There really is nothing like the classics. This is true of literature and of vintage. I think I first read Romeo and Juliet back in high school. We all know the famous story by that cheeky Bard: The warring families, the unrequited love. The heartbreaking ending where the star crossed lovers can only find each other in death. Gah. Only in fair Verona.
When it comes to the classics of vintage, there are few designers more recognizable (or covetable) that Juli Lynne Charlot. She was a singer and actress turned iconic creator of the poodle skirt. Apparently, she had nothing to wear to a Christmas soiree one evening and, lacking in funds, cut a circle out of felt. After adding a few Christmas-themed embellishments – poof! – the poodle skirt was born. It grew into an empire of stunning designs, from the traditional poodle and leash to amazing floral appliqués. Each piece tells a story – I’m lucky enough to have a JLC original in my closet and it’s a true work of art. Only a few clicks on Pinterest and you can see every piece has a whimsey and a femininity, and I got the sense Ms. Charlot was never one to take herself too seriously.
One particular design I had drooled over on more than one occasion was a stunning 1950’s Romeo and Juliet Design being sold by the Etsy shop Golyester. Separated by yards of felt and circumstance and swirling in the romance of vines and flowers, Romeo calls up to his Juliet on her balcony. Needless to say, I swooned. It was love at first sight.
As is often the case with vintage, this particular piece was too small for me. After several messages with the patient shop owner, hoping for a miracle of extra fabric, I learned there was no wiggle room to let her out. She was just not meant to be mine. Thankfully, she ended up going to the lovely Pam Lopez (it’s always better when it goes to someone who you know will love it the way you would have loved it!) But I didn’t forget her. I searched my favorite vintage haunts in vain. Ohhh perfect JLC skirt, where for art thou?
This was one of those pieces that niggled at the back of my brain until I remembered I had the power to not let my love affair go unrequited! I messaged one of my favorite designer of vintage novelty skirts, Girl in a Whirl. If you haven’t heard of Rebecca’s shop before, she is a master of recreating stunning vintage pieces and even bringing a vision you have to life (case in point here & here). She had actually made a skirt in a similar design for another client before and, after a bit of back and forth on overall design, fabric, and measurements, my dream skirt started to become a reality.
Watching Rebecca’s process is almost one of my favorite parts of acquiring one of her skirts. After making the base circle skirt out of a black cotton twill, she painstakingly recreated every embellishment. She took photos of the original and retraced the vines, flowers, and figures, and then blew up the photos and taped them together to properly scale up each piece. Working one panel at a time, she would then chalk each elements onto the black cotton and stitch the pieces on one by one.
As someone who sews, my mind is BLOWN over the amount of work and care that goes into every piece Rebecca makes. She is the definition of an artist, and I commission her for pieces again and again because of the respect she gives to the integrity of the original. Every time I pull this skirt out, I see a new amazing detail. The way the vines curve around the hips. The perfect rosebud buttons Rebecca somehow managed to procure. The pink scalloped trim that nearly exactly matches the original. From each rosebud and leaf, to Romeo’s pantaloons, Juli Lynn Charlot herself would have been proud.
My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee.
William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
Love is such an all-encompassing, heart-filling, lift-you-up one minute and can drag-you-to-the-depths-of-despair the next kind of emotion. I love that I have a piece of art that captures that emotion. Where Juliet and her Romeo get to be frozen in that perfect moment before it all went awry, her on her balcony and him below. That time when they were blissfully unaware of everything that would tumble forth from that point in time. There are so many times in my life where I wish I could freeze frame the time just before a disaster unfolded, and keep it safe. Where I could appreciate the simplicity of its beginnings, before inertia charged forward with her inevitability.
This Girl in a Whirl skirt is truly a piece that inspires poetry and I plan to have a long, happy love affair with it. Personally, I’ve always thought that Friday was the perfect day for romance, so I couldn’t think of a better day for the maiden voyage of this skirt. I might just have to take the hand of my beloved and appreciate tonight for its simple moment. No one can ever know what changes may be on the horizon in any of our lives. But, if we can take one lesson from the star-crossed lovers from Verona, it’s to love fully and completely and with utter abandon.
Because parting is such sweet sorrow…
xoxo
Outfit Details:
Dress, Worn as a Top: Ruby Fayes Vintage (similar here, & here)
Skirt: Custom made by Girl in a Whirl
Necklace: Gift, Bettina Darling (similar)
Handbag: Gift (similar)
Headband: Forever New (similar)
Shoes: Kate Spade
Lip Color: Ruby Woo
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