Style Story: Vintage Charm

My friend Hope posted this1950s dress, Vintage, from a recent shopping trip for her store. It was as if she sent out a “Bat” signal #batman so I went running to save it. This beautifully shaped silhouette has a fitted bodice with a grosgrain banded waist and a soft pleated skirt which looks great on most body types. The delicate blue/grey chiffon is the base for an explosion of giant placement flowers in red fuchsia pink and yellow sequins. There’s a lovely simplicity to this dress even with the sequins detailing so I’m styling it with a combination of vintage and modern accessories while honoring the integrity of the garment. My vintage red satin clutch bag and red suede sling backs, Sam Edelman, are as opposite as they come. Neither match the other nor do they perfectly match the flowers but together they work. The vintage rose gold watch and bracelet I’m wearing, (given to my Mother for her 16th birthday from her parents), may be subtle but they pick up all the shades of pink and their old world style gives a gentle nod to the past. My big dash of modern comes in a triple strand of Tahitian pearls paired and a lariat of grey beads and 2 large grey pearls. This look takes me from AM to PM with ease.

Hey Commissioner Hope! Thanks for sending the Bat signal🦇

style-tip: it’s very easy to fall on the side of dressing in costume with vintage so be careful and choose your garments and accessories wisely

Style Story: Cross – Stitch Embroidery

Here’s a little history…The cross – stitch pattern dates back to the Middle Ages. Young women would practice on a cross stitch “sampler” to learn how to stitch the alphabet so they could eventually initial their household items and decorate plain cloth. The earliest known cross – stitch sampler made in the US is housed at Pilgrim Hall in Plymouth Mass circa 1653.

My little white cotton dress, Odd Molly Uncorporated, is a great example of this lovely technique. The red cross – stitched design in the front and back looks like a modern romantic pattern with a bit of a gothic like scrolly boarder. The clean simple empire waist and deep V brings femininity and a small dash of sexy to the full embroidered skirt. It’s a combination of homey provincial charm and contemporary edge that makes it so easy casual and elevated even with sneakers, Converse, a bucket hat, Mango, and a straw bag, Bohemia Marrakech. It also does not require a lot of styling because it’s about the embroidery so we want as few distractions as possible. I threw on a long coral necklace in the same red tone and a pair of turquoise glass bead earrings, Steffanie Wolf Designs, for an interesting pop of a contrasting colour. Sometimes the best looks require the least amount of effort.

*please treat your wardrobe well. many people worked very hard to get it to you