Lilacs, lime, and Luxulite in the early spring sunshine

Outfit details

C. 1950s lilac purple sheer nylon/chiffon scarf: Unknown, had for years (possibly a gift)
1950s style iridescent rhinestone earrings: Claire's
Lime green 1980s does 1950s shirtwaist dress: (probably) eBay
1940s style iridescent purple beaded brooch: Luxulite
Vintage lilac flower print scarf (worn as a belt): Thrifted
1950s purple wrist length gloves: Unknown, had for years (probably eBay)
C. 1950s navy blue kiss lock handbag: Frugal Frocks in Armstrong
Vintage frosted clear bangle bracelets with clear rhinestones: Thrifted
Clear bangle bracelet: Gift from a lovely online friend
Black seamed nude stockings: eBay
Navy blue patent faux leather pumps: Payless
Lip colour: MAC Partyline


Photography by Tony Cangiano

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As far back as I have memories of being old enough to have a say in what I wore, colour has played an immensely important role in my wardrobe (a topic that I delved into here). There is an energy, a depth, and a language all its own both to colour in general, as well as to how it interacts with our fashion choices.

Some people give relatively little thought to the hues that they don, perhaps leaning just towards favourites, dressing as their peers do, or wearing only certain shades because of their job or lifestyle. And that's okay, of course, to each their own on all style related fronts. Yet for many of us, especially if we're fashion bloggers, colour is so much more than a secondary aspect to the functionality of clothing.

Colour can whisper or shout, sing melodically or gently hum. It says so much without actually uttering an audible word and can both evoke strong memories and make a powerful stance in the moment.

As someone who is staggeringly shy and introverted, colour also gives me a way to express myself that might not always come through when I do actually speak. Besides that, colour is a joy! As most any artist will tell you, it holds limitless possibilities and can be most anything you want it to (be).

Naturally some colours work better together than others, but I firmly believe that just about any two hues can be married, so long as their tones compliment one another (in fact, that rings true even when three, four or sometimes more different colours are involved).

Last fall, in the context of a vintage Halloween themed outfit, I debuted this fun lime green 1980s does 1950s shirtwaist dress of mine here for the first time (though I'd owned it for ages and sported it previously - just not online) and in amidst the lovely comments that arrived for that post, the notion was formed for me to try and and style it in a way that suited each of the four seasons.

These (four posts) didn't have to happen all back-to-back (and indeed, this dress did not appear here during the past winter), but the general premise was that when each new lime green centered look popped up, it would work with some of the colours of the season to help make it more at home in that chapter of the year.

Bright lime green might not be the first colour that one thinks of as a blank canvass to base this kind of just-for-fun idea off of, but that is actually all the more reason why it appealed to me so strongly. I liked the idea of ensuring this dress (just about the only electric green piece in my wardrobe at present), got plenty of wear and knew even before spring officially arrived, that I'd be reaching for it again this season.

The inspiration for this particular outfit comes from both the beautiful little floral print scarf that I opted to use for a belt, as well as from this recently purchased Luxulite vintage style novelty brooch - on top of the fact that, as touched on here, I'm currently off-the-charts in love with all things purple!

I opted to wear the printed scarf, which stars a pretty pattern of lilacs – one of the most iconic blooms of the season – as my belt. I used the little hit of navy blue that it includes as the inspiration for the dark neutral used in this look, and wove it into the ensemble via my shoe and vintage handbag choices (both of which are solid navy blue).

Lime green is a bold, exciting colour and doesn't generally need a ton of embellishment, but I virtually never go jewelry-less, so to pick up the purple in the scarf around my waist, as well as my sheer vintage hair scarf, I reached for this darling Luxulite brooch with its enchanting soap bubble style plastic beads and lilac hued elements.

Vintage purple gloves, iridescent rhinestone earrings (to compliment the beads on the brooch), and clear plastic bangle bracelets round out the look and help keep the colour palette established in the belt scarf’s design going strong.

These colours are punchy and enjoyable. They're perfect for daytime wear, but could easily see you through a multitude of casual evening events as well. Bathed in early springtime sunlight (at one of our favourite parks in the nearby city of Kelowna) they come alive all the more and instantly remind me why colour is such an awesomely versatile, bold, creative way to make one's outfit all their own.

Whether it happens this year or at a later date, you can bet that I'll be aiming to let this cute vintage lime green shirtwaist dress star in both a summer and wintertime look, respectively, too, and am excited to see what hues will speak to me when those days each arrive.

Celebrating the importance of colour in your vintage wardrobe

Last November I discussed the process behind how I put together my vintage outfits, one key point of which is that colour is something I almost always keep in mind when getting dressed (in no small part because I adore a wide range of different hues). A lot of us do, and that's a great thing, as there's no limit to the number of possible colour combinations that stand to be put together. Today I'd like to share a few more thoughts with you relating to the importance of colour when it comes to our vintage wardrobes.

Various colours evoke thoughts of certain decades - or even years in some cases. The 1920s, for example, when pictured in one's mind is often on the light or the dark side of the spectrum (including hues such as creams, white, pearls, champagne and blush or, conversely, inky indigos, rusty reds, forest green, silver and midnight black). For the early forties, one often thinks of patriotic and military inspired hues, with blues and roses swirled through the palette, for example.




{On this page from 1931, we see a terrific array of neutral and darker shades that were in the fashion spotlight that year. While of course other hues were present and popular the time, too, a page like this is irrefutable proof of certain colours that helped make up the overall tapestry of early 1930s fashion. Image source.}


In fact, familiarizing yourself with the colours that were commonplace during a certain decade or block of years is a fantastic way to not only better date vintage garments, but to help you put together highly period appropriate ensembles (spots such as magazines, sewing pattern sleeves, fabric swatch cards, decor books, photos and movies can all be great sources when it comes to learning more about what colours were in vogue during a certain time frame).




{This charming page of fabric swatches from the 1930s is a fantastic example of some of both the colours and patterns that were popular during the time. Do you have a favourite? I'm especially drawn to the purple, white and orange pattern on the left – that's such a cool, fun trio of colours. Image source.}


In a era when so many photographs (and movies) were black and white, it can be all too easy at times to forget that, then as now, the fashion world was alive with vibrancy (a point that I touched on in this post) and wonderfully creative colour combos.

Certain pairings and compilations of hues can definitely speak for various years and decades, but most colours that we have today (and a few that are rarely seen any more, save perhaps outside of paint swatches) have existed since at least the 1910s (and many date far further back in time), and many have enjoyed at least a moderate degree of popularity at once point or another.

There's a bit of a misconception amongst the general population that vintage fashion (that is to say, the clothing and accessories of the 1920s-50s) was drab and comprised mostly of neutrals. As us vintage loving folks know, nothing could be further from the truth! (Just take a look at this list of imaginative, inspiring colour combos from 1922 that Kate posted this past June for proof that there was no shortage of creative colour pairing at work in that decade!)




{A wide range of lively, beautiful hues are alive in this 1920s springtime ad for ladies hats - which even reminded shoppers of the many colour choices they had. Image source.}


In some respects, if we exclude the current fad for neons once more, it could almost be argued that those (especially women) who lived during our beloved mid-century decades wore even more colour than most folks do today. One peak at a rack full of 1940s novelty print rayon dresses or 1950s swimsuits (like those pictured below), for example will quickly dish up more fun colours than you'll find in a candy store.




{You practically need shades to look at this wildly energetic highlighter yellow Jantzen suit from the fab fifties. Image source.}


This isn't to say of course, that every yesteryear gal's wardrobe was a riot of bright colours or that she sported five hues in each ensemble, of course not. Then as now, neutrals were an important part of most people's' closets, and few folks wore eye-popping shades all the time.

Most however, especially those who had their pulse on the trends of the day, were keen to inject colour into their ensembles, be it in small doses or big splashes, and the majority of people had favourite colour combos that they reached for time and time again, thus helping to definite the palette of an era.

I think that as vintage lovers, many of us enjoy making a statement with our clothing, and colour is certainly a surefire way to do just that. It is a powerful tool that we have at our disposal to channel the sartorial essence of a time long gone, yet still fantastically alive in our hearts and closet.

One can stick closely to the exact palette of a certain decade, or put to use pieces that look the part (be they vintage, reproduction, handmade, or vintage appropriate) yet were perhaps less popular at the time. I'd venture to say that many of us (myself very much included) do both, and our wardrobe are brightened up - both literally and figuratively - for the better because of it.