November 6, 2013

Giving autumn's colour palette a helping hand


 photo IMG_0031_zps76ab84d3.jpg


Outfit details

Caramel brown snood: eBay seller tina.g-2008
White rose stud earrings: Claire's
Brown cardigan: Suzy shier
Vintage maple leaf scatter pins: Antique store in Vernon
1970s/80s does 1940s/50s autumn floral print dress: eBay
c. 1940s cream gloves: (I think) eBay
1950s corduroy bucket purse: etsy seller
Rue 23 Vintage Clothing
Straw hued heels: Anne Klein
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red



Photography by
 



































Rain, buckets upon buckets of rain pelted Penticton in the early days of autumn this year. It came with a sidekick: bitterly cold temperatures, and the two made sure that the usual resplendent palette of the season took a lot longer than usual to spring to life - and that when it did, it wasn't exactly giving Connecticut a run for its money by any stretch of the imagination.

As much as I adore a gloriously picturesque autumn, I wasn't going to let the lack (most days) of one get me down, especially not when my absolute favourite hues to sport just happen to be those that we associate with this mellow, fun filled time of the years. Pumpkin pie perfect oranges, perfectly aged oak browns, cactus tinted greens, saffron yellows, and gentle creams set my heart smiling and I try to sport as many of them as I can before snow banks the size of small mountains come calling all too soon.

Few dresses in my closet are as plucked-from-the-fall-forest perfect as this 1970s/80s frock with classic mid-century lines to it. However, while I love it dearly, and bring it out at least one every autumn, if I was ruthlessly culling my wardrobe, it would likely go to a new home. And why is that, Jess? I hear you asking. That, my lovely dears, is because, unlike most dresses, this one is too small for me in the bust and upper rib cage (the polar opposite of the issue I have with a few of my other frocks, such as this green number, that are too generously cute in the bosom region).

I can get it done up, but it gaps between some of the buttons and feels restrictive while sitting. There doesn't seem to be much in the way of seam allowances, and I wouldn't want to hack down into a skirt, when it could very easily work for someone as a dress the way it stands now, so instead I toss a cardigan or sweater over top and make sure not to sit much while wearing it.

One element that I've always really liked about this dress, is that it has two sets of ties. One in the front and one in the back. I don't believe any other frocks in my closet can claim the same and I've only seen this double tie detail on other dresses a few times in all my life. This effect looks darling when the dress is worn on its own, however when you wear a cardigan over it and undo the buttons before the reach the bow, I do find the effect of the two pieces comes dangerously close to making one look pregnant (which I'm definitely not).

Still, even with these things factored in, I love it because the warm, splendidly earthy palette and floral pattern embodies so much of Mother Nature's spirit during this time of the year - a colour set that I backed up with my choice of accessories, complete with a cute little trio of vintage maple leaf scatter pins that I picked up ($15 for the set) at a small little antiques store in Vernon, that I can't for the life of me remember the name of right now (if I do, I'll come back here and credit it properly lickety-split).

As you can see from these photos, which were taken near Rotary Park down at Okanagan a little earlier in the season, there wasn't much in the way of telltale autumn hues going on in the background yet, thanks to all the aforementioned rain we'd been getting in spades. As summer leaped almost head first into winter, it seemed that everyone you talked to at the grocery store, bank, dog park, etc was floored by how it seemed autumn had bypassed us entirely.

Time would go on to show that it didn't fly over our heads completely this year. Yet even so, it wasn't as richly vivid, subtly warm, or beautifully sunshine filled as it normally is in these parts of the woods, which is precisely why I was even more eager than usual to slip into seasonally hued garments and inject the local scenery with some of my own vintage autumn colour palette. It's a win-win for both Mother Nature and I, if you ask me! :)

60 comments:

  1. Absolutely divine! And those little leaf brooches are the most adorable touch. I love the colors of autumn - especially on you because you wear them so well!

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    1. Thank you very much, honey! What a wonderfully lovely compliment - I could happily sport fall's palette all year round. I just feel so happy and at home in it.

      ♥ Jessica

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  2. Autumn colors are so lovely :) It is hard not to like them, or look good in them, as you are a fine example of ;)
    Also, I totally fell in love with your gloves!!!!!!!!!!

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  3. It is such a shame about the fit, because it really is the perfect colours for you. I like the cardigan you have teamed it with, and your accessories are perfect. I love those maple leaf pins.

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  4. Adorable. Beautiful seasonal colors and the pins are so cute.

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  5. hello miss autumn :-)
    you look beautiful in this warm earthy colors. and i love your gloves, very chic!
    if there were´t an ocean and a whole continent between i would resew your dresses till they fit.
    hugs B.

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  6. All my dear autumn colours that I love so much! And you looking gorgeously as always. Love the pictures ... amd the leaves brooches.

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  7. The dress, the cardigan, the little details, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
    You kiil me with emotion and inspiration, dear Jessica.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  8. These photos are so pretty! I love the lighting and how vast and spacious the setting is. Of course the autumnal colours are excellent, as are those cute little brooches!

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  9. I just adore a great scatter pin set and yours hits the mark. Very rare to find in triple:) So cute! I love this autumn outfit. A wonderful festive print on your dress. Love it:) Oh and those gloves! It is getting more and more difficult to find vintage gloves (especially ones that fit). I always keep my eye out for a specially designed glove especially not in black and white. Yours are match your outfit beautifully. You are an inspiration:)

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    1. Thank you very much, dearest Joanna. So true, scatter pins in sets of three (or even more rarely, four or more) are getting harder and harder to find. I just love these. I melt for vintage maple leaf pins, it's both the autumn lover and the canuck in me there. :)

      Same here! I love keeping my eyes peeled for vintage gloves with delightful, unexpected details, lengths, patterns, etc. Often a fascinating pair of gloves like that can serve as the basis around which to style a whole ensemble.

      Truly, thank you again!
      ♥ Jessica

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  10. Oh goodness, LOVE this look! Cute little pins, great snood, wonderful colors for your skin tone and hair color! Just gorgeous!!! I always love your down-to-the-tiny-details matching. It makes me quite happy. :)

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  11. Really great outfit! Love the pictures, you look stunning! x

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  12. This dress has a lovely print and the colours are perfect for autumn. Your styling with the cardigan works well to disguise the fit issue. That is such a shame. The leaf brooches are sweet and pretty. It has rained here a lot too. I was bemoaning the fact that many of the beautifully coloured leaves are horrid piles of wet mush with a friend this morning. We wanted to find piles of dry leaves to kick through with her toddler - much fun for her and us!

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  13. I love that brooch set and those gloves!! Oh my!

    We're in a bit of a wet spell ourselves in here Oregon. I hope we get some of that blue sky soon!

    xoxo
    -Janey

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  14. what a beautiful autumn ensemble! the frock is so lovely and the colors are like the beautiful leaves of wood in autumn!

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  15. About all colors suit you!!!!! Lucky you!!!
    I must tell you that I have problems with brown and orange... I almost never buy clothes with these colors...
    You gloves are amazing!

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  16. Fabulous photos, Jessica—are these courtesy of the new camera (that's not the only reason they're fabulous, of course, but they're super-crisp and vibrant...making up for the lack of crisp, colourful leaves, perhaps?)? Your gloves are beautiful, too; they've beautiful detail, and I'm so glad you chose to show that off to us.

    It is too bad the dress is slightly uncomfortable; it suits you well. I wonder...could you perhaps sew a stiff, strong ribbon onto the placket and move the buttons over? Obviously that might cause issues with the waistline, so maybe you could do it at an angle so it's like a 'V'...plus vertical lines are always a good thing. Just a thought; I've de-hyper-cleavaged many a dress by sewing a complimentary or contrasting ribbon along the neckline, and no one is the wiser.

    Regardless, quite lovely ensemble as usual, and thank you for helping fall along. ;)

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    1. Hello sweet Jen, thank you very much for your wonderfully nice comment and terrific idea. I think that might be something that could be done here - by someone with more sewing talent than I, mind you. If I decide to hold onto this dress much longer, I'll definitely have to look into seeing if a local seamstress could do that for me. Thank you again for the excellent idea!

      Good eye! These snaps were indeed taken with the new camera. :)

      ♥ Jessica

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  17. Fall color palette is so warm and welcoming. I totally understand that you love this dress even though the obstacles. Love this team snaps, so delicate .... You are a great inspiration, dear Jessica!

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  18. Those might be the prettiest gloves I've ever seen. :)

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    1. Aww, thank you so much, honey! I will have to wear them again (and again...) on camera then for sure! :)

      ♥ Jessica

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  19. You always look so splendid!!! :D What is calling to me the most is that fantastic cardigan (I love how you accented it with those leaf pins!!) and those magnificent shoes!!

    I hope you had a wonderful Hallowe'en, and I cannot thank you enough for the kind words you have left for me on my blog. <3

    Wishing you the best!!

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  20. such lovely photos lady!! You are just gorgeous!
    Can I ask, how to do make you snood look so good? I purchased a few of new ones awhile ago from an Etsy seller and I think they look slightly ridiculous on me.. I had one before but it always slipped off my head.

    Oh and I've always wanted to say it's so great you sport bangs!! Not many vintage girls have them so when I see a girl that has them I want to give her a high five :)

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    1. Thank you very much, darling gal! *Blush!*

      That's a really great question and compliment in one. I think that snoods can work on just about everyone, especially those who have longer hair to help fill them out. A big part of the trick is to find the most flatter spot (or spots, as the case may be) on your head at which to have the top part hit. Once you've got that figured out, you'll want to tuck a couple (or however many are needed) bobby pins discretely into your hair, catching both some of the snood and some of your hair in the same go, to help hold them in place.

      Some ladies find like to wear Victory rolls or faux (rolled) bangs or pomps with the snoods, which can be a great look, too, and worth trying if you haven't been feeling them (snoods) with simpler styles in the front. Ditto for partner hair flowers (or bows) with snoods. You can ever partner snoods with hats, if you like. Have fun, experiment and before you know, I bet you'll hit on a snood look that you love, too.

      ♥ Jessica

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  21. I just love the way the brown cardigan looks with the dress and all the rest of your outfit. Lovely colors, and you do wear them well! <3

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  22. I adore the three little broaches on your sweater! I'm also in awe of how green the grass is up your way. (All of our lawns have been brown since May, due to drought) And as always wonderful gloves for every occasion! What a simply marvelous ensemble. :)

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  23. Such a beautiful autumnal frock! You style everything so beautifully :) I also love how you've made this longer cardigan work with this dress -- I always have such difficulty making anything except boleros or cropped cardis look right!

    xox Sammi
    www.thesoubrettebrunette.blogspot.com

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  24. You are surely struck by the Aurumn Rain, dear Jessica.
    I like your strength and how you brave out the season. Like yourself, I have similar methods: I don't let the rain showers ruin my days (they might get to ruin yet another pair my shoes, but not my joy of the season).
    I won't let the occasional rain affect my mood.
    Autunm is (and I hope always will remain) my favorite season, due to it's amazing ability to provide colorful inspiration while I sit next to the window, stare at leaves and sipping tea.
    The pain of realizing the dress does not fit is ever so known to me.. and the agony of not being able to "mend to fit" is so frustrating. I have met my fair share of lovely garments that were (alas!) not ment for me. Nothing could be done, so I've slowly build a defence against rage and/or depression.

    Marija

    P.S.
    I've posted about the DRESS (oh, finally).

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  25. You are stunning, love these autumnal colours!

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  26. Really cute outfit and perfect for Autumn. I love the touch of the buttons and the snood, you can really wear a snood Too bad about the fit but it looks precious with the sweater

    kate the old fashioned way

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  27. Oh I love this outfit, such beautiful autumnal colours! x

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  28. Beautiful! Definitely one of my favorite color palettes, and I love the snood and brooches. I really need to crochet a snood. I think it could be the answer to pulling back my hair while I'm cleaning, gardening, or cooking without messing up my hairstyle. And can I say, I love how you buttoned your cardigan, making it look more like a vintage cropped cardigan. What a great idea. Hope you're staying warm up there!

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  29. Lovely! I so wish I could wear this color palette, because it is just the thing for fall, but alas and alack, it really washes me out and makes me look wan. But on you--just perfect. Your coloring is so great and it looks quite vibrant on you!!

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  30. Jessica you always know exactly what to wear with each outfit to make it unique.
    Here, the maple pins and gloves are just magnificent.

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  31. Well, I completely understand what it's like when a beautiful dress doesn't quite fit. But you could have fooled me with these pictures -- you look beautiful! Those colors are so ridiculously perfect. The 70's color palette has gotten a bad rap over the years, but I think it's actually very flattering. As you show here, it can be an absolutely pitch-perfect autumn color profile. I wish they still made appliances in avocado green.

    Also, I just wanted to say that I ADORE 20's-40's inspired 70's clothing! It's my favorite. I call it Double Retro.

    http://dresseduplikealady.com

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  32. I love the close-up photo of these spectacular gloves and your corduroy purse - so classic!

    :) Hope

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  33. So beautiful my dear! I absolutely adore this colour palette and it really suits you. I would never of guessed it was a little too tight on the top… love cardigans! :)
    xo

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  34. As always, you are gorgeous my dear! I love, love, love your leaf pins!!! So stinkin' adorable!

    Hellcat Vintage

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  35. Fabulous outfit. The details with the pins are just lovely.

    Just found you by way of The Bloggy Awards. Congrats!

    From a fellow Canadian and vintage lover ; )

    bisous
    Suzanne

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  36. What a lovely outfit! I love the colors. The brooches are perfect and your gloves are amazing!

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  37. This might be a stupid question, but have you changed something about your eye brows? They look more natural. I really like it!

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    1. Hello dear Anthea, as my mother very sweetly told us many times when I was growing up, there is no such thing as a "stupid question", fear not. Yes, I have been drawing (I have almost no natural eyebrows any more - much like hair on my head) my eyebrows in a more rounded, less pointy in the middle, kind of shape.

      In part because I was no longer as a crazy about the pointier shape, and also because of two comments I've received in recent months (one was mean, the other, let's just say, impact-ful) about them. I like this shape a lot more and will likely stick with it most of the time in the weeks and months to come.

      ♥ Jessica

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  38. How nice, stylish and feminine, my dear! Autumnal colours suit you perfectly and the three leaf pins on your cardigan are just lovable! The dress that you are wearing has a very nice pattern and the gloves add a touch of extra style!!

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  39. These are just gorgeous colours, and I have to say you have done a great job with the styling - you'd never suspect the dress is a tad too tight! Those little brooches are great - they are a new one on me, and make me think of those flying ducks that used to go on chimney breasts years ago (if you know the ones I mean). Autumn has been late here, too. I am sure that usually there are more leaves down by now, but today the temperature has dropped a bit and it feels somewhat wintery, so I expect we will see a change soon.

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  40. I definitely love these colors! Browns and oranges are one of my favorites for fall. Mustard yellow, teal, and oodles more just give me a cozy feeling. I love your snood. I really need to get started crocheting one.

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  41. What a divinely colored dress and overall outfit for autumn!

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  42. beautiful fall colours ...
    hopefully your technical problems will be solved soon. i'm so afraid of my laptop to break down ... next year, i might have to look for a new one ... sniff.

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  43. You look beautiful! I love the fall colors!

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  44. Well don't you just look the picture of Autumn! Love this ensemble (even if it is hard to breath)! ;-)
    The way you styled the brooches is marvelous too!
    -Jamie
    ChatterBlossom

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  45. I've been trying to come up with a more erudite way to express "You're beautiful and I love your clothes!" for this post. The perfection of your three pins lined up and the parallel with the stars on your gloves is an image I keep thinking of. The more I look at the colors of your outfit and the details, the more I am convinced this is outfit mastery. I'm so glad Ally introduced me to your blog.

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    1. Thank you very much for your absolutely lovely comment, dear Aya. Sometimes the first words that come to mind are the the best choice, and I'm certainly touched that you opted to share those that struck you you saw this post with me. To revive a popular phrase from my teen years, you've got me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside over here.

      ♥ Jessica

      *PS* I'm thrilled that Ally introduced us as well!

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  46. You look so perfectly autumny lovely, sad to hear that the dress doesn't fit properly. You could have a "shop my wardrobe" sale one day. I've seen other vintage girls do so. Unfortunately, i don't fit the same size as you, so I cannot benefit from it. I love the scatter pins. I also have a small collection of autumn jools, like leaves and acorns. :)

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    1. Hi sweet Sanne, great minds, great minds! :) I've been thinking for a while now that it might be a good idea to have one of those sales. I don't really feel like I have enough that I want to part with at the moment to launch an etsy store just for it, but that is always an option, too (if mid-century pieces were easier to come by around these parts, I would soooo have an etsy vintage clothing shop in a heartbeat!). Selling on Facebook through the various vintage swap and sell groups there is another route, as is good, ol' eBay (which is by no means my favourite option). I'll give it all some more thought and probably aim to do something of this nature early in the New Year, if I can bring myself to part with a few things.

      Your autumn jewelry sounds so wonderfully pretty! I am perpetually smitten with anything that involved acorns (they're so cute!).

      ♥ Jessica

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  47. Just so very, very lovely! <3
    ~xoxo, CoriLynn

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    1. Thank you very much, sweetheart!!! I have another outfit post (with different garments and accessories) in this same brown and orange autumn palette coming up near the end of the month - I love it (said palette) too much to limit myself to just one post featuring it this year! :)

      ♥ Jessica

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  48. Your autumnal outfit is just stunning! Can you please stop being so classy, lovely, pretty and cute? I'll fall in love, dear Jessica, for real! haha

    Nella Fragola

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    1. You are so terrifically sweet and kind, dear Nella. I sincerely appreciate each and every one of your splendidly nice compliments and comments today. It's awesome to get "bombed" with online love like that. Thank you very much!!!

      Huge hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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