July 11, 2013

Vintage plaid and straw for a windswept day at Wharf Park




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Outfit details

1940s/50s flower adorned straw hat: etsy seller Bettes Bargains
Brown plastic hair barrette: Goody
Gold toned twisted hoop earrings: Claire's
Pearl necklace: Birthday gift from Tony ♥
Coral cropped tie waist cardigan: Forever 21
Faux pearl stretch bracelets: Real Canadian Superstore
Vintage plaid pencil skirt: etsy seller By The Way
Vintage woven handbag with bamboo handles: Yard sale find
White eyelet bow sling back flats: Payless
Lip colour: Clinique Raspberry Glace
Nail colour: Essie Muchi Muchi


Photography by Antonio Cangiano




{Love the cute photobombing duckies in the background here!}














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Before launching into today's post, I want to take a moment to extend my most heartfelt thanks to one and all who bestowed birthday wishes on me yesterday (and in the days leading up to the 10th). They brightened my day every bit as the candles on my yummy homemade GF cheesecake. I'm delighted to report that I had a stellar, low key, fun filled day - just as I generally prefer my birthday celebrations to be.

Originally I'd had a different outfit post planned for today, but the photos for it were just taken this past weekend, and between doctors appointments, my b-day, and a handful of other things earlier this week, I haven't even had a chance to upload said snaps yet, let alone put together a post featuring some of them - so they'll just have to wait until a little later in the month (I'm super excited to share them though, as they feature a brand new addition to my wardrobe that was my main birthday presents from my mom and step-dad this year).

The images in today's post were taken last month, on a day that was, to say the least a wee bit windy! I must admit, I couldn't help but wince a little when I saw these photos because, after the first couple we shot, unbeknownst to me, the mighty breeze had blown my cardigan a little to the side on my shoulder and in the process exposed one of my bra straps.

I could have removed this fact from all of these snaps with a little bit of Photoshop magic, but as I've said here before - and really am a firm believer in - sometimes it's important to document life just as it happened. That means the good, the bad, and the exposed flash of white brassiere strap – and so I left well enough alone. Life is far too short to sweat over tiny things like this when one is simply shooting for their own pleasure and blogging purposes.

Interestingly enough, the last time we did a shoot in this very same area (which you can see here), the wind was blowing every which way as well - coincidence? Perhaps, but I'll be sure to keep that point in mind if we plan to grab photos there again, as it was all I could do to keep my vintage straw hat from tumbling into the frothy waters below as we took pictured that day (talk about wishing you'd brought a sturdy hat pin!).

This cardigan is one of my very favourites - I adore the length (so often cardigans are miles too long on me, as I'm barely 5'2"), the warm, saturated coral hue, the sophisticated little faux pearl buttons, and the playful tie waist. It hasn't appeared on the blog for over a year (you may recall it from this June 2012 post), and as it complimented my fun vintage plaid pencil skirt and instantly evoked a summery feel, it seemed like the perfect thing to wear for a casual afternoon stroll on the Wharf Park pier in Naramata.

Though this cute skirt is making its online debut today (I'd wanted a summer weight vintage plaid pencil skirt for ages and was thrilled to find one for a song earlier this year on etsy), this is the second appearance for this charming vintage straw hat (previously spotted here). Part of me feels like this hat is from the 1950s, and another part feels like it's earlier - and the longer I own, and wear it, the more I'm compelled to think that it's from the 30s or 40s (due to the colour of the straw, the flowers used, the upturn of the brim). What are your thoughts? What decade jumps out at you the moment you see it?

One thing you may notice is that the last time I wore this hat, the flowers were in the front, and this time around they were in the back, with the veiling in the front (at the time, the wonderfully lovely Elizabeth of The Country Handmaiden asked to see a back view of it, and as I always try to remember such requests and post about them, it seemed like high time I showed her just that by wearing the back as the front here). Unlike many hats, this one works equally well no matter which side is facing front - thus essentially giving me two vintage chapeaus in one. I don't prefer one way over the other, it's a merely a matter of which works best for a given outfit.

My vintage woven handbag was picked up last summer at a yard sale for the princely sum of one dollar, and has, without a doubt become my most used purse so far throughout the summer of 2013. It looks small - and it certainly won't be subbing in for a suitcase anytime soon - but I'm able to get my wallet, cell phone, keys, compact, lipstick, a pen, handkerchief, and a couple of other small items in there without it bursting at the seams, unlike some of my other smaller pint sized vintage bags.

The glimmering sunshine, the clear, soul upliftingly lovely fresh blue skies, even the rambunctious wind were all perfect that fine June day. This is the kind of weather we Canadians quite literally dream about during the seemingly endless days of winter, and if I need to hold on tight to my hat or have a little bit of my bra strap show in some photos to enjoy such moments of perfect summertime weather, then so be it - if only prices that small could be paid on everything one enjoys in life.

47 comments:

  1. Love this outfit! :) I love that you pulled out one of the more subtle colors in the plaid in your sweater. And I think I like your hat on this way better. With the little up turn in the back, it'd look really great with a low bun!

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  2. Hi Jessica- havent been here for a while- happy birthday :) you look gorgeous in this great outfit..I am absolutely loving the hat..perfect!

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  3. Lovely, Jessica :) That hat is just gorgeous!

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  4. I love that hat! I've got a real weakness for vintage straw hats in particular, and that's a real beauty. I think it's a mid-40s hat in the "bonnet" style; usually the catalogs show them worn on the back of the head, with the front standing up and framing the face like a bonnet brim or halo. I think you've got it the right way in these pictures, because the other way shows the end of the straw braid. But you're right, it really looks cute the other way, too!

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  5. Hello Jessica,

    You look fresh and pretty…love the color combination with the straw hat and purse.

    I wrote you a long comment on your 80’s post, but I don’t know what happened to it. There must have been a glitch, and it got lost in cyberspace.

    Well, I did wish you a very happy birthday, and I am happy to read that it was indeed wonderful.

    Hope you have a wonderful day!
    :)Hope

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    1. Hello dearest Hope, thank you very much for both of your recent comments (this and the one on my 1980s post - I approve all comments before they go live, and a busy week had kept me from getting to approving your other one yet - sorry about that...fear not, it hasn't been lost in interwebs outer space), and for the sweetly wonderful birthday wishes - I truly appreciate them!

      ♥ Jessica

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  6. Ahh you always look so beautiful! And sometimes it's true - the imperfections remind us that we're real people. Us bloggers are real people and not models and we don't have to be picture perfect! :)

    I'm loving your summer ensemble. Even though you are not as accessorised as usual you still look beautiful and well-dressed.

    And happy belated birthday! :) :)

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  7. To avoid repetition, I'm not going to gush about how pretty you look in this delightful outfit. I'm not going to laud your cute cardi (especially how it ties in the front), praise the beautiful colors in your skirt, or even sing songs about how nice your vintage-style hat looks atop your head. No, I'm not going to do that...

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  8. I am so glad that you had a lovely birthday! You look pretty as a picture here, and I just love that skirt - the colours are fabulous in it! I must find myself a similar type of summery plaid skirt.

    Also, I didn't realise that you were barely 5'2"! Pint-sized (and the same height as my mum)! For some reason I always pictured you around the 5'6" mark, not sure why!

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    1. Thank you very much, dear gal! Ooohh, 5'6" would be so cool! I'm shorter than all the other adult women in my family, most of whom are around the very height you said (or were in their younger days), but I don't really mind - lengthy legs would be fab some days, but there's something sweet and special about still being the same height I was when I was 12! :)

      Big hugs!
      ♥ Jessica

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  9. I love the new skirt and your location looks very relaxing!

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  10. Happy Birthday a day late, Jessica! Happy to hear that you had wonderful day. GF cheesecake sounds like a treat indeed.

    I'm not the only one that's going to say this, but I did not notice the bra strap until you pointed it out. Things like that happen to me too, and you're right; they are part of keeping it real. I love your hat, and you've given me an idea on how to dress one of my own up. I love the veiling on the straw. Playful, like the breeze.

    Sue xo

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  11. Lovely outfit and I like how you can wear the hat both ways!

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  12. My dearest Jessica, you're looking so pretty in that outfit. And I too love the length of your cardigan. These are hard to find because most of them are way to long because they're made to wear with trousers and not to wear with an old-fashioned skirt. So you were lucky to find that. I often thought about shortening some of my cardigans but I'm afraid that they will come apart at the seam. I only had one shortened and it works until today. Must show you that cardigan in one of the next outfit posts. BTW I love your absolutely lovely and ladylike hat. And how handy that it looks good with the veiling in the back and in the front. Wish you a very nice weekend with Tony.

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  13. What a lovely skirt! You could pair it with anything! And summer weight no less...you could even wear it with a sturdy slip and tights in spring and fall. Great piece.

    Glad to hear you had a good birthday my friend. :) Here's to many more!

    Lisa.

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  14. Lovely pics and u don't look qu s swept I particularly like the hat. As 4 the bra strap I've had that problem with them sliding down which is worse
    Urban hounds

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  15. Happy Birthday Jessica! May you have many more filled with lots of love, happiness , and awesome times.

    You look great and that cardigan is just too cute. Looks like a beautiful lake.

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  16. Lovely Jessica, I'm so glad you had the perfect birthday -- you deserve it! Another wonderful outfit post. Soooo jealous of your fabulous skirt. It makes me think of picnics and sunshine. Have a glorious day!

    Many hugs,

    Kymberlee

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  17. Photos natural, unaltered because of Photoshop are really lovely! They are able to show us as we are, close ... as real friends ... face to face ..... Love these pics so natural, darling Jessica!

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  18. You look beautiful! So glad your bday went swimmingly, can't wait to see your new treasures.

    I'm sure I'm not the only one - but I didn't even see the bra strap til you mentioned it;) aw well, that's life!

    <3 Sara

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  19. You look so lovely! That color suits your complexion very well.

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  20. I really like the colors of your plaid skirt! Fabulous!

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  21. Hey,
    this is a wonderful outfit! :)
    Love
    Tabea

    http://wolkedrei.blogspot.de/

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  22. Heheh I have thing about my bra straps showing too. The pics looked great-nothing to fret over. You look adorable. Windy days feel fab except when it comes to my hair...my hair messes up quickly...sigh....oh well right? hehe xox

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  23. Beautiful!! I couldn't even tell it was a bra strap! I assumed it was a little top underneath like a thermal or something! Super cute outfit!!

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  24. Such a pretty outfit and I love that you can see the windsweptness of it!

    So glad to hear you enjoyed a fabulous birthday dear lady.
    xo

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  25. You look gorgeous! And these beautiful pictures brightened my day!
    ~xoxo, CoriLynn

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  26. I am in love with your hat!It is a little tresure. . . and I also like very much your red cardigan. ( since I am a fan of ribbons! ) you look extra nice in all photos! I enjoy your attention for details. . .

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  27. Happy belated birthday Jessica! And what a beautiful location for your shoot. That red cardigan, oh my. Completely adorable with that little drawstring tied in a sweet bow at the waist, the fabulous straw hat and pretty plaid skirt make for a splendid summer ensemble. Once again, you've managed to put together a lovely, ladylike vintage look. Didn't even notice the bra strap:)

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  28. Another awesome outfit! I think one of the things I enjoy about your outfit blogs is the detail with which you describe everything in the picture. It's like I'm sitting with you, looking through a vintage photo album, as you recall every detail about when the photo was taken. AND, your posts always make me want to shop. 100% of the time. :)

    ~Katie Mullaly

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  29. Happy belated birthday!

    I didn't even notice your bra strap was showing until you said it, then I scrolled up and saw, ha. Life is too short to worry about things like that though - you are right!

    Corinne x
    www.skinnedcartree.com

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  30. What a beautiful place to take pictures Jessica.... i like the pretty pearl like buttons on this cardigan and am certainly happy you had a good birthday.

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  31. I absolutely adore that little purse! I have a bit of a purse addiction (I literally just bought one 10 minutes ago!) but I tend to go through phases where I use only one purse for a stretch of time. So I can certainly relate to your statement about it being your most used purse of the summer. Your skirt is adorable as well, I love the colors!

    Deborah
    Hellcat Vintage

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  32. Really love this look, Jessica!! I think that cardi that ties at the waist is just perfect. :)

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  33. oh this look is really perfect for summer! you look adorable, with my love for plaids and gingham for me it´s perfect;) also that hat is so cute!
    hope you are having a wonderful weekend!
    love and kiss,mary

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  34. What a beautiful, fun outfit. That plaid skirt looks great on you and it's smart and sport at the same time. But the star of this outfit for me is your hat and basket combo!Í struggle to find 3everyday hats...I'm always buying dressy ones. Must change hat buying habits.

    I'm sorry your birthday wasn't as great as it should have been (you deserve it). Hopefully you will feel a bit better over the coming weeks. xx Shauna

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    1. Thank you very much, dear Shauna, you're so sweet. My birthday was great in and of itself - it's just that my health wasn't doing too good, but it typically isn't, so I'd never expect it to behave any differently just because it's my b-day. I was still able to have a great day with my parents, Tony and Annie, and that's what counts. :)

      I have more everyday fall/winter hats than summer ones, so I definitely know where you're coming from there. It is often easier to find fancier styles, it's true. Are there any specific kinds of hats that I can keep an eye out for you?

      Thank you again, sweet friend - tons of hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  35. another great look. love especially the mix of the colours ... so fun and beautiful.

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  36. glad to hear you had such a wonderful birthday, even if these photos aren't from the day. i love your skirt, and your cardigan is adorable! it's always so hard for me to find cardigans that are the right length too, they always seem to be a bit long and i really want to find more that are cropped to the waist because they go with ALL my skirts. fingers crossed i find some cute ones soon. can't wait to see the photos from your birthday! xo

    little henry lee

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet gal. Isn't it frustrating at times how so many cardigans are too long? I'm not a knitter or crocheter, but if I was, I suspect I'd spend my of my crafting time whipping up cropped waist cardigans!

      ♥ Jessica

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  37. I love that you can wear your hat both ways! How versatile and pretty! I actually think it looks a bit 30s to me. That is a toughy though. It is so interesting to hear that you are only 5'1" ish. The blogging world is so distorted in my brain and everyone seems so larger than life. I imagine it is the same with television and movies. Seeing those people in person would be a shock to find that they are normal everyday human size. lol ;-)
    -Jamie
    ChatterBlossom

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    1. Hi sweet Jamie, thank you very much for all of your wonderful blog comments this morning. Ohhh, I know precisely what you mean about how different someone might look in person vs online (or on TV/in movies). You're not the first person to be surprised by the fact that I'm only 5'2", which is really interesting to me, because I think I look "short". However, I've had people say online that they thought I was more like 5'5" or even 5'6" (someone just said this in the past few days actually) based on my photos here, which is cool, but certainly not the case. Though I do typically avoid wearing certain styles/outfits that can make one appear shorter, I don't go out of my way to make myself look taller (when all is said and done, I love my height) - perhaps the camera just adds a few inches! :)

      ♥ Jessica

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  38. I think this is a very nice outfit :3 I also really like your lip colour ^^

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  39. It's always a pleasure to came to your blog :)
    Gorgeous, really, really beautiful!

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  40. Perhaps you could one day write about lingerie! Ha ha! :) You look lovely, as always. I love every bit of your ensemble, although the shoes must hard to keep white.

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Sanne. I bought these shoes around the start of 2012 and have worn them tons of times both last summer and so far during this one. They do attract dirt quickly, but a quick whirl in the washing machine (followed by an air drying) has been able to restore their crisp, clean colour most of the way every time.

      Good idea, I might do that one day. My lingerie isn't necessarily as exciting as many vintage gal's, as I really have a hard time wearing anything tight and have to avoid pieces with any metal on them (the latter being because I'm super allergic to nickel, and it's always better to be safe than sorry), but what I do wear is almost all vintage or vintage appropriate, so be a good fit for a post. I'll definitely keep that in mind - thank you for the suggestion.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  41. This outfit is so gorgeous. I particularly love the pearl accents. I'm a sucker for pearls!

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