Previously, it was quite difficult to get hold of quality vintage-inspired dresses and skirts in a good range of sizes without spending a fortune. There are brands like Hell Bunny, which I love, that offer a good range, but they can come at a high price and sometimes feature prints that are a bit out there for every day - especially when you consider I wear my dresses to the office.
I was lucky enough two years ago to discover a fab brand called Lady Vintage (also known as Lady V London). I found them totally by accident when looking for 1950s-style dresses for my lovely bridesmaids and it was love at first purchase, even though I didn't actually buy a dress for myself at the time.
Lady Vintage has also recently launched Lady Volup, which is a dedicated vintage-style plus size brand, with dresses and skirts ranging from size 16 to 30/32. All of the styles in this range have been designed with the lovely Georgina Horne of
Fuller Figure Fuller Bust and are perfect for flattering all your curves and edges.
Whether you buy from the original line or Lady Volup, you'll get the same thing: quality.
You can wear the dresses or skirts with petticoats for a fuller look, but in all honesty they don't really need it unless you want to make a big statement. I haven't yet tried a figure-hugging design - these aren't quite my style and I'm not yet in a place where I feel comfortable in this type of dress - they seem to work with most body types and sizes, judging from the pictures people tag them in on social media.
Half my wardrobe is now proudly made up of Lady V dresses with the Isabella being my personal favourite - I'm hoping they bring more out in this style soon!
Watch this space for details of outfits featuring stunning Lady Vintage and Lady Volup dresses.