Elsie's Attic - Vintage Dresses

Hey All

Hope you've had a good weekend. I thought I'd share some dresses I've been loving lately especially for special occasions. Whilst browsing facebook one day I discovered a page called Elsie's Attic (facebook). I instantly fell in love with all of the dresses and as my niece is called Elsie took it as a sign I needed to order lots (who am I kidding I just liked the dresses and use anything as an excuse to shop!) I'm a pear shaped girl so anything that nips in at the waist and goes over the hip is a winner for me.

The first dress is a Lindy Bop dress. Elsie's Attic stock a lot of these. This was actually a birthday present from my other half's parents as his mum had spotted on facebook that I liked it and offered to get me one of my choice.

I instantly loved the neckline of this dress, the nipped in waste and the print. It's a little bit brighter than the image below shows. Once my other half gets back from his work trip I'll try and get some better one's of it. I love that the dresses can be worn with or without petticoats. I have a full petticoat I'd planned to wear with it but actually forgot to take it with me. This one feels great quality and is a lovely silky print dress! The back dips down lower than the front but not low enough to worry about bras showing. Also for me these dresses are great as I can order my normal size and not worry about it fitting over my hips. The dress is £36 but currently out of stock in the bird print. I really want it in the green and the burgundy. I love a good occasion dress! The waspie style belt comes with it too and really finishes off the dress!

The other dress I've got from the website isn't a branded one and one I picked up in the sale. I instantly loved the shirt style top half of this dress. This one comes with a small petticoat built in but for fullness I added my own full petticoat (these can be picked up cheaply on ebay!). I wore this to a friends recent wedding. Excuse the facial expression as I didn't know the photo was being taken (ever a lady with a pint in hand!) This dress also came with a belt made from the same fabric I love that so far all the dress I've ordered come with belts as I do think it really finishes the outfit off. I love the little details on it make the dress look great quality such as fabric covered buttons.

Wedding Guest Vintage Dress

I love dresses like this, they always make me feel glamorous and confident as they are cover parts of my body I don't like. Delivery from Elsie's Attic has always been efficient and it's definitely worth checking out the sale for more bargains.

I'll be ordering more dresses if more occasions pop up. I do have a third dress from the site but no great photos of it. I've worn them to weddings, gradations and dresses them down for dinners without the petticoat.

Would you go for this style dress?

Love M

xxx

here's some links to other wedding outfit posts :)
Asos
hybrid
Warehouse

Wedding Guest Outfit Inspiration

Hey All

I'm reaching the age where I seem to have lots of weddings to go to. I tend to be really bad at reusing dresses and love the excuse to buy a new one. I always have the best intentions to re-wear a dress but it never seems to happen so when the other half asked me to be his plus one for a few weddings in November I instantly started browsing sites.

When I saw Asos had a sale on I started browsing and accidentally ended up with 12 items in my basket making their way to me!

Here are my top picks and I ended up keeping three of these dresses. I had the best intentions to only keep one but they were such bargains I needed to keep a few more.

This is my favourite of the dresses and most likely the one I'll wear. I love the green colour with blonde hair and think the neckline is interesting. It's also really comfortable as while it's tight it skims everywhere. It also comes in petite range too. It comes in at £31. (link)

I love mint green and I'm yet to own much in this colour. I love the length and fit and it's a little booby but think the length still makes it ok for a wedding. For me I wasn't sure if this was too summer wedding due to the colour but it is available in a few other colours. It is a bargain £19 and is great quality. (link)

This one is the other half's favourite. I know he's biased to it though as he loves red dresses. I love the tone of this as I do find red sometimes looks cheap but as it's a bit more on the burgundy side it looks nicer. I love the touch of lace. I'm a lace fan but I do think it's hard to find lace that doesn't look cheap sometimes. It is a very tight dress so this one may only be worn if I lose a pound or two so I'll feel comfortable after eating. Another bargain at only £18. (link)

Lastly is this Lipsy one. I rarely find anything in Lipsy I like. I find it can be chavy, or way to short for a tall girl. I'm also not a fan of an exposed zip. All of that aside I love this dress. It's a thick quality fabric so doesn't bunch on the body and just skims. It has padded cups so a bra isn't necessary, no exposed zip and a fair length. I love how the lace contours the waistline to help it appear smaller. This one is also only £19. (link)

Unfortunately this dress didn't fit me when it arrived. If it did I think it would have been a favourite. I think it's so simple but cut really well and stunning. It also comes in a cornflower blue. I think with pretty jewellery it would be amazing. (link)

With such bargain dresses who am I to resist a new one!

Where is your go to shop for wedding guest outfits? Which is your favourite?

Love M

xxx

OOTD: Oasis Maxi Dress

Hey there!

I'm not really one for an OOTD post. Mainly as I think my wardrobe is quite boring (I love tailoring, jeans and monochrome) but also because I just haven't ever really got my head around them.
I do really like clothes but this never really reflects in posts unless I have a haul and throw them all at you at once! so I've decided to start sharing with you some of my new buys.

This maxi dress from Oasis was my first ever maxi.....that might seem ridiculous to some of you as I know a lot of people live in them but as a tall lady I find it hard to find ones that fit me. This time though, I didn't care if it fitted or not as i loved it!

Considering that my wardrobe is full of monochrome this is basically the closest I'm going to get to a perfect maxi dress for me! It's cream and black, so not quite spot on but for spring and summer I think that's even better.

I absolutely love prints like this and find them so easy to wear; you can add any colour to it in the form of a blazer, cardigan, bag or flats and instantly jazz it up for a wedding or wear it the pub for a summer evening.

Another reason why I wasn't sure about them was the way they fit me. As a curvy girl i need things to pull me in at the waist and flatter me either side of that so the black belt that come with the dress was an absolute essential. It pulls me in at the waist and distracts from the lower belly which is possibly my most hated part!

The capped sleeves are a nice detail and the V neck draws your gaze upwards towards the chest area but luckily it isn't revealing either.

Here it is on in the changing rooms:

It seems to skim over everything else perfectly and I was so pleased to finally find a maxi dress that i felt comfortable in.....now I know why everyone raves so much!!

It also *almost* fits me length wise too, it's the closest I've come to finding one that's long enough so I just bought it without thinking about it too much. It's about an inch or so too short which is a shame but as long as I stick with flats it will be fine.

Where do you get your maxi dresses from?

This one was about £40 from Oasis, I can't find it anywhere on their site or Debenhams and hadn't ever seen it there before. I think i was just very lucky to find it!

L xxx

Life Update

Hi all! 

I've been absolutely shocking at writing posts the last few months, sometimes I managed to schedule a load of them and others I've just had to let the days roll by as there's just been no chance for me to get onto my laptop. It's very frustrating when I have so many things to write about and share with you!

I thought I'd ease in gently and get started with a life update post. Things have been so busy but I've got plenty of photos!

As I've previously mentioned I have finally quit my job after a fair few months of being extremely unhappy. The photo above shows one of the mountains surrounding Abergavenny and it's a very pretty place especially as it seems to have it's own weather system!
It was nice for it to be sunny during my last few days there. I've been attending lots of interviews so revising for them and the travelling has left me pretty exhausted. Here are 2 of my outfits, I do love a shift dress and my favourite black blouse always comes in handy!

I've mentioned that my mum has been ill recently and had had an operation. I'm so pleased that she's done so well and has barely taken any painkillers so I'm really proud of her. She came home early from hospital and is now resting in bed so fingers crossed she'll make a quick recovery at home too.

In light of her being in hospital I've been making food for the family which is no easy task as my mum is AMAZING at cooking and it's not really my area of expertise. Having said that, we've been stuffing down some lush meals lately including an amazing burger from a new local company called Got Beef, fully recommend them! I've also made Sticky Chicken with broccoli and sweet potato chips (recipe here) and my first ever taste of bacon and pancakes YUM.

My awesome colleagues got me some amazing presents, I'm still in shock they got me these as they are PERFECT! I do love my spirits as I'm allergic to wine so they got me skull full of vodka from Crystal Head which is so cool don't you think?? I don't think I can bring myself to open it yet!

They also got me some really posh handmade chocolate from Amelia Rope in Wholefoods, I'm going to do a separate post on these are they were so lush and I'd love to support brands like this more.

M went shopping last week and snapped up some SUPER bargains....all of the below she found in Debenhams on offer for £3 or so each which is unbelievable. We still can't work out why it was all being sold off but this lot was worth £95 and came to around £21....couldn't say no to that especially after the reviews I've seen on the serums! full posts will follow :)

Apart from eating and shopping me and M have also completed Tough Mudder. It was a really fun day but we were so exhausted afterwards we ended up driving straight home and skipping the after party! Next time (we've already agreed to do it all again!) we know to pick an earlier time so we have time to shower and dry off properly before everyone else starts queueing!

This weekend felt really boring in comparison to last weekend, so we decided to walk up Pen Y Fan which is one of the highest peaks in Wales for a bit of exercise and took my dog. He does love being a bit of a poser!

The last few weeks and months have been super stressful and time has sometimes flashed by really quickly. Now that I'm unemployed for a hopefully short time, I'm planning on enjoying myself and sorting my life out!

I've had a clear out recently but I may do it again to get rid of clutter and minimise everything. Mostly I'm looking forward to spending time with friends and hopefully having a fair few jugs of Pimms!

What have you all been up to recently? Do you have any interview tips and tricks?

I'd love to hear them!


L xxx

New Look Wedges

Hi all!

Firstly I'd like to apologise for my shoddy lack of posts. I've had a few dramas in my life and this has resulted in me handing in my notice at work and selling my absolute favourite thing - my car (SOB!). I've made the decision to go travelling with a friend which is very exciting but also scary as I've no idea what I'm going to come back to and what I will end up doing. I've written a bit more in my life update post you can find here if you'd like to know more.

Other than that.....let's get back to SHOES!

I've been quite poor for a while. Add to that my stint working at Boots which obviously didn't help my bank account much (hello discount!). I've been living in the same tan wedges and black wedges for a while now with no other heels in sight. Long story short my black wedges are no more and I just HAD to get a new pair to get me through. Cue a trip to New Look with M and low and behold........I came out with a new black pair...and a coral pair. M is dangerous!

These beautiful wedges came in at £20 and are extremely similar to a pair of Kurt Geigers I used to have and had to sell. Getting these were the perfect replacement for my previous wedges and a nice little nod to my beloved KG's that I do quite miss a lot (even if I did only look at them in my wardrobe).

They are quite high but hey, it's a wedge and its a fully enclosed shoe with a wraparound design over the main part of the foot. The zips at the back look cute and help to get the shoes on and off easily, and the platform at the front makes them a whole lot comfier for those long wedding days and even longer evenings over the summer!

I knew they'd be perfect for so many evenings I just couldn't leave without them...especially when they were not only the only size 6 in the shop but the only shoe in the whole shop! MINE.

In my search for black wedges I cam across a super cute pair of coral wedges too. I mean it would have been rude not to try them on wouldn't it?

The colour is gorgeous, and one that suits my pale skin and dark hair. I love the adjustable straps on the ankles as I have skinny ankles (the only part that is skinny!) and need these to be able to wear heels more comfortably.

The platform with the wedge allows me to wear heels without actually killing my feet.

They're a very cute and feminine pair of shoes and I will look forward to wearing this at many an afternoon at the pub and evening with the girls.
This colour seems to go with everything too, it can be a pop of colour with a black or white dress and complement my many beige, coral and patterned items of clothing that are hiding away in my wardrobe. (stay tuned for a gorgeous maxi dress that fits this bill!)

I have only worn the black wedges so far and that was on my recent trip to Edinburgh and involved a lot of karaoke! See below for a cheeky snapshot of me belting out Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody with a friend!

As a tall lady I often look at heels and wonder a) why on earth I wear them and b) if they make me look stupid.

In wedges I feel comfortable, not clumpy and actually....quite elegant!

I do love the ability to run around in the chunky heels without fear of flying and going flat on my face or bum.

How much do you love wedges? Are you a fan or are you a sky scraper stiletto kind of girl?

L xxx

H and M Scuba Skirt

Hey All

Sorry for the lack of posts from us. It's been a busy few weeks for L and I. This Friday was my birthday so my weekend has been a busy one. I celebrated with my parents on Friday night and went out for dinner then saw the dude and some of the girls for drinks on Sunday for cocktails! It was such a lush night!

As I'm skint I had originally decided I didn't need a new outfit but then thought birthday's require new clothes.

changing room photo to get friends approval!

I can't say I've been overly fussed on this scuba material trend. I thought the fabric was a little weird to have in a dress or skirt. When I was browsing H and M this amazing green/yellow one caught my eye. I had planned to pick up one of the long A Line skirts but loved the colour on this one more. As the skirt was so bright I thought classic make up would be best. I borrowed my friends studio fix foundation and I had forgotten how beautiful it makes the skin look.

It sits high up on the waist meaning it'll look great with crop tops as well as vest without having to worry about the dreaded belly pooch! The skirt was £34.99 which is a lot for what it is but the colour had caught my eye and I was instantly sold! I can't find it online but my store did have lots of it.

I felt so comfortable in it and girly without being OTT! I'm hoping I can dress it down with flats and actually get some wear out of it other than nights out. It was short on me. I am tall but due to the style it's not too short!

Are you a fan of bright colours? Have you embraced the Scuba trend?

Love M

xxx

Get Ready with Me - Dinner Date

Evening All

Another late post from me. I seem to only find time in the evenings to write lately! This weekend was an action packed awesome one!! I'll share more of that later on in the week.

My favourite type of posts lately seem to be get ready with me and face of the day! I love seeing these posts from people as you can pick up little tips and get new ideas!

Today's get ready with me was for a dinner date, I wear this look quite a lot as it's quite classic and easy!

My hair was straightened so I started off by putting in my lauren's way rollers pre shower! When my hair is straight if I'm doing something in the evening I like to pop the rollers in for an hour if I have time so my hair has a bit of body. I find doing them pre shower helps speed up the process as the steam slightly dampens the hair!

For my eyes I used a combination of palettes. I used Urban Decay primer potion in eden to start (I'm in love with this and use it all the time if I need my make up to be long lasting or more vibrant. As a base colour I used a combination of bootycall from naked 2 and strange from naked 3. As I wanted a slight bit of colour I blended Benefite Raincheck? through my crease and outer V. I Then applied Buzz from Naked 3 under the eye for some shimmer!

I was feeling classic make up so went with a black flicked eyeliner!! I love winged liner but I have to be in the mood to do it. This nights wasn't that tidy. For foundation I used Illamasqua Skin Base which is my all time favourite foundation for flawless skin. For concealer I used Nars Creamy Concealer. Another big favourite!

For my brows it was of course browzings! They are horrible unruley as I was letting them grow pre brow arch march wax! For masacara I used They're Real but I was having a bad mascara day. My lashes weren't playing ball as I hadn't got it all off post shower!

For bronzer it was none other than my new bronzer love of Make Believe! I can't stop using this beaut! It's so easy! I contour my cheeks and nose with this!

On my cheeks I used the blush and highlighter from naked flushed. I'm in love with the highlighter as it's finer than MSF so much easier to wear! The blush I love for days when I want more than dandelion gives!

As I was off to meet the guy I'm seeing I opted for a soft neutral lip. If I was out with the girls a red lip would have been a must here! I opted for Revlon Kissable balm stain in honey! I love this shade for easy to wear colour on the lips!

I love how the rollers when applied to my hair straight just give it soft bounce and body. After being in for 45 minutes they give the perfect result for me.

I had to share my new dress as I'm in love with it. It was a bargain £5 from Asda kids range. this is a age 12-13 and I'd say it was an 8 -10 so if your a 12 I think the age 14-15 would fit. I love the bright daisy print and I was instantly sold with the cut out back! I really love a cut out back and as I don't have a whole lot of boob I love to show back instead of cleavage.

My necklace was a bargain my mum found in boots at Christmas time and was only a £1! As it has gold and silver it's a great piece. Boots have amazing jewellery and great discounts when they go in the sale so I'd highly recommend checking it out.

I finished off the look with my ever faithful Primark coat and black tights!

What do you wear on a dinner date?

Love M

xxx

Reviews of products mentioned

Naked 3

Naked 2

Naked Flushed

Benefit World Famous Neutrals

Benefit Browzings

Make Believe Bronzer

Primark Coat