Which dress to wear? -3-

We are now approaching the end of my journey in indecision. Option no 3 and last is a dress I bought a few years back from Monsoon for an event which then got cancelled. 

I've never had the opportunity to wear it, but hung on to it;  it's such a sweet, princess like thing, I just couldn't let go.

This is a slightly heavier post picture wise, as I played a bit with the dress, starting with one idea and arriving some place else :). 

I love clothing that inspires me when I put it on. 

So I changed hair, necklaces, added flowers, lost flowers, got wrapped up in scarves (no, you're not seeing everything) and fooled around plenty.

I'd be pairing this wonderful, wonderful bag with it, which may seem a surprise choice for such a modern dress, but I got on a rather early vintage streak towards the end of my game, where a dream of Poiret and the early teens was starting to filter through to me.

Here is cautious thinking - just is case the weather might suddenly turn sourer than the 30 degrees expected.

And what I would be more likely to wear as a cover up at the church ceremony (minus the scarf which is not working that great - I just looove that color contrast).
Hubby derogatorily called this a "dish cloth" !!!! The cheek!
It is a hundred year old piece of hand made lace fashioned into the shape of a cropped jacket/bolero which was most likely part of a night attire. Nothing more appropriate to wear in church :).
I thought that I'd get a length of thin ribbon to pass through and gather it at the base, which then could act as some sort of belting of a less obtrusive nature.

 Pros:

- I LOVE IT :)! - it is the only outfit of the 3 that I feel enthusiastic about at the moment.

- this colour makes me happy! (also throws colour theory a bit - not sure it's supposed to suit me as an Autumn, but I think it does);

- hair will be pretty easy to do, just unroll the bendy rolls in the morning, brush a bit through,  with the option of putting up these locks a bit messily, and go! -

I do actually incline towards the put up version, although the loose long hair has the advantage of filling me up a little bit more around the neck/shoulders. My friend says it looks 80's though and yes, she's got a problem with the arm flowers too...nope, I don't think they look cheesy...Less may be more in most cases, but it can also be an excuse to hide out, blend in, not try things.

- well I don't know it this is a pro or con, but for someone that is definitely not corset filling material, quite the opposite, I seem to pull this off and don't look as underweight as I do in the beaded flapper dress from the previous post.

Cons

- not my most natural choice style wise, that neckline will cause some self consciousness throughout the day, and the empire waist will prompt some people to ask themselves or me!!! when I'm due :)

- while this dress screams wedding, it also screams bridesmaid - would it be too much then, considering I am not a bridesmaid? still, if you're supposed to dress down at a wedding, where ever can you dress up?!...

- the most difficult option in terms of transport and care (really haven't got a clue how to care for it if it gets creased, and dry cleaners are not very easily accessible from that location, although not unattainable at a stretch)

- it is extremely long, so I'd have to choose between shortening it a little bit or wearing painful platforms (I do in the photos and you can't see my feet, which I guess is a good thing as they are not the very best shoes for the dress);  overall it is likely to be the least comfortable to wear option out of the three.

A bit of fun

from jarjade on Ebay

Several acorn pieces have caught my attention lately, during my on line quests for tasty bits of vintage fashions.
They vary period wise, spanning from the 30s to the 50s (the ones pictured here), and also differ in terms of the material they are made of: celluloid, Bakelite, wood, leather, porcelain or metal.
In spite all these differences, they have a great common trait: they never fail to bring a smile to my lips. I thought I'd share them with you.
They are so much fun and a perfect choice if you're after a "conversational" piece. Can't wait to find my perfect acorn this autumn!

Some of the examples pictured are still available for purchase, others have already found happy homes :)

from myclosetshelf on Etsy

from getreadygo2 on Ebay

from marcy13 on Ebay

from VillaDiZuZu on Etsy

from halsll on Ebay

from vintagewaresplus on Ebay

from dmanson101 on Ebay

from theriverdreamer Ebay

from Frogandthescorpion on Etsy

Pink lolly

At the weekend I visited a vintage fair in London and bought this pink loveliness from the nicest seller ever, and a very beautiful lady too! Check out the 40's room, there is only a shoe selection available on line at the moment, but I'm hoping there will be more, as she did have some beautiful pieces at her stand.

My dress is knitted from a boucle yarn, and is great for all seasons with the exception of the very hottest days in the summer, which are far and few between here in UK (for my liking anyway :)). It has a lovely tie detail at the neck and its own belt.

I was so delighted to find it, as I'd had something like this on my wish list for quite a while. Labeled vaguely 30's/40's, I would definitely place this in the 30's, but my knowledge is limited so correct me if you know better.

I've styled it in 2 different ways for the photos, but they didn't come out great.
The dress is so much better in person, but my camera hates pink, and my hair and weird facial expressions tend to let me down. It's as if somebody made me wear this stuff as a punishment, judging by the faces I pull sometimes, and my body gets all stiff and awkward.

I've just realized I could have tried to pair it with brown rather than black, wear that little corde hat and a pair of brown suede pumps, I have a feeling it will work better. If only I could do a 30's sympathetic hair style...But that's enough whinging for one day.

So much more than a riot

There is a buzz in the air as spring enters the city with its Trojan horse of aroused senses, beetles and hope. From everywhere, colors are protruding through the black of a winter retreating so fast it has no time to mourn the lost battle. Only a minute left until the sweet invasion is complete, before we all bow in ecstatic surrender to the victor.

Queen Spring, your crown awaits you.

For the non purists, here's a mixed platter of vintage and vintage inspired, to be served al fresco.

Pick what you like, but be sure to be Jumpin' at the Woodside, it's what spring is about: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdWgHtTau48