Pretty Little Poppet Custom Paisley Kimono

Forever the sucker for anything custom made, Pretty Little Poppet is a colourful breath of fresh hippy air to the clothing market. Offering a bespoke service at affordable prices, the lovely Sophie regularly posts pictures of her fabric shops on Facebook so customers can snap up them up on a first-come-first-served basis and create any item of clothing from a wide range of provided styles. However, Sophie's speciality is kimono's and was promoting the willowy beauties long before they came back into fashion this summer.

When she posted a picture of this gorgeous autumnal red paisley on Instagram for the second time (the first batch had quickly sold out) I hastily secured a 1/4 of the available material for just £35 and 2 weeks later it arrived by recorded delivery in a little pink package. To be honest I've barely taken it off since; perfect for summer days, nights and as a holiday cover up, the kimono has quickly become a wardrobe staple I don't know how I ever lived without.

https://www.facebook.com/Pretty.Little.Poppet

Triangl Lucie Champagne Coral Underwear Review

The wait is over!! After being very impressed with my Triangl bikini I decided to purchase something that would have more use for the Great British summertime and chose the Lucie set in Champagne Coral. The first thing I would say about this set is that it is neon. The colour it shows on the website is not a true reflection of how it looks in real life so be prepared for a bit of a shock when you open the box. 

As long as the bright colour floats your boat you will get on just fine with this set; the second I started putting it on I noticed the softness of the material meaning it is uber comfortable and the balconette style is always flattering. There is undoubtedly a luxurious feel to the set, which extends to the packaging - a thick black box just smaller than a shoebox with slide-out drawer and a black sleeve with velvet Triangl logo. As with all Triangl orders there is a $20 USD flat shipping rate and the DHL package arrived a week from ordering it, but at least you can track it while you wait anxiously! I will definitely be going back to extend my colour range ASAP.

Lily and the Lamplight Seaside Two-Piece

My long search for a summer two-piece is finally over thanks to this beautiful custom made two-piece by Lily and the Lamplight, a website that sells solely handmade two-pieces I came across on Instagram. For the very reasonable price of £35 (£3 postage) this novelty outfit made from vintage Ralph Lauren material was very quickly mine, ordered 8pm Friday evening and through my letterbox on Tuesday. In addition, when the material had sold out, the lovely owner Steph went to the shop the next day just to buy more so I could make an order. I cannot recommend one of these vintage custom duo's enough!

Available at http://lilyandthelamplight.co.uk/products

Baia White Leather Rucksack

The release of the SS14 colour selection and 20% off discount code inspired me to add a 3rd custom leather beauty from http://baiabags.co.uk/ into my life. Susy, who runs the entire business alone as far as I am aware, is talented, friendly and quick to respond to messages, which makes the custom bag shopping experience all the more enjoyable. Once you have chosen a style of bag you can then choose between gold/silver metalwork, the colour of leather/suede you want each section of the bag to be and even the colour interior you would like. Needless to say there is a price tag for this bespoke service, but the finished product does not disappoint. High quality materials and flawless needlework mean I am already eager for number 4...

Winnie New York Noir Triangl Bikini Review

It is no secret that Triangl have been aggressively marketing their luxury neoprene bikinis from Australia via blogger PR which has caused their underwear and bikini brand to burst onto the fashion scene with a vengeance in the first part of 2014. The signature black piping against bold block colour look has since been mimicked by brands such as ASOS and River Island trying to emulate the pricey but popular brand.

However, while high street brands can copy the look they have yet to copy the superb quality and fit that warrants the higher price tag. Triangl bikinis are made of Neoprene, the same material as wetsuits, which makes for a thick, secure-fitting bikini which should stand the test of time, unlike the flimsier high street alternatives.

After lusting after one for months I took the plunge and ordered a Winnie style bikini in New York Noir - a strapless, black, wetlook option. The first thing to note is that while it is an Australian brand I received my DHL package from Hong Kong, but there were no customs fees at all, so for UK buyers you only have to pay for the bikini and postage on the Triangl website as normal. My bikini arrived 7 days after ordering and did not disappoint. The only point I would raise as a precaution is that the material does not give, so beware of this when choosing sizes, especially for bottoms. I have actually had to return the bottoms for a larger size than my normal size because they cut in slightly and created a bulge.

http://international.triangl.com/collections/swimwear/products/winnie-new-york-noir

If you are looking for more feminine and fashion-led style there is also the Miami-based brand Bikini Luxe which retails at a similar price tag which might be worth checking out.

http://www.bikiniluxe.com?rfsn=695261.bb6b9