I’ve got a new dress – and it’s got my name on it! Review of Bolero Beachwear “Mette” Dress

Hi everyone! Remember dear old me? I’m still alive, haha!

I don’t really even know where to start with this review. It’s been a long overdue, but here I am finally. It’s a special one for me also, as this particular product has been named over myself – which is really humbling. So how did Mette dress came to be? It was a lovingly created style in my honour, made by the ever-so-lovely Patricia at Bolero Beachwear. She has been kind enough to believe in me, even over my loooong blog hiatus and last year, she hinted me that a dress with my name on was coming together. She wanted to make it perfect, so the release date got pushed back a bit – the first intention was to release the dress and send it to me before our wedding day and honeymoon, but we all know how much Patricia puts her love and devotion to the clothes she makes. So I received it a bit later on.

Patricia was so kind to include two Mette dresses in my parcel and I was so excited – two lovely dresses that were nothing like each other except for the same pattern! The first one – a light stretchy polka-dotted summer day version you can see in these pictures. I promise to post some pictures of the black more fancier version in the future, but let’s give the stage to the more summery version now.

*This product was gifted to me by Bolero Beachwear. All opions are my own. The Photography is by Jaakko Alatalo / Haaska Rock’n’roll Photo.*

As you can see, the Mette dress is a bit different to what we have seen from Bolero before. The dress is A-lined and has a lovely empire waist, which reminds me of my Jane Austen fan girl years (haha, I guess I am still in that phase though…). It’s clever combination of a more modern style beachy summer dress with my signature pinup look. It’s a fun and young style – great if you want something that’s gonna feel relaxed and yet look polished! Wait until you see the more festive version, as this dress can definitely do both day and night.

The polka dots on this dress are a bit smaller than on my Erica dress, which is a nice change, even though I do like my original Erica! Patricia is the queen of wild prints – she loves colours and lively patterns, which make her designs pop. However, Bolero dresses do offer some more subdued alternatives as well, and I happen to be one to dig more timeless prints, such as polkadots and plaid. I would love to see the Mette dress in a dark blue or a burgundy tartan-style plaid, maybe in the thicker Bolero ponte fabric. Hmm… isn’t that an idea? 😉

The fit of the dress is once again excellent and it is surely made with busty gals in mind. I am wearing a size Small, as Bolero dresses run quite generous and stretchy (which is great especially if you fluctuate in size!) and feel that my 32GG-H bust fits into it really well. I stopped buying empire waist dresses years ago, as the waist seam would always climb on top of my boobs, instead of curving under them. There is no fear of this issue with the Mette dress – there is plenty of room for the girls and I love that the dress is form-fitting just under the bust area but starts to very quickly widen down to an A-line hem.

The Mette dress is a bit shorter than my other Bolero dresses and thus it is great for summer and with the festive version, lovely for a night out. It has been a loooong time since I last wore a mini skirt, but this one is not too short to feel uncomfortable in but yet short enough to be a tad sexier than your average knee-lenght dress.

As per usual, Bolero dresses are easy to take care of and this version especially takes so little room in the suitcase, that it’s perfect for any summer vacation. I am hoping to get a lot wear out of it next summer! Summer in Finland is soooo short and unfortunately I got this dress in the autumn, which means I didn’t have time to enjoy it during the worst heat waves. But bring on the heat this summer, I’ll be ready!

The best thing about the Mette dress, as other Bolero dresses as well, is how comfortable it feels. It’s the sort of clothing you don’t have to constantly adjust or suck your stomach in, when the waistband digs into you. You can just forget about wearing clothes all together – which is really the ideal for me, even though it may sound strange. The older I get, the more comfy I want to be, so restrictive clothes are something I only wear on a special occasion. For everyday, there is nothing like a breezy strechy dress, that you don’t really have to think about except for the fact how good you feel and look in it.

You can find the Bolero “Mette” dress here for the price of $140. All of the Bolero styles are made ethically in the USA, so even more something to love ❤

PS. No worries, there will still be lingerie reviews here on the blog! I just graduated as a master of Education, so have more time for hobbies now on. The blog won’t probably be as busy as in its hayday, but I will still pop a review here or there when I have time to write and photograph goodies for you!

Easy-Going Pinup Perfection: Bolero Beachwear “Lola” Dress Review

*Disclosure: This item was provided to me by Bolero Beachwear free of charge. Opinions are my own!*

I don’t know if I have told you this before – I may have not, to be honest – but I study and work two jobs at the same time, which makes doing my makeup hair and putting an immaculate true-vintage outfit together sometimes impossible. On days when I have to rush from one work place to another, I rather put my hair up neatly, do some basic mascara and a lippie and put on a stretchy comfortable dress that can take the rush.

A few months ago, my pal Patricia from Bolero Beachwear sent me a couple of dresses to brighten up my autumn days and I was happy to discover once again that her designs are an absolute must to my wardrobe. The first dress that I have actually worn a lot during these months is called Lola and she is a lovely autumnal version of my beloved Bolero halter retro dress.

Lola features a classic circle skirt (not full though, if you are a vintage-enthusiast, you know what I mean) attached to a fitted bodice and some 3/4 length sleeves. It can be dressed up or down and here I have styled it with a smart casual twist.

Pics by Perttu Luomala Photography

The Lola dress features a Ponte di Roma material which is quite warm and thick to combat those winter winds. The winter in Finland has been rather mild this year (and ever-so-dark, thus the difficulties to take blog pictures…) so I have basically lived through it just wearing my usual dresses and fleece stockings (Pretty Polly makes some great ones, click here!). The Lola dress also has 3/4 length sleeves, which is always a plus when it comes to winter-appropriate dresses.

When it comes to sizing, Bolero Beachwear dresses are rather generous and great for size fluctuation or bloating. I don’t really go on a scale but sometimes use a measuring tape and my waist size fluctuates around 28-29 inches and has done so during the past few years. These dresses don’t have rigid waistbands that start to dig in after a lovely restaurant meal and they can easily just be slipped over your head while dressing. I am wearing a size Small in the emerald green Lola, which fits me well, even a bit generous.

The proportions of the dress are pretty much spot on for me: the waist is not too short for my torso, there is plenty of room at the bust to accommodate my 32GG’s and the dress hits me right at the knee, which is a very flattering length (and appropriate one for a vintage gal like myself) for someone like me with a 5’6 frame. The quality is again topnotch: there are deep pockets to carry everything from your phone to your credit card and the top part of the dress is fully lined.

What I love most about Bolero is the passion and care Patricia puts into the designs: all of her clothes are easy to wear, care and to travel with and she is one of the ethical producers or modern-day clothing staples. All of her designs are made in the USA, which is always a definite upside for a person who is concerned about unethical consumerism in today’s world. These clothes last and the materials can be washed time and time again without them wearing out easily.

If you are interested in the Bolero Beachwear offering, take a look at their webshop here.  The Lola dress costs $150 and will definitely be a staple in any pinup girl’s wardrobe. My Bolero dresses always gain compliments when I take them out and I love that I can look stylish and feel comfortable at the same time!

If you want to see more Bolero, stay tuned! Another more summer-y review coming soon 😉

Beach-side Basics – Review of Bolero Beachwear Halter Retro Dress

I have to say starting work at a new company and a completely new branch of childcare (special needs kids) has had me facing a problem with work attire – I need to have something quite easy-going that can be washed with no problem, even several times a week. So you can imagine that stretchy jersey dresses have been a great option for me, especially as I work right next to a beach where we play with the kids on a daily-basis! When Bolero Beachwear came out with their halter dress a few months ago, I immediately knew this was the perfect work dress for the hottest days of summer, but also great for hanging around at a summer cabin and going for a girls night out on Fridays. Lucky me, the lovely Patricia who is the CEO of Bolero, decided to send me a dress to try for a blog review! Here are my thoughts on this Marilyn-esque little number… (Psst! Thank you miss T for taking the pics, I really appreciate it and love you forever <3)

It’s pretty obvious that the Halter Retro dress got its inspiration from Da Queen, that is Marilyn Monroe. You know the iconic flashing scene with the white dress? I think you do! Instead of going for the classic white only, Patricia has come up with a few different colours and prints that the Halter Retro dress can be made in and obviously, as a big fan of classic styles and colours, I decided to go for my favourite colour, red.  The dress is made from a very stretchy and quite thin material, so it is perfect for the more active summer days when you don’t want to stress about being restricted by your clothes.

I received my dress in size Medium, but Bolero Beachwear is overall on the generous side of sizing, so I could have probably gone down to Small, which I wear with my Erica and Carmen dresses comfortably. The bodice is lined to make it more sturdy and the cuts of the top accommodate a large bust very well. The neckline of the dress is quite open but I still find it work appropriate in laid-back work environments, especially if you throw on a cardi like I did in the pics (this one is from Collectif). Bolero also make lovely little shrugs in basic colours so make sure to add some to your cart! As the dress must be worn with a strapless (mine is the Curvy Kate Luxe in 30H), there is not much cleavage and I quite like it that way. The top part of the dress covers my bra completely which is a huge upside when talking about a halter dress for big busts.

One of the biggest selling points for Bolero Beachwear is the wearability and easiness of the clothes – they are easy to travel with, don’t require ironing and can be washed several times without losing colour. I simply cannot wear a lot of “Dry-clean only” clothes at work, as when I wash them in the machine, they don’t really like it that much. Also I can get pooped, pissed or puked on at work (yes, we work with babies too!) so I need to have something that I can clean with ease immediately. This is the reason I love Bolero for: there is no hassle if I drop something on my dress or a child gets messy – my Bolero dresses simply don’t get ruined (unless it’s foundation or something equally tricky that stains all clothes!).

In addition to being easy, I have found some great wardrobe staples from Bolero – my Erica and Carmen dresses get a lot of wear as they can be dressed up and down and worn through the year with some tights and cardis to make them more versatile in cold weather. This is why I usually choose the most classic colours and prints when it comes to basic dresses such as the Halter dress – so that they could be easily adapted to my pinup style and will look good after years and years of use.

I am all for team Wear-Whatever-the-Fuck-You-Want (as my dear friend Jessica put it), but if you are wondering who this dress would be for, I would say it suits very well someone who is either an hourglass shape or top heavy, as the top part of the dress is clearly designed for a fuller bust but also for a wider back. I found myself pulling the back up a few times when wearing the dress, as the Medium might be a tad too large for me. If you have a wide back and a big boobs though, this is the dress for you! I usually find every other dress too snug for me in that area, which is why I was amazed how roomy the dress is for a quarter-back built girl like me, haha.

To be honest, I don’t really have anything bad to say about this dress – it is comfy, looks great and has pockets! What more can a girl hope for?! I think it pretty much tells it all that I didn’t have time to photograph this dress before yesterday, as I wore it through the whole summer (it was probably my most worn dress for three months) and it was in the wash all the freaking time (oops, so sorry, Pat…)! The Halter Retro dress costs $120 which is a bit up there, but personally I feel it is worth the splurge. These garments are made locally in USA and thus cost a lot more to make than your average China dress. They are also made with love to achieve the highest quality and fit a fuller bust like a dream. What’s not to like! If you want to shop Bolero, take a look at their online store, here.

Introducing Bitter Lollipop: Tailored Fashion for the Full-Busted

When Kelly, the owner of Bitter Lollipop clothing, emailed me some time ago, I had not heard of her brand and was delighted to be asked to review something from their recently launched AW14 collection. Of course, I knew I had to give Kelly’s baby a big shout out as there are not that many brands making tailored clothing for us full-busted gals. I am not usually a fan of most companies that make full-bust appropriate clothing as they usually come up a bit dull with their designs (with some exclusions of course) so I was smitten to see some nice prints in the Bitter Lollipop collection.

The first dress I tried from the brand was their lovely Riley which appeared to be a bit too big for me. This was the time when Kelly and her tailor were still figuring out the sizing, so I just sent the dress to a fellow blogger so she could try it on. A few weeks later, Kelly asked if I wanted to try either of her New Year inspired dresses and of course I said yes!

Bitter Lollipop designs come in UK sizes 8-16 and two different fits – Busty and Buxom. To determine your size, I would recommend taking a look at the brand’s own size chart. The first time I tried the Riley dress I went for a size 12 Buxom as that was the size the chart put me into. Unfortunately, the sizing was a bit off back then and the dress seemed to fit better someone between UK sizes 12 and 14. However, Kelly quickly fixed the sizing to be more true-to-size and here I am, prancing around in my lovely new Emma dress, size 10 Buxom.

The size 10 Buxom should fit someone with a waist around 27″ and a bust of 38″ but I can tell you that there is a bit of room for size fluctuation with this dress. My waist is currently around 27,5″ tightly measured and the size 10 feels very comfortable and not tight at all. Also the bust part has plenty of room to it and can accommodate my 30H bust easily.

The dress feels incredibly well-made and that really makes up for the price (£129), which can seem a bit high at first. Bitter Lollipop products are handmade in UK which really adds up the value as well. You can literally see that this dress is lovingly crafted by hand and well-though out to suit a curvy body type. It’s lined with a stretchy cotton all the way which makes the dress quite heavy but also really comfortable against skin.

Usually the Bitter Lollipop dresses are about knee-length but this particular dress along with the Isabel fit-and-flare dress are made a bit shorter to make them more appropriate for New Year’s celebrations. I usually wear knee-length dresses but it’s good to have an option. Also, the Emma dress certainly makes my legs look super long! As the style is meant to be festive, I paired it with some red satin pumps (some old YourFace collection), a vintage belt and a feather-y hair clip from H&M. I also added some red lip gloss for extra sparkle 😉

All in all I am extremely impressed with the quality of Bitter Lollipop and it’s safe to say that their designs are a long-awaited addition to any busty girl’s party or work wardrobe. The necklines and hems seems to be appropriate for office and the cuts perfect for a curvy figure. Also, listen up gals! Bitter Lollipop has a FLASH SALE for two days now so you can snatch up your very own Emma dress (or something else as well) with a mighty 50% OFF. That means you’ll only pay £65 for this beauty! The items are made-to-order so it usually takes about 3-5 days to finish the product.

So lovelies, how did you like my Emma dress and the Bitter Lollipop? Also, do check out my lovely friend Sarianna at “the Sweet Vanity” -blog. She was kind enough to take the pics for this post! The makeup and hair is by yours truly 🙂

Suomeksi: Meillä kurvikkailla naisilla ja tytöillä ei ole aina ihan hirveästi valinnanvaraa mitä vaatetukseen tulee – usein napit sinkoilevat paidoista jo heti kättelyssä ja mekot harvoin menevät kiinni vyötärön yläpuolelta. Olinkin siis todella mielissäni kun Kelly “Bitter Lollipop” -nimiseltä merkiltä otti minuun hiljattain yhteyttä. Bitter Lollipop on myös minulle ihan uusi merkki, joten oli mukavaa päästä kokeilemaan heidän uusinta luomustaan, Emma-mekkoa!

Bitter Lollipopin mekot tehdään käsityönä Briteissä ja ne on suunniteltu erityisesti rintaville naisille. UK-kokoja löytyy 8-16 eli EU koissa nämä vastaavat 34-42. Istuvuutta löytyy kahdenlaista, rintavalle sekä todella rintavalle (Busty ja Buxom). Itse kokeilin vaatemerkin uuden vuoden rientoja varten suunniteltua Emma-mekkoa koossa 10 Buxom, joka tuntui olevan juuri oikea kooltaan ja istuvuudeltaan.

Mlyös laadultaan ja mukavuudeltaan Emma tuntuu olevan huippuluokkaa, mikä sitten näkyykin hintalapussa. Onneksi voin kuitenkin todeta, että mekko on todella hintansa (£129) väärti! Jälki on todella siistiä ja mekkoa ryhdittää joustavasta puuvillasta tehty valkoinen vuori. Tyylikin on kohdallaan: Emman kangas heijastaa mukavasti valoa ja näyttää upealta vaikkapa punaisten korkkareiden kanssa!

Jos oma tissiystävällinen mekko kiinnostaa, kannattaa Bitter Lollipopin sivuille suunnistaa NYT. Nettikaupassa on nimittäin meneillään tästä päivästä huomiseen iltaan asti FLASHSALE, jonka aikana valikoiduista tuotteista (mukaan lukien Emma!) saa alennusta 50%. Nyt Emman saisi siis 65 punnalla 😉 Mitä mieltä muuten olet tästä mekosta ja asukokonaisuudesta? Käypä ilahduttamassa minua kommentilla!