May(de): A Bit Burton

Dress: Kay Em Kay

Top: Glassons

Tights: Ambra

Belt: (Free with Bettie Page dress)

Brooch: Pirdy

It’s very easy for me to “winterise” most of my custom-made summer frocks with the addition of opaque tights and a long sleeved cardigan, but what if the statement feature of the dress is on the back? Well, you layer underneath, obviously.

The wonderful Kay Em Kay heart-back dress that I bought for my honeymooon (minimoon? micromoon?) has been sitting in my wardrobe, and I was so sad I wasn’t going to be able to feature it in May(de) because it’s totally a hot-weather dress. Then I thought about how I’ve worn close fitting long-sleeved tops under t-shirts before, and I decided to do the same thing with the dress.

I think the result is a little bit old-school Tim Burton with the black and white stripy sleeves. I threw in a bit of red in the waist and the little glittery bow brooch at the neckline because I felt like I’d walked out of a black and white film. And also because, well, why not, right?

From the back it’s…. ooookay. The pattern of the top flashing through the cutout is great, but I’m not sure I’m sold on the wide stripes; it seems to mess with the clean shape of the heart. I think I’d like to try it again (not with a plain top – I tried that, and it looked weird from the front) but maybe with a polkadot top. Or a top with thinner stripes.

May(de): 60′s Schoolgirl

Blouse: Dorothy Perkins

Cardigan: Crossroads

Skirt: “Vintage” (Probably homemade) via Bombshell Vintage

Shoes: Chie Mihara

I’m feeling QUITE pleased with today’s outfit! I don’t know if it’s because this the first time in a week where I’ve been home early enough to catch some daylight coming in the window, or whether it’s the combination of bright red cardigan and multicoloured vintage skirt. Whatever it is, I’ve dubbed this my 60′s Catholic Schoolgirl outfit, and it’s a hit with The Sophisticate.

I think it’s the scalloped peter pan collar that really MAKES this outfit, and it’s made me realise how obsessed I’ve become with this Dorothy Perkins blouse (which is on sale for only twelve quid. Just sayin’). I’ve decided that my wardrobe needs MOAR peter pan collars, and I think I’ll try making my own detachable version as a DIY project this weekend. Maybe.

There’s a reasonably easy-looking tutorial on Honestly WTF, but there’s a few differing elements I’ve got in mind (which depends on what supplies I can find) so we’ll see. I might have to cobble together a project from different sources,

Stay tuned, I guess!

Brooch: Vintage, c/o We Are Large, People