Putting My Stamp On It...

The other week I was contacted by Mr Nutcase to do a review of a personalised phone case, I absolutely jumped at the chance! I've always kind of wanted one, but never really got round to doing it, so I finally did! 

The process was super simple for creating the phone case; you just have to enter the details of your phone (in my case, I have an iPhone 4S so I just put in the manufacturer which is Apple and the iPhone 4s, then you choose the case style you want. I opted for the ultra light weight slimline case because I've never been a fan of the flip cases.

You then get to choose from 25 layouts, which have different styles, different amounts of pictures you can put on them. I chose for the 4 grid for the photos I had in mind... 

I chose 2 pictures of myself, the top left was at Summertime Swing last year, and the bottom right is a picture I took for my OOTW picture and absolutely adore it! The top right is of Alice and the bottom left is of Freddie - they are mean the world to me, and I adore them, and I've always wanted to have a piece of them with me everywhere I go... and now I do!

The quality of the case is amazing! For this phone case it costs £14.95, it may be a little expensive however it is completely worth the price for the quality of the images that come out! The images of Freddie and me from Summertime Swing actually were instagram images, and the quality isn't actually pixelated what so ever!  Also, I often find that when I put a case on my phone, the feel of the phone in my hand is different.. it feels bulkier and heavier, however, this case is so thin and light weight that it doesn't make a huge difference at all, and it even fits into my trouser pockets without too much hassle (yes that is a necessity when you run around everywhere for everything!!).

Overall I'm super impressed with this phone case, yes it may be on the more expensive side of your price range but its definitely quality over quantity, I often let my brother and the children I work with handle my phone sometimes so it can be prone to scratches, especially on the case but this case had already paid for itself, doesn't have a single scratch on it whatsoever! With the back of the case being a matte feel, it means it is less likely to scratch then those with a gloss, and for people like me, that is such a good thing to have!

If you would like to make your own personal phone case from Mr Nutcase  then you can use this code to get 10% off your order!! 

"Thanku10"

See you on wednesday for another OOTW!

Lots of Love

Emma Victoria

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

OOTW & Review: Pretty Polly

We have a double whammy again today! I totally enjoyed reviewing the Stella Sweetheart Dress in this way that I've also decided to do it for this dress...

OOTW

Polly Gingham Shirt Dress, Collectif - £57.50

Red Rockabilly Bandanna, Collectif - £2.50

White Bow Wedges, Simply Be - £20

(Discontinued)

Marilyn Cat Eye Sunglasses, Wear it Again Sam - £9.99

For my make-up I just did the signature rockabilly style with thin winged eyeliner, and a blue undertone red lipstick to make my pearly whites shine. For my eyeshadow I just used the Rimmel Glam'Eyes Mono Eyeshadow in "Glam Ice" for an ice white feel to my eyes for an extra pop in the summer sun!

Recently for my hair I've been totally loving the 60's beehive hairstyle; I'd never really tried it so I've just been experimenting with what works for my hair seeing as mine is growing out and is layered. I just matched the red bandanna for that extra rockabilly touch and just to help shape up the beehive a bit more.

Review

As I said above, I got this dress as a thank you gift. I'd been pining over it since Collectif actually released the images for this dress which is part of this years Spring/Summer Collection. I've been looking for a good shirt dress for a while that actually fits over my rather large bust area and Collectif never fail to make me smile... I actually went for a size 20, I normally go for a size 22 due to the chest area always being tight, but I gave the smaller size a shot; and I was actually pleasantly surprised at how well the fit was, with my bust measuring 44-46 depending on the cut I was in between an 18/20. You can either have the dress fully buttoned up, or if you want a slightly more rebel rockbilly feel have it on one of the lower buttons which shows more cleavage! You can either be preppy princess or rebel rockabilly!

The twirl test is probably my favourite thing about reviewing dresses! This dress does have a full circle skirt, however due to the different material it does twirl a bit differently, and actually I really like it! The skirt of the dress actually swings in more of a direction unlike my other circle skirt dresses which just follow your movement - the extra movement of the skirt gives an amazing dimension when walking down the street in heels as it helps to exaggerate your hip movements. 

Overall I LOVE the polly dress, its definitely a summer must-have! If the weather does become cooler however you could match this with a bolero; I'd personally reccommend either the Gail Bolero in Cream or Jean Bolero in Ivory

The Polly dress is available in either in red gingham, red or black. 

See you saturday for my next post my lovelies!

Emma Victoria

xoxoxoxoxoxox

YouTube... The Collectif Obsession Haul

So... I've finally filmed a video regarding something everyone asks me a lot about. Its my obssession with Collectif and how much I actually own of their clothes. (Its forever growing; I'm being serious).

Make sure you give me a like and subscribe! I know I don't post much, but if you have any idea's then I'd love to hear them cause I'm always so super stuck on ideas for videos to do for you guys!

Emma V

xoxoxoxoxoxox

OOTW; Rockin' & Rollin'

Red Bandanna, Collectif - £2.50

Joe Browns Cropped Denim Jacket, Simply Be - £30 (Discontinued)

White Long Sleeved T-Shirt, Nouvelle - £12

Black Slimming Leggings, £10 - Next (Discontinued)

Black Pumps, Clarks - £44.99

Lollipop - Optional

So I got Imelda May's new album Tribal (yes I fangirled, cause I absolutely love her.) and I found that the album was much more 'rocker' side of rockabilly, which I absolutely love!! My favourite song right now is "Round the Bend" its pure perfection! Although, I think my family may already be sick of the album by how much I've played it...

Anywho, today's look is inspired by the rocker chic... I'm always pretty and girly, and well sometimes its good to just dress like a proper little rocker! I've still got a little cutesy in this outfit with the lollipop! You could either wear black pumps of military boots with this outfit, my boots need to be replaced but pumps are just as good!

Ever wish you were as talented as your idol?

Lots of Love

Emma V

xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

P.S - I have a YouTube video going up on saturday... Amazing I know! It's to do with Collectif...

Being a "Plus Size"...

This has been bugging me for a little while now... 

Yes I'm plus size.

and Yes... Men are attracted to me!!!!!!!

Honestly, the amount of times people put me down for my size and not being a size 10 doesn't bother me but what does bother me is when they think men won't be attracted to me because I'm a bigger girl.

I've battled with my weight for many years now - and only since I've started modelling have I started to learn to accept it. And since accepting it, my confidence has grown by 1000%!

But (there's always a but isn't there...) everytime I hear other people say "She's pretty but if she lost 'this much' weight then she'd get a man no problem" - I DO NOT NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT TO FIND A MAN.

Honestly, my love life isn't exactly the worst - yes I may well be single right now, but I've started dating again and seeing people! People also seem to think that I won't be able to "pull" an attractive guy because I'm not that slim... WRONG. You can't say all guys have the same taste for women, as the same for women with men and women and women and men and men and so on - you just can't!

Since dressing in this style, I get littered with compliments all the time but the most common one has to be "How do you get the confidence to wear these sort of clothes?" I didn't and sometimes I still get a bit worried if I'm pushing the boundaries too far for my figure... But why should it matter how I dress to the rest of the world! 

I know this is a kind of ranty post, but I just want people to understand that I am a human being just like everyone else, and I do sometimes get a little hurt by rude comments, whether you mean them or not. 

Another little note I'd like to add, as I still find many people at my college and sometimes even my friends think that looks are the thing that attracts you to a person - they are only a small factor, obviously you have to like the way a person looks in your eyes (not everyone is Marilyn Monroe y'know) but personality is also attractive. 


Lots of Love

Emma Victoria

xoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoox

OOTW: Oh My God Olivie!

Since probably about 2 years ago I've been pining over the Olivie, the reason I never bought it earlier was because A) I couldn't decide on which colour to buy first B) It wasn't available in my size. But I finally caved and bought the pink one seeing as I don't own many pink dresses!

Pink Parasol, Bow and Crossbones - £6

Hell Bunny Pink Olivie Dress, Rockabilly Pinup - £31.88

Hell Bunny White 25" Petticoat, Amazon - £34.99

Pink Paisley Bandana, Amazon - £2

T-Bar Heels, eBay - £15

I did my signature eyeliner, and I had white and pale pink eyeshadow blended out along with my neon pink Barry M lipstick!

I put my hair in a half up half down do. The up being a simple 60's bouffant along with my pink bandanna and the rest of my hair in its natural condition.

Recently I've been super in love with my parasol! I've always wanted one and I finally purchased this gorgeous one from Bow and Crossbones!!

Another technique I'm in love with is doing up the halter neck in a different way from normal, and its so cute! (And it makes me boobs look FAB!

Lots of love my gumdrops!

Emma Victoria

xoxoxox

What is it like to be a Rockabilly Girl/Pin-up Girl!

This is one question that is frequently asked to me by a lot of people for a lot of different reasons. I dress in this style nearly 90% of the time I walk out the house - if I'm not in my gear then I'm either popping out for 2 seconds, going to work or I'm not really feeling well. Now even if I'm not feeling too great I try and dress normally with the mind set of "look good, feel good" - but dressing in this style doesn't just come over night. It takes time and practice to look this way.

Lets say I need to leave at 8.15 to go to college... I have to get up at about 7am to make sure I'm ready in time. I normally plan my outfit the night before just to save a little time. If I decide to curl my hair in the morning I normally get up at 6 instead, I then spend a good 10-15 minutes doing my make-up, then about 5 minutes doing my hair. After that I slowly get dressed making sure I don't mess up my hair or make-up. Then its making sure I have my bag ready, then its finding my sunglasses, finding my heels, getting my coat, and making sure it's all still looking neat and perfect before walking out the door. 


I also do a bit of modelling alongside college and work - I'm still working with amateur photographers but working with a few more professionals at some point too. Again, I do spend ages looking good for the camera as well, as you can't be looking like a mess when going for a photo shoot.

Another problem I often face is dreaded spots, like every other human. I often get told my skin is flawless and perfect... The wonders of make-up is all I will say. My skin isn't as bad as it used to be back about 4 years ago, but even now I go through a vigorous routine to keep my skin near perfect. This can be laborious doing this twice a day but in a way its worth it. 

Another kind of issue I get addressed with a lot is people either stopping/staring at you in the street and people always kind of making a comment. People seem to kind of think I don't know I look different in my style or that I'm oblivious to the world. I mean I'm not saying anyone is nasty, but they always make a comment. I know for a fact that the people at my college seem to have an issue with the way I dress, and frankly it doesn't bother me, it's none of their business the way I dress myself. As I said I do often get stopped in the street for people commenting on my outfit saying I look gorgeous, glamorous, beautiful etc, yes this does give me confidence and that is what encourages me to dress in this style. People respect me and appreciate the way I dress - for the first time in my 18 years I've kind of felt that people like me for the way I've styled myself. On the odd occasion people even stop me to have a photo with me in the street - now that to me is something I never thought would happen! The other week when I dressed like Marilyn Monroe, I had a crowd around me to have a picture with me - THAT'S INSANE! 

There is one thing that annoys me though - its when guys think I dress in this way to please them. No, get off your high horse. I dress in this way because I WANT TO; not to satisfy you or anyone else. This is the one thing that does wind me up. Yes I have cleavage, yes I have red lips, yes I'm wearing heels but its not just for your eyes! 

Dressing in this style takes time, patience and of course money. Each month I treat myself to a new item of clothing or outfit to add to my collection. I've built my whole collection up from scratch since about February 2013 - and theoretically I've not been doing this for that long but I already have a huge amount of stuff. This style is all about bringing out your confidence, being unique and loving the style.

I know quite a few people who dress in this style and aren't necessarily into the music. Some people have said that these people aren't "true" rockabillies - who says they aren't?! I personally love the music and the style and do wish in some respect that I lived in the 50's - because life seemed to be that little more simpler then. Men were chivalrous to women and women respected men and were lady like. (Personal opinion) and I just kind of miss having a decent guy.

Being a rockabilly isn't necessarily being like Danny and Sandy from Grease, that's only one part of the scene. Fashion, music and lifestyle are a huge part of the scene too. And that's what I love so much about this scene, its so unique! 
If you want to ask any more questions about my experience of being a rockabilly/pin-up girl then please feel free, I love to answer your questions!

Much Love

Emma Victoria

xoxoxox

OOTW: Its Summer!

Back in mid March I had a little spending spree and I saw 2 beautiful dresses over on the Rockabilly Pinup website... I'd been eyeing them up for a while, and one of them was the red meriam dress!

Hell Bunny Red Meriam Dress, Rockabilly Pinup - £33.71

White Cardigan, Next - £15

Black Belt, New Look - £5

Frothy Soda Shoes, Clarks - £44.99

Varied Size Pearl Necklace, Primark - £3

Pearl Bangles, Gift

Isn't this outfit just adorably cute?! I love it! Its so happy and summery! I'm totally loving the colour red this summer, I don't even know why! I think it might be a red and pink summer this year! I also love how the pearls compliment the white polka dots, its just cute! 

Please excuse my rather weird face in this picture... Alice was chewing her leg (yes she was chewing her leg, please do not be alarmed, she is just odd) and I forgot I was taking a picture... BUT my make-up went awfully perfect for this outfit! I managed to get my eyeliner super thin as well, which makes me so happy its unreal (its the smallest things right?) My red lipstick is the Barry M creme lipstick in shade 151 - this just had a blue undertone in it which makes my teeth look whiter... AND IT MATCHES THE DRESS!

Okay I know I've already said it but this outfit is just CUTE!

Anywho... See you for my next post! 

Lots of love my darlings!

Emma Victoria

xoxoxoxox

Soap & Glory Powder Trip Review

Today is a review of the lovely S&G Powder Trip Set - I got this for Christmas from my best friend of 15/16 years and I LOVE it!

This product I have started using on a daily basis - I super love the feel of the product on my skin, it makes it look and feel amazing! I super love Soap and Glory products anyway, and this just furthers my love! The illuminating powder has to currently be my most used out of the trio - I normally use this powder on top of my foundation and face powder, especially when I do Marilyn Monroe make-up. 

The blush is also really nice, especially in its aesthetic look of all the different shades of pink that goes into the blusher - this comes up a really cute and rosy pink which is kind of perfect for the winter as the cold makes my cheeks go a rosy pink anyway! The blusher is the one in the top right corner and it is really soft against my skin too.

I haven't really used much of the bronzing powder as of yet, I tend to use bronzing powder in either the summer/autumn, however I have used it a handful of times and it doesn't make me look like an oompa loompa like most bronzing powders do (even when I buy the lightest shade humanly possible). 
I do like how it kind of is a nice golden colour against my skin which is pretty fair. I tend to apply mine against my jaw line and on the top of the apples of my cheeks. 

Other features include a mirror and a brush, the brush is like a half moon crescent brush, and it does have quite a good coverage for being such a little brush! The only real downfall I have for this product is that it is quite bulky and it does take up a fair amount of space in my handbag when I take it out, other then this, there really isn't any flaws in this product at all!

You can buy this product from Boots - £20

Much Love

Emma Victoria

xoxox