Plus Size Picks: The Fluted Hem Skirt

This week we return to our regularly scheduled plus size programming: how to style one piece to create three very different looks. I picked the fluted hem skirt from Carmakoma, a fairly innocuous piece currently in the sale for just under £40. You could wear this the obvious way - to work with a plain top and black shoes - but when has Domestic Sluttery ever been obvious (except when talking about the importance of cake and gin)? Instead these looks show you some much stronger ways to work the mid-length skirt into your wardrobe. There are polka dots, there are metallics and there is quite a lot of lime green. Just add tights. It is still January, after all.

1. Do The Polka

Polka dot jumper (sizes 14 - 30) £22 Yours Clothing | Guitar charm pendant £14.70 Tatty Devine | Casablanca polka dot slingbacks £45 Miss L Fire | Red daisy wired hair bow £3.99 New Look

I'm not afraid of a print clash, but doubling up on polka dots of different colours requires a certain addiction to all things twee. It works only if you keep the rest of your outfit simple, so the shapes should be classic. A fitted jumper (tucked in) works really well and, while I'm an advocate of Miss L Fire's surprisingly comfy sandals, a polka dot ballet flat or lace-up would work just as well. Red retro accessories finish this look, which was created to the sound of The Pipettes 'Pull Shapes' (which explains a lot).

2. Mixed Metallics

Metallic cowl top £18 Boohoo Plus (sizes 16 - 24) | Geo rings necklace £6.65 Forever 21 | Hola fox clutch bag £35 Aspire Style | T-bar platforms (wide fit) £45 Viva La Diva | Chunky night globe ring (up to XL) £8 ASOS Curve

The gold and silver in this cowl necked top from Boohoo's new plus size range mean you can mix your metallics throughout this outfit. 'Tis a brave woman who wears silver and gold, but it can look really cool when done right. The chunky peep toe platforms are a great find available up to an EEE fit, and the fox clutch adds a bit of a quirky touch - a metallic bag would be too much for this look.

3. Get in Lime

Green dip hem blouse (sizes 14 - 28) Very | Black belt £7 Evans | China Girl prospect heels £79.95 Nelly | Star collar perspex necklace £11 Punky Pins | Lime lace box clutch £30 River Island

If bright colour is your bag, you're going to love all this lime green. Three uses of the shade is more than enough, so it's easy enough to tone down the concept behind this look if you don't fancy all the accessories. Swap the bag for a black one, or try a less ostentatious shoe if snakeskin, ombre perspex and suede trims don't float your boat (but why?). The fluted hem of the shirt echoes the skirt, which creates a really strong look, but a belt cinching everything at the waist will ensure you're not lost under all that flare!

Plus Size Picks: Simply Be's Perfect Retro Floral Dresses

Before we begin, I know what you're thinking. It's January, it's freezing, and I'm showing you flimsy summer dresses? What can I say? I live life on the edge. And there are two reasons for my unseasonal choice this week. Firstly, it's my belief that it's never too cold to work a beautiful dress into your wardrobe (more on that in a minute). Secondly, these dresses are gorgeous, and I wanted to show them to you now, while they're still available in all sizes up to 32. By May, when it'll be verging on warm enough to actually wear them as they're designed, they'll undoubtedly be sold out in everything except the odd 14 or 16. And I've missed too many nice dresses in the past by not acting fast enough!

All these dresses are from Joe Browns at Simply Be, a label which also sells similar styles in sizes 8 - 18 on its own website. The overall Joe Browns look can veer a bit too far into boho territory at times (I prefer my retro dresses patchwork-free) but this season they have nailed it with some great - and affordable - frocks. My favourites are the proper 50s-style sundresses, such as the Vintage Tea Dress shown above (£45), with full skirts and pretty details like tie necklines and halter straps. Some even have straps wide enough to cover your bra. Rejoice!

Mallory Square dress, £39

So how exactly do you wear these in such cold weather? It is tricky, I grant you. The moment you start layering, you run the risk of losing the prettiness of the dress itself. The halter dress below is probably best stashed away for warmer days as, Vivien of Holloway boleros-aside, I've never found a good way to wear a halter in Winter. But any dress with black or a dark colour in the print can easily be teamed with tights of the same shade. I rate the fleece-lined ones from Asda, which come up really big, meaning the L-XL size would fit most plus size ladies without a problem, regardless of what the size chart says. Shoes-wise, they're crying out to be teamed with Poetic Licence or Miss L Fire styles.

San Pietro dress, £45

As for keeping the top half warm, don't underestimate the power of a good cardigan (Collectif's retro embroidered ones are perfect if you're size 22 or below, or try Yours Clothing for a wider size range). You could also check out the many magic sleeve options I've gone over before, or try layering your dress over the thing of wonder that is the Uniqlo Heattech long-sleeved top, which is incredibly lightweight but toasty warm. Evans also has a long-sleeved black top for £7 up to a 30/32.

Our Favourite dress, £45

On the bottom half, a slip underneath will give you an extra layer of warmth, and you could opt for a smoothing one from a shapewear range to hide the lines of your tights and bra. You could also put a bigger retro spin on the fuller skirted styles with a net petticoat (ebay is your best bet). This will also help the skirt to stay in place, especially if you fasten it to the underskirt with a handful of carefully hidden safety pins.

Rambling Rose dress, £45

If all else fails, or you just can't bear to layer up like it's the 90s again, pack these dresses away as a summer treat, or reserve them for nights out when the combined body heat of all the people in the pub means you can just about get away with bare arms. A few goose pimples never hurt anyone, right?!

Miss Bamboo's Ravishing Retro Dresses

I haven't been keeping Miss Bamboo a secret from you, promise. I did mention their bangles in the Vintage summer holiday post. But when I saw Fleur of Diary of a Vintage Girl pictured on her blog looking typically stunning in their above Del Rio dress, I realised I probably hadn't fulfilled my duty to rave on about the shop enough: they've got some of the prettiest retro style dresses in the Northern Hemisphere.

Miss Bamboo specialise in a specific kind of retro, what they describe as "'Pacific wear' for 1940s and 50s Girls, Rockabillies and Pin Ups." That basically translates as colourful frocks inspired by exotic travels - you can search the shop by your look of choice, be that Americana, Mexicana or (my favourite) Hawaiiana.

Talking of exotic travels, Miss Bamboo stock some of those repro brands that are hard, not to mention expensive, to come by this side of the Atlantic, such as Bernie Dexter and Trashy Diva. This stunning 1940s anchor dress is a Trashy Diva number. While you definitely save on shipping and custom duties from bringing it from the States, they're still pricey dresses. Most are around the £100 mark - this dress is £110 for example.

However, these are stunning dresses which aren't going to date quickly - well, not beyond the 1940s or 50s anyway. I love the classic va-va-voom of this red Honey Dress, available for £85.

The gorgeous shape of this Betty Las Senorita's dress, meanwhile, helps you pull off an amazing novelty print without feeling like you are on your way to a fancy dress party. It's £95. It's also worth keeping an eye on their vintage section for the real deal.

The shop stocks a range of accessories to complete the look, from those bamboo bangles to hair flowers, as well as some fabulous shoes. It's probably not a surprise they stock Miss L Fire - their Sonny shoes are currently reduced to £67.50. I also love their Bamboo bag box which I think would look just as good in an interior as on your arm. I'm planning on buying one for when I give my bedroom a Tiki make-over.

For something a little different, take a look the Sun Surf's repro Hawaiian shirts. They're exact repros of the 1940s and 50s originals, and also currently on sale - this one is reduced to £90. And the Hawaiian shirt isn't just a look for the boys. Take a look at the lady featured on The Sartorialist this week for how to rock one in vintage style (note to self: buy more bangles).

Plus Size Picks: non-frumpy swimwear in larger sizes

It's plus size swimwear time! You must have known this was coming. Shopping for swimwear is tough regardless of dress size, but it's particularly difficult when 90% of the swimwear available to you looks like it's been designed for pensioners. The plus size swimwear world is a minefield, but if you know where to look, there are some more fun and modern options than boring black one pieces and frumpy florals. I've tried to pick a mix of bikinis and swimsuits, because who says you have to cover up if you don't want to? Just check out this gallery for inspiration, then find your perfect piece from my favourite finds from the UK high street and beyond...

Purveyor of tiny clothing H&M wouldn't be the first place you'd think to look for swimwear in larger sizes, but actually the brand caused a bit of a furore when they featured swimwear modelled by a (shock! horror!) size 16 model without slapping 'plus size' all over the shoot this summer. This bargain bikini was part of that shoot, at £14.99 for the top and £12.99 for the bottoms, up to a size 28. It's also available in orange.

ASOS curve offers up a few options up to size 26, and sells their bikinis as separates, so you can buy different sizes to suit your shape. I'm a fan of this 50s inspired floral bikini (£34), but there are also polka dots, nautical styles and lots of fringing. They've even adapted their bestselling high waisted bikini bottoms to suit a curvier figure.

The Domestic Sluts are no stranger to the late, great Esther Williams' retro swimsuits and bikinis (at least three of us have them) but unfortunately the main UK suppliers don't stock larger sizes. Luckily, Modcloth do and they have very good international shipping options. They sell both the high waisted bikini and tthe one piece (which they call the 'Bathing Beauty' after one of Williams' most popular films) in loads of colours and prints for $89.99 (about £60).

Melissa Odabash is the leading lady of the designer swimwear world in the UK, and the good news is anyone size 12 - 32 can get her look for a lot less, as she's teamed up with Simply Be to produce 'Sea by Melissa Odabash', a range of classic styles at a lower price point that feature all of her trademarks. This range is great for anyone who doesn't want a flash-in-the-pan trend, or anything too over the top. My top pick is this halter bikini in her classic giraffe print for £40.

This one piece from Very's in-house swimwear brand Resort is sold in cup sizes and goes up to a 44F, making it a great choice for both fuller figured and larger busted ladies. It's also got built-in shapewear panels to make the most of your best bits. Oh and it's leopard print, so obviously it's awesome. Grab it now for £29, or check out the bikini, swimdress and tankini in the same range, all up to at least a size 24.

Finally, if you're willing to spend a bit more and get something shipped from the USA, the best designer swimwear in plus sizes comes from the amazing Monif C. There are printed high-waisted bikinis, swimsuits will fringing all down the front, ruffled collars, one-shoulder suits - stuff you just won't find in your local Evans store, up to around a size 28. This Anguilla swimsuit is $158 but international shipping is a hefty $49 on top of that. It might be worth having a word with a friend in the USA if you're tempted, or petition Monif C to launch in the UK soon!

Summer Style from Tara Starlet

I've being spending a lot of time constructing a fantasy wardrobe for a summer that looks like it'll only ever exist in my fantasies. Along with the rest of the UK, I'm really hoping the sun starts properly shining soon so I can justify at least one thing from Tara Starlet's amazing summer collection.

After even more time spent deliberating, I can reveal the one thing I'm desperately justifying to myself is this seaside playsuit, a pricey but oh-so-pretty £75. With cute stripes, anchors and sailor boats, it's got everything I want to go for nought to nautical in style as soon as I get to the beach.

But this playsuit is only the flake in a delicious 99 ice cream of a collection. It's my favourite bit but I'd gladly scoff the whole thing (and then probably get a second too). Tara Starlet have plenty more tasty things in store.

Like this Honolulu dress. It's the summertime equivalent to the Most Christmassy Dress in the World, decorated with a gorgeous Hawaiian beach scene, with plenty of palm trees and hot motors. And even better, the fabric is actually printed in Hawaii. That probably means the dress smells of coconuts (which, as Bounty has taught us, is truly the taste of paradise). This Most Summery Dress in the World is £95.

This Tropical swing dress is the strawberry sauce on top of your ice cream (and not just because the model has fabulous pink hair) - it's a bit show-offy but really quite sweet. However, with its halter-neck and palm-print, the dress is definitely more sizzle than drizzle, and is yours for £80.

The sweetest thing on the Tara Starlet menu are these 50s frocks which come in beautiful gently muted shades. Made from cotton, they just about justify their £80 price tag by promising to keep you cool and perpetually cute for this summer and many more years to come. And, yes, as the picture proves, they go perfectly with ice cream.

Vintage vixens should take a look at the site for more summertime outfits: they've got everything you could desire, from sweet striped skirts to saucy sailor shorts.

Retro Classic: Space Invaders Rug

"Pew! Pew! Pew!" If I was to write a list of my favourite computer games, Space Invaders would definitely be up there. Probably right after Day of the Tentacle, Zelda, Civilisation and Mario Kart. There used to be a bar in London where I spent many a night drinking cocktails and playing Space Invaders. I usually have absolutely bugger all very little patience, but blasting those little aliens was a brilliant way to waste half an hour/ seven quid in spare change. Half of my cocktail fund went onto getting to level four.

I Love Retro's brilliant Space Invaders rug is perfect. I love the idea of Space Invaders wall stickers, I think the rug is even cooler - I think it works better because of the dark background. Apparently it's perfect for a children's room. Or, my hallway. It's £109, a whopping £40 cheaper than it is on Bouf. Which means I'll have lots of money left to spend on arcade games.

Plus Size Shopping: Girly treats to brighten up Easter

There is something about Easter that brings out the cutesy in me. I go a bit Stepford Wife, imagining myself cooking a leg of lamb whilst dressed in a 50s frock with a polka dot apron, dancing around my country kitchen to music written by Cole Porter. The truth is I'll probably be in my PJs, shoving something into the slow cooker in my tiny kitchenette, with Britney blaring in the background. But let's entertain the myth a little bit with this fortnight's plus size picks, a crop of Spring-like dresses that will brighten up what's looking to be a bit of a dull, miserable weekend. Most of these will work just as well right now with black tights and a blazer as they will with bare legs and wedges later in the year.

Lady Vintage, a brand I know a lot of Domestic Sluts will be familiar with, have just bought out a new line of beautiful limited edition plus size dresses, modelled by the one and only Georgina. They come in sizes 16 - 28 and there are loads of great prints available, my fave is this red rose print (£50). Everyone should have a Lady Vintage dress in their wardrobe. I have four.

Grab yourself a bargain with this Ruby Rocks butterfly print dress, which is down to £33 (saving £22) in sizes 14 - 32 at Simply Be. The lower collar is a bit more wearable than full-on peter pan collars which I know many people think are best left to Alexa Chung. As for the print...who doesn't love butterflies? Actually, don't answer that.

It's bright yellow, it's got birds on it...the only way this frock could be more Easter-appropriate is if those birds were actual chicks, but we can't have everything. This zip-detail cap sleeved dress is from AX Paris Curve, yours for a tiddly £17.99 in sizes 16 - 26 (though stock is limited as it's in the sale).

Now for a bit of pastel, which the kids at work tell me is 'bang on trend' this season. Modcloth have come up with the goods (a lot cheaper than usual, too) with this lovely lace insert 'Rosemary to the Occasion' dress, for $49.99 (they ship internationally). Sizing seems to be a bit odd on this one, but the brilliant customer reviews should make it easier for you to work out how many X's you need!

Finally, it's the Pretty Woman dress! £35 will get you this fab homage to Vivian's famous polka dot polo dress, available in sizes 16 - 28. Nothing says Spring like polka dots (except maybe some SUN??!) and this Yours Clothing number is a total bargain. It's such a timeless shape I couldn't resist!

Manga Pin Up Girls by Oneq

Love pin up girl artwork but are looking for something a bit different? Allow me to introduce you to the work of Japanese artist Oneq. I have fallen quite in love with this 'Toy' print.

Oneq mixes influences from all over the place, notably Japanese manga and American comic illustration, to create really stunning pieces. They're a little bit manga, a little bit Mucha, and a whole lot of sassy. These are pin ups for gown ups.

I think it's the contrasts that make her work so appealing. They're retro but modern, sexy but classy. They make me want to make an effort with my hair and wear silk.

Her work is starting to go international, featuring in magazines in Brazil and America, but you can buy these prints from Click For Art starting at £39 for an unframed A2 print. They also come on cushions for £39.

Design 55 TV Memo Board

Remember when you were a kid and you had the seemingly endless argument with your parents about having a TV in your room? You wanted one, NEEDED one, all your friends had one, they kept saying no. Sad times. I am on the parental side of the argument fence now though and am staying steadfast in saying no. The only way Eldest Daughter is getting a TV in her room is if she has this memo board so I can write things like "Tidy you room! Turn One Direction down!" on it.

TVs that had twiddly knobs on the front. They were the future! This memo board is made from wipe clean glass so you can scribble as many messages as you like onto it. The temptation to draw a stickman interpretation of something like Game Of Thrones would be immense. I'd spend far too much time doing that...

Want to draw your own TV shows? The board is currently £13 at Design 55.

Etsy pick: Clare Illustrates retro New York and London

We've seen the awesome artistic results triggered by Paris Vs New York, but who would you plump for in London Vs New York? It's a tough call to make between the hustle of the big smoke and the bustle of the big apple. Perhaps the Etsy shop of Clare Illustrates can help us decide.

Featuring the work of Bristol-based illustrator Clare Phillips, this gorgeous retro artwork is less about setting the cities off against each other and more about being madly in love with both of them - a sentiment that I definitely share. Want to see the contenders?

Why yes, I'd love to be in New York where even hailing a taxi cab can make you feel like you've stepped off a film set. Buy this espresso set and feel a million bucks for £20.

Or I could save those pennies and spend them on the very prettiest kind of rainy day in Springtime London.

No. I'm firmly sticking with London. I'll swear my allegiance with these fridge magnets available for £5.

Wait! I love peanuts! I definitely wish I was in New York. I'll say howdy with these appetising versions of the magnets.

Luckily I don't have to pick a favourite with these London and New York mugs: perfect in their subject matter, as well as in their typography and with their cute image of the bus stop and taxi inside each mug. For only £14 for the set I can easily ♥ NY and London.

Gluten Free: Crispy Pancakes

Ah, crispy pancakes. Just thinking about their slightly unnatural orangey crust and that hotter-than-the-sun interior makes me feel all wistful and nostalgic. Just one of the casualties of my gluten free diet, crispy pancakes were one of my favourite student foods. When you share a cooker with ten other girls, or your kitchen is roughly the size of a postage stamp, convenience food really live up to their name. With my university days becoming a distant memory, (some of those memories were a bit hazy anyway, thanks to cheap drinks and Decades nights at the union) it doesn't feel very 'grown up' to eat things like this for dinner now. Fortunately, I'm not very grown up so I don't really care! 

I've gone for a cheese and ham fillling but you could make actually grown up crispy pancake with a chicken and asparagus or beef and chestnut filling instead.

You'll need

• 750ml milk
• 1 tbsp arrowroot powder
• 1 tsp dijon mustard
• 50g cheddar cheese, grated
• 100g ham, cut into cubes
• 200g rice flour (I use Doves Farm)
• 4 eggs
• 100g gluten free breadcrumb (you can make your own with some stale bread or you can get gf breadcrumbs in the freefrom aisle)
• oil, for frying

Make it!

• Put 250ml of milk in a saucepan and bring it to the boil over a gentle heat. Mix the arrowroot with a splash of milk to make a loose paste. Once the milk has come to the boil, turn the heat down to simmer and add the arrowroot mixture, stirring all the time. The sauce will thicken quickly, when it does remove from heat. Stir in the mustard, cheese and ham and set aside to cool.
• Sieve 150g rice flour into a bowl, add 2 eggs and whisk until combined. Slowly add the milk and whisk until the mixture is smooth. Set aside for 10 minutes.
• Heat a frying pan and brush lightly with oil, pour in enough pancake batter to cover the base of the pan (don't make them too thin or they'll burst when they're filled). When the surface starts to bubble turn them over and cook for a couple of minutes until the other side is golden brown. Set aside on a clean plate to cool while you make the rest. You should get about eight pancakes.
• Once the filling and pancakes are cool you can start putting them together. Put the remaining flour, breadcrumbs and 2 eggs in their own plate or shallow bowl. Beat the eggs.
• Take a pancake and place a couple of dessertspoons of the filling in the centre of the pancake, brush the edges with some of the beaten egg, fold the pancake over and seal.
• Dip the pancake in the flour, then into the beaten egg, back into the flour, into the egg again and, lastly, into the breadcrumbs. Make sure to coat well with each dipping.
• Heat a couple of tbsp oil in a pan and add your coated pancakes. fry for 2-3 minutes on each side, before transferring to the oven to cook at 200°C for about 10 minutes.

ASOS Bird Scarf Turban

Remember a few years ago when Prada tried to bring turbans back? No? Well they did and it wasn't much of a success. But that was because they were ahead of the curve. In a world full of austerity and bunting, a scarf turban suddenly seems to make sense. It harks back to Landgirls and rollers, hard graft and glamour. Take, for example, my lovely friend Eliza Delite. Those superglam waves don't come about without some effort and she can often be seen sporting a rather fetching vintage scarf over her rollers. 

However, as with most things, I'm fairly useless at tying scarves so that they stay where they should which is why I'm likely to buy this bird print one from ASOS. Yes, it's cheaty but it can hide a multitude of bad hair days and make it more acceptable to pop to the shops with your rollers in. Ignore that they've styled it with the model's hair down. That looks silly. Want cheaty retro glam? It's yours for £12.

Gluten Free: Banoffee Baked Alaska

Way back, when Heston Blumenthal was still in short trousers, baked alaska was the closest thing we had to kitchen alchemy. Putting ice cream into a hot oven and it not melting was akin to witchcraft. Really, it's all down to the insulating properties of the cake base and meringue, and assuming that the ice cream doesn't come into direct contact with the heat of the oven then it stays cold. But, that's a bit boring and I prefer to think of it as actual magic. With chefs embracing the whole liquid nitrogen and gellan gum way of cooking, baked alaska seems almost quaint now, but who can resist a bit of nostalgia from time to time?

With Humperdinck, Jedward and the rest warming up for Eurovision tomorrow, now seems the ideal moment to dig out a recipe that's a bit kitsch. This marriage of banoffee pie and baked alaska is just the ticket. 

This baked alaska has the added benefit of being more of a construction job than a baking task and the only real effort you have to put in is on the meringue. You get an impressive-looking dessert without breaking a sweat - leaving you more time to wave a Union Jack at the TV and sing along to 'Love Will Set You Free'.

Banoffee Baked Alaska

You'll need

• about half of a gluten free loaf cake (you can find Madeira cakes in most supermarket FreeFrom selections, or try Honeyrose Bakery Organic Banana Cake)
• 250g toffee or caramel ice cream (check the ingredients to make sure it's gluten free)
• 1 banana, peeled and sliced
• 3 tbsp toffee sauce
• 3 egg whites (you'll get better results if the egg whites are at room temperature)
• 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
• 125g caster sugar

To make

1. Using a small bowl or ramekin as a guide, cut your cake to just bigger than the rim of the bowl/ramekin. Reserve the cake for later.
2. Leave the ice-cream to soften for about 10 minutes and press it into the same bowl or ramekin than you used to cut the cake. (Line the bowl with cling film and it'll be easy to turn it out later.) Cover the surface of the ice cream with the sliced banana. Put the whole thing in the freezer for about 15 minutes to firm up.
3. Heat the oven to 230°C. In a large, grease-free bowl, whisk together the egg whites and cream of tartar until you have soft peaks. Add the sugar, a little at a time until it is all incorporated and the egg whites are in stiff peaks. If you want to turn the bowl upside-down to check, that's your call - I will not be held responsible for egg in your hair, over your kitchen floor or on your cat.
4. Working quickly, place the cake on a heatproof plate and spread toffee sauce over the top of it. Remove the ice cream from the freezer and turn it out on top of the cake (see, the cling film was a good idea!) Spread the whisked egg whites thickly over the cake and ice-cream, making sure there are no gaps.
5. Bake for 3 minutes, until the meringue has turned brown. Serve immediately.

P.S. If you don't need to follow a gluten free diet, you can use regular cake in the base. If you are dairy free, use an ice-cream substitute like Swedish Glace, Freedom or Bessant and Drury and omit the toffee sauce.

Want to get in the kitsch Eurovision mood? Watch our bloody boring and despressing entry from Engelbert:

Shop in the Shoplight: BettyLicious

Sometimes writing for Domestic Sluttery makes me feel like a crazy stalker, lurking around the corners of the internet in the hope of finding a juicy titbit that takes me to a new online discovery. Well, my stalking was rewarded with Bettylicious (found through a share on Facebook, thanks Anni!). It's a shop specialising in retro-style clothing - that's always fun, right?

What I especially like about this site is that while it doesn't have the largest selection, it's got quite a carefully chosen collection at a range of different price points. Long standing Domestic Sluttery favourites like Louche and Fever rub shoulders with brands like the new-to-me Eucalyptus, as well as US brands like Eliza and Ethan and Betty Page Clothing. And the clothes are gently retro, rather than strictly repro, which is just the way I like them.

Take for example this very pretty Margherite Dress, perfect for springtime (or winter with some great tights). Domestic Slut Sara would look lovely in this. It's by Eucalyptus and is £70.

My work clothes have been missing this Katie tie blouse from Louche. A nice old-fashioned look that would fit neatly into a modern wardrobe. It's £35.

More obviously retro is this Strawberry Dress by Friday on My Mind which is £54. It's like Snow White meets Wimbledon (think wholesome frolicking in the great outdoors, with a great picnic).

Been watching the new series of Mad Men where its gone all 1960s on us? Well, Peggy should definitely invest in this Dale Psychedelic dress. Prim and proper at the front, it's got a saucy cut-out back. This is £55.

Moving beyond the fancy frocks, BettyLicious - like any retro clothing store worth its salt - also has a good selection of swimwear and lingerie too. Take a look at this lace and satin bra from Kiss Me Deadly for starters. At £40, it strikes the balance between saucy and pretty perfectly. Wearing it would certainly make my internet stalking habits a million times more glamorous.

To paraphrase Cher from Clueless circa 1995, BettyLicious is all you need to look a total Betty.

Wet Dream: Bubble Betty rainwear

General clumsiness, the fact I'm perfectly sized to poke the average commuter in the eye, and an inability to look out the window to check the weather before leaving the house: all these things make me a very bad brolly user. At the age of 31, I still haven't quite mastered the correct use of an umbrella. So when I read about Bubble Betty over on Retro To Go I knew that I'd found the answer to my wettest dreams.

Like most things I want to buy, the bubble betty is a modern version of something your gran would have had. In this case that's a rain bonnet. After years I've spent wishing rain bonnets were still stylistically acceptable, this brave company have seized the day and tried to make it so. The bonnets have been made-over with bright patterns that have just the right amount of retro (they know their target market), like this leopard print number pictured.

Or this tattoo number - see-through so you can show off your pretty hairdo underneath too.

Also available with a black or red lace pattern, each design is given its own special tin, so you can keep your bonnet safe for that inevitable rainy day.

Each bonnet costs £6. Weigh that figure up against all the umbrellas you break or lose over the average year. Okay, you'll probably get a few stares on the 8.22 to Victoria, but at least your hair will be nice and dry. And your follow commuters will be spared any further umbrella related injuries.