Anyone bought a Vivien of Holloway dress?

[BridesheadRegardless]

i've been drooling over the website and want to order one.

I am between sizes though so not sure whether to size up or down. Do they come up small, or is bettre to be a bit tighter and fitted rather than a bit baggy?

Also, could they be worn as a day summer dress without a petticoat or are they too dressy and just more special occasion wear?

I fancy a red one with black petticoat for a ball and wedding, and spotty one for holiday but without a petticoat.

Any advice?

Hi, my slster has several of these and they are beautiful and look fabulous on. I think they are cut to original Fifties patterns, so the sizes are quite small relative to current measurements

Does she wear any as day summer dresses or are they all more formal?

I'm also undecided between a swing dress or a wiggle dress for a wedding. I'd love a swing dess with a petticoat DH is not keen and prefers the wiggle pencil skirted dresses.

Yep, I've got a couple, they're ace.

I'm usually a 16 and opted each time for a 42 bust, 34 waist (comes with label of 20 in it). Bit roomy on the bust, but I put a few stitches in at the sides to narrow it off. And, I am rubbish at sewing, but it's done the job fine.

I've got the amazing petticoats to really pouff the skirt bit out, but the dress can easily be worn sans petticoat.

I should also point out, that whenever I wear one of these frocks, I have a bloody good time!

The polka dot ones are beautiful, go on, go on, go on!

ooohh, another point is that because the halter dresses come cut lowish on the back, a strapless bra is best.

(also, I've actually got 4 of them, not just a couple! see how addictive they are?, be warned!)

(now I'm eyeing up the wiggle dresses... )

I'm usually a 10 but had to get a 12 in the sarong style. It's lovely!

I've never had one, but coveted them for ages! They all look fab. But I don't think I'd ever get one - the bust:waist ratio is pretty unrealistic for modern measurements and frankly I don't understand why the designer doesn't accept that and accommodate us!

I really wish she'd get over the halterneck thing. I'd love a dress but need a heavy duty bra. Can't do strapless or halterneck bra (have tried) and wish she'd just do normal straps over the shoulder. If she did, I'd be ordering a dress in a shot

If you like the Vivien dresses (which are lovely, but small-fitting - and tend to show back fat, so if you have any fat on your back at all then they're not flattering IMO) then Whirling Turban is worth a look. They are more structured than the Vivien dresses although more expensive too, and they are easier to fit properly as the halter straps are detachable and have button holes along them so you can adjust the length of them. The matching boleros are lovely too. The Whirling Turban dresses are nicer quality, but you do pay for that as they are double the price of the Vivien ones (although worth the extra in my view).

Don't know how to post a link, but the website is www.whirlingturban.com

Oh, and yes you could wear the Vivien dresses without a petticoat - the cotton ones anyway. Probably not the satin ones, they are more dressy.

soopermum1, Whirling Turban might suit you better if you need something that will go with a bra - they do a variety of different shaped dresses.

another brand to consider would be Get Cutie

though they do print rather than spots.

And also check out www.unique-vintage.com - they're in the US but I've ordered from there and not had any problems altho you do have to pay import duty on the goods you buy. Their prom dresses are fab, and you can search the site by era for 50s style stuff. The 'Stop Staring!' brand stuff is lovely.

emsyj I've now looked at the whirling turban website and love it!!

I am now concerned about back fat issue though. I'm a large busted size 12, and I thought the halter neck would suit me, but I do have back fat sadly. do you think I should reconsider? I know that ooozey fat spillg over dresses is not a good look.

I love a leopard print one in whirling turban and a hawaian print one, and they have both in my size off the peg. have you had one custom made? I can't see a price ofr custom made but I'm guessing it's very expnesive?

I think the Vivien returns policy is quite strict - have you looked at the stockist list to see if there's one near you? Would recommend trying them on to be honest, although you could get a bolero to go with it and that would resolve any back fat issues. I think the fabric of the Vivien dresses is quite thin and they are very fitted, so they show everything. The Whirling Turban ones are sort of elasticated across the back (is it called shirring????) so they are more flattering and sit/fit better IME.
I have the wiggle dress style, but it wasn't custom made just off the peg. I don't know how much the custom ones are, aside from the wedding styles (which are usually made from expensive fabrics and involve complex fitting procedures where you send detailed measurements and photos of yourself etc - I looked into it but didn't get my dress from there in the end) - wedding dresses are (or were, when I was looking 2 years ago) from about $500 US dollars upwards.
If you e-mail them re: custom made they are very quick to reply I found.
I would go for the off the peg whirling turban styles, mine came with a little bolero included too.

As working mother of twins (thus my money is not free flowing), I recently had a very negative experience with Vivien of Holloway and I do NOT recommend doing business with her. FOUR days after I purchased a dress at full price 104 quid, the exact dress appeared on Ebay selling for less than HALF that. This was not dead stock or even older stock nor was it an item they were in excess off, but a "limited edition dress" that had been on the site at FULL price. I was shocked and politely asked for some kind refund or even a discount on a future purchase (anything) but no, VOH was happy to pull off fraud while spouting this bizarre policy of how "Ebay sales have nothing to do with us" and "if you'd never seen the dress on Ebay you'd never have been concerned". I buy (when I can afford it) from other vintage reproduction companies and this was by far the worst treatment I've ever received in a world of very caring and considerate vendors who have built their business up from scratch. Other Vintage Repro sellers know that simply because a few of their dresses have appeared on the soaps or in Sunday supplements that does not give them the right to mistreat the everyday customer. But Vivien herself did and proudly so. I was even billed a whopping 15 quid for shipping due to a claim of "signed confirmation" which was actually marked "no" and never signed for when I found the package crammed in our tiny post box!

The product itself is just ok. Her much vaunted "our waist sizing is not like today's high street, blah blah blah" actually does nothing for the hourglass figure she claims she exclusively designs for. The natural waist is set too high and the halter even higher (and bloody uncomfortable I might add-F cup and over beware). I bought a much bigger waist size to accommodate my bust and small ribcage and was simply going to get it altered in but with the mediocre design it's simply not worth it. Hell Bunny and Tara Starlet actually have much better fit. You pay for nice fabric and what is actually a a "Grease" costume. As for Whirling Turban? I agree with emsjy, they are far superior-in another echelon altogether. The customer service is fabulous, the fabrics ethically sourced in Bali and the owner Katherine creates a TRUE vintage reproduction that fits ALL bust, torsos and body types. You may pay almost double for a custom dress than Vivien of Holloway but there is simply NO comparison in quality. Whirling Turban will last a lifetime and you feel like you are buying the highest level of clothing out there. They also have off the rack dresses which will work on almost anyone. Vivien of Holloway is mostly costumey and cookie cutter with business practices which are shady and inconsiderate to say the least.

Blimey.
Anyway, I have 2 VoH dresses, one pencil skirted and one swing - both are beautiful, are made with, what I consider to be, good quality fabric, are very flattering and I had no problems whatsoever with customer service.
I am a 34FF, size 14.
Several of my colleagues have bought from the shop itself and are completely satisfied.

Op-do you have a Cherry pie boutique near you?-I think they are an independent sort of goth boutique? I only found mine because a good friend is into goth style and I loved some of the dresses she wears!

I now have 2 hell bunny dresses with the underskirts to match and am coveting another one! I can def reccommend them. I am a 14/16 and I buy the xl-I believe they go up tp 4xL.

If its fifties style you are after-get to BHS! yes really! I got two dresses out of there and have never had so many compliments.

Whirling Turban is like wearing couture and they have the finest vintage repro I've ever seen. 50 or 60 quid more over Vivien of Holloway 's price including shipping for a product 1000xs better, fabrics not made in China or off the stalls seems well worth it. Agreed it is a huge investment these days. I have a playsuit, and two WT dresses one of which was my wedding dress and the other a birthday present. I think the issue for my comfort level with Vivien of Holloway was more with customer service and shilling on Ebay. The VOH product is very cute but also average and for that price and treatment I can't justify it. Glad others had better luck with the fit and service than I did though and that they've made a lot of other Mum buyers happy. Just was not my day I guess!

Ishoes: Thanks so much. i'll check out Cherry Pie and BHS. I like Oasis which has been doing some great repro vintage floral dresses for the past few years but they are kind of cack for the 85 quid price tag this season.

Fridgepants: Tara does sometimes have 18 and 16, call them and ask. I'm a 32GG and can wear their larger sizes in dresses and pants but agreed the halters and other tops are running super tiny (E cup max) even in 14. I always check for sales.

Cherry pie is online ive just had a nosy.

There is another website that sells 50s type clothes and accessories but for the life if me i cant remember is name and its lost from my favourites.

That was helpful wasnt it?

Pin Up Girl?

I walk past that shop every day. I wish I had the balls to try one on...

Thats not it but your name has reminded me!

Dolly dagger cheers for that!