Anchors, whips and polka dots

Swing or wiggle, swing or wiggle....I still can't decide which of these two styles captures my style and heart more. So to save me from  hours upon hours of turmoil I've come to the conclusion that both are awesome and suit me equally and because of this I'll fill my wardrobe all of the pinup girl frocks and skirts that fit into this category. 

Now that we are fully into the groove of 2015 I wanted to style and snap a few of my current must have styles from Pinup Girl Clothing and my current lust list for the first half of the year. As you already know PUG are my go to brand for all clothing and accessories and I'm forever checking into all of their social media and the 'coming soon' section to see what beautiful garments I can snap up next order! In this post I've reviewed 3 loves of 2014 and at the end you'll find a few newer styles tha have snuck their way onto my MUST HAVES list for 2015.

Renee Dress in Anchor Print - $132.00

Now this is the second Renee dress I own and it won't be the last! I first wore/reviewed the tipsy elephant version of this dress in the 5th issue of Adore Pinup and since then I've been an absolute convert. This stunning style is everything a girl could want in a summer frock and fits like a dream. 

In a size XL I'm completely comfortable, supported and have zero spilling. I have GG cup breasts and I'm 100% supported and covered in this built in bra area. Don't only does this style support a large chest  but it makes them look amazing, I wore this on Christmas day and had many boobie related compliments. I find that most of the bust areas if not all in both the Pinup Couture and Deadly Dames range are that well constructed and lined that you can go with out a bra. From the Vamp top and dresses to the Voodoo Vixen styles you don't have to worry about finding a strapless bra anymore and can wear all of these tops and dresses with confidence. 

The Renee also features a full swing style skirt, hidden pockets and a rich blue print covered in anchors. Now that I have two beautiful prints in style I will be needed both the black and red versions as soon as they hit the website. I'd love to style the plain fabrics over the cooler months and play with boleros and cardigans. 

I've paired this with my  favourite petticoat which is hidden beneath the swing skirt and I get my petticoats at Kat Frankes. For this dress I opted for the Lindy B: Long Petticoat Red which is a steal at $49.00. I've been looking for the perfect red petticoat for a while now and I'm loving this style from Lindy B. So light but still adds the right amount of volume to skirts and dresses. 

Lorelei Dress in Gray with polka dots - $130.00

Now I have been lusting after the Lorelei for a while now but I've never been too sure if it would suit my curves. But after seeing the bombshell that is Natalie Alvarado wearing it I knew I could rock the figure hugging wiggle dress as well. So I ordered the gray and black polka dot print and eagerly awaited the high collared beauty. 

Again in a size XL this dress is amazing fit wise. It slips on like a second skin and holds you in tightly. That tight that I should have opted for a bodysuit version of shapewear and not a corset. As you can see the top and bottom of my underbust show through as the fabric is stretchy and made to hug you in all the right places. Fashion and shapewear can be trail and error so next time I wear this I'll be sure to not wear the corset. 

The style is absolutely stunning though and I'm in love with both the style and colour of this dress. Whoever said gray is a drab colour was crazy as I think it works wonderfully on my pale skin, paired with my red locks. The Lorelei is such a great fit around every inch of my body and I'd love to see this high collard style become a top as it's a more modest version in my opinion of the Lauren top and I know a few girls out there have some issues with the deep plunge of the Lauren. 

 

Deadly Dames Tie Me Up dress in black and red fetish print - $136.00

I've been impatiently waiting for the Tie Me Up dress to be restocked so I could add a 3rd item to my Fetish Print collection. I saw a sneaky preview of this fabric years ago and have been crazy about it ever since. Covered in bullet bras, boots, whips, corsets and masks this is the most daring and most stunning print in my collection. The bold black print on the rouge red really pops and the styling possibilities are endless. You can be inspired by the print itself and pair this dress with leather or go a little softer and pair this with angora. 

With adjustable straps that tie up on your shoulders this dress can work for a huge amount of bust sizes and can be tightened or loosened when needed. I'm wearing these straps rather high as I've chosen a more full coverage bra and as you can see it pops through ever so slightly. If I chose say a balconette bra or a love plunge it might have a different effect. I was also not able to tie the straps correctly at the time so I'm wearing this style hanging down my back. When I wear this next I'll be sure to practice more and get a perfect pair of bows. 

It really is an outstanding dress and the adjustable busts on both the Renee and Tie Me up styles means that you don't necessarily have to have my stats or shape to wear these. You can have a big bust or small and they can still accommodate your curves.

Stardust Confetti: Galaxy Blue 1 Inch Dome - $25.00

Stardust Confetti: Red Slipper Medium Tear - $20.00

I also wanted to share with you my sparkletastic earrings paired with each outfit during this shoot. I picked up these two stunning pairs of Stardust Confetti earrings at Kat Frankies and they complete each outfit. I'm absolutely head over heels for these stunning earrings and feel fantastic whenever I wear them. Be it dressing up or dressing down I always feel like a million dollars with these babies sparkling in my ear. Be sure to check out all of the range available at Kat Frankies and you can also find Stardust Confetti on Etsy! 

So now that I've filled 2014 with all of my PUG favourite's it's time to look to the future and plan some new additions to my 2015 wardrobe. 

Obviously this year calls for bright colours and some absolutely stunning gothic formal wear. I can't wait to add more items to my collection and see what my girls at Pinup Girl Clothing create in 2015.

Many thanks to my amazing photographer Brooke Orchard for shooting these for me on a muggy and rainy day, it's amazing what we can create in this unpredictable Melbourne weather. I urge any of my readers based in Victoria or Australia to book in a shoot with Brooke this year. If you want to feel amazing and look perfectly pinup she is the best in the business!!

On such a winter's day

Every 6 months or so I like to round up a brilliant local photographer and shoot my new favourites at Hell Bunny. So last week I paired up with the lovely Robin Elk Photography, braved the chilly winds and rain and shot some spring styles and winter warmers. 

Natasha Bolero in Red - $69.00

50’s Cannes Vintage Rose Floral Dress Black - £44.99

Deadly Dames Faux Leather Belt 

Hell Bunny Black Petticoat - $50.00

When I first laid eyes on this fabric I was instantly in love with the rose print. I just adore floral but the moment you mix red, black and green all in one print - it has to be mine. This print is as shown on the 50's Cannes halter dress and can also be found in a skirt and long sleeve dress option. I chose the 50's Cannes dress as I've worn this style before and love the fitted bust, halterneck and the fit. I wear all halter styles from Hell Bunny in a size Large as they seem to have be the same fit throughout this style. I'm in love with this combo and can't wait to mix and match all my other boleros with this stunning dress. 

Inspired by the stock photos of the dress I opted to pair this dress with the new season Bolero - The Natasha! This bolero is the one item every girl needs in her wardrobe. It's soft like angora, super stretchy and feels amazing. There is a slight transference of fluff when you first wear this garment to be sure to wash or have a fabric brush on you. I'm wearing the XL in the bolero but I found this to be way too roomy. This problem is easily fixed as I've already ordered the size down! You can also purchase this bolero in black and white. One of each is needed for my collection I think!  The extra addition of the black petticoat also offers a little more shape to the dress and makes my hour glass figure really pop. 

Black 'Mariam' Polka Dot Skirt - $55.00

Doris Top in Black from Pinup Girl Clothing - $52.00

Belt - Old Stock from Torrid

Eye Doll Platforms in Red from Luichiny  (sold out) - $89.99

It's funny to think back a year or two ago and remember how afraid I was of swing style skirts. I've always been in love with wiggle shapes but for some odd reason I thought a simple swing skirt would look horrid on me. Well that's been proven wrong again and again and now my full skirt collection is huge!

I've found that the size Large in this style skirt is perfect for my waist and it fits perfectly with my petticoat beneath. The simple polka dot fabric is welcome addition to my wardrobe and so easy to style.

I've paired this with my Doris top (the boobtastic top) and simple black accessories but the styling options with this print are endless. From bright coloured shirts, cardigans to band tees, crops and jumpers. There is so many ways to wear these great and reasonably priced skirts. 

Hell Bunny Poppy Floral Circle Skirt - $54.00 

Wheels & Dollbaby Dita Cardigan in Red - $190.00 

Now to continue on with my love of florals we have the same skirt with a stunning poppy print! Worn again in a size large which is basically a UK 14. These skirts have no stretch at the waist and have both a back zip and button closure. So be sure to check the max waist measurements with your own because there is little to no give. 

This bright red poppy print made me think instantly of my red Dita cardigan and I think they go together perfectly. The mixture of red and black within each garment makes these two items pair perfectly. I wear the Dita in a size 14 and the stretchy fabric hugs me perfectly. For full reviews on all my Dita cardigans click here.

Hell Bunny Jessie Gingham Cherry 1950's Skirt Blue - £25.00

Wheels & Dollbaby Belle Blue Dita Cardigan - $190.00 

Hell Bunny Petticoat in White - $50.00

Then to venture outside of my comfort zone colour-wise I chose the 1950's skirt in a very pale blue, complete with cherries and pockets! My belle blue Dita cardie was my first brave attempt at wearing pastel colours and paired with this gingham printed skirt it works perfectly! 

I adore gingham but I tend to go to the darker prints such as red or black. This baby blue shade is stunning and I feel like a total cowgirl while wearing it. 

The pockets are a really cute feature but don't really add much in terms of function. They are more of an accessory or patch detail. I paired this skirt with my white Hell Bunny petticoat and it works perfectly. This skirt seems to be a little shorter than the other two styles but I did not notice this until I put the extra volume underneath. 

Hell Bunny 50's Rachael Nautical Bolero Navy Blue - £24.99

I seem to have many addictions and one I've noticed big time this year - Boleros! When I saw this nautical inspired bolero in the catalog I fell in love with how it fits around the bust and the adorable bow closure. I've wanted a bolero like this for years so I'm so happy that Hell Bunny created it. I'm wearing a size XL and it fits me perfectly. Hugging me in all the right places and giving the right amount of stretch for comfort. 

Because of the adorable design of this top I've gone a little more basically with my styling. A plain white top form Kmart (yes all of $4) the perfect pencil skirt and a think waist belt. With such a strong design you don't have to wear anything but basic's with this bolero. I really hope that other colour ways come out in this bolero such as red and black. This will match perfectly with every sleeveless and halter dress in the current Hell Bunny collection.

Hell Bunny Hibiscus Flower Pencil Dress - $39.60

While it's a little early for summer wiggle dresses I could not help but order this adorable pencil dress. A few posts ago I wore a polka dot pencil style from Hell Bunny so I knew any style in the same fabric would work wonderfully on curves. The Hibiscus Flower dress is amazing! This dress hugs your curves and fits me perfectly in an XL. My favourite features are the red piping, flower motif and the really unique bust line. As a busty girl I find most dresses either show to much or sit to high. This is a perfect middle ground and it feels and looks great. 

This is a shorter style pencil dress and sits just above my knees. It's perfect for the warmer months of the wear and will be worn to death this summer. You can also style this with cute cardigans, boleros, boots and stockings in the cooler months and it will still look adorable. 

Mika Coat in Black and Red Polkadot - £49.99

Last year I shared my all time favourite coat with you and it was a part of the stunning winter collection from Hell Bunny. That red plaid and fur jacket has had so much attention and has seen me though hail, snow and super cold Melbourne weather. This year I've chosen two more coats to review/show you, my readers, and trust me you'll want these if you want to be warm all winter. 

First I have the Mika Coat in black and red polkadot. This coat is the bomb!!! From the super cute print, fur trimmings, pom poms and hood (complete with little stand up ears, yes EARS!) this coat is both adorable and amazingly warm to wear.

With any of these super thick faux fur detailed coats you'll never be cold again. It was a freezing cold day when we shot these images and as I slipped into this coat it started to rain. But as soon as I buttoned up I was as snug as a bug in a rug. I wear any Hell Bunny coat in a size XL and there is enough room to layer up underneath and style however you wish. 

Sarah Jane Coat in Teal -  $139.00 

Now as I mentioned my first Hell Bunny coat review was of a rocking red plaid jacket which just happened to be the Sarah Jane coat! A few weeks ago I noticed the Teal version pop up in my feed and knew it had to be on my body. Being a redhead I'm attracted to teal like a moth to flame. The teal is actually a little darker in real life but it's just as stunning as these pictures portray. With the same fur features, a double breasting button up front and fur lined hood (sorry no ears on this style) this is my new go to coat for the rest of winter. 

The strong black fur details and piping really stand out on the teal fabric and I now need to purchase a faux fur black muff to wear with this outfit. Again I'm wearing and XL and it's a perfect fit.

I'm really excited to see what's to come with next winters coat designs from HB as they always seem to be perfect for me.

Many thanks to the brilliant Robin Elk Photographer for braving the cold with me and shooting all of these images. I can't wait to to shoot with you again!