Vintage Dresses

I have always been attracted to vintage clothing. In my teens and early twenties, I dressed almost exclusively in vintage clothing. I love the thrill of coming across a true find at the thrift store or flea market. I love the idea that I may have come across something very special, a beloved item that has been hanging around all of this time, just so I could stumble upon it. 

My home is filled with one of a kind items that I treasure. I like having lovely things about our home, especially if they only set me back 80 cents! So, a few years ago my daughter and I found the most precious tea length gown from the 1950's. It looked a bit like a ballerina dress. It was a dusty rose color with silver tulle over the full skirt and bodice. The bodice was embellished with silver and white beads. My daughter looked stunning in it, it was her sixteenth birthday present. That winter, she wore it to the winter formal dance. Nobody else had the same dress.

Last year for the prom, she wore a gold halter dress that we purchased at the 99 Cent Only Store. Yes, the 99 Cent Only Store. It was $1.07 with tax. We bought it as a fluke because, well it was kind of funny that it was there and that it fit and it was 99 Cents. It went into the closet with a few other formal dresses that had been thrifted or given to her over the years. As the prom approached, she was busy trying on all of the dresses she was considering. Sheepishly, she came into our room and said, "Mom, I think I am going to wear the dress from the 99 Cent Only Store." And so she did. My sister gave her some fancy silver shoes that she was going to throw out because she had never worn them. We hit the thrift store and found a bit of silver lame. I sewed the fabric into a wrap and she carried a purse she thrifted a few years ago for $1. All in all, I believe the total for the entire outfit was $6. We paid more for her date's boutonniere.

Last Sunday she and I hit the Pasadena City College Flea Market. There was a vintage formal dress I thought she might like. The dress was on the first rack as we approached the stall. It was cute and she liked it, but after she tried it on, it really was apparent that it did not suit her. That was just the beginning though. As she is one of a very slim population that can actually fit into vintage dresses, she had her pick. She decided then and there she would dress in vintage clothing every day for the rest of her life. So cute.

We left the stall with a sweet new formal for the Winter Formal or the Prom, and a couple of handmade sun dresses from the 1950's. You might be wondering why this qualifies as a blog post. Well, it is because I am so happy she is her mother's daughter. I am so happy that she is content with the simple things in life. It makes me happy that she doesn't have to have a dress or outfit that impresses other people. It is enough that it makes her happy. It makes me happy that she has no problem going to the prom in a dress we bought from the 99 Cent Only Store!

The above photos are from one of her finds. It was $5. When she got home she asked me, " Is it possible to love a piece of clothing, I mean really love it?" Yes, my dear, it is.