the garden party dress

There are a myriad of reasons why I mostly wear vintage clothing, and one of the major reasons is that vintage dresses have such soul and character! No modern frock can compare to the feeling of connection to the past and aged patina vintage textiles convey; it's a bit hard to articulate, but I bet you fellow vintage lovers know what I'm talking about.

And yet, when I found this contemporary floral day dress by Boden at a consignment store, I was strangely drawn to it! I walked away from it at first, as it wasn't a huge bargain, but I kept thinking about it, and finally went back and bought it a few days later. It actually looks and feels like a '30s or '40s frock, I think, with that sweet print, collar, and the gathered bust. I even sewed some antique lace ribbon I had in my collection onto the ruffled collar to make it a little more old-fashioned. I must say, it's nice to be able to wear a dress without constantly worrying about tears or popped seams, haha!

Its allure wasn't a total mystery, as it reminds me quite a bit of the dust-soaked '30s day dresses Rita Sue of Carnivale often wears:

 

I wore my new-to-me '20s straw cloche-style sunhat for photos only, as it's in very delicate condition. The silk lining and hatband are quite shattered, so much so that I removed the lining-- it was practically tearing to the touch. It makes a lovely display item in my room, though, and perhaps someday I'll find a worthy use for the lovely velvet flowers. 

Well, enjoy the weekend! ♥