Festive red and white 1950s gingham for Canada Day

 

 

Outfit details

Prescription eyeglasses: (frames) Venus Eye Design V-12 Red and white polka dot headband: Claire's Red rose stud earrings: Claire's Red vintage plastic bead necklace: gift with purchase from an etsy seller White button front blouse: Reitmans Cute gold toned poodle brooch: eBay  Red and white 1950s gingham sundress: etsy seller JanesVintage Red vintage belt: unknown (probably off of a different 1950s dress) Red lace trimmed pettiskirt/crinoline: Pettiskirt Style  Thicker red bangle bracelet: Forever 21  Thin red and white bangles: etsy seller Me She Designs  Vintage straw clutch: thrifted Nude seemed stockings: eBay White pumps: Payless  Lip colour: MAC Russian Red layered over top of Clinique's Raspberry Glace

Photography by Antonio Cangiano

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The early morning light is soft and warm like the feeling of sun-kissed sand between your toes as it bathes me here in the living room this morning, a perfect start to today's fantastic Canada Day celebration and all the merriment and fun that July 1st holds in store.

Knowing that Canada's birthday was on the horizon, I recently did a photo shoot at Mission Creek Park in Kelowna in its honour. I wanted a location that conveyed a sense of Canadiana without being as a glaringly obvious as, say, a field of maple trees or a hockey rink. No, what I was after was something homey, old-fashioned, humble and beautiful, and a small log cabin building located near one of the entrances to this provincial park fit the bill to an absolute tee.

The day was, much like this lovely morning, bright and sunny, with scarcely a cloud in the sky or worry on my mind, and Tony and I had a blast as he captured snap after snap of me in this terrific spot. I've always been a big fan of log homes, both for their Swiss Miss and Canadian vibes, and have to say this might be my favourite location we're shot at so far this year.

Calling to mind everything from Little House on the Prairie to farm kitchen curtains, gingham - like that used in my red and white 1950s sundress here - is a perpetual favourite of mine, and a true classic the world over. I love gingham for its youthful appeal, timeless sweetness, and ability to play well with other patterns (in this case a polka dot headband), and sport it frequently all year round, with a particular emphasis on the warmer months.

Back at the end of May, mere days after today's vintage outfit photos were captured, the fine folks over at Vintage Living magazine used two images from this shoot in a piece they did on me, called A Dress with a Checkered Past - My Vintage Find.

It's been so hard not talk about this lovely honour with all of you sooner, but I really, really wanted to save this Canada Day appropriate outfit and location for today, so I held off on mentioning it until now. I'm tickled pink that Vintage Living did this post about me and one of my favourite dresses, and want to thank them deeply for featuring me again on their terrific blog.

Today we'll be having a barbeque feast, soaking up as much vitamin D from the sun as we can, and heading down to Okanagan Beach this evening to watch the annual firework show. I just know its going to be a fabulous day, and I couldn't be happier about the fact that I get to spend the first official holiday of summer in my home town once again.

I hope that you all have a marvelous, fun-filled Canada Day celebration, too, dear friends, and that you'll join me in raising a glass (of your favourite Canadian beverage) to the amazing summer that lies ahead!