Electroswing Valentines!

I’m a big fan of Valentine’s Day and this year I had a blast at the Electro Swing Club Party with some of my best friends!  It was a magical evening at Revival and of course we were all decked out in our finest retro attire.  A bunch of my friends participated in the costume contest, entering in the categories for Dashing Doll, Dapper Dude and Classy Couple, and they all won!  This magical evening would not have been complete without a titillating burlesque routine from the fabulous Charlie Quinn!

Myself and Meryle Trouble
Dapper Dudes
Alex Hurter, the dapperest of dudes!
Dashing Dames
The most dashing of dames Betty Quirk!
Classiest Couple? Leelando and Sevvy Skellington!
Leelando and Sevvy Skellington, super classy!
Charlie Quinn doing her best Marilyn!
Charlie Quinn
Charlie Quinn

Photos by David Tom

Dolly is a Punk Rocker

Fun Fact: Rock ‘n’ Roll High School is one of my all-time favourite movies!

I always liked the Ramones, but after watching that movie I really fell in love with them.  This is my little ode to Riff Randell and the Ramones.  If you’re looking for something to do on this holiday monday may I suggest kicking back and watching Rock n Roll High School!

Photos by If You Fall Photography

Rosie the Rebel Retro Pinup Contest!

Hello lovely readers!

One of my favourite pinup clothing stores in Toronto, Rosie the Rebel, is having a retro pinup contest.  I would really appreciate you votes!

To vote please click the photo below and ‘like’ it on their Facebook page.

xoxo Thank you all for your votes!

Happy Valentine’s Day

No matter if you are single in a relationship or just have a cat, someone out there loves you!  Make Valentine’s Day about the people in your life that you love!

xoxo Dolly Monroe

Photo by If You Fall Photography

Little Lolita Skirt and Belly Top

This outfit was inspired by two things.  Firstly this incredible fabric I found with the lovely embroidered scalloped edge along the bottom.  I am absolutely obsessed with fabric that has a scalloped edge and I’m always in the hunt for it.  I also love the fun blue plaid and thought it looked like the perfect fabric for a summer outfit.  Secondly the design was very much influenced by the outfits worn by Dominique Swain in the Adrian Lyne adaptation of the novel Lolita.  The matching belly top and skirt look is so adorable and speaks to an era where outfits were tailored to match.  Enjoy a summery Dolly on this cold winter day!

Photos by If You Fall Photography

Domino Necklace

This week Celluloid Sleaze finally launched their Etsy page with tons of amazing creations!  I did not want to miss out so I quickly snatched up this beautiful necklace.  I love the domino tiles so much, they make me think of elegant ladies sitting outside on a sunny day, the clattering of tiles against their lacquered fingernails, the swishing of vodka in their martini glasses.  *Sigh* I think I’m ready for some summer sun and a bit of R & R.

Go Check out some fabulous jewelry from Celluloid Sleaze!

Fifty Shades of Red – Part 2

You lipstick fiends look hungry for some new flavours! 

After my last post about my favourite lipsticks I got so many awesome suggestions for longwear lipsticks to try, so I went to Sephora and picked up a couple.  My friend Kate suggested I try the Sephora Cream Lip Stain in “001 Always Red” which I grabbed along with a new product Sephora has launched called Rouge Infusion Lip Stain, which I got in the shade “Cherry Nectar”.

Sephora Rouge Infusion Lip Stain “Cherry Nectar”, Sephora Cream Lip Stain “Always Red”

Sephora Cream Lip Stain – Always Red

As I sit here with this lipstick on I am realizing how much nicer it is than the MAC equivalent!  They are almost identical in colour and at $16  it definitely beats the $29 MAC product, though I think the MAC longwear is still the longest lasting of all the ones I’ve tried.  Still, it is doing a great job of staying on while also being very light and comfortable to wear.  The MAC lipstick is really dry if you don’t use the top coat, but this lipstick has more moisture and I can hardly even feel it on my lips.  This will probably be my new go-to for an everyday, classic red!  Thanks Kate for your wonderful suggestion!!

Sephora Rouge Infusion Lip Stain – Cherry Nectar

Guys… I can’t believe I’m saying this but, this is my new favourite lipstick.  Not only is it a luscious deep, sexy, purpley red, it also lasts really well (passing the makeout test).  It goes on wet and stays really moist on your lips.  At first I was concerned that it wasn’t drying but when I pressed my lips to my hand there was no transfer.  It almost feels like a lip balm but stays like a longwear.  Excellent product, I’m very impressed with it and will definitely be going back to get a few more colours.

Sephora Rouge Infusion Lip Stain “Cherry Nectar” C$17
Sephora Cream Lip Stain “Always Red” C$16
MAC Pro Longwear “Lasting Lust” C$29
Lime Crime “Red Velvet” US$20

Tea for Two

Yesterday my lovely friend Brittany and I went to the Windsor Arms for their high tea.  It was a beautiful venue filled with sparkling chandeliers, tufted couches and delicate tea settings at each table.  We had such a lovely time sampling scones and treats and we got to pick a tea from their extensive selection.  Of course, being ladies of style, we got all dolled up for the occasion.  Brittany wore a lovely corset from Victoria Wilson (that I got her for Christmas!) and a black velvet, mermaid skirt.  I wore a black dress with lace that I made, a Victoria Wilson waist cincher and a beautiful fascinator given to me by my best friend Laura.  I think we were appropriately dressed for such a fancy tea date!

Victorian Dolly Dress

Right before winter I found this beautifully embossed polyester fabric that felt thick and warm and perfect for a cute winter dress.  I used a t-shirt pattern for the top and added a circle skirt on to the bottom.  Super simple. super quick and incredibly cute!  In the photos below I paired it with a homemade headband and cameo necklace.  The boots are ‘To Be Announced” from Solestuck. I love the little bit of metal at the toe and heel of these boots. They are like jewelry for your feet! My lipstick here is “Diva” from MAC. 

Photos by If You Fall Photography

Fifty Shades of Red (Actually Just Three)

It’s time for another edition of DOLLY’S FAVOURITE THINGS!!!

Anyways, this is my lovely post about my favourite lipsticks!  For me lipstick is like the cherry on top of a look.  It’s not 100% necessary but it takes what could be a simple outfit and makes it extra yummy.  I pretty much wear one of these three lipsticks every day.  This photo doesn’t really do them justice, especially since the difference in shade is very subtle.  I also mostly wear longwear lipsticks, which I find more practical because they don’t rub off.

Lime Crime “Red Velvet”, MAC “Russian Red”, MAC Pro Longwear “Lasting Lust”

Lime Crime – Red Velvet

After hearing many excellent things about Lime Crime I finally decided to try out their Velvetine Lipsticks and bought both Red Velvet (pictured above) and Pink Velvet.  These are longwear lipsticks and they go on very wet but dry to a matte finish.  Red Velvet is such a lovely rich, deep red and I’ve gotten so many compliments on it.  My only qualms with this lipstick are; A) if you have dry or cracked lips this stuff will just sit on top instead of either adding moisture, like a regular lipstick would, or covering up, like other longwear lipsticks do.  And B) it does smudge when wet, so if you are eating (or making out) expect it to get all over your face (and someone else’s).

MAC – Russian Red

This lipstick is the quintessential red lipstick that every girl should own.  Dita Von Teese totes this one around too, so you know it must be good!  It’s a bold, matte, shade that falls somewhere between Cherry red and Blood red on the red-spectrum.  This is a regular lipstick, and because of that I wear it much less than my other favourite lipsticks.  But it is just too beautiful not to pull out when you’re feeling extra glamourous.

MAC Pro Longwear – Lasting Lust

This is my absolute favourite and most used lipstick.  Not only is this lipstick the perfect Cherry red, it also goes on really easily and stays on all day and all night long.  I will warn you though, if you put this lipstick on incorrectly it can do some strange things.  The proper way to apply MAC Pro Longwear Lipstick it to put ONE generous coat on your lips and then let them dry, preferably for a good 5 minutes.  It needs to be really dry before you put the top coat on.  Sometimes I skip the top coat all together, but it does feel very dry if you do that.  If you put the top coat on while the lipstick is setting it will not dry properly and will feel crumbly and strange on your lips.  Also if you put on a thick coat and then later add another thick coat you will get the same crumbly effect.  After eating or at the end of a long day you will notice it fading slightly.  It is ok to reapply if the coat is very thin but usually I will take it off completely and reapply a fresh coat.