BELLE POQUE Fans of Miss MonMon

My lilac is in bloom (well one of them is) which means it’s definitely almost summer and I can start putting away the fluffy jumpers and blankets for another half a year or so. To replace them, I will start finding all my shorts and cute little tops because I am ready for a summer full of adventure, music, vintage and of course, friends. I’ve already kicked off that dream with a lovely trip to York to explore the canola fields which gave me the perfect chance to test out and review some new items from Belle Poque.

I was recently asked to collaborate and review some items from Belle Poque which is a vintage inspired fashion company founded in 2015. They are an original independent brand focusing on female stylings of the 1950s through to the 70s. I believe that all their designs are original and made just for them and many items are available in different colours which I find always a plus when curating outfits. Belle Poque believes that the fashion and style of the 1950s were full of elegance and exquisiteness and allowed women to express who they were and reveal their confidence. 

Belle Poque draws on the classics of those eras to maximize the retro style; from elegant to minimalist. Belle Poque aims to develop the charm of the times and extend the exquisite taste of bygone eras. They aim to create a wide range of garments in a myrid of colours and sizes including a variety of vintage dresses, skirts, pants, tops and 50’s accessories. They aim to provide customers with high quality, competitive pricing, and excellent service. During our collaboration, they were very polite and easy to work with.

Just to mix things up a bit, I chose not to style a dress as I’ve felt that my vintage separates have started to feel a bit neglected so I opted for two tops, a pair of shorts and a skirt. I paired these outfits with accessories from Bow and Crossbone and a little straw hat. All photos are by Caitlyn Martin.

Look One:
Cherries Pattern Short Puff Sleeves V-Neck Shirt Button Placket Blouse with Vintage High Waist Buttons Decorated Sailor Short Pants.

This top is my favourite piece from this whole collaboration. Yes I know cherries can get a bit cliche for a pinup but I do like a good cherry print every now and again. I was originally going to grab this top in the pink version but I already own something super similar so thought I’d get the cream which was a great idea. The top is made from 98% polyester and 2% viscose so it’s not a natural fibre meaning it won’t breathe in very hot weather. The fabric has no stretch to it at all and is not lined.

I found the overall design to be super cute. It was short puff sleeves with tie detailing, a v-neck with button placket and I really like the gathering under the bust which I found to be very flattering. I received a Medium which fit me absolutely perfect. I did find that the shirt was a little see-through and I’m glad I wore a white bra. If this bothers you, I’d suggest you wear a camisole or a slip underneath (even a bandeau would work). The top is available in cream, pink, black and navy and ranges from size S to 2XL. It retails for $19.89 which is a pretty good price for such a cute top (there are sales pretty often so just keep an eyeout if you’re keen).
Check out the top here.

I paired the top with the Vintage High Waist Buttons Decorated Sailor Short Pants in red. I chose a size Medium which fit me really well. I actually really love these shorts and would happily buy them in a few more colours as being high waisted, well fitted and cute are all plusses in my book. The fabric of the shorts was great but it had very little stretch so definitely check out the sizing chart when shopping. I’m normally between a 27-28″ in the waist so they were not overly tight on me. I’m happy with the way they fit as it means I could sit and eat with comfort.

The shorts have an invisible side zipper, they are not lined but they did not go see-through. I found that you could see my underwear outline so I would suggest wearing seamless underwear if you plan on getting these shorts. I think that the two rows of front buttons are beyond adorable and really add to the sailor vibes that they are originally described as. They are availble in navy, black, ivory, red, pink, khaki, wine red and olive green and range from a small to 2XL in size. The shorts retail for $17.79 which is a great price for such cute shorts.
Check out the shorts here.

Look two
Summer Short Sleeve Office Button Down Blouse Stripe Shirt Tops with Bow Tie with Pleated Buttons Decorated Elastic Waist High Waist Swing A-Line Skirt.

This top is going to be a great staple in my wardrobe; I found it cute, comfortable and easy to wear. Originally I was going to go for a different colour way but it was sold out in my size so I went with this green striped version and I kind of love it at the moment. I don’t always style green well but think it looked cute in this instance. The top is. made from 98% polyester and 2% viscose which, much like the cherry top, is all synthetic so it might get very warm whilst wearing once we start hitting the high 30’s in summer. Apart from that, I found that the top was not see-through, it sat really well and I really loved the short sleeves and the self-tie bow knot at the neckline. It too had a button placket but no stretch.

It’s a very sweet top which can look great with just a pair of jeans or more dressed up with a coloured skirt. The bow tie would look lovely with a cardigan and I learnt that it washed out stains really well (oops). The top comes in differet stripped colours including black, navy, green, blue, khaki and wine and is available in sizes S to 2XL. It retails from $18.90 which is right in the range of price for such an item. I think this top can easily be dressed up or down depending the situation.
Check out the top here.

When it came to finding a skirt, I really struggled getting the colours I really wanted. After checking the site now, a lot more is available so I guess it all depends on when you look. I chose this skirt in the amber colour which I thought would compliment the green tones in the top. This skirt is made out of 98% polyester and 2% spandex so it does have a little bit of stretch to it. The skirt is an a-line cut and is designed to be pulled on as it has no zipper and instead opts for an elastic waist at the back. I was a fan of it being high waisted, I found it very comfortable and thought the two rows of front buttons made it just that little bit cute.

The skirt had a very flattering pleated design which gave it a nice swish whilst twirling and it has no lining or pockets. I found the skirt to be a little bit see-through and my underwear was definitely visible whilst walking so I only took photos in it before changing into something else. That was a little disappointing but if worn with a slip, underskirt or petticoat, I’m sure you could get away with it. I thought the colour of the skirt was lovely and the yellow tone was very bright and stood out. The skirt also comes in other colours such as pink, navy, wine, black and green. It is available in sizes S to 2XL and retails for $22.49.
Check out the skirt here.

Final Thoughts:
I found that the range of products available from Belle Poque to be pretty great and it lent itself to styling a wide range of tastes and comfort levels within the vintage fashion realm. As a lot of their pieces came in a range of colours, it would be a great place to shop for costume, Disneybounding or a specific event. Many of the items are great on price and the quality is not too bad.
The biggest issue I found when working with Belle Poque was trying to find everything in my size on their website. There were many items which I loved but couldn’t get in my size so I had to change my original idea which got a bit complicated towards the end. I’m of course really happy with my items but I guess it just shows the popularity of some of their pieces. I was a little disappointed that my skirt was see-through and because of that, I didn’t want to wear it for very long due to embarassment.
I can see myself buying a few more pairs of shorts from Belle Poque and maybe a couple of extra tops for the upcoming summer as I forgot how much fun shorts were to wear. I would also be keen on testing out some of their pants as I am trying to incorporate more pants into my wardrobe.

I’d like to thank Belle Poque for sending me their items to review.

Note: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions and thoughts expressed are solely my own and not influenced in any way. There are no affiliate links and I do not benefit from any link clicks or purchases made.