Taking Shape Tropica Maxi Dress

When I went to visit the Taking Shape Store in Southport a few weeks ago, one of the dresses that I ended up coming away with was the Tropica Maxi Dress  Not only was the dress right on the money for the tropical print, it also gave the illusion when I looked in the mirror that I was taller than I actually am.

This is not to be confused with Jurassic Park and the "dinosaurs are closer than they actually are" mirror sign.  I am not a dinosaur, just a short girl who likes to look tall.

Anyhow....... I was going out for a meal tonight and so decided to take a few pictures and show you what it looks like.  I may take the length up very slightly, not because there is anything wrong with it, but more than I can and will trip over anything remotely near my feet.

Sizing wise I would say that you can probably size down one.  I like to have roominess in my clothes so stayed to my usual.  For height reference with the length of the dress, I am 5ft4.  

As you can see, the neckline has some lovely beading detail which looks like a necklace, hence no need to wear one!  

I wore the dress today with some simple sparkly black flat sandals but you could easily take this dress from day to night by adding jewellery and a pair of heels.

I have a feeling that this is going to be my go to dress for the summer.  What to wear when you have five minutes to get out of the door and still look stylish?  The dress that does it all for you of course!

Spring Formal

One of the things I worry about when asked to go to a formal Spring event is what to wear?  The basic black that you can fall back on in Autumn/Winter seems a bit out of place on a glorious summer day, so the question is, what do you wear?

+Marisota recently sent me a look sheet of formal looks for Spring/Summer which I have decided to share with you as there were a couple of items that I fell for.

Black blazer £50.00
(I couldn't find a link on the site)

Spotted Mesh Prom Skirt £49.00

I am dying to buy this skirt.  There are so many things I want to wear with it and try it with.  Different colours, with belt, without belt, high shoes, low shoes, the lot!

I wasn't asked by the way to do this post for Marisota, I just loved the skirt so much that I wanted to share it with you!

Joe Browns Vintage Flower Dress

Today I have to show you another purchase that I made this week.

I have had my eye on this dress for a while now as I love the Joe Brown dresses and the vintage look of this dress had me sold.  After spying a cheeky discount code for +Simply Be I decided to thrown caution to the winds and give it a whirl.

Joe Browns Vintage Flower Dress

The patterning on this dress is beautiful and very 50s esq.  I found that the length was just right on me, just a little past the knee.  The sizing is a little generous, it works on me but I would suggest that anyone with smaller breasts than I size down one.

There is one thing about this dress that I wasn't too impressed with.  The material is so thin that you can see through it.  To be honest I did debate about keeping the dress because of the quality of the material, but as I wear a black slip under all my dresses anyway and I loved it so much, I decided to keep.

Below is a picture of the material up against the morning light.  Now of course it doesn't show as that see through when it is next to your skin, but it is certainly something to consider.

I wore this dress to work today (yes I do get dressed up to go to an office, I know) and I wore it with some gold seasons from Hush Puppies and a costume pearl necklace which I found in a charity shop.

If you are a slip girl like myself, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the dress to you, but for £40.00 it is something to ponder on.