fashion for faith in four colors: check dress
Showing posts with label check dress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label check dress. Show all posts

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Hayward in Brown Gingham

So recently, Fashionable reader, there was a little gathering in Hayward at the Golden Tea Garden with members of The Book Shop round the corner. I chose one of the dresses I purchased for Comic Con but didn't end of wearing, a brown gingham.


As you can see, others were also dressed for the occasion. This dress is similar to my brown plaid, but different enough in cut and fabric that I decided it was worth having two dresses both in the same color pallet and check family.


One of my favorite things about this dress is the bow detail at the neck. You can't see it in the photo above because it was off the dress while I made some repairs. But trust me, it's cute.


Often vintage dresses have bow details at the waist.


Which I must say I also adore, but it's always fun to find a dress that has some kind of neck line interest, I feel it detracts from the Rack and draws the eyes up to the face.

Geoffrey Beene, 1960s  Augusta Auctions

This particular dress is back to my old standard of pencil dresses.


I like full skirt day dresses, and I wore many of them at Comic Con. The full skirt balances out my top half, and I think it looks better with flats than most other styles.

 Vintage and retro takes on the check skirt and top.

 Wallis in a day dress with blue accessories (so chic) and a retro take on a drop wasted day dress.

That said, and even knowing the practicality of a day dress, I have always preferred the pencil. Could be the sexy librarian aspect, could be that the day dress sometimes seems too sweet for my personality.


The pencil dress is more aggressive, more va va voom. I like to imagine that's more me.


1952

I always try to wear pencil dresses with heels but my ankle is still not mended. (I hate being old!) So I am confined to flats. I am inordinately upset about this. I'm loosing the beautiful summer months and my lovely lovely collection of heeled sandals is languishing because of this stupid ankle. I might have to do a bit of an Ode to the Unworn post soon, just to stay sane. So for this tea, I had to wear my oxfords, again. Ho hum. I seem to be living in these shoes these days. Thank goodness I have six pairs, a color for every possible outfit.


Back to the tea. The company was charming, the tea admirable, and the food tasty. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.


I selected an English Breakfast, because I have no imagination when it comes to tea and every time I sally forth into another blend I'm disappointed. And of the nibbles the roast beef and horse radish was my favorite by far.


After chattering away about books and writing and such I signed really quickly and then scuttled off back into the night, or whatever.


Here,jsut for amusement sake is decorating with brown gingham. Not really to my taste, I'd rather wear it.


I often get questions about a modern take on my ultra-retro looks. If I were to modernize this dress I'd probably pair it with an off print, like argyle, or go tough with a black leather jacket and boots.


Lastly I leave you with a hat for Ivy, inspired by my seat mate at the tea.


Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Comic Con Outfits ~ Day Four Red Gingham

Gingham always seems to have a bit of a retro feel to me, no matter what you do with it. It says homey country kitchen, apple pie, picnics.


Oh what a beautiful morning,
Oh what a beautiful day,
I've got a wonderful feeling,
Gingham is coming my way.

A hem, sorry, getting a little carried away there. Where was I? Oh yes, gingham. A member of the check family, I believe. Most often seen in black and white, red and white, or blue and white.


 It took me a long time to come around to gingham. Like pink it felt to girly and sweet to me. It just seems very very difficult to make gingham edgy.


But I cam around to gingham when I spotted this adorable tennis dress in a local vintage shop. It was muslin and looked very cool and light, and something that woudl pair with flats. All top concerns for my wardrobe and upcoming Comic Con.


 It was labeled 1970s but I think it might be more late 1960s. Here's a range of vintage red and white gingham from 1940 ~ 1970.

 1940s; 1950s Red & White Gingham Summer Dress

 1960's mod red & white gingham dress; 1970s gingham summer dress mod drop waist box pleats

Mine would seem to slide in at late 1960s but I suppose it could be 1970s.


It's actually meant to be tighter and shorter on someone a bit larger than me, but I liked it so much as a more 1920's loose feel (and this way it fit the Rack). I walked away from it the first time and then went back after contemplating it for a couple weeks, luckily it was still waiting for me.


I wore it with cream accessories and cream flats. I made a silly little hat out of a knitted pettit four that a reader gave to me in Portland. (More on that in a separate DIY blog to come.)


As I said, gingham as been around forever. Here's a little retrospective . . .

Before the turn of the century:


 1840-1845  The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The 1930s


The 1940s







The 1950s







The 1960s 




And some modern takes on gingham. 

 Some even manage to be almost not retro.





Right is a pink gingham from Rusty Zipper.



 Left also from Rusty Zipper.



 Words cannot describe how much I want this outfit.


Next up, silly DIY hat. I leave you with self much appreciating a lovely cup of tea at Comic Con mid day. Small pleasures make all the difference.


Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.