The Dress That Didn’t Get Away
Do you ever get rid of things and then later regret it? (Do I ever ask redundant questions?) Ok, seriously, I am sure that 99.9% of the population has at some point in their life gotten rid of something and then regretted it afterwards. I personally have done this so many times in my life that I have lost count. My family can attest to this, as I am a menace when I get into a cleaning and de-cluttering frenzy! Cleaning and de-cluttering is great for my well being at the time, but a little while later, (sometimes as quickly as the minute I drop it off at the thrift store) I start to think about those things I parted with a little too hastily. Perhaps this is a clue into how attached I am to my things (which is not a good thing). The best article I ever read on Apartment Therapy talked about the concept of an “outbox”. Have you heard of it before? The concept is that you can place anything in the outbox while its “fate is being decided”. Once you have left it in the outbox for at least one week you can either decide to: take the item back out and keep it, leave it in for another week if you are undecided, or simply get rid of it. This was a huge help to me, as I can then think about the results of my organizing before I commit to them permanently.
This gingham dress was a very fortunate result of not getting rid of something. I picked this dress up at a second hand shop a few years ago. It is from the 1970’s (I think), as the style is slightly reminiscent of that era, and the fabric is a poly/cotton blend (as gingham’s usually are. To this I ask- why? Why are all gingham fabrics poly/cotton??? But I digress. . . ) However, even though this dress is not very old, it masquerades wonderfully as the 1920’s! The 1920’s is not an era I find myself gravitating to very often, as I just don’t have the figure for the drop waist style. (Though I absolutely love the fashions from the era, and have mentioned several times before how much I want to bring more of the 1920’s into my wardrobe!) This dress is the perfect solution because, even though it has a drop waist, it also has a tie belt, which brings the silhouette in just enough to be flattering, while remaining very 1920’s in style. I also love the fact that it is a large gingham, as you can never go wrong with gingham in my book! The simple, pleated style of the dress, and the casual fabric really makes me think that this is the sort of thing that a sportswoman of the 20’s would wear, paired with some thick stockings and a knitted vest (jumper if you are in the UK), to go play golf.
So, why did I (attempt) to get rid of this dress when it is practically perfect in every way? Well, here is the strangest thing- it got a black grease stain right on the front, in one of the white squares, that was very noticeable. I wore it a lot to my old job in a flooring store, where I didn’t mind if it got damaged more than it already was, but after a while I just got tired of wearing a dress with such a noticeable stain. So, I decided to take it out of my closet. However, I didn’t get rid of it completely, but packed it in with my costumes, as it is such a perfect 1920’s style dress. I had kind of forgotten about it, but then a couple of weeks ago, decided to go and dig it out, as I kind of missed it, and I thought I could just overlook the stain. As I started pressing the pleats back into shape I searched . . . and searched . . . and searched, but I could not find the stain. It actually faded and disappeared over the span of the last year! I did finally find a small, pale mark, where the original stain was, but you can barely make it out even if you look for it.
So there. That was a happy story for you, on why you should not always get rid of things, but instead pack them away for a year, and then take them out again and love them all over again!
Outfit Details:
Gingham dress: Thrifted Vintage
Shoes: Earthies, from a few years ago
Cardigan: Kersch
Scarf: Thrifted
Ring: Bauxo
Earrings: Vintage, from my Mom
Purse: Can’t remember!
Cloche Hat: Andre Canadian Hat
As my sister and I were taking these photos, a flock of cranes flew overhead!
These earrings, from my mom, are the craziest. If you look closely, you’ll see that one earring is the cutout, and the other is the area around it, so they are artfully mismatched!
October 11, 2016 @ 7:23 am
This is an adorable outfit! How fantastic that the stain just magically went away over time! I’m loving the whole look, and your hat is especially awesome. I checked out the company’s site; they’ve got some cool stuff!
October 11, 2016 @ 10:55 am
Thanks Emileigh! I was pretty happy the stain disappeared although I still have no idea how!
The company does have some pretty amazing hats I agree! It’s so good to see that there are still milliners out there, despite the fact that hats aren’t as fashionable as they once were. Well, they are still just as fashionable. . . “popular” is perhaps the word I should use 😉
October 11, 2016 @ 7:29 am
I’m totally getting a 20s sportswear vibe from this. It’s a super little frock and all the better for its rediscovery. I love rediscovering things! I too have a ‘maybe’ pile. Your accessorising is perfect and the photos are gorgeous xx
October 11, 2016 @ 10:57 am
Thanks so much Porcelina! It was the perfect fall day when we took these pictures. And yes, you never know when you might just decide to pull something out of that “maybe” pile! I am just too much of a hoarder to get rid of things, and sometimes, like here, it works out well 😉
October 11, 2016 @ 6:34 pm
What a fabulous look and fabulous set of photos! I love the gingham, and the dress does work beautifully for a 20s/30s look. The cloche and the cardigan really bring it all together.
I’m a bit jealous of all your beautiful fall color – the leaves are barely starting to turn here! We’ll get there soon enough, I guess.
October 11, 2016 @ 10:03 pm
Thanks so much Jessica- I was definitely thrilled to discover this dress again 🙂 As for the fall colours- well, we got snow three days ago! 🙁 Extremely early, and I think our fall is over now! I hope you get a lovely and long fall time!
October 12, 2016 @ 12:56 pm
Love the title and message behind this post – as well as your chic 1920s inspired look itself. I hear you regarding admiring, but rarely wearing styles from that era. The same applies to me and my hourglass figure big time, too. Thankfully though, one can always reach for twenties jewelry and other accessories, most of which are not figure dependent as a general rule. This dress is such a rare and wonderful piece for sure – marrying 20s and mid-century styling elements as it does. It looks smashing on you and compliments this gorgeous autumn background so nicely.
xoxo ♥ Jessica
October 13, 2016 @ 6:56 pm
Yes- the 1920’s are hard for some of us- but I still love the era anyways. You are so right about creating a look with jewelry and other accessories. Whenever I lean towards a 20’s look, I always make sure to include some kind of waistline, otherwise I end up looking like a block! 😉 Thanks so much Jessica for your sweet comment!
October 13, 2016 @ 12:20 am
No way, can’t believe the stain just disappeared! This happened to me once with a grease stain on a light coloured leather jacket. One day I came back to it and I could only conclude it had been absorbed! I’ve been practising the art of the ‘maybe’ donation bag for the past year and it definitely makes me feel better about throwing things out. Anyway, super cute autumnal outfit!
October 13, 2016 @ 6:58 pm
Well, that is amazing to find out that the exact same thing happened to someone else too! So glad your jacket was saved! 🙂
October 13, 2016 @ 2:51 pm
Yes! I have done that with garments! There is one in particular I have been very angry that I got rid of lately.
And what a delight to find the stain gone!
Also this outfit is darling!
xoxo
-Janey
October 13, 2016 @ 7:00 pm
So sorry to hear about your dress you got rid of. 🙁 It is always so sad when you hastily get rid of something isn’t it! (I have done that too many times to count. . . )
October 14, 2016 @ 1:37 pm
It’s such a pretty outfit on you! Love the hat!
October 17, 2016 @ 3:50 pm
Thanks Carmen!
October 17, 2016 @ 1:31 pm
This is a perfectly “English Countryside” photo shoot. I love it! And you look beautiful, as always 🙂
October 17, 2016 @ 3:52 pm
Why, thank-you darling. 😉
October 17, 2016 @ 6:12 pm
This outfit would have to be a favourite of mine – and what stunning scenery too! This outfit actually makes me think of Julie Andrews in Thoroughly Modern Millie. I am definitely going to check out that hat maker, your hat is divine!
October 17, 2016 @ 9:39 pm
Thanks! Now that you mention it, this outfit kind of reminds me of Thoroughly Modern Millie too 🙂 Oh, and do check out Canadian Hat- their hats are amazing!
October 18, 2016 @ 1:31 pm
What a happy ending for this dress. And the disapearing stain is a fantastic story. You are officially the perfect picture of fall!
October 18, 2016 @ 6:52 pm
Aww- thanks Christina! It was a very happy ending! (and new beginning?)
October 22, 2016 @ 8:03 am
These are great pictures, love the one with the thrown leaves arching over your head. Was that first time lucky or 200 tries later?! Fabulous dress, what a good job you didn’t throw it out!
October 25, 2016 @ 11:22 am
Thanks Kate-Em!
I think that picture was the second try (amazingly not the 200th!) For the first try, I was standing in front of the trees and you couldn’t see the leaves at all- just my arms stretched to the sky 🙂
And, I’m so glad I didn’t get rid of the dress too!