What I wore for Christmas Day (only, you know, two months after the fact :D)

Outfit details

C. 1930s/40s burgundy felt hat with netting: Garb-Oh Vintage
Garnet and gold toned earrings: Claire's (in late November, so they might still be in stock there)
1940s style burgundy winter coat: Thrifted (Jones New York brand)
1980s does 1940s Laura Ashley plaid dress: Lola Vintage
C. 1950s frosted clear Austrian glass berry brooch: eBay
C. 1950s white gloves: Unknown, had for ages (possibly a gift)
Gold tone bangle bracelets: Payless
C. 1950s/60s navy blue handbag: Frugal Frocks
Black seamed nude vintage style stockings: eBay
Navy blue faux patent leather pumps: Payless
Lip colour: MAC Partyline



Photography by Tony Cangiano

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The sharing of said ensemble, not the wearing, that is. :)

If you're a regular follower of this blog, then I won't head into broken record territory too much, but chances are you know that I've been computer-less this month. While I was fortunate to have several blog posts penned and ready to go live throughout February prior to that happening, only a couple of them were outfit posts and as such, I kept pushing their post dates up further and further, as one week turned into the next and I was still sans laptop.

The new one is expected to arrive any day now (yippee!), so I thought I'd take the plunge and share these fun snaps from late December with all of you here today, before we head into March and my thoughts turn far more to loveiversary (the day that Tony I first meet back in 2004) and Easter season outfits, instead of what I was sporting while jolly old St. Nicolas was still in town. :)

This past Christmas was a marvelous one for myself and my family. On the one hand, it was a lowkey event (just the way I typically like holidays of all sorts to be), but on the other, it was delightfully unique - for us at least. The reason for such was that the year before(on Christmas Day 2014, to be exact), my mom had decided, so very sweetly, that she wanted to hold an Italian Christmas feast, instead of the more traditional North American/British style one, in honour of Tony and his homeland.

Thus we both set to work shopping, cooking and baking up a storm for the meal, which saw a handful of close relatives gather around the table - heady, scrumptious scents aplenty wafting up from it - on Christmas Eve and Day alike - and dig into an Italian feast that could easily have fed over twenty. What are the holidays though, without ample food and lots of great leftovers to tuck into for days to come!

It was a fun, delicious departure from our usual winter holiday eats and one that Tony, as well as the rest of us, all enjoyed and appreciated. While we won't be going the Italian meal route each Christmas, given what a smash hit this one was, I sense we will repeat it again periodically as the years roll on.

What was on our plates might have been Italian in nature, but we didn't take the theme quite to the level of national dress or Italian flag only hues (though they are literally the same palette as Christmas, so the latter wouldn't have been too tricky to do at all). I woke up on Christmas morn, fresh snow falling atop of the thick blanket that already lay on the ground around town and felt instantly pulled towards both plaid and the colour burgundy.

Enter, this thoroughly lovely 1980s does 1940s style Laura Ashley dress that I've had for absolutely ages. Though it looks the wool part, it is not, but it is nearly as warm as though it were. This dress is incredibly comfortable and rife with classic styling (from the puffed sleeves to the matching belt to the white collar), and as it hadn't appeared here on the blog before, Christmas seemed like the ideal time to debut

Ditto for this vintage appropriate reefer style burgundy coat from the brand Jones of New York, which I thrifted for less than $10 two or three winters ago from a tiny charity run thrift shop on Main Street right here in Penticton.

To these yesteryear inspired pieces, I added my endlessly beloved 1930s/40s burgundy felt hat, a vintage navy blue purse and (modern) shoes, white mid-century gloves, and a smattering of new and old jewelry (including one of my treasured c. 1950s Austrian glass fruit brooches).

It was a fun, festive, and very cozy outfit that suited the laid back, fun filled nature of Christmas Day spend at my mom and step-dad's house (where these snaps were captured on their deck) perfectly.

Looking back now, two months and a day later, it seems both like these photos were taken just yesterday and also as though they happened eons ago.

A lot has already transpired in the first couple of months of 2016. Some good, some heartbreaking, some exciting, some stressful, and lots that simply makes up the minutia of life. Through it all, the optimism that I felt about this year as we entered into it, has scarcely wavered and I remain hopeful that the positive will far outweigh the negative when all is said and done, and I pose for next Christmas' outfit shoot.

We've got nearly ten months to go before that point however, during which time I'll soon be enjoying my new laptop and continuing to bring you scores more "what I wore" (and other types of) posts to fill the pages of this blog throughout the year. I can hardly wait, especially with springtime (and all of its gorgeous vintage fashions) just around the corner!

 

What's (vintage) black and white and red all over?

Outfit details

1940s/50s cream lace hat: Gift from a dear friend ♥
Gold tone and clear rhinestone bow earrings: Either Payless or Claire's
Red cropped cardigan: Fairweather
1940s/1950s gold tone metal bow brooch: Probably thrifted or eBay (had for years) 1980s does 1940s/50s black and white floral print dress: eBay
1940s black felt purse with brass clasp: Gift from a dear friend ♥
Gold tone bangle bracelets: Payless
C. 1940s cream gloves with crochet detailing: Unknown, had for years (possibly eBay)
Black seamed nude stockings: eBay
Red patent pumps: Payless
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red


Photography by Tony Cangiano  

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You guys, I so knew that it was just a matter of time until I eventually penned a post with this title - I love puns and riddles both far too much to let the opportunity to reference the classic newspaper riddle go to waste. :)
 
Realistically though, this post could just as easily be called, "Wearing my winter colour palette in the summer", because really and truly, that's what I'm doing here. Red, my signature colour, is one that I reach for all year round, but I'm especially drawn to it during the icy cold Canadian winters, when no doubt the visual sense of fiery heat it imparts is a good chunk of the reason this Canadian lass is drawn to it so much.
 
With red, in winter's snow clad months, I most often pair black, grey and/or white (see posts such as this one and this one for two cold weather examples of such). This palette is classic, elegant, and often glamorous, but it can be cozy and sweet, too, especially, I find, if grey enters the picture.
 
So in love with this combo am I, that a couple of winters ago, I got so hooked on wearing it, I had to make a mental note to sport other colours, least folks started thinking those were the only hues in my closet. I can't help it though, winter after winter after winter, I reach for red and black, tossing in a little grey or white usually for good measure, and highly suspect that I always will (after all, when something works, it works!).
 
Yet sometimes I can't wait that long or an occasion really calls for these hues or I'm simply in the mood for them, and no matter the season, out they come to play. These particular photos were taken in late May and feature the delightful - and slightly more springtime-y - inclusion of some cream, care of this truly gorgeous 1940s/1950s hat, that was an awesome Christmas gift last year from a lovely online friend and fellow vintage blogger.
 
This is the first time I've sported it here on my blog, but certainly not the first before or since these photos were taken. This hat balances sophistication and curtness sublimely and speaks to me on so many vintage loving levels. It's made from stiffened lace, is fairly wide brimmed, weighs next to nothing, featuring a stunning dark crimson velvet ribbon with bows and long, trailing ends, and is in very good shape for its venerable age.
 
The classic and very pretty 1940s purse in this ensemble was also a gift from another completely dear friend and was the one I carried last year when attending the Victoria Vintage Expo. It too is very sweet and timeless, in nice condition still and a true favourite of mine.
 
In addition to those two near-to-my-heart accessories, today's black, white, red and cream ensemble features a lovely 1980s does 1940s/50s dress (that buttons up the back) with matching belt, a vintage appropriate red cropped cardi, c. 1940s cream gloves, 1940s/50s gold tone bow brooch, classic looking modern rhinestone bow shaped earrings, as well my beloved (modern) red patent pumps.
 
It occurred to me and Tony on the day when these photos were taken, that we hadn't done a shot in the wee wisp of an open front yard that we have in ages - as in, I don't recall any happening there last year (save for our Halloween photos) and very few the year before either in comparison to 2012's numbers. Thus, as the afternoon was starting to fade, we decided to remedy that, as it really is a handy little spot, when the weather and light are in a cooperative mood.
 
While Tony was waiting for me to finish getting dressed before going out, he turned the camera on our dog, Annie, who is usually too high energy to sit still for anything but the blurriest of images (so hence why to date, she and I have not shared a full on photo shoot - one day though, I sincerely hope!). However, that afternoon he nabbed a few in our perpetually low natural light condo (so hence the grain from the ISO here) and the one below was a favourite for both of us.





Clearly, as you can see, Miss Annie has the white and black thing down to a tee as well! (Plus her current collar is hot pink, which isn't very far from red - like human "mother", like canine dog-ter :D)
 
Favourite colour combos, like beloved single hues themselves, can - and should - be sported anytime your heart desires. Just because this palette is my -25C staple, doesn't mean I can't rock it - sans a few layers - when it's +35C as well. In fact, so much of the fun of highly adored colours and pairings is the enjoyable challenge of coming up with new outfits in which to rock them season after season, year after year.
 
Do you have any colours or pairings that you generally turn to in one season, but also enjoy donning at other times, too?

Sara does 1980s does 1940s

There is no end to the number of ways that I adore today' guest blogger. She's a fellow vintage wearer (and redhead), West Coast resident, tilt hat aficionado, and all around truly cool lady named Sara Wood from the stellar blog Lillies & Remains that many of you may know already (if you don't, pop on over to Sarah's and say hello today).

Sara has the sort of charismatic, unflinchingly witty, brilliant personality and mind that instantly makes you take notice of her and her blog, and to want to become fast friends, which I'm happy to say we've been for quite some time now.

Not only is Sara a great writer and hat-doffingly-worthy expert on mid-century fashions and jewelry, this gal can style an outfit like there's no tomorrow, never shies away from colour or glamorous accessories, and has the kind of megawatt smile the instantly lights up a room - or a photograph.

I'm honoured today to present you with this marvelous outfit post from Sara, who, much like myself, is a devoted fan of that far too frequently overlooked genre of clothing that is 1980s does 1940s styles (a topic I chatted about in detail in this post last fall).

Thank you so much for being a part of Chronically Vintage, dear Sara, and for countless ways in which you, your keen vintage fashions sense, and your gorgeous blog never fail to inspire me. ♥


Hello to you all! My name is Sara, from Lilies & Remains. The lovely Jessica asked me to do a guest blog post for you all, while she gallivants off to Vancouver BC. I racked my brain trying to think of a theme, and then my inspiration hit – why, Jessica herself! I admit, I have a bit of an “era snob,” if you will. I don’t mean to be. I know it’s absurd to be such a stickler for *only 40s* fashion. I try to buy cute dresses from other eras, and they sit in my closet. I’m rather embarrassed by it, if I’m being completely honest.


I’ve always admired Jessica’s sartorial skills. She has a knack for finding adorable “80s does 40s” (or 50s) dresses, and pulling off a completely authentic look. This outfit was absolutely put together with her in mind.

{Photos by Jaynie Healy} 

Really, it’s just a flutter rayon 80s dress. But paired with 40s accessories & Bakelite? It’s screaming swing, not new wave. It doesn’t need to be an authentic age to be an authentic style.

I for one will be hunting down more 70s – 80s does 30s – 40s dresses for this summer. They are inexpensive… and most importantly, I feel comfortable wearing them, without fear of ruining something. (This is incredibly important to me, as one of my jobs is at a dive bar! Booze. Everywhere.)

Thank you, Jessica, for asking me to write a post for you! You’ve always been endlessly inspiring to me, and I’m absolutely honored.

xox Sara

Why I love, and wear, 1980s does 40s and 50s fashions

Last July, in celebration of the fact that I was born in the 1980s and that my birthday was the very next day, we took a look at 29 Things I Love About The 1980s. Today we're going to spend a few minutes focusing on another.

Generally speaking, vintage clothing is classified into three main camps: authentic vintage (that is to say, pieces that were produced during several decades ago), vintage reproduction (modern pieces which have been modeled in the style of, or created using original patterns for, vintage garments), and vintage appropriate clothes (modern pieces that, though not intentionally designed to be repro garments, are so classic or in keeping with the styles of a certain era, that they can be effectively incorporated into one's vintage wardrobe).

There is another category however, and it's one that a fair number of us vintage loving lasses avail of: 1980s does 1940s or 50s clothes.

This is a bit of a simplification of this category, as one can sometimes, for example, find 1970s does 1940s dresses, 1990s does 1930s dresses, and so on, but generally speaking, it was the 1980s - with its passion for some of the iconic styles and ageless tailoring of the mid-twentieth century that means you're most likely to unearth 1980s garments that very much look as though they could have been from the 1940s and 50s.

In a way, these pieces can be viewed as a type of vintage repro clothing, though few were actually made using yesteryear patterns or with that goal in mind. No, the wave of nostalgia that washed across the world (especially North America) for the forties and fifties during the exciting eighties is at the heart of these pieces, which though not always dead ringers for the clothes they were made to resemble, can be woven with great success into many a modern woman's vintage wardrobe.

Up until very recently, with notable exceptions made for certain famous designer brands (such as Laura Ashley), most 1980s does vintage garments could be had for a song (or nearly so), because they were seen more as being 80s styles than they were forties or fifties one. Over the past couple of years, online in particular, however I've noticed a sharp increase in the price of such garments, as their popularity has spread amongst the vintage fashion world.

That said, it's still often easier to find a great deal on mid-century inspired piece from the 1980s than it is on a similar garment from the 40s or 50s, and as a long time shopper (and wearer) of this category of clothing I cannot begin to encourage you enough to give it a spin yourself, too.

While there's nothing like the real deal when it comes to vintage. 1980s garments have a lot of advantages to them which one should not be too quick to dismiss out of hand. For starters, they're often sturdier (having existed for far fewer years) then some mid-century vintage pieces, frequently cost less, and are commonly made of materials that are a snap to launder.

Another point in their favour, as LandGirl 1980 discussed in her excellent post on this subject last year, is that they can often work splendidly if you don't have the kind of measurements that tend to jive well with pieces from your favourite mid-century decade(s).

Those who are new to world of vintage fashion and/or haven't had a lot of experience with 1980s garments, may wonder how to tell pieces from the eighties apart from those of earlier decades. Some very good signs that you're dealing with a later piece (by which I mean, not a garment from the 30s, 40s, 50s, or early 60s, but instead one from the 80s) are as follows:


-The fabric is polyester (which was invented in 1941), a poly blend, or another synthetic material that was not yet invented or in wide spread use during the mid-century.

-The fabric feels (and/or looks newer). Many vintage fabrics has a distinct quality, weight, texture and/or sheen to them which diminished or was seen less commonly amongst mass produced items of clothing as the decades wore on. If you have experience with handling and/or wearing 1940s or 50s garments, you'll likely be able to tell a 1950s cotton or a 1940s rayon, for example, apart from its 1980s counterpart simply based on how it feels in your hands (often the newer material will be thinner, for starters).

-The seams aren't finished or they're finished with a simple zigzag or similar stitch. While many earlier garments had finished seams, not all (including some handmade pieces) did, unlike those of the 1980s which almost always had finished seams (unless leaving them unfinished was part of the garment's design). By the same token, does the fabric on the seams have serging (which, though around in the 50s, wasn't nearly as common as it's become in more recent decades), or was the material pinked? If it was cut with pinking sheers, instead of being serged, you may have an older garment on your hands.

-The logo on the tag is more modern looking and/or there's a garment tag with washing. For more on dating vintage labels, I'm a big fan of this post from Sammy Davis Vintage on the topic.

-Garment size: As discussed here in a post here about vintage clothing sizes back in January, the numbers one finds on vintage clothes sizes have generally gotten smaller over the years. If a garment has a tag that says size 16, but it looks (and fits) more like a modern day size six, it's most likely from the 1930-50s. However, if it says size 10 or 12 but looks/fits more like a six, you're very likely dealing with a piece from the 1970s through the start of the 90s. There are no hard and fast rules about how much sizing has changed over the decades, but if you start (or already own) clothing from the 80s, you'll likely soon be able to determine which size, or sizes, from that decade fit you best and can then keep an eye out for such while on the prowl for your vintage inspired 80s pieces.

-The brand name stated on the tag is one that had yet to be formed during the 40s or 50s (for example, Ralph Lauren, was founded in 1967, so if you were holding, for example, a sweater from that brand, you could safely say at the very least that it’s impossible for it to be from the 1950s). The Vintage Fashion Guild has a stellar directory of vintage fashion labels which can be extremely helpful in dating a garment, so long as you have a label in place still.

-The zipper is plastic, not metal (this however, is not always a telltale sign because it's always possible to have a vintage garment whose original zipper was replaced with a more modern one at a later date). As well, zippers in garments from the earlier decades often tended to be sturdier, heavier and have larger “teeth” than those of more recent years.

-What shape and size are the pockets? As well, whereabouts on the garment are they placed? Pockets on the 1940s and 50s skirts and dresses were often generously sized and sometimes slanted; as well, it's not uncommon on such pieces to only have one pocket (frequently on the hip or front of the thigh), whereas 1980s styles commonly had smaller (slash or hidden) pockets on skirts and dresses, and larger pockets on one or both of the chest.

-How vivid are the colours? While it's certainly possible to find vintage pieces that are just about as vibrant today as the day they were first made, and conversely, 1980s pieces that have faded a great deal over the years (especially if they've been washed many times), how bright, crisp and fresh the colours do, or do not look, can sometimes help indicate if a garment is more recent or not.

-A dress (or skirt, or other type of garment) has an elastic waist. Though one does occasionally find elastic waistbands in mid-century clothes, they are much, much more common of those from the 1970s onward (especially those which allow for several inches of expansion).

-The over all look of the piece. Though this is something that will come with experience more than anything, if you've been wearing and/or studying vintage fashions for some time, you'll likely have developed an eye and ingrained sense of what era a piece is from. A huge part of the appeal of 1980s does 40s and 50s pieces is the striking resemblance they bear to their earlier counterpoints, however upon closer scrutiny, one can often tell - through the detailing, cut of the garment, hem length, and all the other points previous stated here - if a piece is in fact newer or older.

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I cannot stress highly enough that, generally speaking, all of these points are merely possible indicators, and that the dating of each specific garment will likely depend on a number of factors. Just about anyone could be duped, no matter their degree of expertise with vintage clothing, but if you have a keen sense of how the genuine articles of clothing from a certain era looked (and felt), it's often relatively easy to tell older pieces apart from newer ones which were designed to channel the spirit of the past.

Case in point, let's take a peak at the following two similar red shirtwaist dresses (both from etsy listings), the first of which is from the 1950s, the second from the 1980s.

{Image source}

This dress is as classic in cut as the day is long. It's buttons are hidden by a band of fabric (a fairly common sight on this style of dress from the 50s and early 60s, though you'll certainly find scads of shirtwaist dresses from that era with exposed buttons as well), the collar is simple and in keeping within the common range of the 50s (were it more elongated and/or pointed, or conversely, rounded, it might indicate that that this dress was from the 60s or 70s), the label (shown in a different photo in the listing) is aged looking and lists the size as 13/14 (the listing tells us that the actual measurements are a 33/34 bust and a 27 waist, which is in keeping with this size range for the 50s/early 60s), and the skirt is gently pleated (interestingly, which an unfinished hem).

The dress doesn't have too much in the way of structured lines to it, but the overall cut is relatively figure hugging (especially the top half), and the sleeves hit (depending on one's arm length) right above/at elbow length. Both of these elements are common of shirtwaist dresses of the era.

{Image source}

This dress shares much in common with the general style of the one above, however they're not dead ringers. This cheerful lipstick red frock features two large pockets over the breasts, both complete with metal snaps on them. Though you do occasionally see two pockets on the chest area of 1950s dresses, it was not an overly common style for the era at all, nor was the use of exposed metal snaps (which on this dress, also appear instead of buttons for the closures down the front).

The material is 100% wool, which certainly many vintage dresses were made of too, however label reveals that it's from Liz Clairborne (a popular ladies wear brand that was founded in 1976) and that's a size 6 petite (while petite garments existed in the 40s and 50s, a size 6 for an adult would have been nearly unheard, as most brands - and do keep in mind that the size of the garments were smaller than what we associate with these numbers today - started their lines at a size 9, 10, 10 or 12).

As these two dresses illustrate, it's possible to find 1980s pieces that share much in common with similar garments from 30 to 50 years earlier (note, for example, the slanted front hip pockets on the eighties dress, a style that was certainly common in the 1950s, too), but it's also good to be able to spot the differences between the two so that you aren't likely to unintentionally overpay for an eighties piece or be fooled by an unscrupulous - or innocently mistaken - seller who is listing an eighties item as one from an earlier decade.

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Terms like "1980s does 1950s" or "80s does 40s" have become well known amongst vintage sellers in recent years, so be sure to use them yourself if you're searching for such pieces online.

Though some are quick to turn up their noses at 1980s throwback pieces, there's zero reason for this kind of snobbery, or to view them as being any less worthy of a place in your vintage wardrobe as a genuine vintage garment, well made repro piece, or vintage appropriate item of clothing, the later of which "1980s does" items can certainly be viewed as in a roundabout way.

I have numerous 1980s (and a couple 70s) does 1940s and 50s dresses (and other garments) in my closet, spanning from classic shirtwaists (which were wildly popular during the eighties and can often be found still at local thrift and secondhand shop - not to mention potentially in the closest of some of your female relatives, if they held onto their eighties garb) to a slinky purple jersey number (seen here) that is just about the most comfortable garment I've ever owned.

Below are four photos from past outfit posts, all of which feature a great 1980s does 40s or 50s dress at their heart (note: while dresses are certainly one of the most common 1980s throwback pieces, virtually any type of garment, from swimsuits to blue jeans, can be found in this vast category).




On top of the points already discussed above, some of the other reasons why I really like many mid-century inspired fashions from the decade of my birth include the cute patterns (from charming novelty prints to tropical florals), fact that they're still relatively easy to find both online and off, and that I don't generally worry as much when I'm wearing them that I might accidentally rip, soil or stain my clothes as I go about my day.

In fact, if I know that I'm going to be someplace, say, where little kids, pets, lots of dirt, or the potential for grease are present, I'll very often opt for an 1980s garment over a genuine vintage (or pricey repro) piece, because - even if I love it dearly - I won't be quite as heartbroken if, goodness forbid, something unpleasant does befall it (especially because I’ll likely be able to launder it heavily without having to worry about accidentally doing further damage to the piece in the cleaning process).

As the years roll onward and prices continue to skyrocket across the vintage spectrum (not to mention the number of genuine vintage pieces on the market dwindles), I suspect that the popularity of 1980s does 40s and 50s pieces will only continue to grow, as more and more yesteryear fashion loving lasses develop a fondness for this category of clothing and the many benefits it can offer anyone's vintage wardrobe.

If you've not already done so, I urge you to consider picking up a great "80s does" piece or two for yourself. Style them with genuine mid-century accessories (and/or other articles of clothing), your usual old school inspired hair and make-up, and see for yourself just how lovely and vintage appropriate many of these pieces can truly be.

Brag Vintage online shop and product review

Outfit details

1940s/50s black straw hat with pink rose: eBay
Purple floral cameo earrings: Handmade by me
1980s floral print dress: Brag Vintage
1930s green beaded necklace: Jewelry seller in Okanagan Falls
1950s light purple gloves: eBay
Black vintage handbag: etsy seller A Vintage Revival
Black faux suede round toe pumps: Wal-Mart
Lip colour: Clinique Raspberry Glace


Photography by Antonio Cangiano

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Earlier this summer I received an introductory email from budding UK online vintage seller Brag Vintage, which quickly lead to a few fun back and forths, including the offer to select a piece from their stock to receive and wear here on my blog.

As with an ever larger number of vintage sellers (online and off), Brag's offerings tend to focus on pieces spanning the 1970s to 90s, years that I rarely dress in the styles of. However, I spotted a couple of items that I thought had the potential to be styled in a mid-century direction and decided to select the lovely black, green and purple floral print dress in today's outfit photos as my choice of item to receive from them.

Brag Vintage's website is well laid out and easy to navigate, with clothing being separated into women's and men's categories, and then further broken down by style type (such as jeans, t-shirts, skirts, jackets and coats, knitwear, etc). Their listings are updated frequently and each item features multiple, clearly shot photographs which quickly help you access a given piece in a flash (as well as a brief description of the piece and its condition).

Though a UK size number is provided in many instances, more specific measurements are not listed for most pieces. This point really stood out for me, because it is rare to encounter an online clothing seller that doesn't provide information on measurements such bust, waist, hips and garment length (if applicable). As UK sizing differs from North American, and because most of their pieces are anywhere from ten to thirty-five years old (when sizing was often different from today), I made sure to email and enquire as to the sizing on this dress before I selected it.

I was told it was 20" across the bust and had a 12" waist with stretch to it. Both points are true, and though I own a number of dresses with busts in the 40" range (my own bust is scarcely 35”), I found (once it arrived and I had it on) that this one was so generously cut in the area that it made the garment to big for me. There was also an excess amount of fabric (for my body size) in the hips, so in order to wear it in photos, I had to safety pin several inches of fabric in the back, so as to give the illusion that this dress fit me a bit better than it actually does.

The dress is, as stated on Brag’s site, in excellent condition, which I certainly appreciated. It arrived swiftly from the UK, was securely packaged, and free of any odours. I love the pattern (florals are always a huge hit with me) and suspect that if I was a skilled seamstress, I could revamp it this dress to fit me better, but as it stands now, it's just too large (especially in the bust). That said, I was thinking that I might wear it as a housedress under cardigans and sweaters during the winter, as it is very soft, comfortable and pretty and I wouldn’t want it to languish in my closet.

When I first saw its photo on Brag's website, I thought it would be a snap to style in a 40s direction, as I sometimes do with other dresses I own from the 1980s, however the excess fabric did make that a touch tricky in real life. That said, I plowed ahead and aimed for a sweet forties-esque look, complete with vintage rose adorned black straw hat, classic black handbag, cute lilac hued 1950s gloves, a 1930s necklace, and a pair of floral cameo earrings that I made last year, as well as my beloved bow adorned black faux suede pumps (which are amongst the most comfortable shoes I own).

I'm not going to lie to you, I felt awful from a health standpoint on the day that we took these photos. Like, I was almost passing out between shutter clicks, awful. It was really important to me that I get these pictures though, because (as always) I didn't know when I might have another day out again (they were very few and far between in July) and I'd promised the folks at Brag that I'd post about this dress come August.

In the weeks since I was first introduced to Brag Vintage, I've popped by their website a few times and though they don't appear to be stocking any mid-century offerings (yet?), they do have a wide range of pieces from the 1970s, 80s, 90s and into the 21st century, including (at the time of writing) a few other pretty 1980s dresses that could be styled in a 1940s or 50s direction.

I'm a big fan of such pieces, especially when they're reasonably priced (as Brag's are) and in good shape, so I wouldn't be opposed to ordering from Brag as a paying customer in the future. I do hope though that they start adding measurements to their listings, as I'm sure I'm not the first person to visit their site and wish that handy information was there.

So while this dress wasn't a smash hit from a size standpoint, I do genuinely like it (the pattern is gorgeous) and was completely pleased with the customer service I received from Brag Vintage. I appreciate that they sent this charming 1980s frock my way and have no qualms encouraging one and all to check out their site.

Though their offerings are more on the modern side of the vintage spectrum, with some pieces channeling a hipster vibe, there are also some items (such as this classic floral print tea dress) that are likely to appeal to many mid-century fashion fans the world over.


*Post update* The fine folks at Brag have told me that there is a small tab in the description box on their site that states the measurements for each garment, but for some utterly bizarre and unknown reason, I cannot see it on my computer. I'm using Chrome on Windows 8 with an ad blocker in place, so if you're doing the same or something similar, I'm not sure if you'll be able to see it either, however I just wanted to mention this as I touched on the point in my post and wouldn't want to be unintentionally inaccurate. 

*Second update* Between Brag Vintage changing some things on their web design end of things and me disabling my ad blocker for their site, I'm happy to report that I can now see the measurements tab on each listing. If it's not showing up for you, try disabling your ad blocker, too, and that should do the trick.

A Canadian in Omak, Washington

Outfit details

All hair flowers: Arden
White rose stud earrings: Claire's
Red shrug: Fairweather
1980s does 1940s Karin Stevens novelty print dress: eBay
White skinny belt: eBay
Cute vintage wreath brooch: eBay
Bangle bracelets: Assorted sources
Red vintage purse: etsy seller I Love Vintage Stuff
Nude and black seamed stockings: eBay
Black pumps: Payless
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red  
Photography by Antonio Cangiano

♥ ♥ ♥

Travel, even relatively short distances, is extremely challenging for me due to many of my chronic health problems. It bodes well for me then that I'm a natural homebody in a lot of ways. However, I've also always had a spirit of wanderlust and this duality, I believe, will forever exist in my soul. Much as I'd love to take to the open road on a lark whenever the urge strikes, such is, point blank, absolutely out of the question most of the time.

Every now and then, one in a very blue moon, a day comes along though where I sense that in the moment I'll be able to handle a little bit of driving. Kelowna, an hour away, or Osoyoos (also about an hour away) in the opposite direction, is usually the limit of what I'll push myself to, but occasionally I’ll go a little further still. I know full well that I'll pay for this decision with weeks of being bedridden and racked with flare-ups afterwards, but sometimes that's ok. My health can have nearly full reign of my life most of the time, but once in a while I get to still have fun and go on a little adventure, too.

Hard as it may be to believe (considering that I've often lived an hour or less from the border), I went the first twenty-eight and a half years of my life without ever visiting the US. One day a few weeks ago (right around the start of February), sensing that I could probably handle a quick road trip that day, Tony and I decided it was high time we hightailed it to good old US of A.

He - of Italian birth and upbringing - had already been to the States before a couple of times with my parents, but again, never once in my life had I stepped foot below the 49th. Doing so was something I'd longed to accomplish for ages, so on a very chilly weekend day we set out for America. After dealing with US customs (who wanted to check our car for some unknown reason and then made us fill out some pretty standard forms before letting us continue on our way), we cruised over the border and into Washington state.

We headed to the town of Omak with the purpose of grocery shopping (oh, the marvelous array of gluten-free foods that exist in US stores that we don't have here in Canada) and did just that. The whole day was bitingly cold and very, very overcast, but before night fell completely, we quickly grabbed a few shots on (what I'd call) the main stress in Omak, standing in front of a great old vintage movie theater.

The decision to go to the States was made that very morning (that's how my health rolls - advance plans, out, on the fly, in!) and as soon as it was, I knew that I wanted to sport a red, white and blue vintage outfit in honour of the US flag and my first time on American soil.

A few mad dash outfit changes later (cue closet that looks like a tornado hit it!), and this ensemble is what I settled on. Other than the fact that my arms were a touch nippy (I had white gloves in my purse, but forgot to slip them on before we took these snaps) when I wasn't wearing my jacket (not pictured), this was a great choice of outfit for the day (so comfy - a must for any kind of travel) and one which, I was touched to receive plenty of compliments on from folks on both sides of the border (including one of the female US customs agents we were dealing with on our way to the States).

Our whole trip was quick - about five hours spent in the US - but a total blast. Between the epically big Wal-Mart, seeing various US business in person for the first time (Bank of America, Rite Aid, Prince's, etc), and simply spending time in a brand-new-to-me country, it was one of the best days I've had in years.

Trunk loaded with delicious US foods (why, oh why, aren't all the Jet-Puffed marshmallow varieties - such as pumpkin pie, chocolate, coconut, and gingerbread - that you have there available in Canada, too?), photos snapped, and memories made, as a dense fog washed over the road, we carefully (we honestly could not see more than a few feet in front of us) made our way home, sailing over the Canadian border sans any issues.

As I knew would be the case, this delightful dalliance with America left me wrecked, health wise, for a few weeks afterwards, but I don't regret the choice to go one iota. I can now say that I've been to the States for the first time - and what I'm sure will not be the last - time, and that's worth feeling extra crummy for a while. Big time.

Now...where'd I put that bag of pumpkin pie marshmallows? :)