Nothing says Mother's Day like...

{Tie it around your neck, jazz up a vintage 'do with it, wear it as a boho-y bracelet - the styling options are many and the beauty of this elegant 1940s - 1950s sheer floral print nylon chiffon scarf endless. $10.00 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.}






{Oooohh, pretty! Between the classic green hue, multi-petal design, and shimmery crystal embellishments, this vintage appropriate hair flower is one seriously fun, completely stylish accessory. $7.99 from Blue Velvet Vintage.}




{Classic shape? Check! Vibrant, warm weather perfect hue? Check! Timelessly pretty floral pattern? Check! That seals it, these great circa 1950s plastic clip-on earrings are not just style winners, they’re precisely what any wardrobe - yours or your mom's - needs to add some (more) yesteryear charm to this year’s outfits. $18.00 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.}




{For the last few years, each time late spring rolls around, I try to psyche myself to venture outside of my usual daily makeup routine and play with punchy shades (on my face) like I used to as a teenager, then in the end, I rarely, if ever do. This year I'm actually going to do it - if only once or twice. It's just makeup after all and you know, I might stumble on a fab new look! To help encourage me further, I've been scouring Etsy lately and looking at handmade cosmetics brands there. While doing so last week, I spotted this punchy, cheerful "Sunflower Bright Yellow" eye shadow, which really spoke to me. I haven't ordered it yet, but this brand's offerings are definitely on my wishlist now. $4.95 for a 5 gram jar with sifter from Tater Rounds Beauty.}




{A quartet of dainty, perpetually-in-bloom white and green apple hued flowers shine out on this elegantly pretty 1950s - 1960s brooch, that will look as home on a sundress in May as it does your favourite wool suit in December. $16.00 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.}




{Feminine florals and a fabulously fun design team up in this beautiful 1950s sleeveless dress and short sleeve bolero set to deliver one highly appealing, seriously charming hit of mid-century style. Fits up to a 30 - 31 inch bust/26 inch waist. $95.00 for the set from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.}




{Dainty as a buttercup and lovely as May's sunshine, these sheer, ruffle trimmed pale yellow 1950s gloves have darling little seed bead pearls on each wrist and are pretty enough to wear to, or for (if you're the bride), a wedding. $12.50 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.}




{Without a doubt, the most frequently used handbags in my closet from April straight on through to September are my wicker and straw offerings, so when I saw this vibrant, completely old school looking offering from the brand Tatyana being offered up on Vintage Heaven's website, I couldn't help but swoon long and hard - and then share it here with all of you on the double! :) $68.80 (New Zealand dollars, I believe) from Vintage Heaven.}




{I have such a thing for indie perfumes. I find they often appeal to me more than most department store offerings that can have a certain "oneness" to their scents. I have faves in that camp all the same of course, but I also adore trying creations from independent perfumers and small brands sometimes. This enticing mix of "wild succulent strawberries and honeyed linden blossoms" really caught my eye and sounds like it would be a sublimely pretty scent option for spring and summer. $25.00 for a 5 ml glass roller ball bottle of Primavera perfume from Reliquary Perfumes.}




{Though they hail from the 60s or 70s, I could easily see styling this fun pair of vintage slides with outfits from the 30s - 50s, plus newer ensembles, too, no problem. They're cute, kitschy and oodles of fun! Fits an approximate modern size 6. $29.00 from Aviena.}

♥ ♥ ♥

Have you guessed the answer based on the items in this month's delightful edition of Vintage Fashionista Friday? I'd bet good money that you have, but I'll share the answer here anyways: (it’s) flowers!

Greeting cards are a close second for sure, but when it comes to Mother's Day, there's nothing quite like a gorgeous bouquet of blooms or floral themed item to make your mom feel extra special. They suit this fantastic mid-spring period that we're in sublimely and are something that most women enjoy and appreciate in one form or another.

Of course though, to my mind at least, ultimately, the best way to express how much you appreciate, treasure, and esteem your mom is by telling her you love her and that you’re grateful in your life (assuming of course that such rings true for you).

Mother's Day is a joyful celebration of honouring not only the women who gave us birth and/or raised us like their own, but women the world over and from the dawn of time. We wouldn't - quite literally - be here without them and as International Women's Day is not largely observed in North America (as much as I wish it was!), I really enjoy using the second Sunday in May to pay homage to all of the important women in my life, be they family members, friends, people from my past, or those ladies throughout history for whom I have nothing but adoration.

I hope that you and your loved ones all have a splendidly beautiful Mother's Day this coming Sunday and that you know, my sweet ladies, how much I respect, am inspired by, and appreciate each of you as well.

Endless joyful Mother's Day wishes to one and all!


*PS* Don't forget about the fabulous storewide 30% off 1st anniversary flash sale that's taking part in my Etsy shop right now (and which very much includes all the items from my store that are listed here in today's post). Everything there has been marked down by 30%, but these savings won't last - in fact, they're over tomorrow and I won't be having another storewide sale this season, so now is definitely the time to shop and save big.

A beloved vintage shirtwaist dress for those in between seasons days

Outfit details

1950s floral print scarf: Not sure, had for years (possibly a gift or thrifted)
Floral metal and faux pearl earrings: Save On Foods
Teal-cerulean blue 1980s does 1950s shirtwaist dress: eBay
Vintage gold tone metal and rhinestone floral brooch: eBay (similar style available in my Etsy shop)
Skinny light blue belt: eBay
Gold toned metal bangle bracelets: Payless
Vintage woven raffia handbag: Yard sale find
Nude seamed nude stockings: eBay
White pumps: Payless
Lip colour: Clinique Raspberry Glace
Nail colour: Sally Hansen Rogue Rush over Essie Pink Diamond


Photography by Tony Cangiano

♥ ♥ ♥

Of all the shirtwaist dresses in my closet, this cheerful 1980s does 1950s teal meets cerulean blue number gets the most amount of wear, bar none. It's seen me through road trips, attended lengthy antiques auctions, been guised up for the holidays, worn for walks at the beach, visited hundreds of yard sales, done more hours of housework in than I can begin to count, hugged plenty of relatives at family get-togethers, and is a frequent first choice when running errands or bopping around seeing the local sites (and indeed, it appeared here over two years in a post on that very topic called The Intrepid Urban Explorer).

It is also an extremely useful piece to have on hand as one season starts to shift into the next, be it spring into summer or summer into fall, as is the case now that we've celebrated Labour Day and are heading, mighty quickly, towards the return of my favourite time of the year: autumn.

More so this year than for any other in recent memory, I'm keen to hold onto summer. To savour and indulge in each glistening moment of warmth and amber hued sunshine. As August wound down, I felt much like a little kid again, trying, ultimately unsuccessfully, to hold onto the heat of summer and make it last all the that much longer. Time waits for no one though and can't be harnessed on a whim - for better or worse - so I've made peace with the fact that all too soon, the days of beaches and fresh peaches, the ability to comfortably go bear foot, and the need to consume copious amounts of ice cream to stay adequately refreshed will be behind us again.

We're not quite there, but I can sense the heat draining from the days like like the last ounce of toothpaste being squeezed from the tube. Before it does though, you can bet your bottom dollar that you'll find me, and my trusty turquoise shirtwaist dress out and about, posing with flowers (as I did with this delightful cart that is parked out front of our local Art Knapp's nursery), sitting in the sun (with sunscreen and a hat on, of course), savoring all the local fruit and veg I possibly can, and reflecting back on what has been, hands down, one of the busiest and most action packed summers I've enjoyed in a very long time.

From adding clothing and handbags to my Etsy shop to launching my YouTube channel, trying my hand at selling vintage in person, traversing the Okanagan from top to bottom, spending time with family, celebrating birthdays (including my 30th back on July 10th) and anniversaries, my second ever blogger meet-up, and oodles more, this summer has been a constant go-go-go for me! And you know what, knackered as I was at times, and hard as such a demanding pace can be on my health, I wouldn't have had it any other way. I love what I've accomplished, set into motion, and have begun planning for the remainder of the year and beyond.

After all, one can always top their most frequently worn shirtwaist dress with a chunky cardigan and put their feet up - for a few minutes at least - once Old Man Winter is here again and we're up to our bumper bangs in bone chilling snow. For the moment though, I'm going to keep on reveling in summer, gearing up for fall, and being thankful for what an awesome, fun filled, productive season this one has been for me.

20 fabulously inspiring 1950s spring fashion ideas

Spring has sprung at long last and I couldn't be more elated about that! Yes, granted, there's still knee high snow on the ground for some in the Northern Hemisphere, but soon enough, if they haven't already, the first telltale signs of this wondrously beautiful season will appear and with them comes the mad rush to dust off our springtime threads once again.

After many months of snugly up tight with our beloved cold weather vintage wardrobe staples, scarves, boots, woolens, toques, long coats and heavy fabrics aplenty right left and centre, there's something gleefully liberating about slipping out of a layer or two, rekindling our love of pastels and florals, and donning our most whimsically cheerful hats once more.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again because it so immensely true: spring in Canada lasts for about as long as a young kitten can fit in the palm of your hand. The speed at which we so often go from black ice to days that all but require ice cream is often enough to make one's head spin! Granted, some parts of the country (hello, Vancouver!) may experience a lengthier spring, but by and large, this is a brief season from a weather perspective, much as fall is in the same regard, and that means one needs to celebrate these special not too woefully hot, not too terribly cold days while they're here.

What better way to celebrate any season than with your vintage wardrobe? I for one, am champing at the bit with excitement to sport my lighter weight suits, sundresses, oversized straw hats, crochet gloves, lace garments and open-toed shoes again to the point of near giddiness! It's not that I hate winter or dressing for that season, not in the slightest, it's just that I've really missed weaving some of those kinds of aforementioned styles into my wardrobe on a regular basis and am keen as all get out to begin doing so again very soon.

To help give me, and all of you as well, some fresh-as-a-newly-sprouted-tulip inspiration on that front in the coming days and weeks, I've gathered up a diverse selection of mid-century fashion images, all hailing from the fantastic fifties, that I know will do just that trick in that regard.





{A short-sleeved gingham dress, white accessories, flippy 'do, and fresh picked daisies spell spring to no end!}




{Redolent of everyone from Grace Kelly to a young Jackie O, this endlessly sophisticated spring suit is given an extra generous dose of feminine flare care of the classic millinery flower corsage. A splendid style idea to keep in mind, whether you employee real or artificial blooms, all season long.}




{A fifties look with a whisper of the 1920s to it, thanks to the long strand of pearls and cloche-esque bucket hat, this ensemble also has a wee bit of a nautical vibe to it and would look fabulous for a day spent on a boat.}




{Featuring a hearty dose of my colour of the year (purple), this beguiling violet ensemble's beauty is heightened all the more by the deep raspberry juice meets fuchsia lipstick the model is wearing. A stylish approach to remember you're donning fifties spring togs yourself this season.}




{Just as Mother Nature slips on her green attire once more, so too should you - perhaps care of a curve hugging, wonderfully pretty shawl collar sheath dress like this mid-century charmer.}




{Fear not, if the mercury hasn't decided to come out of hibernation entirely yet. Embrace spring's serene spirit with gentle hues, touchable layers, and plenty of feminine details (like pink hankies and flower adorned chapeaus) until, and well after, it does.}




{I can't decide what I love more, the fabulous floral print circle skirt or the cute-as-a-button black straw boater hat with it's generously sized garnet ribbon. Even in a dark colour palette, both seem so splendidly fresh and perfect for the breezy days of spring.}




{Tuck away your heavy tweeds, wools, and winter weight denims, and bust out some gorgeous pastel hued cottons, linens, taffetas and silks instead, to channel the same kind of causal, yet entirely posh, look that this matching shirt and slacks ensemble from 1954 conveys.}




{Multi-strand necklaces and wonderfully ladylike frocks - both featuring my all-time favourite colour, dusty rose - team up to create instant garden party ready outfits that as as sweet as a May cloud is fluffy.}




{A perfect ensemble for those still chilly days that many of us are waking up to while the last vestiges of winter slip away, this fun 1950s look partners a mint green thick knit mandarin collar cardigan with a playful paisley meets floral print dress and generous sized pearl studs to deliver both warm and beauty in equal doses.}




{This whole fabulous 1955 pink micro print short sleeved suit ensemble needs to get in my closet immediately!!! :) }




{Lime green might not be the first hue that pops into your mind when you think of pre-60s mid-century fashion, but at this lovely knit shell amply demonstrates, it can work wonder for both spring and when dressing from the 1950s.}




{Gone though the need for a coat may (soon) be, that doesn't mean we're quite ready for halter top season yet. Transition from one to the other with classic dolman sleeve garments and pencil skirts in neutral hues that compliment everything else in your closet and jewelry box alike.}




{Give the sun a run for its shine power by draping yourself in scads of gold (or gold toned metal) this season. Extra bonus points if you can find a matching floral print shawl and circle skirt set like this stunner from 1954.}




{Boasting what has to be one of the cutest novelty prints of all time, this darling daschund adorned shirtwaist dress with a generously sized pine green sash belt is both charmingly quirky and fabulously stylish in the same go. Now, as for the tie adjusting peeping Tom in the background, well, that might be a whole 'nother story!}




{Be as warm as the tea in your cup during the early days of spring by slipping on a timeless short sleeved knit top like this carnation hued lovely from 1951.}




{Capes aren't just for fall and winter (especially those that hit at the waist or upper hips), they can work splendidly come springtime, too, especially with fitted garments like sheath dresses and pencil skirts.}




{Nothing spells out the return of warm weather quite like a coat-free bare wrist piled mile high with a fantastic stack of bangle bracelets.}




{As well known 1950s models Suzy Parker with Anne St. Marie demonstrate, few things compare to a breezy blouse and figure hugging pencil skirt for a polished, see-you-through-any-situation springtime look that would be perfect for most modern office settings.}




{When the temps finally usher in the return of shorts again, be there to greet them in an understatedly chic red, blue and taupe ensemble like this then make a speedy beeline for the nearest beach or pool deck and enjoy some of those well deserved rays at long last.}


{All images above via Dovima is Devine II on Flickr. Please click on an image to be taken to its respective page.}

♥ ♥ ♥

Spring is stellar time of the year. Yes, it can mean scads of rain and thunder storms, as well as the need for a layer or two still at times, but it's filled with such an uplifting sense of rejuvenated joie de vivre, lightness and brightness that one can't help but run to embrace it with the most open of arms. This is the season that sees the return of yard sales, sun parasols, playsuits, sandals and capri pants. It's youthful and sweet, pretty as a picture, and just a flat out pleasure to know

Have fun with fashion this spring! Take neither it, nor the season as a whole, too seriously. This is a time for frivolity and finery alike, where pale pink and daisies reign supreme and there isn't a worry in the world on the fashion front - provided of course, you always keep an umbrella on hand for those infamous April showers.

Ten of my favourite items from etsy shop Dalena Vintage

One of the most delightful and touching elements of partnering with blog sponsors here, is when I receive an email from an etsy shop (or other type of site) that I've already caught wind of, perhaps long adored, and/or even purchased from over the years.

For quite some time now, I've been eyeballing the expertly curated, and superbly photographed, offerings from etsy seller Dalena Vintage, and must say, it's a sincere joy to welcome them as one of Chronically Vintage's newest sponsors this fall.




Of her popular shop, founder Leslie Torbett says, "Dalena Vintage was born of an ongoing love affair between one girl and her adoration of vintage clothing. Each piece is hand-selected for it's beauty, purity and quality. We like to think the result is a collection of dreamy vintage in which girls can lose themselves."

And it precisely that which I’ve done – and continue to do – every time I've ever visited this lovely etsy shop, which houses a superb selection of mid-century offerings, such as frocks, hats, jackets and coats, shoes, accessories, and even wedding dresses. The pieces that Dalena Vintage offers are right up my style alley - brazenly feminine, timelessly classic, and so incredibly wearable.

It's too hard to pick just one or two items from Dalena Vintage that really speak to my personal style - and which I know will appeal to a great many of you as well, my sweet dears - so today I'd like to share ten (and believe me, it was hard to cap my list there) of Dalena's latest offerings that have really jumped out and nabbed my attention.

{Everything from picnics in July to a day at the rodeo spring to mind when I look at this fantastically charming 1950s red bandana two piece dress set. I'd partner with with a woven straw or tooled leather bag, cat's eye sunglasses, and open toe sandals for one of the most darling vintage looks you could ever hope to find. Fits up to a 35" bust, 26" waist.}

{Even though I've been blissfully married for nine years already, I still love - and know that I always will - looking at, and daydreaming about wearing, vintage wedding dresses. This sophisticated short sleeve yellow lace dress from the 1950s would make for a gorgeous alternative to classic white for your big day, then could easily remain in your wardrobe, to be worn time and time again, for special events long after. Fits up to a 34" bust, 26" waist.} 

 

{I have an unending passion for vintage clothing and accessories that feature fruit (or vegetables), so my eyes lit up like the lights on a Christmas tree when I saw this darling 1950s straw hat bedecked with green grapes. Inner circumference of 22".}

{Calling all fans of gingham and 1940s house dresses, this adorable green and white vintage frock is definitely for you. Featuring an a-line skirt, lace detailing, green plastic buttons with teeny rhinestone centers, and two generous sized front pockets, this dress is just as cute and practical as they come. Fits up to a 38" bust, 32" waist.}

 

{This is one of this mid-century dresses that simply takes your break away. A warm golden palette, large velvet ribbon detail across the skirt, and a flattering swooped neckline all add up to an unforgettably beautiful 1950s day dress that could very easily work wonders for a party or semi-formal event as well. Fits up to a 34" bust, 26" waist.}

 

{Oozing classic sophistication, stylish form, and a whisper of femme fatale allure, this striking dark pine green 1940s felted wool hat would surely stop anyone who saw you wearing it in their tracks. Inner circumference of 21.5".}

 {Shake up your usual vintage LBD routine by injecting a hit of cream applique and two pieces instead of one into the mix care of this resplendently lovely 1940s peplum dress suit set. Fits up to a 32" bust, 26" hip.} 

 {You'll be all kinds of pretty in pink when you sport this fun 1950s Hattie Leeds plaid day dress in shades of bubble gum and white with hints of gold swirled through the lovely mix. Fits up to a 42" bust, 34" waist.} 

{Whether you're a fan of scores of colour in your outfits or prefer to just inject a well placed hit of hue here and there, these wonderfully fun 1940s Miramar De Luxe straw heels are sure to tickle your footwear fancy. Fits an approximate size 7 foot.}

 {Beat the throngs of shoppers next spring and pick 2014's summer attire months in advance, starting with this endlessly cute 1940s Juliet Original polka dot swimsuit, complete with matching terrycloth robe. Bathing suit fits up to a 32" bust, 26" waist.}

 

♥  ♥  ♥

Aren't these pieces exquisite? I love the fact that Dalena offers a wide range of items, yet they all seem to have a common thread of sophistication, beauty, and ageless charm to them that speaks volume to my vintage loving (and wearing soul).

Should you have fallen hard for Dalena Vintage as well, and wish to connect with them elsewhere online, too, you can do so via the following:

-Dalena Vintage blog

-Dalena Vintage mailing list

-Facebook

-Instagram

-Pinterest

-Twitter


Feel like doing so shopping from Dalena's marvelous yourself? Of course you do! :) In that case, I'm pleased as punch to share a special coupon code for Chronically Vintage readers for you today.

Use coupon code at VintageLove when you check out and save a substantial 20% off your Dalena Vintage etsy shop order between today and November 25, 2013.

With an inventory that frequently spans the 1900s to the 1960s, there is something amongst Dalena Vintage's beautiful offerings that's bound to appeal to most vintage lovers the world over, and which will, without a doubt, ensure I remain a fan of this etsy shop for a very long time to come.