Roundup: Spring/Summer 2022 Pretties

The sun has (finally) made an appearance and we’re praying to the fashion gods for a sickly sweet, sticky hot summer worthy of all our vintage fabulousness and finery. Mrs Darling has outdone herself this year and our quality check of this season’s stock was a non-stop swoon fest with lots of trying things on (aka an after-hours fashion show!). Read on for a whistle-stop tour of some of our absolute favourites new in for the Spring/Summer season. You might want to buckle up though, there’s a lot and it’s all goooooorgeous.

Psst: if you don’t have time to read this juicy juicy blog post, that’s ok, we get it, you’re a busy doll. You can find our full Spring/Summer range on our website sans all the girlish squeals of excitedness from us dolls. Thank us later.

However, if you are up for a run through of all our current faves in which we get just a little bit excited about all the pretty reproduction vintage fashion we have available, please do continue reading this public service announcement!

It feels only right to start with a print and silhouette that look and feel like true vintage. The Vivian range of dresses are a real showstopper, and that full skirt has had us twirling with joy in the shop! You’ve probably gathered that Vivian refers to the cut of the dress, and we have a variety of prints available in this beauty (click here to see them all!). We just love the wrap bust which is perfect for those of us with a larger chest but equally gorgeous on a more petite frame. The waist panel and skirt pleating tick all the flattering and swooshiness boxes and the drapey cotton twill fabric is cooling and luxurious all at once. Honestly, there aren’t many places you couldn’t wear this dress. Its appeal as a wedding guest or formal occasion dress is obvious – all you need are some sparkles and literally ANY heels (and maybe a petticoat) and you’re good to go. We also love it with a cardigan and flats though, and you could even pair it with trainers for a bougie vintage inspired everyday look. Oh, and let’s not forget those hidden pockets. However you decide to wear this pretty, you’ve always got somewhere to stash your phone and, if you’re anything like me, some emergency sweeties. We just adore Australian brand Retrospec’d, they’re a small business like us with a great ethos to boot – check out our blog post on them to find out more!    

         Left: Miss Sam wears the Vivian Budgie Dress, Right: Miss Chloe Wears the Vivian Flamenco Dress

The Adele Ditsy Floral Dress is already a favourite amongst the Dolls and our regulars. Not skin-tight and not loose and formless, this dress accentuates your curves and still manages to offer a little wiggle room for those hot, sticky days in the sun. With a gorgeously elegant floaty feel, this midi dress features a side fastening zip, functional buttons, and yes, pockets! The ditsy floral print and bold red on this pretty will take you through spring, into summer and even on through autumn for years to come 

Miss Sam modelling the Adele Ditsy Floral Dress

A vintage inspired piece, this dress is giving us all the teadress vibes and we think it's fantastic with our Ice Skater Cardigan in Oat Melange and a pair of our Marika Sandals or simply your fave sandals.

Simple, charming, and understated: that’s how I’d describe the Tess Cut Out Lace Swing Dress. This gorgeous piece has peep-through lace detailing at the sleeves, neckline and lower skirt, and is made from cotton with a nice amount of stretch for a comfortable yet flattering fit.

Miss Chloe wears the Tess Cut Out Swing Dress

This gorgeous peacock blue fit-and-flare has an obvious 50s-style that you can accentuate with some cute flats and a petticoat, but it’s not one of those dresses that has to be done the vintage way and I love its easy versatility.

I really love our Delightful Daytime Cardigan in Ivory over this dress. Buttoned up it gives the look a bit of a preppy feel that I absolutely adore.

It wouldn’t be a spring/summer collection without a maxi dress, and the Lucasta Frida Maxi Dress is a deliciously colourful rainbow of a dress with oodles of sophistication.

Mrs Darling wears the Lucasta Frida Maxi Dress and uses the tie as a headband

Made from a silky jersey stretch fabric with drapes and pleats in all the right places, this vivid piece doesn’t need ironing (seriously, like, ever) and those colours will resist fading wash after wash. The soft A-line shape in the silk jersey skirt creates a beautifully fluid movement, with side pockets as a bonus, and the ruffles at the shoulder create a gorgeous almost tailored silhouette.

And in the name of all that is versatile, the detachable tie belt can be worn at the waist, as a feature scarf, added to your evening bag in a soft bow, or, as Mrs Darling prefers, a headband!

Picture this: the sun is setting, the air is warm, you’re raising a toast with your favourite drink. The sun is hitting you at just the right angel, lighting up all your favourite features and you’re wearing a dainty, floaty dress made from all the colours of summer. Alright I’ll admit I felt a bit ridiculous actually writing that out but the Luella Watercolour Keyhole Dress has got me staring wistfully out the window envisaging all the summer adventures that lay ahead (and most of them include me wearing this darling dress).

The feature twist neckline with chic peephole, and those flattering, fluttery, sleeves are just what we love in a summer dress here at VV. For daytime chic Miss Petra has paired this floral flourish with our Susie Leather Flats and we recommend keeping the chill off with our Delightful Daytime Cardigan in Ivory.

Add some sophisticated sparkle to your occasion look with our Aura Allure Crystal Luxe Earrings and a pair of Monaco Luxe Heels and she's ready for any formal occasion!

Another maxi incoming! They’re just such a versatile piece, and their length allows you to wear a them into autumn and layer up with boots and tights, so we’re definitely here for that. We're hoping for a bit more of a scorcher of a summer this year, and with that in mind we figured we'd need a few pieces in our ensemble that are both fabulous and functional. The gorgeously floaty Sienna Rose Maxi Dress is made from a super stretchy, polyester elastane blend which will help keep you cool in the warmer weather.

Honestly, we love this dressed down with some denim up top, a pair of comfy trainers, and some reproduction vintage bling. But if you're looking to dress up a little, the Sienna just sings with a pair of our Marvellous Rose Tweed Flats or even our Manhattan Sparkle Luxe Heels!

And there's no need to worry about standing over a hot iron to get this dress looking great - simply dry flat or hang for a while before wearing and your dress will look good as new! This maxi is easy as pie to pull on in a hurry, so pop it in your bag for after your gym class for some instant, easy glam.

Alright, it’s time to take a break to talk about something incredibly important, something no vintage fashion aficionado can go without. We’re talking accessories, of course. They’ve been credited as the vitamins of fashion, and Iris Apfel is quoted as having said that given the choice, she’d spend all her money on them. So they’re clearly very important, and with the capsule wardrobe the go-to for many planet-conscious fashion lovers with busy schedules. Naturally, then, the best way to freshen up your wardrobe (be it capsule or palatial) is with some chic accessories. We have a positively dreamy haul of retro-inspired sunglasses from Powder. And if the clouds bring that all-too familiar rain over, they come with an adorable box case and cleaning cloth to keep them safe. We suckers for anything that’s fabulous and function here at VV and these sunglasses aren’t just a pretty picture – they also offer category 3 protection and have been tested to current safety standards so your peepers will be on trend and protected all at once.

         
Left: Miss Sam wears the Brianna Sunglasses in the Apricot colourway, Right: Miss Sam wears the Nadia Sunglasses in Tortoiseshell

You may have already peeped this splendidly special super shiny Ariel Metallic Shell Bag (try saying that 4 times faster) in one of Miss Sam’s videos. The gorgeous sea-themed embroidery and pearl detailing over that jazzy holographic PU are absolute pearly perfection and this piece lends itself well to both everyday glam and 50s pinup styles. The grab handles make for some fab photo opportunities, but if you really need a dance on those legs before they become a fishtail again (or before your cab arrives) then you’ve always got a detachable shoulder strap to make use of. Now all of us part-time mermaids have somewhere to put our shell phone and thingamabobs!

Miss Petra with the Ariel Metallic Shell Bag (she's also wearing the Tess Dress and Marvellous Rose Tweed Flats!)

I’m not joking when I say I could write a book’s worth of blog posts about all our glorious vintage inspired clothes and accessories new in for this spring/summer season, but I think all our time would be better spent actually trying it on. I’ll be headed down to the boutique just as soon as ever I can – I’m personally itching to try on the Luella Watercolour Dress, the Adele Ditsy Floral Dress, and definitely all of our new sunglasses! Oh! And I mustn’t forget to pick up a few more pairs of those super soft Powder socks… is it acceptable to write my shopping list at the bottom if this blog post so I don’t forget?

Keep your eyes peeled on our Instagram and Facebook (and maybe give us a follow!) for more peeks into this season’s wardrobe and remember you can find the full spring/summer collection here. Better still, you can pop into our Gosport boutique where Miss Petra and Miss Sam will be delighted to dress you to the nines and make your figure fabulous no matter your budget or style preference!