Holy Cowl

Frocks and Frou Frou Frocks and Frou Frou Frocks and Frou Frou Frocks and Frou FrouDress: Scarlet & Jo via Evans

Shoes: Naturalizer

After nearly nine years, honestly, the hardest thing about writing a blog is coming up with fresh titles! I’m pretty proud that I haven’t used “Holy Cowl” before, so let’s all just give me a small round of applause for my terrible pun (seriously, I haven’t been this pleased since “Back to the Fuschia“, which – ironically – was another hot pink dress review!)

I spotted this dress over a month ago on the Evans website and fell immediately for the pleated shoulders and elegant draped neckline. It was originally available in navy, black, red and pink; and despite being a steal at twenty pounds (and still gainfully employed!) I couldn’t quite rationalise buying more than the one, so I put the options out to the Frocks and Frou Frou community on Facebook and you guys said to go the pink.

Well done you! It’s such a great colour, and a great style too. It’s made of quite a heavy matte jersey that doesn’t cling to lumps and bumps, and the waist has ties at the back so you can make the absolute most of a curvy figure.

The bodice front is self-faced – meaning that it has a double thickness of fabric. This is great for cowl-neck pieces (and is the same with my Myrtle dresses) as you don’t ever risk the cowl going inside out or showing a seam. It falls from pleated shoulders that have dainty little shoulder pads to give the dress a bit of structure.

Frocks and Frou FrouI’m quite narrow-of-shoulder to go with my prosperous-of-bust, and I think the dress might better suit someone more proportional, but I do think it’s wonderfully elegant with its three-quarter length sleeves and midi-length hemline.

Meanwhile, following my review I got an email from Belinda Esler of Foxers offering Frocks and Frou Frou readers a great 30% discount on everything using the code Frocks30, so if you were in the market for some cute new knickers now could be the time to go shopping!

To The Letter

Frocks and Frou Frou Frocks and Frou Frou Frocks and Frou Frou Frocks and Frou Frou

Top: Uniqlo

Cardigan: Similar here

Skirt: Target (Similar here)

Shoes: Naturaliser

Tights: Em Tee See

Just a quick one before I head off for a long weekend away at the Hall’s Gap Food & Wine Festival with my guy (lucky me!)

I’ve been using this long-sleeved top as a layering piece since I bought it from Uniqlo a couple of months back. It’s not the most flattering fit, but the print is such a killer (especially for someone who works in publishing) that I had to buy it when I saw it.

Layered under vests and pinafore dresses it doesn’t really make much of a statement, so I tried wearing it under a longline cardigan which gives the great typographic print a bigger canvas without it being overwhelming.

The ankle boots were because I’d walked some spectacular blisters into my feet by wearing ill-fitting shoes without any socks. They’re the one pair that I always reach for when my feet are aching, but they don’t have a very flattering effect on my wide-calves, so the opaque tights were a must. 

And just because I like a little touch of whimsy (and a feature back) my tights have adorable little cat faces that peek over the cuff of my boots. 

The tights have come from Em Tee See, who also did my wonderful starry tights. They’ve been designed so that the little cat faces can be worn to the front or the back. 

I’ve worn them both ways, but I really love the little cries of surprise I hear when I’m walking away…

Meow!

Cat Tights - Frocks & Frou Frou