Delightful Dresses: Modcloth Sale

The Modcloth sale is on with up to 50% off some gorgeous, vintage-inspired pieces and, quite frankly, if they're doing a sale, I'm going to find a perfect dress!  There are two types of dress that I have been after.  The first is a retro summer dress, that I could wear to an afternoon, vintage-themed tea party and maybe go for a little dance afterwards at a Lindy Hop club!  I've chosen this 'Head Bow-ver Heels' dress by Knitted Dove which is half price at $58.99 (about £39).  The style and shape, with the empire line waist, is very flattering and the white bow collar is just charming.
The second dress I want is something I can wear to the office and be cool and chic, but also something that I can wear in the day when not in the office.  And I have found two!  The first is this 'Stop and Smell the Hibiscus' shift dress by Tulle Clothing which is half price at $34.99 (about £23).  The navy, fuchsia, coral, red and white floral pattern is subtle but pretty and the collar makes it work well for the office.  The belt is removable, but will flatter the waist brilliantly.
Another dress I would wear to the office, as well as out and about, is this chiffon 'Strolling the Seashore' dress in mint green.  It's a similar style to the above but I love the colour combination and attention to detail.  Again, it's half price at just $24.99 (about £16.50).
So many dresses, so little time!  There are literally thousands of dresses in the sale - as well as other clothing and accessories - so it's a perfect time to grab a real bargain.

Delightful Dress: Hybrid Jailhouse Pencil Dress from Lovarni

Another day, another sale!  Today I've been perusing the Lovarni site, which is an independent fashion retailer who are offering up to 75% off in their sale.  They stock a range of brands including Little Mistress, A Postcard from Brighton, Lipsy, Jarlo, Rare and Marc B and they are always worth checking, as they have a price match promise plus 10%, so you should always manage to get the best deal from them.

Lovarni is also the home of the Hybrid brand, which has been spotted on celebrities and other famous faces. The dresses are made from a super stretch body sculpting fabric and elegant, sophisticated styles that flatter all figures.  I've found this fabulous, 1950's vintage-inspired Jailhouse pencil dress in their sale.  With a blazer, it could be worn to the office but then whip that jacket off and you've got the perfect dress for a cocktail or two in the evening!  With the nipped in, belted waist and bodycon fit with a hint of elastane, it will hug one's figure and flatter perfectly.  Team with killer heels for a stylish and chic look which oozes sophistication and glamour.

The dress has been reduced from £95 to £45 and is still available in a variety of colours and sizes.  I would chose this fairly neutral cream and black version and team with colourful accessories and a bright lipstick, but I'm also quite taken with the fuchsia pink and black version.

What colour would you choose? Leave your comments below!

Delightful Dress: Robinette Dress from Fever London

Fever Designs now have selected items at 30% off, which includes a great selection of summer-ready dresses and accessories.  The store's style is inspired by vintage prints and feminine silhouettes, so they really do have a great selection of products to choose from.

I love the eye-popping brightness of this cowl neck Robinette dress.  The bright blue and almost neon orange contrast perfectly to create a stunning colour palette.  The dress style is retro, beautifully feminine and versatile enough that it can be worn to work, during the day, or dressed up for an evening out.  It's also available in navy and cream, which is a little more conservative but still pretty!  I'd wear this with some peep-toe platform heels and just a bracelet or two to create a really gorgeous, chic outfit.

Normally £69.99, with the discount it's £48.99 and comes in sizes 6 to 18.

What do you think about this dress?  Is the orange and blue too much or is it wonderful?  Or do you prefer the blue version?  Let me know in the comments below!

Summer Staple: Charming Bouquet Balconette Bikini from La Perla

We are inching towards summer and my thoughts are truly at the beach.  And with perfect timing, selected La Perla beachwear is on sale.  There's up to 40% off beautiful and luxurious bikinis, swimsuits and many other accessories.

I've picked this floral balconette underwired bikini as it's pretty and flattering.  Balconette bikinis and bras are brilliant as they push the breasts up from underneath, giving fantastic support, and they enhance the chest.  However, they don't crush the breasts together so this style boosts the bust and cleavage in an understated and sophisticated manner.  And the watercolour floral print is delicate and lovely!

This bikini has been reduced from £369 to £221 in the outlet section of the online store and delivery is free for orders over £105.

What is your bikini style preference?  Do you prefer a balconette style?  Or is a halterneck or bandeau more your thing?  Add your views below!

Delightful Dress: F&F Limited Edition Jacquard Prom Dress from Tesco

Prom dresses are gorgeous and versatile.  They can be dressed down with a casual leather jacket and wedges or glammed up for a night on the town with some amazing accessories and killer heels.  They are super-flattering by holding in the waist but skimming the hips to create a lovely, feminine shape.  Bigger busted women should look for prom dresses with round or v-neck necklines and smaller busted women can go for dresses with a higher neckline.

Tesco have a great range of dresses at the moment, and now is a good time to shop there, as they are doing their clubcard exchange promotion.  This means that every £5 in vouchers can be exchanged for £10 worth of vouchers for particular products - including clothing!  So essentially, customers are getting double something for nothing*!

I spotted this F&F Limited Edition Jacquard prom dress on the site, and it was also featured in Grazia magazine's Fashion Charts.  The neon green floral pattern is quirky and fun as well as being totally on-trend at the moment.  I'd wear it in the day and accessorise it with a belt to create the illusion of a small waist and team with some smarter sandal wedges and cream cardi.  The dress also comes in black and white and is available in sizes 10 to 20.  It's £35.

* Of course, there needs to be an initial spend to get the vouchers in the first place but hey ho.

Delightful Dresses: About the Artist Dress & Soda Fountain Dress from Modcloth

I am afraid that I can't stay away from the US site Modcloth.  There are so many amazing items on the site, especially their dresses.  For this post, I have chosen two dresses that I feel are gorgeous, versatile and great value but, to be honest, I could have chosen far, far more!

The first dress I love is this 'About the Artist' lilac dress.  Made from a soft cotton, it is perfect for keeping pretty and cool in the summer months.  I adore the whole style of this dress, from the capped sleeves, darted bust area, ruffles and v-neck to flatter the top half, the flowing skirt to flatter the bottom half and the belted waist to create a beautifully defined, feminine silhouette.  It comes in a great range of sizes - from small to 3XL - and is $52.99.  That's about £35 which isn't bad for a dress like this.

The second dress I have chosen is even better value and slightly more practical - but still pretty!  This cotton stretch 'Soda Fountain' dress comes in cherry red, cola black, purple grape and ginger yellow.  Again, being an A-line style, the fit is super-flattering and being cotton is will be cool to wear (in all senses of the word!).  The element of stretch material in this one also will allow for a perfect fit.  As it's slightly plainer than the 'About the Artist' dress, I think this would work wonderfully as a summer office outfit as well as a more casual day dress.  It's $44.99 (about £30) - so again, great value for a great quality, cotton summer dress.

The cheapest Modcloth shipping to the UK is about $17 (about £11), not including any customs charges - various options are available though.

I've also just noticed that you can invite friends to join Modcloth and get a $15 voucher - so might be worth having a look at that too for extra savings!

Summer Staple: Pink & Green Floral Belted Bathing Suit from Unique Vintage

There's 20% off at Unique Vintage until tomorrow (28th May) with the code MEM20 so it's a great opportunity to stock up on some fab, retro pieces!

I love this pink, white and green floral swimsuit.  Fabulously retro, it's flattering in all the right places, with a modest but pretty sweetheart neckline and belted for a defined, feminine shape.  The pink ruffles add to the delicacy of this swimsuit.

Normally $97, with the discount it is $77.60 (about £51) and shipping is about $36 (£24).  It comes in sizes small to extra-large.

Splendid Skirt: Print Jersey Ruched Pencil Skirt from Anna Scholz

Pencil skirts are just amazing in that they suit nearly every body shape and look fabulous dressed up or down!  There are so many amazing styles, materials and patterns available that one is really spoilt for choice and it's great to see what's available that looks great.

Anna Scholz designs high-end, plus-size clothing and has a superb collection at the moment.  Even better, for the Bank Holiday, customers can get 25% off full-priced items with the code LE25 (until 28th May).  So I've found this fantastic pencil skirt in a geometric 'crystal maze' print. I love the pattern and colour combination and the fact that it's lined with front and back panels mean there will be a flattering drape across the figure without clinging to the hips.  It's also got a touch of spandex, so it won't be difficult to move in!

Normally, it's £125, but with the discount voucher code this is reduced to £93.75.  It comes in sizes 22 to 28.

Summer Staple: Blue Spot Halterneck Swimsuit from Evans

There's 20% off swimwear at Evans until the 20th May, so it's a great opportunity to update your swimsuit with something flattering and fabulous!  And this is just what this blue spotty halterneck swimming costume is.    The cut and style is pure Marilyn Monroe, flattering the neckline and bust and minimising the waist for a fantastic hourglass silhouette.  It's slightly padded and underwired, so will give great support, and its classic, retro shape will never go out of fashion.  It's a real bargain too normally, at just £32, but with 20% off it's just £25.60 and comes in sizes 14 to 32.  No code is needed - the discount will be applied at the checkout automatically.

Delightful Dress: Original Recipe Dress from Modcloth

Oh I do love researching fabulous clothing and accessories for this blog.  I have found another amazing US  site called Modcloth, which specialises in independent, retro-inspired designers and I pretty much want everything there!  They have a wonderful selection of dresses and shoes especially, and they also have a superb sale on at the moment.  They ship to the UK for about $17 (about £11), not including any customs charges.

I've found it really difficult to pick just one item for this post.  Therefore, I have started to develop the concept of Savvy Chic, Canny Style and have created a website where I can post more ideas and gorgeous fashion bargains.  So have a look over at the site for some more of my sale picks, visit Modcloth or carry on reading here!

I have chosen a simple, classic wrap dress from the sale.  Made from organic cotton and elastane skimming the hips, it will fit beautifully, with the sash clinching the waist perfectly.   A wrap dress is timeless, so will work season after season so it's a great investment.  The colours and pattern of this dress are ideal also - fairly neutral, so will work with anything, but it can be jazzed up with some colourful accessories.  I'd team this with some strappy sandals for summer chic.  Originally $129.99, it's currently $90.99 - so about £60 - and comes in UK sizes 8 to 16.

Delightful Dress: Trollied Dolly Rock N Rollers Summer Dress from Spoiled Brat

One of the great things about doing this blog is finding lesser-known online boutiques that stock unique and wonderful clothes and accessories - but still provide great value for money.  Spoiled Brat 'has a passion for fashion and a love for celebrity clothing' and stocks a great range of exclusive and beautiful clothing and accessories.

This royal blue 1950's inspired seagull print sundress by Trollied Dolly is simply divine.  It will work for all occasions, such as barbecues  weddings and garden parties - or just to go shopping!  The cut and style will flatter all over, from the neckline with the bow, to the cinched waist and flowing skirt.  It could be worn with wedges or pumps and look great - just add a pair of sunglasses for summer chic!  It's normally £52, but Spoiled Brat have a voucher code for 15% off that expires today so it's £44.20 - use BANK15.  

Delightful Dress: May Day Pink Floral Swing Dress from Unique Vintage

A classic 1950's Rockabilly swing dress will suit almost any woman, with its feminine hourglass silhouette, cinched waist and full skirt.  The trend can be taken to the max when combined with victory rolls, a net petticoat, bright lips and patent heels or it can be pared down with some simple flat pumps and a lovely cardi.  There are so many fantastic 50's inspired dresses out there but for this post, I've gone to sunny California to the site Unique Vintage.  It's a fabulous site full of vintage inspired clothing for men and women, as well as gifts and accessories, and they do ship to the UK.

It's been really hard to pick just one dress from the site as there are so many, but by checking what's in the sale in a decent range of sizes I have chosen this pink and white floral swing dress which is still available in sizes small to extra-large.  I think it's a really pretty way of wearing the trend without going overboard and the pink detailing in the middle makes the waist seem tiny!  This dress is perfect for summer and would look lovely at a garden party or wedding.  Originally $130, it's $68 in the sale with shipping about $38 - so all in all, about £68 delivered.  But to be honest, I'll be stocking up with some accessories and other goodies from the site to make the shipping costs more economical....!

Delightful Dress: Red & White Spotty Prom Dress from BHS

The BHS Spectacular Event is now on, with up to 30% off in-store and online.  I have had my eye on this Sophie Gray spotty red and white prom dress for ages now but obviously didn't want to pay full price - but now I don't have to!  As with all prom dresses, the cut is classic and flattering.  The colours are great and I like the way the polka dots are larger than one often gets with spotty dresses; it adds a unique twist.  There is also netting underneath the full skirt, which will give a lovely vintage-inspired shape.  Usually £49, with 20% off it's £39.20 in sizes 16 - 22.