Around this time last year, I interviewed the amazing Nikki Redcliffe. And she was everything I want to be when I grow up – confident, brilliant, and unapologetically fabulous. Whenever I feature a fellow vintage-loving lady, I get the fun part of trolling through their blogs or IG feeds for some of my favorite outfits they’ve shared. And Nikki’s feed is chock full of 1950’s swoon-worthy finery. I need to pause for a minute to wipe the drool…
In my social media stalking (which was totally allowed, cause she told me I could), I came upon this amazing pink vintage trompe l’oeil dress she had shared on her feed. And it was everything I love about vintage – nipped waist, full skirt, and a color that could be seen from space. On top of that, as you all well know, my heart belongs to prints that deceive the eye. So, I was sunk. I had zero restraint and told her there was a warm, loving space in my closet for it should she ever decide too part with it….
Many months later, I was going about my daily chaos when a parcel arrived in the mail from the UK. As someone who does a fair bit of hunting online, I wondered if I had ordered something and forgot about it…or if the vintage gods had somehow just decided to start sending me vintage from the heavens (hey, a gal can dream).
It turns out, the reality was nearly as good as the latter. I opened the parcel to see perfection personified in this dress. Pretty in pink and wrapped in a trompe l’oeil bow for me. Nikki enclosed a note that she didn’t wear it as much as she should – and that this was a dress that needed wearing. She could think of no better home than my closet. And I was touched beyond belief – That a she had not only remembered (not that I was subtle or anything), but sent her across the miles simply because she knew it would make me happy, without a need for anything in return.
See what I mean?? Nikki is who we should ALL want to be when we grow up…
I often think of how lucky I am to have found this community of (mostly) women, who love self-celebration and who cherish a garment that comes with a story. But more often than that, I love a community that similarly sees the beauty in passing on the story. Who knew all along they were just one chapter in a long juicy novel of the garment’s life. And I hope one day to do this for someone else – to just drop a dress in the post and send it off to her new home, simply to make someone’s day.
It’s the gift that most certainly keeps on giving…
xoxo
Outfit Details:
Dress: gift, Nikki Redcliffe (similar modern or vintage here, here & here)
Belt: Made by me from a vintage buckle (similar)
Necklace: Swarovski
Bracelet: street fair (similar)
Handbag: gift, Trashy Diva, sold out (similar)
Shoes: gift, ASOS (similar here & here)
Lip Color: Schiap
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Any items marked with a “c/o” (courtesy of) a retailer mean I was provided with an item for free in exchange for a review and/or feature on my blog. I always provide my honest opinion of any item I’m reviewing, regardless of whether it was sent to me as a courtesy item or if I purchased it myself. In addition, this post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you click and/or make a purchase through certain links or ads on this site, I may make a commission from that click and/or purchase at no cost to you, which helps with the day-to-day running costs of my blog.