At Sixties and Sevens

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  Rebecca Dress: MichyLouDotCom

Shoes: Chie Mihara via eBay

Check out the BEEHIVE, GUYS! The higher the hair, the closer to heaven, right?

No tutorial for this splendiferous coiffure, I’m afraid. It’s well beyond my meagre skills (not to mention my abhorrence for teasing and hairspray). Both hair and makeup were the result of Sunday’s stint modelling for Bombshell Vintage‘s awesome new line Atomic Bombshell.

That afternoon’s picnic plans having been cancelled due to inclement weather (oh, Melbourne) I thought rather than waste the glamorous hard work bestowed upon me I’d don the “Rebecca” dress that the wonderful Michelle Tan, (of the floral peter-pan collar blouse) sent to me to try. That way you could get the full sixties effect of beehive and catseye while you checked out how the unusual fit-and-flare/empire-line/princess-seams combo fares on a larger body.

Pretty bloody well, I’d say.

I don’t actually have a particularly curvy figure. My bust-waist-hip measurements are more “top-heavy pear” than “hourglass”. I wasn’t sure how this fit would work on me, as it’s a combination of styles I usually steer away from.

Princess lines are often a disaster on my figure as I’m quite short waisted, so I usually wind up with a little pouf of fabric sitting like a spare tire around my midriff. And of course, we all know that big boobs plus empire-line often equals “how far along are you, dear?” (Side note: unless a woman is in labor you should NEVER ask them if they’re having a baby.)

MichyLou’s special custom-style seems to bypass these issues with a couple of cunning tweaks.

There are six darts in the front and back panels of this dress, which – and I’m not not sure how – magically eliminate the fit issues I’ve always had with princess seams. The bodice fits my midriff closely; not clinging, but making the most of my waist before flaring out at the hips. It creates a gentler, and more flattering line than a skirt where the fullness starts at the waist.

The seam of the empire line doesn’t actually start immediately below the bust, but 1.5″ above the under-bust line. I was particularly interested to see how this would look, as I have bad memories of singlet tops where the “boob pockets” (my sister’s term for them) weren’t big enough to encompass The Ladies. The result is very natural looking. It elongates the torso, and gives the illusion of higher breasts.

I’m completely sold on the fit and style of the dress, and as before Michelle’s workmanship is exceptional. The fabric’s a cotton blend, and though I thought the fabric would crush beyond all repair if I so much as looked at it sideways, there’s enough lycra in the fabric that it’s not too bad. I’ve got my eye on the Sandra now, which is the fully-lined, wool-and-sleeved version of the Rebecca. I’ve had it on my wish list for over two years now, and knowing how well the style fits it might be time to take the plunge!

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70 thoughts on “At Sixties and Sevens

  1. Wow, I have to say that I think this is one of my most favourite looks on you – you look absolutely incredible!

  2. You look fabulous! The hair looks even higher in these photos than the one you posted on instagram! That’s also such a clever construction of this dress with the higher than usual empire seamline.

  3. Oh my gosh, I love all of your looks but this one is particularly fantastic. You look amaaazing, between the dress/hair/shoes/you. I love it!

  4. That dress is *perfect* on you! It looks the way I want a dress of that style to look & feel. Totally love everything about this!

  5. You hair is stunning & your eyelashes are to die for!

    The green really suits you, Lilli. I have a dress from Michelle in the same style that I bought a few years ago. It was wonderfully flattering…I say was as after having my son my rib cage expanded & I had to pass it a long to a friend (who loves it too).

  6. Amazing hair and fab makeup! Also, that green is a great colour on you. You look like you’re off to star in a BBC retro drama 🙂

  7. WOW. I don’t usually comment, because I read you through an RSS (sorry!), but I had to click through and say WOW. You look AMAZING. The hair and the color of the dress and the whole package. Gorgeous.

  8. You really do look fantastic! The colour and fit is really good. How does the sizing run in this dress?

  9. You really took my breath away with this look today. Kudos to your hairstylist – that beehive is MAGICAL.

  10. Wow. Nice! I don’t think I would have picked that pattern for myself but you have tempted me to give it a try. (Like I need another pattern)

  11. Really gorgeous, this is definitely one of my favourites of your looks. That lipstick is total bombshell.

  12. Lilli, you need to get yourself some cats-eyes to go with that beehive. Which you rock, by the way. Gorgeous green on you too. Love it!

  13. You look great! What hair colour do you request at the hairdressers? It’s such a nice colour! Would you mind telling me where you go and who cuts/colours your hair? Such a great job!

  14. Love this – I got a great Hobbs dress last year in this green 🙂 Mine has a tie in front that shouldn’t work but does 😮
    Greatdescription of “top-heavy pear”!! That’s me, too, which is why I like seeing what you choose to show off your body… Have also had garments with this trick of minimising the bust by a slightly higher empire seam and agree it works but yes, you have to watch the ones where there is simply not enough fabric to accomodate the rack ;))
    Carry on – you’re a great inspiration even to an old gal like me!

  15. Swit-swoo! I’ve never really used the term “foxy” before, but it came to mind when I saw this pic. Also, I love your definition of your body shape as “top heavy pear”. I have a similar shape to you – kinda hourglass-y but without the teeny waist. Trinny & Susannah describe that as a “cello” body. That’s a pretty sexy instrument, so I’m going to run with that 🙂

  16. Have ony just seen this after getting back from Italy. Now I know why Melissa asked me to take a picture of two women eating at the restaurant we were in at Rome airport. They both had beehives.

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