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Hello my darlings!
I’ve been very busy lately with hospital appointments, a festival, and now travel away for uni, but I wanted to put up a Pretty Things List for you before I went away to Rockhampton.
So here it is: a Pretty Things List focused on rock and roll!
The first thing I want to show you is something I just bought for myself: a rock and roll themed dress from Bernie Dexter.
I bought this gorgeous patterned dress in the “Paris” cut from Zulilly (first picture below), but you can also find it in the “Kelly” cut for sale online (second picture). With a black silhouette border print, and an all over colourful print of rock idols, the Rockabilly Idol print is so much fun. You can pick it up in the Kelly cut from the Bernie Dexter website in sizes XS-4XL for US$168, or in sizes S – 2XL from Australian website Cassablanca for AU$195.
For jewellery fans, Erstwilder has a range of rock and roll themed items. I particularly like the record brooch and earrings and the swing dancing couple (available in two colourways). The brooches are AU$34.95 each and the earrings are AU$29.95. All are available from Erstwilder’s website.
If you’re a fan of dancing in your circle skirts but not a fan of flashing your knickers, Aussie retailer Rock and Roll Dress has Malco Modes brand ruffled pettipants available in a range of colours and sizes for just AU$30 each. Great for dancers and for windy days, these top quality pettipants are made in the USA and fit waists from 20 to 48 inches.
Petticoats are a major feature in the rock and roll look, and you can buy very soft single and double layer petticoats in a range of colours from Aussie retailer Your One Stop Pinup Shop. At US$99 for double layered and US$59 for single layered, they’re a pretty affordable way to add to your petticoat collection and bring your outfits up a notch. They fit 26-40 inch waists, though keep in mind you’ll need to be able to wiggle them up over your thighs, so if you’re big thighed like me they can be a little tight to get in to.
Finally, Pinup Girl Clothing has a cool music border print Jenny skirt and dress available in a range of sizes from XS to 4XL. At US$98 for the skirt (~AU$128.60) and US$142 (~AU$186) for the dress, these are good quality items with a full bodied gathered skirt.
The multicoloured border print means you can match the skirt with tops of various colours.
Are you a fan of rock and roll themed items? Have you ever tried learning any sort of rock and roll or swing dancing?
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Some pinup girls just aren’t into sweet and pretty prints. So what’s a girl to do?
Hell Bunny has recently come out with a great Day of the Dead print that errs on the side of tough, not sweet. Featuring sugar skulls, roses and crosses on a black background, this dress allows for co-ordination with blue, pink, yellow, black, green or white accessories.
The halter neck is surprisingly comfortable , with buttons to allow for the length of the halter neck to be altered. I usually find halter necks pull on my neck, but I have had no trouble with this dress.
Two small front pockets are a nice detail, being both functional (big enough to fit my smart phone or a mirror and lipstick) and decorative.
The back of this dress is ruched with elastic for a comfortable stretch and fit. It also means you can size down from your usual Hell Bunny size. A zip up the back allows you to step into the dress, and I was able to do and undo the zip on my own.
The 50s style full skirt fit a two-layered petticoat underneath without any drama, enhancing the silhouette of the dress.
I’m wearing a size Large. The Calaveras dress is available in sizes XS to 4XL.
I purchased mine from Atomic Beauty in Rockhampton, Queensland for AU$75.
In these photos, I paired my dress with a belt and scarf from Pretty in Pinup, purse from Ms Katt’s Kustom House, necklace and petticoat from Your One Stop Pinup Shop, cardigan by MAK, bangles by Splendette and shoes from Rivers.
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Last weekend I drove to historic Childers to meet up with Miss Milla Cherry and take some blog photos of two outfits to share with you, my lovely readers.
I’m showing you the first of these outfits today: The Hearts and Roses “Eliza Spicy Swing Dress”.
The Eliza is a fairly new addition to Hearts and Roses’ line and features jars of pickles on a pinkish red background. With a full swing skirt that easily took a Malco Modes Jennifer petticoat underneath, the Eliza is perfect for wearing in around the house or for a day out.
The Eliza fastens with an invisible zip under the left arm. I found the zip easy enough to do up by myself, which is always important!
The Eliza is made of stretch cotton (97% cotton and 3% elastane) for comfort and fit. With a slight sweetheart neckline, it is flattering and comfortable to wear and the neckline allows for necklaces to be worn, like my Louella DeVille gumball necklace.
With so many colours in the pickle jars, you can pick out an accent colour to use for scarves, flowers and belts in your outfit. As you can see, I chose a bold, royal blue for this outfit.
The Eliza is available in sizes UK10 to UK20 (AU8-AU18) from Tragic Beautiful, catering for busts from 86cm to 116cm, and waists from 71 to 96cm. Because it is a stretch fabric, you have a bit of wiggle room when it comes to sizes – for instance, I’m wearing a size 20 here, even though my waist is currently a bit above the range for that size. I usually wear a size UK18-UK20 in Hearts and Roses, so this dress is spot on for sizing.
I purchased my dress from Atomic Beauty in Rockhampton. If you’re shopping online, Aussie retailer Tragic Beautiful stocks it for AU$64.95. If you’re chasing a size 8, you can get it from Aussie online shop Poison Kandy Klothing for a little more: AU$72.80.
My accessories for this outfit included scarf and necklace from Louella DeVille, belt from Pretty in Pinup, brooch by Erstwilder, shoes from BAIT, and socks from Ms Katt’s Kustom House. My prescription sunglasses are Colette Dinnigan from Specsavers.
With thanks to Miss Milla Cherry for the photographs.
Do you like the print on this dress? What other novelty prints have caught your eye?
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I’m currently volunteering two days a week at a State Government department involved in natural resource management. Not only am I having the opportunity to learn a lot for learning’s sake, but it could make the difference on my resume that results in me getting a job straight after uni. I’ve been learning to use ArcGIS, a geographic information system program, and I’ve been doing a lot to do with soil science as well.
Last night I applied for five jobs in my future field, based in places like Roma, Charleville, Toowoomba and Longreach, which are all in western/central Queensland. Even applying for jobs is a big step for me, and something I never could have brought myself to do 12 months ago. Having my depression and anxiety mostly under control for the first time in a long time has allowed me to take that step of thinking about and planning for the future, and I’m so pleased 🙂 Now I just have to wait to hear back about the jobs!
Unfortunately, after recently starting on another medication, an anti-anxiety med, I rapidly gained about 8-9 kgs of weight in just a month or so! This has really made me upset because I’m not at a happy weight for me and my body. So I have started counting all my calories consumed and burned, and have so far lost 4kg in a couple of weeks. But meanwhile, I’ve continued with my corset training and have managed to reach a waist reduction of 10cm when wearing my corset, from a natural waist of 102cm (up a little since I started corset training, due to my recent weight gain) down to 92cm measured around the outside of my corset. I’m going to continue with my waist training because my next goal is to close the final inch and a half of my corset lacing. I’ve got a new corset coming from Dauntless Corset Australia (the Siren in summer mesh) soon in a new, smaller size – 28inch!
Yesterday evening, I was announced as a finalist in the Miss Rockin Maryborough Pageant, which was exciting to hear 🙂 Competing under my pageant name, Vera Vamp, I’ll be at the Rockin Maryborough Vintage Festival in September. If you have a moment, please give my photos a LIKE on this Facebook post, to count towards my chances of taking out a placing!
Hello readers! Just a quick note to let you know that if you pop over to my Facebook page right now, you can enter into the chance to win ten free tickets in my Pinup Raffle! Entries close this Sunday night the 24th July (at 7pm Australian Eastern Standard Time), so get it quick! Don’t forget that my pinup raffle is open to international readers too.
-Vera
It’s mid winter here in Australia, and I feel like putting together an Australian-company themed Pretty Things List for you all 🙂
First, let’s look at clothes! I love Australian company Retrospec’d for their lightweight Queensland-worthy cottons, the flattering cut of their patterns, and their beautiful fabrics, many of which are in-house designs. I own one Retrospec’d design already and I currently have three of their dresses on layby with Ms Katt’s Kustom House (and I can’t wait to receive them and review them for you). In the meantime, some of my favourite designs currently available are the Norma Jean in red polka dot and the Kathleen in cobalt blue, both AU$190 each and available in select sizes from AU6-18, catering for busts from 75 to 110 cms and waists from 60 to 90cm.
I currently wear a size 18 in Retrospec’d designs, for your reference.
By buying from Retrospec’d, you are buying quality Australian made products from an owner operator small company.
By now, just about everyone knows about Aussie resinware company Erstwilder. Producing beautiful limited edition resin design brooches, earrings, cardigan clips and necklaces, this Melbourne-based company has been operating since 2011. Erstwilder has been particularly prolific over the last six months, with many new ranges of designs coming out recently. Some of my recent favourites that I’ve added to my collection include the Paper Moon brooch, Around the World brooch and the Gumnut Babies brooch, all AU$34.95 each from Erstwilder’s own website.
You can also buy their designs from many Aussie online pinup shops.
Some other Australian jewellery companies you may not know of include Revere Folie. Based on the Sunshine Coast right here in Queensland, this little company began operating in January this year, inspired by the beauty of bygone eras – in particular the Art Deco and Art Nouveau movements. I’m the lucky owner of two pairs of Revere Folie earrings, being the Revier in gold (AU$25) and the Mermaid in pink (AU$20).
They have a great deal currently, where every order receives a free pair of mermaid mini studs, or sparkle silver or gold studs, and orders over AU$50 receive a free pair of Baby Holly Hoops in black or white!
Another great Australian company producing quality jewellery is Deer Arrow. Also based on the Sunshine Coast, this company is the brainchild of a pair of sisters who began creating their jewellery in 2015. Working in resin and timber, Deer Arrow are the makers of my awesome custom poison apple brooch that you will see me wearing in some photos.
Some of my current favourite designs that I plan to purchase in the near future include the Ouija brooch (AU$12), the Valentine brooch (AU$35) and the Glitzy Radio brooch (AU$30).
Finally, I came across little Aussie shop Glamourlite on etsy mid last year and was instantly taken by the stylish designs. Started in 2014 in Launceston Tasmania, Glamourlite produces items such as earrings and brooches, including my heart padlock earrings that you may see in some of my outfit photos.
I’m currently in love with the Key to my Heart brooch (AU$39) and the Love Hurts Dagger brooch (AU$22), both of which I want to get in the near future.
By purchasing from Revere Folie, Deer Arrow or Glamourlite, you’re supporting small Aussie-made businesses!
I hope this Pretty Things List has introduced you to some new favourites 🙂
Don’t forget to enter my pinup prizes raffle! Tickets just $1, open internationally, raising funds for the Black Dog Institute! Follow the link below here.
Vera Gin Vintage 