Golden Afternoon! My review of the Voodoo Vixen Ella Tartan Flare Dress

Hello Everyone!  Today, I am reviewing the enchanting Ella Tartan Flare Dress from Voodoo Vixen.  This gorgeous plaid dress is perfect for the fall season.  Ella is a figure flattering flared A-line design features mock button bodice, cuffed button sleeves, a belted waist, flared skirt and last but not least pockets!  I adore the color combination of this dress, I tend toward brights or pastels so this earth toned dress was a welcome addition to my wardrobe.  The green tartan features hunter green, mustard and rust with a touch of aqua, lovely colors that are just right for a picnic in the woods or Thanksgiving dinner with the family.

Outfit Details:
Dress: Ella Tartan Flare Dress size 2XL C/O Voodoo Vixen
Bangle: Leilani Bangle in Butterscotch C/O The Moby Duck
 Fall Leaf and Flower Fascinator: Handmade by me
Glasses: Zenni Optical
Makeup: Tarte Cosmetics
Lipstick: Snow White Red from Besame Cosmetics

  Made of a soft poly blend material, this tartan frock is comfortable with a slight bit of stretch and a bit heavier in weight so it works well for the cooler months. I am wearing the Voodoo Vixen Ella Tartan Flare Dress in a size 2XL, fit is just right with a slight bit of room for comfort.  The belted waist gives the dress a lovely shape, highlighting the waist to give shape.  The belt loop is my only complaint, since it does not move this leaves the end of your belt dangling which looks sloppy, I solved this with a safety pin.  The bodice is lovely, it highlights the decolletage without being overly revealing making this a great dress for church or family events. The Ella Tartan Flare Dress is a midi length which on my petite frame is a few inches above the ankle.  The flared skirt is flattering and flowing, I felt like a petticoat was a bit to big under this dress and I love the movement of the skirt without.

POCKETS!!

 I love this beautiful dress!  It is the perfect dress for my favorite season.  I had an enchanting time frolicking around this magical golden autumn woods to take these photos.  Michigan is amazing in the fall and the colors this year were late, thus our color season has lasted longer than normal.  These golden Maple trees showcase the shades in this dress, I styled The Ella Tartan Flare Dress with fall inspired accessories.  A handmade fall leaf and chrysanthemum fascinator, a matching bangle from the Moby Duck, vintage pearl teardrop earrings and retro style brown oxford wedges.  I wore Snow White Red Lipstick from Besame Cosmetics because this dress made me feel like a princess playing in the woods. The Ella Tartan Flare Dress by Voodoo Vixen is my new favorite fall dress and I will enjoy adding a cardigan and different accessories to restyle this lovely frock for the winter months.  Check out Voodoo Vixen for beautiful, vintage styled designs that fit and flatter your body without breaking the bank!

Disney Princess or Forest Fairy?  I say BOTH!

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Perfect pumpkins and kooky kitties! My review of the Pinup Girl Clothing Zooey Dress in Pumpkin Border Print

Today I am reviewing the Zooey Dress in Pumpkin Border Print by Pinup Girl Clothing.  This spooktastic dress is a highly anticipated re-release of the classic Zooey Dress in their exclusive Halloween 2016 Collection.  The adorable print of fall leaves, spooky black cats and cute jack-o-lanterns was designed exclusively for Pinup Girl Clothing by artist Stephanie Buscema.  

This was my must have dress of the Autumn season, since Pinup Girl Clothing gave us a sneak peek months ago, I have been stalking their website and impatiently waiting!  I may have gotten a bit obsessed but fall is my favorite season and this dress just screams fall.  It has everything I love-earthy colors, falling leaves, as well as a hint of Halloween with the black scaredy cats and jack-o-lanterns.  I love the vibrant red, orange, yellow, brown and black colors in this print.

  When my box from Pinup Girl Clothing arrived, I tore right into it, wasting no time to try on my unicorn.  I have wanted the Zooey style for years and this print really spoke to me!  The Zooey dress is available in other prints also.  My hubby Kevin was so patient when I insisted we immediately head to the Tamarack Nature Trail and Lakeview Cemetery in our hometown to take photos, I desperately wanted to capture the beauty of the day.  We are blessed to live in a gorgeous rural area and in fall, it comes alive with intense color everywhere!  

Fall is my favorite!  Magical!

The sun was just beginning to set in what is known as the golden hour, those two hours before sunset when the world is bathed in the golden light of the setting sun.  Peak color along with the sun's glow provided a magical backdrop and I felt beautiful bathing in the glories of autumn!

 Zooey features a wrap top bust, with cross-back adjustable straps, a tapered contrasting waist band accented with faux buttons and a full skirt.  I love the fit of the Zooey, I am wearing a size 2x, the cotton/spandex blend material gives the right amount of stretch to hug curves without being clingy.  The bust is a wrap top and cut to fit a variety of bust sizes comfortably. I love how the contrasting waist band emphasizes and minimizes the waist giving the perfect hourglass silhouette.

Outfit Details:
Dress: Zooey Dress in Pumpkin Border Print by Pinup Girl Clothing
Earrings: Orange Glitter Buttons (Similar)
Necklace: Four Seasons-Autumn c/o Buttonsy Jewelry
Petticoat: Jennifer in Yellow by Malco Modes
Shoes: Off to the Laces Ballet Flats in Black by Pinup Girl Clothing
Makeup: E.L.F.
Lipstick: Red Velvet by Besame Cosmetics

I added leafy autumn themed accessories, a fluffy Malco Modes petticoat and these lovely but comfy ballet flats for a pretty but spooky look.  I have worn my Zooey on every occasion possible because she is so unique and comfortable, I want to wear this style daily.  I have gotten so many compliments and comments on this dress, it's definitely a show stopper!  Thank you Pinup Girl Clothing for designing the most glorious vintage style pieces for every body to wear and love; and maybe obsess over....just a little!!  ;-)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Fashion, sealed with a kiss! My SWAK Designs Lookbook

They say summer has ended but its hanging on here in Michigan, we have been experiencing a rather warm start to September with the heat of the summer season continuing.  I can see touches of autumn all around me though, so change is in the wind.  The tips of the trees are turning red, apple cider is being pressed fresh at our local orchard and Halloween decorations have taken over our stores.  Fall is my favorite time of year.  I love the bright beautiful leaves and the earthy colors that overtake everything but I do get a little melancholy because I love wearing pretty dresses and the weather here in Michigan can be rather brutal.  Wardrobe is trickier in cooler weather but being stylish doesn't have to be a summer thing!

For today's blog, I am thrilled to be working with SWAK.  SWAK (sealed with a kiss) is one of my favorite plus size retailers, they make trendy and affordable plus size fashions for sizes 14-36.  I have been a huge fan of SWAK for many reasons, they provide a great fit for real plus size bodies, high quality material and the fab style of their designs make me reach for them again and again!  I have been wearing SWAK for several years, their dresses are among some of my favorite wardrobe pieces.  I am excited to be collaborating with SWAK to bring you this lookbook highlighting some of their new pieces, sharing how I styled them and talking a bit about how I plan to transition them into cooler weather fall fashion.

The Eternity Maxi Convertible Dress in Forest. 

 I am smitten with this absolutely amazing dress!  The Eternity Convertible Maxi Dress can literally be worn any way you can imagine, an eternity of style.  The dress is a basic strapless maxi dress that has two long flowing panels of material attached at the top that can be wrapped in a multitude of different ways to create your own unique personal style.  I had a blast playing with this dress, watching videos on the SWAK website with instructions for some of the different styles to wrap the dress and have enjoyed how easy it is to change up the style.  I wrapped my Eternity Convertible Maxi Dress into a V-neck style that can be sleeveless or cap sleeved depending on how I move the shoulder material.  This dress is soft and flowing, it felt ethereal and lovely. I love how it moves in the wind, it is a very graceful dress.  Fit is generous and easy, I am wearing a size 1x/3x here and it feels perfect.  The dress is very long so as a shorter gal like myself you will want to wear heels or have it hemmed to fit.    I accessorized my Eternity Convertible Maxi Dress with nude heels, a homemade fall flower and leaf crown, the Acorn in the Meadow Necklace and pretty Amber Drop Earrings for a forest fairy fantasy.  This dress is a great wardrobe piece because it is wearable for every occasion and can be wrapped to fit any style, weather, or mood.

Outfit Details:
Dress: Eternity Convertible Maxi Dress in Forest size 1x/3x courtesy of  SWAK
Earrings: Amber Drops by Ceci Punch Designs
Necklace: Acorn in the Meadow C/O Summer Blue Jewelry
Hairpiece: Homemade Fall Leaf and Flower Crown

For my next choice I went completely outside the box.  I have been challenging myself to get outside my comfort zone this year and my next outfit really steps out of my norm.  First of all, since I have discovered pinup fashion I have worn dresses almost exclusively, I can actually only count three to four times I have worn jeans since I started this blog nearly two years ago.  Second, when I do wear pants, I ALWAYS wear a long top or if the top is shorter I wear a tank top underneath.  I have a bit of a belly flap that I am not comfortable with, this is one of the things I am working on being more accepting of in my journey to body love so its a big step for me to wear a shirt that doesn't come past my butt or nearly to my knees.  I am proud of myself for taking these chances and I could not have made a better partner than SWAK to dress me!

The Autumn Chiffon Top in Coral Leaves and Holly High Waist Jeans.

This is the ideal autumn outfit for a cool day enjoying a color tour, at your local orchard picking apples or searching the patch for that perfect pumpkin.  I love fall colors so I could not resist this bright coral top with its pretty leaf print and feminine lace hem.  The big flowing belled sleeves are one of my favorite styles to wear and the cold shoulder is trendy as well as flattering.  The Autumn Chiffon Top is light and sheer so I wore a plain brown tank underneath for modesty sake.  Fit is fabulous, I chose a size 3x so I could be sure that the bottom of the top would fit well over my butt/hip area, I generally wear a 1X in most tops but as I have a very extreme hourglass figure the hip measurement was the key to getting proper fit here.  I felt like a fall flower child in this top.  I added Amber Drop Earrings, contrasting teal peep toe wedges and a sunflower in my hair to give a cute autumn touch.

Outfit Details:
Top: Autumn Chiffon Top in Coral Leaves size 3x c/o SWAK
Pants: Holly High Waist Jeans in Dark Wash size 3x c/o SWAK
Earrings: Amber Drops by Ceci Punch Designs
Shoes: Bow Front Peep Toe Wedges in Teal by Qupid

The Holly High Waist Jeans are a dream!!  I have such a hard time fitting jeans on my figure.  My waist measurement is 38, my hips at the largest point are 56, with an 18 inch difference pants that will fit in the waist never make it around my butt or if they fit my butt they hang from my waist by a belt.  These were the reasons ]why I gave up on pants.  The Holly High Waist Jeans have saved me, I now have a pair of flattering jeans that fit great for those days when a dress or skirt is absolutely not practical.  They are a high waist style with a ton of stretch.  I am wearing a size 3x here, measurements on the site stated that they fit up to a 46 inch hip but the amount of stretch that this material has is phenomenal because they fit me perfectly, not to tight, just like a glove.  They are soft and comfortable, easy to move in, not stiff in the knees at all like some stretch jeans tend to be.  The high waist style will work with my vintage style wardrobe as well, I can't wait to pair these with a peasant top and ankle boots for a fun retro twist!

My first jeans in two years and exposing the self hated belly flap, I FEEL FREE!!!

The Farrah Maxi Dress in Black and White.

The Farrah Maxi Dress is a gorgeous wrap top maxi in fun bold prints that features adjustable waist and straps for the perfect fit.  The Farrah Maxi Dress features a bold black and white print that is a rarity in my wardrobe, I tend towards brights, florals, novelty prints, all things retro themed.  The Farrah Maxi Dress has a modern feel my wardrobe is lacking.  I felt like bold colored accessories would be perfect, a Red Mum in my hair, a chunky red necklace and sky high red platform heels gave the Farrah Maxi Dress the sophisticated feel I was looking for.  Fit is fabulous, the bust area is generous, the waist tie makes it easy to get a flattering fit and the skirt is generous.  The dress is very long, I had to have it hemmed because it was about 7-8 inches to long for me, at 5'3" it is not common for maxi dresses to be too long.  The Farrah Dress is perfect for a day spent shopping or date night out with your special someone.  I can easily transition this dress into the cooler months by adding a cardigan and ballet flats- or- a jacket, scarf and boots.

Outfit Details:
Dress: Farrah Maxi Dress in Black and White size 3x c/o SWAK
Earrings: Rose Drop Chain Earrings from Gigi's Traveling Boutique, our local fashion store
Necklace: Vintage Red Beaded Necklace
Shoes: Vintage Style Red Platform Heels by Madden Girl

I hope you have enjoyed my SWAK Lookbook as much as I loved putting it together for you!  What are your favorite pieces from SWAK?   Let me know in the comments!!!

Autumn leaves will fall-Buttonsy Four Seasons Autumn Necklace Review

It's been blustery here and all around are leaves floating in the wind.  The autumn colors are gone from the trees and all but the grand old oak trees stubbornly holding on to the last of their rusty brown leaves, are bare. .  This is perfect time of year to enjoy lots of fun visiting pumpkin patches and taking hayrides with friends.  I enjoy spending time in nature and autumn is my favorite time of year so I am always looking to add lovely fall themed items to my wardrobe.  I love to accessorize with birds, leaves, flowers and pretty much anything nature themed, this is why I fell in love with Buttonsy Jewelry.

Buttonsy Jewelry offer accessories and stationary created by Anna Day.  A beautiful fantasy world filled with wildflowers and leaves; water and wood.  Buttonsy offers handcrafted jewellery designed to make you smile; they turn something as fleeting as a dandelion into an heirloom that can be kept and treasured forever. Their pieces are inspired by rivers and fields, country gardens, the beach, ocean and skies so perfectly blue, they almost look painted.  I love the whimsy and wonder that nature inspires in me so Buttonsy has many pieces that strike my fancy.  I love the creativity and passion put into the design of each piece.  The quality is fabulous and each design is unique.   The other wonderful thing about Buttonsy is the positivity of her Facebook posts, we can all use a good dose of sunshine!

 Buttonsy was kind enough to send me this gorgeous Four Seasons Autumn Necklace to review.  I wore my Four Seasons Autumn Necklace on an adventure to the pumpkin patch and had tons of fall fun on a hayride, pickings pumpkins and enjoying fresh Michigan Apple Cider!!   The Four Seasons Autumn Necklace truly is the perfect accessory to compliment your fall wardrobe.

Photography: Krystina McNamara

Dress: Igigi Clara Dress in Retro Dot

Necklace: Four Seasons Autumn courtesy of Buttonsy Jewelry

Earrings: Jack O Lanterns by Rosita Bonita

Flower Crown is homemade

A heart shaped button style pendant with russet autumn leaved gently floating from a tree is suspended from an 18 inch silver chain.  It brings back childhood memories of big fluffy piles of brightly colored leaves raked up neatly just begging to be jumped and kicked through with abandon.

 Paired with a pretty dress or going casual with jeans and a sweater, this necklace is sure to bring memories of fall to mind. the perfect autumn compliment.   Buttonsy has an amazing range of styles, which would you chose?!

Wishful Wednesday-Autumn Wishes!

It may be hot outside but it's September and my heart is already in the mood for fall!  My inspiration for this week's Wishful Wednesday is Autumn in Michigan.  Intoxicating colors, cool temperatures, pumpkins, cider and falling leaves!

I love Vivien of Holloway.  I've had the privilege to collaborate with them in the past.  Their line of high quality vintage reproduction clothing always provides the perfect retro styles for any occasion.  As a beautiful autumn colored beginning, I chose the 1950s Tangerine Halter Neck Dress.  Gorgeous bright tangerine colored cotten sateen dress with a classic halter neckline, a boned bodice that neatly nips the waist and a full circle skirt give us the perfect vintage silhouette. 

I just discovered the absolutely amazing Summer Blue Jewelry on Instagram and I'm smitten!! Summer Blue Jewlry specializes in one of a kind pieces that are handmade using vintage elements, as well as new findings, and some custom molds. Since all of the pieces are hand-made they will vary slightly from piece to piece.

Summer Blue carries such an incredible selection of vintage style Lucite accessories.  I love that there are styles available to fit any outfit, season or holiday.  I'm Autumn obsessed so I chose the Great Pumpkin Waltz Brooch, Acorn in the Meadow Earrings and Acorn in the Meadow Necklace.  The Great Pumpkin Waltz brooch is a gorgeous green sparkle Lucite accented by bright orange pumpkins and leaves dangling from a black chain, perfect for fall, Halloween or harvest outfits.   This brooch contrasts but matches our dress and will add whimsy to our look. The Acorn in the Meadow Earrings are sparkly confetti Lucite drop style dangling acorns with pretty sparkly button top.  These lovely earrings coordinate perfectly with the brooch and the Acorn in the Meadow Necklace, confetti Lucite acorns, brass and marbled Lucite beaded acorns, citrine yellow ferns, and vintage Moonglow Lucite Oak leaves dangling from a complimentary plastic chain.  These accessories scream fall in the forest, I cannot help but long to wear such lovely objects!!

 To finish off this look I chose the luxuriant Lila Velvet Heels from Miss L Fire's absolutely fabulous upcoming Autumn/Winter 2015 line.  I am a huge fan of velvet, I love the way it embraces my skin in its soft warmth.  These hot velvet heels feature a double bow detailed peep toe, ankle strap and 4 inch high heels.  They are the ultimate shoe for many different Autumn looks and I chose them for their neutral, earthy style.

I hope you have enjoyed my musings as much as I enjoy sharing!  Don't forget to follow me on Instagram and also on Facebook,  where I  currently hosting a giveaway!!