Pinup Couture Laura Top - red!

I recently purchased two barely worn Pinup Couture Laura Tops (size XL, in white and red) from a groovy fellow Pinup Girl Clothing fan. The price was right, their condition is excellent, and the tops seemed like a great way to solve my perpetual problem finding cute, casual tops right for wear with jeans and crops. While the Lauras are cute (love the heart buttons at the neckline), well-made, and comfortable, they aren’t quite what I was hoping for.

First, the tops are short. Whenever I sit or bend over, they pop right up around my waist, leaving my lower back skin exposed. This issue likely unresolvable by sizing up to the 2x, as both the XL and 2x are 24 inches long.

Second, the tops are not long/big enough in the chest area, as the underbust seam hovers just above my bra underwire. While it’s still comfortable and looks fine, this doesn’t bode well for people with truly large or round boobs (i.e., bigger and better boobs than mine, which are fairly average for a person of my height and size). My bust measures 43-44″ and usually takes a 36/38DD/DDD bra, which puts me squarely in the XL area (40-45″) according to the size chart.

Ironically, some Laura Top reviewers have mentioned that despite falling well within the bust range recommended by the size charts, they felt that their boobs did not adequately fill up the bodice space provided. While I wasn’t expecting this to happen to me, I wasn’t expecting to ride the upper end of plausible fit, either. :/

Third, the stretch jersey fabric clings. Maybe this would be less of a problem if I sized up, but the top is already big enough around the waist to give a practical, comfortable fit. I have loose skin on my midriff from major weight loss that peeks through no matter how thin I get, which makes me feel incredibly self-conscious (and is in fact one of the major reasons why I have issues finding fitted knit tops I feel comfortable wearing). Wearing the tops over Spanx or tucked into a high-waisted skirt solves this problem, but that kind of negates my whole reason for buying them in the first place; I wanted to wear them with jeans and crops!

Pinup Couture Gia Top in burgundy with Laura Byrnes Black Label pencil skirt.

Something else to consider is the darker colorways run a bit smaller than the lighter ones. In my case, the red fits a tad more snugly than the white. Additionally, the white fabric is somewhat sheer; the bodice is self-lined, but the lower part is not. Those who are looking for a bit more coverage in the boob area and more “disguise” in the midriff region may have better luck with the long-sleeved, surplice-bodiced Gia Top, which comes in the same fabric and some of the same colorways.

I’m still on the fence about what I will do with my Lauras. I may trade these up for the larger size and see how I fare, or I may keep them and use them as I can until I lose a bit more weight.

At any rate, stay tuned for some new clothing posts and reviews! I’m anxiously awaiting an order of Hell Bunny dresses from UK-based online store Sirens & Starlets.

Outfit of the Day - Saturday!

Since the semester’s started, I haven’t had much time for anything but work. However, here’s my casual outfit for this dreary Saturday! White House/Black Market dot cardigan, Deadly Dames Vamp top in red with black dots, El Dorado Club “New Orleans” bat necklace, Torrid jeans, and Coach patent leather flats.

I’m also including a shot from Thursday afternoon, which features a smidge of that Heartbreaker Marilyn Tee I’d previously mentioned. I’m happy with the shot because my hair isn’t frizzed beyond belief and the colors involved seem to suit me.

I have a few new (and old) items in the hopper to show you within the next month or so, so stay tuned! Here’s hoping everything fits as planned!

Heartbreaker Marilyn Tee.

Outfit of the Day.

I borrowed Forever 21′s big mirror on the way out of the mall today to bring you my outfit of the day!

I wore a silver-sequined black cardigan from the 2010 Lane Bryant holiday collection, my Deadly Dames Pirate Dress, cheap Steve Madden shoes from T.J. Maxx, Claire’s hairflower, and El Dorado Club “New Orleans” Filigree Bat Necklace.

Would’ve been nice had I, you know, worn makeup or something.

Close up!

It’s barely January, which means that the shops are stocked with cruisewear and the strange seasonal hybridity of bridge lines. Last week, my brother’s girlfriend and I stopped by Ann Taylor Loft to find it awash in nautical blues and brash stripes; all stuff I like, but nothing that satisfies either current climatic reality here in the northern hemisphere or my severe jones for flowers and fragrance and sunshine and springtime.

I know it’s too early to be shopping in earnest for the season to come – after all, it’s only officially been winter for less than three weeks – but it’s a perfect time to look ahead at what’s coming down ye olde pipe and try to plan. First, an obligatory look at the official Pantone palette for Spring, 2012:

Spring 2012 Fashion Color Trends - Pantone Fashion Color Report Spring 2012.

Margarita, Cockatoo, and Sweet Lilac satisfy my craving for soft candy color; Cabaret is a hot pink right up my colorsense alley, while Sodalite Blue in conjunction with rich greens would scratch my itch for midcentury sofa prints and lucite grape lamps. Sodalite is more cobalty than your standard January navy, it looks like.

Retailers like Torrid appear to be jumping on the the orange bandwagon with their new Sweet Escape cruise collection, though I can’t quite tell if they’ve used spring’s Tangerine Tango or a softer tone like last season’s Emberglow.

Heartbreaker Gretta Top and Laura Byrnes Black Label Pencil Skirt (Pinup Girl Clothing).

Heartbreaker Fashion – one of my favorite brands – is offering a number of its timeless pieces in a sage print reminiscent of Pantone’s Margarita, a mod drink-themed pattern (“Happy Hour”) that utilizes several bold colors reminiscent of this season’s palette, and a navy “Orbit” theme that seems to shade toward Sodalite Blue. You can check these out at their spring lookbook.

I’m hoping to pick up some more Heartbreaker separates (like this Stripey Marilyn Tee)  in the coming months, as they’re pretty much amazing. At a recent clearance sale, I purchased their Gretta Top in a rich beige color that they had discontinued. The fabric is substantial, which makes for a great shape. More, it perfectly matches my Heartbreaker Gypsy Skirt in Dandelion print.

Deadly Dames Je T'Adore Dress in Victorian Rose print.

Deadly Dames (Pinup Girl Clothing) will be rolling out both sleek and fluffy silhouettes in feminine hues and prints, most of which don’t follow the seasonal color pack. That, however, is part of why I like Deadly Dames. In fact, the parade of awesome winter-to-spring stuff from designer Micheline Pitt begins this weekend with the much-anticipated Je T’Adore Dress in four colorways. I’ve ordered it in the “Victorian Rose” pattern, which suits my springtime floral craving to a T. I tend to ride the line on the hip measurement in their largest size, so keep your fingers crossed that it fits!

Coming later are the Courtesan Swing Dress, available in a black/white gingham and the Victorian Rose pictured above (I want the gingham!), and the L’Amor dress, which I hope to get in the black with white polka-dot colorway. You can see advance images of the collection at Micheline’s Facebook fanpage.

My outfit of the day: The Mon Cheri Dress in Mauve by Deadly Dames.

The satin Mon Cheri Dress, from the Fall Deadly Dames line, comes in colors from the same palette. I purchased the dress in the mauve colorway, which is a breathtaking antique pink. It’s got just the right amount of gold to make it right for autumn, yet it’s soft enough to carry you through the winter into spring. If it weren’t lined or sleeved, I’d want to wear it in summer, too!

Anyway, it’s what I’m wearing to a party tonight! This is their 2x; except for the arms, I could have handled the xl. Even a little big, it still looks good. I particularly love the black velvet belt!

Grace Dress action shot!

So I thought I’d share my new favorite dress, which I happen to be wearing right now for New Year’s Eve festivities! It’s the Grace Dress from Laura Byrnes Black Label/Pinup Girl Clothing. Yes, I buy and wear a lot of Pinup Girl Clothing items. No, they aren’t paying me to pimp out their stuff. I just love their clothes!

Anyway, Grace features a well-constructed fitted bodice, a superfull circle skirt, and a really sumptuous red sateen fabric textured with a midcentury black flocked pattern. This one’s size xl, and it fits just right! More images after the jump…

Grace Dress right out of the box!

1950s Jewelry!

I’m wearing it with my tea-length black crinoline from Malco Modes, trusty black suede/patent heels from Sofft, a black sequined sweater from Lane Bryant’s 2010 holiday collection, my 1950s-60s beaded Saks Fifth Avenue clutch, and some SWEET vintage jewelry! My 1950s rhinestone earclips are part of the vintage jewelry haul I inherited from my Great-Aunt Alice and my gorgeous midcentury rhinestone necklace is a Christmas gift from my mom.

Jewelry closeup...

Happy New Year!

So a few months ago I set out a list of blogging goals. Like many ENFP personality types, I tend to be very long on ideas and very short on attention span and time. To make matters worse, this past semester was one of my all-time busiest work periods, a frustrating reality further exacerbated by a bunch of extra life demands (some fun, like period balls, some not-so-fun, like expensive car repairs) that required time and money. My 2012 New Years’ resolution is to spend more time on my websites – particularly this blog, as it is both a way for me to reduce my rambling ideas into tangible goals AND an impetus for following through on those goals so I can share the results with you!

Happy New Year! Pinup Couture Evelyn dress in green satin.

I’m still plugging away on my to-do list from this past fall, and  I’m logging my goal progress to keep me honest! But before I bring you in on that, a goodwill gesture to prove that I’m working on it – an Outfit of the Week!

This is my Christmas Eve ensemble: Evelyn dress in green satin with reversible black velvet shrug from Pinup Couture, new Dian Von Furstenburg frames, homemade hairflower, and black suede-and-patent heels from Sofft Shoes.

Seriously, this dress is ace: rich satin sheen and Christmas green color, super-cute ruched bodice with adorable black velvet bow, and tremendous fit. When it comes to the Pinup Girl Clothing house brands, I usually hover around xl-2x; this one’s a 2x. There’s extra room in the waist (My inch measurements are 44-33.5-49), but it’s not baggy or ill-fitting. And the length is perfect for my 5’8″+ frame.

So if you’re plus or curvy or simply looking for a kick-butt, retro-style, made-in-the-USA clothing company, give Pinup Girl Clothing a shot!

Okay, now on to the rest of it. Click the link below to come out on the other side of the jump…

Here are my previous goals, with parenthetical progress reports:

• Post my seasonal fashion interests/shopping lists (four times a year) - (More like two or three times a year, as fall and winter blend so much here…)
• Give you at least one outfit-of-the-day per month, if not per week - (Still working on it!)
• Finish my fashion review of the 2009/2010 BBC adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma- (Eventually!)
• Complete a picture post featuring my vintage hanky collection, similar to my previous pieces on my beaded purses and antique jewelry- (Still working on it, AND I have more vintage jewelry to blog!)

Annnnd, I have some new fashion projects I want to share here on the blog:

• Photos of a Greco-Roman chiton I made back in October, which I created for my second performance of Lady Emma Hamilton’s “attitudes.”
• A late-1950s day ensemble, assembled from both vintage and reproduction pieces, for my Vertigo-themed costumers’ guild event at Legion of Honor Museum in San Francisco.
• Some amazing midcentury jewelry I inherited from my great-aunt!
• And some gorgeous outfits I’ve put together along the way!

Alright, that’s it for now! Happy New Year and see you here again very soon!

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Now that I’m almost done with my teaching semester, I can get back to the business of blogging. Kind of. I have some pretty outfits and new-old jewelry to show you. Stay tuned!

I’ve been feeling kinda mediocre lately, so it was nice to score two fairly successful outfits this weekend. Hell, last night I even wore makeup! That’s a big deal considering how acne and allergies have been conspiring against me over the past month.

Yesterday evening I wore my new Dixiefried “Cutiepie” dress with leopard trim. It was on sale, and the leopard print is both on-trend for this season and a fun little nod to oldschool Dior. I teamed it with my vintage carnelian jewelry, Claire’s hairflower, old Forever 21 cardigan, and nude BCBG pumps.

The dress is an “extended sizes” 3x, which means it fits like a straight-size 16-18.

Dixiefried "Cutiepie" Dress.

Today, I wore my new Heartbreaker gypsy skirt (1x) with a Torrid bow sweater and accessories you’ve seen before. It’s in the very same “Dandy” print fabric as the Aimee dress I posted previously, also from Heartbreaker. Oh, and something new! A Rachel Leigh bow bracelet in rose gold tone from Ann Taylor Loft. It’s cute, and a portion of the proceeds go to breast cancer research…

Heartbreaker Gypsy Skirt.

Rachel Leigh Bow Bracelet.

This photo’s from a couple of weeks ago, but it features the outfit I wore to work yesterday. It’s the Heartbreaker Fashion “Aimee” dress in their “Dandy” print. The fabric features a perky dandelion-gone-to-seed motif on an attractive dusty coral rose background, perfect for our warm California autumns. The dress design itself sports classic 1940s elements, including a sweetheart neckline and a retro A-line skirt. A matching slide belt, my homemade Michael’s hairflower, BCBGeneration patent and suede wedges, and antique cameo polish off the look.

Heartbreaker "Aimee" in Dandy print.

As usual, I have many plans for my blog and never enough time to realize them properly. This week, I’ve resolved to clear my bloggy-do list and set some new web log goals that I can stick to:

• Post my seasonal fashion interests/shopping lists (four times a year)
• Give you at least one outfit-of-the-day per month, if not per week
• Finish my fashion review of the 2009/2010 BBC adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma
• Complete a picture post featuring my vintage hanky collection, similar to my previous pieces on my beaded purses and antique jewelry

To get things rolling, a look at this fall’s Pantone Color Report palette and the clothing and accessories I’m angling to buy this autumn!

I tend to hate traditional fall colors and fabric textures. Tweed and other coarse woolens, browns, beiges, rusty oranges…bleh. Last year’s Pantone Fall Color Report was exciting because it included unexpectedly clear, bright, dirtless hues such as “Lipstick Red” and “lagoon,” a summery teal that enlivened my clothing rack in the form of a pleated taffeta circle skirt from eShakti.com.  Even the requisite autumn brown was different last year, a deep maroon with pink undertones called “Chocolate Truffle.”

Fall 2011 fashion trend colors - Pantone Fashion Color Report Fall 2011 (click to expand the screenshot)

This year, the Pantone fall color forecast disappointed me in taking a slight left into dullsville. Don’t get me wrong, “Honeysuckle” (a slightly faded, opaque, mid-tone pink), “Phlox” (dark, warm purple), and “Deep Teal” (dark teal) are beautiful to look at, but they’re not my favorite colors, nor are they particularly new or exciting. Dark purples and teals have already bounced around the cold seasons for the last few years, and dark teal in particular reminds me of 1990s pickup trucks. I love pinks in general, but Honeysuckle overly resembles that creamy, coralish blush tone that serves as a summer safety for women who mistrust color. I like Phlox, but I’ve already purchased two items featuring the color – last year.

And those are the colors I like. Suffice it to say that “Coffee Liqueur” and “Nougat” have attained dirt status, if not outright “what lost lunch on the sidewalk looks like.” Yuck.

So once again, I’m forging ahead into the colors less trended. And that’s perfectly fine with me. Since I already have a ton of clothes, I’m not about creating a ton of new outfits from scratch anyway. I’m simply filling in the blanks with items that will work well with much of what I already own, in colors that I like:

1. Tights from We Love Colors – I extend the seasonal life of my spring and summer wardrobe with tights in both bright and neutral-staple colors. This year, I’m eyeing fuchsia, magenta, and black. The fuchsia and magenta will lend pop to black-based neutral outfits, while black tights are the perfect, inconspicuous backup band for my star performers – a colorful collection of skirts and dresses.  We Love Colors’ plus-sized nylon/lycra tights hold up to nearly constant wear and fit comfortably. No thigh-chafing here!
2. Classic cashmere cardigan – I love cardigans and adore the warmth and fluff-factor of my angora sweaters, but I’ve never owned any cashmere (save for my gloves and scarf).  These a great way to get warm while staying cute, so I’m eyeing the Land’s End version in red.
3. Kitten heel pumps – I lost weight, so my feet shrank. I need a graceful, mid-height heel in a classic black patent style, and the Marcia Balla from Christian Louboutin has the right look. I’ve also found the correct idea in several less expensive styles available on the internet.
4. Doris top and skirt in white/black – Pinup Girl Clothing’s Pinup Couture brand always provides me with good fit and quality. And have I mentioned that their clothes are cute as hell? I already own this ensemble in black/peacock and it’s stunning, so another set in mix-and-matchable neutrals (that aren’t brown) makes perfect sense for fall.
5. Silver Ritz shoes by Remix – I’ve been jonesing for some retro-ish metallic slippers to go with my long winter gowns. These provide the perfect dash of metallic shine to balance the blacks, reds, and hot pinks of holiday eveningwear, and will go well with my silk charmeuse 1930s gown.
6. Talbots houndstooth dress – Another piece with midcentury appeal, this forties-ish dress looks and feels like fall. The houndstooth texture says “fall!” without the heavy look or feel of a suit.
7. Eliza Parker simple shrug – I can never get enough black shrugs or cardigans. This one’s cut like it’s right out of the 1950s, suitable for wear with just about everything!