- A Guide to Lady V London - January 18, 2017
- Body Shaming - October 29, 2016
A Guide to Lady V London
Vintage reproduction clothing brand Lady V London was established in 2011 by husband and wife team, Sergio and Victoria, through a desire to produce high-quality vintage reproduction clothing for a range of dress sizes. Initially, their sizing only went as far as a size 22, but there was such a demand for bigger sizes that the couple reconsidered their direction.
In 2014, in collaboration with Georgina Horne of Fuller Figure Fuller Bust, they launched Lady Voluptuous, a new range of dresses catering from size 16 – 32. The dresses are all vintage inspired and made in the UK in a range of stunning prints and styles.
My love affair with Lady V started before Lady Voluptuous came into being. I have always loved the vintage, pin-up style, and buying a dress from a smaller company such as Lady V meant that you were less likely to see someone else in the same outfit than if you were wearing Lindy Bop or Collectif for example. However, in those days the sizing was small and I struggled to squeeze my size 20 body into their largest size 22.
So when Lady Voluptuous label was introduced, I, along with many others, was delighted. Over the past two years I have fallen in love with many of the styles, some of which I will give you an idea of now.
First up, my first and enduring favourite; the Lyra. This gorgeous dress is made of stretchy, good quality jersey fabric which hangs beautifully. It features a deep V mock-wrap neckline and a half-sash belt which ties at the back. The Lyra is made in both short- and long-sleeved styles, and is cut so generously that you can and should size down.
One of the recent additions to the Lady Voluptuous range is the Olivia dress. This is a simple, sleeveless style made of fairly thick stretchy material. It’s knee length and hangs beautifully without the need for a petticoat. I think these make perfect daywear in any season as they match up perfectly with tights and a cardi!
Another favourite Lady V style of mine is the Hepburn. This is actually a Lady V dress rather than Lady Voluptuous, as it is not specifically cut for the fuller bust. However, size 26/28 is available in most prints and the fabric has enough give to accommodate most body shapes. This is the kind of classy 1950s style dress that really wows with a full, fluffy petticoat (I am wearing one in all of these pictures).
Next up, a newer addition to the Lady Voluptuous family; the Ada. Made of the same excellent quality stretch jersey material as the Lyra, this dress boasts the same mock-wrap neckline and cinched waist design, but with tighter sleeves and a longer, straighter skirt. I bought this dress because of the beautiful print, and several other stunning prints are also available. I prefer the look of the Lyra, but the Ada is so comfortable to wear that it makes a great day dress too.
Finally, another gorgeous Lady Voluptuous style especially cut for the fuller bust. This is the Estella dress, which is made of cotton sateen with some stretch. It has short but comfortable sleeves, a mock-wrap top, a wide waistband and the skirt is full and true 1950s length. Again, it looks particularly striking with a vintage style net petticoat underneath.
Several of the Lady V styles, such as the Eloise and the Tea dresses are still only available up to a size 22 (although they are quite generously sized). It would be wonderful if, in the name of inclusivity, perhaps all Lady V dresses could become available in a larger plus size range.
All these dresses and many more are available at www.ladyvlondon.com and most are priced at the £40 – £50 mark – excellent value for such good-quality, wearable vintage-style dresses.