August 21, 2012

It was a dark and stormy night at Polson Park


1950s novety print tobacco shop vintage dress, Jessica Cangiano, Polson Park, Vernon, image_10

1950s novety print tobacco shop vintage dress, Jessica Cangiano, Polson Park, Vernon, image_8

1950s novety print tobacco shop vintage dress, Jessica Cangiano, Polson Park, Vernon, image_5

1950s novety print tobacco shop vintage dress, Jessica Cangiano, Polson Park, Vernon, image_1

1950s novety print tobacco shop vintage dress, Jessica Cangiano, Polson Park, Vernon, image_4

1950s novety print tobacco shop vintage dress, Jessica Cangiano, Polson Park, Vernon, image_7

1950s novety print tobacco shop vintage dress, Jessica Cangiano, Polson Park, Vernon, image_3

1950s novety print tobacco shop vintage dress, Jessica Cangiano, Polson Park, Vernon, image_2

1950s novety print tobacco shop vintage dress, Jessica Cangiano, Polson Park, Vernon, image_6

1950s novety print tobacco shop vintage dress, Jessica Cangiano, Polson Park, Vernon, image_9




Outfit details

1940s flower adorned white straw hat: etsy seller JLVintage
Faux pearl earrings: Claire's   
Prescription eyeglasses: (frames) Venus Eye Design V-12
Pearl necklace: Birthday gift from my husband ♥
1950s novelty print cotton dress: eBay
Olive green gloves: eBay or etsy
Orange bangle and cream/stone bangle: both from the local curling club’s annual flea market
Olive green and taupe bangles: etsy seller RecycleBuyVintage
Vintage Saks Fifth Avenue black patent purse: etsy seller MK Retro
Black seemed nude stockings: eBay
Black pumps: Payless
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red

Photography by Antonio Cangiano
 

♥ ♥ ♥


...as if one would expect anything else from this usually soggy summer! But I'm getting ahead of myself here - first let's chat about Polson Park, the location where the vintage outfit snaps in today's post were taken.

Located right at the beginning of the lovely Okanagan town of Vernon (which is a bit north of Kelowna), Polson Park is a sprawling spot made up of numerous hectors of green grass, a community bandstand/stage, a pond, playgrounds, a creak, the local Community Arts Centre, and several other interesting sights and activities, including a very user friendly network of walking paths.

Founded over 100 years ago (in 1908 to be exact) Polson Park is one of, if not to my mind, the most beautiful and inviting community parks in the whole Okanagan. In fact, I'd venture to say it's my second favourite park in the whole province (Stanley Park in Vancouver ranks first), as it's a wonderful oasis of greenery and community life in the middle of a rather arid, desert-like environment. Oh, and it has swans, which I adore to no end.

On the day we visited earlier this summer however (Tony's inaugural visit and my first in well over a decade), the darling swans were no where to be seen (which was a tad ironic as I'd been telling Tony for years about how it was famous for its beautiful swan population). What was everywhere however, was scads of rain and plenty of storm clouds. The temperatures were low. So low in fact, that had the wind been stronger, it would have felt rather akin to the freezing day we encountered back at the start of May.

This visit was an impromptu one, spurred on by the (local) wanderlust that often comes over Tony and I when we get in the car, so we arrived fairly late (around 7pm, I think)  in the evening, and decided to chance our luck with the rain. It stopped just long enough for us to grab some photos in two spots: a charming stone wishing well and a darling little wooden bridge that spans the creek that runs through the park.

It should be noted that I love the 1950s dress I’m wearing here. I mean really, really, really love it. More than just the fun, somewhat quirky tobacco shop themed novelty print, it is the cut that endears me to it something fierce. It's rare that I put on a dress (be it new or vintage, though I do have better luck in this department with vintage frocks) and fits me like a glove.

The shoulder seams fall where they should, the waistline hits me at my waist, the hem length is perfect, the bust doesn't pull or (alternatively) abound with excess fabric, and the whole dress just feels right (if that makes sense). If I had the skills and know-how to do such a thing, I'd be mighty inclined to make a pattern from this dress and sew about seven hundred of them in varying hues and fabrics (in the meantime, I’ll just keep tossing pennies into that well and wishing for tons of vintage dresses that fit this splendidly right off the rack).

After a few minutes on the bridge, the rain started pouncing down again like mad so we hightailed it to the car, drove around Vernon for a little while (being so late at night - by small town business hours, that is), before heading back towards Penticton.

Hopefully we'll get back up that way considerably earlier in the day sometime soon, as I know Vernon has at least a couple of antique stores, as well as some thrift shops, that I'd just love to visit - hopefully on a sunnier, warmer day. Though when it comes to the prospect of old school treasures, I like to think I can stare down anything Mother Nature wants to throw at me and live to tell (blog) the tale! Smile




 

48 comments:

  1. What a lovely outfit and a beautiful setting. Gosh I love seamed pantyhose! I have to get some.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, honey! I wear seamed stockings more than any other type, and while I adore authentic vintage ones, between their price and the fact that I don't want to be constantly paranoid about runs when I'm wearing them, I usually opt for modern version, which I tend to buy for a decent price ($7 to $10 a pair, plus shipping) on eBay.

      ♥ Jessica

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  2. I love the dress the print is just mad, but in a good way!

    And of course any blog that has a Snoopy quote as part of it's title is going to get the thumbs up from me.

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    1. I know just what you mean about the print! It's so unique and quirky, which I think is a big part of what drew me to it in the first place (I got in quite the bidding war for it on eBay, but luckily came out victorious! :D).

      ♥ Jessica

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  3. The print on that dress is just to die for! Love it! And I love the fact you colour co-ordinate your bangles, I have the same handful I wear with everything I wear! I'm very predictable with accessories these days!

    Janine x

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    1. Thank you, sweet Janine! Bangles (and my classic strand of pearls) are the workhorses of my jewelry wardrobe, as my nickel allergy rules out a lot of costume jewelry. Thankfully most bangles are completely nickel (and metal) free, so I can pile them on without the slightest bit of worry.

      ♥ Jessica

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  4. I like the tobacco shop print on your dress!

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  5. I love the pattern of the dress! Your makeup and hair are always just lovely!

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    1. Thank you very much, dear Judith. I was worried that night that the raindrops were leaving little dots in my powder (on my face), but thankfully I don't think I look to molted here :D

      ♥ Jessica

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  6. You look lovely and that dress fits you so well. I love novelty prints. Fit is one of the reasons I make some of my clothes. I have wide shoulders and a long torso so things sit or look funny on me sometimes.

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    1. Many thanks, sweet gal! I understand for sure - it can be tricky to fit into lots of styles if you're not proportioned perfectly (trust me, I can relate!), and though I don't sew my own clothes, I thoroughly see the appeal behind it it.

      ♥ Jessica

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  7. It is rather a strange print to choose for a dress, and yet it works very well. The colours are wonderful, and the accessories you have chosen are perfect.
    The park is the best 'backdrop' for this dress, it is so lush and green, and shows the dress off to perfection.

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    1. Thank you, dear Tracey! I know, it's such a quirky, fantastic pattern! Every time I wear it, I'm reminded of a wonderful elderly French neighbour we had when I was little named Fern, who would sit outside during the summer months and smoke a pipe laden full of the sweetest smelling vanilla tobacco.

      ♥ Jessica

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  8. Polson Park does look lovely. And I just love parks with bridges, not sure why, but I do. That dress is darling. And I love the hat, I mean LOVE!

    Thankfully we've been getting more rain and cooler temps. Whoohoo!! I think we're a month ahead schedule. LOL! Hope it's not the case with BC.

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    1. Awww, thank you very much, sweet Sean! The weather has been bonkers this summer! We've had near record highs and lows, rain, days on end of sun, storms (there's actually another one going on right this very minute!), and high winds. Usually one can bank on three or four gorgeous, continually warm months here in the summer, but this year it's been a total mixed bag.

      ♥ Jessica

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  9. Great Novelty print dress, the colors are great on you and kind of fall/summer.

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  10. How perfect is this dress!? Both in print and his fit! I totally understand the whole fit issue. I have a rather long torso, and my waist is much lower than most garments, so I thrive when I find a dress that is at my real waist instead of at my rib cage or something.

    xoxo
    -Janey

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    Replies
    1. Thank you very much, dear Janey! You're lucky in a way, as I have a short-ish torso (no doubt because I'm only 5'2") and have a couple of garments (including a beloved winter coat) that are tricky to wear because the narrowest spot on them hits much lower (relatively speaking) the thinnest part of my waist. Still, no matter if one is long waisted, short waisted, or has other elements of their figure that are tricky to fit, it can be trying sometimes to find pieces that work perfectly on you (and makes the ones you do score all the more fabulous!).

      ♥ Jessica

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  11. Gosh, where do i start!? I love everything about this latest post of yours. The setting is wonderful, and makes for an interesting read. (I always love to learn about new places!) But mostly i adore your outfit. What are my very favorite things? I think the hat and your vintage patent purse. I love purses like that. :) And you look fabulous in the hat.. it goes so well with your beautiful hair. I don't want to write all day, but i sense i could. So i'll just leave it that your entire outfit is to die for. There. I think that covers it. :D

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    1. You're all together too marvelous, Mary, thank you very much!

      ♥ Jessica

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  12. Wow absolutely gorgeous dress and u have the perfect figure and tiny waist for it too :D fab pics wish I could dress like this but unfortunately I don't have the waist for it lol .. Love ur style xx

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  13. That's a really cute and unique dress and the accessories are perfect.

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  14. You look lovely. Isn't it pure joy when you find the perfect fit? I am tempted to make an outfit but this would mean a whole new hobby to find time to do:). I admire those who can do these beautiful dresses from vintage patterns.

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    1. Thank you very much! I second your feelings about learning (or doing, if you already know how) to make your own garments 100%, dear Joanna.

      ♥ Jessica

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  15. Jessica you look like you have just stepped out of one of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot mysteries.

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    1. What a splendidly nice compliment, thank you very much! (My mother is a huge Poirot fan, so I'll have to ask her if she thinks that same thing about these snaps.)

      ♥ Jessica

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  16. I just love that outfit on you! No wonder you adore that dress, it is very flattering, and what a fun print. I'm a sucker for a good (heck, even a bad sometimes) novelty print. You just look so perfect in your surroundings. :)

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    1. Thanks so much, dear Tasha! I know what you mean, I love novelty prints to the moon and back, too, even (and sometimes all the more so) if they're a little oddball :)

      ♥ Jessica

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  17. Hi sweet, fantastic ladies,

    Thank you all very, very much for your immensely nice comments. There's a loud, energetic lightning storm barreling down outside again as I type these very words, so clearly I picked the right day to post these snaps from another stormy night! :)

    ♥ Jessica

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  18. Hi Jessica,

    I stumbled upon your blog....and as they say "I'm so glad that I did"!!

    I love everything vintage!! I know I will enjoy visiting you here
    again soon.


    Hugs and Smiles,

    Susan

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  19. What a wonderful blog!! That dress is such a beautiful fit on you, I love the shape of it!

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  20. This is such a gorgeous outfit! Love the gloves and the cute hat!
    http://invogueoneday.blogspot.co.nz/

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  21. You look lovely as always! Love the dress!

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  22. Hi Jessica

    It's one of those outfits I don't think I would think of putting together, but it works well for you.

    I love the hat, is it handmade? My sister made me a hat (several) but I love the knitted one she made in a deep red in a 20s style...I was looking for one during the last Downton Abbey series and they had some in the shop which looked nice, but you really needed a whole outfit to wear it with and it was a little pricey. So my sister surprised me with this knitted one. I'm looking forward to wearing it this autumn/winter!Perhaps I'll even model it on my blog!

    I also like you pearl necklace, I know it's a simple one, but I have found I now have 3 or 4 original necklaces. 2 were my moms and 1 I know I brought at an antiques fair, plus I made some modern ones. They seem easy to wear, go with a lot of outfits, but are quite pretty whether it's a simple design or several rows of pearls. I fancy visiting a vintage fair now for bargains!


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    1. Hi Sarah dear, thank you very much! No, I don't believe that hat is homemade. It's from the 40s and (up close) it has a store bought look to it (and includes those wonderful little plastic combs that some vintage hats came with that help hold it onto your head). It's very sweet that your sister made some vintage style hats for you - how awesome that you have such a talented chapeau maker right in your own family.

      Pearls are a beloved favourite of mine, and nothing (IMO) beats the elegance and classic appeal of a strand like this (it's definitely the most worn necklace in my wardrobe).


      ♥ Jessica

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  23. What a lovely setting for your lovely self! This makes me miss having a car and being able to go to our British equivilent.

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    1. I can wholeheartedly relate, dear Melanie. Until this past spring, we had never had a car before (my parents did when I was younger, but Tony's family never did, so it was truly his first car), and with my chronic health problems, outings were very few and far between when we had to rely on public transit (or taxis).

      I hope very much that you'll be able to get a car again soon, my friend.

      ♥ Jessica

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  24. Amazing!! I love this outfit. I am such a sucker for novelty prints.

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  25. can you borrow me this dress? Thank you! hahahhaha

    love xoxo

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  26. What a pretty dress! The color is lovely on you, and it fits you perfectly--I can see why it's a favorite of yours!

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  27. wow! I'm always impressed by your style! Such a lovely dress!

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  28. Your area of our world sounds very lovely and how I envy your rain! Wonderful novelty print dress, love the gloves and perfect little hat...as usual!

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  29. I love the print on your dress !

    xo ,
    Ana Catalarrana
    http://Sinbowtie.blogspot.com

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  30. I'm not surprised you love that dress its incredible! This whole outfit is so gorgeous, I'm swooning over your hat too. You always match your colours so perfectly. xx

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  31. Such a beautiful dress. The gloves and the hat complement it so very well. Your such a lovely lady!

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  32. love this dres as much as i love all your gorgrous vintage dresses :)

    http://wardrobexperience.blogspot.de

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  33. I love this dress! One can't go wrong with vintage novelty prints! I'm crazy about them also, especially neat prints like hieroglyphs. I did a blog post about that a ways back:
    http://theloveofvintage.wordpress.com/2012/02/10/egyptianprints/
    X
    BD

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