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October 30, 2014

My gorgeous new Pigtails & Pirates skirt and the most stunning Victorian gate I've ever posed with




Outfit details

Pink 1950s straw boater-esque style hat: eBay
Aqua blue and white cameo earrings: Handmade by me
Chunky cream pearl necklace: (I think, had it for years) Shopper's Drug Mart
Oatmeal hued cardigan: Suzy Shier
White ruched neckline top: Sourpuss Clothing
Green 1940s/50s ruched gloves: Probably eBay
C. 1950s grey handbag: Running Rabbit Studio
Blue Bloom Pencil Skirt: Pigtails & Pirates
Green tights: Ardene
White pumps: Payless
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red


Photography by Tony Cangiano













































{Located in the historic and very elegant Rockland neighbour hood of Victoria, the iron gate and fence and the granite columns baring the name Gisborn date back to 1891 and so immensely beautiful. There's a wee bit more info on it and other homes in that neighbour to be found here.}






















Though entirely unplanned (chalk it up to our recent Vancouver Island travels, the flu, other health issues, and the general hectiness of October), it's been a little over five weeks since my last outfit post here. Yikes! That's quite the stretch, especially when it's not the dead of a bone chillingly cold Canadian winter again quite yet ("yet" being the key word as we're really not too far off from that point).

I hope that today's post helps to make up for that unplanned vintage outfit sharing hiatus - especially thanks to the star attraction: the endlessly lovely floral print pencil skirt from awesome Australian clothing line Pigtails & Pirates, who very kindly and generously sent me both this gorgeous skirt and what may honestly be the cutest 1950s style dress I've ever owned (believe me, it's knock-your-socks off adorable). I will be featuring and reviewing that dress in its own dedicated post a little later in the year.

Founded in 2011 by a talented seamstress and pattern maker named Laura Jones as a seriously darling, high quality, 100% cotton children's clothing line, Pigtails & Pirates has since grown to include garments for stylish ladies as well.

Though not expressly a vintage reproduction line, Pigtails & Pirates does take a serious fashion cue from the mid-twentieth century when it comes to the designs of many of their wonderful offerings, which often blend old with new in the case of 1950s style dresses made with eye-catchingly cool fabrics featuring contemporary designs like the zombie apocalypse, Marvel superheroes, and fabulous unicorn + rainbow design that will have any child of the 80s waxing poetically with nostalgia.

The two garments that I received from the company are my first from Pigtails & Pirates and I've been wholeheartedly impressed with every element of my interactions with this great brand. From their friendly customer service to the speedy shipping and of course the lovely clothing itself. All of this brand's creations are limited runs, so it really pays to snap anything you like from them up while you can because once it's gone, it might be gone for good! I opted for the two pieces that I did because they were both fairly different from what I currently have in my wardrobe and because I felt they could easily be worked into a number of different vintage appropriate looks.

I took my Blue Bloom Skirt with me on our trip to Vancouver Island and during a rare break in rain that plagued us for so much our of time there, got in a photo shoot featuring both it and what has to be the most stunning, elegant, Halloween perfect antique wrought iron gate I've come across in person.

In fact, Tony and I had spotted this gate the night before en route to a play we were going to watch a play in the same block and neither of us could get it out of our heads, so we knew that we wanted to beeline it over there again asap to and do a shoot with this beguiling Victorian backdrop before we left the Island. Though the house behind it is no where near as old as this stately barrier any longer, thankfully the gate and its granite pillars still stand and with the bounty of fall leaves on the ground and the distinct nip in the air, there was definitely a cheerfully spooky vibe to this backdrop.

I love the idea of wearing big, bold florals in fall as a way of preserving the memory of summer's gardens which are quickly fading into oblivion again and this lovely cotton pencil skirt delivers there to no end. Being on the road and working out of one suitcase (for two weeks), I took a bit of a magpie approach, pulling colours from the skirt and looking for pieces I had to hand for the rest of my ensemble here, which is a bit more vintage inspired than full on period appropriate. Sometimes I like to go that route though, especially if I'm traveling and have a very finite number of garments and accessories to work with in the moment.

This skirt is wonderfully comfortable. It features an elastic waistband and can be worn at the waist or hips. I would note that it's not a super long skirt. I'm 5'2" with short legs and this barely grazed my knees. If you're much taller than that, chances are it will hit at or above your knees, which you may or may not mind, depending on your personal preference/the degree of modesty that you dress with. As a general rule, I personally won't wear clothing that doesn't cover my knees, so I very glad when I slipped this skirt on for the first time and saw that it did.

I'm smitten with the sophisticated floral and scroll work pattern of this Pigtails & Pirates pencil skirt design. It has notes of Marie Antoinette approved rococo style, Victorian decor, and 1940s novelty prints all at the same time and would be every bit at home in a vintage gal's closet as that of a contemporary fashionista with a flair for timeless, feminine styles.

The vast number of colours in the skirt's pattern ensure that you can partner it with tops, accessories, shoes, and jewelry in all kinds of hues and style this piece for both the cold and warm seasons alike (unless you live in a warm climate, I'd suggest tights or stockings for fall, winter and early spring through, as it is not an overly thick cotton). This skirt retails for $79.99 on Pigtails & Pirates website, where you can purchase their full line of ladies and children's clothing, as well as get in touch with the company to discus a bespoke/custom design, which they specialize in.

I personally first caught wind of Pigtails & Pirates on Instagram and was smitten from the get-go, so I was elated when the company contacted me about working together and love that I now have not one, but two, marvelous garments from their cuter-than-cute line to enhance my vintage wardrobe with. Thank you very much for collaborating, Pigtails & Pirates. I adored taking my Blue Bloom Skirt with me on my recent holiday and am sure it will see plenty of wear - and future travels - in the months and years to come (ditto for the stellar dress I received from this company as well, which as mentioned earlier, I'll be highlighting in a post unto itself later this year).

Despite the abundance of rain, we did get in a few photo shoots while on Vancouver Island, of which this is the first one I've had the pleasure of sharing with you yet. More will certainly be following in the near future, though this is the only one that includes this wildly beautiful antique gate, which was, I assure, nestled in an equally breathtaking neighbourhood filled with Victorian, Edwardian, early and mid-twentieth century homes of that sorts that would make any old school architecture fan go completely weak in the knees.

I wanted to share these outfit photos first amongst those from our trip because the backdrop in them really is so marvelously well suited to Halloween, which - much to my massive delight - just happens to be tomorrow!







There was a lot (!) of last minute things to do this week in preparation for All Hallows Eve which I normally would have taken care of earlier in the month but was too sick to do. Thankfully all of the important festive bases are covered and come tomorrow night, I'll costume clad (I finally found one on Monday night) and ready to hand out candy to all the darling trick-or-treaters while celebrating my favourite holiday of the year Tony and some of my relatives at our house.

It promises to be a hair raisingly good time and I hope that the same rings true for all of you as well, my boo-tiful friends, however you celebrate October 31st!

48 comments:

  1. Lindo look, essa saia é um encanto, gostei dos acessórios e da bolsa, sempre muito linda e elegante,
    Beijos querida Jessica

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  2. Ohh when I first saw these photos I thought you might have been posing outside a cemetery - such a beautiful and unusual gate! The pattern on your skirt also made me think of Marie Antoinette! I hadn't heard of this brand before but I love seeing an Aussie brand on your blog :D

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  3. You look so cute, Jessica! Lovely outfit. Smart pieces, assembled nicely. The skirt is extra-special, although on me with my height it'd be a mini-skirt!

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  4. I really enjoy seeing your outfit posts now knowing that you are my exact height! It makes such a change!! And is going to give me some great tips for purchases ;) this is a lovely transitional outfit - and you probably already know I'm a fan of 'vintage inspired' so I'm enjoying it very much indeed. I love the green gloves and tights - and pulling colours from a key piece for the rest of my outfits is one of my favourite things to do. All-in -all, I'm a big fan! CC x

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  5. *claps her hands*
    Marvelous outfit post. It's been a while, like you've said it - but it was worth the wait. Again and again, I feel a tiny bit envious of you, having the personal camera-man (give my best to Tony).
    ..
    As fan of gates, I say: this one is majestic.
    One day I will snap a photo of our house gate.. and maybe even some toher gates around town (day will have to less gray than today)... oh, an there you have it - you have yet again inspired me.

    Thanks a lot, dear.

    Hug
    Marija

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  6. Thank you for your very very kind words on the blog, you look stunning and I love that necklace of yours ! :)

    xx
    Lorna
    http://lornasharp.blogspot.com

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  7. wonderful outfit my friend!!
    especially love the super cute hat and that warm green and brown in tights, gloves and cardigan. it brings the skirt in focus perfectly. and the skirt itself may be a bit shorter than your usually length - but it looks gorgeous on you! that pattern is sooo jessica :-)
    great backdrop as you said!
    hugs&kisses

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  8. A beautiful outfit for beautiful photo with a beautiful gate! I love the color combination you chose, it has just the right amount of brightness to be cheery and just the right amount of subtle colors to be perfect for fall.

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  9. Wonderful outfit and location! The skirt is very pretty. I'm bracing for the cold Midwestern winter here as well!

    Ivy

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  10. Tony took some lovely photos. I live in Victoria and know the Rockland area very well. If you're visiting again you should take a historical neighborhood walking tour with John Adams whose company is called Discover the Past. I love your skirt - the colors are stunning. I'm going to look at Pigtails and Pirates, thanks for sharing this on your blog.

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    1. Thank you very much (from both Tony and I). That would be an absolute delight! I fell madly in love with the Rockland area and wish I had the means to buy a vintage house there right this moment. As that's not in the cards, I'll happily just make a point to visit there whenever I'm in Victoria (this recent trip was my first in 16 years, but I sincerely plan to get back there a whole lot sooner).

      Many thanks for your lovely comment. I adore it when people from places I've visited and posted about stop by and share their thoughts with me.

      ♥ Jessica

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  11. I'm glad that you're feeling well enough to celebrate. That skirt is very sweet on you, and love that background. Is that outside a cemetary? The fence and stone are deliciously spooky.

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  12. So lovely! That necklace is wonderful- the pearls look like dancing bubbles! It's great seeing a lighter floral heading into fall and winter, too. I've had a rough past couple of days and am trying to get back into the swing of things. Seeing your pretty outfit and pictures made me smile, so thank you! :-)
    -Melissa

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  13. Especially love the gloves, hat and earrings......and the close-up of you is adorable!

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  14. Replies
    1. Thank you very much, darling gal. Isn't it charming? It's lightweight and very flexible (and not easily dented or damaged), so I've taken to bringing it with me whenever we travel (it came to Vancouver earlier this year, too).

      Big hugs & happy Halloween wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  15. What lovely photos and with an equally lovely backdrop. I'm a big architecture fan so would love to see this place with my own two eyes xx

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  16. Happy Halloween to you too Jessica! I love how you have tied your cardigan, it really shows off the skirt, I would never have thought to do that. I hope your weekend is filled with devilish treats and spooky happenings, without too much trickery!

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  17. oh my gosh, that is one of the most beautiful gates i've ever seen... and outfits too! i love love love the forest green gloves and tights. and your pigtails... your pigtails, Jessica!!! that's actually one of my favorite hairstyles, you look just perfect.
    it's always a delight to read your lovely and eloquently written posts. there's too many things i could praise about these wonderful photos and writing, so i'll just say, well done :D
    -Abigail

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  18. Love the tights & gloves!!! Gorgeous details as well. The perfect fall outfit.

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  19. What a beautiful skirt. I can't wait to see your dress. You look beautiful dear Jessica. I hope you can get back to yourself soon and don't work too hard!!

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  20. I love your matching gloves and tights! You definitely chose a gorgeous location for these photos!

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  21. I'm crazy about that hat! Boaters are my favorite style of hat, though they can be tough to come by.
    On a side note, I must say, when I first saw the photos, I assumed you were in a cemetery, then was deeply confused when I noticed the trampoline in the background of the full gate shot. What cemetery has a trampoline!? Then I actually read the text! Oops!

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  22. What a darling outfit! And I had not yet heard of this company! Thanks for providing yet another wonderful site to check out for nice clothing!

    And I couldn't agree more about the wonderfulness of that gate!

    I hope we get to see some Halloween pics!

    xoxo
    -Janey

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  23. Great outfit! I like how you combined the skirt, the matching tights and gloves look really cool :)

    happy halloween!

    thegirlkissedbyfire.com

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  24. Such a wonderful post, my dear - I really hope that you're feeling much better by now?? My entire family came down with the same thing out West (I seem to have left just in time), but my parents brought it back with them. To my fellow Torontonians, I'm trying hard to avoid this flu and not spread it out East! *lol*

    In any case, you've now given me another place to seriously consider visiting next time I'm lucky enough to be out on your side of our fair country. Thank you! :)

    Take care, be well, and have a terrific Halloween tonight!!

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    1. Thank you very much, my lovely friend. Not 100% better, but slowly on the mend. Unfortunately flues and colds always trigger flare-ups with some of my conditions and my lousy immune system/state of general health means that the bugs themselves usually last 2-4+ weeks. Thankfully it wasn't one of the worst flues I've ever had, so I really can't complain much and I will be celebrating tonight (and then resting all weekend).

      I'm sorry to hear that your family has been with this West Coast bug, too. I hope they're on the mend or will be soon.

      Have a super-duper, completely happy Halloween!!!
      ♥ Jessica

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  25. What a cute skirt, I love the flowers and the colours. And a great autumn outfit you've made out of it. I've packed away my flowery skirts and dresses and am mad about plaids. Wishing you a happy Halloween. :)

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  26. Hello my wonderfully dear friends, thank you each very, very much for your awesomely nice comments and compliments on this Pigtails & Pirates outfit post. You guys are as sweet as Halloween candy!

    Tons of hugs & festive All Hallows Eve wishes,
    ♥ Jessica

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  27. This is a lovely skirt! I too found Pigtails and Pirates on instagram and I have a custom dress from them on its way. I love finding small Australian businesses to support.

    That gate is just wonderful! The perfect Halloween backdrop :)

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  28. I love your earrings! you look fabulous as always :)

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  29. Gorgeous! So stunning - I am loving that pearl necklace!

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    1. Thank you very much, darling gal! I don't usually wear chunky necklaces, as I find they can overwhelm my petite height (I'm barely 5'2" and though curvy, have a petite frame), but luckily these pretty, posh pearls don't seem to do that (IMO) and have the perk of working well with some vintage/vintage inspired styles, especially those from the late 50s/early 60s (they look amazing with Chanel-esque tweed suits!).

      Thanks again & have a wonderful week,
      ♥ Jessica

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  30. It makes a very pretty outfit, I particularly like your matching gloves and tights. The handbag is great too. Clasp top ones are my favourite, they remind me of my Grandma, infact, I have a couple of hers which I use.

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    1. Thank you very much, my darling friend. They're a firm favourite of mine as well - and not just for their classic look and styling, but because kiss lock (and similar) clasps often mean a lack of chunky metal hardware on the bag itself, as most modern purses have. The less metal on anything wearable, the happier this nickel allergy affected vintage wearing gal is! :) It's marvelous that you have a couple of your grandma's. I'd love to see a snap of them anytime!

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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    2. I have just finished knitting some mittens that will go with both a coat and a handbag of my grandmas so look out for a post on them all soon!

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    3. How splendidly lovely! There is something profoundly special about wearing pieces we've inherited. I don't have many myself (almost no one in my family kept any of their clothes or accessories from the 40s or 50s), but the few that I do have are my most prized wardrobe possessions.

      I really look forward to seeing your upcoming post with this lovely ensemble, dear Kate.

      Tons of hugs & happy Sunday wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  31. I had no idea you were so petite! You always seemed to come across as taller in all of your lovely photos?! Ill have to adjust my mental image of you. I know everyone else has already said it far more eloquently than I, but that's really such a gorgeous outfit. I like the green tights in particular, such an unusual shade. And I have been out photographing Victorian gate posts recently as well, snap! P x

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    1. Why thank you, sweet dear, you are not the first person to tell me as much, which I find really interesting as someone who is usually the shortest person in a room of adults (not always, but more often than not, especially if there are lots of today's sky high youngsters present). I usually wear heels (anywhere up to 4 inches tall), so that may affect how people perceive my height. I love heels for their beauty, the extra inches they give me, and that they help lengthen my stubby, curvy legs, so between them and the fact that I try to dress in a way that flatters my shorter height, I can totally see how I often strike folks as being taller than I am.

      How cool that we've both been out posing with Victorian gates lately - perhaps we're at the forefront of an outfit location shoot trend! :)

      ♥ Jessica

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  32. Dear friend, what a majestic stunning gate you and Tony found! Beautiful! :)
    You look so lovely on this outfit, the skirt is really nice. I fallen in love with your super cute hat!

    Many hugs xx
    Beta

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    1. Thank you very much, darling Beta. It really was a thing of historically rich beauty - far too special not to center a photo shoot around. If I lived in Victoria, I suspect I would haunt that stunning neighbourhood all the time - the abundance and saturation of Victorian, Edwardian and early twentieth century homes in it was greater than anywhere else I've seen in our province.

      Aww, thank you! I just adore this fun, cheerful and very cute little hat, too - which has the added bonus of not easily being crushed or bent out of shape, making it the perfect choice to toss in a suitcase with me when we travel.

      Tons of hugs & heartfelt thanks for your many wonderful blog comments today,
      ♥ Jessica

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  33. Great skirt and I just love that pearl necklace and how you've tied the cardi. Totally new to your blog and following now on Bloglovin' x

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  34. I just love this post and your blog!! I'm finally embracing my love of all things vintage and incorporating it into my personal style and home. I'm looking to gradually make my life vintage. Do you have any advice on how I can slowly introduce vintage into my personal style and home? Thanks!!

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    1. Hi Leigh, thank you very much for your lovely comment and question. I'm delighted that you've found my blog and appreciate you asking for my thoughts on how to start weaving vintage into your world. For lots of helpful information pertaining to the topic, please check out the following Chronically Vintage posts:

      http://www.chronicallyvintage.com/2012/09/how-many-personalities-does-your.html

      http://www.chronicallyvintage.com/2012/12/a-beginners-guide-to-buying-and-wearing.html

      http://www.chronicallyvintage.com/2013/06/ten-warm-weather-vintage-wardrobe.html

      http://www.chronicallyvintage.com/2013/12/ten-cold-weather-vintage-wardrobe.html

      http://www.chronicallyvintage.com/2014/01/dress-like-cupcake-should-feel.html

      http://www.chronicallyvintage.com/2014/08/the-importance-of-knowing-what-styles.html

      http://www.chronicallyvintage.com/2014/09/celebrating-importance-of-colour-in.html

      These are just a few of the posts over the years that I think pertain to getting started with vintage. It's a topic that I always try to keep in mind when I write, so you'll find lots of relevant info in many others here as well. If there's ever anything specifically that I can help you with, please don't hesitate to ask.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  35. Ooooh, that skirt is just gorgeous. But my favourite detail in this outfit is that lovely pearl cluster necklace. Stunning!

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  36. You are just cute as can be, as always, dear Jessica! :) Is your hair parted in pigtails? Couldn't tell, but I love how it is styled none the less. I miss pigtails and the more I think about it I want long hair for a bit. It'll take me a while to grow out this pixie, but I'm going for it! And I'm already close to bob length! Yippee!

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    1. Aww, you're making me blush over here, my sweet friend. Thank you very much! It's not in pigtails, but it does look like that, for sure. I have't sported pigtails too often since becoming a wig wearer (two full years ago now - goodness, how time flies!), as it's all too easy for the wig's woven cap to show through when you part it, but every now and then I'll do two low pigtails and use a handheld mirror to make sure I'm "safe" in the back on that front. I was really into that style during our trip to Calgary last year - I felt it suited the western vibe of the city well. :)

      How fun and exciting that you're growing out your bob. Do you know how long you'd like your locks to ideally reach?

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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