White mini hair bow barrette: unknown
Prescription eyeglasses: (frames) Venus Eye Design V-12
Faux pearl earrings: Claire's
Pearl necklace: Birthday gift from my husband ♥
Vintage floral print dress: etsy seller revivalhouse
Faux pearl stretch bracelets: Real Canadian Superstore
1950s aqua hued gloves: etsy or eBay
Nude seamed vintage stockings: eBay
White pumps: Payless
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red
Photography by Antonio Cangiano
As a youngster I adored watching the few British TV shows that we got at the time, from Good Neighbors to Faulty Towers (and of course, a little later on, the hilarious antics of Mr. Bean).
It's been years since I last saw an episode of the hilarious UK sitcom Keeping Up Apperances though, the main character, Hyacinth Bucket (who, striving to always come across as posh as possible, liked to insist that her last name was pronounced "bouquet"), played by Patricia Routledge, I can't help but feel I'm taking a sartorial note from with this outfit.
{While not twins per se, our looks do strike a common cord in this instance, don't you think? Image via the BBC.}
Not, of course, that there's anything wrong with that. Hyacinth's late 80s/early 90s collection of floral print frocks always caught my eye as a youngster (as did her delightful array of hats), and I admired how polished and put together (redolent to my young mind in a way of Queen Elizabeth) she usually always looked. Floral dresses have long been a favourite of mine, too, especially if they're vintage (natch!).
Frocks like this convey a sensible, timeless quality that makes them especially good for days when you're entertaining company or heading to events such as luncheons, PTA meetings, or a visit to your local tea room with a good friend. On the particular eve when these photos were snapped, I was waiting for my Aunt Lori, Uncle Bill and their three kids (who live about 3.5 hours away) to arrive for a visit.
It was the first time I'd seen them in several years (due to the fact that until recently we were living on the other side of the country from them) and I was very excited and little nervous (which I think I can detect on my face here), simply because it had been so long. Once they arrived though, it was as if the years apart melted away and I instantly felt at ease.
As the night went on, I even got a chance to show my Aunt and my cousin Heather (my other two cousins are lads and weren't, understandably, interested) my vintage hat and glove collections (Lori had a blast trying on some of the hats, which, with her naturally curly pale blonde hair, instantly gave her a lovely old school look). Next time they visit, I hope we'll get a chance to peak at my dress collection together, too.
When that happens, they'll no doubt spot this floral frock on its hanger, ready and waiting for the next time I pull it out and pay tribute one of the most humorously enjoyable female characters a British sitcom has ever produced, the one and only Mrs. Hyacinth Bucket.
