My Hot Pink Tea Dress

Tea dress from Holly Willoughby at Very, handbag is vintage

Although I’m a wiggle dress devotee, sometimes a girl’s thighs need to breathe, which is when I reach for a 1940s tea dress. This classic style is undeniably feminine and a little bit flirty, but not as va-va-voom-sex-vixen as the 1950s pencil shape. I especially like wearing tea dresses when I’m hanging out with my granny, drinking tea and swapping fashion tips.

This particular frock is from Holly Willoughby’s collection for Very. She designs clothes that suit curvy girls like her and there are some gorgeous vintage-inspired items mixed in with the more mainstream looks. I added the wide velvet belt because when my waist isn’t pulled in it creates a distressing optical illusion that I have doubled in size. I also chose it because pink and black is a classic combination that goes together like stockings and suspenders.

Just ask Joan…

And Charlotte…

And, of course, the Pink Ladies…

Vintage Style Jackets

A new season means a new excuse to go shopping, as if I needed one. Now that the temperature has dropped, top of my wishlist is a jacket to keep out the chill. There are so many gorgeous vintage-look numbers out there it’s hard to pick just one. So I picked twenty.

The Fur-Trim

A fur trim instantly adds vintage glamour to your look and keeps you toasty.

Darling, Stop Staring

The Full On Faux Fur

A faux fur jacket is super cute and super snuggly.

New Look, Boohoo

The Cheerleader

The perfect casual choice for rockabilly girls is a 1950s style baseball jacket.

New Look, Collectif

The Chanel

For classic style and sophistication, wear a Chanel-style boucle jacket.

Chanel (a girl can dream), New Look (a girl can afford!)

The Cape

A Florence Nightingale cape is a fun alternative to a jacket.

Tara Starlet, Modcloth

The Blazer

Tailoring is always flattering and I can’t resist a natty little 40s-style suit jacket.

Revival Retro (brown), Revival Retro (black)

The Trench

Made iconic by Her Royal Hepburn in Breakfast At Tiffany’s, a beige or black mac is a classic choice for autumn. Go bright for extra girly points.

Collectif, Alannah Hill

The Kimono

Lounge around in a 1920s-style kimono jacket for a luxuriously bohemian feel.

Miss Selfridge, Boohoo

The Embellished

Sparkly or lacy jackets are great if you’re looking to bring a touch of vintage style to a modern outfit.

Very, Miss Selfridge

The Swing

Comfy, classy and oh-so-cool. I like my swing jackets in a small size so I don’t feel too swamped to swagger.

Stop Staring, Vivien of Holloway

A Velvet Dress For Autumn

Dress from Collectif, velvet shoes from Dorothy Perkins, handbag and earrings are vintage

One of the things I love about Collectif is the way they have certain signature shapes that they keep bringing out in different fabrics and patterns. So when you find a style that suits your figure, you havn’t just found one new dress you feel fab in, you’ve found ten! And with every new season you get new spins on an old favourite.

The Dolores wiggle is one of their go-to styles that works for me. It’s sexy but not pornographic, dressy enough for evenings out but doesn’t make me feel overdressed in daylight and, most importantly, it’s incredibly flattering. So I was delighted to see Collectif had done a floral velvet version for AW13.

I love a bit of velvet in winter. It’s sumptuous, sophisticated and a fantastic insulator. And although I’m normally a sucker for bright colours, I actually really dig the dusky, faded hues on this frock. It gives it a more antiquey, flea market look. Because everyone knows how glamorous fleas are. Now excuse me, I’m off to visit the mosquito emporium.

The Aliya.J A/W Collection

I recently visited the Aliya.J studio to review their new season stock. The fabulous online boutique specialises in grown-up glamour and lots of their clothes are vintage-inspired. Roxy Vintage Style readers get an exclusive 20% discount as a reward for having such fantastic taste in blogs. The magic code is ROXAJOCT and it can be used on all full priced items until the end of October. Here are a few of the gorgeous garments you can buy with it!

Ladylike in leopard

Vintage Leopard Pencil Dress, Red Clutch

I was really excited when I found out Aliya.J had started selling some particularly pretty dresses from the spectacularly named Pretty Dress Company. In fact I was so excited I decided to try them all on! This one features a genuine 1950s print recreated from the archives. As a leopard-print connoisseur I appreciate the quality of this pattern. I love the smaller spots and the delicate blend of colours. It’s for a more ladylike breed of leopard. Less of a roar and more of a purr.

Another little red dress for my collection?

Red Hourglass Pencil Dress, Black Clutch

As I follow Aliya.J on Facebook and Twitter, this bombshell dress was already on my fashion radar. I can’t resist a red dress and this one is classic sex appeal in frock form.

A classic winter floral

Seville Navy Pencil Dress, Blue Clutch

I wear a lot of dark florals in winter and I love the midnight blue background colour of this dress. It’s a sophisticated choice for an elegant night out.

A cute little day dress, tights optional

Fever Eton Dress, Fever Crop Cardigan

I confess I was nervous about this sixties-style day dress before I tried it on. I rarely expose my chubalicious knees and the shape isn’t as form-fitting as I’m used to. However, once I had it on I loved it. Finally I could breathe out! It’s sleeveless so if you’re arm-shy like me, wear it with this red cropped cardigan and don’t forget to match your lipstick.

Wrapping up for winter

Fever Coat, Monroe Headband

Every girl needs a coat that will keep her stylish and warm in winter. My favourite part of this classic black ensemble is the faux fur hat. I didn’t even realise I liked hats (I was too busy buying dresses) but now I’m obsessed with them. This one’s perfect for adding a touch of Doctor Zhivago glam to your wardrobe.

An important train to catch

Fever Coat In Port, Fever Black Pencil Skirt, Clemence Hat

The rich wine colour of this coat is divine, but once again the hat stole the show for me. This time it’s a 1920s-inspited cloche with a sweet bow detail to perfectly match the coat. Now excuse me, I’m off to obsessively online shop for vintage style hats.