Charmeuse Couture Review

Daydreamer

'Drifting auras from times long gone,

Trapped scents wrapped in cashmere sweaters,

Honey and wine on lips that remember,

What it was like to be young and free,

Golden sunrises mark new beginnings,

Lost in a map of time we stumble into the light,

Dazzling jewels in swathes of fabric,

Hold on to my time ravaged hand'

After publishing my Wishlist Charmeuse Couture sent me this gorgeous vintage ditzy floral babydoll dress transported from the iconic 50's signature aesthetic 'feminine, girly and inspired by the popular floral prints at the time. Famous 50's designer Cristobal Balenciaga cemented the idea of 'female fashion' having prominience over 'menswear' ( which up until this point was the main market that stores and brands targeted) creating key silhouettes that would define the 50's decade including 'babydoll' dresses which represented the fluidity of woman. The idea of gender as fluid is an idea that appeals to my ethos as a fashion engineer and proves that even the most feminine or twee of dresses can be given an edge that modernizes its vintage, old fashioned appeal. The concept of creating a modern vintage look is often a hard aesthetic to master but it was a challenge I was willing to accept in order to introduce vintage wear into mainstream culture. Typically tea-dresses are seen as traditional and consequently un-fashionable to modern fashion consumers but with a few subtle accessories a vintage look can be updated to stay relevant to current trends.

2016 will be a big year for vintage throwbacks with allusions to Neo-Gothic Victoriana wear shown through ruffled peasant blouses and a reliance on black whilst the 50's remains as popular as ever with midi-skirts taking centre stage. For my vintage look I modernized the tea dress through urban backgrounds proving that vintage wear does not have to be confined to 'tea-rooms' but instead is seen as the norm even in an artistic environment. For me the concept of fashion is this: throw out the rule book and create your own trends that define who you are as a person. Subsequently when I received the dress I created a multi-dimensional look that spanned multiple eras and transcended fashion boundaries.

My Review

Made from a delicate chiffon fabric the ditzy floral print draws inspiration from vintage wallpaper themes where delicate roses in budding bloom were intertwined with tulips nestling in the soft grass thistles. At home in John Lewis the delicacy of the fabric is surprisingly durable whilst the lace-high-neck has a soft mesh covering that is not prone to breakage. But at the price you expect good quality and rest assured Charmeuse Couture is dedicated to using high quality materials that remain authentic to its chosen era.The material is the strongest element of the products USP(unique selling point) and for lovers of vintage fashion it is a great buy.

There a few improvements that need to be made in order to increase the realibility of the brand and that includes sizing and longer decriptions that give percentages for how much of each material is used in the item i.e. 70% polyester ect. I chose a size small but next time I would choose a medium as the middle button was gaping and it was tight around my deltoids which made it uncomfortable to put on. The dress was also a lot shorter than I expected it to be barely covering my thighs which made me feel uncomfortable, particularly in the colder weather when it gets a lot windier. However for those who are more petite than me the dress would most likely reach the knee so this would be perfect for the shorter lady. The price was also an issue for me; at £56 it does not come cheap and would not suit someone on a budget. However the quality is cost-effective and is ideal for a true vintage buyer which I am admittedly not.

All cons aside the dress exceeded my expectations and it was a look that I had never explored before in my role as a fashion engineer. I wanted to challenge my outlook of vintage fashion being stuck in the past and prove to myself that a period item can still be relevant to modern day wear because all fashion is recycled and that is a motto that I have stuck to throughout this blogging journey. To create a modern vintage look I added directional suede thigh highs with functional lace-up detail, proving that boots are just as sensual if not more so than heels. To add a touch of glamour a faux fur bolero rounded off the look whilst the vampire-esque lipstick drew inspiration from the moody allure of 'dark romance'.

Location was key to proving that vintage was not reserved for the older generation; urban environments are synonmous with 'street wear' but that does not mean we have to follow fashion archetypes. Vintage is just at home against street art as it is in a quaint tea room. We are not defined by fashion and accordingly the choices we make are not derivative of what society percieves to be labelled as normcore but rather a celebration of what makes us unique.Forgoing a traditional 'vintage' look or location was important to me because street art is what I am about. As an ambassador for political and social justice it seems only fitting that my background was a political reaction against institutional manipulation and I like to think that my fashion choices reflect that, regardless of what genre they 'belong to' and that is an ethos Charmeuse is keen to adopt.

Would you wear Charmeuse Couture?

Much Love Springbots xox

Location: Chance Street Brick Lane

Boots: Lily Lulu

Dress Charmeuse Couture

Faux Fur Bolero: Primark