Fashion Friday Featuring Malco Modes

Hello guys and dolls, that is assuming the occasional guy stumbles across my blog, I keep it pretty girly here haha.  Anway this week I will be doing another feature on the best petticoat/crinoline company around, Malco Modes!

To me there isn’t anything sadder than a swing skirt or dress not living up to its full voluminous potential, all that fabric deserves to be delightfully puffy and cloud like, am I right? But where is a pinup girl to turn? There are soooo many petticoat and crinoline options out there it can be seriously overwhelming, and if you’re anything like me too many options result in a choice not being made at all. Well let me take you by the hand and guide you to where you and your swing skirt/dresses need to be getting their support.

I’m still in the beginning stages of putting together my dream pinup wardrobe so as of right now I only have two petticoats, both of which are from Malco Modes. Now this may sound as if I’m not in a position to really tell you who you should be buying from but keep this in mind, just because I only own from one company doesn’t mean I haven’t tried on other companies. I may look a little more high maintenance than most but I do not sacrifice comfort, I’ve tried on different petticoats and crinolines from other companies and everytime they have felt incredibly itchy and uncomfortable, stiff fabric is great at holding out that skirt of yours, but it also feels a bit like a cheese grater on your skin…thanks but no thanks.  Malco Modes on the other hand is incredibly comfortable, their petticoats are made from cotton candy soft chiffon, and their crinolines are made from nylon net with a nylon organza as the bottom layer so it doesn’t scratch your legs in the least, and because of the handcrafted quality of these pieces the volume pay off they provide is stunning!

To me the answer as to who you should get your petticoats and crinolines from couldn’t be any clearer. Malco Modes is a 100% made in the USA company, all of their pieces are hand crafted ensuring phenomenal long lasting quality, and the comfort level their pieces provide is out of this world! What more could you possibly want? I can only keep the whole dignified modeling thing up for so long…I mean do you really expect me to not jump on the bed?

My dog Charlie wanted to join in on the shoot too!

As you can see things got progressively sillier…

But we managed to pull it together at least for a little bit anyways.

aaaand back to giggles-ville… As you can see this shoot was a lot of fun.

Glasses: Claires/Similar

Corset: Corset Story

Bottoms: Onzie

Crinoline: Malco Modes I was a bit worried that nothing could live up to my first petticoat but Malco Modes knocked it out of the park yet again. The size chart is spot on, this crinoline is so bouncy and full and gives such a fun life to any swing skirt/dress, and the variety of colors offered is just insane. I’m already trying to decide which colors I need next haha. I have a petticoat and crinoline addiction and I have no intention of giving it up either 😉

If you’re in the market for an excellent petticoat or crinoline just do yourself a favor and order from Malco Modes, you won’t regret it I promise!

Hope you all enjoyed this post and that you have a great weekend full of giggles and big skirts

Fashion Friday Featuring Piyuspret

Hooray we made it to the weekend! Happy Fashion Friday everyone. This week I am featuring the etsy site Piyuspret. Piyuspret is based out of India, ships worldwide, and is made up of a mother daughter team and a tailor assistant, gotta love the personal touch that brings.

Piyuspret sells ultra light weight cotton vintage style dresses, so they’re perfect for those hot summer days, plus these dresses are quite the bargain!

Look 1.

Hair Flower: Claires

Dress: Piyuspret I couldn’t find this exact dress on their site but should you decide you want it, I’m sure you could let the ladies know and they could whip one up for you. I loved how light this dress was, and that it was quite roomy in the waist but ties in the back so you don’t look like you’re wearing a bag, plus it has pockets!!! I did run into one issue in the dresses with 3/4 length sleeves I have really wide shoulders and a rather broad back so when I would raise my arms the back zipper would unzip a little. So if you have a similar build to me keep that in mind, other than the zipper I had no issues with this dress in a size large.

Shoes: DSW

Look 2.

Hair Flower: Claires

Dress: Piyuspret You guys know how much I love polka dots so you can only imagine my delight in this little number, unfortunately I ran into the same zipper issue with this dress, but I think I might look into altering them to prevent any zipper slippage, cause seriously how cute is this print?

Shoes: Payless

Look 3.

Dress: Piyuspret Coraly/red, boatneck, and pockets these are the things dresses should consist of. This dress is perfect for spring/summer cause its super lightweight and could easily be accessorized to fit whatever occasion whether it be casual or a little bit dressy, and since this dress is sleeveless I had no issues with the zipper HOORAY!

Shoes: Payless bought them years ago but they have some lovely alternatives

Look 4. My absolute favorite!

Hair clip: Claires

Dress: Piyuspret All of the dresses I got are pretty, but this little yellow ray of sunshine is my all time favorite! the fit is superb and it is the prettiest shade of yellow I have ever seen, normally I avoid yellow cause I find it doesn’t look good on my skin tone but this dress compliments me so well. I have found my official summer dress guys!

Shoes: DSW

I hope you all enjoyed this post and that you have a very happy Friday! Love you all!

Fashion Friday Featuring Kenley Collins

This week’s Fashion Friday will be featuring the incredible Kenley Collins.

Kenley Collins love of fashion started at the young age of 16 when she would reconstruct vintage pieces for herself and her friends to wear. Then after graduating from Florida State University with a marketing degree, Kenley moved on to New York and started working in a sales position at a clothing company. Well less than a year later Kenley was promoted to a position in design where she continued her craft and developed her own fashion niche.

It wasn’t long before the rest of the world to take notice of Kenley’s distinctive vintage inspired pieces and fall in love with her talent. Ms Collins has appeared on Bravo’s Project Runway, Lifetime’s Project Runway Allstars,  Live with Regis and Kelly, The Biography Channel, and E’s Oscar 2011 pre-show. Kenley’s pieces are sold throughout various boutiques, available on her site kenleycollins.com, and can quite often be seen on pop music sensation Ariana Grande. If that isn’t enough to entice you to check her clothes out let the following masses of pictures do so. I was having way too much fun during this shoot 😉

You didn’t very well expect me not to play on the merry-go-round did you?

Flower Clip: Claires

Gentlemen Prefer Dress: Kenley Collins This piece is literally everything I look for in a dress. Beautiful print, versatility of wear, and incredible construction! The royal blue stenciling is absolutely out of this world, believe it or not its even more beautiful in person!The fact that this dress is made out of a slight stretch cotton means its casual enough for everyday wear, but the obvious beauty of it means you won’t have to try hard to dress it up for an elegant evening out, and the construction is positively flawless, there is a bit of boning in the bodice that keep’s the lines of this dress very clean, and the size chart is so spot on! All of the attention to detail make this dress feel custom-made, which is what every woman wants, right? If you’re currently looking for the perfect spring/summer dress I cannot recommend The Gentlemen Prefer Dress highly enough.

Shoes: DSW I wear these shoes so much I think I should invest in different colors 😉

I hope you all enjoyed this post and that you check Kenley Collins out! She is such a true talent, her eye for detail makes her pieces timeless but her playful sense of style makes all of her designs seem new and fresh! Oh and speaking of new be sure to keep tabs on this lady cause her new line drops May 1st, so exciting! I love you guys Happy Friday!

Fashion Friday Featuring Corset Story

Hooray it’s Friday and boy do I have a great feature for you all, this week I am featuring Corset Story.

Corset Story is an online store, that works along side of thousands of international retailers, making them the largest distributers of corsets worldwide. Now before you wrinkle your nose at a “big business” I must let you know when I had questions about sizing I had someone helping me every step of the way with the kind of personal attention you would get from a boutique, but will all of the expertise of a large corporation. Not only is Corset Story an authority on the construction of their garments but they also have an extensive variety of styles, which means whether you prefer the rockabilly look (like I do) or are one of the few people cool enough to pull off the steampunk look (I applaud you) I can guarantee you will find something you want.

Its all about the details

 

Earrings: Stole em from my mom but you can get a similar pair from claires

Corset: Corset Story Can I just say how much I love this beauty? The ruffle edging, the incredible constructions (You can really cinch that waist in let me tell ya),  the ability to wear it dressed up or down, and my all time favorite print makes this the perfect corset in my eyes. My measurements are 36″ 27 1/2″ 36″ and with the expert advice I received I ended up getting a size 24 which fits beautifully thanks to the lace up back. If you have any size questions the team at Corset Story are more than happy to help, but I’d say their size charts are pretty accurate so you may not even need help 😉

Skirt: H&M

Shoes: DSW

I really hope you all enjoyed this post and that you check Corset Story out! Happy Friday my loves!

Fashion Friday Poodle Hair

Yes I know, guilty yet again of outfit repeating. But can you blame me? I am absolutely in  love with this chambray shirt. It’s super cute and quite functional. A lot of the time button downs can be a bit constricting, but I wore this outfit while working the merch table at a Keith Harkin performance last week, and let me tell you nothing will put a shirt’s comfort level to the test like the diving through mountains of merch at the beginning of a gig, and I am pleased to report my new shirt passed the test with flying colors. So ya I will continue outfit repeating without shame!

This shoot was a good bit of fun cause I was having a pretty fun poodle hair day, my little sister’s pug decided he would join in on the “modeling”, and turns out apartment complexes have quite a few photo ops. So a good time was had by all.

Frank is the real model clearly.

Bandana: Cavenders I think but I cannot find them on their site I did find some at REI though.

Earrings: I borrowed them from my mom but you can purchase some from Claires

Shirt: Target

Jeans: Old Navy

Flats: Payless

Hope you all enjoyed this post and that you have a great weekend. Happy Friday!

Fashion Friday Onzie Spring Collection

This week I have quite the treat for you, two looks in one post! I couldn’t contain my excitement, I absolutely had to share the brilliance that is the Onzie spring collection.

For those of you who don’t know, Onzie is my all time favorite yoga apparel brands. They are 100% made in the USA, their clothes always come in the most flattering cuts and colors, and these beautiful clothes just so happen to be the most comfortable clothes you will ever have the fortune to wear. The last thing you want to deal with is constricting/uncomfortable clothes while trying to workout, and clearly the people of Onzie understand this. Their clothes move and breathe with you, its like a second skin…a super beautiful second skin. If you have been searching for great yoga gear your journey has ended, once you have experienced Onzie nothing else will compare. Start your addiction here 😉 http://www.onzie.com/

Look 1.

Criss Cross Bra top: Onzie I love this top, it is the perfect low impact sports bra, it keeps you decent, but is doesn’t squish you into oblivion like so many sports bras can. Plus its beautiful! I’d like one in each print please 😉

Black open back top: I also got this from Onzie but it’s from their fall collection so its no longer available. However I happen to think this top works beautifully for spring. I love the sexy open back details.

Pure Vida Pant: Onzie Oh my goodness! Are these not the most beautiful pants you have ever seen? They are bohemian perfection, you can either wear them untied for an extra flowy romantic look, or tie them at the akles for a fun harem like appearance. These pants are so beautiful I will be wearing them outside of my yoga practice too!

Look 2.

Flower Clip: Claires

Bustier Top: Onzie Oh yes floral, polka dots, and comfort this top has everything I could possibly want out of a sports bra! Its the perfect balance of girly and playful, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with it!

High Waist Shorts: Onzie Because why should I have to choose between being a yogi and being a pinup? I cannot even express how much I love these bottoms. Their construction is perfect, they glorify your shape all the while being flattering to what most people consider their number one problem area. Plus I’ve never been able to turn down a polka dot print 😉

I hope you all enjoyed this post and that you get yourself some Onzie gear as soon as possible. Happy Friday my lovelies!

Fashion Friday Featuring Queen of Heartz Pt 2

Hooray finally time for Pt 2 of my Queen of Heartz feature! If you missed Pt 1 here’s the link to it https://sarahforshaw.wordpress.com/2014/01/03/fashion-friday-featuring-queen-of-heartz-pt-1/  I had been sick with bronchitis since New Years, and I am just now starting to feel human again, all that to say sorry it took a while to get around to shooting this magnificent dress.

I am madly in love with the New Brenda dress from http://www.queenofheartz.com/ From the scalloped edging to the peplum detailing this dress exudes glamour, making it perfect for any special event. Valentines is right around the corner guys 😉 and it’s about to be Wedding season, so whether you’re a bride looking for the perfect bridesmaid dress, or you’re going to be a guest at a wedding the New Brenda is the best choice you could possibly make!

Ignore my ugly yogi feet 😉

I feel like this shot showcases just how beautiful a shade of purple this dress is.

Earrings: Sam Moons a forever ago purchase so of course I cannot find them but Icing has a lovely alternative http://www.icing.com/icing/us/goods/icing+commerce+root/cat1800040/earrings/p82423/crystal+and+rhinestone+chandelier+drop+earrings/

Dress: Queen of Heartz http://www.queenofheartz.com/dresses/brenda-new-look.html  This dress is a spotlight on your figure, it emphasizes your beautiful feminine curves but hides those er um “curves” we as women are not thrilled about. My measurements are 36″ 27 1/2″ 36″ and the size medium fits wonderfully! You can really tell Letty Tennant is a woman who understands quality, from fabric to construction this dress knocks it out of the park. If you’re searching for the perfect dress look no further than the New Brenda from Queen of Heartz.

Shoes: Payless I bought them years ago but target has a similar pair http://www.target.com/p/women-s-de-blossom-nissa-heeled-slide-sandal-assorted-colors/-/A-14702127#prodSlot=medium_1_3

I hope you all enjoyed this post and that you check http://www.queenofheartz.com/ out. You guys are the greatest have a wonderful weekend!

Fashion Friday Featuring Queen Of Heartz Pt. 1

This week’s Fashion Friday will be featuring Queen of Heartz, an amazing clothing company specializing in 1940’s and 1950’s styled pieces. Queen of Heartz was created by the incredibly talented Letty Tennant. Originally Letty was making her gorgeous pieces out of her garage for friends in the Los Angeles pinup scene. Well inevitably word got out and everyone wanted one of Mrs Tennant’s designs. Local boutiques started carrying her stock and her popularity grew even more. So being armed with an eye for detail, and the education of a design graduate from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in LA Letty Tennant set out on her next adventure and established Queen of Heartz in 2001.

All of Queen of Heartz products are made locally in Los Angeles and Orange County with the greatest care and finest textiles, plus on top of all that should you have a special occasion or just the desire to, you can commission a custom piece! Just consider Letty and her team your own personal pinup Fairy Godmother 😉

http://www.queenofheartz.com/

Being as it is the new year I say we all resolve to be a little more glamorous everyday, buy quality, and start putting together the wardrobe we’ve always wanted, and I can think of no better place to make that happen than Queen of Heartz.

 This dress is gorgeous with or without a petticoat!

Hair Flower: Claires http://www.claires.com/store/us/goods/hair/cat1260200/barrettes+%26+clips/p75182/rose+barrette+hair+clip+with+feathers/

Pearls: Macy’s http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/sterling-silver-freshwater-pearl-necklace-bracelet-and-earring-set?ID=324942&cm_mmc=Google_Jewelry_PLA-_-Jewelry+PLA+FS_Ad+Group+%232-_-21231719103_-_-_mkwid_IBGtfBhs|d{device}_21231719103%7C-%7CIBGtfBhs

Dress: Queen of Heartz. This dress is no longer offered on their site but it is offered on their ebay site http://www.ebay.com/itm/Queen-of-Heartz-PINUP-VINTAGE-RETRO-Swing-Skirt-Sateen-Dress-BLACK-Various-sizes-/171204658260 If your size doesn’t seem to be available in this dress, there are similar dresses that are just as incredible on their official site. The Priscilla http://www.queenofheartz.com/priscilla.html the Brenda http://www.queenofheartz.com/brenda-175.html and the Celeste http://www.queenofheartz.com/celeste.html are my favorite alternatives. Honestly whatever your choice you cannot go wrong, every single thing offered by Queen of Heartz is enough to make any vintage lover swoon, and I’m not just talking for us ladies, they carry things for you gentlemen too, how great is that? The historically accurate details are like nothing I’ve ever seen, all the beauty of vintage but without the mysterious stains and the smell of mothballs 😉 Also I found the size chart to be very accurate, my measurements are 36″ 27 1/2″ 36″ and the medium size dress fits like a dream. Hooray for accurate size charts! This company is simply perfect end of story.

Petticoat: Malco Modes http://www.malcomodes.biz/petticoats-petticoats-Jennifer-p/582.htm

Panytyhose: Nordstrom http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/nordstrom-back-seam-pantyhose-3-for-30/3490453?origin=related-3490453-null-1-1-FTR-RR&BaseUrl=Sheers&PageCategoryId=BR

Heels: DSW http://www.dsw.com/shoe/kelly+.and.+katie+caris+pump?prodId=272553&activeCats=cat10006,cat20006

I hope all enjoyed this post and that you check out Queen of Heartz http://www.queenofheartz.com/ . Love you guys Happy Friday!

Fashion Friday Featuring Punkabilly

This week’s Fashion Friday will be featuring Punkabilly Clothing. Punkabilly is the result of Tom, a man with a passion for punk rock and rockabilly, meeting Naomi,  a highly rated model scout who had always dreamt of becoming a fashion designer. Someone who understands the punk/rockabilly culture and someone who truly understands fashion? A match made in heaven if you ask me. They’re based out of Bangkok Thailand and ship their products worldwide, in fact you get free shipping when you purchase $100 worth of pieces, and let me tell you $100 will get you pretty far. One of the problems I run into with dressing the way I do is that the pinup/rockabilly style can get very expensive! Punkabilly has fabulous prices but doesn’t skimp on quality. My dress is 95% cotton 5% spandex making it sturdy, but comfortable enough to wear for everyday occasions. I actually wore this for Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve, so comfort was pretty important. My measurements are 36″ 27 1/2″ 36″ so I got a size large, and it is a perfect fit, so I’d say they remain true to size. I know how that can always be a bit of a gamble when purchasing items online, so no need for worry here.

Flower Hair Clip Got it at a craft fair but Claires has a great option  http://www.claires.com/store/us/goods/hair/cat1260200/barrettes+%26+clips/p65480/glitter+edge+flower+clip/

Dress: Punkabilly http://www.punkabillyclothing.com/pin-up-rockabilly-dress-p-163

Flats: Payless http://www.payless.com/store/product/detail.jsp?catId=cat10088&subCatId=cat10276&skuId=132564120&productId=69922&lotId=132564&category=&catdisplayName=Womens

I hope you all enjoyed this post and that you check out Punkabilly Clothing http://www.punkabillyclothing.com/ I love you guys, happy Friday!

Fashion Friday featuring Go Insane

This week’s Fashion Friday will be featuring Go Insane a wonderful company that specializes in 40’s/50’s pinup, rockabilly, and punk inspired pieces that any vintage/alternative fashion lover would be thrilled to have! I came across this Würzburg Germany based company through twitter of all places. Within a matter of seconds of perusing through their products I had determined I wanted EVERYTHING! Skirts, dresses, cardigans, jewelry, etc… Go Insane has it all, and not just for the ladies, they carry men’s clothing as well! http://stores.ebay.de/go-insane
Clearly I couldn’t get everything they offer 😉 So I landed on their Hibiscus Swing Dress. I don’t know that I’ve ever loved a dress so much. The print is classic, the cut is positively perfect, the full skirt hides any sort of issue one might have with their hips, the cinched in waist gives that glorious hour-glass shape, and the keyhole detailing adds just the right amount of flirtation. *This may be TMI* but I like to give you ladies as much info on products as possible, I was a little concerned about the adorable keyhole being an issue because basically all bras will show, but this dress was well thought out, the bust of this dress is well lined for modesty. Hooray for no undergarment concerns. My measurements are 36″ 27 1/2″ 36″ so I ordered a medium and the dress fits just how I like, there is enough room for me to take really deep breaths (my ribcage can really expand you guys) but the dress doesn’t look too big when I am relaxed. Flower Clip: Bough it at a craft fair but Claires has a similar one http://www.claires.com/store/us/goods/hair/cat1260200/barrettes+%26+clips/p65480/glitter+edge+flower+clip/

Pearl Necklace: Birthday present http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/sterling-silver-freshwater-pearl-necklace-bracelet-and-earring-set?ID=324942&cm_mmc=Google_Jewelry_PLA-_-Jewelry+PLA+FS_Ad+Group+%232-_-21231719103_-_-_mkwid_IBGtfBhs|d{device}_21231719103%7C-%7CIBGtfBhs

Cardigan: H&M http://www.hm.com/us/product/06981?article=06981-I

Swing Dress: Go Insane http://www.ebay.de/itm/oldschool-Hibiskus-Hawaii-Flower-SWING-Petticoat-Kleid-Petticoatkleid-/390603140865?pt=DE_Damen_Kleider&var=&hash=item99b36d0457

Wedges: Bought em years ago at Payless Target has wedges with a similar heel http://www.target.com/p/women-s-mossimo-vergie-sculpted-wedge-tan/-/A-14428244#?lnk=sc_qi_detaillink and a pair more suited for the cooler weather http://www.target.com/p/women-s-merona-mackenzie-suede-wedge-pumps-light-tan/-/A-14465528#prodSlot=large_1_9

I hope you all enjoyed this post and that you check out Go Insane http://goinsane.rakuten-shop.de/ Happy Friday!