March 29, 2014

20 fabulously inspiring 1950s spring fashion ideas


Spring has sprung at long last and I couldn't be more elated about that! Yes, granted, there's still knee high snow on the ground for some in the Northern Hemisphere, but soon enough, if they haven't already, the first telltale signs of this wondrously beautiful season will appear and with them comes the mad rush to dust off our springtime threads once again.

After many months of snugly up tight with our beloved cold weather vintage wardrobe staples, scarves, boots, woolens, toques, long coats and heavy fabrics aplenty right left and centre, there's something gleefully liberating about slipping out of a layer or two, rekindling our love of pastels and florals, and donning our most whimsically cheerful hats once more.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again because it so immensely true: spring in Canada lasts for about as long as a young kitten can fit in the palm of your hand. The speed at which we so often go from black ice to days that all but require ice cream is often enough to make one's head spin! Granted, some parts of the country (hello, Vancouver!) may experience a lengthier spring, but by and large, this is a brief season from a weather perspective, much as fall is in the same regard, and that means one needs to celebrate these special not too woefully hot, not too terribly cold days while they're here.

What better way to celebrate any season than with your vintage wardrobe? I for one, am champing at the bit with excitement to sport my lighter weight suits, sundresses, oversized straw hats, crochet gloves, lace garments and open-toed shoes again to the point of near giddiness! It's not that I hate winter or dressing for that season, not in the slightest, it's just that I've really missed weaving some of those kinds of aforementioned styles into my wardrobe on a regular basis and am keen as all get out to begin doing so again very soon.

To help give me, and all of you as well, some fresh-as-a-newly-sprouted-tulip inspiration on that front in the coming days and weeks, I've gathered up a diverse selection of mid-century fashion images, all hailing from the fantastic fifties, that I know will do just that trick in that regard.


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{A short-sleeved gingham dress, white accessories, flippy 'do, and fresh picked daisies spell spring to no end!}




{Redolent of everyone from Grace Kelly to a young Jackie O, this endlessly sophisticated spring suit is given an extra generous dose of feminine flare care of the classic millinery flower corsage. A splendid style idea to keep in mind, whether you employee real or artificial blooms, all season long.}




{A fifties look with a whisper of the 1920s to it, thanks to the long strand of pearls and cloche-esque bucket hat, this ensemble also has a wee bit of a nautical vibe to it and would look fabulous for a day spent on a boat.}




{Featuring a hearty dose of my colour of the year (purple), this beguiling violet ensemble's beauty is heightened all the more by the deep raspberry juice meets fuchsia lipstick the model is wearing. A stylish approach to remember you're donning fifties spring togs yourself this season.}




{Just as Mother Nature slips on her green attire once more, so too should you - perhaps care of a curve hugging, wonderfully pretty shawl collar sheath dress like this mid-century charmer.}




{Fear not, if the mercury hasn't decided to come out of hibernation entirely yet. Embrace spring's serene spirit with gentle hues, touchable layers, and plenty of feminine details (like pink hankies and flower adorned chapeaus) until, and well after, it does.}




{I can't decide what I love more, the fabulous floral print circle skirt or the cute-as-a-button black straw boater hat with it's generously sized garnet ribbon. Even in a dark colour palette, both seem so splendidly fresh and perfect for the breezy days of spring.}




{Tuck away your heavy tweeds, wools, and winter weight denims, and bust out some gorgeous pastel hued cottons, linens, taffetas and silks instead, to channel the same kind of causal, yet entirely posh, look that this matching shirt and slacks ensemble from 1954 conveys.}




{Multi-strand necklaces and wonderfully ladylike frocks - both featuring my all-time favourite colour, dusty rose - team up to create instant garden party ready outfits that as as sweet as a May cloud is fluffy.}




{A perfect ensemble for those still chilly days that many of us are waking up to while the last vestiges of winter slip away, this fun 1950s look partners a mint green thick knit mandarin collar cardigan with a playful paisley meets floral print dress and generous sized pearl studs to deliver both warm and beauty in equal doses.}




{This whole fabulous 1955 pink micro print short sleeved suit ensemble needs to get in my closet immediately!!! :) }




{Lime green might not be the first hue that pops into your mind when you think of pre-60s mid-century fashion, but at this lovely knit shell amply demonstrates, it can work wonder for both spring and when dressing from the 1950s.}




{Gone though the need for a coat may (soon) be, that doesn't mean we're quite ready for halter top season yet. Transition from one to the other with classic dolman sleeve garments and pencil skirts in neutral hues that compliment everything else in your closet and jewelry box alike.}




{Give the sun a run for its shine power by draping yourself in scads of gold (or gold toned metal) this season. Extra bonus points if you can find a matching floral print shawl and circle skirt set like this stunner from 1954.}




{Boasting what has to be one of the cutest novelty prints of all time, this darling daschund adorned shirtwaist dress with a generously sized pine green sash belt is both charmingly quirky and fabulously stylish in the same go. Now, as for the tie adjusting peeping Tom in the background, well, that might be a whole 'nother story!}




{Be as warm as the tea in your cup during the early days of spring by slipping on a timeless short sleeved knit top like this carnation hued lovely from 1951.}




{Capes aren't just for fall and winter (especially those that hit at the waist or upper hips), they can work splendidly come springtime, too, especially with fitted garments like sheath dresses and pencil skirts.}




{Nothing spells out the return of warm weather quite like a coat-free bare wrist piled mile high with a fantastic stack of bangle bracelets.}




{As well known 1950s models Suzy Parker with Anne St. Marie demonstrate, few things compare to a breezy blouse and figure hugging pencil skirt for a polished, see-you-through-any-situation springtime look that would be perfect for most modern office settings.}




{When the temps finally usher in the return of shorts again, be there to greet them in an understatedly chic red, blue and taupe ensemble like this then make a speedy beeline for the nearest beach or pool deck and enjoy some of those well deserved rays at long last.}


{All images above via Dovima is Devine II on Flickr. Please click on an image to be taken to its respective page.}



♥ ♥ ♥



Spring is stellar time of the year. Yes, it can mean scads of rain and thunder storms, as well as the need for a layer or two still at times, but it's filled with such an uplifting sense of rejuvenated joie de vivre, lightness and brightness that one can't help but run to embrace it with the most open of arms. This is the season that sees the return of yard sales, sun parasols, playsuits, sandals and capri pants. It's youthful and sweet, pretty as a picture, and just a flat out pleasure to know

Have fun with fashion this spring! Take neither it, nor the season as a whole, too seriously. This is a time for frivolity and finery alike, where pale pink and daisies reign supreme and there isn't a worry in the world on the fashion front - provided of course, you always keep an umbrella on hand for those infamous April showers.

59 comments:

  1. What a lovely post and great images. It's really setting the mood for me...now if our snow would just leave us I'd be happy to enjoy the whole "week" of Spring that we may or may not experience this year ; )

    bisous
    Suzanne

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  2. Wow, such beautiful outfits!

    That dachshund dress is too cute. I would love a blouse in that fabric.

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    1. They really are, Dawn, I completely agree. Isn't the dress just about as cute as they come? As both a dog lover and proud pup owner myself, it was amongst my very favourite items in today's post. Pipe dream as it may be, I'd love to find one (in my size) sometime.

      Wishing you a terrific weekend,
      ♥ Jessica

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  3. thanks for all this beauty!
    i´ll take the dachshund dress. so fun!

    love <3

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  4. They're all gorgeous but I really love the floral circle skirt and the red sandals in the last photo!

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  5. Your selections capture just what I adore about spring: it's so playful! There's so much you can do with spring fashion. You don't have to completely give up layers yet, but you can finally shoot some color and some lighter fabrics into your wardrobe. I am in love with the pink polka dot suit!

    Cheers,
    Jenny

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  6. Well dear Jessica,

    Yes, spring is all too short. It almost distresses me when spring arrives, knowing that the hottest days of the year will soon follow - I have never liked hot weather. But I do so love spring!

    I thoroughly enjoyed this fun fashion spread. Starting from the top, my favorites are...
    - The classic black and white checked dress, with white collar and black buttons - the daisies are a nice touch

    - The light-colored sophisticated spring suit, although I would choose an different style of hat, perhaps one with a bit of netting

    - The mint green cardigan with the floral dress

    - The figure flattering, button waited, short-sleeved sweater, although I would prefer it in maybe yellow

    - But for me, the style that tops all others is the cardigan sweater and pencil skirt ensembles. This is the foundation of my style - a look as you say, that will see you through any situation, really all year round. It is timeless and is not age discriminating. Additionally, the lovely Suzy Parker is always an inspiration to me. I believe that she is one of the all-time most beautiful models.

    Have a wonderful weekend!
    :)Hope

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    1. Thank you very much for sharing some of the fashions that were highlights of this post for you, sweet Hope. Those pale hued suits are really speaking to me as well. I've never owned a really light coloured suit before, but the older I get (not saying that there's a correlation per se, just an observation), the more I feel pulled towards purchasing my first. Perhaps 2014 will be the year that finally happens.

      I agree very much, Suzy was an elegant, gorgeous woman (who reminds me just a teeny bit, appearance wise, of my mom) and one of my very favourite models, too.

      Wishing you a gorgeous, relaxing Sunday, dear Hope!
      ♥ Jessica

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  7. i love these!!!
    the winier dog dress is so much fun! i also really love the last photo. thats what i want my spring/summer to look like right there.
    pinned a lot of these to my sewing inspiration board. thanks for all the wonderful 50s inspiration.
    Happy Spring :)

    ~Abigail
    http://sweetergetsthejourneyblog.blogspot.com/

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  8. Very lovely photos, I like to look at old pictures and gather inspiration.

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  9. Perfect suggestions and all the colors are spot on for the season! Lovely pictures, too! I especially love that nautical sweater (anything with a bold stripe is amazing, in my opinion) and that dachshund dress! The outfit adorned with the stack of bangles is fantastic as well- the more jewelry, the better, any time of the year!
    -Melissa

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  10. Amazing! I especially like the hats and the dachshund print. So cute! ♥

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  11. I thought the purple floral hat was going to be the end-all of this post, but then I hit the sausage dog dress! TOO cute!

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  12. So many lovely ensembles, but that kelly green dress and the sweater set/skirt pairings are probably my favourites right now. :) The second-to-last gals in their pencil skirts & blouses look great, too, especially in those cheery colours!

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  13. If only EVERYONE dressed like this! Here's to the Spring and all the new wonder it holds!

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  14. Gorgeous, gorgeous photos!! I love all of the florals and fun prints!! Circle skirts are just fun to wear, too!

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  15. What tremendously elegant ladies! And how tiny they all are! I adore that black circle skirt, it's just gorgeous.

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  16. oh gosh so beautiful!!!! i love the floral print circle skirt and the gingham dress and the dress with the dogs!!! well i don´t know which is my favorite;)

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  17. Lovely selections of photos-very very inspirational! I think thats a great recommendation-to have fun with your spring wardrobe and I will do just that! Its still cold here in NY but you can almost smell the spring in the air. I hope it comes soon we can enjoy it to the fullest ;) xox

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    1. It's still chilly (for the most part) here as well. Plenty of cold wind and equally chilly rain today, though - and this is surely an awesome sign - Tony spotted the first flower of the season that he'd seen (and to boot, it was a wildflower growing in our yard). That's really exciting and has me chomping at the bit for the lovely weather (and fashions) that should accompany it soon.

      Fingers crossed that we both start enjoying springtime weather and all its perks really soon!

      ♥ Jessica

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  18. I'm leaning towards that adorable polka dot suit. But wow, lots of great spring looks! Your giving me so many ideas!

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  19. Beautiful outfits, the funny thing is that while these are spring fashions are lot of them would work very well in Australian winter :P I looove the one with a cape, I have almost bought a cape and pencil skirt several times now - but always end up backing out of it since even in winter in my state its not nearly cold enough for such an outfit - boo!

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    1. Agreed, I love that about spring/autumn fashions, they're so often interchangable, with just a few colours (if so desired) differing between the two. In both seasons, my skirt suits see the most play, which is one fashion element to them that I especially adore.

      I want a cap soooo much, too!!! One that's warm, but not super chunky (aka, thick), if that makes sense, and which comes either just to the end of my waist or to my ankles (aka, 1930s evening cape style). That's an item that's been on my vintage wishlist for years now. Fingers crossed we're both able to find great capes this year!

      Tons of hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  20. Goodness! My heart just started a rumba while scrolling through this post! So many delightful items! I love the real trend of tops that actually are go past the waistline, but still show a waist! Having a waistline is really important to me.

    xoxo
    -Janey

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    1. I hear you loud and clear, sweet dear! As someone who is petite in stature, curvy and somewhat short waisted, ensuring that my waistline (which is actually one of my favourite parts of my body) is visible is very important to me as well, no matter what season I'm dressing for.

      Big hugs & many thanks for your great comment,
      ♥ Jessica

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  21. There's some serious eyeliner flicks going on in those photos! I love the look of a pleated skirt with a twinset so much I think I'd happily forgo any other wardrobe staples in their favour.

    Your timing with this was personally opportune as I'm debating cutting my hair into a shorter 50's style. These are providing great ideas. Thank you.

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    1. That's awesome, my dear, I'm really delighted to know that timing of this post proved to be serendipitous for you. I've really, really been feeling shorter (not pixie short per se, but shorter nonetheless) hair myself for a few months now. I can't seem to find a wig in the right length though that looks vintage enough for my tastes, so for now I'll keep sporting my current long auburn one.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  22. Such beautiful and inspiring images. I can't go past that amazing floral circle skirt - perfect! XXX

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    1. Oh my goodness, it really is vintage floral skirt perfection, I completely agree!!! I'd be hard pressed to ever take it off if it was in my wardrobe! :)

      Have an awesome Sunday, dear Brooke!
      ♥ Jessica

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  23. That daschund dress is incredible! Happily there are some looks here that would be nice for autumn too. I'm finding it a bit sad to keep reading all the northern hemisphere spring inspiration while I'm trying to find a nice new winter coat!

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    1. I get that, sweet dear. Some styles from can easily work well for both seasons, but if you're sights are set on winter, not summer, it is trickier to go shopping for sure. I'm forever on etsy, eBay, Ruby Lane, and scores of other online sites for post research (and a wee bit of my own shopping :)), so if I can ever help keep an eye out for any particular sort of winter coat for you, please don't hesitate to let me know.

      Scores of hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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    2. Aww thank you! I had this perfect red wool coat, long and with a nice slight flare from the hips, that I have worn until the elbows wore through, so I'm secretly hoping to find something else like that. I loved my red coat! (It's going to have a new life as a number of hats, though!)

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  24. A lovely collection of images. It's officially the first day of British Summer Time over here and it's beautifully sunny to boot! I can't wait to get the floaty floral frocks out but at the moment there's still a chill in the air so a jacket or good cardigan is still a requirement.
    The violet outfit is my favourite too.
    Rowena x

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  25. Oh Dear Jessica such lovely ladies. I look at these photos and it makes me proud and happy to be a woman. Such elegance and grace depicted in these lovely Spring ensembles. Thank you for this lovely post. Happy Spring my friend, Beverly

    Oh and that circle skirt....... Yes please........

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  26. What a fabulous selection of inspiration for spring! Here in little Denmark we have been lucky to have sunshine and quite warm weather lately, and do we enjoy it! We still have frost at night and wake up to a white lawn, but it will soon be over too. I couldn't help thinking that skilled knitters might easily be able to knit copies of those wonderful fifties blouses and tops. I wish I were soon able to do so, but I have to practise a little more. Right now I am playing with tiny pearls in my new creative room. I'm bubbling over with happiness and will show you the room soon on my blog. Wishing you a lovely Sunday, dear. :)

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  27. Even though my favorite style decade is the 1930s I adore the 50s too and all of these springy images are amazing. I definitely need to add more 1950s dresses to my photos. I love the dachshund dress in particular

    retro rover

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  28. Oh, I love these outfits and ideas! They're from my favorite period. I'm definitely going to steal them. Let's just call it "inspiration," that sounds so much nicer. :-)

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  29. I love the fashions you chose. Much more elegant than my cropped yoga pants I just brought out of storage. LOL.

    I love how the models' make up looks. Clearly "made up" but still with the innocence of the '50s. The picture of the woman in the purple hat is my favorite make up-wise. When I put on real clothes (gotta get out of those yoga pants sometimes, cropped or not!) I've been slightly winging my eyeliner. I get many complements. :)

    Thanks for sharing.

    Sarah

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    1. Thank you, lovely Sarah! I really like how you summed up the looks that these models are sporting. Very classy and chic, but also innocent and sweet. I think combo is a huge part of what as always drawn me to 1950s fashions.

      That's awesome!!! Winged liner has been almost everyday occurrence for me for many years now. My eyes feel bare to me without it! :)

      Have a fabulous Monday!
      ♥ Jessica

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  30. I have to agree with everyone else that the dachshund print is incredible! I am always curious about novelty prints on dresses. Growing up, they were so common on aprons, kitchen and bathroom curtains as well as house dresses, but it was very unusual to see one this classy. You have a very rare image here! Love it!

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    1. I really love it, too! It appeals to me on so many levels...as a dog lover and owner, a die hard novelty print fan, and a 50s fashion connoisseur, to name but three.

      Thank you very much for your great comment, dear Ann - have a beautiful Monday!
      ♥ Jessica

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  31. What an absolutely gorgeous blog post. So glad I found your blog through my vintage-mad friend Heather. I hope you don't mind if I share the photo of the ladies in the dusty pink garden party dresses and the pearls on my Eliza's Dream Facebook page - it's just so pretty. I will mention your blog and provide a link to it :-) We are coming into Autumn here in New Zealand - but the weather's still good enough to follow some of your lovely vintage suggestions :-)

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  32. O, that dachshund print frock!!! And the violet hat!
    I'm so pleased that Spring has sprung for you, darling, despite it meaning Autumn for me!
    These are wonderfully inspiring images; I suspect you're going to make Spring stunning!
    XXX

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  33. I don't know what to watch, it's so beautiful, perhaps one favorite with the floral circle skirt and some knitting 'jobs"
    With you, when sun isn't not in sky... we have a lot of sunny light

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  34. Gorgeous! What an inspiring selection of pictures. I'll have to take cues from a few of these ladies when planning my own spring wardrobe.

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  35. Oh, these are lovely indeed, but the first, especially with daisies, is one of my favorites along with the last cute casual short and tied top. And I wouldn't mind stealing that vibrant green knit shell. It is calling out my name.

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  36. Oh my Jessica. You picked some amazing images for spring fashion inspiration. It's tough to decide which I like best, but I'd have to say the minty green cropped cardi, that fab floral on black skirt, the violet hat and the gingham are at the top of the list!

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  37. beautiful inspiration pics ... love the floral wide flared skirt and the weenie dog dress. wow. recently i saw a lot of dackel (dachshund) prints on vintage items ...

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  38. I totally want that floral circle skirt. I love the direction of the print and the colors.

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  39. Dear Jessica, how are things there in Canada? Here in Brazil we are already entering pace of the World Cup and we are in a delightful atmosphere of autumn. Here the fruit of the moment is called guava, also're coming season's oranges and tangerines. What is your favorite fruit? The inspiration in '50s outfits are lovely. You've faithfully reproduced some 50s look? It delights me, the makeup, the clothes and hairstyles, I'm in love with vintage as you dear Jessica. One day I want you to do a post about your favorite movies and songs. Would it be possible? tons of hugs my dear friend Jessica!

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    1. Hello sweet Cris, thank you very much for your cheerful, lovely comment. Well, the weather is still closer to winter than spring, but otherwise, most things are well, thank you for asking. For the most part, I'm very much enjoying this year so far, especially because of the secret plans (mentioned in yesterday's blog post here) that I'm working on at the moment (to be reveal, I hope, sometime in May).

      My favourite fruit is raspberries, but I really adore wide array, with strawberries and bananas both being very high up on the list. A great, super juicy peach, apple or pear (like the kinds that grow here in our part of the country) is hard to beat, too! :) What are some of your favourites?

      That's a lovely request, I can certainly shine the spotlight on some of my favourite songs and movies one day (I will add it to my list of topics to write posts about some day right this moment), thank you for asking. I wrote one all the way back in 2010 about some of my favourite Christmas song, which I think you might enjoy (even in April! :)). Here's the link to that post: http://www.chronicallyvintage.com/2010/11/celebrating-holidays-with-vintage.html

      ♥ Jessica

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  40. Oh my! That first gingham dress is the most adorable thing ever!

    Happy Spring dear lady.
    xo

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  41. Beautiful picks... i specially like the corsages, seems like they are not around that much -

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  42. Such glorious images, great Spring inspiration. Very hard to choose what I like best, the brown suit with yellow accessories, the matching floral skirt and shawl, the green dress, the cape, the pink top! I think I will take them all! That dog print dress is totally marvellous and I wish I had the pattern for the mint green mandarin collar cardigan!

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    1. Isn't it just as cute as cute can be? I a repro company made a modern day version of that dress, copying the pattern as faithfully as possible, I highly suspect that it would be a sold out hit.

      ♥ Jessica

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    2. I think you are right. Maybe you should send the picture to some repro companies. They could have the fabric copied too.

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    3. That is a smashing idea, Kate, thank you!!! I'll definitely give some serious thought to which companies might be the best choice for such an idea and go from there. Nothing ventured, as they say! :)

      ♥ Jessica

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    4. It just occurred to me that you already have links to Heyday so that it what prompted the idea. It could be a fabulous collaboration between you both. Nothing ventured - too true!

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    5. Another great idea, lovely Kate, thank you very much!

      I hope you have a relaxing, beautiful first weekend of April,
      ♥ Jessica

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