Friday 7 March 2014

Hitchcock Heroine

1950s suit Hitchcock
 Suit: The Pumping Station Antiques Centre, Shoes: Clarks, Brooch: Art Deco, Bag: Car boot sale, Corset: Corset Story, Blouse: Peacock's, Hat: Llandaff Antique's Fair, Gloves: inherited from my Grandmother.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I'm very excited to share this photoshoot with you, I'm really pleased with the results!  I am a huge fan of Hitchcock films, and an even bigger fan of the fashions that the leading ladies sported.  In more than one film, the heroine wore a grey suit.  This became fixed into my imagination!  The only thing we were missing on this shoot were the gulls!!  Usually there are a lot of birds around the pier, which would have been very Hitchock-esque, but alas, they were absent for our photos.  I was delighted to pick up a second hand grey suit in a local antiques centre, but there was something lacking, it didn't quite have that Dior 'New Look' silhouette.  What I was missing was a corset, and I was delighted to receive a corset from Corset Story for review. 

I am around a 28" waist and was initally sent the 'Viola', a waist-training jacquard corset (£55), in the 24" size.  If you're new to corsets, then you need to know that a corset will give you a potential waist-reduction of 2" to 4" generally, so you should order by the size that you hope to get to.  Unfortunately, the Viola Jacquard in that size was too small to be able to comfortably get the garment on, and I had to send it back.  As an alternative, I was sent the Viola in Brocade (£59), in a 26", and hurrah, it was a perfect fit!  The delivery was speedy on both occasions, and the customer service was good.  The only bit that could be a bit of a faff is that for returns you have to login to fill in an online form, and quote your return tracking number.

I should say that I already own a custom-made underbust corset by Kitty's Corsets, and I'm using that as my point of reference in this review.

The quality of the Viola corset is undeniable - perfectly well made, especially for the bargain price.  It's heavy - a good sign that there are enough layers of fabric, and steel boning to pull you in.  There are a few teeny-tiny issues - a busk that is misaligned by a matter of millimetres, lacing that doesn't pull through quite as well as it should (I needed help from the OH to get in and out!).  I also found that I couldn't get the level of waist reduction that I do on my existing corset.   I think this is because this corset is taller, covering more of my hip bones and rib cage, so that the reduction isn't concentrated on the squidgy waistline in between.  For that reason, for me, this isn't a heavy-duty waist-reducing corset.  I was very pleased with the look it gave me under my Hitchock Heroine suit though, and it felt fabulous to wear!

If you're purchasing a corset for the first time I'd urge you to try on a few styles in local shops if that's at all possible, before ordering, just so you can get an idea of what styles suit you, and what you're aiming to achieve.  I have to say though, that Corset Story have a massive range of styles, colours, fabrics and accessories, so they're well worth considering if you too are hankering after the feel of breathlessness and the inability to bend down to pick things up!  I really don't think their prices can be beaten for comparable quality.

It's another #PassionForFashion linkup today - please head to hostesses Rachel the Hat or Lena B to see what other lovely bloggers have posted today.

I'm also linking for the first time to #Stylesessions with the lovely Lauren from Style Elixir.  Her blog is about modern fashion, and I was impressed with how in her latest outfit post, she's chosen her workout gear!  Now we all love to show off our Sunday best, our amazing vintage finds, or that up-to-the-minute fashion buy, but workout gear is neglected by bloggers!  But I suspect we all have those kind of clothes (perhaps some of us don't wear them as often as we should).  I'm inspired to post a pic in my running gear for an outfit post at a future date.

Huge thanks to Corset Story for sending me the corset for review.  As always, views are my own!

I’d like to say thank you also to my Baby for putting up with another one of my hare-brained schemes and agreeing to come out and take photos of me while other people stared – your patience and devotion is wonderful!  We don’t have a fancy SLR, and it’s down to his eye for composition and use of lighting that we were able to get such good results on my cheap compact camera.


41 comments:

  1. Lovely photos! I watched Vertigo again last weekend and Kim Novak wears an amazing grey suit in that.

    £55 is pretty cheap for a properly-boned corset.

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    1. Thanks Mim! I know the suit you mean in Vertigo, that one was the main inspiration! Although Doris Day has a good one in 'The Man Who Knew Too Much' and I think Eve Marie-Saint briefly wears one in 'North by Northwest'? I can't remember! The prices are amazingly good for the quality, I agree. x

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  2. Absolutely fanbloodytastic - you look amazing!

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  3. Love these photos - I miss North Wales!

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    1. Thank you! Are you from Wales then originally? Where did you used to live? Always lovely to meet fellow Welshies! x

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  4. Oh wow!! This outfit is amazing and I love the theme of the photoshoot! I do tend to love my comfort though, so I'm not sure I would be brave enough to try a real corset...

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    1. Thank you lovely Rachel! I think for a special occasion a corset can be great, but I understand you loving your comfort! Funnily enough, the more you wear one, the more comfy it gets - you really do adapt! P x

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  5. Va-Va-Voom! I adore your outfit and how slinky your waist looks in that incredible corset, I want one!
    Love the setting, too. Happy Weekend. xxx

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    1. Aw thank you Vix, sometimes it's nice to be a bit vampy isn't it? I honestly recommend Corset Story, they're so affordable if you want to give a corset a go. x

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  6. I love your look! The red shoes make the outfit perfect.
    I bought a early 40s dress and I would love to wear a pair of red shoes with it and I think that these would make complete...
    Thank you for the inspiration!

    xoxo Emma
    littlemissbamboo.blogspot.com

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    1. Oh thank you Emma! I love your blog, you're always so authentic, I'm definitely a bit more 'in the spirit of' rather than trying to create something historically accurate. I think red shoes and a '40s dress sounds amazing - I hope to see a pic of you in the outfit on your blog sometime soon! x

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  7. This is amazing. Just. No. Words. I really want to try corset training. I have a few, but I typically don't wear them out except for special occasions like Mardi Gras and Halloween parties. Your outfit is making me rethink that. You remind me of Dita von Teese.

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    1. Oh gosh, that's such a compliment, you are very gracious! I know some vintage-loving ladies wear a corset every day, that's dedication for you! I defintely think a corset can be worked into more wearable outfits though, so I'd love to see if you give it a go, you have to post pictures on your blog!! P x

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  8. Wow. You were all alone on the pier. What fab photos! You really look amazing.

    I really adore the red shoes.

    That suit looks like it was made for you.

    bisous
    Suzanne

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    1. Well I must confess that there were a few people promenading up and down the pier, but we just waited until they'd passed before taking the photos!! Thank you for your lovely comments, I can feel myself blushing! P x

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    1. Thank you for stopping by my blog, I'm glad you liked the shoot! P x

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  10. You look so fabulous - the suit is amazing and I love the images, have to agree, very Kim Novak in that suit.

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    1. Aw that's a lovely thing to say, thank you! I wonder if I should've dyed my hair platinum blonde too? How far is too far in the pursuit of blog posts?! x

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  11. I have three words for you: Va Va Voom!
    xo
    Kym
    bitty.and.bunny

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  12. You look absolutely stunning! Lynne x

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    1. You're too kind, thank you lovely Lynne! x

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  13. What a killer outfit! Those shoes and the hat are perfection for your suit. I'm still too self-conscious to go out in public for photo shoots - I need to get over that. You are my inspiration!

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    1. I won't say it's not hard, and I do feel self-conscious sometimes, but I've never had any problems with people being mean or getting in the way or anything, though there's a lot of staring!! It definitely isn't something to do on a day you're feeling fragile, but if you're feeling confident then I say go for it!! Sometimes a great location can really make a photoshoot, regardless of what you're wearing. Let me know if you give it a try, I'd be keen to hear how you got on xx

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  14. Hello,Ciao Porcelina...this's a great post,artistic photos and you're a gorgeous Star!...the corset...wow,what a stunning surprise...you're a marvellous Artist of Style!

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    1. I think I might use that as a bio-quote, 'marvellous artist of style', that sounds amazing!! Thank you for stopping by x

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  15. Fantastic review and ensemble (I worked with Corset Story a couple of years ago and reviewed on of their fashion corsets; I really loved it, too). I adore how you styled this ensemble. You would have turned Hitchcock's head instantly if you walked past him sporting it and I'm sure he would have offered you a roll, dear gal.

    ♥ Jessica

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    1. Oo I am off to search your blog for your review, I don't think I ever saw that, but I'm sure I must have been following you for a few years now. Thank you for such sweet words, I'm now having a fantasy about being a murderess (only on film, of course!). x

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    1. Thank you for visiting my blog Irene! I have just discovered yours, and it's wonderful - you've just gained a new follower. P x

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  17. What an incredible outfit! That suit is just amazing and how cool is that corset! Great to hear the review on the sizing! Those shoes are the perfect touch to the look!

    Rebecca
    www.winnipegstyle.ca

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    1. Thank you Rebecca, and for stopping by my blog. It is a bit of an art with corset sizing, you'd think that it would be the same but it's really not with the different brands I have tried! I found Vollers ran two sizes too big for example. I think the best thing is to try things on wherever possilbe, and with mail order that may mean unfortunately having to pay for a return.
      P x

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  18. Fabulous post! I love the moody sky and the pier.

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  19. What gorgeous photographs and a killer outfit. Such a well constructed look right down to the gloves and seamed stockings (that shot of you looking back over your shoulder is definitely perfected by your accessories!!).

    Also love this peek at the pier, what a beautiful spot!

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  20. wow this is simply breathtaking! i love this outfit! the jacket and skirt fit you like a glove, for me that length for skirts is very problematic, i don´t know i just look 10 kg heaver then:( but you look perfect and also the location is perfect!!!
    wish you a great start in the new week!
    kiss,mary

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  21. You look absolutely stunning. Very beautiful. The whole ensemble is just perfect xxx

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  22. I am SO with you on the whole Hitchcock/grey suit thing! I couldn't go to San Francisco (where my whole goal was to track down Vertigo filming locations) without a grey suit!

    Fab corset and review!

    xoxo
    -Janey

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  23. Wow! Phenomenal suit. You really know how to pull off this vintage look.

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  24. oh my godness! i really loved this style. great great post (:

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