gloves

Sartorial Saturday–Light and Breezy for Spring

I didn’t think Miss Candyfloss could have a collection that I loved more than the Autumn/Winter 22-23 “Smile with Lucy” offering. How could they possibly top a range dedicated to one of my favorite mid-century actresses? And then I saw the title of the new Spring/Summer 23 collection…”Lilibeth.” I immediately knew that my guess when I heard they were doing a photoshoot in Malta was correct…the collection is a tribute to Her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. And it is the most perfect assemblage of pieces I could have imagined.

I had to wait almost a month for an item on my wishlist to be released, but I was lucky when it finally was, because it was my favorite item from the entire collection…the Valancia-Blush polka dot swing dress:

The dress is absolutely perfect for spring and summer…it’s made of a very light, flowy fabric that is breezy and lovely for the warmer months. I love the color (is it pink? is it purple? does it even matter?) and the polka dots. I especially love that it has my favorite square neckline with asymmetrical buttons across the bodice. And it also has a charming peplum that makes it look like a jacket and skirt set even though it’s all one piece!

I accessorized with a black boater hat and gloves, a few Splendette duchess bangles, and an Erstwilder brooch that is a perfect match, and adds just the right amount of sparkle!

It’s such a lovely, elegant look…the perfect tribute to The Queen:

This may be my favorite piece, but the whole collection is outstanding, and I hope to add a few more dresses to my wardrobe this spring!

Sartorial Saturday–Sunset Swing

Just over a year ago, I ordered my first Vixen by Micheline Pitt Maneater swing dress in a beautiful blue, and I thought it couldn’t get any better than that. Until I saw the new sunset purple version and I realized that there could, in fact, be an even better color for the dress (and for me)!

I love the combination of the purple dress and the teal Yemak cropped cardigan:

I accessorized with Splendette duchess bangles and necklace, an Erstwilder brooch, and black lace gloves and pillbox hat:

It’s such a bold, bright outfit!

I’m so glad this dress is available in purple, but I kind of hope that there aren’t any other amazing colors in the future, because I think I’m running out of room in my closet!

Sartorial Saturday–Old Hollywood Glamour

It’s finally time to take a look at the piece I most eagerly anticipated from the Miss Candyfloss “Smile with Lucy” collection…the Talise-Dora lace playsuit!

I was so excited to finally receive this beautiful one-piece pantsuit. The lace bodice has almost an ombré effect thanks to the dark brown and sand beige color gradients. It is also adorned with both glitter and sequins…plenty of sparkle for a special occasion or just a random day!

I accessorized with my camel-colored hat, a brown and white Splendette stack of Duchess Bangles, and my one pair of Erstwilder earrings. I also added velvet gloves with a ring on top.

The pants are also a beautiful dark brown, with elegant wide legs.

Here’s a closer look at my accessories and the beautiful lace bodice. I love the attention to detail in this piece…the buttons are even covered in the same lace!

It’s such an elegant and glamorous look!

This was my final purchase from the “Smile with Lucy” collection, which is convenient because Miss Candyfloss has also finished releasing pieces for the season. Now it’s time to dream about what the spring/summer 2023 collection will be!

Sartorial Saturday–Tartan Trimmings

Time for a look at another piece from the Miss Candyfloss “Smile with Lucy” collection!

The Iliana-Bo is a wine-colored swing dress with tartan details. It’s a beautiful color for autumn, and I love tartan, especially one that is primarily grey!

The accessories were a little hard to pin down for this one…in the end, I decided on blue and brown Splendette duchess bangles and a gold locket brooch from Erstwilder, plus a hat and gloves in tan. I think this dress would also look great with dark green accents!

Update: It does, indeed, look great with green accessories!

I love the bold collar and square neckline:

I’m really enjoying wearing a statement ring over my gloves this fall!

Like all good dresses, it has deep pockets!

It’s such a wonderfully classic look!

There are only two more pieces from this collection that I’m waiting for…I hope I’m able to get both of them!

Sartorial Saturday–Inspired by Klinger

Would you believe I managed to find fashion inspiration from one of M*A*S*H‘s craziest (and one of my favorite) characters, the indefatigable Corporal Klinger?

Actually, I have always admired many of Klinger’s outfits from the early seasons of the show. But recently, I noticed him wearing a statement ring over gloves, and I wondered to myself why it had never occurred to me to try it. I have gloves, and one statement ring that I don’t really wear anymore because I couldn’t figure out how to incorporate it into my outfits, and because I often get skin flare-ups when wearing rings. This takes care of both of those problems, because although the ring is of a more modern design, the gloves help tie it into my retro outfits, and they also protect my hands from any discomfort. It’s a win-win situation, and all thanks to good old Max! You can find inspiration anywhere, even in the most unexpected places!

Sartorial Saturday–It’s All About the Details

It’s time to take a look at my very favorite dress from the Miss Candyfloss “Smile with Lucy” collection…the Jael-Abalone.

This dress is similar in style to the Selena-Sun, one of my favorite pieces from this year’s spring collection. It has the same fun collar, square neckline, and asymmetrical row of functioning buttons down the front.

A detail I didn’t know about until I received the dress is the gorgeous and subtle tone-on-tone pattern found on the cuffs, collar, and belt…I love it!

I also love the colors of the dress…blue and grey are so pretty together, and the gentle stripes add just the right amount of visual interest!

I accessorized with a silver brooch, a stack of Splendette Duchess Bangles, and a pretty floral ring, plus a hat and gloves:

I love the elegant simplicity of this dress!

It’s such a smart look!

I now have half of the items on my wishlist from this collection…I hope the other pieces are released soon!

Sartorial Saturday–Inspired by Barbie

I have wanted a Vixen by Micheline Pitt Dollface dress for literal years!

This beautiful black and white striped dress gets its inspiration from Barbie’s iconic 1959 black and white chevron striped swimsuit. Even though they are completely different articles of clothing, the connection is clear:

The options for accessorizing are endless because everything goes with black and white. This time, I added in a little burgundy to a black and white stack of Splendette duchess bangles, plus more black and white with an Erstwilder brooch, my favorite pillbox hat and lace gloves, and a Burgundy Yemak cropped cardigan:

Over the years, the Dollface dress has also been available in pink & white and blue & white variations. Each time this dress has come and gone from Vixen’s website, I’ve been filled regret that I didn’t order one…it didn’t matter which color, I just loved the style and design of the dress! When I heard that original colorway was finally making a comeback, I was ecstatic that I finally had a chance to add it to my wardrobe!

Like my other Vixen by Micheline Pitt dresses, it has a lovely full skirt perfect for twirling, and deep, deep pockets.

I love this dress, and if it was made available in other color combinations in the future, I’d think about adding another one to my closet!

Sartorial Saturday–Smile with Lucy

I could not be more excited about the new Miss Candyfloss autumn/winter lookbook, “Smile with Lucy!” The entire collection is inspired by one of my favorite icons, the inimitable Lucille Ball.

The very first release from the collection included the Mandisa-Dora tartan swing dress, and as soon as I saw it, I fell in love:

The dress is made of a wool blend, which worried me a little, but somehow, it manages not to be itchy at all.

I accessorized with a few Splendette duchess bangles perfect for fall, and a lovely gold brooch from Erstwilder. I even got out my velvet gloves (even though it’s really too hot to wear them yet).

The tartan print is so pretty!

This is a great dress for early fall…even though it is a wool blend, it’s not heavy, and the short sleeves make it easy to wear while it’s still warm out.

I can’t wait for the rest of the collection to be released…everything in the lookbook is fantastic!

Sartorial Saturday–The Day Dress

Miss Candyfloss has a new lookbook for spring/summer 2022, and I have my first new dress from it!

The Amina-Regina is a beautiful, floral print day dress. It’s light and easy to wear, and perfect for the coming warmer days!

The collection is called “A Touch of Grace,” and is named for the lovely Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco. I think this dress in particular lives up to the name, and it also reminds me of some of the dresses that Queen Elizabeth II wore at the beginning of her reign in the 1950s, so I feel especially regal wearing it!

I accessorized with a neutral hat and gloves, and added in a blue and white stack of Splendette Duchess bangles and a heart-shaped brooch from the Erstwilder Paris Holiday collection.

The dress also looks perfect with a cropped cardigan:

I love the elegant simplicity of this dress, and I’m looking forward to wearing it often!

Sartorial Saturday–Swing Pants

Over the last year-plus, I’ve ordered a little something of everything from Miss Candyfloss…dresses, jackets, a skirt, a blouse, a sunsuit, and even a beautiful dressing gown. But there was one item of clothing I was reluctant to buy…pants. Real talk time…I’ve had five c-sections, and I find that pants are pretty hard for me to wear, because the fit is never quite right., thanks to multiple abdominal surgeries. But Miss Candyfloss makes beautiful vintage-inspired pants, and I’ve been admiring various styles since I discovered the brand. An after-Christmas coupon was just the push I needed to give them a try, and to my surprise, I actually love the way they fit and look!

The Brindy-Dora swing pants are a lovely neutral tartan print. The color palette immediately brings autumn to mind, but not to the point that I’ll feel weird wearing them any other time of year.

I really like the way they look here with the purple and orange accents of my shirt, belt, Splendette duchess bangles stack, and Erstwilder brooch. The gold velvet gloves are a nice touch, too.

Here’s why I think these pants, in particular, work so well. They’re pleated, but they also have a flat front. I know, that sounds impossible. But the pleats start well below the waistline, which allows you to have the great look and swing of pleated pants without a lot of extra bulk on your stomach, which I greatly appreciate!

I have always been a fan of wide-leg pants (hello…I was a teenager in the 90s!), and these are wide-leg to the extreme!

I know I’m going to need to have them tailored, because even with heels, they’re a bit too long. But until I find a new tailor, I’ll make do!

I already have a few more ideas of how I want to style these pants…I’m so glad I took a chance on adding such a versatile piece to my wardrobe!