Sunday, June 7, 2015

༺ Story of a Dress ༻

My favourite vintage gown | Lavender & Twill

Dressing up in a vintage 1950's tea length gown | Lavender & Twill

Vintage 1950's evening look | Lavender & Twill

A special dress with a special story | Lavender & Twilll

Pearl accessories create timeless elegance | Lavender & Twill


Blue velor sprinkled with glitter and a dove grey tulle petticoat | Lavender & Twill

This story is the story of a dress.


A special dress. A sparkling dress. A surprise dress….


It was 2010. I was beginning to tumble headlong into my lasting love affair with vintage fashion. It had all started with an idle link click, and suddenly I was plunged into a flurry of fabulous style that I had been sadly unaware of. It started with browsing on online shops, yearning after dresses I couldn’t have, and then ~ there was a link to a blog. I knew about blogs. I’d even set one up in my university days, and wrote on it sporadically when the urge struck. 

What I didn’t know is that blogs where a thing you could read, could follow, could fall into a hole on, devouring post after post after post! But there it was. A dainty, feminine, vintage clad gal tripping across my screen and I knew I wanted to look like that before I even knew what the look was! {It was Fleur from Diary of a Vintage Girl in a floral 1940s frock incidentally.}

That was when the interest exploded into obsession, and I went on the prowl, combing through eBay and Etsy listings for the perfect dress with which to start my very own vintage wardrobe.  There were gorgeous frocks abounding when one stopped me dead in my tracks ~ it was a stunning 1950’s tea length evening gown.

It had a sheer chiffon overlay printed with a velour floral and lace pattern, sprinkled with silver glitter. A pink cotton candy underlining, an attached dove grey tulle crinoline, and a wee belt that buckles at the back. This dress was amazing. It was perfect! I had to have it!

But at $180.00 + p&p it seemed pricey to my inexperienced eyes. I waffled. I vacillated. I closed the window in my browser, determined to forget about it, only to find myself opening it over and over again. 

I even asked my Mister ~ a true sign of desperation, because he doesn’t “get” clothing ~ but received a very non-committal answer. A couple of days later I decided I was going to make the big commitment and purchase it only to find…

SOLD! SOLD!!! Some one else had bought my perfect dress!  

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Well, all the self recrimination in the world wouldn’t bring it back, so I nursed a near-broken heart (- ‿ •), and got on with life.

I really did think that was the end of it, but one day at lunch my Mister walks out with a brightly wrapped, very early Christmas present.

Oh, you guessed it!  It was the dress!

When I unwrapped it I squee’d, and danced, and generally was the happiest girl on the planet.    ✧・゚:*✧・゚:* \(◕▽◕✿)/ *:・゚✧*:・゚✧

So that’s the story of how the perfect 1950’s evening gown found it’s home with me. My very first piece of ‘really truly’ vintage, my first 1950’s dress, and the first gift of vintage from my sweet Mister! A lot of firsts, and this dress will always have it’s ‘first’ spot in my heart because of that.

I wrote this story down for the Story of an Item project on Tumblr, and I am so glad I’ve had a chance to participate in this world-wide collection of vintage tales. Each post is a chance to capture a special event, and I’m so thrilled to write about this amazing dress.

Do you remember your first piece of vintage?  Was it a dress, or something else?  How did you start your vintage collection?  I’d love to hear your special stories!

xox,

bonita

༺ ♡ ༻

Glitter & Lace 1950’s Evening Gown | Revolving Styles Vintage
Vintage Pearl String Necklace | Gift from my Mother
Vintage Pearl Cluster Hair Comb | Etsy
Pearl Drops | Gift from the Mister
Seeded Pearl Gloves | Thrifted
Peach Puff Crinoline | Doris Designs Adult 26" Petticoat in Peach
Wedding Star Kitten Heels | Old {yes, I did wear these for my wedding!}


༺ ♡ ༻

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Ravelry | BJVear
Twitter | bjvear
Youtube | Bonita Vear

22 comments:

  1. What a beautiful dress, and an awesome story! What a good Mister you have!

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  2. A charming story and a heavenly dress! Fairytale stuff :)

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  3. It's seriously stunning and what a lovely story. Something to treasure forever - and you look fab in it to boot :) unfortunately my first piece of vintage was technically a bag that smells like something died in it, hence I don't use it! It's probably partly the reason I mostly stick to new/repro ;) x

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  4. That is truly a beautiful, heartwarming story - the moment you wrote that it had sold, I was secretly hoping already that it had been to your sweet husband and lo and behold, it was. What a romantic, caring, awesome thing for him to do. I adore this post and that we've both been a part of the Story of an Item project now. So cool! :)

    ♥ Jessica



    *PS* You look radiantly gorgeous!!!

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  5. That is a great story! It was so great of your Mister to spring for the dress for you, and such a fun surprise for you. I hate that feeling when a dress gets away (and with vintage, you know the likelihood of seeing it again is very low), but the joy of having it in your hands must have been wonderful. And it looks so stunning on you! You are like a princess here, it's beautiful.

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  6. Oh my heavens what a delightful story!! I love it! And I love that your mister knew you and your heart so well that he got it for you!!! The dresses is gorgeous and you look fabulous in it!!!!. The pictures are so beautiful!!
    Blessings!
    Gina

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  7. He really is the best! (•ᵕ ᴗ ᵕ•) ♥ ❤

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  8. Oh, haha! That's a funny story Cici! I don't think I've ever come across vintage that has smelt really, really bad, but I have had a few wiffy pieces. Handbags seem to be the worst offenders; probably because they shut and don't air out as nicely as clothes can.

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  9. It was actually your "Story of an Item" post that inspired me to reach out to Zohar and see if I could be apart of the project Jessica! I really enjoyed reading your story, and knew that it was a special opportunity to contribute to the tumblr. :)

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  10. Oh, I know right?! I had one like that recently, and the stupid thing was that I was waiting and waiting to bid, then forgot in the last hour and missed out on it! I was so gutted and annoyed with myself. I really wanted that dress! (*´Д`)ハァハァ

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  11. Thank you Gina! I really am such a lucky girl, my MIster is so thoughtful. ❤ ❤ ❤ And the dress was the best surprise!

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  12. That is so fantastically amazing! Love the dress, and love the story :)


    My first vintage dress doesn't really have a special story behind it, I just found it at a vintage store one day, it fit me perfectly, was the perfect price, so it came home with me :) It is made up of the most divine light aqua blue dupioni with a 1/2 or 1/4 circle skirt that is piped in horizontal rows all the way down. The bodice is a kimono/wrap style with short sleeves. I believe it is probably from the late 1940s/early 50's.


    thanks for the lovely post, dear!


    xo,
    -Charlotte
    boyerfamilysignersblog.com

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  13. Awww how sweet.

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  14. Oh wow, your dress sounds pretty special though Charlotte, I hope we get to see it in an outfit post sometime! :)

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  15. Such a sweet story, and it must make it even more special that it was your husband who bought you your first vintage dress! You look breath taking in it, it is such an amazing dress. Also, your home is so beautiful - that couch is fabulous. Btw super excited that I can comment on your blog now that there is a "guest" option :D

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  16. It certainly is a special dress, and thank you. :) I love my couch! Haha!


    And thanks for letting me know about that feature Harlow, I am happy if it makes it easier for people to visit. It's always so sad when you can't leave a comment on someone's blog! :D

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  17. This dress is positively gorgeous Bonita! And you look positively gorgeous in it! What a lovely story about how you received it. :)

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  18. Oh wow! That is the most truely marvellous dress. I can see why you fell for it and you look amazing in it. What a great story too.

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  19. Thank you Brigid, it certainly is a fun tale of how some precious vintage came to me!

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  20. Yup, I certainly did fall for it. It really is one of my most special pieces!

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