Spotlight on vintage fashion brands: Gunne Sax

If you’re a lover of vintage fashion, especially 1970’s fashion, then you have probably heard of Gunne Sax dresses. Known for being romantic, often with medieval and renaissance inspired designs, Gunne Sax, a clothing label owned by Jessica McClintock, is commonly associated with the ‘prairie dresses’ trend.

For the uninitiated prairie dresses are a trend that was originally popular in the 1970’s (their original roots however are in rural 19th century America) and are often characterised as (usually) long, flowing dresses, often incorporating high necklines, lace and florals and often inspired historically by the Victorian and Edwardian periods of fashion. They recently were revived in 2017/2018 due to the popularity of modern designers like Batsheva and the Vampire’s Wife but there was glimmers of the popularity that was to come in the earlier 2000’s. For example prairie dresses are referenced in the Netflix show Girlboss (set around 2008), as Britt Robertson, acting as Nasty Gal‘s original owner Sophia Amorusa, discusses the trend (if I remember correctly she predicts that prairie dresses will be in, which ends up being a misstep).

Prairie dresses therefore are often associated with a more traditionally feminised way of dressing and because of their reference to the past, fairytale way of dressing. When I put on a prairie dress I often feel like I could be a character in a fairytale myself, perhaps it’s the flowing skirts that make me instantly think of a Austen heroine hiking through a field to visit their sick sister against the conventional norms of their time, whatever it is Gunne Sax dresses definitely fit that brief for me!

I’m not surprised that the dresses were popular as wedding dresses, and in fact Hillary Rodham famously wore a Gunne Sax dress when she married Bill Clinton. According to this article, she bought her dress from the local mall for $53 dollars the night before the wedding!

For many Gunne Sax, was at its peak during the 1970s, which was the height of the maxi, flowing dress trend and are often associated with the British equivalent, Laura Ashley (who I will cover in another post because I am a big fan!). Fans of the brand often talk of the rare black label dresses, which indicate that the dress is one of the very first of Jessica McClintock’s designs.

There have been numerous copies of Gunne Sax dresses however, as one issue with the dresses is their limited size range. The large sizes are often coveted because the maximum size the dresses go up to is 31 inches on the waist, which is about equivalent to about a UK size 12-14. You can find a handy reference to what size Gunne Sax dresses usually equate to here.

Dress: Vintage Gunne Sax (unfortunately with the inside tag mostly ripped off, as well as the size tag). I think the seller unfortunately mis-measured this, as after measuring it myself I got different measurements than the one listed but I luckily squeezed into it.

Bow: Henriette Von Grünberg (I emailed to check and Henriette sources her silks from left over silks from bigger brands in the season).

Nowadays, I have definitely noticed a revival for the dresses, especially on Instagram with hashtag #gunnesax, #gunnesaxdress and #gunnesaxobsessed getting a lot of love and there are whole vintage accounts dedicated to appreciating and selling the dresses, so I reached out to some of my favourites to see if they could give some more insight into why people love and collect ‘Gunnes’ as they’re often lovingly dubbed.

One of my favourite Gunne Sax Instagram accounts is @babygypsyeyes run by the lovely Samantha, who kindly answered some of my questions about all things Gunne Sax, revealing that she has a collection of over 100 dresses (I can only dream of such an achievement!) and that she wears Gunne Sax dresses almost everyday.

First, I asked what it is about Gunne Sax that draws her in – if you wear Gunne Sax almost every day there must be a reason!

“For me, Gunne Sax is an imperative piece in the prairie puzzle I have in my head. Let me explain, I grew up watching ‘Little House on the Prairie’ re-runs. I remember being quite young and really relating to that old frontier lifestyle of simpler times and full ruffled calico dresses. Decades later I am living my dream life on a 150 acre farm that is truly in the middle of nowhere. I named my son ‘Wilder’ (Laura Ingalls Wilder is the author of ‘Little House on the prairie). I wear Gunne Sax dresses nearly everyday and have put together a collection of over 100 dresses that I am very proud of. We are living a clean life that is far removed from anything urban! We grow vegetables, have animals and some days we don’t see a single vehicle go down our road. Gunne Sax feels like home and fits into this simple life we are living. A life that is innocent, safe and clean in a world that can be very frightening.”
@babygypsyeyes

I was also keen to get into the ‘nitty-gritty’ of why Samantha thinks Gunne Sax dresses continue to appeal and she mentioned how even in the 1970s the dresses, “were expensive and desirable” and when you think about it $53 dollars in the 1970s would have been an expensive dress! She also highlighted how Gunne Sax dresses are on trend right now.

“They are high quality and expressive, the number of Gunne Sax designs is ASTOUNDING. This makes them fun to collect.”
@babygypsyeyes

Samantha also revealed to me a group on Facebook, which I am definitely going to go join, called ‘Gunne Sax Addicts’ , which she describes as a, “community of lovely people who all have one thing in common, a love for the label”.

“Many people who encounter Gunne Sax quickly become passionate collectors. But what is it about these dresses? Many of the designs hearken to history, Renaissance & Medieval, Edwardian and Victorian, Hippies & Gypsies. Musicians make IG posts wearing these dresses, ‘The Love Witch’ wears several Gunne Sax during the course of the film. They are flattering to wear, romantic and feminine, they stir emotions and can help a gal fill any of a number of fantasy roles! And like I said, with so many designs there is likely a Gunne Sax for everyone out there!”
@babygypsyeyes

Due to Gunne Sax’s increased popularity, I have heard talk that there is a greater need to check for authenticity, as a number of popular brands took inspiration from Gunne Sax dresses. Samantha recommends joining the Facebook group for checking authenticity, as well as making sure to look for the all-important Gunne Sax label. She also suggests looking on Pinterest before purchasing to check the dress exists: “Every dress I have tried to look up has been on Pinterest I swear”.

The one problem I personally have with recommending Gunne Sax is of course the sizing, as it’s not size friendly. Samantha definitely agreeds and said, “size seems to be the Gunne Sax downfall”. She suggested getting a vintage Gunne Sax sewing pattern and tweaking it to fit and also has heard mention of people willing to custom make Gunne Sax copies!

Lastly, I had to ask what her favourite ‘Gunnes’ are and she gave the perfect answer: “I love the folkloric, autumnal, rich colors. I want to feel like a 1970’s babe living her authentic prairie lifestyle….but I know that’s not how everyone feels.” Well, I’m not going to lie that’s how I want my autumn to be!

You can find Samantha on Instagram as @babygypsyeyes, be sure to check out her gorgeous Etsy shop if you now find yourself in desperate need of a Gunne Sax dress!

Another of my favourite Gunne Sax sellers has to be AuburnFoxVintage on Etsy, who has posted some truly stunning Gunnes in her shop. For her, Gunne Sax is all about the: “Eternal romance. Wearing a Gunne Sax dress is like slipping into a fantasy. It’s pure femininity!”. I definitely understand what she means, the materials and the way the dresses are constructed alone, definitely harks back to a different way of dressing.

“These women that buy Gunne Sax dresses want to escape into a romantic world and not look like anyone else. These dresses, skirts and blouses let us slip back into time, when things were simpler.”
Karen at AuburnFoxVintage

One of Karens favourite Gunne Sax dresses that she owns. Image credit: Karen at AuburnFoxVintage

She did have some good news about fakes though, as she personally has never come across any and some possible positive sizing news. She says Gunne Sax dresses can go up to a size 15 (I’d suspect this would be about a 33 inch waist so a 14, small 16 in UK sizes) , however, she has never personally got her hands on any size larger than a size 13. Karen wasn’t familiar with any designers that have reproduced the Gunne Sax style, but did mention that there are seamstresses who can make dresses in the Gunne Sax style for you. She also highlighted Modcloth, for having a great range of sizes and a “vintage inspired” section.

*One of Karens favourite Gunne Sax dresses that she owns* – she said it made her feel like Maeve from Westworld! Image credit: Karen at AuburnFoxVintage

Be sure to check out Karen’s Etsy shop, AuburnFoxVintage , she has some of my all-time favourites Gunne Sax dresses in her shop as well as other gorgeous vintage dresses.

“Nothing makes me happier, than when these Gunne Goddesses receive their dresses and tell me how happy they are. Those dresses are fairytales, and we all want a happy ending.”
Karen at AuburnFoxVintage

I’ve mentioned Worthless Vintage on my blog before and Cat Stones who runs the shop was nice enough to talk to me about all things Gunne Sax, as I noticed she was a fan and had sold a few herself!

Image credit: Cat Stones, Worthless Vintage

“I love that they’re all unique but they’re also part of a brand, it makes for a community of brand lovers who all trade between each other and is so loving and appreciative! I personally love the whole 70s aesthetic, and I love maxi dresses as I’m the perfect height for them and they’re so flattering – they make me feel amazing!”
Cat Stones, Worthless Vintage

For Cat, the appeal of Gunne is simply that they are characteristic of the 1970s in such a special way. The sheer range of the brand was something that also stood out (and I can certainly see why this is brought up again and again!), “there’s literally a Gunne for every taste – mine personally are the bold prints, the browns and the velvets”.

Cat also had some words of wisdom in regards to possible fakes, she stressed to: “always check the label”, and to always, “check for any possible alternations as this can deteriorate the value”. She did however mention: “If there’s no label it’s not always a bad sign, but before buying you should always ask the seller for a picture of the label (if there isn’t one posted).”

“Most Gunnes have a gold fleur de lis label and have a specific size tag, but some variations include the 1969 specific black label, rare white label/ heart label and early on J.G. Saxe label!”
Cat Stones, Worthless Vintage

Cat gave some great recommendations for brands similar in style to Gunne Sax including Laura Ashley (I know that the 1980s designs definitely vary in size much more than Gunne Sax dresses, but the 1970s style tend to be on the smaller size), young Edwardian by Arpeja and Jody T.

“In vintage terms, it’s difficult as the sizes were so much smaller back then … In my experience plus size prairie vintage is mostly unbranded except Laura Ashley, you just have to be vigilant enough to have a dig!”
Cat Stones, Worthless Vintage

You can find Cat on her personal Instagram @catellystones and her shop Worthless Vintage @worthless.vintage.

So to conclude I am newly obsessed and yet to properly start my collection though I have started a Gunne Sax wishlist with all my dream dresses on (if this is you, I’d definitely recommend joining the Facebook group because all the interactions I have seen on there have been lovely)!

Although, I am definitely feeling all the autumnal coloured dresses at the moment because I can feel the weather start to turn towards autumn here; I also have a soft spot for any of the peach dresses and any with a peplum or hood! However, the beauty of Gunne Sax is that there is a style to suit every taste, I’ve even seen some fabulous Gothic ones!

I leave you with the comment that I am still new to this fabulous brand so if I have left anything out or written anything incorrectly, please let me know!

April (April is the Cruellest Month)

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Buying more ethically and sustainably: my journey to cut down on high street fashion

Hi everyone! So if you’re new here I thought I better start this post of by explaining that recently (the last few months) I’ve really been trying hard to be more conscious with my fashion choices, with the aim of transitioning to buying almost exclusively second hand, vintage or ethical and sustainable clothing.

Since I’ve been a lover of vintage fashion from a young age this always felt like an achievable aim for me as I already knew my way around buying vintage clothing, as well as sourcing second hand clothing in general. I’ve even wrote a handy guide, which I’d recommend reading if you’re new to vintage or buying secondhand clothing online.

However, I also love new trends in fashion and unique and independent designers so I knew resisting the high street would be hard for me. Especially, since some of my favourite memories with friends have been shopping with them.

And that’s why I wanted to come on here and be honest about the struggles and slip-ups I’ve had, not only to try and re-commit myself but also to highlight that you don’t need to be perfect (and trust me I feel the pressure to get it 100% right).

Also, I may also want to get out a confession that I just bought a pair of new espadrilles because although I had tried looking for them second hand and for vintage ones I hadn’t found any as perfect. They were also that dreaded thing shops do to sucker you in … on sale.

So I caved and I bought them but only because I had wanted them for a long time (months, hence why they were on sale) and with a promise that I would wear them and could envision at least 5 different outfits (that I already owned) that they would go with. And I guess that is the message I’d like to spread, instead of making yourself feel guilty, make the most of your purchase (and make the most of your old high street purchases too).

Dress: Charity shop (from Monsoon originally)

Shoes: Warehouse x Shrimps

It’s not always possible due to different circumstances to buy new and as ethically as you possibly can (money, time and convenience are all valid factors) but try to reduce these events as much as possible. And when they do happen, make sure you wear the item till death (and then repair when possible). Digital Writer for Elle and vintage Instagram seller, Daisy Murray wrote a great Instagram post about how she thinks strategic high street buys can be still be a part of slow fashion, which I would seriously suggest checking out.

And if buying a particular item turns out to be a mistake and you can’t return it, sell it on Depop or on Ebay (donating to charity shops is also a good alternative for good quality items but a lot of items donated are sent overseas, so where possible try donating to friends as a better alternative instead). As much as I really try to consider my purchases now, I still make mistakes (especially with online vintage where you can’t try a piece on beforehand) and I really want to ensure I get better at making sure such pieces are being worn and loved so expect to see those pieces hit my Depop (@aprilrain3) shop more often.

Another example of something I bought new in the last few months is trousers for a job. I honestly tried looking for them on Ebay, Depop and charity shops (and succeeded at first because I thought I needed black trousers, turns out I needed a different colour) but was unsuccessful. So I got some on Asos instead because I’ll be honest it was convenient and both pairs were part of their eco-edit (to cut a long story short I got two different pairs of trousers because in the UK khaki means green but in the US it means beige, so when I saw khaki/ beige I thought I could mix it up a bit at work and have both but they just meant beige only, ha, ha) and they had a petite leg so I didn’t need to alter them.

Luckily, in this scenario I was able to donate the trousers I got to colleagues who needed them for work (and in the spirit of a full disclosure, I also got some back up pairs from other high street stores, when I realised I only had one pair of work trousers, which I also donated). I did not however donate the khaki pair (the pre mentioned green pair) but I found some ways to rock them with items I already owned and if I ever don’t have a place for them in my wardrobe anymore I will sell them (at the point I realised the error it was too late to return them).

Top: Maison Cleo

Trousers: Asos (Eco-edit)

Shoes: H & M

I also bought a few items while I was in China because honestly I didn’t realise how hot it was going to be and I was suffering so I bought some espadrille trainers (yes, I know I have a problem) which I wear all the time and love from H & M. Unfortunately, all the items I bought were from fast fashion sources because there were no vintage or second shops available where I was staying. However, all the items I did get are all items I see myself keeping for a long time but this is not something I want to repeat in the future and I know deep down that I did take advantage of the fact that I didn’t have other options a little bit to justify the items I did get.

On my blog, going forward if I’m wearing the item I will mention where they are from and link back to this post for explanation. Other than that if you see items that are from fast fashion brands it will say ‘old’ or ‘secondhand’ in brackets because it will be items I already own or purchased secondhand. On Instagram, I currently only tag brands that I like the ethics of and will explain the origins of any pieces I am wearing if asked.

Shirt: Stolen from Martin

Tank top: (old)

Trousers: No Me (bought in China)

Belt: Charity shop

Shoes: Vegan Dr Martens

Looking forward

Now I’ve got all my confessions out of the way I thought I better set out my path going forward and also just reiterate that I don’t feel guilty about fast fashion purchases I have bought in the past and love (I’ve got pieces I literally wear almost every day) and I am trying not to feel guilty for tripping up (as that will just make me want to give up completely). It’s going to be hard, and it can definitely be difficult on a budget, which is why in the future I definitely want to focus on some budget-friendly sustainable and ethical clothing posts, as well as trickier items (work out clothes and swimsuits for one).

As I’ve mentioned in this post, clothes shopping with a friends can be a challenge if you are trying not to buy new. Luckily, my friends let me drag them along to vintage shops and I also feel comfortable still going to high street stores with them. I’d rather help them to make a decision and buy a piece they really like and I generally try not to impose my beliefs on others (as I find people are more likely to want to talk to you about something if it’s just a fact about you rather than something you’re constantly preaching about).

So instead of not talking about the difficulties I’m going to embrace them and rant about them on here (sorry about that) but also start exploring helpful topics, such as how to make the most of your clothes (such as how to get your clothes altered/ how to repair and wash clothes).

My commitment then is to transparency, even if I make mistakes. I’m going to start small and aim for nothing ‘new’/ obtained from an unsustainable source for a month but that doesn’t mean you probably won’t be hearing about my vintage clothing finds. Also, I’d like to mention something that clicked for me recently as a fashion lover/ collector, trying to be more sustainable doesn’t necessarily mean you have to have a tiny wardrobe, you just need to have more thought about what goes into it.

Denim vest: Charity shop

Skirt: Charity shop

Shoes: Shrimps x Warehouse

Dress: Vintage from Depop

Shoes: Shrimps x Warehouse

April (April is the Cruellest Month)

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June 19, 2019

What I ate in a day (vegetarian): Shenzhen, China

For those who don’t know I’ve moved … to China! For someone who has never been outside of Europe, it has definitely been a shock to my system but in a good way. More than anything I’m excited to share my experiences while I am here so be prepared for a bit of a shift in my blog content.

Although, I did research before coming to China about how vegetarian friendly it is, the results were still a bit of a mixed bag and not what I was expecting. For someone who is used to living in such a veggie friendly place like the UK, not being able to find a vegetarian option all the time came as a surprise (despite knowing this would likely be the case).

If you’re staying long term in China and cooking at home, finding food is not as difficult (as long as you’re a fan of some of the more ‘basic’ meat substitutes like tofu, chickpeas and beans, though I’ve even found mock beef!), as groceries are cheap, especially if you stick to Chinese dishes.

Eating out is where it can get more difficult.

Tofu, for example, is often included in meat dishes in China – when I was eating out the other day, some of my friends in China found pork at the bottom of their tofu dish and from what I’ve heard that’s very common.

It is not all bad news though as although dishes will often be in Chinese, everyone provides pictures and if you stick with just plain vegetables and rice you will usually be ok (though maybe not the most satisfied). As there are vegetarian dishes in China, you just won’t find them labelled as such unless you go to chain restaurants (typically found in malls here). However, be warned there will often be hidden animal-based ingredients in sauces (you have to decide yourself if this is a risk you want to take). It can also be useful to learn how to say I am a vegetarian in Mandarin.

If you want to be 100% sure about what you’re eating when eating out, then my advice is to go to exclusively vegetarian restaurants, which there are more than you might think – at least there are where I am staying in Shenzhen. However, these restaurants will tend to be more expensive to eat out than other places in China.

Overall, my experience has been a struggle and an adjustment while I’ve been here which is why I wanted to share a sample of what I ate in a day in my first week here. At the time I was currently eating out, as I was still staying in a hotel so I didn’t have the facilities to cook but eating out for most meals is common in Shenzhen, as it’s so cheap (though as a vegetarian it will probably work out cheaper for you to cook).

Breakfast: Holiday Inn buffet

The breakfast buffet at my hotel is essentially legend among the English teachers I’ve met here and for good reason, it has great variety and it’s delicious. Although, the dishes aren’t labelled as such, there is a great vegetarian variety from buns to vegetables to noodles and rice.

I typically have been pilling my plate sky high with vegetables, typically with some rice or noodles underneath and accompanying it with some watermelon and a red bean bun (my favourite so far apart from mushroom). For those who haven’t had red bean paste before, it’s a sweet paste that is often used in deserts in China – best served steaming hot!

The breakfast buffet is definitely been responsible for me hitting my 5 a day (I think a lot of the time it’s been even more than that!) while I’ve been there and I 100% miss it whole heartedly!

Price: Complimentary as part of my hotel stay so I’m not sure!

Lunch: Din Tai Fung

I’m not going to lie this restaurant appealed to me largely because it one of the very few places I’ve seen here that had vegetarian dishes actually labelled. It was more however on the pricy side and there still wasn’t a whole lot of options.

I had a stir fried mushroom dish, with some vegetables, which was ok but didn’t quite hit the mark for me (it really was more of a side dish to be honest – which in fairness was what it was but I didn’t have main dish option!) and a red bean steamed bun shaped like a peach!

I really wish I’d got more than one of the buns as it was delicious (honestly, I thought I ordered a few and when only one came out I was devastated).

Overall, the experience was fun, especially the little bibs they gave us but if you wanted a lot of food you’d struggle as a vegetarian and it was a bit pricy!

Price: ££- I spent about 50 RMB here but you could easily spend 100-200.

Dinner: Yueyi

This is probably one of my favourite places to eat and it’s definitely worth a visit if you’re ever in Shenzhen, it’s especially a good shout if there is a group of you as then you can share dishes (which, is very common in China).

I was lucky enough to visit here with my boyfriend Martin and two friends I met in China (who I won’t name in case they don’t want to be named!) and it was great. The menu was huge but in the end we decided on a dish each (and we weren’t able to get through it all). I think this might have been because we’d all got used to a lot of vegetables and this was quite mock meat heavy – we wished we had ordered two vegetable dishes instead of one! We also did have rice to accompany this (charged as an extra), as well as some tea.

My favourite had to be the mock chicken skewers (I only wish they’d come with a dipping sauce of some kind) as well as the garlicky vegetables. Overall, I left feeling completely satisfied (especially as mock meat can be harder to come by in China).

Price: £ – Depending what you order you could spend from 30 RMB to 100 upwards here.

So there it is – a glimpse into what I’ve been eating while I’ve been in China. I hope this is useful for my fellow vegetarians. Sorry that I can’t give a lot of info about which products are specifically vegan (if you click on the earlier link about how to say you are vegetarian, it should also cover if you are vegan) but I will have some reviews of places that specifically accommodate vegans coming up, as well as tips for cooking at home.

You can also check out my reviews on Happy Cow here (I’m hoping to update it with lots more content soon).

April (April is the Cruellest Month)

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May 9, 2019

My guide to buying secondhand/ vintage

When I was posting a photo on my Instagram recently, I realised I still hadn’t written a post on how I approach buying secondhand/ vintage, which I thought might be useful for those less obsessive to searching for secondhand treasures than I am.

While this will be a general guide focusing on women’s fashion (which you know does not have to just be for women – wear what you want!), as that is generally the area I tend to focus on; I will try to make this post as inclusive to different sizes as much as possible. I also think a lot of the points in this post are relevant for most people!

In regards to being inclusive to different sizes, I am generally going to focus on plus sized fashion as a point in this post. Although, finding good fitting clothes at any size is difficult, it can feel especially intimidating buying vintage as someone plus sized as the general rhetoric is that everyone was smaller in the past (which was not always the case). It’s for the reason I’ve pulled together some specific tips for plus sized vintage lovers.

But first some general tips.

Know your measurements – you don’t need to know the distance from your elbow to your wrist but generally knowing your bust, waist and hips measurement is useful. Leg length can be useful as well, which you should have encountered jean shopping before, especially if you are part of my petite brethren who need a 28inch leg or smaller.

I tend to focus on my waist measurement when looking for clothes as I tend to go for a silhouette that is looser everyone else but there. I think knowing these measurements are especially important on sites like Ebay for example, as some people may classify what they regard as a size 10 for example different to you, and can lead to things either fitting you when you might have disregarded them or an ill fitting purchase.

If you don’t have a tape measure handy, a general rule is that a size 6 is a 24/ 25 inch waist, size 8 a 26 inch waist, size 10 a 28 inch waist, size 12 a 30 inch waist, size 14 a 32 inch waist, and it carries on as such in 2 inch increments. However, not everyone will fit this blueprint – everyone’s body is different!

Another top tip is to measure a piece of clothing you think fits you very well and use that as a guide.

Tops tips for plus sized women – if you’re looking for vintage fashion, the 80s and 90s is great for plus sized women and when I look for clothes in that decade, I often see larger sizes represented. However, that does not mean you should discount other decades, as although rarer, there are pieces in other decades such as the 50s and 60s that will work (especially if you know your measurements!), you just have to dig a little more.

Charity shops tend to be more size inclusive because they rely on donations and they are definitely on of the places I have seen the largest size selection.

If you’re a size that is not well represented, looking for your favourite brands on Ebay is a good start, I know that Killstar (if you’re into a gothic look) caters for a variety of sizes and Lazy Oaf because of some of their cuts can work for plus sized women (though beware of price bump ups for some pieces as their larger sizes usually sell out fast).

I’d also check out vintage fashion bloggers who are plus sized, as although, I’ve included this information based on what I’ve personally seen, I’m not plus sized and someone who is will be able to advise much better than me.

The blogger Vintage Voluptuous has done some great posts on vintage fashion and has even done vintage plus size Etsy roundups. Her blog is so easy to follow and all her outfits are flawless – she’s definitely worth checking out.

Another great blog I found when researching this piece was Something Definitely Happened who crafts some ‘Practically Perfect’ looks (you’ll get it when you see her Mary Poppins look).

Although, both these blogs aren’t exclusively focused on vintage but reproduction items as well; they are great not only in terms of inspiration and creativity but also if you like a brand that they mention that caters to your size, you can look out for them on Ebay and Depop!

I wasn’t able to find any plus sized bloggers who focus on sustainable fashion (doesn’t mean they don’t exist – google can only do so much!), however I did find a list of sustainable fashion companies that cater to plus sized women, as well as ethical brands, as I have noticed that ethical and sustainable companies usually tend to have a limited sizing run.

Ebay

My first Ebay tip is to set up buying alerts for the items you are looking for. It saves you trawling the site every week and hopefully will guarantee you first dibs on the item. I really wish Depop had this feature (please correct me if I’m wrong about that but as far as I see it does not). I currently have two alerts set up for a rare pair of Irregular Choice (Petal Fever – in green of course – there’s currently a blue pair up in my size but I want the green!) and a vintage pair of Dr Martens.

The second tip involves knowing where to begin if you are not looking for a particular item but want to be inspired (/ replicate that ‘looking through a website for clothes’ feeling). My tip here is to look for brands that you usually like a lot of the pieces for, for example I generally like a lot of the items in Urban Outfitters and Zara but I am not willing to pay their prices (especially Urban Outfitters) and would rather buy second hand and help the planet out. I would even suggest looking for pieces you’ve seen in store (this is especially useful if you’ve tried the piece on in store and know your size) and searching for the piece (this is a useful tip for platforms like Depop too). I’ve found this is a really great way to get something new and stop the culture of a piece sitting in someone else’s wardrobe who’s bought it and changed their mind.

Ebay can also be great for some vintage fashion details but make sure you carefully read the description as you won’t get the opportunity to try it on like a vintage shop. A lot of the times, items may need some DIY, which can be difficult to judge whether it’s a big job or not without seeing the item so be careful unless you are a master seamstress.

However, I’ve found some lovely vintage 90s gems on Ebay in great condition, as well as some great pieces from Urban Outfitters and Zara.

1st image: Dungarees originally from Zara. Bought on Ebay.

2nd image: Dress originally from Urban Outfitters. Bought on Ebay.

Depop

Although, I love Depop, I’d also like to start with a word of caution as it isn’t for everyone. Depop can be more tricky as both a buyer and seller, as it can be harder to communicate (you are not allowed to send images as a private message, which I understand is useful to stop harassment but can be frustrating). I’ve also had issues with sellers not sending me an item, though I successfully got my money back through a Paypal claim but it wasn’t a short process. As a seller, it can be frustrating when you receive what I would describe as incredibly cheeky offers for items to the point where you’d be losing money selling the item to someone.

My advice to combat this is as a buyer always check feedback, make sensible offers and always read a seller’s profile details. As a seller, one thing that helped me is don’t feel like you have to respond to low offers. Also, buyers please be polite in your messages, sending ‘lowest?’ with nothing else does not make me inclined to want to offer you a good deal.

I have got some great deals on Depop though from my vegan Dr Martens to my Lucy and Yak dungarees (though I keep missing the denim dungarees when they come up on their Depop – I think I’m cursed!).

There are though some great sellers on Depop who source some truly stunning vintage pieces. My favourites are Worthless Vintage (where I got the trousers seen below and the necklace in the picture above), sisters Mathilda Mai and Liberty Mai (who now have a website called MaiBee) and Earth Nadia. People with Instagram followings also tend to sell their items on there so if there is a fashion blogger you like, it’s definitely worth checking out if they have a Depop – one of my favourites is Babyricecake.

If you like a seller’s style, it’s also worth checking out their likes on their profile for more sellers who probably have a similar style to follow.

I think Depop can also be a great place to source items from America if you’re from the UK while avoiding custom fees, etc.

In regards to searching for items, Depop can be a scary place to begin if you’re not looking for specific items. I would suggest looking up what Depop sellers are popular and following ones that suit your personal style, as well as like my advice with Ebay looking for brands you particular like – this is especially useful for more niche brands like Lazy Oaf and Killstar, as people who sell those items in my experience tend to sell lots of similar items from the same brand and others.

1st and 2nd image: Trousers from Worthless Vintage on Depop!

Vintage

For me, modern day vintage shops can be divided into two types. The more trendy, usually 80s and 90s focused (though fashion from other decades can be present), often reworked vintage shops and the classic shops, which focus on pristine pieces, usually from the 1970s and earlier. Of course there are shops that mesh between these two types but for me broadly most vintage shops are either one or other. The newer shops tend to fit the first category.

The reason these categories are important is because depending what vintage style you are after will depend what shop you want to go to. If you are interested in a fairly authentic vintage look and bespoke pieces, the second option is probably your best bet, but if you’re interested in blending in vintage pieces with modern pieces the first type is probably what you’d prefer.

Due to the fact that the first type of shop tends to have more recent or reworked pieces, they tend to have a larger size selection (this is also because they tend to have a larger amount of stock).

There’s not much advice I can give about shopping in brick and mortar vintage shops as they will be dependent on your area, except for know your measurements and bring a tape measure handy (this is especially useful if you struggle to estimate the size of clothing). This also helps if you have to take a gamble because the vintage shop doesn’t have a changing room (rare but it does happen) or you don’t feel comfortable trying it on and want to wing it (it depends where you go but sometimes the changing rooms can be a bit makeshift).

The best places I’ve been to for vintage shopping (both in vintage shops and the charity shops there) have been Nottingham and Sheffield. I do of course love London, especially Brick Lane but it tends to be more expensive. If you are ever in St Albans I’d recommend Little Viking Vintage, who I’ve wrote about before. You can also check out their Etsy, which often lists the crème de la crème of their stock.

Brick and mortar shops can sometimes be more expensive than online (it really depends) but you do have the added bonus of the option of avoiding guessing whether something is going to fit/ suit you.

Another thing to pay attention for if you’re not as well versed in vintage is that some vintage shops also sell vintage style clothing, which is often sourced from fast fashion sources. The Ethical Unicorn has a great post on what to look out for here.

1st image: Vintage Pendleton coat from House of Vintage.

Charity shops

A lot of people are cautious of charity shops. I get it, they can be overwhelming and often filled with things that most people wouldn’t be interested in. However, they are definitely worth a look whether you’re interested in a vintage or modern look – I’ve seen plenty of dresses from Asos and Pretty Little Thing fill charity shop rails nowadays (especially as people are more conscious about where their unused clothing goes to).

When I’m in charity shops I tend to hunt for vintage and I’ve definitely found some gems from a beautiful green velvet blouse from Marks and Spencer’s old St Michaels range to numerous Laura Ashley dresses.

That does not mean though that I don’t sometimes have no idea where to start. The way I’ve combatted this is either through going in with a particular goal in mind, i.e. I’m looking for a pink coat or starting by just focusing on each individual section – I tend to always go straight to dresses.

A lot of charity shops have also clued into the fact that there’s been a switch around of opinion on charity shops and have seriously upgraded how they present items (so much that a charity shop I know in Lincoln even has a waitlist for items that appear on its mannequin) and will often have a ‘vintage’ section (this is usually a mixture of actual vintage clothing and clothing with a vintage twist – i.e. rockabilly dresses). This has meant though that the prices in charity shops have increased and I’ve witnessed many a item priced high enough to no longer be called a bargain, however, 90% of the time items you will find will be much cheaper than the standard high street fair (apart from maybe stores like Primark).

1st images: Vintage St Michaels by Marks and Spencer blouse, bought from a charity shop.

2nd image: Vintage Harley Davidson motorcycle boots and Topshop dress, both bought from a charity shop.

DIY

You’re out vintage shopping or you’re browsing in the charity shop and you spot the perfect item but then you find it has a small hole and the zip is broken. What do you do? Well, if you have sewing know how the answer is probably simple but for those of us who are uninitiated or simply ridiculously bad at DIY, what do you do?

First, check the item’s price reflects the damage. If it doesn’t and you’re feeling brave, mention the issue to the shop manager, explaining that it will cost you to fix the issue. If you manage to successfully negotiate a price you’re happy with, I’d say go for it. Well, that of course depends on what the issue is. I recently encountered a dress that I LOVED but the zipper would not budge no matter how hard I tugged. I managed to get some money off the dress and have since took the dress to be fixed. In total, the dress cost me £6 (I think) discounted, £1.50 for the zip and £16 for a seamstress to fit the new dress. Overall, that brings the total to £23.50, which although might seem a bit steep at first, is about the price that a lot of people would spend on a dress for a night out.*

While, that was a success story*, I would say do not go for the repair if it is past your skill level or know how. I recently fell in love with a green, 1950s lace dress while vintage shopping but it had noticeable discolouration all down the dress. While the dress was priced accordingly, as it was a branded dress in good condition other than the discolouration, it was more than I was willing to pay for a faded dress that I didn’t know whether I would be able to fix.

Essentially, use what knowledge you have to determine whether something is worth a DIY. Remember simple dye jobs can be quite easy (washing machine dye is your friend) and can transform a item, as well as a simple cropping of a top, but stay within your skill level (and outsource when necessary) otherwise that item will just be sitting in your wardrobe!

*Update: Due to the zip issue I wasn’t able to properly try the dress on and it fits on the waist but is way too tight on the hips – you win some, you lose some!

Etsy

I have a confession. I have not bought any clothing from Etsy in a long time. I tend to use Etsy to buy items from independent artists, however there are some stunning vintage shops on there as well and I do have a few favourites I love to follow.

If you’re a 50s/ 60s queen I’d check out Sartorial Matters‘ shop – the pieces are usually very Chuck’s style in Pushing Daisies!

Another seller who sells on Etsy who is great for that vibe is Sweet Bee Finds, though my favourite of their pieces tends to be sold on their Instagram.

For sweet vintage pieces (that are usually Laura Ashley!) I’d recommend Duel at Dawn who also sells lots of adorable brooches.

For quirky accessories but also occasionally cute, alternative vintage pieces I’d recommend checking out KawaiiKave.

My top tip for Etsy is to make sure to set your shipping destination when searching, if you’d like to avoid costly international shipping costs.

Final thoughts

My general rule is I try to only buy new if I’ve exhausted looking for the item on the above list. I have slipped up on this a few times but compared to my spending habits before it’s a complete turn around. I will admit I was concerned about writing fashion posts where people couldn’t easily get the items if they liked it but the response I have had has been great!

I’d also suggest if you do need to buy something new and can afford it looking to companies that provide a living wage to their workers. Some of my favourites include Lucy and Yak and I love the ethos and transparency of Maison Cléo – if you’d like a future blog post on that, let me know!

April (April is the Cruellest Month)

Facebook: @aprilisthecruellestmonthblog

Instagram: @aprilisthecruellestmonth

Twitter: @aprilcruelmonth

This post is entirely my own opinion.

I’m on a journey to make my wardrobe more ethical and sustainable (luckily a lot of what I buy is vintage which helps) but I’m not all the way there yet so the clothes I mention will reflect this.

April 9, 2019

Fashion inspired by musicians: Dodie

I’ve been wanting to do a series for a while now where I recreate outfits inspired by my favourite musicians (as well as my favourite films, TV shows, etc.) but I’ve always hesitated. What’s the line between inspiration and just completely recreating an outfit? Not that there is anything wrong with recreating your favourite outfits but I’ve been trying to find a middle ground, which also incorporates my own style.

This was definitely something I struggled when putting these looks together, especially since Dodie’s fashion is contemporary (compared to other inspirations I have, such as 90s TV shows like Friends), it’s easier to source some of the pieces she was wearing. In the end I’ve come to a nice hybrid where if I’d already sourced the item/ happened to own the item I’ve included it but for everything else I’ve bought second hand (in fact, the items I ‘sourced’ where all bought on either Depop/ Ebay) or are items I’ve already worn.

As I’ve mentioned in previous blog posts I am trying to be more environmentally conscious with my fashion choices and shop second hand wherever possible. I also am conscious when picking looks for these lookbooks that I only want to pick up items that I know I would wear. Since, my body has changed recently I’m also in need of some new clothes so doing this series also works out that way.

Dodie’s style

I’ve been a fan of Dodie’s style for a while now and I would definitely count her as one of my style inspirations. Palette wise, Dodie tends to keep to neutral colours, often with black and grey as accent colours, which means that her wardrobe is easily interchangeable. One thing I really like about her style is that she often wears the same thing over and over again but varies the matching top or accessories so she really gets great mileage out of her wardrobe.

Silhouette wise, she tends to wear a floaty or an oversized silhouette, with her waist often accented (with high waisted trousers and crop tops for example), which is quite similar to the silhouette I tend to favour!

For the looks I chose, I first of all obviously picked looks I liked and matched pieces I already had, but I also tried to choose a variety of looks and ones for different occasions (i.e. I’ve chosen one look from her latest music video, casual and Halloween looks).

Human music video look

When I saw these dungarees, I knew I had to have them. As a general rule I’ve been trying to keep my colour palette to either neutrals or pink and green (in an effort to get more mileage out of my wardrobe) so when I was browsing second hand dungarees on Ebay and I spotted what I thought was the same pair, still with tags, I knew I had to have them.

Fit wise, they could probably do with a little adjusting due to my height (i.e. the straps being adjusted so they sit higher on me because as you may notice in one of the pictures the crotch sometimes ends up hanging low, resulting in a unflattering fit) but they are really comfy and have fast become one of my favourite pieces. I usually wear them with a green stripey top but for this look I wanted to get a bit closer to Dodie’s look in the music video so I teamed them with a white frill shirt I picked up from a charity shop a while ago (which, is from Zara – coincidentally so are the dungarees!).

Accessories wise I kept it simple with small silver hoop earrings and simple eye makeup inspired by the music video (a little shadow on the lids along with lashings of mascara and a pink lip). Dodie’s brows were also really defined in the video but I don’t own any brow makeup so I was just hoping that mine stand out enough on their own! She also wears a beautiful pony tail but I chose the look where her hair is down, as I don’t have enough hair to pull that off!

I finished the look off with my trusty vegan Dr Martens (which, are from Depop!).

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my robot building obsessive futuristic alieny maybe hairstyle for the music video for HUMAN I can do a mini tutorial if u like! Also go watch the music vid again because I’m visiting VEVO offices and so it’s fitting😎

A post shared by dodie (@doddleoddle) on Oct 17, 2018 at 4:11am PDT

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when I wrote Human, I was so excited to get to know someone deeply. I wanted to be the special, emotional human to break their shell and share the gooey real shit underneath together. And it was perfect for that time and it can still exist there, as a song about deep connection and fascination, a capsule of something beautiful. But obviously life is complex, and time moves on. Looking back on this song, the lyrics mean something different to me now. I see desperation, obsession, codependency. “this night just can’t end”, and “tell me you can’t bear a room that I’m not in”. And yet; the two have a deep message that connects them so strongly; it’s just human. Human to want, to love, to lose. To know that it is human is to forgive. (It’s fun to develop old art, recraft into something new, a scrapbook of feelings. It forever reminds me that every feeling, good or bad, has a purpose.)

A post shared by dodie (@doddleoddle) on Sep 21, 2018 at 2:19pm PDT

Outfit:

Blouse: Zara (from charity shop)

Dungarees: Zara (from eBay)

Shoes: Vegan Dr Martens (from Depop)

Halloween look

Anyone who follows me on Instagram may already have seen this next look, as I posted it on my stories a while ago. I’m not sure if this is the exact dress but I spotted it when looking for secondhand Urban Outfitters on Ebay (my top tip for second hand clothes buying is to type the names of brands you like on Ebay/ Depop, as it means you’re guaranteed to find some items you like) and thought it was definitely very similar, if not an exact match.

I paired my dress with a 3/4 sleeve black skater dress underneath (as the lace dress is completely sheer). I think in the future I’d like to pair this with a strappy or strapless dress so you can see more of the dress’s details (in fact, I’ll try to put something together and post some pictures of that too as well).

Although, I love the lace tights Dodie rocked; I tend to wear patterned tights only a few times and then always end up reverting back to black tights so I didn’t want to pick some up and not get a lot of use out of them.

Overall, I kept my look very simple and although I rocked a Dodie bun; I kept my makeup muted and accessorised differently to try to get a look that was a bit more my natural style.

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my Halloween costume is … tired??? Lol

A post shared by dodie (@doddleoddle) on Oct 31, 2018 at 4:05am PDT

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me and my… possessed scarf wish you a happy halloween! 👻

A post shared by dodie (@doddleoddle) on Oct 31, 2018 at 7:09am PDT

Outfit:

Dress 1 (skater dress underneath): Borrowed my mother – originally from H and M

Dress 2: (lace dress on top): Urban Outfitters (second hand from Depop)

Necklace: Present from my boyfriend (vintage)

Shoes: Vegan Dr Martens (from Depop)

I also decided to put together a little bit more of a ‘going out’ look by editing the makeup I wore with the look (I went with a dark red accent on the eyes and a neutral lip) and trying a bun that was a bit less messy. I also paired the dress with a strappy one underneath with a lower neckline so the lace detail on the top was a bit more prominent.

I wanted to take a picture with a coat I would pair with this look as well, so I also got a quick shot of the dress with my favourite green coat.

Outfit:

Dress 1 (underneath): Urban Outfitters (from Ebay)

Dress 2 (over): Urban Outfitters (from Depop)

Coat: House of Vintage London

Necklace: Present from my boyfriend (vintage)

Boots: Koi Footwear

Monster Live look

Not only did Dodie rock this this performance but her outfit was the perfect blend of casual-cute while doing so. I’m a big fan of an oversized dress (and anything in green) and socks with boots so I absolutely loved this outfit. Luckily, I already had some cute oversized vintage 80s glasses (that freaked my mum out because she’s got so used to me wearing contact lenses) and a baggy green dress. Putting the look together really reminded me that I need some black chelsea boots but I was able to make do with a heeled pair that I bought a while ago from Koi Footwear (vegan and affordable footwear!) instead. They also came in handy for the above look as well!

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check out @vevo’s dscvr live performance vids we did! We did one of She and Monster! ps: IT’S AN ILLUSION it’s smaller at the back lol

A post shared by dodie (@doddleoddle) on Feb 5, 2019 at 2:52pm PST

Outfit:

Dress: Topshop (from charity shop)

Jacket: Little Viking Vintage

Glasses: Vintage

Boots: Koi Footwear

Necklace: Present from my boyfriend (vintage)

Dungaree look

This next look is quite simple but it’s in fact one of my favourites. Sometimes, you just got to keep to your staples and rock a white t-shirt and black dungarees. However, I actually discovered when putting this outfit together that I don’t in fact own a plain white t-shirt (I really need to update the staples in my wardrobe) so I had to steal one of Martin’s.

Luckily, I did have some black dungarees, courtesy of Lucy and Yak and some brown boots from Will’s Vegan Shoes that I’d got second hand from Depop (though they do give me blisters so I can’t wear them for long – I really need to wear them in properly!).

I also attempted to rock a pony tail but I really don’t think I can pull them off (I usually either wear my hair loose or in a bun) but I tried! Maybe, they’ll look a bit nicer once my hair grows out a bit.

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me bc I get to play another show tonight and the day after and the day after the day after

A post shared by dodie (@doddleoddle) on Feb 26, 2019 at 3:18am PST

Outfit:

Top: Martin’s (thieved)

Dungarees: Lucy and Yak (bought from their Depop and dyed black)

Boots: Will’s Vegan Shoes (from Depop)

Bonus funny image (because if you can’t laugh at yourself, how the hell can you laugh at someone else?)

I hope you enjoyed these looks and please do let me know in the comments or on any of my social channels what musicians, or TV shows, or films you’d like me to take inspiration from next!

April (April is the Cruellest Month)

Facebook: @aprilisthecruellestmonthblog

Instagram: @aprilisthecruellestmonth

Twitter: @aprilcruelmonth

This post is entirely my own opinion.

October 29, 2018October 29, 2018

My thoughts on the new Irregular Choice x Dumbo and Bambi collection

I love, love, love Dumbo (and Bambi for that matter) but Dumbo has always had the power to make me more emotional. The film though does have its flaws – i.e the racist undertones (which aren’t subtle enough to be undertones really) of the crows. It’s Dumbo’s story though that I think resonates with a lot of people, a lonely, shy outsider who is ridiculed for his appearance and just wants to be loved. This post however isn’t an examination of Dumbo so I’ll stop there but I just wanted to explain a little why the figure of Dumbo is one that has always had strong connotations for me.

So when I saw that my favourite shoe brand, Irregular Choice, were going to be revealing a Dumbo collection I was over the moon. When I saw Bambi there too I was doubly over the moon! The collection is of course absolutely stunning. But before I go into each individual item I first wanted to discuss both collections as a whole. Also although, I very much want to buy something from the collection, it is going to have to be something I save up for and for those wondering the two items I would personally buy are the Sweet Little Dumbo boots and the Let Your Dreams Soar bag.

In regards to the pricing I noticed that the pricing was slightly higher than usual for this collection but I want to make clear this is not something I’m critical of. These are unique, bespoke shoes – I’ve always known why the price tag is there but wanted to mention as I’ve seen a lot of feedback about this on the Irregular Choice groups I follow. What I will say though is that I can definitely see customer feedback present in this collection with several different heel options as well as trainers (I especially like how there is two different heel height options for the same design). I don’t know if this feedback also played into the decision not to have a character heel (which, is one of my favourite Irregular Choice trademarks). I also think the Bambi collection, especially the Sweet as Can Be collection, is going to look stunning come spring – it’s a shame they couldn’t have had the release then (though a bonus for us!).

Irregular Choice x Dumbo

Little Star (bag, purse and shoes)

If the massive Irregular Choice bags aren’t your style then this one is for you. This style is based off an infamous scene of Dumbo performing at the circus. I love the glitter detail of the flames and the 3D dumbo on the side of the bag. If you like to have a matching set as well this is a cute little set and probably the least expensive of the options (which makes sense as the bag is smaller).

Dumbo Lifestyle-10.jpg — Image: Irregular Choice

Dumbo Lifestyle-11 — Image: Irregular Choice

I Give You Dumbo

I love, love love that these boots combine Dumbo and Timothy alongside an explosion of different colours. This style of boots reminds me of something an old eccentric librarian would rock (don’t ask me why) alongside a midi skirt and they are so Irregular Choice it’s insane! Unfortunately, this style of boot has just never appealed to me but if they’re your style I think they would look amazing.

Dumbo Lifestyle-4 — Image: Irregular Choice

Dumbo Lifestyle-12 — Image: Irregular Choice

The Big Act

When I saw this style come out in the teaser on Thursday (before the big drop with everything!) I had to admit that it was pretty darn cute. I love the unique square bag and think it would look amazing with the matching shoes with a bright red dress. For some reason all the glitter makes me think this style would look great at Christmas parties!

Dumbo Lifestyle-14 — Image: Irregular Choice

Dumbo Lifestyle-6 — Image: Irregular Choice

Dumbo Lifestyle-9 — Image: Irregular Choice

Dumbo Lifestyle-8 — Image: Irregular Choice

You’re Flyin Tights

Pastel lovers rejoice, I think these bold tights would look so cute in a pastel co-ord and I definitely want to ask for them Christmas (hint, hint to anyone reading). I’m a sucker for cloud print so I was always doomed to be besotted with these, especially as they have a subdued colour palette, which I think make them a bit easier to balance in an outfit if you find patterned tights a bit tricky.

Dumbos Big Top

I’ll admit in my heady excitement for the other items in the collection, I glanced over this pair but I am upset with myself for doing so. Not only do they have a gorgeous cloud print on the side (and would of course match the You’re Flyin Tights perfectly) but they have a cute little Dumbo on the side. The heel in fact matches the heel of the Sweet Little Dumbo boots so I think they are a companion to them. I also love that the heel is shorter (great for all those who are in the small heel camp). The front with the little pictures from the film reminds me a lot of their Alice in Wonderland collection and I love that reoccurring element of their style. They’re unfortunately out of stock in my size of these at the moment but if they ever go back in stock I’d be very tempted to pick these up!

Sweet Little Dumbo

So these boots are what me first made me fall in love with this collection. I love everything about them from the style of boot to the cloud print and the daring to put metallic purple, lime green and white and red star print on the same shoe. My favourite part has to be Dumbo’s ears sticking boldly off the side and the inclusion of Dumbo both in and out of his clown makeup. It’s the little details of the frill around Dumbo’s neck to the little pom pom on clown face Dumbo’s hat that are just so Irregular Choice! The little love hearts coming from Dumbo’s trunk just about send me over the edge.

I am very determined to save up and own these one day.

Dumbo Lifestyle-15 — Image: Irregular Choice

Dumbo Lifestyle-2 — Image: Irregular Choice

Precious Boy Bag

First of all, I have to say that the straps of this bag are to die for. I have been really loving metallics recently, I’ve always been nervous of them but after being inspired by seeing some fashion icons absolutely rocking them; I’ve been more and more tempted to give them a go. That along with more outfits rocking a single colour.

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A low quality picture of a high quality look!!! 💖 #pastelfashion #pinkfashion #kawaiistyle #partykei #femmelesbian #pinkfeed #queerstyle

A post shared by 💖 Ellie 💖 (@elliemedhurst) on Sep 30, 2018 at 8:03am PDT

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Just finished filming 🌷✨ I am a sparkly blue lady today 💎💎💎

A post shared by Jillian Vessey (@pixieespam) on Oct 25, 2018 at 9:02am PDT

This bag would have course look beautiful with the Sweet Little Dumbo and Dumbo’s Big Top shoes and I squealed when I saw the little pom pom. The scene with Dumbo and his mum at the back though would almost send me to tears on a daily basis, however, the bag does have two pockets, which is incredibly useful and would be worth the tears! The strap also looks like it’s removable so you can either rock it as a shoulder bag (which, I’m useless at doing) or a cross body bag (which, I’m much better at).

Makin History Tights

This is another one to add to the Christmas wishlist and one I’d love to rock with the Sweet Little Dumbo boots. They are definitely not for the wallflower though (to be fair though neither is Irregular Choice) but I absolutely adore them.

Little Sleepy Head

Don’t get me wrong these are still absolutely beautiful, but personally these appeal to me the least out of the Dumbo collection simply because of personal preference. I don’t often wear gold so they wouldn’t compliment a lot of what I own, however, I love the sleepy time Dumbo theme. The sleeping dumbo on the side is positively adorable.

Let Your Dreams Soar Bag

This bag lights up. I repeat this bag lights up. This is hands down my favourite of the Dumbo bags (closely followed by the Precious Boy bag). Forget what I just said about gold, I don’t care. One, this bag is the size of me basically. Two, this bag as mentioned lights up. Three, it features an absolutely adorable sleeping baby Dumbo on the front and on the back light blue baby fur with gold stars on it! I love, love, love when Irregular Choice incorporate faux fur on their bags and this is no exception. This bag also features glitter; what more could you want?! Also, as I’ve mentioned before you can either carry it or put it round you!

Sheer Dumbo perfection.

Dumbo Lifestyle-3 — Image: Irregular Choice

Sleepy Head Purse

This is of course a perfect companion to the bag and even features faux purple fur on the back (a touch of genius). The blue metallic inside is also dreamy perfection. Another one to add to the Christmas list!

Big Things Start Small

These are a bit manic even for me but I love that Irregular Choice now has trainer options and I could see Luna Lovegood rocking these. They also become more and more appealing the more I look at them for some reason! I’m not sure though if they have the patented Irregular Choice sole but I love all the textural details from the burgundy velvet trim to the fluffy faux fur. If you want some trainers that are more than a bit different, these are for you!

Irregular Choice x Bambi

I can definitely see that a lot of excitement for this collection has been centered on Bambi and I can see why the collection is stunning! I love Flower and Thumper so was guaranteed to be obsessed with this collection and will definitely be rocking it come Spring next year.

Woodland Playtime

I can see why this is already sold out, a matching boots and handbag set, yes please! This boots for me aren’t my personal preference style wise (as mentioned before with the Dumbo boots), which is a shame because I love the Bambi and Flower on the side and the beautiful flower detailing. I also adore that the texture of the ‘grass’ part of the shoe is fluffy to initiate real grass! The soles for the bambi shoes are of course absolutely stunning and adorable with Bambi on one shoe and Thumper on the other.

Bambi lifestyle-4 — Image: Irregular Choice

Bambi lifestyle-6 — Image: Irregular Choice

The purple fluff on the Woodland Playtime bag reminds me a lot of the bag from the Toy Story collection, which I really like as a reoccurring theme throughout the collections. I personally would get the Toy Story one just because I like things to match and would get upset if I didn’t have the matching shoes for the Bambi one (plus I love TOY STORY!). I do absolutely adore the metallic strap and inside lining of this bag, as well as the print on the back of the bag.

Bambi lifestyle-5 — Image: Irregular Choice

Sweet As Can Be

I am absolutely in love with this three piece set and am determined to buy it for Easter next year to rock with some pastels. I love that the shoes have Thumper and Miss Bunny on (and that Miss Bunny was included!) and the little pom pom to look like a rabbit tail on the back just about throws me over the edge. Once again this collection features that stunning metallic pink along with a beautiful heart on each side of the shoe – one for Thumper and Miss Bunny. These shoes are a delight and I can already think of about ten different outfits to wear them with.

Bambi lifestyle-13 — Image: Irregular Choice

The bag is one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen. Once again, I love the metallic pink, the fact that you can either have it go around you or hold it on your shoulder. Thumper’s flower crown tops it all off and makes this my brand of amazing. I also love that the bag has two compartments and features the same detailing as the shoes on the side (the rosette).

Bambi lifestyle-8 — Image: Irregular Choice

Bambi lifestyle-14 — Image: Irregular Choice

The metallic blue on the little purse is absolutely gorgeous! And I love the little sassy Thumper and Miss Bunny on the front. Honestly, I think this is my favourite complete set from the collection.

Bambi lifestyle-12 — Image: Irregular Choice

Sweet Little Prince

The next few items all make up the same mini collection but have different names so I’ll discuss them separately. This pair of flats is actually my favourite of this mini collection and I think this items are the best for someone who loves Irregular Choice but doesn’t feel as comfortable in some of the more ‘out there’ styles. These are beautiful shoes for autumn (the colours!) complete with cute Bambi detailing on the side. I think these would look adorable with some tights and a cute Autumn dress.

A Woodland Tale Bag

This is one of Martin’s (my boyfriend) favourites from the collection because he prefers all the black items (ha, ha). I will admit this is adorable and would make a great travelling or makeup bag (if you’re fancy). It also features Thumper and Miss Bunny on the back!

Bambi Lifestyle-3 — Image: Irregular Choice

Prince Of The Forest

This is another one of Martin’s favourites and essentially the heeled version of Prince of the Forest for those who like some heel with their shoe!

Bambi lifestyle-2 — Image: Irregular Choice

Bambi lifestyle-1 — Image: Irregular Choice

Darling Deer Purse

I don’t have much to same about this other than if you love this mini collection than this purse is a delightful accompaniment!

Bashful Skunk

I very nearly bought these shoes but stopped myself only because I can’t afford to buy Irregular Choice often and already own a pair of sparkly flats so decided that for my next pair I needed something slightly different. I absolutely love Flower however and all the floral details, the frill on the back in black and white and the little Flower rosette on these shoes. These are an absolute dream.

Bambi lifestyle-7 — Image: Irregular Choice

Bashful Skunk purse

If you are a Flower lover than this one if for you. It features the same flower motif from the shoes (with plenty of glitter) and I love the love heart with Flower on, on the back of the purse.

Forest Friends

The tights and the shoes share the same name so I’ll talk about them together. This is the collection for you if you want Bambi and Thumper on your shoes and a delightful bow at the front (featuring a rabbit tail and a beautiful flower). They’d look stunning with the tights, which also feature Flower who is nodded to on the shoe.

Bambi lifestyle-9 — Image: Irregular Choice

Bambi lifestyle-10 — Image: Irregular Choice

I’m Thumpin

If you cover something with a frill around the edge, I’m there. I love this heeled tribute to Thumper and Miss Bunny (they’d make such a great Valentines shoe if you want to go for something out of the pink-red colour combo). The flowers around the portrait of Miss Bunny and Thumper are so cute and if I wasn’t in love with the frill already it had to be a beautiful shade of blue! The purple glitter heel is also spectacular – I can’t tell what the white pattern is on it but to me it looks like a butterfly.

Hyah Bambi

The next shoe is also part of a three part set but because they have different names I’ll talk about them separately. These heels are absolutely stunning and I love that there is a smaller heel as well for those like me who would struggle with a large heel (I’ll make an exception for character heels!). I love that the whole heel is made to look like Bambi and the floral detailing and butterfly makes these adorable.

I’m All Twitterpatted Bag

I’m not going to lie, I was very excited when I saw this was a backpack (I am definitely a backpack lover). Also, it’s round (I love it when bags are round or square and less of the traditional bag shape) and that this bag has ears! The metallic pink inside makes my heart sing! This is definitely my second favourite of the Bambi bags, edging on being my favourite because it’s a backpack. This also happens to my friend Callie’s pick for me.

Darling Deer

This is my friend Callie’s second pick for me and I definitely agree that these are my favourite over the higher heels because I love the glitter heel and I would definitely fall over in the other pair. These once again feature that cute grass detailing and flowers. I would love to rock these in an outfit.

Meadow Playtime Tights

These are my favourite of the Bambi tights because they feature not only pink and dark pink/red which I love as colour combination but because they feature love hearts and I’m a sucker for heart print. Definitely one to invest in if you’re a lover of pink and need more adorable tights in your life!

For anyone interest although I love everything Irregular Choice does this is what I would buy (in desirability order):

Sweet Little Dumbo
Let Your Dreams Soar Bag (and Sleepy Head purse)
All the Dumbo tights
Darling Deer (this originally was lower down the list before seeing the shoes in person)
Dumbos Big Top
Precious Boy Bag
Sweet As Can Be Bag and shoes
Bashful Skunk shoes (I love Flower!!!)
Im Thumpin shoes
Meadow Playtime tights

So essentially about 90% of the collection. Realistically, I hope to save up and own the Sweet Little Dumbo and Let Your Dreams Soar Bag because after seeing them in person I am completely besotted.

If you’ve bought something from this collection or have a stand out favourite let me know in the comments below!

For anyone interested in the collection it’s available here. Also, I just want to note that none of the shoes or bags contain leather.

…

April (April is the Cruellest Month)

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October 24, 2018

Princess in Practice: The Rosewood Chronicles review

Although, I am very tempted to make this a very spoiler heavy review; I am going to make this as a spoiler free as possible (but it won’t be spoiler free in regards to events which occurred in the first book) because it’s only my own excitement and need to talk about the book, which is making me want to go spoiler heavy!

If you haven’t read the first book in this series Undercover Princess then I’ll be honest this review and Princess in Practice won’t make a whole lot of sense. If you’ve just read the first book and you want to recap a little or if you are thinking of starting this series you can read my review of Undercover Princess here.

I’ll start by initially saying that although the first book in this series has a special part in my heart (partly because I’ve been a fan of Connie Glynn for a few years now); this book definitely took it to the next level with me and I am now fully invested in this series.

Without further ado though let’s proceed with this review…

Blurb

Lottie and Ellie are back!

Head back to Rosewood Hall with your two favourite princesses in the sequel to Undercover Princess!

———-

As they return to Rosewood after the dramatic events of their first year, Lottie and Ellie are hoping for a peaceful term.

But strange things are happening at Rosewood. Pupils are being poisoned.

Is the threat of secret organisation Leviathan growing closer?

Lottie and Ellie are determined to find the culprit; but danger could be closer than they think…

Credit: Penguin

Judging a book by its cover (cover review)

For anyone who is even just mildly obsessed with pastels or princesses then this cover is a dream come true. I love that it keeps up the same colour palette as the cover for Undercover Princess and I personally love that the beautiful shade of pink is the main focus. The gold writing for both the series name The Rosewood Chronicles and the author gives an instant regal flair to the cover, demonstrating that, yes, this is a book highly concerned with royalty. The title itself (and I may be reading too much into this) Princess in Practice not only is very demonstrative of the theme of this book – this is definitely Lottie’s story about settling into her new role as Portman and through trial and error realising where she belongs and truly becoming a princess; but the two different writing styles remind me a lot of Ellie and Lottie. Ellie is a bit more bold like the font for the word princess whereas the word practice is in a fancier, more elegant script more characteristic of Lottie.

Based on her physical descriptions in the series, I believe the girl on the cover of the novel is Lottie with her tiara glistening on her head with Rosewood Hall visible right on her heart. And I can’t think of a more fitting image to sum up this novel to be honest.

Review

To prepare for this review I went back and read my review of the first book in the series, which did not help me with keeping this review spoiler free, as I just want to yell in this review about which of my assumptions are true. Instead, I’ll say this, if you are looking for a novel targeted at children and young adults that explores a wide range of different sexualities in a matter of fact way then this is for you.

It is refreshing to see the characters not be tormented over their sexualities and reacting well to finding out other characters sexualities – for the audience this is aimed at this is definitely a decision I agree with and helps them to negotiate how they should handle such situations. However, I think it might also be valuable to show a character not react well and then learn and grow from their mistake, but honestly this is something that could be easily explored in other parts of the series and I don’t expect this series to cover everything (that’s too much of a burden for any series to bear).

I’m glad as well that Lottie’s relationship with Ollie is explored further in this book and I hope to see more of Ollie in the future. Binah, one of my favourite characters from the first book, makes more of an appearance, which I was delighted about. Essentially, the second instalment does what a sequel should do and expand upon the world it’s created. Princess in Practice does this brilliantly, building on the momentum of the first book, instead of suffering from sequel syndrome. I think a large way the book gets away with this is making the journey of certain characters trying to find themselves a central part of the book.

I wish to the bottom of my heart this series would have existed for me growing up (before I over analysed everything) and the representation in this book made my heart burst, especially as it’s targeted to a younger audience. It’s that charm that means I can forgive the momentum of the book being slightly too rapid at points, and some things not being as fleshed out as I would like. I would though love to have a series that shows events entirely from Binah or Anastasia’s perspective throughout the books.

Overall, Connie grows on the first book, not only going from strength to strength with her writing, but further creating a magical land of royalty, intrigue and mystery that I couldn’t help but to lose myself in. I will definitely continue to read this series and can’t wait to see the future that is in store for its characters.

Also, for anyone wondering I did the official online quiz and I got Ivy house though in a version online I got Conch (there’s also helpfully an information page at the back of Princess in Practice with information about each house).

Rating

4/5 – ‘Building on the success of Undercover Princess, author Connie Glynn smashes it out of the park with a sequel fit for a princess.’