vintage lisa

when i was heavier, i wore a lot of schlumpy clothes. i liked to look nice when i dressed up for special occasions, but i did that pretty rarely. since i lost weight a few years ago, i really try to dress well. that doesn't mean never wearing sweats or jeans, especially at home. but it does mean a new interest in what lines and colors look best on me and when put together. and i love buying vintage.

so two nights ago i scored this dress  on ebay to wear to a couple of weddings this fall--the champagne brocade c.1960 dress i had last fall and winter is gorgeous but a bit snug for comfort with the six pounds or so i've put on in the last year. yes, i could lose six pounds in a week, but it wouldn't be toning inches, which is what this dress needs to fit--where the body changes really are, more than pounds on the scale. so for now, as i adjust to where my body will settle exactly, i've bought a dress that's a touch bigger (an inch?) to wear for similar occasions that i hope i'll love as much. light green is not a color i've worn a lot, so i was a little concerned about accessorizing it--i don't really own much that goes with it.

but fear not (and i know you were worried). i read a blog regularly that is both witty and helpful on the subject of fashion, though not intended, generally, for folks like me: beauty tips for ministers. the author, peacebang, generously gave me a little advice in her comments about how i might accessorize this, and here's what i think.

if i can handle this three-inch heel, i think these mary janes from payless are adorable. they're also available in bone, and i could really use a light-colored heel. so cute. but i'm not sure i can handle three-inch heels. (how cool that they're named intellect, though.)

then there are these naturalizer rey pumps from zappos. more expensive (three times), but undoubtedly both more comfortable and better made. suede, on the other hand, could get worn a lot less in pittsburgh's wet weather--even when it isn't actually raining, the ground is wet almost every day in fall, winter, and spring. so that leaves me with the leather version, which isn't nearly as interesting with its lack of texture contrast between body and trim.

and then the most expensive option are these sofft calypso pumps   from zappos. i have some sofft almost-flats that are oh-so-comfortable. these really have a great 1940s feel to them.

on the other hand, as i look at these three pairs of shoes, i think that at least the first and last might be too 1940s and not 1950s enough for that dress. these would look great with a pinched-waist, broad-shouldered suit, and those high-waisted pencil skirts i'm seeing make a welcome comeback this season--how delightfully 1940s!--but i'm not sure they're right for this dress. the 1950s were more traditional pumps, i think. and of course peep-toes, which i can't wear.

i do own two pairs of black dress shoes that will go well enough with this dress in color, and one of those is the fabulous pointy-toed slingback that gets raves and compliments every time i wear it. it's black with a bone slingback and heel; the bone slingback continues into a little bow on the outer third of the toe box, and atop the bow are three glass beads in icy pink, blue, and green--the same tone of the green dress, see. they just really aren't comfortable enough to wear walking around for any length of time, let alone dancing. the other pair is comfortable enough to wear all day and all night, but isn't at all vintage--my two lips tessas in black. i'll try them on when the dress arrives, but i predict that of the three above, the naturalizers will be the best choice for this dress and probably for overall versatility with other things.

i own a vintage beaded clutch, but i really hate carrying a clutch. i love a little handbag with a ladylike handle for a dress like this. i love very eye-catching little accessories, since i use so few--almost no jewelry or any other accessories, so i really love for one of  them to be exquisite. may be a tall order to find a great purse, but if the shoes are just black, i have a few little black handbags that will be fine.

what do you think? any suggestions to finish the 1950s look? oh--peacebang also suggested midcentury makeup, with red lips. i love a red lip with my coloring, but only if it's right with the outfit and occasion. i don't want to look like i'm in costume--i'm not going as lucy arnaz to these weddings--so i'll have to see how it all looks and what's in fashion for lips this fall. right now i'm seeing red-stained lips (actually, what i've been wearing all summer) rather than 1950s red lipstick for fall. it's a super-flattering look on me and should be evocative enough of the vintage i'm going for to work with the dress without looking costumy.

Comments

[Z]

I like the ones from Payless although you're right....it's possible they wouldn't be very comfortable but I love the heel and the vintage look about them!

[Holly]

That dress really reminds me of photos from when I was child. My mother always had dresses like that on. It's beautiful. I'd go with the Naturalizers. I love clothes too.