I do like vintage clothes. But I’ve never really had the confidence to wear full out vintage on a day to day basis, not like the redoubtable vintage blogger Jessica Cangiano at Chronically Vintage.

That doesn’t mean that I am immune to purchasing a few vintage outfits when I see them with the idea that I will wear them at some unspecified future occasion. And so it was that I bought this little fifties beauty:

Front View of Dress

I found it in the bottom of a mixed box of old clothes:- mainly Crimpline and Bri-Nylon – certainly nothing to write home about, but the sight of this classic 50s Prom dress got me very excited! I love the full skirt, and the faux belt with a diamante buckle.

Close Up Of Dress Front

It’s made of two layers of fabric, a sky blue ‘satin’ lining, with a over-layer of a nylon tulle fabric with a flock pattern of small white dots and blue and white roses. You can see it best in this picture of the skirt:

Fabric Detail in Skirt

There was an underskirt of a stiff paper-like material to make the skirt stand out.

When I found it, it was wrinkled and rather grubby. Washing it was scary, as I was scared of damaging the ‘flock’ effect of the pattern and I wasn’t sure how the underskirt and buckle would react to getting wet. In the end, I sealed the buckle inside a plastic bag and turned the dress inside out so the top layers of the skirt went over the bodice and the underskirt could rest on my shoulder while I washed the fabric  parts.

Back View of Dress

But, as you can see, it turned out OK. However, sadly, it was just a tiny bit smaller that I ever have hope of slimming down to, so my dreams of wearing it to some unspecified future occasion have been dashed.

Close Up Of Dress Back

But it’s not the end of the world. It’s gone to be a bridesmaid’s dress at a vintage wedding so will no doubt get much more admiration than it would stored in my wardrobe.