Special St. Patrick's Day 2014 edition of Vintage Fashionista Friday

{Undeniably and endlessly perfect for March 17th Day of course, what I love even more about this gorgeous vintage screw back shamrock earrings is that they're not so glaringly St. Patrick's Day so as to not work the whole year through as well. $20.00 from etsy seller Atomic Renovation.}




{Winter weather and dry indoor heating systems can parch one's skin out something fierce! Rejuvenate your epidermis and get it ready for the return of sundress season with the help of this fantastic made-in-Ireland bottle of Irish Field hand cream. £11.95 for a 230ml pump bottle from Bog Standard.}




{Keep the luck of the Irish near your heart or on your hat, scarf, sash or anywhere else you please with this timelessly elegant vintage gold toned and faux pearl shamrock Coro brooch. $9.00 from etsy seller Pythagoras Place.}




{You'll have no trouble catching a leprechaun when you're sporting this beguiling 1930s two-piece silk velvet skirt suit, as he'll be too busy admiring your stellar fashion sense to remember to stay out of sight! :) Jacket fits up to 32" bust, skirt fits up to a 25" waist. $186.00 from etsy seller Klad.}




{Forget the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, I want to find a treasure chest full of vintage Bakelite like these three lovely stacking bangles instead (or in addition to said gold - one can never have too much of either! :D). $65.00 for the set of three from etsy seller My 3 Chicks.}




{Charming as a field of springtime clover, this delightful c. 1940s woven green handbag features charming little gold flowers with "pearl" bead centers and classic amber lucite handles, and would make for a fabulous spring and summer purse for many a year to come. $45.00 from etsy seller Canal Street Vintage.}




{Still in its original packaging, completely with lovely little handwritten note, this beautiful vintage Irish linen handkerchief features crocheted edging and would a marvelous piece to tuck in your handbag, for myriad potential uses, before heading out for a night of festive fun. $10.00 from etsy seller Ardythe's Orphans.}




{Whether you chalk it up to River Dance or the classic Irish jig, it's hard for me to not want to cut a rug come St. Patrick's Day. These timelessly beautiful Aris Allen Brown Velvet 1940s 3-buckle dance shoes (which are exact copy of an actual 1940s shoe design) would let me, or you, do just that in mid-century fashion worthy style. Available in modern ladies sizes 5 to 11. $69.95 from dancestore.com.}

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It is more than a little fitting that green is so closely associated with St. Patrick's Day, not only for the rich cultural and historical ties to the Emerald Isle itself, but because, if we've got a wee bit of that famous Irish luck on our side, the world is slowly starting to transform from snow white (or pallid brown) to the colour of fresh grass once more these days.

I've celebrated many a St. Paddy's Day in the snow over the years, don't get this Canuck lass wrong, but regardless of the weather, one always knows that winter's end is near. Spring itself, so the calendar says, kicks off in just three days time and that worth celebrating regardless of if you've got a drop of Celtic blood in your veins or note. Soon life will burst forth with near startling speed once more, blossoms and full on blooms shooting forth around every corner, the return of single layer dressing, and double digit temperatures.

Before we kick Old Man Winter to the curb entirely though, there's merriment to be had on March 17th. Whether you're a fan of guzzling back pints of green ale and partying like there's no tomorrow or prefer a more relaxed celebration at home, perhaps with some delicious Irish Soda Bread at the ready and a classic Hollywood movie feasting one or more of your favourite yesteryear stars of Irish decent on the telly, this is a day worth having a blast on.

If she's anything like me, and I can't help but think that she is, that's precisely what this week's stylish Vintage Fashionista, Deirdre (named for the what legend tells us was the most beauty woman in ancient Ireland) is going to be up to come St. Patrick Day. Decked out in green, whipping up soda bread, colcannon and corned beef before settling in for an evening of celebration, merriment and a good Maureen O'Hara, Gene Kelly, or James Cagney flick.

Albeit three days early, let me wish each and every one of you a splendid, fun, history, and green garb filled St. Patrick’s Day!  May the wind rise up to meet you always, my dear friends!

Ten of my favourite items from etsy shop Dalena Vintage

One of the most delightful and touching elements of partnering with blog sponsors here, is when I receive an email from an etsy shop (or other type of site) that I've already caught wind of, perhaps long adored, and/or even purchased from over the years.

For quite some time now, I've been eyeballing the expertly curated, and superbly photographed, offerings from etsy seller Dalena Vintage, and must say, it's a sincere joy to welcome them as one of Chronically Vintage's newest sponsors this fall.




Of her popular shop, founder Leslie Torbett says, "Dalena Vintage was born of an ongoing love affair between one girl and her adoration of vintage clothing. Each piece is hand-selected for it's beauty, purity and quality. We like to think the result is a collection of dreamy vintage in which girls can lose themselves."

And it precisely that which I’ve done – and continue to do – every time I've ever visited this lovely etsy shop, which houses a superb selection of mid-century offerings, such as frocks, hats, jackets and coats, shoes, accessories, and even wedding dresses. The pieces that Dalena Vintage offers are right up my style alley - brazenly feminine, timelessly classic, and so incredibly wearable.

It's too hard to pick just one or two items from Dalena Vintage that really speak to my personal style - and which I know will appeal to a great many of you as well, my sweet dears - so today I'd like to share ten (and believe me, it was hard to cap my list there) of Dalena's latest offerings that have really jumped out and nabbed my attention.

{Everything from picnics in July to a day at the rodeo spring to mind when I look at this fantastically charming 1950s red bandana two piece dress set. I'd partner with with a woven straw or tooled leather bag, cat's eye sunglasses, and open toe sandals for one of the most darling vintage looks you could ever hope to find. Fits up to a 35" bust, 26" waist.}

{Even though I've been blissfully married for nine years already, I still love - and know that I always will - looking at, and daydreaming about wearing, vintage wedding dresses. This sophisticated short sleeve yellow lace dress from the 1950s would make for a gorgeous alternative to classic white for your big day, then could easily remain in your wardrobe, to be worn time and time again, for special events long after. Fits up to a 34" bust, 26" waist.} 

 

{I have an unending passion for vintage clothing and accessories that feature fruit (or vegetables), so my eyes lit up like the lights on a Christmas tree when I saw this darling 1950s straw hat bedecked with green grapes. Inner circumference of 22".}

{Calling all fans of gingham and 1940s house dresses, this adorable green and white vintage frock is definitely for you. Featuring an a-line skirt, lace detailing, green plastic buttons with teeny rhinestone centers, and two generous sized front pockets, this dress is just as cute and practical as they come. Fits up to a 38" bust, 32" waist.}

 

{This is one of this mid-century dresses that simply takes your break away. A warm golden palette, large velvet ribbon detail across the skirt, and a flattering swooped neckline all add up to an unforgettably beautiful 1950s day dress that could very easily work wonders for a party or semi-formal event as well. Fits up to a 34" bust, 26" waist.}

 

{Oozing classic sophistication, stylish form, and a whisper of femme fatale allure, this striking dark pine green 1940s felted wool hat would surely stop anyone who saw you wearing it in their tracks. Inner circumference of 21.5".}

 {Shake up your usual vintage LBD routine by injecting a hit of cream applique and two pieces instead of one into the mix care of this resplendently lovely 1940s peplum dress suit set. Fits up to a 32" bust, 26" hip.} 

 {You'll be all kinds of pretty in pink when you sport this fun 1950s Hattie Leeds plaid day dress in shades of bubble gum and white with hints of gold swirled through the lovely mix. Fits up to a 42" bust, 34" waist.} 

{Whether you're a fan of scores of colour in your outfits or prefer to just inject a well placed hit of hue here and there, these wonderfully fun 1940s Miramar De Luxe straw heels are sure to tickle your footwear fancy. Fits an approximate size 7 foot.}

 {Beat the throngs of shoppers next spring and pick 2014's summer attire months in advance, starting with this endlessly cute 1940s Juliet Original polka dot swimsuit, complete with matching terrycloth robe. Bathing suit fits up to a 32" bust, 26" waist.}

 

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Aren't these pieces exquisite? I love the fact that Dalena offers a wide range of items, yet they all seem to have a common thread of sophistication, beauty, and ageless charm to them that speaks volume to my vintage loving (and wearing soul).

Should you have fallen hard for Dalena Vintage as well, and wish to connect with them elsewhere online, too, you can do so via the following:

-Dalena Vintage blog

-Dalena Vintage mailing list

-Facebook

-Instagram

-Pinterest

-Twitter


Feel like doing so shopping from Dalena's marvelous yourself? Of course you do! :) In that case, I'm pleased as punch to share a special coupon code for Chronically Vintage readers for you today.

Use coupon code at VintageLove when you check out and save a substantial 20% off your Dalena Vintage etsy shop order between today and November 25, 2013.

With an inventory that frequently spans the 1900s to the 1960s, there is something amongst Dalena Vintage's beautiful offerings that's bound to appeal to most vintage lovers the world over, and which will, without a doubt, ensure I remain a fan of this etsy shop for a very long time to come.

 

Vintage Fashionista Friday: May 3, 2013

Once long, long ago...ok, not that long ago, but still more than two years ago, there used to be a series of posts here called Vintage Fashionista Friday. The premise behind this series was quite straightforward and fun: from time-to-time on Fridays I'd put together the components of a vintage outfit with photographs of garments, accessories, and sometimes even beauty products, all of which had been sourced online. As the series progressed, I also started assigning a female name to each look to really help make it a unique ensemble unto itself.

Over time, and due in no small part to 2011's Vintage 365 project, this series unintentionally fell out of circulation (I think the last one may have been in February 2011). Well you know what? I feel it's high time we brought it back! I know that you gals adore posts about vintage fashion and style, and I love writing them, so I see no reason why we shouldn't reinstate Vintage Fashionista Fridays.

Then, as now, these posts aren't going to appear every week, but I plan on making them an ongoing part of this blog again, and I really hope that you'll enjoy them whenever they do pop up (always, as their name suggests, on Fridays).

On that note, and without further ado, may I present the latest installment in the Vintage Fashionista Friday series.

{Mid-century hats truly don't come any more elegant or sweetly beautiful than this stunning 1950s rose adorned wide-brimmed topper. $50.00 from etsy seller Pear Tree Vintage.}




{Call to mind spring's abundance of new foliage and flora with this charming pair of 1950s screw-back dangle earrings. $14.00 from etsy seller Poppy Frock Vintage.}




{Channel a note of French classicism in a gorgeous white and green vintage toile print dress that would work just as well for a May bridal shower as it would a summer garden party. Fits up to a 40" bust/32" waist. $89.00 from etsy seller Lady Hogg.}



{Winter's hefty coats may be a thing of the past once more, but mid-spring evenings can still be a touch nippy sometimes. Fend off the chill with this timeless white 1950s/60s orlon cardigan. Fits up to a 40" bust/no waist size stated. $36.00 from etsy seller GirlGal6.}



{Springtime calls for crisp, bracing, clean scents and few meet the criteria better than this immensely lovely Green Tea Eau de Toilette. $52.00 for 3.4 fl. oz from L'OCCITANE.}




{A must-have item in any fashionable vintage loving lady's attire, a perpetually pretty pair of white gloves to wear with all manner of warm weather outfits. Aprox. size 7 gloves. $8.00 from etsy seller Sunnydale Vintage.}




{Whether at the beach, on a picnic, window shopping on holiday, or just popping down to the market, this wonderfully pretty woven 1950s Italian straw purse will be sure to hold plenty of practical items while looking thoroughly chic and stylish in the process. $130.00 from etsy seller Some Like It Vintage.}




{The return of warm days and balmy nights means you can wear peep-toed shoes again without the slightest risk of frostbitten tootsies. These charming 1940s heels are sturdy, beautiful, and more than a little covetable. Aprox. US size 5.5 (they measure 9" in length). $195.00 from etsy seller Honey Talk Vintage.}

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Earlier this year the wonderfully lovely Stephanie from the blog My Dearest Eva wrote a post about her passion for the classic French pattern toile de jouy, highlighting several beautiful vintage and repro toile dresses in the process. This elegant, ever-so-slightly whimsical pattern has always been a beloved favourite of mine, too, and I haven't been able to shake thoughts of it from my mind ever since Stephanie's post.

There's just something about toile – sophisticated, eye-catching, timeless creature that it is - which has endeared it to my heart since I was a little girl (for example, I have a little toile teddy bear I bought in my early teen years which now resides in my craft room). I've always thought toile was especially well suited to spring - particularly the vibrant, sun smooched second half of the season - so hence the inclusion of it in today's fetching vintage ensemble.

Stephanie's post reminded me that I need to try and inject more toile into my own vintage wardrobe. It's not the easiest pattern to come by when dealing with 40s and 50s garments, but certainly some such pieces do exist and I'd love to introduce at least a couple of them to my wardrobe sooner or later.

I'm thrilled to have revived the Vintage Fashionista Friday series and look forward to sharing further entries with all of you as this year (and beyond) rolls on. 

Happy Friday wishes, my dears, may each of your weekends be as lovely as the items featured in today's post!

15 photos of terrific real world 1940s summer fashions

While there is much to be gleaned from the sartorial inspiration provided by yesteryear starlets and staged mid-century fashion shoots in magazines (and goodness knows I adore both of these things unceasingly), my biggest source of vintage fashion inspiration has - and I believe always will be - the looks that real everyday women like myself were sporting during my favourite decades.

I'm intrigued to see how those on a budget dressed, to know how they did their hair, what shoes they opted for, and how they interpreted the trends and timeless looks of the era alike. Oftentimes when one sees an old photograph we know little to nothing about the person in it, and so must form a backstory for that person in our minds (a topic I chatted about in this post last year).

Then, as now, even though we swoon over the looks that most ladies sported during the time, it's interesting to keep in mind that not every gal we see would have been a fashionista, a clothes horse, or perhaps (unthinkable as this may be to many of us now) even the biggest fan of the styles of the decade. Many however, were, as us gals have always veered towards harbouring a significant love for fashion and clothing, no matter what year it was.

The 1940s aren't exactly known for being the easiest decade of all time. For most, clothing rations were in place for most of the forties, and even when items were available, many often could not afford to buy them frequently. This wartime culture created the famous make due or mend mentality which truly helped to steer people from all walks of life through the challenges of the decade and ensured that what little there was to go around was able to provide for everyone - and to last for years. I myself have often adopted this same principle, guided and inspired, by those of both the tumultuous thirties and the harrowing forties.

One season that - in the western hemisphere at least - rarely calls for the need for too much in the way of clothing is summer (a point which I'd venture to guess women of the 40s liked a whole lot). And so this week as we head into June and summer looms ever closer, I wanted to share a selection of vintage fashions - sported by real world ladies of the 1940s - with all of you that will definitely be providing a hefty dose of guidance for own fashion choices this season.

{Love the array of patterns on the skirts and dresses, as well as the middle gal's beautiful flower adorned hairstyle.}


{Stripes, cuffs and saddle shoes while sitting on the sand - that's a look I could easily see myself sporting, as I like to remain fairly well covered at the beach most of the time.}


{The caplet-esque collar and generously sized plaid pattern make this summer dress a real standout.}


{A trio of classic 1940s warm weather button front daywear dresses and three very pretty smiles, to boot.}


{A ruffled neckline and cute plaid pattern don't discuss the sense of plucky spunk I see radiating from this cool gal's face.}


{It's short shorts and strappy sandals for this stylish pair of girlfriends. (Love the overall/jumper style of the shorts on the right!)}


{In part because I rarely expose my bare arms completely, I often includes lightweight knits in my outfits during the warmer months, and could totally see myself wearing this sweet little short sleeve sweater all summer long.}


{Two gals munch on something yummy on a stick - taffy perhaps - while out camping. One sports shorts, the other pants, and both look completely cute - and comfortable - for a day spent out in the wilderness.}


{The tunic-like quality of this tie neck (and waist) blouse is so airy and appealing for the dog days of summer.}


{I love longer hemlines on my vintage dresses, and would happily don either one of these pretty summer frocks - as well as the adorable (and highly practical) wide brim straw hats.}


{Plaid Bermuda shorts, a short sleeved knit top, saddle shoes, and dark red lips add up to one thoroughly terrific warm weather casual look.}


{Romance and style abound in this heartwarming photograph of a 1940s couple. He in his military uniform, she is a wonderfully pretty summer dress and ankle strap sandals.}


{Though casual, there is an undeniable sense of elegance to this beautiful woman's outfit which comes through in the timelessness of the trousers and blouse, as well as her sweet little watch and voluminously curly hair.}


{Another excellent pants based 1940s summer look, this time partnered with a short sleeve suit jacket.}

{A quintet of fashionably fabulous 1940s dresses, each stylish and highly covetable to this day. I'm especially fond of the ruffled pinafore number in the middle and the bow collared floral number on the far right.}

{All images above are from Flickr. To learn more about a specific image, please click on it to be taken to its respective Flickr page.}

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Whether humble and simple, or fancy and elegant, there is such a timelessly wonderful appeal to the looks of this era. Interestingly, even though the 1950s are often seen as being a decade filled with youth culture (and it certainly was), I've always thought that there was a beautifully youthful quality to many of the looks of the 40s, too.

Perhaps that stemmed from the way many of the 1940s classically tailored pieces hugged the figure, the fact that for much of the decade hemlines were relatively high, or that handmade and mass produced garments mingled side-by-side in most peoples' wardrobes.

Whatever the case, whether gaily youthful or starkly sophisticated, the forties are a decade I never tire of looking to - and dressing from. I hope that today's images of fashionable gals just like us will provide you with as much inspiration as they will for me this summer - and well, well beyond.

Fabulously vintage inspired high heel saddle shoes

✯ Day 345 of Vintage 365 ✯

Saddle shoes are one of those things, much like poodle skirts and bobby socks, that often gets stereotypically assigned to generic 1950s or vintage themed looks and costumes. As most of us vintage fashionistas know however, saddle shoes not only predated the 50s, they were worn with a multitude of looks by both guys and gals alike.

Based on the clean, often comfortable, lines of classic oxfords and (to a certain extent) brogues, saddle shoes are often made of leather and appear in such classic colour combinations and white and black, white and brown, and white and pink (I had a pair, which my grandma bought for me, that I wore until they were falling apart in that colour coupling when I was a little girl) - though certainly any hues you can dream up could be made in a pair of these classic shoes.

While, to my mind, saddle shoes are a truly timeless look, they do certainly evoke the mid-20th century period during which their popularly peaked. During the hardworking 40s and the optimistic 50s alike, members of both sexes in all ages could be seen sporting this causal style of shoe, in settings as diverse as the classroom to the dance floor.

I've been on the hunt for a pair of saddle shoes, be they genuine vintage or reproduction, to add to my wardrobe for ages - probably since the day that those childhood pink and white ones went to the big shoe store in the sky, come to think of it - but haven't yet found one that fit well or was within budget.

Interestingly, while doing a periodic check for saddle shoes online recently, I came across a twist on these fabulous vintage style that sees the inclusion of a sweet 2.5 inch heel added to a timeless black and white version.

 

These wonderfully cool black and white heeled saddle shoes marry the classic two-tone look of this beloved vintage style of footwear with a very wearable 2.5 inch heel that instantly lends a 1930s, 40s and 50s worthy swing dance vibe to this appealing pair of shoes.

I love how the inclusion of a heel instantly turns these leather saddle shoes (which are available for from Plasticland.com, in ladies sizes 6 to 10, for $69.00) into something a bit dressier than than their (essentially) flat heeled counterparts. I could easily picture wearing these dressy saddle shoes with anything from a feminine black pencil skirt to a pair of high waisted trousers, all year long.

Though, as some of you may recall from past Chronically Vintage posts, I have uneven sized, thick (from top to bottom) feet that make buying shoes online impossible (as I really need to try them on in person first), I would love to come across these precise heels offline and (if they fit) would buy them faster than you can say malt shop!