Blue hair flower: Arden
Faux pearl bow barrette: Dollar store
Gold toned hoop earrings: Claire's
Pearl necklace: Birthday gift from Tony ♥
1980s does 1950s blue dress: eBay
Dusty aqua knit shrug: Walmart
Rainbow crinoline: Pettiskirt Style
C. 1950s white gloves with floral embroidery: eBay
Vintage grey handbag: etsy seller Running Rabbit Studio
Nude seemed stockings: eBay
White pumps: Payless
Lip colour: Clinique Raspberry Glace
Photography by Antonio Cangiano
Without the tiniest whisper of a doubt, one of my very favourite undergarments is the trusty, beautiful crinoline (as long time readers may recall from various posts over the years, including this one back in 2010). Though I don't wear them every day, they're a tried and true love of mine that appear in various outfits throughout the year (such as this Canada Day ensemble and this festive pumpkin picking outfit from last October).
Interestingly, I find I reach for my modest sized collection of crinolines most frequently during the summer and winter months.
When the sun is out in full, blazing force, they had an especially feminine, at times even subtly whimsical flounce and sense of even greater airiness to sundresses and wide, breezy skirts. Come the bone chilling days of late autumn and into the winter, they provide a stellar layer of insulation against freezing cold winds (opaque tights, a crinoline, and a circle skirt, plus warm layers on top, is one of my most commonly reached for winter looks). No matter the season though, I adore crinolines and am always eager to both add more to my wardrobe and weave those that I have into new outfits.
A number of my crinolines (including those in the posts referenced above) hail from online crinoline retailer Pettiskirt Style. I discovered this site about three years ago and have been a steadfastly devoted fan ever since (Pettiskirt Style also has a great Facebook page that's bursting with photos of their products).
Not only do they provide an extensive array of different crinoline (aka, pettiskirt) styles, colours, and lengths (including a good many that work wonders for vintage looks), but their offerings are well photographed (this is a key point for me with any online clothing retailer), reasonably priced, and able to be shipped to Canada (and most other countries around the world - for more details, see their shipping policies page).
I was over-the-moon excited then, having already shopped with them before and been 100% satisfied with my purchases, when a lovely member of the Pettiskirt Style staff contacted me a little earlier this year to know if I'd be interested in receiving a complimentary crinoline (of my choosing) to wear and review here on my blog.
The idea of a multi-coloured rainbow crinoline is something that had appealed to me ever since I was a little girl, so when I saw that Pettiskirt Style had recently introduced one (actually, two - they have both a bright crinoline, pictured below, and a pastel rainbow coloured one in stock), I knew that was the lovely new tulle beauty that was destined to be mine.
More voluminous than any other crinoline (be it from Pettiskirt Style or elsewhere, vintage or modern) that I own, the Rainbow Bright Primary Colors Crinoline is a true delight to behold and wear. It's poufy, stable, comfortable, and warm (but certainly not stiflingly so - it was nearly +30C the day we took these photos and I didn't feel like I was overheating in the slightest), as well as being a true show stopper of a piece.
A majestic crinoline like this calls for a full skirted dress (or circle skirt) and plenty of 1950s inspired styling. To that end, I opted to wear it with the wonderful 1950s does 1980s Cerulean blue dress that I bought as my birthday present to myself this year and have been eager to debut here ever since I blogged about it (in this post).
The dress and the rainbow crinoline were definitely the stars of the shows, so I kept my accessories on the more understated side - a pair of white elbow length vintage gloves with delicate floral embroidery, dusty aqua hued knit shrug, matching blue hair flower, my beloved strand of pearls, small gold toned hoop earrings, vintage grey handbag, stockings, and classic white pumps.
For such a fun and dramatic outfit, an extra special location was in order, and we found ours that day in the stone shell foundational remains of the historic 1912 hotel in the neighbouring community of Kaleden. For as long as I've been coming to, and living in, the Okanagan, this hotel has been a ghost of its former self, instead of a functioning inn, but thankfully what remains has been well preserved and now stands as one of the oldest - at 103 years of age (despite it's name, it was actually built in 1910 and opened the following year) - partial structures in the Southern Okanagan.
From the warm, late summer sunshine to the Edwardian stone backdrop to the gloriously lovely crinoline I was sporting, this shoot, day and outfit were a total joy, and I know that I shall be slipping into this crinoline again many more times over the years - especially when an abundance of volume is called for underneath my skirt.
I have - and I am completely unbiased when I say this - nothing but the very best to say about Pettiskirt Style's beautiful crinolines. I've shopped from them before, was thrilled to receive this awesome rainbow crinoline as a review gift (thank you so very much, dear Pettiskirt Style team), and have no doubt that I will likely order from them again in the future.
Their line is constantly expanding, they have such a great selection, their products jive terrifically with my vintage style, and they fulfilled my adolescent dream of rainbow pettiskirt - what's not to adore?
If you're in the mood to do some crinoline shopping of your own, I am delighted to share a wonderful coupon code that with you today that will allow readers from around the world to save a substantial 20% off on your entire order from Pettiskirt Style until October 30, 2013. Just use Jessica20 when you check out and the discount will automatically be applied to your purchase.
Happy crinoline shopping and wearing, my dears!
If you're in the mood to do some crinoline shopping of your own, I am delighted to share a wonderful coupon code that with you today that will allow readers from around the world to save a substantial 20% off on your entire order from Pettiskirt Style until October 30, 2013. Just use Jessica20 when you check out and the discount will automatically be applied to your purchase.
Happy crinoline shopping and wearing, my dears!
It's awesome! I never realized that petticotes may be worn outside the lolita style :D It goes prettily with your dress and the fact that it's rainbow one.. *swoon* :D
ReplyDeleteAnd the last photo is perfect! :D
Oh, my! You look SO lovely, Jessica! Beautiful blue.
ReplyDeleteI've adored crinolines since I was little. Never knew they came multi-colored. Now I know what I want for Christmas!
Beautiful clothes! The turquoise really looks good on you!
ReplyDeleteEeep! Those gloves!!!! LOVE THEM! And what a cool petticoat......
ReplyDeleteI love your outfit and all the small details, like the flowers on your gloves. Small details can really make the outfit special. What does the tattoo on your arm say? I can't quite make it out. That hotel looks really nifty, I love to explore old places.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, my dear. I completely agree, it's so often the small details that can elevate an outfit from being merely nice/pretty to truly memorable.
DeleteMy tattoo (my only ink to date), which I got when I was 17, says "Poet", as poetry has always been something I've greatly enjoyed writing, and it was especially important to me as a teenager. I shared a bit more about both my tattoo and my longstanding relationship with poetry last February in this post: http://www.chronicallyvintage.com/2013/02/by-request-sampling-of-my-poetry.html
I'm a huge fan of exploring old buildings, too! We have a serious shortage of them around these parts (despite the fact that the general area has roots stretching back to the mid-Victorian era), so each one is especially wonderful and worthy of being celebrated in photos. There's a Victorian schoolhouse (I think it's from the 1880s) about two hours north from us that I'd really love to do a shoot with one day in particular, too.
♥ Jessica
Did a lot of them get demolished or did they just fall apart naturally. In southern New Jersey there aren't a lot of old buildings anymore. They're all demolished to make room for developments and condo blocks. It's really sad.
DeleteI have two tattoos, both music related. I think tattoos are best when it's something meaningful to you.
That's a shame - New Jersey is one of the oldest states in the union, you'd think there would be more of an effort made to preserve its heritage buildings of different ages. I can't speak for our whole region (the Okanagan Valley), but I know that here in Penticton and surrounding small communities (like Kaleden, where these remains stand), most of them were knocked down over time to be replaced by newer structures. For a while when I was growing up, my family lived in a quaint little Edwardian house that was built in 1909. It was the oldest house on that street, though it had some other Edwardian and 1920s and 30s neighbours to keep it company. We moved out years ago, and thankfully it's still standing, but some of the other older houses on that street were knocked down and replaced with (*shudders*) modern duplexes and fourplexes.
DeleteAgreed completely - I'd never get a tattoo that didn't have a lot of personal meaning to me.
♥ Jessica
Such a great outfit:) I love dressing all in one color and the blue with your hair looks amazing! The dress and the shrug just go well so together. I have a crinoline that I have never worn I should really start to wear it!
ReplyDeleteOooh how pretty! I've never seen a multicoloured one like this before, so unique! I'd get one myself except I outright refuse to pay the stupidly high customs charges and additional post office and handling fees that I get charged for overseas purchases these days :(
ReplyDeleteI love the photo with you and the wall painting.
ReplyDeleteThat is almost too pretty to cover! A lovely collection of photographs. It looks so good with this dress.
ReplyDeleteYou look so beautiful in that blue dress!
ReplyDeleteThank you so very much, dear Chrissy. I didn't mention this my post, but later that day, my super rambunctious (but not so tiny any more!) puppy jumped on me and tore a weird shaped hole in the skirt of this dress. It was all I could do to keep the tears from tumbling out on the spot. It's not a huge hole, thankfully (less than an inch in length), and I'm going to take the dress to seamstress soon to see what can be done to mend it as best as possible (it's too meaningful a piece for me to never wear again).
Delete♥ Jessica
This outfit - and the backdrop - are just wonderful! The petticoat is so much fun too, but I just love the blue hues of your outfit - which goes lovely with the colour of your hair. You look just beautiful in that second, portrait-style shot.
ReplyDeletethat outfit is amazing! I love the rainbow skirt :)
ReplyDeleteYou look great in that shade of blue! Oh and the petticoat is to die for! I have been wanting a rainbow petticoat for some time now. I love the 1950s ones that have a few different colors in each tier. Unfortunately the one time I found on that would fit, someone bought it right before the auction started. I did find a vintage lavender Malco Mode petticoat for $14. I just need to fix the waist band.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, honey! It really is incredible! So poofy, so pretty, and such a blast to wear! One day I'd love to pick up the pastel version of it, too, which is quite similar to some of those great 1950s multi-coloured ones that you mentioned. Great find on your $14 crinoline! That's quite the bargain for a vintage one these days (plus lavender is such a pretty colour - I'd make it the star of my next Easter ensemble! :)).
Delete♥ Jessica
Ohhhh...lovely!!! You look very gorgeous!! And the colors... ohhh...
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, my dear. The colours here were such a joy to sport. I'm so very keen on colour all year round, but there's something extra marvelous about those warm summer days when it gets to be illuminated by glowing, golden sunlight like this.
Delete♥ Jessica
You look so pretty in this shade of blue! And what a lovely petticoat!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Monika
You're ever so sweet, thank you very much, dear Monika. It really is something incredible, I agree - so voluminous, playful and smile-inducingly fun.
DeleteBig hugs,
♥ Jessica
Absolutely gorgeous outfit an dpictures
ReplyDeleteurban hounds
a vision of beauty and chic again! i love you in blue! what a wonderful dress! and gosh that rainbow petticoat makes me swoon! this is soooo fabulous!
ReplyDeletelove and kiss,mary
A beauty in blue! Your hair looks so pretty.
ReplyDeleteIvy
Oh this is great, I need to take a great big look at this site as I have been on the hunt for a nice white petticoat. My daughter would love one of these rainbow ones and I'm sure would just wear this with a pair to tights lol. Thanks for sharing about this great discount.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, dear Joanna. It's a smashing deal - if I wasn't recouping (on the pocketbook front) from our trip to Calgary, I'd be hopping all over it myself, too. Aww, I bet your sweet little daughter would look darling in a rainbow crini of her own, just as you'd look marvelous in any of this site's offerings.
Delete♥ Jessica
Oh, dear Jessica! You look like a beautiful dream of summer with this beautiful look!! Certainly, I've dreamed pettitcoats in soft shades of the rainbow, but your pettitcoat is wonderful! I have no words to explain my feelings and heart shrink to enjoy your photos. Happy weekend, dear friend.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! I adore your rainbow crinoline! It's spectacular, as is your entire outfit in this post. And i love the setting. Perfect. I'm glad you had such a beautiful roadtrip. I've enjoyed the photos you've posted on facebook! :)
ReplyDeleteDear Jessica, really enjoying seeing your pairing of fashion items. LOVE the crinolines. I will have to add to my collection, thanks for the lead for Petticoat style. Just a question, I have just resurrected my collection of old hankerchiefs, (over 50 of them I found) and am wondering how you would encorporate them in your daily life. They are just toooooo pretty to keep stored away, actually too pretty to use as a hankerchief, unless it to to wave good bye to someone leaving on a train! Other than having them peep out of a top pocket of a swell jacket, I am a bit unsure how else to celebrate them. Any ideas?
ReplyDeleteBest,
Celtic Lass
Hello dear lady, thank you very much for your lovely comment and question. Aren't crinolines and hankies both marvelous, beautiful elements of fashions past that seem like they should have always remained in the spotlight?
DeleteI have a fair number (though not as many as you - that's quite the collection!) of beautiful vintage hankies, too, and some of my favourite ways to put them to use (beside their intended purpose, and as you mentioned, as pocket squares) are to (depending on their size) use them as headscarves/headbands/hair bows. Tuck under a belt or through belt loops, like a small scarf for a flash of colour at the waist. Safety pin them inside of sleeves like detachable cuffs (if you have a matching pair, or two that contrast or compliment each other well), tuck one into the neck of a shirt (like a scarf or dickie), or knot one around the straps of a purse (also like a scarf).
I've never made or owned one, but I've seen some lovely vintage and modern examples of skirts (http://www.rubylane.com/item/700271-lgv1605/Vintage-Handkerchief-Hem-Skirt-Cotton), aprons (https://www.etsy.com/listing/154631265/vintage-whimsical-handkerchief-apron?ref=exp_listing), and shirts (http://www.blackandwhiteandlovedallover.com/2011/12/stuff-i-made-vintage-handkerchief.html) that made from, or embellished with pieces of, handkerchiefs.
I hope these ideas help (another fun one is handkerchief flowers: http://athomewithnatalie.blogspot.ca/2011/04/handkerchief-flower-pins.html) you put your wonderful collection to even more use.
♥ Jessica
How sweet and beautiful you look my dear. That rainbow crinoline looks fantastic on you and better still I love how it suits your personality. Bright and beautiful. You make me tempted in getting one LOL xox
ReplyDeleteThank you so very much, my dear Bunny - I adore, and am really touched by, the fact that you think this great crini suits my personality. I don't disagree there in the slightest. I like to be vibrant, upbeat and happy, and this crinoline embodies all those things for me.
Delete♥ Jessica
Gorgeous photos, and what a fun petticoat! I am so much enjoying your Calgary posts.
ReplyDeleteYou look like you've stepped out of a fairy tale! That blue dress is so beautiful and vibrant, I love the darling floral detail on your gloves too, so pretty :3 Petticoats are soooo lovely (especially this gorgeous rainbow one) my biggest issue though is finding ones that are the right length for my dresses!
ReplyDeleteThat is so immensely sweet, honey, thank you very, very much. I completely agree, there's a definite fairy tale quality to it - I could see Belle or Ariel in particular sporting this. So true - I find that to be an issue with a lot of crinolines, too. That's actually a big part of why I started shopping with Pettiskirt Style, they offer a fair number of different lengths, many of which jive well with vintage and repro hem lengths (and my petite stature).
Delete♥ Jessica
Dear Jessica, first let me say a bug Hello and welcome home to you. I hope your vacation was fabulous and I am glad to see you are back and looking beyond fabulous!!!! I totally adore this color of blue on you. It looks just fabulous darling with you beautiful hair and your skin. I LOVE your crinoline and I would so love to wear one but I end of fearing I am beyond the age appropriate for them. MAYBE.. I will one day when I find the right dress, oh that's right, I have a closet full of dresses that I could wear one with... I am so sorry your little doggie tore your dress Dear Jessica. I will write more later. Computer dying. Gentle Hugs, Beverlt
ReplyDeleteYou are so deeply sweet, dear Beverly, thank you very, very much. Our trip was off-the-charts marvelous, but it is good to be home again, too. We grabbed these snaps a few days before we departed, and I'm really glad that we did, because it's likely going to be weeks before I've recouped enough from our travels for a day out like this again (plus summer vanished almost frighteningly quickly here this year, which is somewhat rare, and it's been rainy all week, which wouldn't work well for an outdoor scene like this).
DeleteI think that ladies of all ages can wear crinolines. They have a youthful quality for sure, but can also look incredibly sophisticated and mature under under a sweeping skirt or gown. I could really envision you in the pastel rainbow version of this fun crini, my lovely friend.
♥ Jessica
I adore your outfit. What a gorgeous petticoat! One can't help but feel feminine in a cascade of petticoats.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think petticoats, it makes me think of the scene in Gone With the Wind in which Rhett Butler buys a scandalous red petticoat for Mammy. It's one of my favorite scenes in the film.
Best Wishes,
Amanda
Thank you very much, sweet Amanda. I completely agree - there is such an elegant sense of femininity to lengthy crinolines like this. They often make me think of Gone With The Wind, too, as well as Victorian ladies of all sorts, and of course 1950s girls headed to prom.
DeleteBig hugs,
♥ Jessica
oh wow, that crinoline is fantastic!! and i love that no one would even know that it's rainbow except for you because it's hidden. and the detailing on your gloves is so pretty and delicate, i love them! you look beautiful as always. and i think dresses we buy ourselves as birthday presents always end up being some of our favourites, and what better excuse to treat ourselves, right? :)
ReplyDeletelittle henry lee
Oh Jessica. These photos made me sigh....you are just so beautiful and this is most certainly your colour.
ReplyDeleteOh dear Jessica, this is one of my favourite outfits and pictures of yours so far! Ahh you look so elegant, and blue looks amazing with your haircolour! So sophisticated, inspiring, I LOVE THE DRESS!! xxxx
ReplyDeleteyou look beautiful and that crinoline is amazing!
ReplyDeleteYou look absolutely gorgeous!! That crinoline is amazing and the rainbow colors are such a fun little secret to have on underneath your dress! I have a crinoline from back when I was in Oklahoma in high school and you've inspired me to search for it and wear it! These pictures make me want to put on a gorgeous outfit and go find a beautiful historical building to frolic around!
ReplyDeletexx
http://thescreensiren.com
this is so lovely. the last picture is my fav. wow, the wide flared skirt of this dress looks amazing .... and the petticoat is so fun! .... aaaaah, and the gloves are the most beautiful gloves i've ever seen.
ReplyDeleteThat has to be the funnest petticoat ever! And that blue looks so good against your hair color :)
ReplyDeleteSo lovely! I think that last picture makes you look like a princess <3
Oh, you look so cute. Actually I thought red hair and blue would not match, but you definitely proved me wrong.You somehow remind me of Arielle the mermaid, for the red hair and the sea colors. Hihi. Really sweet, especially the last photo.
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Saperlotte
Wow, lady!!! You look stunning! That petticoat is just... LOVE IT!!!! You are simply beautiful, darling!!!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful in blue! And that rainbow crinoline is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteYour crinoline reminds me of Rainbow Bright, which is the best thing ever! Your gloves are gorgeous too.
ReplyDeletexox. Hannah
You are always so glamurous! This color really suits you. xo
ReplyDeleteOh, I made the most indecent squeal when I saw that crinoline. How utterly gorgeous! These photos are just stunning.
ReplyDeletejessica - you look gorgeous! the monocrome outside and the rainbow-y "inside" of your outfit is totally chic.
ReplyDeletei love to wear crinoline, but mostly i put them back in the closet - to wear a dress is almost to much for the audience, a crinoline would kill them with heart attack ;-)
Wow love this shade of blue on you - it's so vibrant!!
ReplyDeleteGoing to have to check out the Pettiskirt site as I'm in need of more petticoats!
I was just thinking the past couple days that my vintage crinoline just won't cut it (it just seems sad and deflated). Thanks for this petticoat connection; I'll have to check it out!
ReplyDeleteWow Jessica, I love that last picture.
ReplyDeleteThere is something about the blues in this outfit that remind me of Alice in Wonderland.
I have just ONE crinoline, that i wear maybe once every 2 years for a formal event. It's long and i usually wear it with long gowns to create a full effect.
Your blue dress is amazing!Crinoline gives the right shape to it...you are so nice wearing monochrome ! Very beautiful photos and location too...
ReplyDeleteYou look so pretty and dreamy! <3
ReplyDeleteI adore petticoats, and will have to check out these amazing ones!
~xoxo, CoriLynn
Rainbow pettycoat? Adorable.
ReplyDeleteYour gloves - something I'd love to have.
Magnificent outfit, dear Jessica.
You look beautiful in your birthday dress! That petticoat gives it just the right amount of poof. :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos! I love your smile here - you look radiant! Love the outfit! And how dreamy is that crinoline! Wow!!!! :D
ReplyDeleteThat color! Those gloves! That crinoline! I haven't made the leap to wearing a crinoline (I'm pear-shaped, so feel a little bottom heavy already, lol), but this one is the most tempting by far. And the gloves with the embroidery are unbelievable!
ReplyDeleteYou look so gorgeous in this outfit! And I just love the colourful petticoat! I hope you are doing well and I wish you a fabulous Wednesday!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh I loved this post!! Your outfit, your photos, the setting! Love! I'm also pretty tickled that the name of the crinoline is Rainbow Bright. That makes me happy and I can easily see why it would make you so too. That color (the blue) is heavenly on you and makes your raspberry lips pop. Oooh, and I love your gloves!
ReplyDeleteI remembered about your original post about this dress and wondered when you were going to post some pictures....you look beautiful and the pictures are perfect both in location and styling. One of the best shoots you have ever done, IMHO!
ReplyDeleteWow! I NEED the rainbow skirt too! :) What a beauty! And you look beautiful as always,dear. I love the blue colour of your dress, I think it will look good during autumn with a dark brown cardigan too. Thanks a bunch for the, I'll check if they ship to Denmark.
ReplyDeleteI have yet to get myself a crinoline. :-/ I love this super fun rainbow petticoat. Makes me think of the song "Over the Rainbow," that Judy Garland made so famous. I have found oodles of petticoats via ebay, but none quite like this one. :)
ReplyDeleteMy fave outfit post yet!
ReplyDeleteWow wonderful dress, and the petticoat is incredible!
ReplyDeleteNella Fragola
Hello,I have just run across you.r site. I have looked in many places and the dress you have on is just LOVELY.I'm trying to collect and wear the dreses that require petticoats. I tried to inspire myself in hopes of finding really wearable daily dresses. Most of what i have seem to b rockabilly or to short and from out of the country. Your dress is just elegant. Please tell me where I may possibly find dresses or patterns to make them my self.My pettiskirt is red as I had hopes pf copying a dress I saw on a show from the fifties.I am amazed at your style and dress. Would love fuller slips ,gloves ect. Thanks so much You have restarted my quest.
ReplyDelete