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.}

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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.

Cute green eShakti spring dress review

Outfit details

Hair flowers: Arden

Pearl stud earrings: Claire's

Pearl necklace: Birthday gift from Tony ♥

Green and white tipped trim poplin dress: eShatki

White ruched sleeve cardigan: Fairweather

Mint green 1950s gloves: eBay

Faux pearl stretch bracelets: Real Canadian Superstore

Green glass bead and brass lucky horse shoe charm bracelet: Handmade by me

Black vintage handbag: etsy seller A Vintage Revival

Nude on nude seamed stockings: eBay

White pumps: Payless

Lip colour: Clinique Raspberry Glace

Photography by Antonio Cangiano

 









♥ ♥ ♥

As you may recall from this post a couple of months ago, I was contacted by the eShakti.com customer service team again early on this year in regards to reviewing another one of their garments. My previous experiences with eShakti had been mixed, especially due to the sizing on two dresses I'd purchased myself from them last December being significantly smaller than what was actually stated (for the size's measurements). I detailed, at length, my thoughts on that particular eShakti order here, so shalln't rehash it all again in today's post.

I received the cheerful kelly green and white dress that I'm wearing in the photos here (taken back in late March - it will be a while still before I've recouped enough from my recent surgery to bop around and take outfit photos again) from eSkati, having been instructed to selection three different dresses from their vast spring lineup, one of which I'd receive at random (based on their inventory levels, I was told) to review.

Having previously has such unfortunate luck with the sizing (the dresses I'd bought were both more than two inches smaller than the measurements listed, thus making them too small in the torso for me to comfortably wear), I decided to veer on the side of caution and order up not one, but two sizes larger than I normally would have (worn) based on the measurements listed on their website.

I also opted for a dress with buttons up the front, instead of a side zipper (as it's only fastening), as the two I'd purchased both had, in the hopes that this would grant me an even easier time with the torso fit. Both of these choices certainly had their desired effect, in fact, I'd venture to say that (in the case of a button front dress), I could have perhaps gotten away with order up just one size, as there was a fair bit of excess fabric in the bust area (I'm not very larger busted to begin with, so I might wear more of a bullet style bra the next time I sport this dress, to help fill out the chest area a bit more). The waist however fit very comfortably and I have no issue with things there this time around.

Perhaps my one main qualm with this dress is the hem length. The listing specs for this dress said that it would hit below the knee - which it does, just barely. When you order a dress or skirt from eShakti, they ask you to specify your height, which I did, and I assumed that it would come down somewhere at the mid-calf length, however it just barely skims my kneecaps.

Now, to be perfectly fair, eShakti does allow you to specify the hem length that you'd like from a few choices, but having opted for their "mid-calf" length with the two dresses mentioned above and having them both hit at my ankles, I was leery of picking that option again and instead decided to try my luck with the standard "below the knee" sizing that the dress came in.

While I realize this is something of a personal preference, I tend to like my dresses to come down a bit further past my knees, and had this frock not cleared mine, I would have returned it and exchanged it for a longer size. It's (relatively) short hem length ensures it will be great for the toasty summer months though, and it was also met with much approval from my husband.

Overall it's a very comfortable, well constructed dress and the colours are cute, classic and fun. I'm much, much more pleased with this frock than the two I'd purchased last year. The dress may be going for a retro vibe, but the cut is quite modern and more boxy than I'd generally like (I find boxy dresses with a-line skirts tend to make me look heavier than I am, and I feel that this one does that a bit, though styling it differently - such as with a medium width belt - in the future may help in that regard).

That said though, I'm happy with it - minor shortcomings and all, and feel that I'd be considerably more comfortable shopping with eShakti again (especially now that I've really got a good grasp on their various sizing and fit quirks). I appreciate that they sent me this dress and would be pleased to work with them again in the future.

In terms of styling this dress, I wanted to go with something sweet and springtime-y, but not overly cloying, so I grounded the green and white (which can easily veer unintentionally into spearmint candy territory) with hits of black care of one of my hair flowers and my handbag. Next time I wear it, I think I'll use a belt as just mentioned, and perhaps slip a basic blouse underneath (the dress itself has wide strap sleeves) thus transforming it into more of a jumper style dress (I think having a blouse underneath will also help add some bulk to the bust area and thus make the excess fabric there less noticeable).

These photos were taken on a small stretch of beach along Okanagan Lake just outside of the neighbouring town of Summerland, as the pale sun was beginning to set on a mild spring day and Tony and I were out running errands. I love the gentle, skin flattering lighting at work in these images and so wish I could reach into a magic bag and pull out that kind of soft light more often for photo shoots.

So while this eShakti dress might not be 100% perfect in terms of fit, it's a far cry better than the others I've gotten from them and I'll definitely wear it again. Though it's summery in cut, the colours help ensure it would also work well for Christmas or St. Patrick's Day, making it a great year round piece that I look forward to styling in various ways in the months and years to come.

You can't put a price tag on nostalgia

 It will likely not come as a shock to anyone who has known me for at least five or so seconds, that I am a nostalgist. I can (and on plenty of occasions, have) wax poetically about the past - be it experiences from my own life or memories of a world long before I ever entered it - and as a lover of history and yesteryear fashion, it's safe to say that I live, so to speak, in days gone by a fair bit of the time.

This doesn’t mean that I see the past as some kind of glorious safe haven of an escape from the modern world or that I eschew the present, not in the slightest, but rather that my heart has a tendency to get very sentimental and attached to things I remember (or wish I'd been there to live firsthand and then later recall) and hold dear or meaningful.

I believe that many of us in the vintage community are the same way, and it's no doubt a substantial part of why we adore embodying so many yesteryear elements in our daily lives right here and now in 2013. Nostalgia is a powerful force and one that has been with humankind since the dawn of time, whether helping us to recount tales of earlier times around the fire's glow at night when were just beginning our journey towards civilization or accounting for the reason why so many people find themselves enthralled with the study of their own family's genealogy.

The word nostalgia sometimes tends to carry a bittersweet connotation, and indeed one can feel a powerful longing in our heart for moments and faces once near and dear to us that now exist only, at least in that precise form, in the halls of our memory.

When I think of the word nostalgia, I'm often reminded of the beautiful lyrics from John Lennon's classic song In My Life, which say…

There are places I'll remember all my life,

though some have changed

Some forever, not for better

Some have gone and some remain

All these places had their moments

With lovers and friends, I still can recall

Some are dead and some are living In my life,

I've loved them all

For me, no other lines I've ever read so succinctly summed up or expressed my relationship with nostalgia. Yes, it can be bittersweet at times, but ultimately it's a far more positive feeling than a negative one for me, and I'm truly grateful that my past experiences continue to play such a roll in my everyday life right here and now and in the present.

Like many, I have a special fondness for my youth - a point which some may find a touch fascinating because my childhood was often a million miles away from being an idyllic bed of roses, and there's a great many things I wish I could forget about those formative years, too. That said, glass half full kind of gal that I am, I tend to like to focus on the elements of my upbringing that I enjoyed and adored, and it is these that I most often feel a longing in my soul for.

Thusly, every now and then I come across a garment that really reminds me of an item of clothing I had as a little girl. From my earliest memories onward, I've loved fashion with an unending passion, and even as a youngster, there were certain pieces of clothing that I held in the highest regard, favouring and treasuring them most amongst all those in my dresser drawers.

Once such piece was a solid Cerulean blue summer dress with a swingy a-line skirt and a row of purply-blue buttons up the front that I had around the time when I was six years old. I went hunting through my childhood photos for an image of me in this particular frock, but none were forthcoming unfortunately (hopefully one will surface some day).

I adored this dress and wore it often, including one time when my little brother and I turned part of our backyard into a giant mud puddle, splashing around and digging for worms in it for hours one overcast afternoon. I can recall vividly in my mind how spackled and stained that dress looked when we emerged, but my mom - laundress extraordinair - was unphased and delighted in how much fun her kids had been having. Clothes, she asserted, could always be cleaned, and indeed she was able to bring my cheerful blue dress back to it's former glory with a good sudsying.

As with all of my favourite childhood garments, I'm sure I wore that dress until it was simply impossible to fit into any more. Some of my clothes we saved for my little sister, and some were either binned if they were threadbare or passed on for others to enjoy, and no doubt one of these things happened to that particular summertime frock.

I've recalled my vibrant tropical ocean hued dress often over the years, and thought on numerous occasions how absolutely lovely it would be to find a vintage or vintage appropriate frock in the same colour and a similar cut. Much to my absolute delight last month, while perusing some vintage listings on eBay, I did just that when I spied the following frock.

{Image via eBay seller Bohochick's auction listing.}

Though it was a bit big for me (size wise) and a bidding war drove the price up far more than I'd usually have paid for a similar 1980s does 1950s style dress in another hue, the fact that this garment was the exact same shade of Cerulean blue and in a strikingly similar cut (complete with almost identical buttons) as the dress from my youth, meant that I was going give winning it my fighting best.

I have an annual tradition of buying a new dress as a birthday present to myself. Even though my actual birthday falls in July, it's not uncommon for me to pick up my lovely gift earlier on in the spring if I find one that sets my heart on fire. I usually set a generous cap of $100 to spend on this treat to myself, though I never feel obliged to actually max out that budget.

Seeing that the auction price was quickly skyrocketing on this dress, I justified it's (potential) ding on my pocketbook by telling myself that if I won, it would be my birthday present to myself this year. As you may have already guessed, I'm pleased as punch to say that I did indeed come out as the lucky winner of this sweetly pretty dress, and I didn't even have to use up my whole budget (the winning price, before shipping, was $68.99 US) to do so!

There are many memories that are priceless to each of us, and which - as the title of this post says - you really cannot put a price tag on, but I rather love when you find something that reminds of your past which you can afford, and my new frock falls squarely into that camp. I have no qualms with saying I would have spent the whole hundred - and perhaps in a little bit more - on this dress, because I knew it would be a good long time in all likelihood before another one like it came along and the flood of memories it brought rushing back the moment I saw it made it more than worth every last penny.

This dress is so classic and endlessly summertime perfect. Its swingy, generously sized circle skirt helps turn a single item into a whole outfit, especially if you tuck a crinoline underneath.

It's safe to say that I love my new blue summer dress every bit as much as the one I wore day in and day out as a child, and that I'm eagerly looking forward to making scores of new memories in this frock as well - many of which, I'm sure, I'll look back on in the years to come with that familiar, important feeling: nostalgia.

Cool, sheer and colorful 1930s spring fashions

✯ Day 123 of Vintage 365 ✯

 

From the pages of the spring/summer 1938 Sear & Roebuck catalog comes a selection of the most delightfully pretty late 1930s women's fashions I've encountered in a long time. These cheerful, terrifically elegant dresses - airy as spun sugar - are paired with equally chic, wonderfully sprightly hats that help set the whole mood of these highly feminine outfits.

{Vintage 1930s Sears catalog page via juffrouwig on Flickr.}

 

I look at these three beautiful young women and I'm suddenly struck with the intense desire to transport back in time seventy three years. While 1920s and early 30s styles can be hard for me to pull off (thanks to my petite, hourglass figure that definitely does not jive well with most flapper era fashions), as the thirties rolled onward women's fashions began to change and return to more structured, tailored styles, some of which, do work for me.

These three styles seem to bridge the gap between the early 30s and war years of the 40s perfectly. They're streamlined, but still somewhat billowy and carefree; ripe with wonderfully lovely details such as ruffled collars, ribbon sash belts, and sheer fabric overlays. Two sport polka dots (which on the darling red dress are in the shape of little hearts, to boot!), and the third is a timelessly beautiful floral print that looks as though a stunning May garden has come to life on a short-sleeved springtime frock.

I would wear anyone of these looks, but am perhaps most in love with floral dress that boasts a jolly corsage-like detail in the centre of the neckline. I go weak in the knee for vintage dresses with flowers on them and would adore the chance to wear this thoroughly wonderful 1930s number.

All three looks are works of art unto themselves though, each so agelessly appealing and, I think, also rather easy to wear. While it might be quite tricky to track down these exact dresses today, similar styles can still be found online (etsy shop, Adeline’s Attic, which features an expertly curated array of vintage pieces, is one of my absolute favourite sources of great 1930s fashions) and at second hand stores that stock clothing from the thirties.

This May, why not draw inspiration, as I certainly am, from this vintage Sears catalog page to help ensure that you look every bit as lovely - and springtime worthy - today as these ladies did seven decades ago.

A fabulous 1950s style aquamarine polka dot dress that is sure to steal your heart!

✯ Day 97 of Vintage 365 ✯

 

The gorgeous item of clothing at the centre of today's post is one of those stunning web finds that I chanced upon several weeks back, and was struck (yet again) with the thought of this morning that I should post about before it's too (one never knows, after all, how long an online retailer will keep a given item in stock).

I have a running list that I keep of things that I hope to incorporate into posts here on Chronically Vintage, and this dazzling frock has been calling out at me from said list all week long, so I knew I simply couldn't let another day pass without posting about it.

If I was ticking off the boxes beside the elements that I strive to find in a vintage dress (or vintage reproduction dress, as in the case of sublime number), this positively beautiful aqua hued frock would score very, very well thanks to its full skirt, timelessly wonderful colour (that just screams springtime to me!), terrifically pretty, dainty little black velvet bow, crisp white polka dot pattern, and immensely flattering square neckline (paired with wide shoulder straps - meaning you can actually wear a proper undergarment beneath it without running the risk of your bra straps poking out!).

Dubbed The Gidget, this enchantingly lovely dress - which is available for $165.00 (Australian) from online vintage clothing seller Hot Couture - is nothing shy of swoon-worthy (hmmm, can you tell I'm more than a little smitten with it?! :) ). It's the sort of terrifically feminine, utterly elegant, perfectly timeless dress that I could just as easily imagine wearing out on a date with my beloved hubby, as I can pairing it with a cute little cardigan and wearing to run errands or relax in as I nibble a June picnic under a willow tree.

Available in ladies sizes XS to XXXL (all of which, at the time of writing this post, are in stock), this amazing 1950s style vintage reproduction dress is the kind of wardrobe treasure that could see you through a myriad of events, from attending a causal spring wedding to a PTA meeting, antique shopping with your BBF to strolling hand-in-hand on a warm summer's eve with your sweetie.

It is classy, youthful, alluring, and down-right stunning - not to mention exactly the kind of vintage dress I go positively giddy over!