Good News for More Retro-Loving girls.

 A couple of my very favourite dresses were from the online boutique Collectif.  They specialise in retro looks with a slightly punky edge, and at pretty reasonable prices... But about eighteen months ago, with no explanation, they stopped stocking anything over a size 16.  I was disappointed - I sent an email on behalf of the blog - but no response was given (which I still think is pretty shocking customer service). To the present day, though, and not only have Collectif begun to reintroduce sizes up to a 22 (in a very limited range of stock now, but the website seems to have been set up to suggest that bigger sizes will become the norm) but also until 21st June you can get a 20% discount if you enter the code SUGAR at checkout.  I can't lie - I did just that, buying the frock above.

The polka dot dress (£50 - various colours and prints) I bought is basically the same shape and style as the cute sailor dress (£55, also available in black and navy).  It's flattering to hourglass shapes, disguises tummies, bums and thighs, and can be worn with a flouncy retro underskirt (available in many other retro stores) for more fifties-tastic impact.

If you have a more flat stomach, there are plenty of pencil skirts and wiggle dresses in the range (although not yet in the larger sizes). I love the 'Lust' dress, above, for its dramatic portrait collar and asymmetric buttons (£50).

There are separates too - of which the Dolores top (£25) is my buxom favourite.  The curves of this clever neckline will enhance small boobs, while flattering the fuller embonpoint because of it's diagonal lines.
 

There is also a new range by  Bordello Shoes on the site.  All fantastically impractical, I particularly love these 'too fabulous to be true' Teeze platforms (£49.95).

If you're new to Collectif, I think it's well worth a look - generally reasonable value, and with a 20% reduction as well, you may find something to treat yourself with.

Oh my! I could actually weep.

Yesterday I bought the above frock to wear while celebrating my impending birthday.

Today I got an email from Collectif (retailers of said frock), announcing their one week, 50% off everything sale - from 17th - 24th January.  Poo.  

Anyway, you presumably haven't just paid full price for a frock from Collectif, and so really should consider paying half price for one.  The frock I bought is called sugar, and I chose it because, unlike many retro frocks, not only is it not a halterneck, the straps aren't the thin 'spaghetti' type, so beloved of prom dresses.  The problem then is not that they show your bra (no big deal), but that a thin strap can look lost in all that expanse of arm, shoulder and cleavage -  making your flesh look swampingly huge by comparison.  The sugar dress avoids this problem by borrowing from the Mouret Galaxy dress in it's lines.  I bought it in pink with black flocked animal print (rarr) for £45.  In the sale it comes in at a much more modest £22.50. Find dresses here.

Collectif is also the home of the 321 skirt (£30 before discount): a modern take on the circle skirt witha built-in net underskirt, and more pencil skirts than you can shake a stick at, including the ultra high-waisted Heidi style (also £30 before discount). Find skirts on this page.

There are trousers, cardies and bags - plus some items already heavily discounted in the sale - and it's 50% off the lot from from 17th -24th.  Use the coupon code 'shocking' and click submit to view the reduction before paying.  Please don't do this before 17th!

Curse that exchange rate!

Now is not the time to be buying clothes from the States - time was that the exchange rate made US shopping a steal, but now - not so much.

And yet... Look at the gorgeous goodies on the Pin Up Girl website. I've long been a fan - ever since I stumbled across the Greta Hawaiian Print dress - Modelled by yours truly above. The new range has some really exciting stuff that has my credit card itching.

The Kiss Me Deadly range is amazingly eye-catching - although partly that must be due to their fantastically pneumatic models. My eye was caught by the Polka Dot Wiggle Dress ($92) also in white on black, and plain black: the collar on the halterneck is so sharp - but sadly not bra friendly. The do, however, also have a really practical bolero jacket - something every girl should own - for $52.

Elsewhere on the site (and it's truly labyrinthine - a huge quantity of gorgeous stock). More wiggle dresses, this time by Pin Up Girl's own brand, in the form of the aptly named Jessica Dress. It comes in Hot pink/black (above), Burgundy/black, Houndstooth/black, and plain black, or scarlet red - all $88.

But it's not all slinky pencil dresses. The streetwear section of the site is chock full of ranges and designers from the states and UK. Prom dresses sit cheek by jowl with Tattoo influenced T-shirts in the section devoted to 'Lucky 13'. Elsewhere there are clothes for men, accessories and shoes.

Shipping is to be factored in though - rates start at $42, but depend on weight. They recommend buying together to make savings - but even then, it has to be a consideration. There's also the change that you'll get unlucky and UK customs will randomly select your package to levy import duty to - it's never happened to me, but it definitely happens.

The question is - can you truly resist?

Happy New Year - a pair of recommendations

Lovely Sarah, prolific commentator on this blog, gave me a 'heads up' last week about Leia Lingerie. It stocks the full Bravissimo range of sizes, but with really much more significant sale savings.

It's funny - the more successful and established a company is, I guess the better they can predict their turnover, and so have less surplus stock to discount, and less desperation to do so - so the discounts aren't so serious. Not so Leia Lingerie.

You can search the sale by size, and I was able to stock up on some pretty bras for around £15-20 each - delivery was speedy and service was seamless.

My second recommendation is the sale at Pin Up Parade. This site is a small business run by a delightfully lovely lady who imports Dita Von Teese-style retro clothing from the big American companies in limited numbers. Prices are very reasonable (compared to the cost of importing yourself) - especially in the sale. Check the size charts for everything - retro reproduction clothing has very idiomatic sizing. The red dress above is so tempting, but the measurements look to be on the small side of an 18, and it's not going to accommodate my boobs. But, it's a handsome, curve-flattering frock - full of old Hollywood glamour - and someone should snap it up for £45 (net skirt not included). I'd love it to be one of you.

A steal at £40 - and available up to a size 18 (but again, no stretch in the bust) is this all-in-one work frock. I can just see this on a couple of my taller friends. But - really, I could be here all day. Take a look for yourself, and buy with confidence. I once asked the owner of this site if she had any plans to get in the Mode Merr 'Perfect Skirt' in a plain black cotton, and she was very sweet and communicative, and does indeed now stock it - my every transaction with her has been fault-free.

Worth a look...

There's a sale on at Dolly Dagger - a website with a part rockabilly / part artschool babe asthetic. The shoes above remind me (in a good way) of the eighties - I think it's the heel. They come in pink, red or black rosettes and cost only £11.25, reduced from £40.

I'm also quite taken with the knitted bow beret (£15) which comes in Red, Black or Grey and also have matching fingerless gloves (£12) and scarf (£16.50).

The rest of the sale tends toward the smaller sizes - but if you are petite, it's well worth a look for some fabulous discounts - particularly on rocakabilly frocks.

Retro shop discovery

I stumbled across http://www.bigbeautifulbarbarabrown.com/index.html today. It's clearly a business in its infancy - and the site features some of the worst photography ever - but it's a hit-and-miss treasure trove of retro fun, apparently from the people behind Lady Laudanum (for those who may be familiar). Prices are reasonable for handmade stuff, and certainly comparable with or even cheaper than frocks from Pin Up Girl, Vivien of Holloway, Mode Merr, Stop Staring or Bettie Page clothing - all of whom stock similar stuff.

So - some items that caught my eye:

The Agapantha dress (above) is £56 and available up to a size 20. I just love the stand up collar and dramatic neckline.

The red and black 40's Casino Dress has wonderfully flattering sleeves, goes up to a 22 and is £50.

There's a whole section of dresses inspired by Monroe, including one copied from the fringed dress she wiggled down the platform wearing in 'Some like it hot' (£65).

Some of the gorgeous shapes have been made in rather fabulous modern fabrics - I particularly like this 40s tea dress made in Mexican 'dios de muerte' fabric (up to a size 22). I know from my own previous investigations that this fabric is quite pricey: hence the £73 price tag.

There are separates and also swimwear designs, including this adorable swimming dress with attached shorts and matching headband (£59). Cute as you like, but only up to an 18 - but then, it is December - by summer the site may stock bigger sizes or I might have shrunk.

What I am seriously tempted by is this gorgeous tartan frock - (£60). I don't know yet whether to go for the red or the blue/green option.

Decisions, decisions...