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.}

♥ ♥ ♥

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.

The weather really doesn't get any better than this

Outfit details

Hair flowers: Arden

Red knit shrug: Fairweather

Marcasite and blue rhinestone floral brooch: eBay

1980s does 1950s floral print dress: eBay

Lilac belt: From a different vintage dress

1950s white gloves: Gift from a dear vintage friend ♥

Blue and yellow bangle bracelets: Forever 21

Vintage red and green twist bangle bracelets: eBay

Red vintage purse: etsy seller I Love Vintage Stuff

Nude on nude seemed stockings: eBay

White pumps: Payless

Lip colour: MAC Russian Red

Photography by Antonio Cangiano











{Tony snapping me taking iPhone photos, including this one of the gorgeous blue sky and calm waters of Osoyoos Lake.}

♥ ♥ ♥

There are some days when the weather is so gloriously, all-encompassing, almost devastatingly gorgeous that even as you're living them, your mind has a tricky time taking in just how marvelous what you're experiencing actually is. The day - Easter Sunday, to be exact - on which these photos were taken was one such a time.

Unseasonably warm, drenched in sunshine, and filled with skies so blue they would have dulled sapphires by comparison, I honestly believe this might have been the most beautiful (and certainly the toastiest) last day of March I've ever had the good fortune to enjoy, and that's precisely what we did.

Roughly the same distance away from Penticton as the city of Kelowna, but in the opposite direction, one finds the charming little town of Osoyoos, British Columbia, which is the last staging post in that direction before one runs smack-dab into the Canadian/US border.

Since moving back to the area last year, Tony and I have made our way down to Osoyoos several times, however on each occasion - no matter how pleasant the weather was when we left home, once we got there, we'd be hit with either a massive rain or snow storm, and thus had never gotten the chance to take any outfit photos on our travels.

It had become something of a running joke actually, and we'd nearly begun to wonder if we'd ever find ourselves there on day when sunny weather was plentiful (a fact that's made all the more humorous - and a touch ironic - by the fact that Osoyoos often gets some the warmest summer temperatures in all of Canada). Fortunately however, the gods of sunshine were on our side at long last on Easter Sunday and we managed to not only soak up the stunning weather, but also take some lovely pictures in the gazebo that's situated down by one of the beaches on Osoyoos Lake.

I'd spotted this quaint, romantic little gazebo while passing through town on previous visits and had tucked it away in my mind as a great spot to use for a future photo shoot. So warm was it that day (+25C at a time of the year when the average temperature would usually be about half that) that I didn't even realize until sorting through these snaps afterwards that my cheeks had picked up a little bit of a flush from the sun - that's certainly not something that happens every day this early in the year, let me tell you!

In celebration of Easter and the joyful mood I was in that day, I selected of my very favourite and most jubilantly hued (1980s does 1950s) floral dresses. The frock itself is bold and clearly the star of the show, so I kept my accessories fairly low key, opting for my trusty red vintage handbag, white gloves, white heels, four bangle bracelets, an elegant floral brooch, and a few flowers nestled into my hair. A light weight red shrug helped keep my arms warm, though as the temperature kept skyrocketing, I almost became tempted to slip it off.

I loved everything about this day. Not just the sublime weather, but the leisurely Sunday drive we took, the conversations Tony and I shared, the stroll around town, the fun photo shoot location (these are my first snaps to date which have been taken in a gazebo), and the fact that we finally beat the curse of the Osoyoos storm.

It was, in every sense of the word, a perfect Easter and the sort of magnificent springtime afternoon that one will treasure in their heart (especially when winter's icy wrath returns) for the rest of time.


(*PS* I am thrilled to say that a photo from this shot also appears in the latest fabulous digital edition of Hey Doll magazine in the reader vintage outfit gallery. In the same edition, you'll also find an article by yours truly, that first appeared here on Chronically Vintage last November, all about how to store vintage gloves.)

Special Easter edition of Saturday Snapshots: April 7, 2012

 

“Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life.” ~ S.D. Gordon 

{Becomingly decked out in some of the most iconic hues of the decade, this 1950s mother and her three children are ready to celebrate the holiday in seasonally perfect style.}

{If there was an award for the cutest vintage Easter picture ever, this darling portrait from 1943 would be a serious contender.}

{The fact that this vintage image of a wee little youngster perched on the Easter Bunny's lap is undated, lends to its appeal and relatable quality, as one can't help but find themselves remembering similar scenes from their own childhood decades ago.}

{Best dressed 1930s little boy ever! Seriously look at his style, swagger, nonchalance, and ultra adorable little suit - it's all too fabulous for words!}

{A golden blonde haired little girl - identified as Kathy - plucks an Easter egg out her basket in this sweet slice-of-life shot from the mid-1950s.}

{Smart navy suits were on the agenda for mom and pop in this Easter image from 1954, whereas the three lads preferred shades of brown and grey. I really like how everyone is posed in this shot, with the parents subtly framing their children - it would make for just as lovely a photo with a family today as it did nearly six decades ago.}

{The gang's all here and their own the prowl for Easter treats in this fun vintage image that's set against a charming suburban springtime landscape.}

{Cheerful smiles and elegant attire abound in this great shot of two graceful, lovely older ladies decked out in their timelessly pretty Easter best.}

{Pastel baskets, new clothes, and sunshine add up to a timelessly sweet Easter photograph of two children - identified as Lois and Keith - who appear to have been having a terrific holiday.}

{A photo booth snapshot of a young 1930s lass in Easter bonnet, that looks just as marvelous as though it had been taken in a portrait studio. There is such a sense of chippernesss, youth, and festive Easter fun that echoes throughout this endearingly fantastic vintage image.}

{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.}

♥ ♥ ♥ 

This year, more so than for many of its predecessors, I've felt a sense of renewal and rekindled possibility. Uprooting one's life can do that to you. Switching sides of the country, setting up a new home, buying your first car, spending time with family once more, all of these things contribute significantly to the feeling of revitalization that I'm experiencing right now.

It's beautiful, let me tell you. Lovely like the first gloriously warm rays of springtime sunshine, or the scent of delicate little pale purple lilacs sprouting in the garden. These recent life changes, naturally, do not have the ability to revamp my whole world, erase certain problems, or override all of my worries. What they have done however, is fill my heart and spirit with a deeply rooted sense of felicity and contentment, which I was yearning heavily for.

How fitting then, that I get to experience these feelings during the season and holiday that is renowned for being all about rebirth, life, hope, and happiness. I know that, much like spring itself, these emotions and experiences will not last forever, but while they're here, I'm savouring and enjoying them as the sweet-as-chocolate-Easter-eggs gift that they truly are.

May joy and merriment, peace and fulfillment be yours this Easter, and throughout all of your days, dear friends.