What I Wore | Tartan Revival

No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you; this is actually an outfit post! Yes, really! I don't know what happened either.

It's been far too long since I last blogged an outfit here on the blog. Aside from a couple of mirror shots, the last one I shared was back in March last year, which is crazy.

I used to share my outfits regularly until my health began to deteriorate a couple of years ago, but as the pain grew worse and became harder and harder to bear, the posts became less and less frequent until they fizzled out altogether.

For the record, I really hate using my health as an excuse, but the honest truth is it affects almost every part of my daily life, no matter how hard I try to fight against it or keep on powering through. The pain has become so intense that I've lost the strength to do normal stuff like shower, get dressed, put on make up, do my hair, and get outside to pose for a hundred plus photos to get one half-decent shot to blog, all in one go. I don't often have the strength or the pain tolerance for any of it, so if I've managed to shower, dry and brush my hair on the same day, it's been a good day.

I've basically spent most of the last couple of years living in my pyjamas, trying to stay as comfortable as possible, only really dressing in proper clothes when I've ventured out of the house, which hasn't been often. Combine that with the fact I've not had a lot of money to spend on clothes, I've just not had many outfits worth blogging about, so you really haven't missed out on much.

It does make me sad that my style has taken a back seat here because I always enjoyed sharing my outfits with you guys, and it was what I created Polka Spots and Freckle Dots for in the first place. Don't get me wrong; I love blogging about all of the other topics I do, but I miss talking about the outfits I wear. I want to get back to it. and I'm going to do my best to make it happen.

My aim for 2016 is to get out of my PJs more and in to proper clothes, make it outside regularly to soak up some vitamin D, and to share more outfits like I did in the olden days, and as you can see, I've made some progress already by combining all three!

I've actually taken outfit photos four times during the last couple of weeks, although I'm not sure if all four are blog-able yet. This one just about passes the test. It was grey, dreary, drizzly, and a little windy when I shot these photos, and the garden was a mess, so they're far from perfect. I also look a bit spaced-out because I was still feeling a little flu-ish when I took the photos, but the main thing is it's an outfit to share, which is one more than yesterday.

So, in these photos I'm wearing the tartan Audrey swing dress from Lindy Bop, which I bought over a year ago, but had never worn before. I'm not even sure why that is- looking at these photos, I really like the way it looks on me- and I don't often say that about what I wear! I felt great in it, too.

It's a beautiful dress with the most gorgeous tartan fabric, which is made up of yellow and white stripes and little green squares on a background of burgundy. The fabric is medium-weight cotton, and a little lighter than some of the other Audrey dresses I own- which is a good thing because I find the heavier ones too warm to wear unless it's freezing cold outside. (Though I am on fire pretty much 24/7). The tartan dress is still thick enough to keep you warm in the Winter, but I find it much more comfortable to wear and move around in. The skirt is lined, the fabric has a little stretch, and I'd say it's pretty true to size.



It's a little big on top on me, but that's a common problem since I'm only a c-cup, and it's nothing a cardigan or a jacket can't easily disguise. I'm not comfortable baring my upper arms in public anyway, so wearing one over it isn't a problem. I can deal with a little extra room around the girls. I love Lindy Bop's Audrey dresses too much to let that stop me! It's my favourite out of all of the dresses they make. I currently own five in different patterns and colours, but I'd own hundreds if I had more money to spend on clothes! (One day!) I love 'em! I just can't resist a good boat-neckline swing dress. Especially when they're fantastic quality and so affordable like Lindy Bop's are!

I decided not to go down the rockabilly route when I put this outfit together, and instead dressed it down with black pieces for a casual, every-day look. It's a simple outfit and only took me a minute to throw together, but I like the way it turned out, and I felt really confident in it.

What I Wore

Dress- Lindy Bop // Cardigan- New Look // Tights- Evans // Shoes- Fashion World* // Belt- Dorothy Perkins // Necklace- Maggie Angus // Black beaded bracelets- Dorothy Perkins // Silver and black bracelets- gifts from the bestie

I'll hopefully be back with another outfit post really soon!

How would you have styled this dress?

Outfit | Cobalt Blue and Red Polka Dots

I'd like to introduce my new favourite dress; Matilda, the red polka dot swing-shirt-dress. She's the latest addition to my ever-growing collection of polka dot dresses, and don't tell the others, but she's quickly becoming one of my favourites.

She's one of those dresses that I fell in love with the moment I first saw her, and one I couldn't stop thinking about until I was able to snap her up. I don't know what it is, but there's just something about polka dot shirt dresses that I go crazy for, and this one tops them all. Matilda is the créme de la créme of polka dot shirt dresses, and since she's a Lindy Bop frock, I'm not surprised; their dresses are always so beautiful and high quality.

What sets Matilda apart from all the rest is that she is a swing shirt-dress, so she has an amazing full, flared skirt that gives a gorgeous silhouette, and also has plenty of room for a petticoat underneath, to make it even fuller. Unlike most shirt dresses, she is only buttoned to the waist, which I personally love because there's no worry of popping or losing a button and accidentally flashing your underwear to the world. She's made from good-quality cotton, but the fabric is still light enough to wear during the Summer. It's a sleeveless frock, too, so it's ideal for those hot sunny days. You can be sure that I'll be rocking this dress with pops of yellow when the weather gets warmer!

As it's still a bit early for wearing bright yellow, I've been wearing Matilda with bold cobalt blue, and a little bit of black. The colours of the dress and the blue pieces haven't been captured well in my photos, though. It was a cold and dull, grey day when I shot these photos, and the light kept changing from grey to dull yellow. I took over a hundred photos, but I'm not happy with how any of them came out. To be honest, I'm not pleased with the ones I'm sharing, but I decided to share them anyway, because I loved wearing this outfit and wanted to show you this dress before it sold out. So... just imagine that the dress is a really vibrant tomato red, and the blue shrug, belt, bracelet, and satchel are very bold shades of cobalt blue, because they are in real life.

I had so much fun wearing this outfit, which is just as well, as I had a nightmare with the sizing of the dress. I actually had to order Matilda three times, sizing up once more each time in determination to get the dress to fit! I  loved the dress too much to give up on it. I found my usual Lindy Bop size and the next size up too tight on the waist. They fitted nicely over the bust, but I still had problems with gaping buttons, as I always do with buttoned shirts. While I'm not very busty, I am naturally broad shouldered and chested, so I never get along with shirts. I almost always have to size up a few times to avoid gaping, so it's rare that I ever get to wear a properly fitted shirt. I'm wearing a dress three sizes larger than I generally wear here. It doesn't gape (hurray!), but it's not actually all that loose around the bust or waist. It isn't perfectly fitting, though; sizing up has meant the top button starts over the bust, and the waist is a little further down, but it's nothing that cinching in the fabric belt, and adding a stitch or two can't sort. Just bare that all in mind if you're broad shouldered or chested, and want to buy one. She really is worth persevering for, though!

She's a gem of a dress, comes in sizes 8-26 UK, and a bargain at just £29.99! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she'll be made in other colours; if she is, then I'd happily buy them all! I bloody love this dress!

Outfit Details

Dress- Lindy Bop // Shrug- M&Co (similar) // Satchel- ASOS // Brooch- Cath Kidston // 

Bracelet- Cath Kidston // Shoes- Fashion World* // Tights- Evans

OOTD: Painting the Roses Blue with Bon Marché

I've spent most of the last few weeks living in my PJs, curled up in bed like a burrito, but I actually managed to dress on Wednesday; look- proper clothes, and everything! I even pushed the boat out and did my hair and make up, too! (Miracles do happen...) Since I got that far, I just had to get out in to the garden and snap a few photos to mark the occasion. And more importantly, so I could show you all the pretty Bon Marché dress I was wearing.

Bon Marché recently got in touch and invited me to pick out a piece to review. I had never shopped with Bon Marché before, and in all honesty, I had been under the impression that their clothes were aimed at the older lady. And while I suppose that is some what true, when I popped on over for a browse, I was pleasantly surprised to find so many beautiful clothes in gorgeous colours and patterns, and even a plus size range up to a UK size 32! They've seriously upped their game over the last few years.

I was particularly drawn to the dresses in their David Emanuel collection. If you're not familiar with the name, David Emanuel is the man who designed Princess Diana's wedding dress; one of the most iconic dresses in history. I figured, if his designs were good enough for a princess, then there must be something special about the clothes he makes, so I asked to review the rose and lace print side pleat dress. And, oh, is it a beauty!

When the dress arrived on my doorstep a couple of weeks ago, I was surprised to see how pretty the dress was; it's far prettier than I'd imagined. It's made from the most beautiful cobalt blue and turquoise rose-print fabric, and has a monochrome background with leaves, lace, and more flowers filling the gaps in between. I love the combination of monochrome and bold pops of colour; it's so eye-catching.

The fabric itself is surprisingly thick and high-quality. The website describes it as stretch-jersey, but it feels more like viscose, and thankfully, doesn't cling against the skin like jersey often does. I presumed it was going to cling to my shape, so I made the mistake of sizing up to avoid that from happening; I definitely didn't need to. As you can probably see, the dress is far too big on me, especially around the arms and waist, so I'd suggest sticking to your usual size or even sizing down. It's generously cut.



I've been wearing a skinny belt on the waist to cinch in the excess fabric and get a bit more definition, and it solves the problem with zero effort. I didn't wear a belt in the photos, though, because I wanted to show you the true shape and sizing of the dress.

It sits a couple of inches below the knee on me (I'm 5'6''), so it is a long knee-length dress, and will obviously be longer on you shorter ladies. I'd wear a pair of (blue) heels to balance the length and flatter the legs, although the black studded pumps I'm wearing are only about an inch high because I can't wear heels right now with my bad back.

The good thing about this dress is that it has half length sleeves, so there's no need to wear a cardi or jacket over the top if you prefer to cover up your arms. It also has a flattering, pleated drape on the left hip.





It's so different to the fit and flare dresses I usually wear, but I love trying out new styles, and I felt very lady-like in this frock. I think it would be a great dress to wear for work, weddings, and other smart and formal social functions, as well as for looking glamorous every day.

The dress is available in sizes 10 to 24 here, and is reasonably priced at just £30.

What I Wore

Dress- Bon Marché* // Tights- Evans // Shoes- Fashion World* // Bag- Dorothy Perkins // Necklace- Giveaway Win // Ring- Evans

Have you shopped with Bon Marché recently?

*Bon Marché provided me with this dress in exchange for a review. As always, all words, thoughts, opinions, and photos are my own.

Lady Vintage Polka Dot Hepburn Dress Review

Hello, my name is Louise and I have a polka dot dress addiction. And water's wet. 

My wardrobe is packed full of dresses, and at least a dozen of them are polka dotted. You'd think that would be enough, but somehow I always manage to find room for one more when the perfect frock comes along.

That's exactly what happened when vintage reproduction brand Lady Vintage got in touch and invited me to review one of their beautiful dresses. I knew exactly which dress I wanted to review; a polka dot Hepburn swing dress! I'd been admiring the designs from afar for a long time, so I knew it had to be my first taste of Lady Vintage. I asked to review one in red or navy, and made some space in my wardrobe for one more dress.

I was sent the Hepburn polka dot dress in 'red wine'*, and ladies, let me tell you- this dress is absolute perfection! In the short time I've had this dress, it's already become a serious contender for my favourite dress of all time! At the very least, it's made the top three! Sure, I wear dresses every day, but it's not often I fall head over heels in love with one, like I have with this little number. It's beautiful! If it were a person, I'd happily walk down the aisle and marry it.

The style and fit of the dress makes me feel like a million dollars; something which doesn't happen all that often! I find the classic fifties-style swing shape really flattering on my figure; it disguises those areas I'm not particularly confident with showing, like my thighs, and hips, and nips me in at the right places. The style of the dress would suit most body shapes and sizes; it flaunts curves, flatters all sizes (yes, plus sizes, too!), and can create curves for ladies who have little, (but girls, remember, you're beautiful with or without curves!) .

Being unfamiliar with Lady Vintage's sizing, I used the size guide and size generator to determine which size I needed. I'm generally a size 20 for fitted clothes, but because of my broad waist, their generator told me I needed a size 26/28! I thought that couldn't possibly be right, so I compromised and went with the 22/24, and I'm glad I did. Apart from the usual issue of being a little loose on top, this dress fits me like a dream. It's fitted, but not skin tight (which is how I prefer it), and I have plenty of room left to breathe and move comfortably. Being comfortable is essential for me. 

Just as well that the fantastic quality fabric is super soft, then! It's made from a medium weight cotton, which has a good weight, and is neither too thin or two thick. Like baby bear's porridge, it's just right! 

I think this dress is ideal for wearing all year round. It's warm enough for Winter, and light enough for Summer; just add or subtract layers appropriately. The dark red is best suited to Autumn and Winter, though- and especially perfect for the Christmas season! I am aware that the colour clashes with my red hair, but I don't mind clashing when the dress is this beautiful.

I decided to shy away from a classic rockabilly look with this dress; mostly because it was far too cold for bare legs, and I'm crap at my hair! I gave my outfit a modern twist with some black pieces, studded slippers, and fun novelty accessories. Yes, it would look better without tights, but I didn't want to get frost-bite; it's bitterly cold here at the moment. The dress comes with a skinny black belt, which fits me with room to spare! I have it on loose in these photos intentionally to take the pressure off my bad back.

This is how the dress looks without a lovely tulle petticoat underneath. It still has a great shape, and I find dresses like this one much easier to wear for every day without one underneath. That being said, I'm dying to get myself a petticoat so I can play dress up! 

The Hepburn dress retails for £50, which is really reasonable for a high-quality vintage-reproduction dress. Quality vintage-style dresses under £50 are few and far between, and Lady V is definitely on the lower end of the scale.

You can find the dress here, but if red isn't you're thing, the dress also comes in black, navy, mocha, and purple. I have a few of them on my Christmas list! The Hepburn comes in lots of different patterns, too, and you can find them all here. The dresses come in sizes 8- 26/28 UK (some styles go up to a 30/32), which is absolutely fantastic. It's great to find another brand that isn't afraid to cater to plus sizes. I'd definitely recommend sizing up once, but check your measurements against the size guides to be sure.

I adore my Hepburn dress, and have so far been impressed with both the fit and quality of the dress. This may be my very first Lady Vintage dress, but it certainly won't be my last!

Dress and Belt*- c/o Lady Vintage // Shrug- New Look (similar) // Shoes*- c/o Fashion World // 

Bag- Accessorize // Bracelet- Cath Kidston // Brooch- Cath Kidston // Tights- Evans

Before I go, I just wanted to offer a quick apology to Lady V for the length of time it's taken me to get this post up. I'm mortified by how long it's been, and it's not okay! It wasn't my intention. I've had some physically demanding physiotherapy sessions over the last couple of months which have sent my pain levels through the roof, and repeatedly left me unable to get about unaided, As you can imagine, it's made it difficult to get outside to snap a few pictures and for that I'm so sorry! I hope you'll forgive me!

Are you a fan of Lady Vintage dresses?

Thanks for reading!

*Lady Vintage provided me with the dress in exchange for a review. As always all words, opinions, and photos are my own.

Praslin Wish List

I was having a browse at the dresses on Dorothy Perkins' website the other day, and came across some beautiful dresses by Praslin that I just had to share. I was instantly smitten with half a dozen of them, so I thought they deserved their own post.

As almost all of the brands Dorothy Perkins stock are marketed at smaller sizes, I didn't expect this collection to be any different. After all, Dotty P's isn't considered a plus size brand, although their own pieces extend up to a size 22. (Which I'm sure you'll agree is a rare thing!) I was happy to be proved wrong. The selection of Praslin garments available through them caters to sizes 14-22, which is good news for us ladies on the lower end of the plus size scale!

However, Praslin is also stocked by Simply Be, and Fashion World, who, I discovered, extend the sizes further! Most of the following dresses are also available from them and up to a size 28!

You can find them here...

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 via Dorothy Perkins

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9  via Fashion World

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 via Simply Be

So, naturally, I was drawn to the beautiful polka dot dresses, and got led astray. I think I have a polka dot problem! In my defence, the polka dot dresses in this collection are some of the loveliest I've seen in quite some time. (How many times can I say 'polka dot dresses' in one post?) 

I completely fell in love with the frilled spot print dress (1 and 2), but I had a hard time trying to decide which colour (mocha or navy) I preferred. In the end, I purchased both so that I can make a better decision once I've seen them in the flesh. I'm pretty certain if I like the dress, I'll want to keep them both! The mocha version makes me think of the Pretty Woman dress, although it's not the same style dress. And I firmly believe a girl can never have too many navy polka dot dresses.

I also have my sights on the classic swing dresses in red and navy spots (4 and 5), bird print (3), and butterfly print (6). The shape of the dress is classic and compliments curvy and plus size bodies perfectly, and I find them so fun to wear. I'd wear them year after year because the style never really dates, although if you prefer to follow the trends, they're bang on trend at the moment!

I purchased my dresses through Dorothy Perkins, who are currently offering 25% off everything using the code: DPFW25 and free worldwide delivery using code: ITSONUS. I paid £26 for each dress instead of the £34 they retail for! 

Also, if you shop through cash back site Quidco, they're currently offering 10% cash back with Dorothy Perkins! It takes no time at all to use, and you get a portion of the money you spent back; it's a no-brainer, really! (It was 9% when I made my purchases the other day, and I shall be getting £4.59 of my £51 bill back! So I've in fact spent just £46. 41!) Bargain!

Do you take advantage of discount codes and cash back rates before you make an online purchase?

Are you a fan of Praslin? Which of these dresses are your favourites?

Fashion World Shapewear Challenge

A few weeks ago, an exciting email from Fashion World appeared in my inbox inviting me to participate in a shapewear challenge just in time for the party season. Intrigued, I eagerly accepted the opportunity to try out a few pieces. You see, I had never worn shapewear before, but I had always intended to find out if shapewear was for me, so it was perfect timing.

I was asked to choose a party dress and a pair of shoes, and was provided with three different styles of shapewear to review.

Let's start with the dress...

I was asked to choose a dress, but when my favourites all sold out in my size, Fashion World suggested a few of their little black dresses. Now, while black is the go-to shade for the majority, I rarely wear it; I usually favour colour. So, I decided that was a great opportunity to try something I wouldn't usually pick, and went with the stunning Embossed Design Prom Dress. 

The dress is a beautiful leather-look number with a gorgeous floral embossed print, capped sleeves, a fit and flare shape, and a lace insert to the v-neckline. The colour and shape are classic, but the overall design of the dress has a real edgy feel; something different to your average party dress! It will really set you apart from the other ladies in the room. The fabric is so soft and smooth to the touch, and has a lot of stretch. I sized up because I thought the waist was fitted, but it's actually elasticated and comfortable. Being a D cup, I had plenty of room left in the chest area, and I think that it should accommodate much larger bra sizes. I really like this frock, except for the capped sleeves which make me feel very broad shouldered, but that is easily solved with a shrug, jacket or cardigan.

The dress is £50 and can be bought from Fashion World in sizes 12-32 here.

Now let's talk shapewear!

Worn With: Magisculpt Multiway Body Shaper

The first piece of shapewear I tried on under the dress, was the Magisculpt Multiway Bodyshaper; a one piece body, with a similar shape and fit to a good supportive swimsuit. My first thought was it has quite a pretty look for shapewear, with lace panels to the sides, and trimming the cups. It's far different to the frumpy giant pants Bridget Jones infamously introduced us to back in the noughties, that's for sure!

It found it comfortable to wear, and with medium, all-round control, it didn't feel at all restrictive; ideal for shapewear novices like myself! I felt it worked well at smoothing down my shape, and it would be perfect for creating a smooth silhouette under everything from body-con dresses to skinny jeans. With the multi-wear detachable bra straps, it really can be worn under almost anything. It has the standard hook and eye fastening at the back, and it conveniently has a similar feature at the crotch, meaning dashing to the bathroom after one too many drinks doesn't have to involve stripping off your entire outfit in a toilet cubicle. Unless you want to, that is; I'm not here to judge!

I'm really impressed with the item of shapewear, and I think it's excellent value for money. The only negatives I have to report, are that the cup size was too big for me (I only realised at the last moment I was sent a DD instead of my usual D), but since it's padded, I made it work! The cups also show through the fabric of this dress. Find it on Fashion World here, for £34.

Worn With: Magisculpt High Waist Briefs

My least favourite item from this challenge, was the Magisculpt High Waist Thigh Shaper, which are simply like high-waisted cycling shorts with good support. Now, they fit me well, and miraculously smoothed down my thighs and stomach. However, I don't get along well with anything that comes up to my waist without continuing up further as a dress. I've never felt comfortable with high-waist garments, as, like with the thigh shaper, I'm left with a mini muffin top which shows through the clothes and makes me feel super self-conscious. A couple of inches lower, perhaps, and I think I would rate this product quite highly!

For those of you who are comfortable with high-waists and are looking for something to smooth down your stomach, hips, and thighs, this may be the piece of shapewear for you! It's very supportive. You can find it on Fashion World here, currently on sale for £21 catering to sizes 12/14- 32-34.

Worn With: Magisculpt Control Briefs

The Magisculpt Pack of 3 Control Briefs I was sent were a little different to those in the scorecard above; sitting closer to my navel. I was given these Firm Control Briefs to review, but you can find the ones on the scorecard here. They come in a set of three, with a black, white, and nude pair, which should in theory cater to most outfit colours. I, of course, wore the black pair under this dress.

The knickers are plain in colour, with a lace panel on either side. I won't lie to you; they are quite plain in appearance, and dare I say the nude and white pairs look quite frumpy, but they were designed for function, and simplicity creates that sleek silhouette. Nobody has to see them! These briefs have firm control, and I'm impressed with how well they held in my stomach and smoothed out my hips, which are two of my least favourite body parts. Perfect for wearing underneath outfits that cling to these areas. The pack of three is £24, which is very well priced, and you can buy them from Fashion World here, in sizes 12 to 32.

The Shoes

The shoes which I chose are the Simply Be Studded Block Heel Shoe in black. I disregarded dozens of pretty high heels to spare my back further injury, and I'm so very glad I did. I love these shoes! They're the perfect mix of edgy and feminine; putting a spin on the classic ballerina flats. I love the studs to the toes, and the quilted design. 

These heels are wide fitting shoes, available in both E and EEE widths. I have quite wide feet, and went with a EEE pair in my regular size 6, and I have to say, I don't think I've ever had such a perfect fitting pair of shoes! They're so comfortable, and they even came with a pair of leopard print insoles for added comfort! They come in black and navy, and can be bought from Fashion World in sizes 4-9 here. I may be going back for the navy pair after Christmas!

I had a lot of fun experimenting with these pieces and putting this post together. Thanks to Fashion World for allowing me to take part. I can now understand how the right shapewear can really make a difference to an outfit, and the extra confidence it can give you under your party wear. 

Why not pop on over to http://www.fashionworld.co.uk/ and take a look at their fantastic selection of party dresses, shoes, and shapewear to find your outfits for the party season!

P.S. Can you notice anything different about me?

*This was a sponsored post with fashionworld.co.uk. I was provided with a dress, shoes, and shapewear for review in exchange for this post. However, all words and thoughts are as always honest and my own.