When I was a kid, we had this massive purple lilac bush in the backyard. I can vaguely remember stepping off the back porch in late Spring and being hit with that immediate, sweet scent, a wall of purple calling me forward. There are a lot of memories of my childhood that linger. But few are as powerful as olfactory memories – one whiff of lilac and I can literally feel the start of summer.
Although jury is still out as to whether they are hydrangea or lilacs, the minute I saw this dress at Deerfield Vintage, it brought me right back. Splashing in that inflatable pool, letting our turtles toil around in the grass, riding my Big Wheels like a maniac in the dentist parking lot. Sometimes there is magic in looking back and seeing how far you come. Other times, the magic exists in remembering where you came from.
The smell of lilacs
crept poignantly into the room
like a remembered spring.
Margaret Millar
I was doing a bit of light reading on floral symbolism, and found that lilacs symbolize renewal. Apparently it’s because they have one of the earliest bloom times in the Spring. But, I love the idea of wearing a dress of rebirth. I’m struggling at this point in the semester (and let’s be honest, this point in the pandemic) and am so ready for some sort of Renaissance.
The purple lilacs in particular are meant to symbolize a first love. That overwhelming feeling of falling for the first time towards something completely new. While we tend to associate these moments with being young, I wonder if we grown-ups should reclaim it. Fall in love for the first time all over again. Reclaim the joy in alighting on the fresh blooms along the garden path you walk down every day.
Find new joy in the world that awaits.
xoxo
Outfit Details:
Dress: Deerfield Vintage (similar modern and vintage here, here & here)
Necklace: vintage (similar)
Belt: Alannah Hill (similar)
Handbag: eBay (similar here & here)
Shoes: Anthropologie (similar here & here)
Lip Color: Jungle Red
.
instagram // twitter // facebook // pinterest
.
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.