for the petticoat beneath. 

I've paired this with my beloved Doris Top from Pinup Girl Clothing and Eye Doll Platforms from Luichiny. The Doris is a must have for any pinup wardrobe as it matches everything and does wonders for boobies! 

Catrinas Dress - £39.99

Betty Bolero in Red - $34.00

Burgundy 25" Petticoat - £29.99

How stunning is this print? The Catrinas Dress is a new bust style from Hell Bunny. An almost peasant drawstring-like bust that has a pull cord to tighten or loosen the area. I chose this dress in a size Large and while it is fits my waist perfectly the bust is a little small for my GG chest. 

The floral and skull print is really unique and like many other Hell Bunny frocks they have cleverly disguised skulls as a print which always makes me happy. My favourite feature is the thicker floral border on the bottom of the skirt. Pairing this with any complimenting colour petticoat will give you the extra volume and shape as seen here. 

Western Cardigan - $55.00

The ultimate cardigan for any western loving pinup! Made from a stretchy rayon, spandex and nylon mix, this cardie is figure hugging and super soft. I'm wearing the large and it fits my waist, bust and high hip perfectly. With the usual western motif's and buttons on both the back and front in a bright and eye catching red this cardigan really pops! 

Now this style does go up to a size XL but with my measurements I prefer the Large as it's a much more flattering fit. This cardigan also pairs perfectly with the red bandanna skirt at the start of this post as they both feature the same skull/wing design (this is featured on the back of this top).

Now that I've tried a Hell Bunny cardigan I'll be collecting the whole range! Such a great style to wear all year round.

Horror Gurl 50's Dress - £35.99

Betty Bolero in Black - $34.00

Luichiny Eye Doll Platforms in Red - $89.99

You can't take the horror loving lass out of me - Never!!!! One of HB's most loved dress styles and the go to dress for any rockabilly/retro girl. The 50's style swing dress flatters all shapes and with the thick halter strap covers even the thickest of halter bra straps.

I absolutely adore this print!!! This dress is covered in scary words, dripping food bits and all things awesomely gross. The bright print is perfect for anyone that loves having an outfit that attracts attention. I think I'll wear this baby a whole lot this summer.

Wearing this style once again has sparked my love for the 50's dress from HB so I have now added this style but in the Catrinas print to my lust list and possibly a gingham style if I can find one! 

Locked Heart Pencil Skirt - £34.49

Doris Top in Black - $52.00

Luichiny Eye Doll Platforms in Black - $89.99

More western goodness! Now when I first saw the new pencil skirts in the catalog I actually wanted the matching red and skull version of this style to pair with the western cardigan. But the moment I laid eyes on this blue and black design I was sold. I love the mixture of traditional western features i.e the arrows and piping mixed in with the heart lockets and deer skull (on the rear).

I'm wearing this skirt in an XL as I've not purchased a fitted style like this from HB before. I'm really impressed with the fit as it hugs me in the right places and is fitted firmly all over. Now the Doris top I paired this with is a little larger fitting (many years of wear) so there is a little bit of loose fabric but with this skirt you can tuck in most tops with ease and they barely show through.

I'm blown away with every item in this post and can't wait to shoot/try/review more of the Hell Bunny styles next season. Be sure to click all links and if you are looking for a closer retailer you can ask Hell Bunny directly on their facebook or via google search.

Be sure to check out Brooke Orchard's website and like her Facebook Page asap. Her work is absolutely amazing and I can't wait till I get to work with her once again.