Showing posts with label dresses with a big D. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dresses with a big D. Show all posts

Monday, 16 November 2015

VELVET


One of my favorite gowns is this long velvet one that I, for that obvious reason, don't get around wearing all that often. The previous time was two years ago when Eddi had his PhD disputation party. Last we celebrated a late autumn wedding with a beautiful setting at the Theatre Museum and I finally got a chance to wear it again!


The dress is from the seventies, but the cut allows it to be styled in a 1940's fashion as well, for example. I got it a few years back from my grandmother's cousin when she needed to empty her closet and got rid of a lot of amazing clothes. Sadly I have never managed to get any good pictures of the dress in action, this time these with my iphone will have to do.

Saturday, 19 September 2015

PASTEL AND PEACHY


Hello! I am in Berlin but last weekend we were at my sisters wedding!
It was warm and sunny  and I was wearing mint green. Could it get any better than that? Perhaps, because my hair was also pastel peach!* (Pastels can make a lot of things better. And you know I like competing with the cake on weddings, pastell-y and fluffy.)

My shoes are Minna Parikka, the purse vintage and the cherry blossom wrap dress is from PriscillaTokyo on Etsy, made of Japanese vintage fabric. Anastasia made me the hair flower by hand a few years back.

*) Was, well, is, still. A powdery peach.

Thursday, 10 July 2014

THE JAYNA DRESS IN BLUE HAWAII / ABOUT TRASHY DIVA SIZING AND MORE


As you may know, one of my absolute favourite brands is Trashy Diva. I have many many TD dresses and they all have a great cut and as I’ve come to notice, will flatter your curves weather you have a lot or a little of them. So when Trashy Diva asked me to try out and review one of their dresses from their new Blue Hawaii collection I was not late to reply with a big and happy Yes!

As I have ordered from Trashy Diva numerous times - I think it’s the brand I own the most dresses from - I am more than often asked about the sizing, and ordering form there. So I thought I’d also do a brief on that here at the same time.

I chose the Jayna dress, which is also a brand new model. The dress is made out of rayon.

Then I stated thinking that I’ve done it again - added one more fancy dress to the collection of “good-if-I -manage-to-wear-it-once-per -summer”-dresses. I just can’t help myself, I am a sucker for all things pretty! (Well, one day when I do no longer have small children I shall strut around in my fancy dresses again and all of the time.)

But, turns out, this is one of those floral dresses than can be just anything! That goes with anything, you know. Basic monday or wedding wear -everything goes depending on how it is styled.

See, nice and everyday normal if you so like.
The kind of floral dress that is not too fancy for day wear and would look good both with flats and heels - that would probably look good even when worn with Birkenstock sandals.

And -ta da! -with fancier hair it turns into a fancy piece - especially with and up-do that will show the beautiful cut-out in the back of the dress. I also like that is has a more narrow skirt than most of my other dresses, a little variation is always nice.

I find the dress quite timeless with a touch of the forties at the neckline with it’s sweetheart shape and fabric-coated buttons. Which also can, if you want to and style it so, give a very trendy 90’s vibe. (Would I be young and trendy I might shorten this dress and wear it nineties style with heavy boots or those thick soled canvas shoes and a jacket to go along. But I’m not, so I won’t.)

I’ve never had any issues with my orders from Trashy Diva always received the right items ind the right sizes. (Do keep in mind that when ordering from the US to the EU customs will most likely apply. The first years I always had my parcels coming straight home to me without having to pay vat and import tax but nowadays everything seems to go via the customs automatically.)

The sizing of the dresses is very accurate to the size chart but measurements run a little bit different for each dress and cut so always check the charts (it is very easy to find next to every dress on the site). For exampe, I have dresses in size 8 and 10 but even some in size 6!

In general I’d say to choose the dress according to your waist size. For those dresses with stretch you can take the smallest size possible, but the cotton and rayon dresses won’t really stretch so remember that, although getting one or half an inch smaller than my waist size when that has been the closets has not been a problem for me. If it gets any smaller than that it won’t feel comfy when you sit down for example, even though you might still fit in the dress. As I have noticed from some of my old dresses thank you very much pregnancy.

Now with the Janya dress I was not sure weather to go for the bigger or smaller size, to leave some slight comfy room in the waist or go for a snug fit with perhaps half an inch more to long for. The bust measurement on the bigger size would have been to big for me so I went for snug which was the right choice, and it does not feel too tight at all! Ta-da again!

The dresses that consist of a waist section, like the Forties dress for example, are often rather roomy in the bust and fit up to big cups. Still, they don’t get bulky on a smaller bust either, but actually gives a very good shape. I’ve noticed that the dresses that have the top cut in just one piece - like the Americana, Day dress or Anette for example - have less room in the bust. For me with a big rib cage they come out as perhaps a bit flattening and tight on the chest. Going for a bigger size does not really help as the dress then will be too big all over. But all in all it’s not a disastrous thing, I stil love those styles and wear my dresses happily!


An issue I know others also have had is that the dresses with a waist band are sometimes hard to close; the dress is lined in the waist to keep a good shape and the invisible zipper is very thin. That can make it hard to close over the seams. For one of my dresses I didn’t manage it without a helping hand; it usually gets a bit easier with wear though. The Jayna dress here is of the same kind of cut, with a waist section, but it actually closes up pretty easily.

The only tricky thing with trashy Diva in general is that most of the dresses are dry clean only. Which can be an issue over here, where dry cleaning is expensive (for example SOL charges 30-50eur to clean a dress, and silk dresses will be over 50eur). I hang out my dresses to air after wear and “steam” them by hanging them in the bathroom when I shower. But, I *confess* I have washed quite many of them by hand and they have turned out fine, expect for one on which the colours ran a bit (which luckily does not show at all due to the pattern). My jersey knit dresses have even been washed in the machine on a gentle program without problems. BUT do bear in mind that clothes should always be cleaned according to their instructions, so I’m not going to recommend washing the dresses yourself even though it has worked for me.

Well, there you have the answers to the most asked TD-questions in a nutshell. So enough with that for now and time to let this new dress out in the strong sunshine!


Blue is one of those colours that go with a lot, and this dress was well paired with red shoes. I also happen to have shoes in both the same blue and the same white shade as in the dress . But this time I went for orange ones instead!











Wednesday, 11 June 2014

SWOON AND THEN A LITTLE MORE


One of those I'm-dying-a-little-bit-just-by-lookin-at-it-from-the-corner-of-my-eye dresses.
If we'd just manage to throw that wedding party we've planned for the rest of our friends and family that were not with us in Vegas (which is, most of them) I would have the perfect reason...

(1950's vintage dress from Etsy/Dear Golden.)

Monday, 14 October 2013

3 x DRESSES FOR PRINCESSES


1961 Balenciaga gown, The Metropolian Museum of Art.

1950's gown via Pinterest.

1950's ball gown from Etsy / Simplicity is Bliss

When I was a very little girl I wanted to be a princess. That, or an x-ray nurse (one could see skeletons), or a cashier at the supermarket (probably because that was sort of the most actual job little me could think of; the only one I saw people do daily). Well, I didn't  become any of those. But then again I ended up doing burlesque which means I can be pretty much anything I want anyway. Princess and skeletons included.

Thursday, 22 August 2013

THE GREEN ONE, IN PROGRESS


One can ask onseself what the fuck (yes F) is going on here.

Well, the answer could appear to be simple; obviously, I am making myself a new dress. Inspired by one from Trashy Diva that I've admired long but did not allow myself to buy. My sister is getting married and I decided not to get myself anything new as I have plenty of fine summer dresses that have not been worn enough. But then again, if my sister's wedding is not the right moment to get a new dress, then when is? Surely she deserves that, ehrm. (Yes she and ehr wedding, a new dress. I am totally not thinking of myself here now.) And, as we have realized earlier on here, I do not have any green dresses. So corrected that shall be from now on.

But then again as I only have a few hundred other things pushing (and pushing and rushing badly) for the moment it does not seem like the most rational thing to start putting a fancy dress together. (But dress-issues seldom are that rational now are they.) The wedding is Saturday.  So I am not always sure what the hell it is that I am thinking. But so far so good and right now I am elsewhere but thinking this dress will be done by midnight! (Or well it has to as I am elsewhere tomorrow too. Positive thinking!)

This one is stretchy (oh yes) and will of course come with -ta daa- pockets! And something for the bust section too, as I don't intend to goo all ancient Cretan at the wedding.

Thursday, 18 April 2013

FIRST THINGS FIRST

Apparently I just am the kind of person that when I really -I mean really-  begin the task of organizing at home, and also should get on with those 522 unread emails in my inbox, start color-coordinating my dresses (and, taking photos of it...) 

Mmmmmmmh, dresses-




But then I sort of started "home-shopping", remembering this and that item in my wardrobe. Very useful. However, the hard truth and it's conclusion is that there is no need to buy any dress ever again!  Ever. (Ha ha!) Well except for green dresses; turns out I don't have any green ones - how did this happen? Nothing wrong with green. Must be corrected! (Ah, what a great feeling; relief).

Now let's just hope for a long and warm and very sunny summer and children that magically stop being messy so that I can actually wear every single one. (Can I get another HAHA?)

Wednesday, 27 March 2013

VINTAGE; FLORAL; FLOWING


I got myself a new vintage dress kind of by accident, spotting it on the mannequin at Helsinki's smallets but most delicious vintage store. (That would be Hoochie Mama Jane.)  Long and soft with a bold pattern and with some dangerous cash in my pocket it had to be mine right there right .

I've been avoiding polyester since my teenage years in tight non-breathable seventies shirts but when it comes to certain garments - a flowing dress like this one- I have to admit it can acutally be rather comfy and soft against the skin.. So I let go of my old ban of 100% polyester. With a slight temptation to cut this one into knee-lenght, I am also letting go of my fear of long hems; the dress will remain ancle length. I see it with a big rolled up do, or 30's style waves, or my black turban; with heels, sandals or boots alike. Versatility rocks.

Saturday, 24 November 2012

TIKI TIME!


Yesterday I did a show at Kokomo, the tiki restaurant.
I always love myself a good excuse to dress up and go all tiki! And to have LOTS of tiki drinks. Especially now in November.


The dress is from Bettie Page clothing, a set I bought just before Dag was born, although then  I of course couldn't use but the top (here). And after the delivery I had to add a safety pin to be able to close this in the waist, and didn't really look that good in it even. But now this one is  already on the bigger side for me. Haha! A great dress none the less, and I absolutetly totally and very much love the pattern. And clashing it with another pattern I love, leopard.

 (I love the fact that I am all back to normal by now but I kind of miss that big belly of mine. Have to do one more round then I guess :)

If somebody wonders the shoes ar a couple of years old or so, bought in Tallinn, and the leopard bow belt is from Carlings, many many years ago. Btw something like 2006 is so long ago already, if you think about it. Not to mention, well, 2003 for example. I didn't even read my email every day back then. Nor have internet of my own in my crib.Whoah.

Tuesday, 2 October 2012

RED, PURPLE AND PLAID






It's almost disgusting I know, but yes – I got myself one of the new Trashy Diva dresses.

Friday, 21 September 2012

VICTORY!




 Remember this dress?
Most of you won't as it hasn't actually been around for real...


But it's this one! The vintage one I bought in advance, just a few days before Dag was born, that I just had to try on a little right ahead (and posted these haha-funny pics of on my facebook page).



Some weeks after labour we were going somewhere and I was eager to wear just any of my dresses. We were in a hurry and I wanted to finally be able to go for this one but it wouldn't fit me at all, in fact I even broke a seam when trying it on. That's when I realized that my old wardrobe which I had been waiting for for nine months would have to wait a long while still. Very frustrating. I actually thought I would never, ever, be able to wear this dress.



But now only a couple of months later it fits me, yey!
Although it's matching belt will need a few more months still, or maybe rather a corset...

The dress is from Vintage Ansa. I always wanted a candy stripe shirtwaist dress. Although this is not really candy striped when you look up close; it has black pattern inside the striped. But I'll save that for some other post.

Sunday, 26 August 2012

LAST OF THE SUMMER WEDDINGS*



Yesterday we went to a wedding; a fellow burlesque lady was getting married!
And you know I like to dress up for weddings because that's when you get to be at your nicests.



 I wore a dress from Love Your Look.


 And a summer hat by my Berlin friend Frollerin von Sofa.


And our just-turned-two-months little Dag Evert Edison was very nice and calm the whole evening, regardless of all the dancing and singing and all the half naked ladies (as it tend to be at burlesque weddings at some point**) around him.


*) Not that we went to any other weddings this summer. But would we have gone, this would have been the last of them. You know, it's September next week already! Sniff.

**) Not that people just start throwing their clothes off after dinner or so. But most often there tend to be a dance number or two after dessert.


Thursday, 23 August 2012

& ALL THE BAGS


Outfit.

This is actually one of my best dresses, although I don't appreciate it enough I think; I forget how simple but nice it is. It's vintage;  found it some years ago at my grandparent's summer house (as you may remember from my Elovena post, a post I relly like myself - I really was that kind of city person I'd go "Look, live cows!!" when seen form the car window; and now I have those right outside my living room in the ocuntryside! How things change...But OK, I still kind of tend to shout "Look!" when I see animals while driving...).  I've modified the dress a bit; added some seams for a better fit. Good I didn't add too many, as this is one of few I am able to wear now post partum.


But here's what it really looks like; the outfit in action.

The shoes are Clark's originals and the belt old. My baby-stuff bag is from Cath Kidston and the pram (originally a bicycle bag, but works well on the pram!) bag is from Rascal's Etsy.


Monday, 23 July 2012

IN VINTAGE BLUE & A TINY SAILOR


 Hello there!

Here we are on our way to a party!

My dress is vintage (once again relying on a shirt dress) and Dag's sailor hat is so big it actually makes him look more like a miniature chef.


Sunday, 17 June 2012

LA LA LA DROOL DROOL


Summer dresses ahoy!


I get these periods when I constantly browse dresses. Goddamit I just can't get enough of wanting myself lots of nice dresses! And I know I never have the time to actually wear them as much as they'd deserve. But still, can't help it. Usually the most extreme madness goes away after a couple of days of constant craving and constant browsing. But now of course it feels extra nice to think about being able to wear dresses with a sharp waistline soon again... And already I have a couple of 'new' vintage ones in stock waiting for me, that I got as early as in winter, and one that I got just now (that you could see me trying to try on on my FB page)...

I can tell you that one of the above is on it's way to me already. And I'm going to get one other too. Just need to wait to see how well I get my measurements back after having babeed then to know which size to get.

(Dresses above from left to right: vintage dress from Love Miss Daisy, Paradise dress from Bettie Page Clothing / (available in Eruope from Miss Bamboo Clothing for example), Tweeter and Candy Ribbons dress via ModCloth, One For mMy Baby / Twin Palms dress from Shabby Apple, Flower Tie Back Dress from Love Your Look.)

Monday, 30 April 2012

YES PLEASE


I don't need any of the stuff above.
But that still does not mean they wouldn't be nice to have, you know.
One could throw in a couple of bangles more, in rose pink and spring green.

Honey Dress from Trashy Diva and PomPom peep toe from Minna Parikka.


Monday, 5 September 2011

SAILORETTE AND DYING FLOWERS

Now you m ay know I am sort of home proud and like to keep it nice around me (although no, I may not always perhaps manage to keep it that tidy, ehrm, but I refer to it as a bohemic mess...I know Eddi, my mom or my sister will point this out anyway when they read this.)

I especially like to get plants and flowers and place them out around the house, mostly on the balcony now that we're still on the lighter side of the year.


I also try to remember to take care of them properly.


However, it does not always go that very well.


In fact (oooops)...


...sometimes it goes really really bad.
(I nowadays refer to my balcony as the gothic garden due to all it's dying flowers- the sunflowers did not make it that along either as you may spot from the corner.)


But one does not always have to be perfect at everything.
Or at least not admit it, right? *wink wink*


But oh well, I may not have that green fingers.
But I do have red nails!
And-


a really swell dress!
You did not really think this post was about my balcony gardening now did you?

Perhaps you may remember this dress from a few years back; I bought it from a vintage store in Copenhagen. It only took me two years to sew those two small seams in the back it needed to fit me better. Whoah, I can actually use it now instead of just having it on display on my clothing rack.


And, it's the perfect day dress -haha- it has pockets! You know that immediately raises it on my dress scale. Were I to have such a scale, that is.

The suede shoes are old, very old; my grandmother's from the early fifties and the belt is Vivien of Holloway.



Also, I took these pictures myself. On our balcony. Sometimes when I think about that it seems a bit retarded. But then again ladies, I do have a tongue and I tend to stick it in my cheek from time to time.