Victorian Modern

It's FemmeLuxe collaboration week! Once a month, I work together with the lovely people over at FemmeLuxe to showcase some of their most unique and stylish new releases and classic pieces for you.  I hope you enjoy this month's collab, because I have planned something special.  At the end of the week, be sure to comment below on your favorite pick of the week: Past, Present, or Future.  

I know things are stressful right now.  There is a lot going on in the world everyone is feeling the pressure, and we're all stuck indoors or pretty close to home right now.  Just know that I am right there with you, but this is important, so let's hang in there and all do our part.  In the mean time, allow me to provide you with a little bit of delightful distraction.  And, I want to note that I was able to stay close to home to do these outfit pics, although I will definitely be taking some cityscape pics as soon as possible because I love these looks so much!

I have had the pleasure of trying so many new styles during my time working with FemmeLuxe and I've found so many body positive styles that have helped my self-esteem while simultaneously expanding my fashion wheel house.  If you've read any of my past collaboration posts with FemmeLuxe, you have undoubtedly heard me mention phrases like vintage-modern, retro, or Victorian-modern, especially when talking about their Corset Dresses and high waist Jeans.  In that vein, this time I thought I'd do a little theme of past, present, future.  

I'm crazy about vintage styles.  I always have been.  They are so feminine and flattering that I just can't help myself.  Being such a fan of Victorian, Edwardian, and so many other vintage styles, I had to start with the Past for my themed collab.  There are so many great design elements to be gleaned from antique and vintage clothing that I always appreciate clothes that are not afraid to borrow classic design elements and bring them into modern styles.

Today's post has a definite Victorian inspired feel to it but with a modern twist, of course. For the past six months, I've been steadily posting about the resurgence of velvet in fashion trends with the hash tag #velvetcrush, so I was already on the look out for great velvet pieces when I saw this Blue Velvet Puff SleeveHood Eye Crop Top--Ashlynn at FemmeLuxe.

This Ashlynn velvet top is made in Italy of a thick, good quality material.  It's so plush!  It has a wonderful deep blue color which the light really picks up.  Crop Tops paired with Midi skirts are a decidedly modern style trend and one that I love and have done a number of outfits with, because showing a little is so much more tasteful than showing too much.  I do want to mention that I normally order a size 6UK or XS in tops from FemmeLuxe, but for this top I ordered a Medium and it fit perfectly!

As for Victorian elements, notice the puff sleeves at the shoulder that descend into a fitted arm.  The hook and eye front closure is suggestive of corsetry, and the fitted bodice with a full skirt below also give a nod to Victorian era dresses which gives this outfit the overall fairy tale romance that I adore.

What else might you pair with this top besides a printed midi skirt?  I am so glad you asked.  In addition to a midi skirt, I love to pair high waist jeans with crop tops but I also think that some nice high waist trousers would look great with the Ashlynn top. Because of the deep blue color of this velvet, I would look for other deep rich tones to go with it although I would not mind trying a bright yellow with it as well.  Hmmmm, that may be the first thing I try when I go out to shoot these pieces against a city background.

Tomorrow I will be bringing you something a little more modern and decidedly more edgy.  See you then!

Shopping Info: Blue Velvet Puff Sleeve Hook Eye Crop Top - Ashlynn from FemmeLuxeFinery.co.uk, skirt from Chicwish, flats from Charlotte Russe, jewelry is handmade by me.