As well as wearing many true vintage pieces, I am a huge fan of reproduction vintage. I often struggle to find original pieces that fit perfectly and are in good enough condition to wear everyday. I find that reproduction vintage often fits better with my busy lifestyle and is less fragile than older pieces.
I love it when I find garments, which look like the real thing and accurately copy the shapes and prints of original dresses.
I recently tried two dresses from Vivien of Holloway, a hugely popular reproduction brand from London. I tried the ‘40s style Lana dress in two prints – Golden Rose and Rose Black.
My first reaction to the two dresses when I first unpackaged them was how beautiful the prints were. I usually go for bright colours, even in winter and struggle to find darker dresses I like. I especially liked the brown dress, as it’s a great alternative to black and the pretty flowers in shades of brown looked absolutely beautiful.
The shaping and drape of the fabric is really gorgeous and I loved the pleats and extra details that always attract me to original vintage pieces.
The dresses are beautifully made and the attention to detail is perfect. The neckline details and gathering at the waist are absolutely lovely and hung beautifully over my curves.
The dresses are made from silky light polyester which reminds me of original ‘40s rayon garments and gives the dresses a lovely drape which I found very flattering.
Vivien of Holloway dresses are sized slightly differently to most reproduction brands and are much truer to original vintage sizes. Where I would usually wear a modern size 14, I opted for the 16 in these dresses and the fit was really good. If you’re unsure which size to go for, full sizing details can be found on the Vivien website.
When it comes to reproduction vintage, this is a great option if you are looking for something that looks authentic. The detailing and slightly longer length of the dress, pay a brilliant homage to styles of the past. I would definitely recommend the dress for ‘40s events and for anyone struggling to find a true vintage piece. I felt absolutely amazing wearing them.
I paired the Golden Rose print dress, with a classic snood, also from Vivien of Holloway. I loved how easy it was to style my hair and on a rainy day it kept my curls in perfect order. To finish the look I added some vintage bangles and a modern pair of shoes from Orla Kiely at Clarks.
I teamed the Rose Black dress with pink vintage beads and a pair of shoes from Hotter.
The dress comes in a selection of lovely prints and is priced at £99. The snood I tried costs just £6 and comes in a wide array of colours.
