August 25, 2015

Splish splash, 1960s style





Outfit details

C. late 1950s/1960s lilac purple pillbox hat: Gift from a dear friend ♥
Floral cluster earrings: Claire's
C. 1960s pink floral print dress: Mintage
Gold tone oversized chain link bracelet: Payless
1950s/60s lilac purple gloves: Artistic Endeavors 1
1950s/60s navy blue handbag: Frugal Frocks
Nude toned nude seam stockings: eBay
Navy blue patent pumps: Payless
Lip colour: MAC Party Line


Photography by Tony Cangiano




















































It's hardly a state secret that I'm a die-hard fan of 1940s and 50s fashions and looks which are strongly centered around, or inspired by, those decades are my usual go-tos. Yet, every now and then I get a strong urge - as many of us vintage loving folks do - to dabble in an ensemble that calls to mind another decade.

With Mad Men, my favourite TV show of the last decade, wrapping up in May, the 1960s were strongly on my mind and I decided that it was high time that I finally showed you guys the kind of look I'm apt to slip into when I when I'm in the mood for early sixties fashions.

I actually really adore a lot of the highly feminine styles of the first part of that transformative decade, so that's what I reach for more often than not when a sixties mood strikes. Mod styles, fun as they are, don't usually look good on me and I haven't rocked much in the way of hippie/boho styles since my teen years I do however have a perpetual affinity for the ladylike glamour and beauty of the early sixties and feel that this pastel filled look channels that vibe wonderfully.

One of the fun challenges of living in a small town is continually finding new locations to shot in (I have no qualms with reusing locations, especially at different times of the year, but variety is the spice of life as they say!). Tony and I recently realized that we'd never shot in front of a fountain, so on a sun-kissed afternoon in late May, we made our way down to the very splashy fountain that stands in front our town's casino.

Located right on the beach at Okanagan Lake, the aptly named Lakeshore Resort and Casino isn't a place I spend much time (I've never been one for gambling - I'd rather spend my pocket money on vintage items or craft supplies!), but it does have some lovely landscaping outside, including this fountain and so we beelined it over there and proceeded to get a very chilly shower all in the name of a fun (fabulously bokeh filled) photo shot.

This dress, a circa late 50s or, far more likely, early 60s zipper front house/day dress is one of the items that I picked up for myself last year at the renowned Canadian vintage shop Mintage, located in Vancouver (blogged about here). I pulled on the hints of lilac purple in the wee floral pattern of the dress for my choice of hats, a breathtaking light purple pillbox topped off with millinery flowers that was a treasured gift from a very dear fellow vintage loving friend a while back.

I'd not shared either of these pieces on my blog before, so teaming them up together felt all the more natural and I have to say, I really love the girly meets fabulously sophisticated vibe that they channel.

To this stylish sixties hat and frock, I added a 1950s/60s navy blue handbag, lilac hued gloves from the same time frame, sweet little modern floral earrings that look the old school part, a chunky gold tone link bracelet (also a nod to the sixties), and navy blue patent pumps. The hat and dress themselves are quite bold, so I didn't go overboard with my accessories here at all. I wanted those two pieces to be the stars of the show and for my embellishments to play supporting rolls.

Though I don't go over the swinging sixties side too often, I must admit, the older I get, the more I find that deeply feminine looks from the start of the era appeal to me (as touched on in this post at the start of the year). And you know, if I happen upon more garments from that time frame that I adore as much as I do this hat and dress, you could very easily be seeing me rocking more sixties looks here every now then - though, in all likelihood, not always in front of a fountain.

It's one thing to get an icy impromptu shower when it's 25 degrees (Celsius) out, it's another entirely when there's snow on the ground! But much as with dressing outside of your usual decade(s), every now and then it's not only enjoyable, but important, to try something fresh, be it with your outfit, your photo shoot location, or both. Who knows, maybe I'll even show you guys my spin on seventies attire  one of these days! :)

*PS* Rather amazingly, a mere few days after we took these photos, a cougar wandered into town from the hills (this isn't surprising really given the vast deer population that we have on our streets here) and was humanely tranquilized (and relocated outside of town) literally just a handful of feet away from the very spot where I was standing when these photos were taken. Could you imagine what might have happened if it had shown up when we there? Yikes!

83 comments:

  1. Oh Jessica, this outfit is adorable! That pillbox is to die for!!
    I too love the fashions of the early 60s for their femininity and every now and again like to channel my inner 60s woman.

    Eeep - definitely lucky that you and that cougar didn't share the fountain at the same time; that would not have been particularly fun!

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet dear! I too madly adore the intense femininity that was prevalent in early 60s fashions, as well as the classic lines of that era (e.g., Chanel suits). Some of the bold makeup looks of the era were pretty fabulous, too!

      Very, very fortunate for sure. Cougars are amongst the most deadly animals in Canada and I doubt I'd have a even a slim shot if one came after me.

      Wishing you a terrific last week of August!
      ♥ Jessica

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  2. I love this outfit! That hat and dress together are dreamy. :) Some of my most coveted pieces are from the 1960's, and I have several things from the 1970's that could be quite boho or very ladylike depending on how they are styled.

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    1. Thank you very much, Jen. You know, I've always really (!) dug certain 1970s styles, especially those that were very business woman-y or boho. I'll have to do an outfit or two with such pieces from my own closet one of these days. :)

      ♥ Jessica

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  3. Incredibly, almost edibly, pretty! You're like those sweet little pastel coloured macaroons that you see in patisserie windows. Beautiful camera work, and such an impeccably put-together outfit, as always.
    xx

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    1. What a fantastic, poetic way to describe this outfit. Thank you so much, darling gal!

      Tons of hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  4. You look lovely! I love the 1940s through early 60s with the 50s being my absolute favorite. clothing and accessories are very feminine and flattering. As you may know, handbags, costume jewelry and compacts are my gold. The stories all vintage pieces could tell!

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    1. Thank you very much, dear April. That is my favourite time period ever from a fashion standpoint, too. I can't pick a favourite between the 40s or 50s though, each one finds equal favour in my heart and closet. :)

      Big hugs & happy Tuesday wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  5. you really catched the vibe of the early sixties!!!
    and tony did a wonderful job photographing it!!! the pastels of your ensemble and the glittering water make for a dreamy atmosphere...
    and a photobombing cougar? would´t that be fab!? because the smart animal would know how to behave near such a beautiful lady :-)
    hugs&kisses
    <3

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    1. Didn't he though? These are some of my favourite photos that he's ever taken of me. The light, the water droplets, the pastel hues, it's all dreamy and fun - and has inspired me to dip into the early 60s for my outfits a little more often.

      Oh, if only! That would be handy for sure! :) They're terrifyingly deadly and as cute as they are, I hope to high heaven that I never see one face-to-face.

      Tons of hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  6. That hat and the color combo is really fabulous! This early era does suit you:) I am hoping with Halloween slowly creeping into the thrift stores I may be able to pick up some affordable pieces that aren't 100% my style era but will give me some variety in my dressing. Will be keeping an eye out for you as well:)

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    1. Thank you very much, darling gal! I'm apt to agree with you and really feel a strong pull to it as I get older. The elegance of women over 30 was still so celebrated in fashion back then and I know that's part of that era's appeal for me.

      I really appreciate that, thank you!

      Many hugs & happy last week of August wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  7. I am so loving everything about this ensemble Jessica! That hat is to die for, especially since it is lavender. I also really love the simplicity yet ladylike silhouette of that dress. It looks so great on you.
    -Madison
    www.1minniemuse.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet lady. I'm quite taken with this outfit as well. It's important reminder for me to step outside of the ol' 40s/50s fashion comfort zone sometimes. :)

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  8. An incredibly pretty outfit, your hat is absolutely divine! I'm so glad you didn't have a run in with a cougar!

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    1. Thank you very much, my sweet friend. I'm truly happy about that as well. They're majestic, beautiful animals, but also some of the most deadly predators in this country and I hope to no end that I never, ever come face-to-face with one. It's almost certain the cougar would win (*shudders*).

      Many hugs & happy end of August wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  9. LOVE this dress! It's so delicate and dainty with it's small floral pattern and muted pink tones. Looks lovely with the pale purple accessories. I've never been much of a gambler either, I won $60 once on the pokies, but I agree with you, I'd rather have something solid for my money like an op-shop item!

    Lucky there's no cougars photo bombing these shots! x

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet dear. Hear, hear! Vintage/op shopping for the win every time! :)

      Wishing you a fantastic last week of August,
      ♥ Jessica

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  10. Hello! This dress is so romantic and cool! It goes very well and I like how you play with the rays of the sun!

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet dear. I'm delighted that you picked up on that point.

      Wishing you a great last week of August,
      ♥ Jessica

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  11. What a wonderful outfit! i'm in love with the dress! You looks stunning as always!

    Hugs, Pri xxx
    vintage.blogspot.com

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  12. Well, a cougar in your photo shoot would have been exciting! But I'm glad you didn't have such excitement. Perhaps he was shy. And that outfit is lovely on you. It's just the thing before the spring/summer warmth starts to fade. The lavender gloves and hat are a nice touch.

    I thoroughly enjoyed the early-60s costumes for the play I was in this past winter. Very ladylike and feminine. But I don't think I could handle the silhouette on a regular basis. I like the free hips of full-skirted 40s and 50s fashions.

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  13. You look absolutely adorable! Those colors go so well together! :) Great coordination <3. The small floral pattern is just too cute for words!
    x Angela // missangellane.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you very much, darling gal! Isn't it just fantastic!!! As much as I adore a big, bold floral, sometimes its nice to let wee ones have their moment - quite literally in this case - in the sun as well.

      Many hugs & happy end of August wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  14. You look absolutely radiant in these photographs. I love the pastel colour palette you've chosen. The feminine looks of the early '60s suit you splendidly!

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    1. Thank you very much, darling gal. I must say, I am in total agreement with you there and sense that I will gravitate more and more towards such styles as I continue to age. Something about late 50s/early 60s feminine looks and ladies in their 30s - 50s+ is beyond stunning in my books.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  15. This is so cute! The purple hat/gloves combo is what really makes the outfit special. I've also been on a 1960s kick myself lately, especially since seeing 'The Man from UNCLE.' I could never get into Mad Men, but I love any show or movie with a delicious wardrobe to drool over.

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    1. How fascinating that you never felt a connection with Med Men. Of course not everyone did (or has to), but is such a firm favourite with many vintage fans, myself included - in fact, I'd almost go so far as to say it's my favourite TV show ever - in the top five for sure. No worries though of course. We all have different tastes and that's one of the best elements of life.

      I haven't seen The Man from UNCLE yet, but gosh do I want to! Chances are I'll have to wait for it to hit Netflix, but when it does, I'll book the evening off just for it. :)

      Wishing you a terrific tail end of August,
      ♥ Jessica

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  16. This is certainly a fun outfit! The whole outfit looks awesome on you and the pastel colours suit you! I look horrible in pastels.

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    1. Thank you very much, lovely lady. Not all pastels are BFF's with my colouring, I assure you, but thankfully these sweet, candy-esque ones are. :) Have you tried wearing a small does of pastel with a dark outfit? Say, a peach coloured necklace with a brown dress or a light pink scarf with a navy blue blouse? With tricky colours, this is the route I usually take to ensure that I can still find a place for those that I love in my wardrobe.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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    2. thanks that's a good idea actually

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  17. Lovely in your pretty dress and that wonderful lilac hat. Growing up in the 1960's this is a look reminds me very much of similar things I can remember my mother wearing, always pretty and feminine. I know what you mean about the limited locations in a small town but this fountain is a great background. So glad the cougar left his visit for another day.

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    1. Thank you very much, dear Jill. I love that this look brought back fond memories of outfits that you mom used to wear. She sounds like a very stylish lady.

      I'm extremely glad about that, too. They are incredibly deadly and sadly a few people loss their lives to cougars in Canada pretty much every year (ditto for bears). I think they're gorgeous creatures, but hope with all my might that I never come face-to-face with one - unless it's in children's plush toy form! :D

      Big hugs & happy end of August wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  18. Like you, I adore the "ladylike glamour" of the early Sixties. You capture it perfectly. The hat is amazing. Plus I'm grateful you weren't eaten during the photoshoot!

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    1. So am I - massively!!! Cougars are gorgeous, majestic beasts, but they're also incredibly deadly and if one wants you for their lunch or because they view you as a threat, you're as good as gone, sadly (unless you have a powerful weapon with you - and even then, that's no guarantee).

      Thank you very much for your lovely compliments. I am so smitten with this outfit and photo shoot. It's inspired me to tip my toes into the early 60s on a more regular basis.

      Have a terrific last week of August!
      ♥ Jessica

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  19. The lighting in these photos is so beautiful! You look really pretty in pastels, which makes me a bit jealous as though I am pale I am secretly olive skin-toned and pink and I don't work well together at all! This is such a lovely hat too, I am always enamored of colored straw. Good work finding a new location, I know the struggle! I too am always looking for new backdrops nearby for taking outfit photos :)

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    1. Thank you very much across the board, my dear friend. I love (!!!) the lighting in these photos. It is, hands down, in the top five favourite outfit shoots of mine ever to date and the lighting (+ the splashing water behind me) is a huge part of the reason why such is the case.

      I get that for sure, though for me, it's the other way around. Where as black is thrillingly gorgeous on you, large does of it can wash me out. Thankfully we can both sport smaller amounts of such colours if we wear them as accent pieces, or at least away from our face. That's how I weave just about every colour I enjoy into my wardrobe. :)

      Tons of hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  20. I was reading your post thinking all the way through how much I like your earrings and your glasses (yes the dress and hat are cute too!)...but then I got to the end of your post and started to imagine nothing but your earrings and glasses left in a little pile beside the fountain after the cougar had devoured you for his lunch! What an exciting/terrifying thing to happen! We don't get scary big cats here wandering down out of the bush. Kangaroos, possums and plenty of wombats...yes...but not cougars! I guess we do have our share of most deadly snakes in the world and some pretty nasty spiders..... Very cute outfit!
    Amber
    http://www.sweetwordsprettypictures.com

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    1. Oh my word, that is a macabre/sad thought indeed. Could you genuinely imagine. I shudder at the thought! Living with deadly wildlife is a fact of life for most in Canada (bears, cougars, moose, wolverines, caribou, elk, lynx, sharks in the oceans, etc all abound in this country), but luckily I've never had any close encounters of my own and hope to high heaven that I never do! You guys definitely have your share of dangerous critters in Australia, too, and I'm sure that that must be frightening at times for you as well. Likewise I sincerely hope that you never have any danger brushes with any of them!

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  21. The early 60s really suits you - you look fantastic :) The colour palette of this outfit is, once again, really incredible. You're such a big inspiration for me when it comes to colours! I've never shot in front of a fountain either... but you've made me really want to! And I'm very glad the cougar timed things so well...

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    1. Thank you very much, darling gal. You know, this outfit and the ensuing blog post has really depended my passion for fashions for that era, which seem to speak to me all the more now that I'm in my 30s. I doubt this will be the last early 60s look I'll sport on camera and I get excited thinking about the other pieces from that era that I might add to my closet as time goes on (I do have a few now, but not tons).

      Many hugs & joyful end of August wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  22. Wow, you are so lovely! The colours are amazing :)

    Have a nice week!
    Muahs*
    Narcissa

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    1. Thank you very much, sweetheart! I adore the colours here as well. Not only in my outfit, but those from the sunlight and the background as well. It was such a dreamy, beautiful shoot and Tony wove his amazing photography magic once again so superbly!

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  23. I have to confess I smiled because of the cougar - I am kind of too urban, I suppose, because my first thought was "every town has a cougar" - you know what I mean :) Or even more than one cougar :) But immediately after that I knew it was the feline. How scary! I would be shaking, I am not good even at looking at a dog (unknown), imagine a cougar! Glad it wasn't when you were at this amazing Lakeshore Resort and Casino. It's such a beautiful place - I have problems with locations, so I gave it up and now I am always in front of the little palm tree in my garden. This place is fabulous and I saw the fountain like pouring on you :) The pillbox hat is so sweet, very nice friend of yours! I loved the dress, gloves, bracelet... all perfectly matched and classy! You look very beautiful, always! Hope you have a nice day, dear Jessica!
    DenisesPlanet.com

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    1. Chuckle, chuckle, chuckle, yes, I know exactly what you mean and this area has its fair share of those kinds of cougars as well. :D

      Thank you very much for your glowingly lovely compliments about this shoot location and my outfit. Everything came together so marvelously and this now stands as one of my favourite shoots we've ever done (and its my fave from this year so far, hands down).

      Tons of hugs & happy end of August wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  24. Oh Jessica! You look superb! Such a feminine and girly print but with elegant accessories that give the whole look such poise. Such a great shoot, especially the first few with the water and light creating a magical atmosphere. I am in love with this hat, isn't it splendid!

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    1. What a beautiful assessment of this ensemble, dear Christina, thank you very much. I am smitten with these photos and can't stop doffing my (pillbox) hat at Tony for the resplendent images he created here.

      Huge hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  25. I love the deeply feminine looks that you mention liking more and more as you get older. This look is so lovely with its rosy pinks and purples. And I admire how you've mixed carefully curated vintage pieces with budget scores from Payless and Claire's. I probably love Claire's more now as an adult than I did as a girl. I'm always surprised by the feminine and twee treasures I find there!

    <3 Liz
    www.withwonderandwhimsy.com

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    1. Thank you very much, dear Liz. That blending of old with budget-friendly newer pieces sums up my vintage wardrobe in a nutshell. I'm a huge fan of taking advantage of every sort of fashion avenue at one's disposal and would have a mere fraction of the wardrobe that I do today if I didn't take this approach (especially with the ever rising cost of true vintage and many repro brands alike).

      Same here!!! Plus, I love that Claire's has nickel-free earrings. I'm crazy allergic to nickel and have to avoid most metal jewelry because of it, but thankfully I can always stock up on earrings there because of their nickel-free offerings - I just wish they'd carry other pieces of jewelry in nickel-free form as well. Perhaps one day they finally well (interestingly, Payless has a line of such and I just bought some new vintage appropriate necklaces there from them earlier this year).

      Wishing you a stellar last week of August,
      ♥ Jessica

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  26. Holy mackerel! How stunning!
    I have to agree with you in that I'm more of a 40s and 50s gal myself, but I'm findin that some of the fashions today even have a hint of the 1960s. I think they're becoming a more wearable style and also (although I've never seen the show) more popular by the rise of Mad Men. I love th lighting and the print of the dress. Keep on rockin those 60s styles!

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    1. Agreed big time, in everything from mid-skirts to Peter Pan collars, we've had subtle (and not-so-subtle) doses of the sixties in our modern fashions for a while now and I personally enjoy it a lot. It makes finding vintage appropriate pieces easier for those of us who enjoy wearing mid-century styles.

      Many hugs, thanks & joyful end of August wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  27. Suck a cute dress. And that lipstick! I think it's a real neat idea to take a picture infront of the fountain. I really like the sixties because of the fun colours :)

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    1. Same here! No decade has topped, IMO, the sixties when it comes to sheer vibrancy. Yet, but the same token, there were some wonderful pastels and subdued earthy shades, too, and I love them all in equal measure.

      Big hugs & happy Thursday wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  28. You look gorgeous as always! I get these urges too sometimes, to dress in a certain way that may not really be anything like how I normally look - like the 70s & 90s are a major thing right now and I look at a lot of those modern clothes and think they look beautiful but I'm just not sure if they'd work for me, and also I really have no desire to get a whole new wardrobe, and you'd kind of have to buy a few things to make an outfit work. But it's fun to have a few different things in your wardrobe to pull out every now and then when the mood strikes you.

    I'm not really very particular about vintage trends or what end of the decade clothes are from, I tend to just wear whatever I like and a big part of that is what I think suits me. Unfortunately as much as I love the look of a lot of 60s/mod fashion babydoll and shift dresses just don't suit my body shape and they make me look like I'm really round! I love a good beehive though and even though I know that's more 60s I still wear that with my 50s style clothes because at the end of the day I just like to have fun with the way I look - and shouldn't we all? That's what it's all about at the end of the day!

    jessica - littlehenrylee.com

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  29. Jessica, what a beautiful series of photos, and such a perfect location for this photo shoot! I love this dress and how you have coordinated everything, and you look lovely! Thank you so much for sharing, your posts always make me smile.

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    1. Thank you ever so much, dear Linda. The experience and feeling is entirely mutual with each lovely visit that I take to your inspiring website.

      Many hugs & joyful end of August wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  30. I just plain adored everything about this outfit!!!

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    1. Thank you very much, lovely Debra, I'm delighted to know that - I feel exactly the same way about it, too! :)

      Tons of hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  31. This is such a beautiful outfit! So cute!

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet dear!!! I love this outfit and these photos. Tony's photography skills were out in full force that day and he really wove something magical with the elements here.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  32. Gorgeous dress, I love the dainty floral print! Great choice of accessories as well, the lilac hat and gloves really bring out the sweetness in the dress. You make me think of a delicious box of macaroons!

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet dear. I seriously love your comparison to a box of macarons. Just tie a Laduree ribbon on me and I'll be good to go. :D (I wish, I've heard their macarons live up to the reputation they have and then some!)

      Big hugs & joyful weekend wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  33. You look just gorgeous!! That pink dress is to die for, and it suits you perfectly. Beautiful!!!

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  34. I love Mad Men also and have you watched Call the Midwife? Although I think that might have been set in the 1950s. I am jealous of your close encounter with a cougar! This dress and the photos in front of a fountain are beautiful! Love the lighting.

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    1. I have indeed and I love it to bits - I enjoy is to so much actually, that I ration it out and save watching a new episode for when I'm either especially unwell or need a pick-me-up treat. Operating in this way, I'm two seasons in so far. :)

      They're stunning animals - but also incredibly deadly (they kill multiple people every year), so I'm extremely glad that I didn't come face-to-face with that one. I mean, I know that they're all over the Okanagan, but still, thinking that we could have encountered one that day still sends a chill up my spine. Hopefully I never run into one for real - yikes!

      Thank you very much for all of your wonderful blog comments this weekend, dear Holly. I hope that you're having a splendid last one of August!

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  35. That would have made for some of the most unusual fashion blogger photos in the history of the Internet!

    I love the details on this pillbox hat, as well as the sweet colour! And I love that you and Tony are having fun exploring new locations as well as fun effects in your photos. These have turned out so beautifully with the water droplets!

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    1. Oh my word, wouldn't it have though? I love animals with all my heart and soul, but as beautiful as cougars are, I never want to share a photo shoot with one! (Well, unless maybe it was a tame, trained Hollywood cougar - but even then, I'd be leery!)

      Thank you very much for your splendidly lovely compliments. Tony really outdid himself with these beautiful photos - they're some of my favourite he's ever taken of me and my fave outfit shoot so far this year.

      Wishing you a great first week of September, dear Tanith!
      ♥ Jessica

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  36. This gorgeous outfit is right up my alley! The sixties are probably my favourite vintage decade, followed closely by the early seventies. I adore the swinging sixties and mod looks, but as I get older I'm drawn to the more classically feminine looks of the early sixties. And your outfit looks incredible. I'm loving the colour of that pillbox hat and your divine gloves.

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    1. Thank you very much, darling gal! Earlier this morning I was thinking that I want to do a 70s outfit. Nothing OTT or costumey, but rather something very real world and how I imagine I would have dressed had I been adult back then. All things permitting, I'd love to shot such a look some time this fall - especially since autumn hues and 70s fashions are natural bedfellows.

      Big hugs & tons of happy start of September wishes!
      ♥ Jessica

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  37. What a great glove and hat combo - I love it!

    I wear a lot of late 50s-early 60s looks nowadays - they emphasise the waist less, so are very kind to apple figures like mine. It definitely seems to be a look coming back into vogue here in the UK. There's a general '70s' look in this season, but that 60s silhouette and look feels like a stronger, more lasting current. I reckon we'll be seeing a lot of shifts and knee boots over the next few years.

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    1. Seconded entirely and that's totally fine. I'm all for anything that brings more structure and elegance back into mainstream fashion.

      Thank you very much for your lovely comment, dear Mim. I hope that you're doing well and enjoying a terrific tail end of summer.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  38. Whoa! Jessica, that hat is amazing. And the outfit you put together to go with it really captures the ladylike vibe of early 60s. I'm thinking of Betty Draper and Trudy Campbell right now.

    Love the fountain backdrop too!

    Cool (and a bit scary) about the cougar. The only ones I ever see in South Florida are the two legged kind :)

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Theresa! We have our share of that variety around these parts, too. ;D

      I love that this ensemble made you think of Betty and Trudy. I totally agree! They, along with Joan's earliest looks, were always my favourite fashionistas on Mad Men.

      Tons of hugs & happy start of September wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  39. WOW, a cougar is one big cat! You should have jumped into the water as cats don't like water. Just kidding. :) That's one lovely dress, and such charming accessories. I love the colours, as eager as I am getting into all things autumn, I can feel I don't want to say completely goodbye to pastels yet. The lilac is adorable. I also love fashion from the early sixties a lot, Joan Harris' style, but not quite as tight as she wears it. It becomes you very well, but I don't think the seventies are for you. ;) And I suppose you are counting the hours till Tony's return now. Wishing you a lovely day, dear. :)

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    1. That would be a smart move for sure, though I actually learned about a year ago that they can swim - oh my gosh!!! We're not safe anywhere. They love climbing trees/heights, can hide like military sniper, run like the wind, and swim - scary!!!!!!!!! :S

      Same here! I'm all like "big hugs, autumn", but at the same, I'm still holding hands with summer, if that makes sense. Good thing we've still got three more weeks of - on paper at least - left to go.

      Thank you so much! I always loved Joan's looks, but thought as I was seeing them, that I would be more at home in Betty's wardrobe. This outfit marries the two of them and is totally me. :)

      Believe it or not, a lot of 70s styles (think boho and prairie chic more than disco queen or hippie flower child) look quite nice on me. I was thinking a couple of days ago about how I want to do a 70s outfit now. Nothing OTT or costumey. Just the sort of look I might have worn had I been adult back in that vibrant decade. If I do such a shoot, I'm eager now to see what you think of my take of the decade's styles.

      I am big time!!! Just two more days to go. Yippee!!! We're both giddy with happiness. Thank you very much for sharing in that excitement with us.

      Tons of hugs & joyful start of September wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  40. Gosh, these are such beautiful photographs of such a lovely ensemble. This very feminine style suits you so well and that shade of pink really flatters your skin tone! It's exciting to play around with different eras, isn't it? I'd love to see your take on the 1970s.

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    1. It absolutely is (exciting and fashion horizon broadening, I find) to play around with different eras. I frequently suggest such to others, but haven't done a ton of it myself in recent years. This charming early 60s ensemble was just the swift kick reminder I needed to ensure that I take my own advice from time-to-time and dabble in other decades outside of my usual 40s/50s styles.

      I hope that you're doing well and having a great first week of September, lovely lady.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  41. The color pallette of this outfit is so completely perfect! I adore these soft tones, particularly with this amazing lighting. The lavender hat and gloves! Adore them! :) ❤

    xox,
    bonita of Lavender & Twill

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    1. Thank you very much, dear Bonita. I swear, I was thinking of your and your love soft hues, especially pinks and lilacs, when putting this outfit together. There's something so dreamy and comforting about these sweet, feminine hues. I'm glad I got a chance to photograph an outfit that was so filled with them this year.

      Big hugs & tons of happy weekend wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  42. An encounter with a cougar might have been just a little bit too exciting!! Maybe it wanted some photos taking by the fountain too as it is such a great location! I really love this look on you, you have styled it marvellously and the colours really suit you. That hat is glorious, what a good present!

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    1. Thank you so much, honey! Agreed - clearly it just wanted to get in front of Tony's lens for a while, too. :D

      Huge hugs & happy wishes for this new week,
      ♥ Jessica

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  43. Such a pretty pill hat ! and I feel so bad when i hear animals going into town - wether its bears, deer or cougars I always think something must be wrong in their home - maybe lack of food - that they're wondering into populated areas :(

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    1. Hi lovely Lorena, thank you very much for your comment. You nailed the situation here. We have a huge deer population in the area, including here in town itself (very much including in our neighbourhood) and thus it's natural that their predators would follow. Thankfully - and mercifully - the deer substantially outnumber the cougars around these parts, but still, the fact that one could be lurking anywhere is truly unnerving.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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