Retro Chick Reviews: A Girls Guide to Vintage
January 13, 2011Sponsor Spotlight – Pin Up Parade
January 17, 2011I confess I’m finding this January even harder than usual.
Probably being ill over Christmas and New Year has stolen the normal bounce from my step and I feel a little like there’s nothing to look forward to. I’m poorly motivated and drained of ideas and I feel a little adrift. I should be organising meetings, coming up with colaborations and new business ideas for Retro Chick, but instead I’m watching Dickinson’s Real Deal in my pyjamas at an unhealthy hour of the day.
Hopefully I’ll perk up a little now I’ve kicked off the cold, and I don’t want to mope around too much on the blog. I’m normally quite good at kicking myself out of these things, and I was indeed planning a January Blues post on little ways to perk yourself up. I felt, however, that seeing as I’m failing to drag myself out of my January Blues it might be a little hypocritical.
So instead I spent the morning looking at blue frocks.
No point wasting a good title and looking at dresses is as good a way to cheer yourself up as any.
Blue is a great colour. There’s a shade for everyone and it can look anything from funky and bright in electric shades to conservative and formal in navy. In it’s darker shades it’s as slimming as black but far easier on pale winter skin tones.
Here’s my favourites…..
Pin Up Couture Sheen Queen Dress – Modcloth $117.99
This style of dress is my favourite, because I know it suits my body shape. It has a wide collar, fitted waist and full skirt that will look fabulous with a petticoat, in a mood brightening cobalt blue.
Vintage 30s Foga Blue Dress – Sotto Le Stelle Fashion on eBay US £82.81
I love this medium blue 1930s crepe dress. It has a sequin insert on the bodice and the sleeves are a fabulous shape.
Old Town Dress – Lady K Loves £55
A perfect dress for if Spring ever turns up. The white stripe gives it a vaguely nautical air.
Twist Satin Embellished Maxi Dress – Oasis £80 £40
I love how the High Street has taken to calling evening dresses Maxi Dresses. To me the maxi dress implies something more casual. This is a gorgeous satin evening dress that make me think of episodes of Poirot where everyone dresses for dinner. AND it’s in the sale.
50s Steel Blue Grey Embroidered Taffeta Gown – Flour Clothing on Etsy £74.30
Lordy this is lovely. I’d be selling organs right now to buy it, only my waist hasn’t been 25″ since I was 14. Oh well, good job really, I need my kidneys.
Vintage 50s Blue Brocade Dress – The Looking Glass on eBay £68
Another glamorous, striking blue dress in a glamorous brocade and in a slightly larger size.
Mango Contrast Belted Dress – Mango at ASOS £54.90 £39.90
Proof that blue can be conservative! This is such a versatile dress, really simply styled in this picture, but you could wear it with a sensible bun and court shoes for a work look, or add seamed stockings and an elaborate up do for a far more glamorous look.
17 Comments
oooh I love that Taffeta dress too! I don’t think I’ve ever had a 25″ waist I remember being 26″ once but never 25″! It does make me laugh though when people call a dress like that a gown, I guess they think they’ll get more money for it? Cynical me? Never! I would still buy it gown or no gown if a) it fit and b) I had more than a £1 to my name ;o)
Oooh, I never noticed the word Gown!
I wonder if they’re just trying to attract more search results?
Good choice of frockery! I love the top one, very versitile with the addition of a petticoat for dances/partys, or without for the office/shopping.
I hear ya about the mopes. The sodding weather doesn’t help. I don’t think I have seen the sun all week, or indeed, any blue sky. It does have an effect on us. Not as serious as SAD, but it gets to us all on some level, its natural. And its a pain in the arse.
You could try lighting some candles, making yourself nice and cosy and watching a nice vintage feel good with lots of sun? Or just carry on watching Bobby Dazzler Dickinson and soak up the Vit D radiating from the screen via his tan-o-rrific skin tone :o)
Ha ha! Well, that made me laugh at least! He is very orange, and intensely annoying, much like Tim Woolacot on Bargain Hunt.
I watch far too many antiques shows!
Thanks Lady, these definitely DO cheer me up! I love blue, like you say slimming and wearable and cheerier than black.
Fiona- I suspect the same re the name! How funny that Monsoon does the opposite (ie their jewelled wonders and jersey beach dresses are both simply ‘maxis’- I like to imagine a glamour-puss who DOES wear such glam maxis all the time, living in a bejewelled villa on an island…).
The Monsoon dress and the ‘Old Time’ dress are my faves! Logical Perdita prefers ‘old time’ for work-to-bar wear, Princessy Perdita wants the evening maxi.
I want that embroidered taffeta number so bad I feel faint!
I really like the PinUp Couture one. I have a dress that is a similar colour and shape, but I always feel a bit…well, when I wear it I feel I must look like Nurse Gladys Emmanuel!
I love blue, though, and it can be such a fun colour to wear. I hope you feel better soon x
That first dress is simply divine and I need it in my life. But my self-imposed shopping ban won’t let me! Damn these New Year resolutions!
ORGH. Top picks chick!
The Lady K Loves frock has to be my favourite one, although the cobalt one at the start of the post has such an amazing colour.
You will manage to beat the blues and you know that! We can’t always be happy and at our best, so what it we have down moments! I have a serious case of the blues right now, with moving countries, and the fact that my man will be working in a different country to mine, I’m a mess, but I try not to kick myself to much, I know it’s part of the process and I just have to go through it as best I can.
Have a lovely weekend dearest Gemma xx
Aw. I’m sure you’ll be fine. That’s such a lot to have going on your bound to be a little blue.
Have a lovely weekend too! x
Thank you for including the Old Town Dress, we’re sorting out new photo’s soon because…we don’t do it in blue any more! It’s a nightmare trying to find fabrics which match colour so we decided to introduce it in black and white and yellow and white instead.
I love the top dress. I agree there is a shade of blue for everyone…I could do with a bit more blue in my wardrobe. Dark blue satin…hmmmm I can feel a sewing project coming on!
Wowee, they’re all stunning! I do love blue, and all of these would look gorgeous with your colouring x
I love blue dresses..not sure why but always have done! Must check out the Flour Etsy shop…devine!
x
What a beautiful selection. Recently I keep seeing people looking fantastic in blue dresses and wondering why I don’t wear one myself.
I think I’ve got the same feeling as you post-holiday, being ill is just no fun! Sadly there are coursework deadlines waiting so I’ve really got to get motivated and fast!
Florrie x
I love blues dresses! Maybe because I always get compliments when wearing blue! I especially like the 50s steel grey blue embroidered dress. Great selections!