Boohoo Plus - Eliza Peplum Skirt Review

Boohoo is a brand I've not considered before, not for any real reason other than sizing. I did know they did a plus size range but I never really checked it now, now I regret everything.

Payday came and I thought I'd have a little trawl through, I was looking for something particular so this made it a little easier. We were celebrating Roald Dahl's 100th birthday soon after and I wanted to go at the Grand High Witch, of course, because it appeals to my dark little heart. So I wanted a witchy pinup skirt.

 And Boohoo Plus delivered! I spotted this gorgeous little number, the black pencil Eliza skirt with a peplum waist made from scuba fabric which was nice and stretchy. There was an exposed silver zip at the back, I love exposed zips so I knew this would be a winner. What I struggle with when it comes to pencil skirts is that they can be baggy at the bottom, I often take mine in so I really get that hour glass shape. This one was perfect, tight with lots of movement and the peplum was dramatic and I felt really confident in it. I can be a bit aware of my stomach so I often wear tops over my pencil skirts, this is the first one I wore the top underneath and I bloody loved it. Best of all? It was on £12....£12!

I decided to give the skirt a test run at the weekend, I had intended to go without tights but my chub rub shorts were visible through and under the skirt so I put on the old faithful black tights.  I teamed the skirt with a black strap top from Primark, I live and die in these and have about ten. They're lycra ones and I feel like they hold me in a bit and I've had them for years without them falling apart. This is pretty unexpected considering they only cost £3 each. 

Then I added one of my favourite cardis from Collectif in a cherry print, you can't get this style any more but all their cardi's are fab so I suggest you check them out. I have it in this style and a dark green velvet one too which will be great for winter. 

I felt killer in this outfit, I can't wait for summer to go away now so I can rock it a bit more often, I'm not also on the hunt for some more peplum's! 

 

Oh and I also thought I'd play with my hair (excuse the offensive bobby pin).

Until next time. 

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Marverlette Meet-Up St.Neots Edition

 

Who are the marvellettes? I hear you ask. They just happen to be a big, wonderful group of people, lovers of the 1940s/1950s who organise lots of local meets for like-minded lovelies. 

I've not long been part of this specific group but after seeing lots of pictures online I wanted to take part too. The group is HUGE, which is wonderful. It's full of advice, love for others and hilarity, what more could you want? Everyone shares beautiful images of vintage finds, their hair styles, little tips here and there and to be honest it's just bloody nice to be part of something so positive. 

As there are so many of us, we've got local admins who organise meets, you can of course go to any that you want but it's nice to know you can find out about the most local ones too. Our admin is a stunning little lady called Carrie-Ann. A day had been chosen and a few options suggested. We settled on meeting up in St Neots town center and booking a table at Betty Bumbles Vintage Tea Rooms for cocktails, cake and vintage shopping, perfection.

Me and Carrie-Ann

 All dressed up in my tropical Lindy Bop dress, Collectif cardi and Retro Vixens flamingo bag, me and Elvis (the Figaro) headed off - late, of course! Because that's who I am now.  Luckily I was only about ten minutes late and I remembered my way around the town enough to make it in time. A lady I've been following for a while because she also owns a Figaro (the lovely Satah) was going so I stalked her car and parked nearby.

I was a tad nervous as I hadn't actually met and of these ladies before but you walk into the tea rooms, see a big table full of vintage gals and you instantly feel at home, I'd found my people.  

Sitting down I noticed everyone had done their cocktail order so it would have been rude to not indulge...margarita time! Then the afternoon tea arrived, three tiers packed with perfectly cut finger sandwhiches, mountain-sized scones, vintage teacups full of clotted cream and slabs of stunning cakes, Tunnouck Teacakes and Caramel Log's with some grapes and strawberries for good measure.

We managed to work our way all up to the cakes, which had to be take home for dessert. It was a stunning location which had a 1940s bar (Bertie's Bar) which opened in the evening. Hopefully we'll have another meet up there!

Now full of cake it was time of some selfies and group shots before trawling through the town's charity shops. We drew a lot of attention wandering through the town and we all had lots of nice compliments which was lovely. We all had different kinds of vintage looks and all mixed it up, yet we all fit #girlgang.

The charity shops were brilliant and most of us managed to pick up bargains. I always find myself drawn to the homeware. Cats seem to be a big thing in charity shop and for Lucy, it seemed the scarier the better. A particularly terrifying cat trinket found a home with her. It will not continue to haunt and scare her household for many years to come. I found mine in Oxfam, I got this stunning red vanity case for £6.99 and a beautiful little white shell dish for £2.99 which just fuels my mermaid obsession (forgot to get a picture though). 

Soon our parking was running out so we started to chat about the Pinup Picnic In The Park hosted by the Britsh Belles this saturday in Hyde Park. I cannot wait to see some of my vintage lovelies there and meeting new faces (and some I have lovingly stalked online). Anyone else going? 

Here's to the next meet!

(images stolen from Carrie-Ann)

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Pinup Picnic in the Park - Hyde Park

 

So as you may know, I love a bit of Instagram and the pinup community that comes with it. I love having a place with so many like-minded people at the tap of my touch screen. I've also been following The British Belle's on there for a while, a group of ten British pinup ladies who decided it was about time we all try to meet up without the IG filters. 

The day was set for last Saturday in Hyde part and I couldn't wait/was nervous about going to London to a big even on my own because I'm a child. But I knew it would be lovely to meet all these guys in person and take lots of silly pictures whilst discussing hair and petticoats. Now what to wear, this was a difficult decision! I didn't want to turn up in the same as someone else so out came the sewing machine and the watermelon fabric. I know I can make a pleated skirt in an evening so that's exactly what I did, it'd match my new watermelon shoes from Asda (£6) perfectly. 

I decided to team it with my Lucy Fruity cardigan by Collectif (£39), the more I wear this the more I love it and it's definitely the most expensive cardigan I've bought and I now want all the cardigans they have! Ahhhh. Collectif won again as I wore my black Dolores top (£25) with my peacock Erstwilder brooch which I bought at the same time as the cardi from the Brighton store which I think was £17.50.

With freshly dyed hair I headed down on the train...always time for selfies and made by way to the meeting point at Marble Arch.

 Straight away I met my Insta friend Kayla, check her out! Pretty sure she's my rockabilly spirit animal. I loved standing in a huge gaggle of pinup ladies, I think everyone around thought something super special was about to happen and there were loads of pictures being taken. I had to hide some serious fan girl moments seeing some of the famous pinup ladies I follow in the flesh, they were all lovely, mental and stunning!

After gathering all of us together we marched over to a nice spot in Hyde Park and set up camp for our picnic. Everyone had cute little picnic hampers, Pimms and prosecco. It was such a great experience meeting all the lovelies I've been following and admiring and meeting and following new girls and swapping hair and clothes secrets. We were all really impressed that no one had the same thing on actually. 

 The sun was glorious! We did eventually all have to move into the sun to maintain our porcelain skin and of course more photos!

Kaylaevans84, secretplussizegoddess, lipstickanddresses and moi

Most of these pictures are my own...a couple are stolen from other IGers so give me a shout if you mind!

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Back To Brighton!

As I'm not having a summer holiday this year me and my lovely friend Tiff decided a few days in Brighton was called for. We both love this city, the sea and shopping so it was a given really.

We stayed in my favourite B'n'B Motel Schmotel, been there a few times now and apart from the bathroom door lock not working, I can't fault it. The staff are lovely and helpful, it's near the seafront and the lanes and shop AND they do a cracking breakfast. That's really all you need in life. 

We set off, Figaro piled high with suitcases and bags, a tank of petrol and the cheesy playlist blaring and made it in record time arriving to pure sunshine. So of course the first we did when parked up was head to one of our having eating places 'The New Club' for a cocktail and a burger. 

We both had the Cola Bottle cocktail followed by the southern fried chicken burger with 'bastard sauce', what is bastard sauce you ask? Amazing. I wish I could have bought a bottle of it. That's all you need to know. The mac'n'cheese? Don't even get me started! The burger was huge and glorious and with a sea view it was a brilliant first stop of the trip. 

 

Seriously though I love this place, great food (locally sources) and inventive drinks you should all visit this place if you go. 

Walking along the promenade we then headed in to the shopping area and hit the lanes. And boy, did we spend some money. We loved looking in all the whacky shops and checking out the eating places and taking loads of silly photos.

We also stopped by Choccywoccydoodah for some pictures.

And then Cloud 9 for some CAKE! We came. We saw. We ate.

I went into my mothership of all shops, Collectif. I left buying a gorgeous Erstwilder peacock brooch and a summery yellow tropical cardi. I never thought I'd be one to wear yellow, black all the way usually but I can't deny I loved it. 

Stepping outside Tiff noticed someone she recognised...only my favourite artist Passenger! In his home town with another artist I love Stu Larsen, I had to go say hi and get a photo. Best. Trip. EVERRRRR!

We spotted a popular looking Italian restaurant near the Brighton Down called Pinocchios so headed in for a dinner we really didn't need as we'd eaten so much at lunch. But still, food! We ordered and the portions were huge! We'd also ordered a huge garlic pizza which we so didn't need, but we ate it anyway.

We did intend to go out for drinks but we'd ate so much it just wasn't going to happen. We went to watch crappy TV in bed. We woke to the smell of breakfast cooking and headed down to the cute breakfast room for ours. I ordered the eggs and soliders (check the faces) and Tiff had the Vegan. All of their food is locally sourced and well thought out, and it shows.

 This day I dressed more summery, I'd made a pencil skirt from some flamingo skirt I bought from Fabric Land. I love this skirt more than life. I teamed it with a white top and the yellow Collectif cardigan, I have to say I felt pretty good! I couldn't leave out my Frenchie brooch by Atomic Mingo either, perfect fit. I got loads of compliments from strangers this day so that was really lovely actually.

We headed to the pier, bought doughnuts and a coke and watched the world go by for a bit. Then, because we're children we hit the waltzers! 

 

We both bloody love them and I miss them already! Haha. Then of course more shopping. Here's a snapshot of my purchases. 

My favourite things? The flamingo bulb from England at Home, my Mac foundation (my first mac purchase) and MY BEAUTIFUL MERMAID BAG!!  Which is by Skinny Dip but I bought it in Topshop for £30. I also bought some goodies from Lush, Tiger and H&M. 

 

After unloading the shopping again it was time for another meal, another Italian. Had some wine, mozzarella and gorgeous gnocchi. This time I wore my new Lindy Bop dress, I love the colour. We were so knackered from all the food and shopping we went back to the hotel to start packing and getting ready for the sad trip back. There was even a session of bum fake tanning on the balcony (not me dolls, porcelain forever!) then it was time to hit the sack for the last time.

And the it was home time. I'm already thinking about my next time back, I'd love to stay in the rockabilly room in Hotel Perlicco. One day!

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