Vintage cars and fun aplenty at the 2013 Peach City Beach Cruise

Outfit details

Hair flowers: blue and white, Ardene; yellow orchid, eBay
White rose stud earrings: Claire's
Grey knit shrug: Fairweather
White cotton cami: Old Navy
1950s blue and white polka dot dress: etsy seller Forever Lovely Vintage
White crinoline: Pettiskirt Style
White skinny belt (which Annie has since eaten!): eBay
1940s/50s white ruched gloves: eBay
Vintage grey handbag: etsy seller Running Rabbit Studio
Nude and black seamed stockings: eBay
White pumps: Payless
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red

Photography by Antonio Cangiano

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There are two striking parallels between last year's Peach City Beach Cruise and 2013's: grey skies with plenty of rain, and the fact that because of said wet weather, we opted to leave the DSLRs at home and shoot the photos for this year's event with Tony's iPhone again. Unlike 2012 however, the temperature was a bit warmer and I didn't need to use an umbrella constantly, as the rain fell in quick spurts for much the day.

For several years now, Penticton has hosted the Peach City Beach Cruise down on Lakeshore Drive in front of Okanagan Lake. It's a good sized classic car show (though modern cars can enter as well) that spans three days (Friday through Sunday), with a parade of parked vehicles all down the street and onto Rotary Park (at the end of the beach). Hundreds of participants from across the province, elsewhere in Canada, the US, and occasionally even abroad flock to Penticton for this annual event, which includes various judged competitions and plenty of fun for classic car owners and fans alike.

Last year was the first time I'd had a chance to attend and I truly enjoyed it. So much though, that I did something I very rarely do (because of the extremely unpredictable nature of my health, a point I discussed here last May) and actually quasi-planned to attend this year's well in advance. It was, no word of a lie, touch and go until just a couple of hours beforehand, but much to my great happiness, I was feeling well enough to attend (yay!) - a point you may already know if you follow me on Instaagram because I posted shots of a a few of my favourite vintage cars of the day there.

This is as close to a vintage related event as you're going to find in Penticton, which makes it an especially big deal to me and the kind of day that I wanted to dress to the nines for. That meant it was high time I debuted (on camera) one of my absolute most beloved 1950s dress. 

In fact, I adore this dress so much that at various times over the years when I've done interviews or been asked by people I meet if I have a favourite dress in my vintage collection, this classic blue and white beauty has often been my answer. It was an investment piece, but one that I've never regretted for a moment and which I truly cherish. This is the first time you're seeing it on the blog, but I highly doubt it will be the last.

Because the weather was cooler than the seasonal norm that day, a thin knit shrug was in order over top of my dress, with a crinoline (from fab website Pettiskirt Style) underneath - though I would have sported one regardless of the weather in order to help add volume to this relatively full skirted frock. White gloves, a vintage grey handbag, and a trio of hair flowers completed the ensemble.

Just as with last year as well, I was the only person there (that I saw) wearing vintage clothing and as you might imagine, this attracted a lot of attention at a classic car show. Several people had asked for my photograph the previous year, but this time I could scarcely walk two feet without having a stranger grab a snap - a few families even sent their kids over to pose with me, which I thought was incredibly sweet and touching (it made me feel a bit like a costumed character at Disneyland and is the first time I've ever experienced that before). 

One never knows where these photos end up or what people do with them (put them online, etc), but - shy as I am - I'm more than happy to smile for other peoples' cameras on days such as this. They bring the vintage cars, I bring the old school fashion!

We had a total blast looking at, posing with, and in the case of the 1962 Shasta trailer, even venturing inside, the fantastic array of antique, vintage and custom hotrod cars on that overcast late June Saturday. Though only time will tell if such is able to happen, I must admit, I'm already eagerly looking forward to attending the 2014 Peach City Peach Cruise if circumstances will permit. Vintage gloved fingers firmly crossed! :)

Making a splash at the Peach City Beach Cruise

{I loved the license plate on this gem of a classic car, it said “Vintage British Columbia” on it. I want one to hang in my closet!}

{Me and my wonderful mom, who switched umbrellas right off the bat, because the cute pink Hello Kitty one that I’d brought proved to be too small to cover the my skirt, which was poofed out from the crinoline beneath, from the rain.}

Outfit details 1950s pink flower adorned hat: etsy seller Foxy Brit Vintage Prescription eyeglasses: (frames) Venus Eye Design V-12 Pearl necklace: Birthday gift from my husband ♥ Periwinkle blue cardigan: Sears 1980s does 50s tropical floral print summer dress: etsy seller Cereal Vintage Thrift Light blue pettiskirt/crinoline: Pettiskirt Style Faux pearl stretch bracelets: Real Canadian Superstore White skinny belt: eBay 1950s pink ruched gloves: eBay 1950s corduroy bucket purse: etsy seller Rue 23 Vintage Clothing Nude seamed stockings: eBay White pumps: Payless Lip colour: MAC Russian Red

Photography by Antonio Cangiano 
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Like many towns who depend heavily on the tourist industry to help keep their economy going strong, Penticton is no stranger to fun events and festivals that garner participants and attendees from near and far. Some of these events were around decades before I was born, whereas others have come about during my lifetime. One of the latter is the Peach City Beach Cruise, which began twelve years ago.

This annual event features scores of classic, collector, speciality, and hot rod cars and motorcycles, which assemble and are parked along a good sized section of Lakeview Drive, the street directly in front of Okanagan Lake. Lasting three days (Fri-Sun), the Beach Cruise's most popular event is on Saturday when much of the street is cordoned off to traffic and turned into a walking path for visitors and classic car owners alike to casually stroll along and admire the hundreds of jaw-droopingly fantastic vintage cars that have converged on this little corner of Penticton from all across North America.

Despite being in its twelfth year, due to where I've been living in the years since it started, I'd actually never had the opportunity to attend the Penticton’s (now famous) Beach Cruise. As you can imagine, I was giddy with excitement knowing that at long last I'd finally get the chance this year. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't in anywhere near as a good a mood as I was, and (in keeping with the spirit of this summer) decide to drop a mini monsoon on us as Tony, my parents, and I wandered merrily about admiring the stunning classic rides.

As my mom was quick to point out, cars weren't the only thing that people had their eye on that day. It turns out that my 1950s look was a big hit with the crowd (I was the only person I saw all day wearing a vintage outfit, which was a bit surprising giving the type of venue). I've become accustomed to having people stopping to comment on or compliment my vintage outfits when I'm out and about, but never in all my life have I received anywhere near the number of wonderfully nice comments that I did that particular rain soaked day.

Shy to fault, I always feel out of place when people say lovely things to me, so what I like to do is smile sweetly and say a very heartfelt thanks, of course answering any specific questions that are asked, too. Not only was I flattered and touched to receive dozens of lovely compliments, but a handful of people (including  several very friendly elderly gents) actually stopped to ask if they could take pictures of me. I'm sure many of you gorgeous vintage wearing lasses are no stranger to having this happen, but it was the first time in my life for me, and I was more than happy to oblige.

I must say, it was an amazing experience and by far the closest I've ever come to feeling even the tiniest bit like a celebrity (as they get snapped by strangers and stopped on the street all the time). Not that I am, by any stretch of the imagination, but it sure was fun to feel like one for a little while, especially since I found that as the day wore on, I began to feel less and less shy (an ego boosting outing  indeed!).

All the while though, my eyes were squarely fixed on the amazing cars, some of which (with his iPhone, as none of us wanted to subject our cameras to the crazy amount of rain that was tumbling down) Tony snapped photos of me with. I loved so many of these beautiful, wonderfully cared for classic cars, but I think that purply-pink and white hued 1950s number, seen in the last two photos, (that matched my dress to a tee) was perhaps my very favourite.

While it took me twelve years to finally make it to the Peach City Beach Cruise, I couldn't be more thrilled that I finally got a chance to attend. From the friendly crowd to the stellar rides, this by far the best vintage car show I've ever attended, and I really cannot wait until next year's Beach Cruise to arrive - fingers crossed, with better weather in tow!