27.2.11

whispering sea

seaside dress 1
(Outfit details: Urban Outfitters blouse [that I've had since middle school], 1940s toile dress, J Crew tights, F21 ballet flats)

The 1940s frock I'm sporting here is about as summery as they come; it's one of my very favorites, as a matter of fact. So I've decided to laugh in winter's face and wear it anyway, with a lot of layering, of course. Seeing so many lovely bloggers running around spring-soaked landscapes in cute light outfits is making me so very jealous! I mean, it's practically March now... surely spring is just around the corner?

These pictures don't show it well, but the pattern on this dress is a toile of seaside vignettes. There are women mending fishing nets, ships at a dock, and the like, with little rhinestone-studded buttons to boot! This is the first of a long line of nautical themed things I've been squirreling away over the long winter. I managed to find a 1940s sailor's uniform tiny enough to fit me at last a few weeks ago: I now have an adorable shirt (yes, with the star-trimmed collar flap!), classic navy wool pants, white deck pants, and a sailor's cap. Now all I need is an ocean to pose next to...
1940s toile
seaside dress 3
seaside dress 2
This pretty song was the flipside to Loretta's very first single, "Honky Tonk Girl", in 1960:

13 comments:

  1. wow, what a fantastic print on that dress! Nautical toile!!!

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  2. That dress is a dream!
    You can come stay with me in TN! It's warm here!

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  3. Amazing dress! You look lovely x

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  4. that dress is lovely enough as it is, but to find out that it's NAUTICAL toile? well that's just unbelievably amazing!

    once it warms up a bit you can come to Maine and pose by the ocean with me... i'm only a couple states away! :)

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  5. So sweet! Can I request a close-up shot of the print? It sounds too delightful not to see up close!

    Also - you can borrow some Sydney heat to 'spring' up your life - after today's muggy hot ick I'd happily give away a few degrees :)

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  6. I love love love your dress! A perfect dress for spring. Super cute.

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  7. Ooh lovely dress, v pretty colour, hopefully summer wont be too far away! :)

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  8. it's beautiful. layering is always fun no matter what year the dress is from. I love the unique style of this dress.

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  9. So beautiful! I love how you are wearing it, too.

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  10. I loooovee your hair and makeup! So beautiful! Gorgeous dress as well :) x

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  11. Thank you ladies!!

    Q and GrayBird, oh how I wish I could skip over to Tennessee or the Maine Coast right now! Luckily we should be getting some warm weather and thawing rains this weekend...

    Rebeccak, I have a little novelty patterns post in the works... I'll definitely include a better picture of this toile, it's really darling; the vignettes are so elaborate!

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  12. i love your dress and your have really beautiful hair

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