Kicking off summer with my awesome new 1950s Egyptian novelty print patio set

Outfit details

Assorted hair flowers: Ardene
Pearl stud earrings: eBay or Claire's
1980s does 1950s green plastic necklace: Purchased from a fellow vintage seller
Grey cropped cardigan: Fairweather
1950s Egyptian Novelty print patio set c/o: The Best Vintage Clothing
Red lace trimmed crinoline: Petticoat Style
Green 1950s style stretch belt: Hell Bunny purchased from Retro Glam
Faux pearl stretch bracelets: Real Canadian Superstore
Mid-century vintage red purse: I Love Vintage Stuff
Black cork wedge sandals: Walmart
Lip Colour: MAC Russian Red
Nail polish colour on fingers: Sally Hansen Emerald City
Nail polish colour on toes: Essie Wicked


Photography by Tony Cangiano

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Okay, first and foremost, I fully realize that it isn't quite summer yet, but we have reached the month that houses its beginning and that's as good as the same thing for me! :)

Secondly, and I really need to mention this off the bat for my own piece of mind, things look strangely bunchy around my waist here because I had a crinoline over a skirt with both a shirt and a cropped cardigan topped into said skirt, all further topped off with a stretch belt. That point was probably visually obvious, but I wanted to bring it up all the same.

Now on with the show!

This amazing 1950s Egyptian novelty print patio set. Oh...my...vintage fashion loving word!!! It is the be all to end all, and I have my wonderful longtime blog sponsor The Best Vintage Clothing, to thank for it.

Their offerings are always incredibly appealing and very stylish, so when Laura, the lovely woman in charge of that online vintage selling empire, offered me the chance to pick one of their beautiful garments to receive as a review gift, I felt like a kid in a candy store to say the least.

Originally I had planned to save debuting this fabulous vintage patio set - my first ever actually (I have a 1950s Southwestern style patio dress, but not a two piece play set/patio set like this novelty print stunner) - for my birthday in July, however there is a chance that Tony may be going to the US for work this summer. As such, given that he’s my usual photographer, that might mean that a shoot on the big day wouldn't happen and there was no way on earth I was going to let the season slip by without sharing this sensational set with you guys!

Boasting a short sleeve, button front blouse and matching full (though not quite circle width) skirt, this dark turquoise, red, pine green, grey and white is beyond awesome!

Made of high quality cotton (that is somewhat redolent of a texture percale), in good shape (there are a few small, faint stains here and there, which I was aware of from the get go and which you really can't see unless you're up close and looking for them), and very charming, this set is such a good representation of the kind of highly desire vintage and antique fashions that The Best Vintage Clothing houses on their standalone website, as well as their eBay store, and their ever-expanding Etsy shop.

Interestingly, these photos were taken fairly early (around 9 am) in the morning, not in the afternoon. This is noteworthy (to me at least :)) because it's the first morning shot I've ever done for my blog.

Though I can see now that I was squinting a bit more than I'd felt like I was at the time and there were some shadows at play in the location (the grassy side embankment of the running track at a school down the street from our house), I flat out loved shooting in the morning and said to Tony that we should definitely aim to do so more often, especially in the late spring, summer, and early fall, when the weather is conducive to it.

This is a bold fifties patio set, both in terms of the colour and the off-the-charts cool Egyptian themed novelty print (which is, itself, another first for me, as I didn't previously own anything with an Egyptian revival design/pattern to it), so I stuck with colours pulled from it for my accessories, which include a super fun 1980s does 1950s green plastic necklace, some classic pearls on my wrists, my beloved red vintage handbag, four hair flowers, emerald green nail polish on my fingers, a green stretch belt from Hell Bunny, a red crinoline underneath the skirt, and black vintage-y style wedge sandals (plus a thin knit grey cropped cardi up top).

I won't even beat around the bush, this is not only one of my favourite outfits of the year so far, but one of my favourites I've blogged about. I love the colours, the fullness of the skirt, the terrific Egyptian novelty print, the silhouette (save for the little bit of "bulk" above the belt), the delightful - and surprisingly handy - lower pockets on the skirt (they're great for tucking your hands into while sitting, which is often tricky with waist or hip height pockets), every last little thing, and I truly want to thank The Best Vintage Clothing for the wonderful gift of this 1950s set, which really does feel like an early birthday present and then some!

Whether I sport both pieces together or separately, you can bet that you'll most likely spot them again here as time goes on and I'm eager to see how many fun outfits I can come up with for both halves of this stellar patio set (I'm envisioning the top working well with jeans and the skirt with everything from sweaters to my black boat neck top).

While nothing is set in stone yet, if Tony does end up traveling for work this summer (he'll be gone for over two months solid, if does), I will be sure to post here and let you guys know. For now though, he's still home and we're both loving the return of (nearly) summer weather, grabbing photo shoots when we can, and celebrating all that is great about this time of the year - very much including that it's the season for charming vintage patio sets (which I'm more in love with now than ever, thanks to the fact that I finally have one of my own!).

A big top's worth of vintage circus themed fashion fun

Before we delve into today's post, I wanted to let you all know that decided to start either putting the graphic headers for reoccurring posts like this further down in the posts themselves or removing them all together. The reason for this is that I have things set up so as to automatically post an update on Facebook and Twitter when a new blog post appears here and the app that does that takes the first image that it sees on the page for the image it then displays on Facebook.

As such, my FB followers just see the same post header time and time again whenever a new post in a series like Vintage Fashionista Friday (or Saturday Snapshots, 25 Vintage Deals Under $100, Flickr Favourites, etc) appears, not an image specific to the topic at the post of the heart itself. I want folks to see that kind of image, so again, I'll be scaling back or just getting rid of, in some cases, such post headers from here on out in most cases.

Now, on with the show! :)

{Inject a serious hit of colour and lively movement into your look with this delightful pair of big vintage beaded cha-cha clip-on earrings in a rainbow of punchy hues, that instantly make me think of bunches of balloons being sold at a circus or carnival. $18.00 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.}




{Whether you call it cotton candy, fairy floss, or candy floss, there's no denying that this sublimely saccharine treat goes hand-in-hand with the circus. Enjoy the scent of this sweet treat sans calories anytime when you pamper your lips with this charmingly lovely handmade cotton candy lip balm. $4.00 for a 0.15 oz tube from Crimson Hill.}




{Between the swirling pattern and juggler's balls worthy shape of the round glass beads in this marvelously lovely mid-century vintage necklace, it's easy to see why it would suit a circus themed outfit or day spent with The Greatest Show On Earth especially well. $25.00 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.}




{You would be thoroughly hard pressed to find a more perfect garment to wear to the circus, a circus themed party or any kind of fun event (birthdays very much included) than this awesome 1950s short sleeve balloon and clown print short sleeve novelty print dress. Fits up to a 38.5" bust/33.5" waist. $95.00 from By Cin, By Hand.}




{When one thinks of animals and the circus, seals are often amongst the first that spring to mind. With their adorable faces and penchant for doing tricks, they suit the big top well, just as they do all kinds of delightful vintage and modern outfits alike. Why not let a trained seal of the jewelry variety steal the show with any outfit care of this darling faux pearl and gold tone mid-century vintage novelty brooch? $10.00 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.}




{What would a circus be without a magician and where would that magician be without their darling white bunny tucked away in a top hat? Celebrate one of the circus's most iconic critters with this beautiful, vintage-y looking handmade brass and and shrink plastic bracelet. $45.00 from Mama's Little Babies.}




{Use it as a clutch, a makeup page, a storage pouch, a small toiletries bag when you travel, to stash receipts in - you name it, just make sure you put this cuter than cute fabric pouch, with its vintage-esque looking circus print fabric, to work. It's too adorable not to see tons of use! $10.00 from Ashley Rose EGL.}




{Though they may have originally been intended for children, there's no reason circus fans of all ages couldn't use these wonderfully whimsical, absolutely darling vintage hankies. $18.00 for a three-piece set in its original box from Oliver's Forest.}




{From their jubilant colour palette to their charming polka dots to their beautiful red rose - which can't help but remind one, in a circus context, of the water squirting faux blooms that clowns are keen on wearing on their lapels, this gorgeous pair of vintage inspired peep toe platform heels is sure to turn more heads than a fast flying trapeze artist! Available in modern ladies sizes 7 to 9 (at the time of writing) from Blue Velvet Vintage.}

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You know, I can't help but feel like there's a three ring circus joke or pun that could have worked for today's title, I but I couldn't think of one that had a positive connotation to this commonly used expression, so I skipped it and went for something more descriptive instead.

As the weather continues to warm up and the last vestiges of winter melt away, my mind turns instantly to both plans for this season and to memories of past springs and summers alike. In the case of the later, vivid recollections of afternoons spent under the big top as a youngster instantly come rushing back.

Though I must state for the record that I do not as an adult usually support circuses involving animals (their handing and care often being a million miles away from as ethical or human as I'm personally comfortable with), and haven't attended one in nearly two decades, as a child when the annual traveling circus came to town - usually around this time of the year - I did certainly watch the acts with the same wide-eyed wonder that millions other children have for hundreds of years now.

No matter your stance on circuses involving animals, I think that we can all agree that the iconic images and scenes that they present and can lend to vintage clothing is well worth cheering about. From elephants to trained seals, clowns (okay, not everyone's favourite, but cute smiling ones usually aren't very menacing unless you have coulrophobia) to top hat adorned ring masters, circus themed items and fashions are fun and nostalgic at the same time - always a winning combo for vintage lovers like us.

Circus related outfits, parties, and dinners can all be a blast and though they are especially well suited to the younger crowd, there's no reason why us "kids at heart" can't get in on the merriment as well (and to that end, I've seen a few circus themed weddings that have been shared online before and they're always a blast, too). I can't say as though I own a ton of circus themed fashions or accessories, but one can easily appropriate various items to have them fit this bill.

From the aforementioned top hats (and tails) to feathers, assorted animal themed items (think horses, dogs, seals, elephants, monkeys, rabbits, lions, and tigers in particular), sequins and ruffles like a trapeze artist or acrobat might wear, and of course, red and white stripes like the famous big top tents themselves, it may be easy to raid your closet right now for numerous pieces that channel a fun circus theme.

Spring is a lighthearted, feel good season that calls for more fun than you can shake a magician's wand at, so why not make like this week's stylish Vintage Fashionista and put together a circus inspired ensemble this year, no matter if you're headed down to the big top or not. It's a happy theme for any outfit that is sure to make you, and all who see your look, smile wider than a chipper clown! :)

A charming 1950s novelty print skirt for a morning spent at the Penticton Farmer's Market

Outfit details

Prescription eyeglasses: (frames) Venus Eye Design V-12
Brown velvet Frank Palma vintage hat: etsy seller Nostalgia Vintage
Pearl necklace: Birthday gift from Tony ♥
Brown cotton cami: Forever 21
Turquoise blue cardigan: Cleo
Edwardian inspired dangle brooch: eBay  Faux pearl stretch bracelets: Real Canadian Superstore
1950s/60s Orange gloves: etsy seller Revvie1
Striped purse: Jones New York
1950s autumn forest novelty print skirt: eBay
Nude seamed stockings: eBay
Dark brown faux letter heels: Pipsqueaks and Damsels Consignment Store (here in Penticton)
Lip colour: Red Apple Lipstick's Firstorm Lip Gloss over their Red Lipstick
Photography by Antonio Cangiano  














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The Okanagan Valley is amongst the richest agricultural areas in the province (if not all of Canada), producing a massive quantity of fruit and wine each year, thanks to the seemingly endless array of orchards and vineyards that cover much of the available growing land around these parts. However, the area is also fortunate to have an impressive number or local food producers, who create everything from artisan cheeses to beautifully sweet honey, high quality baked goods to Mennonite style sausage.

Many of these items, a cornucopia worthy amount of local produce, and various assorted merchants and crafters can be found each Saturday morning in 100 Block of Main Street here in Penticton at the weekly farmer's market, where stall after stall beckons onlookers with their mouth-watering assortment of raw and cooked foods alike.

When I was a youngster, the farmer's market was a whole lot smaller than it is today (it used to take place in Gyro Park and didn't run for as long into the year as now does), however over the past decade or so its truly blossomed into one of the highlights of the growing season for the community, the bulk of which (trust me, the size of crowds there could practically give those at Disneyland a run for their money!) comes out several times (if not each weekend) during the market's ample season, which spans May 1st to October 31st.

The one main drawback (in my books) to the fact that the Penticton Farmer's Market takes place on Saturday mornings is that I rarely get a chance to visit it, given that I like to devote as many Saturdays as my health will permit to hitting the local yard sales. Sometimes though, if the garage sale pickings are slim, or I know I have someplace to be at a specific time on Saturday (and thus don’t go yard saling at all), we'll head downtown and enjoy a stroll through the throngs of folks who have come to do the same thing at the outdoor market on Main Street.

It was on a gloriously sun-kissed morning not too long ago when we did just that, and when Tony captured these outfit photos of me before we embarked. The weather, while gorgeous, wasn't exceedingly warm, so I opted for a long sleeved cardigan and one of my very favourite 1950s skirts, which features a darling autumn forest print (so perfect for this time of the year!).

My novelty print collection - be it skirts, dresses, or blouses - isn't that large, so it's a quite the boon when a new piece gets added, such as when I was lucky enough to be the winning eBay bidder on this delightful skirt earlier this year. It's so sweet and fun, and while it's certainly autumnal, it's also the kind of piece that - thanks to it's vibrant palette and relatively light weight cotton - I could totally wear in the spring and summer, too.

Though I didn't dress with that intention in mind, I loved that once we got to the farmer's market, I colour coordinated with some of the produce on offer there, from the tables of squash to the late season peaches, the swoon-worthily yummy looking freshly baked bread to the tender salad greens - my skirt and shoes even went well with the Nutella filled crepe Tony stopped to munch on from a local vendor who specializes just in French style crepes.

Though we didn't buy much, we had a beautiful morning, and I thoroughly loved getting to spend time outdoors, while the weather was still fabulous, in the heart of our little city, surrounded by, and able to help support, the truly wonderful efforts of some of our area's best local food producers.

With October wrapping up in just a couple of weeks, that means the Penticton Farmer's Market will go on hiatus again until May, when it will return with the most tender, tasty crop of asparagus, spring onions, teeny-tiny candy-sweet strawberries, and myriad other ingredients – all of which we'll eagerly, happily, forgo a bit of yard saling for every now and then.