It is no secret that I am a lover of the 3D appliqué. To me it’s one of the hallmarks of 1950’s fashion – harking back to a time when someone painstakingly hand-stitched elements onto a garment to make it truly one of a kind. In today’s world of fast fashion, where things are barely made to endure a walk round the block, I have an even deeper appreciation for the person who took their time. Who made a piece to last a lifetime. To make a woman stand in sharp relief, instead of fade into the background.
I admit hunting these garments down can take a certain determination. Keyword notifications abound and scouring IG for even a whisp of a delicate petal is commonplace. But truth be told, the most amazing pieces I have come across are often by luck. Or a fellow huntress alerting me to their whereabouts. This particular beauty I happened upon by accident at Skirt Chaser Vintage when perusing for some eye candy on Instagram. Just one peek of that crimson rose and cascading posies and I slammed on the insta-brakes while my heart screeched, “HOLD EVERYTHING!” Perhaps a bit dramatic, but if 3D appliqué is your thing, trust me that you need to pounce and pounce fast, cause they go like gangbusters!
Having just come back from the Southern Hemisphere tropics, I was ready to say farewell to the rain and be welcomed by glorious summer. BHAHAHAHA! Wilmington laughs in my face. Forget raining cats and dogs, we’ve been dealing with torrential elephants and rhinos these past few days! In preparation for the downpour, my favorite waterproof shoes always come out to play. If any of you out there have yet to discover Melissas, I urge you to run, not walk, and check ’em out. Not only are they made of (rose scented!) 100% recyclable, non-toxic PVC called Melflex that molds to your feet, but they come in the cutest range of vintage-inspired options. These rose-toed cuties get more than their fair share of wear, especially in summer. I have at least 6 pairs scattered throughout the house, and they are definitely my go to on a day when a lot of racing around is required.
As one who likes to finish the week strong, I have a To Do list written and my game face on! I fly off to Boston next week to give a talk at the New England Aquarium (thought my world’s don’t often collide, if anyone is in the area and wants to come hear a whole lot of nerdery about shark brains, you can register to attend here). So, I need to start planning my lecture, finish off a few projects, and hunt through some of my favorite under the sea novelty prints to decide what to wear. Might be an opportune time to bust out this Marjorie Montgomery again. Cause this gal loves her themes…
Happy Friday everyone!
xoxo
Outfit Details:
Top: Bernie Dexter
Skirt: Skirt Chaser Vintage (similar modern and vintage here, here, & here)
Petticoat: Handmade Petticoats
Necklace: gift, Swarovski (similar)
Handbag: One Sweet Thread (similar here & here)
Flats: Melissas
Lip Color: Retrofuturist
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