Lilacs, lime, and Luxulite in the early spring sunshine

Outfit details

C. 1950s lilac purple sheer nylon/chiffon scarf: Unknown, had for years (possibly a gift)
1950s style iridescent rhinestone earrings: Claire's
Lime green 1980s does 1950s shirtwaist dress: (probably) eBay
1940s style iridescent purple beaded brooch: Luxulite
Vintage lilac flower print scarf (worn as a belt): Thrifted
1950s purple wrist length gloves: Unknown, had for years (probably eBay)
C. 1950s navy blue kiss lock handbag: Frugal Frocks in Armstrong
Vintage frosted clear bangle bracelets with clear rhinestones: Thrifted
Clear bangle bracelet: Gift from a lovely online friend
Black seamed nude stockings: eBay
Navy blue patent faux leather pumps: Payless
Lip colour: MAC Partyline


Photography by Tony Cangiano

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As far back as I have memories of being old enough to have a say in what I wore, colour has played an immensely important role in my wardrobe (a topic that I delved into here). There is an energy, a depth, and a language all its own both to colour in general, as well as to how it interacts with our fashion choices.

Some people give relatively little thought to the hues that they don, perhaps leaning just towards favourites, dressing as their peers do, or wearing only certain shades because of their job or lifestyle. And that's okay, of course, to each their own on all style related fronts. Yet for many of us, especially if we're fashion bloggers, colour is so much more than a secondary aspect to the functionality of clothing.

Colour can whisper or shout, sing melodically or gently hum. It says so much without actually uttering an audible word and can both evoke strong memories and make a powerful stance in the moment.

As someone who is staggeringly shy and introverted, colour also gives me a way to express myself that might not always come through when I do actually speak. Besides that, colour is a joy! As most any artist will tell you, it holds limitless possibilities and can be most anything you want it to (be).

Naturally some colours work better together than others, but I firmly believe that just about any two hues can be married, so long as their tones compliment one another (in fact, that rings true even when three, four or sometimes more different colours are involved).

Last fall, in the context of a vintage Halloween themed outfit, I debuted this fun lime green 1980s does 1950s shirtwaist dress of mine here for the first time (though I'd owned it for ages and sported it previously - just not online) and in amidst the lovely comments that arrived for that post, the notion was formed for me to try and and style it in a way that suited each of the four seasons.

These (four posts) didn't have to happen all back-to-back (and indeed, this dress did not appear here during the past winter), but the general premise was that when each new lime green centered look popped up, it would work with some of the colours of the season to help make it more at home in that chapter of the year.

Bright lime green might not be the first colour that one thinks of as a blank canvass to base this kind of just-for-fun idea off of, but that is actually all the more reason why it appealed to me so strongly. I liked the idea of ensuring this dress (just about the only electric green piece in my wardrobe at present), got plenty of wear and knew even before spring officially arrived, that I'd be reaching for it again this season.

The inspiration for this particular outfit comes from both the beautiful little floral print scarf that I opted to use for a belt, as well as from this recently purchased Luxulite vintage style novelty brooch - on top of the fact that, as touched on here, I'm currently off-the-charts in love with all things purple!

I opted to wear the printed scarf, which stars a pretty pattern of lilacs – one of the most iconic blooms of the season – as my belt. I used the little hit of navy blue that it includes as the inspiration for the dark neutral used in this look, and wove it into the ensemble via my shoe and vintage handbag choices (both of which are solid navy blue).

Lime green is a bold, exciting colour and doesn't generally need a ton of embellishment, but I virtually never go jewelry-less, so to pick up the purple in the scarf around my waist, as well as my sheer vintage hair scarf, I reached for this darling Luxulite brooch with its enchanting soap bubble style plastic beads and lilac hued elements.

Vintage purple gloves, iridescent rhinestone earrings (to compliment the beads on the brooch), and clear plastic bangle bracelets round out the look and help keep the colour palette established in the belt scarf’s design going strong.

These colours are punchy and enjoyable. They're perfect for daytime wear, but could easily see you through a multitude of casual evening events as well. Bathed in early springtime sunlight (at one of our favourite parks in the nearby city of Kelowna) they come alive all the more and instantly remind me why colour is such an awesomely versatile, bold, creative way to make one's outfit all their own.

Whether it happens this year or at a later date, you can bet that I'll be aiming to let this cute vintage lime green shirtwaist dress star in both a summer and wintertime look, respectively, too, and am excited to see what hues will speak to me when those days each arrive.