Label Love: Retrolicious by Folter Clothing

I'm sure most of you know by now that I can never say no to a novelty print.  Luckily (or unluckily, for my bank account), the Folter Clothing brand always has me covered when I'm jonesing for a fun or funky printed dress.  Because I've been a longtime fan, I'm highlighting some of my favorite prints from Folter's sub-label, Retrolicious, in today's installment of Label Love.

Original posts: 1  //  2  //  3 (borrowed from Marisa)

Founded in 2005, Folter Clothing is an L.A.-based brand that likes to juxtapose tough + creepy with pretty & delicate.  Skulls, zombies and spiders often adorn their dresses, but in a way that manages to be much more charming than off-putting.  Retrolicious is Folter's other line, which focuses more on vintage-inspired prints that are often colorful or kooky.  As I am more inclined to be drawn to dresses that are more silly than scary, I tend to prefer this line to Folter's main label.

Original posts: 1  //  2

Folter sells their clothing on their own site, and is also carried by ModCloth, Unique Vintage, Sourpuss Clothing and Amazon.  From personal experience, I've found that their dresses tend to run a little small (especially since their fabrics typically don't provide stretch), so I've learned to size up if I'm between sizes.  Their dresses are usually unlined (which makes them good for summer ensembles and as layering staples), and their dresses usually range from $60-$115 in price.  If you're on the hunt for a unique yet wearable print, this brand is a great place to start.

Original posts: 1  //  2

I have a pretty sizable collection of Retrolicious dresses, but here are a few I'm still coveting:

a   //   b   //   c   //   d

On a separate note, it's strange to look back at some of my old posts!  I haven't worn some of these dresses in quite some time, and although I'm never fully satisfied with the quality of my photos, peeking back at some of these photos from early on make me realize how far I've come with that (though I still have a lot to learn, since most of what I pick up is through trial and error).  One thing that has stayed the same, however, is my love of whimsy when it comes to fashion, and Folter has no shortage of that in their pieces!

Original posts: 1  //  2  //  3

What about you?  Are you a fan of the Folter label?

If you own any of their pieces, let me know which ones you have in the comments!

Have a great Wednesday!

xox Sammi

Label Love: Hell Bunny

Today's installment of the Label Love series is a fun one!  Any girl who is as enamored with retro style as much as I am is most likely familiar with Hell Bunny.  Like many of my favorite brands, Hell Bunny is based out of the UK, and is one of my go-to labels for when I need a rockabilly look on a budget.  In addition to their 1950's style garments, they're also an excellent resource for darker punk looks and cutesy lolita-inspired attire.  Their clothing is very well-priced, especially for the quality.  I've always found their pieces to be really flattering and fun, which are two of the most important qualities in how I dress!

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One thing to note about Hell Bunny is that they don't sell their clothes directly through their own website.  However, there are lots of popular retailers who carry their clothes (ModCloth, Hot Topic, Amazon), as well as tons of retro online boutiques (Tiger Milly, JBR Clothing, Beserk, Cats Like Us).  It's also a brand that's readily available on eBay, which can be really great if you're searching for a specific piece.  These three dresses are on my radar right now -- the first is available on a lot of websites, but the second two are much harder to find in my size!  I've loved the sunflower print one for such a long time, and I think the red polka dot bolero dress would be perfect for Disney World!

 Another thing to note about Hell Bunny is in regards to sizing: I've personally found that this brand tends to run a bit big on me.  Their garments don't usually contain stretch (the only exception is the short yellow gingham dress below, which has a shirred back), and normally in those cases, I'd wear a size large.  However, I wear a medium in all of my Hell Bunny dresses (and in the case of the one with the shirred back, I wear the size small!).  According to their size chart, I would fall between the medium and large, but believe me when I say that my size mediums have ample room.  I definitely wouldn't recommend ordering up in this brand, and in some cases, you may even want to size down!  The only garments I have in a large from them are actually the coats, and that's only because I wanted room to layer (and to make sure the buttons don't gape).

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Although I love my Hell Bunny dresses, one drawback to the ones I own is that they're made in a lighter weight cotton; it's great for the summer months, but in Upstate New York, they definitely don't last the whole year round.  I sometimes pair them with nude stockings, but in general, I don't think they look quite right with dark or colored tights, so they usually sit in my closet until spring rolls around.  However, I do have one of their coats (shown below), which I absolutely adore.  It's surprisingly warm and fits like a dream.  I love that it's more of a lolita look, but it can still look great with my retro dresses.  I'm actually getting this same coat in pink for my birthday (shh)! 

(See this post here)

 I also recently purchased two of Hell Bunny's pretty petticoats!  I had been warned about the length of their regular-sized petticoats by several people, stating that they were ridiculously long.  I ordered these two on a whim, when they happened to be on sale for $17 at ModCloth.  I was afraid of what they would look like, but I was so pleasantly surprised.  The length is absolutely perfect on me, and they are ideal for my full-skirted dresses.  For reference, I'm 5'7", so they might not work on shorter ladies, but I wore one with one of my PUG Jenny dresses, and the crinoline didn't even peek out under it!  They are super soft and come in a huge variety of colors.  I'm not sure I would want to pay upwards of $60 for them (unless it was for a very special occasion), but they are much higher quality than my other crinolines, and I'm certainly glad I took a gamble!

My feeling is that Hell Bunny pretty much encompasses the ideal retro reproduction brand: they put their own spin on alternative clothing, and you don't have to compromise quality for the cost.  Dresses typically range anywhere from $60-$90 (and depending on where you look, you may be able to find them for less!), and they carry an incredibly wide range of styles, from the demure to the outlandish.  Their clothing is also widely accessible, and is carried both online and in some brick and mortar stores.  Their sizing may vary a bit from one style to the next, but I'll always be more likely to consider purchasing an item if I know it's made by Hell Bunny.

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What about you?  Do you own any Hell Bunny dresses?  If so, has your experience with the brand been similar to mine?  And if not, would you be more likely to seek them out now?

Have a great Tuesday!

xox Sammi

Label Love: Nishe

Happy Tuesday, everyone!  I'm making an attempt to brighten up the start of the week with this post -- my second (and probably my favorite) in this little "Label Love" series.  Today's installment focuses on one of my all-time favorite brands, and it's one that manages to encompass almost everything I love in terms of style.  It's none other than Nishe!

My three favorite Nishe dresses!
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For those not overly-familiar with this dreamy brand, Nishe was founded by Polly Siu, an Australian designer based in Hong Kong, back in 2008.  Since then, her pieces have been carried by online retailers like ModCloth and ASOS (and are also available through Nishe's own website).  Polly's designs are undoubtedly girly and a little quirky (the best combination!), and there are definitive elements of sweet lolita and kawaii culture thrown in.  According to the brand's philosophy, Nishe is for anyone who is a lover, a dreamer, or young at heart.  All in all, Polly's pieces always make me feel like I'm a character in my very own storybook, and they never fail to make me feel beautiful and special.

I even pretended to be a mermaid last summer in this Nishe dress!

Almost all of the Nishe pieces I own are characterized by the distinctive (and totally charming) embroidery.  Though some of Polly's more recent pieces utilize printed fabrics, I'd say that the embroidery is thought to be Nishe's calling card, and it absolutely sets her line apart.  In addition, her pieces are of very high quality, and are usually fully-lined.  Even though many of her pieces contain synthetic fabrics, these dresses feel quite expensive.  Nishe pieces can be on the pricier side (they run anywhere from $65-$250, depending on the retailer), but in my opinion, that's a testament to the craftsmanship.  These pieces are unique and eye-catching, and I'd rather pay a little more for something distinctive and well-made.  In addition, you can find good deals on Nishe pieces all the time; ASOS and ModCloth put Nishe on sale regularly, and pieces are often available on eBay.

I also love that my Nishe dresses can be worn all year long!

My favorite Nishe dresses have a fit-and-flare silhouette with an organza-like skirt (like the three in the first photo of this post), but I own a few pieces made in other styles.  Most of her dresses contain hidden back or side zippers, and many have fun details like detachable or eye-catching collars.  I've found that Nishe's sizing is quite consistent across the board, and it runs very true-to-size for me.  Nishe pieces are usually listed with UK sizing, and the general rule is that your UK numbered size is two sizes up from your normal US size (i.e., for me, I wear a UK 12/US 8).  The fabrics do not usually provide stretch, so you should keep that in mind when ordering.  But you can expect a healthy dose of charm, fantasy and sweetness -- which is just how I like my clothes!

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What about you?  Are you enamored by Nishe, or are the designs just a little too much for you?  How would you style these fantastical frocks?  Let me know in the comments!

Have a terrific Tuesday!

xox Sammi

Label Love: Bernie Dexter

Hi, all!  Jana of small town... BIG SMILE! is off celebrating her wedding, so I'm over on her blog today with a guest post that highlights one of my favorite designers: Bernie Dexter!  I'm showcasing all of my beloved Bernie dresses and talking a bit about the fit & features of her pieces.  If you love this brand as much as I do, head on over and take a look-see at my post!  I think I may make this "Label Love" idea into a little series -- what do you think??  :)

 Have a great Monday!

xox Sammi