Playing along with the I ♥ Spring Tag

Today is not only the first Saturday of April, but it just happens to be my darling mother's birthday as well. As such, it's especially jubilant day for me and not a time for long or overly serious blog posts in the slightest!

The sun is shining, the birds are (quite literally) singing right outside my window, the first gleeful hits of green are returning to the landscape and the world feels both alive and abuzz and with excitement and joy right now.

Back in 2013, I started seeing a fun little blog and YouTube video tag about spring appear on various sites (including Miss Budget Beauty) and tucked it away on my "to write a post about" list at the time.

Jump ahead three years, and today, on this blissful day, it seemed like the ideal time had come to answer the twelve quick questions in the I ♥ Spring Tag, before starting a fabulous day of birthday celebrations for my mom.

Playing along with the I ♥ Spring Tag

1. Favourite spring nail polish? Tough call!!! I really let the pastel adoring side of my wardrobe run wild and free in the spring, very much including with my nail polish picks, so it's tricky to narrow things down to just one favourite. That said, I do return year after year to Essie's Lilacism. It's such a cheery, sweet shade of purple that suits this season to a tee.






2. Must have spring lip colour?: Although I think it's been discontinued for a while, I still have the better part of a tube (that is holding up great), so I'm opting for one of the only coral shades that has ever looked good on me (coral face makeup + pink undertones in my skin are rarely a winning combo, but somehow this one works): MAC's Made With Love (seen in this outfit post from last May).



3. Favourite style of dress for spring? Something lightweight, immensely feminine, and very likely floral print (like the 1950s Horrockses stunners above!).




4. Favourite spring flower? There's sooo many to love and appreciate. How does one narrow it down to a single favourite. Hard, so hard! :) For the sake of their sublimely pretty scent alone, I think that lilacs may very well emerge as the winner for me in this camp, but I'm also partial to roses, hydrangeas, sweat peas (my mom's favourite flower), tulips, and lilies.





5. Favourite springtime (fashion) accessory? A great vintage straw hat and/or handbag (extra bonus points if flowers are involved with either), as they really symbolize the end of winter and return of warmer, milder weather and the gorgeous fashions that this chapter of the year entail.





6. What spring trends are you most looking forward to? Given that us vintage wearing folks usually make our own trends, this question isn't per se that applicable to my wardrobe, but in general some elements of springtime fashion that I adore and get excited for each year include the aforementioned straw accessories and floral dresses, pastel and/or sparkly jewelry, open toed shoes, capri pants, sheer (chiffon, silk, etc) scarves, lightweight mid-century blouses, and a royal garden's worth of hair flowers.





7. Favourite spring candle? Ooohh, good question! I'm a very avid candle buyer and user and definitely enjoy pairing many of my choices with the different seasons. When it comes to spring, I'd say probably something light and floral or subtly sweet, such as a jasmine (Voluspa, whose entire line of products I madly adore, makes an especially sublime jasmine candle, pictured above), lemon, rose or peach scent.




8. Favourite perfume/body spray for spring? For the past about 14 – 15 years now, my go-to warm weather scent has been Romance from Ralph Lauren. It's a truly beautiful classic that I will keep reaching for each spring and summer for as long as it's on the market.




9. What is spring like where you live? It generally starts around the beginning of April, when we hop from snow to rain that will usually last into May. From that point onward, the days generally start to heat up quite quickly as we live in one of the warmest parts of Canada, and by the beginning of June, it's not uncommon to feel like summer is here already.




10. What is your favourite thing about spring? That it means winter is over! :D I'm only half kidding there, but more seriously, hmmmmm, there's so much to adore about spring! From the return of yard sale season to the dipping one's toes in the lake (or ocean) again to the seasonal produce, a bevy of blooms everywhere to the spring's various holidays, and of course all of sweet, gorgeous warm weather vintage fashions themselves, too!




11. Are you a spring cleaner? Majorly so! We did a lot of our spring cleaning and around-the-house DIY jobs back in January, but you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be busting out the ol' elbow grease at various points this spring, too.





12. Any plans for spring break or upcoming vacations? None at the moment (boo!!!), but one never knows what exciting travel adventure is waiting for them next, and even if a bigger getaway isn't in the cards this spring, I suspect Tony and I will try to get in a weekend road trip or two now that roads are becoming a lot safer to drive on again.

I'm not going to tap anyone specifically, so all means, if you'd like to play along, too, please do!

Spring is a stellar season and one that doesn't necessarily get as much love on the blog/YouTube video tag front as the other three, so I say we shower it with an April shower’s worth of blog tag answers this time around. :)

{To learn more about a specific image used in this post, please click on it to be taken to its respective source.}

♥ ♥ ♥

Here's to the start of April and what I hope will be a brilliant fourth month of the year for everyone! I have oodles of fun things in the works for both this month and the rest of spring - including lots of exciting warm(er) weather outfit posts - and can hardly wait to share such happenings here with all with you.

First though, I'm off to celebrate the birth of the woman who gave me life. My sweet mama, who I love, cherish and am grateful for beyond words - and whose birthday has always ensured that April kicked off on an especially happy note for our family.

25 fabulous 1950s spring fashions to inspire your wardrobe this season

It is with no small amount of giddiness that I gear up to welcome spring's arrival tomorrow (if only on the calendar - actual spring weather commencing is always up to chance and luck!). Though there were a few major snow days, objectively this wasn't an overly brutal winter. It was however, like just about all those experienced here in this northerly country, a long one that is still in play in may parts of of the nation.

Soon enough - thank goodness! - though, winter will vanish like an icicle in the returning sun and we can embrace spring's fashion head on. One of the most appealing things about spring attire - and a point that serves it especially well because of how it ends up working out for those on both half of the equator - is that it shares much in common with autumn garb.

Now, of course, there will often be different hues at play and perhaps more layers (and the use of tights and boots) come fall, but overall the two are quite similar and sandwich the sweltering days of summer with a sort of elegance and chicness that can be tricky to obtained when the mercury is bubbling away like an active volcano.

Spring always screams 1950s fashion to me (I know I'm not alone in associating certain decades with each of the seasons; the warmer months often being more 50-ish for me, the colder, more 40s; though of course I do sport looks from each during both halves of the year) and so as I dash to towards winter's finishing line, I thought it would be oodles of fun to round up 25 of the loveliest 1950s spring looks that I've come across in recent months (I did the same thing last year and you'll definitely want to check out this post for 20 more great 1950s spring fashion ideas).

Which of the following looks are calling your name? I'm especially fond of the first, second and third, but really, there isn't a single one here that doesn't speak to my vintage fashion loving soul on multiple levels.



1. This is a terrific ensemble for the early days of spring, when there may still be snow on the ground and/or rain shower in the forecast. The white and black (snow) leopard print accessory trio at work in this 1951 ensemble is pretty much giving me a 1950s fashion inducing heart attack - it's that jaw-droppingly awesome.




2. Come spring, I pretty much want to pull up a hammock or sleeping bag and live in a garden. Not practical (especially when I don't even have a backyard!), but appealing for sure. Thankfully we can all avail of Mother Nature's blooms with colours and accessories that capture their timeless spirit, like those in this immensely feminine pink outfit from the pages of a 1957 edition of Vogue.




3. I rock novelty print fabrics all year 'round, but they generally come out to play most often during spring and summer, when they're an especially lighthearted mood to fashion. I know most of us would practically swim across an ocean for the 1950s beauties in this swoon inducing ad!




4. Sweater weather still out in full force? Fear not, you can always take a page from these stylish mid-1950s ladies and merge the two seasons care of soft hued separates that have the warmth needed for winter and the happiness inducing colours of spring.




5. Wicker and straw accessories are an absolute must for me from March through to the end of September. Here a sweet little wicker handbag teams up with a full skirted striped dress, lilac hued dress, and cream (likely straw) hat for a spring/summer fifties look that's as pretty as pretty can be.




6. Pastels are a perpetually natural choice for spring, as they're the antithesis of the dark, somber hues many of us have been decked out in for the last few months - plus they help keep you extra cool when the dog days of summer return. Here the primary colours get the pastel treatment in two gorgeous 1950s pleated sundresses.




7. If someone asked me out of the blue which season I most associate the wearing of yellow with, my blink answer would be spring (by a mile!). Though it sees play in summer, fall and even winter (usually in the form of golden tones for that season), it is spring - fresh and alive with daffodils, baby chicks, and sunlight itself that seems to suit the wearing of yellow, especially pale and medium shades, best. This great early 1950s swing coat and hat, partnered with an oversized flower and white gloves would be so wonderful for Easter or any day before, or after, that calls for a topper still.




8. Though dark blue and green may seem better suited to fall and winter, when put to work on a short sleeve shirtwaist dress in the form of a polka dot pattern, they take on a warm weather perfect sense of fun that elevates them to a great spring choice, especially for work.




9. Peach is such a splendidly pretty - and very uplifting - colour for spring and summer. It's reminiscent of everything from the fruit it is named after to the sand on a tropic beach to pastel sherbet. As seen in this charming 1959 matching mother and daughter look, it really shines when combined with hits of crisp white. I also love peach with yellow (as in this outfit), aqua, grey, chocolate brown, navy, and for an unexpected pairing, pine green.




10. Water colour inspired hues and blooms are timelessly gorgeous and as right for spring as a clear blue sky. Dust off of your favourite floral fashions and give them oodles of love this chipper season.




11. Far from being drab, a palette of different shades of cream and/or ivory feels fresh and alive after the dark, heavy tones of winter. Team up your soft hued threads with pearl jewelry, as this endlessly elegant look from 1950 does and you'll be sure garner compliments by the wheelbarrow full.




12. Though heavy wool, velvet and tweed versions are best brought out with the Christmas decor, capes and caplets can work for spring and summer, too, provided they're lightweight and easy to jauntily throw over your shoulders as you would a cardigan or sweater.




13. Elevate capri pants from being merely comfy and casual to cutting edge (in a vintage context at least) chic when you combine them with a figure flattering wrap top and pearl jewelry. Extra bonus points for a floppy 1950s sun hat and generous use of seashell pink.




14. There's that aforementioned springtime yellow at work again, along with sweet, gorgeous shades of mauvey-lavender in two timelessly elegant suit looks from 1951 that instantly call to mind the sophisticated stylings of my dear friend, Joanna from the blog Dividing Vintage Moments. Note the collar placement of the brooch worn on the purple suit - that is such an great little spot to tuck a beloved vintage pin.




15. Floral themed cardigans and and sweaters are a fantastic way to inject a hefty dose of springtime style in your vintage wardrobe. I own a few - some vintage, some 21st century - and can hardly wait to slip them on again this season.




16. Bold stripes and neutral hued bottoms make for an unexpected pairing that feels starkly contemporary, yet has very classic roots. If you like to blend old and new together in the same outfit, this look may be of particular interest to you.




17. White accessories are a springtime must that will see you through in classic style until (at least!) Labour Day. Think gloves, hats, handbags, shoes, jewelry, scarves, and belts to compliment just about every other piece in your wardrobe during the coming roasty-toasty months.




18. Darling details and spring go together like bunny rabbits and Easter. This outfit featuring a sleeveless striped dress abounds with sweet touches. From the bow and ruffles of the frock itself to her dangling charm bracelet to her lovely little blue earrings, it's a well coordinated, happy-go-lucky look that sings with the spirit of spring.




19. Here's an outfit that most mid-century vintage wearers are bound to love - and easily be able to put together. Combine a classic, solid coloured dress, a vibrant belt (and optional scarf), wide brimmed hat, and an arm full of bangles for a stylish ensemble that will stand the test of time.




20. Gingham is an immensely natural choice for sun-kissed months, but why not up the ante and pin a sprig of fresh (or faux) blooms to your bodice, collar, waist, shoulder, hat - you name it - for a spring/summer accessory choice that couldn't possibly suit the season any better.




21. I fully acknowledge that this eye-catching red and white polka dot look from 1950 with its lace front bodice and wide shoulders might be a touch OTT for some folks, but remember that you don't have to interpret these styles literally. Instead, why not be reminded of how fun dotted styles are for the warmer months and then, if you're feeling ambitious, try to track down a fabulous spotted umbrella like the one our whimsically attired model is holding.




22. If you're digging yellow for spring by now - or feeling your existing love for it multiplying - but aren't quite sure what to style it with, let this handy page of 1950s accessories offer up some top-notch suggestions.




23. Though it resembles a vest, I think that this is a shawl draped across her shoulders, which helps to keep one warm, especially in a halter style top like this beautiful orchid hued example with its marvelous bow neckline. Shawls are one of my favourite warm weather accessories and are great for events like picnics, evenings at the beach, and even just taking a stroll around the neighbourhood after the sun has set.




24. To my mind, spring is a season that suits being very coordinated from head-to-toe particularly well. Doing so creates a clean, appealing look that's snappy, elegant and lovely, much like this season itself. If you really want to gild the lily, look for matching (or very similar) shoes to coordinate with your favourite springtime fifties frocks.




25. Okay, technically this is eight looks, not one, so it could be argued that the title of this post should be "36 fabulous 1950s spring fashions", not 25, but as they're all contained on one page, I think we can let that point slide and instead focus on enjoying these wonderful, classic 1950s warm weather looks featuring shorts, capris and peddle pushers. If they don't make you yearn for a day at the beach, I don't know what will! :)

{To learn more about a specific image, please click on it to be taken to its respective source, where applicable.}

♥ ♥ ♥

Each of these looks is fun, fashionable, becoming, inspiring and worth taking a serious inspiration cue from. Again, as with autumn, spring tends to be fairly short lived - winter and summer dominating the calendar, as they're prone to in many parts of the world. Thus it really pays to take advantage of these days, with their longer hours of daylight, mild to gently warm temperatures, suddenly-green-again landscapes, and lighter garments that can be donned and enjoyed without having to worry about the risk of frostbite.

Spring won't last forever, but we're fortunate to be at the very cusp of it this week and to be able to garner inspiration from past decades of looks from this very season to help us get the most out of our mild weather wardrobe in the coming months.

I don't know about you, but that point makes me an even more happy (vintage) camper who will be sporting breezy sundresses, flower bedecked Easter bonnets, and lightweight layers with gusto and glee all season long!

Ten mid-spring perfect vintage fashions from Better Dresses Vintage

So long as you don't mind a few rain showers and the occasional storm, both of which can be quite endearing unto themselves (especially if you're not caught outside without the proper gear on during them), mid-spring is rather fantastic time. In fact, I'd argue that it's many people's favourite time of the year, whether they're aware of it or not. Most of us dislike, understandably, extreme hot or bone chilling cold (or both), and are prone to remarking that we wish it could be somewhere around a balmy 20C/70F or so all year round.

Sadly, there's just about no place on earth where such is possible, but most of us, even if this period is exceedingly short-lived, do get to experience this nirvana like middle ground of temperates between mid-April and early June. These are days when a cardigan is still optional, but rarely an absolute necessity. Where gardens are powerfully alive and beautiful, not yet having been baked like a potato during the sweltering weeks of late June, July and August. We seek grassy fields to picnic in, take our first tentative dips (if only with our little toe!) into lakes, rivers and oceans, stock up on a slew of fresh produce, and are often in a generally upbeat and revitalized mood.

For most (in the Northern Hemisphere), the heavy tweeds, woolens, corduroys, and velvets of winter have packaged away, sometimes with a smirk of glee on one's face as we do so. For at long (long!) last, spring has not just returned, but we've hit its sweet, magnificent middle ground, that - much to Goldilocks’ delight - is neither too warm, nor too cold.

A similar window, sometimes briefer still, will appear again come fall, but that's the better part of half a year away and often it isn't quite as glowingly toasty as mid-spring, which is racing head first towards sizzling hot days, not leaving them behind in its wake.

One has a vast array of options at their disposal on the fashion front at the moment and for the next few weeks. We can often still slip on (not-too-heavy) tights, if desired, but by the same token, are shining up our sandals and dusting off our straw hats. It's a marvelous time of the year for vintage fashionistas from coast to coast, who are reconnecting with their beloved sundresses, lightweight circle skirts, bathing suits, gauzy blouses, playsuits, crop/bralette tops, capris, and shorts, most (if not all) of which have been in hibernation for several months now.

Often we find, as we take stock of our mid-spring wardrobe, that we're lacking in a few pieces. They may have bit the dust last year, been absent for some time now, be a need that has arisen lately, or simply a garment or accessory we didn't previously feel pulled towards, but now adore. Whatever the case, it's immensely fun to go shopping for mid and late spring (right on into summer) pieces and to perk up our closets with some snazzy threads the way that Mother Nature is hard at work reviving the world outside at the moment.

To that end, I thought that today, the last Monday in April, would be an ideal time to share ten mid-spring perfect vintage fashions with all of you from one of Chronically Vintage's latest blog sponsors, US based online vintage clothing and accessories shop Better Dresses Vintage.

With a name that takes its inspiration from the "better dresses" section that many leading departments stores once had, where the very cream of the crop was displayed for customers to swoon over and try on, Better Dresses Vintage follows suite by providing their customers with a terrific array of yesteryear fashions that have all been handpicked, well described, and put up for sale online by the shop's founder and owner, Liza.

Like a lot of the best vintage sellers out there, Liza launched her online after many years of wearing and collecting vintage herself, which means that she has a thorough knowledge not only what she's selling, but what her customers are most likely to flock to. Interestingly, and rather wonderfully, Better Dresses Vintage also buys vintage and those who are interested in possibly selling to this site are encouraged to email Liza anytime.

Better Dresses Vintage's site is engaging, easy to navigate, well laid out and just plain fun. On top of their stellar listings, I really enjoyed checking out their customer photo gallery or buyers who are sporting items they've purchased from BDV, as well as their lovely page teaming with positive testimonials from past buyers.

It was tricky to cap my selection of mid-springtime fashions from Better Dresses Vintage at just ten, as there were so many beautiful, easy to wear pieces up there at the moment that fit that bill, but in the end I did and the selection below highlights those that caught my eye the very most and which I'm sure many of you will adore as well.

{Gloriously sweet and lovely as a springtime field bursting with tiny wild blooms, this elegant 1950s purple floral print dress, which features a light purple hued tulle overskirt, would make for an awesome Mother's Day dress (or gift), not to mention the perfect thing to wear to a garden party, wedding, or countless other warm weather events. Fits up to a 36" bust/26" waist. $85.00 }




{Carry the spirit of a spring garden with you wherever you go when sporting this charmingly pretty vintage enamel flower basket brooch. 1 1/8" by 1" high. $30.00.}




{Though colour palette at work on this sophisticated 1930s/40s floral print rayon dress may call to mind autumn and winter more than our current season, its short sleeves, super lightweight (somewhat sheer) material, and inclusion of blue and yellow blooms helps ground it solidly in spring. Fits up a 39" bust, 34" waist. $70.00.}




{Instantly redolent of this season's bright blue skies and fresh new green grass, these sweetly fun 1950s Miriam Haskell glass bead earrings would be a cinch to partner with everything from denim peddle pushers to your favourite cool toned sundress. Earrings measure 1.25" in diameter. $42.00.}




{What would springtime be without a few rainbows? Certainly not the same in my books, which is why I often find myself drawn towards sporting clothing and accessories like this marvelous 1950s pastel rainbow dress that convey the same glorious beauty as the real deal all season long (and right on until fall starts). Fits up to a 38" bust/27" waist. $95.00.}




{Give your cold weather black, brown and navy blue footwear a well deserved breather and slip into these chic 1950s cream Caprini stiletto heels instead. Fits a vintage size 9AAA foot. $50.00 (which includes the shoebox shown here that they were found in).}




{When those grey springtime days that feel as though the rain will continue to fall for a month (and sometimes, it very nearly does just that!) strike and the temps are touch nippy once again, reach for this vibrant coral 1960s wool cable knit sweater to stay both warm and and in a chipper mood thanks to its punchy hue. Fits up to a 39" bust/32" waist. $65.00. }




{Look no further for your ideal, goes with a myriad of outfits, endlessly elegant vintage springtime topper than this beautiful 1940s/50s cream lace platter style hat, which could very easily work for a bride, mother of the bride, or wedding guest chapeau, if so desired. Inner diameter of 12" inches. $50.00.}




{Just as rainbows and spring go hand-in-hand, so too do butterflies and the second season of the year, which usually sees their return to gardens, backyards and meadows near and far alike. If, like me, you're a fan of sporting butterflies on your clothing, you'll flip for this sweetly pretty green, blue and white 1950s sundress featuring a swarm of the wee darlings. Fits up to a 33" bust/26" waist. $75.00.}




{Just because winter is behind us again, that doesn't mean you need to wave goodbye to all your suits for the next few months. Quite the contrary actually, when you opt for lighter weight versions in soft, feminine shades like the positively gorgeous lilac purple shade that this sophisticated 1940s/50s skirt suit boasts. Jacket fits up to a 38" bust/30" waist, skirt fits up to a 29" waist/38" hips. $105.00.}

♥ ♥ ♥

Don't you wish you could wave a magic wand and have all of these breezy, sweet, totally fun vintage spring fashions fall right into your closet this very moment? That might not be possible, but thankfully you can certainly buy any of these vintage treasures that your heart desires and help perk up your mid-spring right on into summer wardrobe with the help of Better Vintage Dresses.

This site also has a companion etsy shop called Bee Dee Vintage, where all listings (which are not the same ones that appear on BVD's main site) are geared towards the especially budget friendly side of the price spectrum, coming in at $100 or less.

Just as with Better Dresses Vintage itself, this etsy shop is teaming with wonderful yesteryear pieces that would be perfect for this time of the year, such as the four stop-you-in-your-tracks gems pictured below (I'm also especially smitten with this beguilingly pretty lemon and lime hued Lord and Taylor 1940s/50 strapless party dress, which I would wear in a heartbeat if only it was my size).



{From top left to bottom right: Plus size 1950s light blue short sleeved dress, 1950s light pink cotton voile and lace blouse, Peachy-pink 1950s woven handbag, 1980s does 1950s floral print short sleeved dress.}


It is a joy to be working with Better Vintage Dresses this spring and today's post is just the first of two that will shine the well deserved spotlight on this terrific online vintage seller. Keep a look out for a second in a few weeks which will feature yours truly sporting a gorgeous 1950s garment from BVD.

Likewise, it is also fantastic to share today's selection of mid-springtime fashions with all of you. I'm gleeful about the fact that I can finally don pieces like this again without risking frostbite, nor, conversely, melting faster than a crayon left on the tarmac in July. These days are warm, wonderful and so immensely lovely and without a doubt one of the best ways to celebrate them is by treating yourself to some new vintage fashions, such as the beauties highlighted here today from Better Dresses Vintage.

Happy mid-springtime wishes - and shopping - everyone!