Wallflower Vintage Presents: A 1960s Quilted Purple Summer Dress

"But, luckily, he kept his wits and his purple crayon."
~ from Harold and the Purple Crayon (1955)

Wallflower Vintage Presents: Mood Swings

The only thing worse than a mood swing is a mood monkey bar.

Wallflower Vintage presents: Lazy days of Summer

"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time." ~ John Lubbock

Wallflower Vintage Presents: The Ritual

One of the most anticipated nights - The closing of one chapter, the opening of another... Test the rules, push the envelope.

Congratulations!

Wallflower Vintage Presents: Dappled

You know, today it dappled. I opened the shades – and the couch, the rug, even my napping dog – Dappled. A glance out the window and I was greeted by tender chartreuse leaves reflecting the early morning sunlight off their newborn foliage. A lullaby of a breeze softly tickled newly formed blossoms, scattering a fountain of white petals on to the carpet of green grass.

Makes one believe in magic.

Wallflower Vintage Presents: Am I Blue?

One of my all-time favorite artists is the incomparable Billie Holiday. I've been listening to her for years, so as I was posting this blog - the words to Am I Blue? kept popping into my head.

Am I blue, am I blue
Ain't these tears in my eyes telling you
Am I blue, you'd be too
If each plan with your man done fell through...

WallflowerVintage presents: Pleated Story

You can have your cake and eat it too! First make sure to hand-paint your terra cotta planter and scoop your ice-cream into miniature flower pots...

But really, you do realize that unassuming, yellow enameled cup contains a bit 'o mama's Tanqueray and tonic.

Oh, and try not to grip Sally's hand so hard.

WallflowerVintage presents: Daisy

Daisy (ies)! Always fresh (as a daisy). Did you know that the word daisy derives from "day"? The flower closes at night and opens to the new day - "day's-eye".

Many an author has chosen the humble, tenacious daisy as their subject of choice: One of my favorites is by Helen Jackson Hunt from The Sign of the Daisy:

All summer she scattered the daisy leaves;
They only mocked her as they fell.
She said: "The daisy but deceives;
'He loves me not,' 'he loves me will,'
One story no two daisies tell."
Ah foolish heart, which waits and grieves
Under the daisy's mocking spell.

So, my dears, go forth under the spell of the "...daisy-stars , whose firmament is green" - Thomas Hood from Song.

WallflowerVintage presents: Uncle Frank's Ladies

Uncle Frank was always a looker - or so said Betty and Ida. Easy breezy summer dresses often accompanied this threesome to the shores of Lake Ontario.

The hose and lace up boots, however, would continue to be a bone of contention for many years.

WallflowerVintage presents: 1940s

We recently discovered this beautiful portrait of Shirley wearing a gorgeous pink satin gown. If you look closely you'll see that the hips are encircled in a riot of feathers. According to local legend, she was the maid of honor at her Aunt Edna's nuptials.

The gloves add that certain je ne sais quoi to the gown - something I think we should make an effort to bring back, don't you think?

What is so striking is the fact that she looks as though she could walk the red carpet today - proving once again that classic fashion stands the test of time.

WallflowerVintage presents: LuLu La Norman.

Yes, Lulu is one of our co-worker's relatives. (I'm trying to get a photo of her modern counterpart and her hair, but she has been avoiding me...). Check out the gorgeous plaid taffeta robe on Lulu La Norman.

Lulu is rumored to have been a regular in "The Greatest Show on Earth", an enigma as it were; performing feats of magick and sorcery with her mystical prism of glass.

It seems that our co-worker still wears that prism around her (extremely white) neck. About that photo of her....
does anyone have a mirror?

WallflowerVintage presents: Proper

A proper lady always wears gloves and a hat.

This lovely lady is my Grandmother circa 1935. Note the pulled together look - hat, gloves, handbag. I couldn't tell you for sure, but I would bet she is wearing stockings - regardless of the weather.

Wallflower Vintage Presents: He Said She Said

Lonesome Dove

This elegant dress appears to have walked off a Hitchcock set. Dove gray rayon with a snug bodice, a flat bow detail and a nice full skirt. Feminine and chic.

WallflowerVintage presents: A Checkered Past

Seriously, did you think I was gonna talk about stripes? Apparently 1964 was also a big year for super cute hair, marvelous shoes and, oh, did I mention stripes?

WallflowerVintage presents: Pucci and Palazzo

A 1960s champagne beaded gown bears a striking resemblance to the Pucci gown featured in a 1967 Ladies Home Journal. (see below).


One piece Palazzo pant jumpsuit? Yes, wide legged jumpsuit that look like a gown, but more comfortable - except, of course, when one has to use the lady's - then you're on your own.

Read (at your own risk) about the history of Palazzopants at Palazzodiva.com.