25 fabulous vintage dresses to buy right now for spring!

With spring's official return less than a month away, I can't help but feel like I'm standing on a runner's mark, just waiting for the starter pistol to fire and for me in turn to make a mad dash to my closet racks and dresser drawers to delve into everything light and airy and sublimely well suited to sunny weather.

I must cool my (snow boot clad) heels a little longer though, as we haven't reached that point quite yet, but thankfully will in the near future and when we do, I know that I'm not alone in the slightest in my desire to shed off my winter togs like a crab parting ways with an old shell.

It's often wisest to shop for a season before said time of the year strikes. So while there's still a soupcon of time left before spring barrels into town again, for a fun change of pace, I opted to forgo this month's usual edition of 25 Vintage Deals under $100 and instead share with you some of the loveliest, most spring and summer appropriate genuine 1930s - early 1960s dresses that have crossed my path recently.

In keeping with the spirit of that series though, most of these are still fairly (if not "very") well priced, with none of them coming in over $200, and several hitting under $100. I've tried to represent a range of different styles and sizes, as well as time periods, and really hope that one or more of the following frocks calls your name and might even be able to land in your own closet this year.

Here's to celebrating spring - and marvelous mid-century dress that suit it to a perfect tee - right here and now!




1. A unique and rather wonderful combination of different types of both fruit and brick or stone shapes combine in this sweetly pretty 1940s lightweight cotton novelty print dress, making for one seriously cool, very warm weather appropriate garment (that comes complete with matching belt). Fits up to a 37" bust/25" waist. $85.00 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.



2. For those early days of spring or nippier nights of summer when long sleeves are a must, reach for this romantically beautiful 1960s light blue and white Jonathan Logan brand toile print dress and stay nice and toasty while looking supremely stylish at the same time. Fits up to a 39" bust/27" waist. $62.00 from Hollie Point Vintage.



3. Two of the very most spring + summer perfect hues of all time - coral pink and periwinkle blue - team up this arrestingly elegant 1940s rayon blend swing dress to create the kind of breathtaking mid-century piece that will turn heads for all-time. Fits up to a 36" bust/26" waist. $70.00 from The Mermaid Tattoo.



4. Not only is this strikingly elegant 1950s/early 1960s blue floral watercolor-esque Kerrybrooke brand shirtwaist dress timelessly gorgeous, it's so affordable, I did a double take when I saw listing price. Fits up to a 36-38" bust/28" waist. $32.00 from Jane's Vintage.




5. The combination of vivid, vibrant teal green and soft, romantic cream lace in this stunning c. 1950s sleeveless dress is nothing short of swoon inducing. I would wear this to a garden party, summer wedding, birthday bash - or anytime during the warmer months when I really wanted to look spectacular. Fits up to a (snug) 36" bust/ 27" waist. $155.00 from Blue Velvet Vintage.



6. The scrapbooker in me remembers when terrific grey + yellow + white were the hot colour combo de jour three to four years ago. Thankfully, unlike trends in crafting that may come and go, this fabulous 1960s floral print short sleeved dress featuring the very same chic, fun trio of colours is bound to always be in style. Fits up to a 37.5 - 38" bust/28.5" waist. $56.00 from Hollie Point Vintage.



7. Butterflies, bows, star burst flowers, and dragonflies, oh my - and pretty please!!! This enchantingly cute, completely lovely 1950s sleeveless novelty print dress includes all of those seasonally fitting motifs and is so sweet you might not need any Easter candy this year! :) Fits up to a 32" bust/24" waist. $85.00 from Swing Kat's Vintage.




8. A garden's worth of gorgeous blue and brown blooms call this crisp white cotton 1950s short sleeve dress home. A classic shape, full skirt, and flattering round neckline only serve to heighten this fifties frock's appeal and wearability. Fits up to a 34" bust/29" waist. $75.00 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.



9. Looking at the citrusy colours of this fabulously fun 1960s striped dress with its punchy orange hued buttons, I'm reminded of everything from lime sherbet to freshly cut cantaloupe, and suddenly, once again, summer can't possibly get here quickly enough for me. Fits up to 36" bust/28" waist. $46.00 from Sticky Lip Gloss.



10. There are few dresses into post that I wouldn't sport in the speediest of heartbeats, but this fantastic carnation pink patio style 1950s dress with its jaunty, darling rickrack trim is turning my knees to Jell-o and tempting me something fierce in the process. Fits up to a 40" bust/30" waist. $112.00 from Simplicity Bliss.




11. Pastel gingham? Check! Splendidly fun floral spring flower print? Check! Classic 1950s wrap style? Check! This vintage Swirl brand dress nails it on so many covetable spring and summer fashion fronts and looks like it would seriously comfortable to boot. Fits up to a 36" bust/28" waist. $110.00 from Blue Velvet Vintage.



12. Gorgeously eye-catching shades of serene blue, purple and white leap out at you from this party perfect 1950s floral print dress that boasts dolman sleeves, a becoming v-neck, and a lovely fitted bodice that gives away to a twirl perfect full skirt. Fits up to a 37" bust/30" waist. $115 from Miss Farfalla Vintage Clothing.



13. Fresh, lovely candy-like hues team up with crisp white in this terrific 1930s zipper front house dress (with fun front pockets) to present the sort of spring and summer frock that will see you through picnics, days of chores, flea market shopping adventures, road trips and scores of other events that we all love to flock to as the mercury starts to climb again. Fits up to 36" bust/28" waist. $108.00 from When Decades Collide.



14. Paisley can often come across and commandingly bold and very vibrant (not that that is a bad thing, it certainly isn't and I'm personally a massive paisley fan), but when it's done up in soft shades that look as though they could have been plucked from a mermaid's seashell collection, as this enchanting 1950s cotton dress is, they take on a decidedly romantic and incredibly pretty quality that makes me want to fill my whole world with this same warm weather perfect palette. Fits up to a 36" bust/26" waist. $105.00 from Dalena Vintage.



15. From the beautiful colour palette of robin's egg blue, olive green and white to the charming detailing on the neckline and the warm weather perfect floral print, this awesome 1940s day dress is the kind of vintage springtime frock that you'll reach for time and time again. Fits up to a 37" bust/28.5" waist. $104.00 from Minx VTG.



16. My very first impression when I saw this wonderfully pretty 1950s light pink seersucker dress is how marvelous it would be as the starting point for casual (by vintage standards) Easter ensemble - add white gloves, a flower bedecked bonnet, and pastel hued jewelry for a look that rivals that of any egg filled basket. Fits up to a 43" bust/33" waist. $72.00 from Stutterin Mama.



17. I would sport this charmingly fun 1950s blue and white gingham dress with daisies (real or artificial) tucked in my hair, a pale wicker handbag, and open toed shoes for a fabulously charming, subtly country farm inspired sunny weather look that would be as cute as the day is long. Fits up to a 36-37" bust/28-29" waist. $65.00 from Geronimo Vintage.



18. Serene shades of green, blue and tan combine in this airy, sweetly lovely 1950s short sleeve summer dress - complete with matching bow detail - to create a palette that suits the return of sizzling hot days so bewitchingly well. Fits up to a 48" bust/36" waist. $58.00 from Old Faithful Vintage.



19. Seriously, I can't even handle the fabulousness of this 1950s Bettina of Miami dusty rose, jet black, and cream short sleeve dress. From the tiers of feminine lace to the full skirt to the bracingly mid-century silhouette, I absolutely, positively adore it all. Fits up to a 40" bust/30" waist. $69.00 from Little Star Vintage.



20. Pale blue and spring got together like Easter and eggs, and this strikingly lovely 1950s short sleeve light blue dress with bow detail and matching belt would be the perfect vintage garment for almost any kind of casual to semi-formal (add gloves, a hat and a great vintage bag to up the formal factor) event or daily errand you can think of. Fits up to a 40" bust/32" waist. $135.00 from Blue Velvet Vintage.



21. If, like me, you can't get enough of plaid all year round (I swear, some years I wear it more in the summer than in the winter!), than this thoroughly lovely 1950s pink plaid dress might be just the ticket to breathe some new life into your warm weather vintage wardrobe for 2015. Fits up to a 48" bust/38" waist. $68.00 from Simplicity is Bliss.



22. A sweet peter pan collar feels like it's the icing on the understatedly beautiful cake that is this tropical sea hued 1930s turquoise summer dress. Fits up to a 37" bust/29" waist. $165.00 from Stop The Clock.



23. The colour of chicks, daffodils, freshly churned butter, and spring sunshine itself, this gorgeous pale lemon yellow hued 1950s eyelet dress is a breath of cheerful fashion fresh air if ever there ways! Fits up to a 38" bust/27" hips. $112.00 from Simplicaity is Bliss.



24. There's something so lighthearted and yet powerfully chic at the same time about the blending of vertical and horizontal stripes, as seen here in this happy-go-lucky 1960s deadstock (aka, NOS) turquoise/green and white striped summer dress. Fits up to a 47" bust/50" waist. On sale at the time of writing for $30.00 from Mintage.



25. I intentionally saved this whimsically magnificent 1940s nude coloured sleeveless dress with its uber cute bubble bee and flower embroidery for last because I wanted to wrap up today's list with the most springtime appropriate vintage dress under $200.00 that I could find and this charmer nailed it sublimely! Fits up to a 34" bust/26-27" waist. $164.00 from Stutterin' Mama.

{Please click on the photo of a specific item, or the link in the description below it, to be taken to its respective listing.}

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Before we know it, spring will be here and in preparation for it, I've already added a couple of new short sleeve, warm weather perfect dresses to my wardrobe this year. I love shopping in advance of a season, as touched on above, and highly recommend doing so. It can save you time and money and often offer up a much larger selection of seasonally appropriate clothing.

In fact, throughout the course the current season that we're in, the saying, "In winter we shop!" sprang into my head many a time, for it really is true that I try to inject new life into my spring/summer wardrobe during the winter and then, when the dog days are upon us, vice versa (maybe this summer will finally be the one that delivers my long sought after matching two-piece vintage snow suit).

As we shake the snowflakes from our hair and retire our toques for another season, what kinds of things are on your springtime fashion wishlist? Are any of these dresses calling your name? I must say, a couple are not just whispering to me, they're practically shouting and I might just have to heed their call, if my budget permits.

Whether you splash out on one, two, five or more new (old!) garments or simply enjoy and get the most out of the ones that you already have, I hope that this season brings plenty of great fashion inspiration and ideas your way and that the weather is cooperate enough to always let you get in outfit shoots, when desired, of your gorgeous springtime looks.

Wearing a dress that has been in my family for no less than seven decades

Outfit details

Circa 1940s wide brimmed black hat with netting: etsy seller Vintage Toledo
Silver tone metal and glass stone drop earrings: Claire's
Circa 1950s/60s black Persian lamb's wool style coat: Yard sale find (blogged about here)
1930s/early 40s pink crepe dress with rhinestone detailing: Amazing gift from my cousin Sylvia
Circa 1940s brown gloves: Jardin Antiques in Okanagan Falls
1950s/60s black handbag with floral needlework: etsy seller St. Augustine Vintage
Black seamed stockings: eBay
T-strap suede peep-toe heels: Nine West
Lip colour: MAC Diva



Photography by Antonio Cangiano

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This is a post with a past, or more precisely which came to be because of lives lived long before I came into existence. As vintage fashion lovers we wear the world's yesterdays, and for many of us, most, if not all of our vintage garments and accessories landed in our wardrobe by way of strangers - sellers and original clothing owners alike. Once in a while however, if we are exceedingly lucky, we may be blessed to receive the gift of a vintage item that one belonged to someone in our very own family.

While neither of my grandmas held onto their clothes from the mid-twentieth century, far away in a corner of the country I long desperately to visit myself (as I touched on recently here), tucked away lovingly, and completely unbeknownst to me until very recently, in an attic belonging to one of my first cousins once removed, Sylvia Burkhard, lay an assortment of vintage garments that had been in our family for decades.

Though I've never had the pleasure of meeting Sylvia in person, I know her and some of her siblings through my genealogy research and via Facebook, and when she found out that I lived for the past, she gathered up some of those pieces of vintage clothing, most of which I'd venture to guess hadn't been worn in many a year, and so incredibly sweetly sent them my way this year.

She let me know that it was okay to pass along those things which weren't to my taste or didn't fit, and that I did as gifts, to some of my very dearest fellow vintage adoring fans the world over. When the items that weren't my size or style had found new homes, I was left with a selection of several of the most wonderfully lovely late 1930s to early 1960s garments one could ever dream of receiving out of the blue from a relative.

Most of the items are dresses, of which the beautiful coral meets carnation pink late 1930s/early 40s frock pictured today is one of my very favourites. This dress is unlike any other presently in my closet, in terms of style, and I love it all the more because of that. I don't know which of my family members would have owned and sported it back in the day, but whomever she was, she had excellent taste.

Sylvia's parcel is the first and only time to date that I've ever received vintage clothing that belonged to a family member of mine (my maternal grandma once presented me a lovely little c. 1950s/60s opal pendant necklace of hers that I treasure to no end, but that was the only other vintage piece belonging to a relative that I'd been given). Even now, a few months after that package arrived (and brought me to tears of joy and gratitude as I opened it), I'm still in a bit of shock to be have been given the honour of preserving, and wearing, these wonderful yesteryear garments that once shared some of those aforementioned yesterdays with my very own relatives.

A dress like this is something of the star of the show unto itself, but that doesn't mean it need go accessory, or coat, less in the least. Instead of much in the way of jewelry, I partnered this elegant frock with an equally lovely 1950s/60s floral needlework handbag, which I was very kindly sent from awesome etsy seller Kara Pound's shop, St. Augustine Vintage.

I am smitten with this bag. It's larger than many vintage handbags, sturdily crafted, captivatingly pretty, and more than roomy enough to hold all of the modern day accoutrements most of us are keen to tote around with us when we're out and about. I really appreciate that Kara bestowed this gorgeous handbag on me, and am delighted to let you know that we'll soon be holding a giveaway for her etsy shop, so that can have the chance to add a treasure from St. Augustine Vintage to your old school wardrobe.

Did you know, that while I've worn suit jackets and blazers here over the years, this is the very first time I've sported a coat, let alone a winter weight one, here on the blog? It's true, and I rather love that for the premier of such an event, I sported none other than the awesome Persian lamb's wool-esque, fur trimmed coat that I purchased for a killer price from a local second hand clothing dealer last summer (which I chatted about in this post). Realistically, I think that this coat is from the early 60s, though there are elements to it that feel older, and when you view it from a bit of distance, I'd even go so far as to say it has a certain charming Edwardian vibe, though of course, I know it's no where near that aged.

It's warm, cozy, stylish, and fits me terrifically, and as such has quickly become my most frequently reached for coat this year, now that the temps are dipping below freezing again and heavy duty outerwear is a must again most days.

So where does one take a fabulous 70+ year old dress, a beautiful mid-century handbag, and a snazzy vintage winter coat? That's a darn good question, and one that Tony and I pondered for a while before settling on a location, which we both felt should have a lot of history to it.

Unfortunately, a massive number of historical/vintage related sites or buildings around our corner of the Okanagan, let alone ones we haven't shoot at before, so scouting a suitable location became quite the interesting hunt that particular afternoon.

After much deliberation, we decided it was high time we paid a visit to one of the oldest spots in all of the Okanagan: the Father Pandosy Mission in the nearby city of Kelowna. Named after the first missionary to set establish a community in the area, Father Charles John Felix Adolph Pandosy, the Mission traces its roots all the way back to 1859.

Today the Mission, which is jointly administered by the Okanagan Historical Society and the Catholic Church, is comprised of historical buildings from around the Okanagan, including some that were part of the Father's original Mission, which, since the 1960s onward, have been lovingly and expertly preserved and transformed into a small self-guided historical park. In 1983, the Mission was designated as a British Columbia Heritage Site, and can be visited year round, for a small fee ($2.00 per person; with higher fees if you wish to use the site for an event or professional photo shoot - hobbyists and those taking snaps for their own enjoyment, need only pay two dollars).

Almost unbelievably, given my unending zeal for the past, I'd never visited the Pandosy Mission before, though I certainly knew of its existence. On the day we were there, we had the entire place to ourselves, save for an adorable flock of quail who were zipping around in group formation as we took photos. We shot in two spots in particular (a historical home called the Christien House and the small two story chapel), but enjoyed taking a look around each of the handful of different buildings (including a blacksmith's shop and root house) that make up this fascinating location.

There was a quiet, peaceful solemnness to the location, and I greatly enjoyed getting a chance to visit it at long last. It seemed incredibly fitting to partner an outfit so rich in history, made up of pieces from my own family members, acquaintances, and strangers alike, with the precise corner of the Okanagan Valley that would go on to spur early European settlers to establish communities here more than 150 years ago.

This historical site, much like vintage fashion itself, just goes to prove that there is always the possibility of discovering, or being given, a new piece of the past to explore or call your own waiting for you right around the next corner.

Save 20% off at Garb-Oh Vintage's Black Friday sale

✯ Day 326 of Vintage 365 ✯

It struck me recently that quite a long time had passed since I last wrote a Chronically Vintage post about an online sale. This was anything but intentional and upon realizing that so much time had passed since such a post, I immediately felt like I wanted to remedy this point.

As such, it was rather serendipitous, that the owner of a charming etsy shop (cutely named Garb-Oh Vintage) contacted me this past weekend enquiring as to if I'd be interested in offering my readers a 20% discount on all merchandise in her shop for Black Friday.

Never one to pass up a barging - especially when it pertains to vintage clothing - I jumped at her kind offer!

Garb-Oh Vintage is new to me, just as it is  a relative newcomer to the etsy scene, having opened up this past July.

Presently offering a well curated selection of pieces primarily from the 1930s, 40s and 50s, such as the vibrantly hued, completely fun blue plaid 1930s dress pictured below, this is just the kind of vintage seller I'm always thrilled to connect with and tell my readers about.

 

Everyone can use a discount during the holiday season, so to prepare for Black Friday (which, in recent years, has marked the unofficial beginning of the Christmas shopping season) on the 25th this week, be sure to stop by Garb-Oh Vintage and use the coupon code SHOPFRIDAY to save 20% off anything you purchase there from now until November 29th.

I hope you enjoy this handy coupon code and wish you a very happy time vintage holiday clothing shopping, sweet dears!