+ outfit | retro doesn’t have to mean pin-up with Cherry Velvet

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I’m bringing you something a little different today, though from afar it may not seem all that different. Let me explain. Cherry Velvet specializes in retro inspired dresses and designs. I had found out about them when a friend had alerted me to a model casting call and I figured, why not? They had really cute dresses and I was over the moon to find out about a local brand serving plus sizes. Sadly, I’m a tad edgy to be a catalogue model so instead we decided to collaborate to style this look!

At first I was a wee nervous to style this look. Modeling was one thing but retro/pin-up was a look I’ve left behind in my twenties. Like many young edgy plus size lasses, I fell head over heels for the ultra femme looks that highlighted my curves. Since I was more on the goth side, rockabilly pinup really appealed to me with it’s horror/hallowe’en vibes. I still adore all the a-line swing skirts, tight bodices and kitschy prints. And Dita Von Teese will forever be a style maven I worship. But as I grew in my personal style and plus size fashion grew with me offering more options, I found I had veered away from pin up.

I felt stumped on how I would style such cute, fun, chipper designs.

So what I came up with was taking a beautiful dress, and styling it differently. Instead of being dolled up to go out on the town I went for the unexpected by adding just a tiny but of masculine flare. I utilized a tie and a white button down shirt, { I know, I know, the tie is technically a pussy bow, but you get me! } to change the entire vibe this dress normally gives off.

Lana dress in”starlight”  – c/o Cherry Velvet in 2X
Items similar to mine: extra wide brim fedora – Forever21, Boohoo, ASOS | Shoes – { kinda } ASOS, ASOS, Amazon, Deandri | button up shirt  – Eloquii, Eloquii,  ASOS | bag –  ModCloth, ASOS | pussy bow – ASOS, ASOS, but mine is just a piece of ribbon!  

Retro does not have to equal pin up!

It’s so easy with a great dress to just slap it on, add some cute shoes, a lick of lipstick and walk out looking like a bombshell. Especially with a retro silhouette! But I really wanted to flex my styling muscles. I needed to dig a bit deeper to satisfy my edgy self. I wanted to prove that a retro dress doesn’t have to look pinup, the two do not have to go hand in hand. In fact, Dita is testament herself!

Now I want to say, I have nothing against pinup, it’s gorgeous, sexy, and empowering. It’s just that pinup is no longer me.  That doesn’t mean I have to ever give up on retro cuts and fits!

I loved styling this look. On the day of the shoot my look was described it as a “dark Mary Poppins” and you know what? I ain’t mad! This look is reminiscent of good ole’ Mary; I adore old movies with all their fabulous retro/vintage styling; they are literally the epitome of classic and are a constant source of inspiration.

Makeup: eyeshadow : Matt Kumar – the balm cosmetics | lips: “avenue” and “prim” – ColourPop! cosmetics | eyeliner: precision ink “abyss” – illamasqua

Let’s talk about this dress and more specifically the fabric and fit: Sparkles are hard to capture on film. Every fleck you see on this dress is a metallic, almost iridescent fleck speckled all over a luxuriously textured black. It’s a heavier weight, so it hangs lovely with or without a petticoat, but not so heavy you’re stiflingly hot. And it has a lovely stretch to it and it fit quite well.

In fact I had supplied my measurements in advance of our first meeting and they had pulled 3 dresses for me to try on, all in 3X. I was actually able to size down to a 2X in every dress, including the more rigid fabric dresses. All of their dresses have pockets, though I would have loved to see larger pockets to match the lushness of this frock. One thing I would love is if they had a snug, hip hugging skirt as an option.

I’ve been informed this dress is selling out fast! So if you are looking for a holiday dress or you need a fabulous frock for special occasions, I recommend you jump on this one right away! The fabric is no longer made, so these are the last ones left! We all know, I am a shopping enabler, today is no different. I have a discount code for you to use if you have the itch to shop: MARGOT15

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