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December 19, 2012

A new dress is a bit like a great wine

Despite what a couple people I know might have you believe, my wardrobe is – by modern standards – definitely not massive. It’s wonderful, beloved, and filled with well curated pieces, the overwhelming majority of which are vintage, repro, or vintage appropriate, but it isn’t Hollywood starlet sized by any stretch of the imagination.

It’s not every day that I add a new piece to my closet, be it something as small as a pair of lace gloves or as hefty as a winter wool coat, and new dresses are certainly not an item that comes my way all the time. This isn’t uncommon of course for many of us, but because dresses are (as a whole) my favourite type of garment, I’m prone to really savouring the experience when I do get a new (to me) one.

This past summer my mom and step-dad very sweetly wanted to give me a dress for my birthday (how awesome is that?) and so, knowing the budget I had to work with, I spent an evening searching for a summery vintage frock that would absolutely take my breath away.


Jessica's new birthday dress


I was thrilled to find such a garment, pictured above (from UK based etsy reproduction seller Oh Sew Vintage), in just one night and couldn’t order it fast enough. The dress arrived in good time and shortly after it got here, my mom asked if she could see it in person (she'd already seen the listing photos).

I ran to get it right away, beaming with happiness over the fact that it was even lovelier in real life than in the online shots. She asked me if I was going to wear it for a certain event we had coming up, and I said that while I’d thought about it, there were more reasons not to, than to do so, and as such I wouldn’t be wearing it that day. No worries, I assured her though, I’d be christening it very soon (and indeed I did).

Sometimes however, even when I love a dress madly, I hold off on wearing it right off the bat. I let it gather a little more age on the bar in my closet. I pull it out and look at it, admiring the fabric, cut, details, darling vintage buttons, and imagine how I’ll style it the first time, where I might sport it to, and if I’ll end up adoring it even more once I’ve taken it out for an inaugural spin.

I like having a dress or two in the wings, frocks that haven’t yet been worn, just waiting for a big event like the Christmas holidays, an anniversary or birthday, or perhaps simply something marvelous and fresh to don on an evening out on the town with Tony.

And so, later that night after my mom asked to see my new dress, it struck me that in a way that I see the garments I purchase as each being akin to an excellent bottle of wine, gathered and stored lovingly in a cellar for just the right meal, event, or random Tuesday that needs perking up when they'll be wholeheartedly relished and fully experienced for the first time.

Though I do not have a closet's worth of unworn pieces by any means, I generally do have a dress, skirt, or other piece (or two) that has yet to be uncorked (aka, worn) and which I’m thrilled to know is waiting for just the right moment, when I’ll bring it out of the dark (of my closet) and enjoy it for the first time in all its pleasurable, wonderful glory.

And to that fact I cannot help but raise a glass and voice a resounding "cheers"!  Smile

38 comments:

  1. Cheers to your new dress! Such a lovely design and fabric.

    HRF

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  2. That dress is very cute! I have to agree, that I also buy dresses which I hold off from wearing for a while - especially if it is a very memorable one! I currently have dresses that have been sitting in my wardrobe for months, and will do for a few more months, until I wear them at Viva Las Vegas in March! :) I can't wait to see some photos of you in your lovely new dress!xx

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  3. Lovely dress!!! I have a bad habit of buying spring/summer dresses all year round, so I have some unworn frocks in my closet, too!

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  4. I love that feeling, when I have a dress for some special occasions! I also have few clothes I have not yet worn though I bought them a long time ago. They are just waiting for inspiration or the moment.. Or I just forgot I have them.

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  5. What a cracking dress - gorgeous. Bet this will keep you dreaming of summer over the coldest (brrrr) days of winter. It's ncie to savour lovely things instead of just devouring them. Enjoy! x

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  6. Gorgeous dress! I'm the same way. I like to "save" certain outfits for specific events. It just makes the outfit all the more special.

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  7. I totally understand what you're talking about! I like to wait until I have the PERFECT outfit planned to go with a new item, and I won't wear it until it's all just right. I just found a hat in a flea market that I LOVED, but I wanted to wear it with a dress I had started making (because then it would be exactly the look I wanted).... but I hadn't finished the dress yet. I made myself wait until all of it was done, then I wore them both, and I enjoyed it a lot more, I think!
    (This is the one I'm talking about: http://flashbacksummer.blogspot.com/2012/12/new-dress-debut.html)

    This is a fun post; thanks for sharing!

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  8. That is a spectacular piece, Jessica! It's almost whimsical. Although dresses aren't my fave thing to purchase, it comes in a strong second. Love this one!

    Can't wait to see it in future outfit posts!

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  9. Ahhhh I know SO well the satisfaction at purchasing the perfect dress, it's like a mini Christmas!

    There's a vintage shop near me that is sadly now closing down that I've recently found a gorgeous piece from but it is far too big and needs taking down a few sizes. It'd be worth it though! And then just today, as I made the regular trip to my favourite charity shop, I spied a black lace off-the-shoulder gown in a very fifties shape for £15, I was so ecstatic <3

    I always seem to be adding bits and pieces to my wardrobe as fast as I am selling off old stuff that I don't wear anymore haha! My husband loves it, although he might say different ;)

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  10. The birthday dress IS gorgeous! Just..., WOW!

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  11. I couldn't agree more. Especially when you have an event in mind in the future to wear it at. You don't want to spoil the reveal! And even if you don't have a particular event in mind, the piecing together of just the right accessories makes the anticipation even more fun. Lovely dress!

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  12. What a lovely post. I hope you'll post pictures when you do decide to wear your lovely frock. It's very beautiful. I think what is fantastic about your post is that you really treasure and value your vintage treasures. I like to look at them as pieces of history and a time gone by. It's even better than fine wine as you can appreciate the value more than once:)

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  13. That dress is so beautiful! I am obsessed with soft pink at the minute, too... Jealous!

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  14. This is a lovely post, Jessica. You perfectly articulated how I feel about certain dresses that are extra special. I want to save and savor them a bit before wearing them. I have two such dresses waiting in the wings right now: a pretty floral and super feminine dress that feels like it needs to be worn while picking a basket of flowers while barefoot...
    the second a clean lined, elegant floor length black dress that I'm saving to wear in February at the Indiana Challenge ballroom competition. Its not a dance dress...its a dress that will be worn while I watch some of the other dance events and attend the formal dinners on the weekends.
    I think they just need to be reserved for those occasions....and keeping them in the wings preserves their "special-ness".

    Love your new, waiting in the wings dress.

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  15. Oh Jessica, I do the same thing. Sometimes I think I want things just to look at them and admire them, whether they fit or not - so silly! I just love having some dresses "on deck" for a special occasion...something new and exciting no one (including myself!) has seen on me before. Such a fun feeling. Ah, glamour!

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  16. What a lovely dress! My mom has taken me to do some vintage shopping while I've been visiting her and even though I picked things out I can't wait to unwrap them on Christmas! Buying clothes is also a very special event for me - my birthday and Christmas are only five days apart and until recently I never bought myself clothes (as a result of very frugal spending habits and very low income) so I only got new clothes once a year. Clothes to me are not disposable, they're special and I try to treat them accordingly.

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  17. Hello my lovely! Sigh...what a beauty that dress is! Soooooo pretty! You must take some pictures when you wear it so I can 'ooh' and 'aah' some more! I too will wait for just the right moment to 'launch' a new garment. The timing has to be just right hey? Enjoy your new frock, and can't wait to see you in it! Hugs from across the pond, Tania ♥

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  18. wooow what an outstanding beautiful dress!
    love and kiss,mary
    http://www.maryloucinnamon.com/

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  19. It's lovely having garments to savour in anticipation of their first unveiling. I hope you post a photo of you in this stunner soon!

    I have a rule about new purchases; they must be worn within the first few minutes of their arrival in my home. They might not leave the house on the first wear, but at least they get a personal welcome!

    Ruby xx

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  20. Such a lovely dress! Pink, gingham and the perfect little floral print, it's too much. This dress would surely be pink champagne! I too have a couple of dresses waiting to be worn but I think I'll have to make up special occasions just to wear them. Looking forward to seeing you dolled up in this magnificent creation soon :)

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  21. Umm, well as I am 16 and legal drinking age is 18 in Australia, you should hope that that is not the comparison I would make to a great dress. Maybe a good piece of chocolate for me? As you may know, I fall head over heels for anything pink, so I have fallen for that dress, it's so sweet :D

    http://meggymoo0.blogspot.com

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    1. For sure, dear gal, the wine is merely an analogy. You could just as easily liken it to any truly scrumptious treat that you love to savour (chocolate - yummy, yummy chocolate - very much included! :) ).

      ♥ Jessica

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  22. Cheers back to you Jessica! Your new dress is divine. I'm a wee bit jealous.. in a good spirited way. I love love love pink, and i'll bet you look just gorgeous in this with your coloring. :) And you're right in that a new dress ought to be savored like a lovely glass of a good pinot noir.. or perhaps an excellent rose' as your new frock is pink!?

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  23. That is a really lovely dress! Can't wait to the outfit post on that one. ;)

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  24. That dress is perfection....gingham...pink...roses...be still my heart!
    I really can't wait to see you in it, I'm dying to see how perfect it's going to look! I love having a brand new never worn out dress hanging in my wardrobe waiting to be worn. Only, sometimes I can't even bring myself to wear it for ages because I just want to savour the feeling of having something completely brand new :P

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  25. You have such a sweet way of seeing this subject. I have to admit that I love to wear my new pieces right away but your point of view appeals to me, too. I think I should try it the next time I get something new (and similar to you thats rarely the case).
    The most people consume too much, I don't want to belike that.

    And I agree that dress is breathtaking.

    Betty

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  26. Love the pink, we ladies need to keep adding to our wardrobe because as vintage wearing women we are also collectors!

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  27. What a wonderfully pretty dress, I look forward to seeing you wearing it.

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  28. I do exactly the same, sometimes the right opportunity just has to present itself!

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  29. Wow, that dress is so so beautiful!

    <3 Melissa
    wildflwrchild.blogspot.com

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  30. oh gosh, this dress is so perfect! i would love to wear this on a picnic in the spring time.

    lindsey louise

    hellomrrabbit.blogspot.com

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  31. *swooning* Amazingly beautiful dress. I'd cherish it, too. Just seeing something this lovely on a hanger on one's closet is a joy. I'm glad you have it in your life.

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  32. Jessica this dress is so beautiful! I saved a pic on my desktop to replicate it, even if I already know it would be impossible to find the same fabric.. :((

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    1. Thank you very much, dear gal. It was the fabric, even more than the beautiful design, of this dress that made me fall in love with it the moment I saw it. If I should ever happen to see anyone selling the same (or similar) fabric to the one the designer used here, I'll be sure to let you know right away.

      ♥ Jessica

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  33. I envy you that beautiful pink dress! I'm turning green right now!
    I hang my dresses so I can look at them and enjoy them. They are a good decorating piece.

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  34. lovely post ... can't wait to see this dress worn.

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