Sunday, June 11, 2017

The Watercolour Dress

 This dress has been in my life so long I no longer remember which relative handed it down to me. It seems as though it has always been there, at the back of the cupboard waiting to be worn on the most unpleasantly warm days. The bodice is lined with a second layer of the same tissue-thin, gauze-like cotton that the skirt is, but a half slip is absolutely necessary on the bottom. I have a very lightweight, pale pink slip purchased just for this dress back in the 80's. When it finally succumbs to age, I don't know what I shall do. A practical person would begin seeking out a replacement now, but well, you know.
A worrying sign is the side-close metal zipper is starting to catch. The only thing worse than replacing zippers is finding a short, metal side zipper that won't chew-up the lightweight fabric when it invariably does catch. My pessimism on the subject is rooted in experience. For the moment, I'm keeping my fingers crossed and as the dress is large enough, just pulling it on over my head and not bothering with the zip at all. 
 The return of Summer Hair, held up in combs and festooned with flowers. As a young woman with a short hairstyle, I would shave the back hairline on my neck (after an idiot remarked that I had a, "Hairy neck"). As a grown woman with a strong sense of, "Fuck You" and an ever stronger sense of laziness, I don't bother. Imagine, being made to feel self-conscious over something as silly as a hairline! Needless to say (but I'll go ahead and say it for readers that might benefit from my wisdom gained with age) if someone finds fault with you, be it a hairy neck, or anything else, run! Oh and also, wedding rings don't flush easily. I hope this has been helpful advice.


 Outfit Particulars:
Vintage dress-No idea, whatsoever.
Shoes-Hand-Me-Ups
Vintage Japan-made straw bag-Goodwill
Vintage West German-made necklace-Hand-Me-Ups
Vintage earrings-New Life Thrift
Vintage Sarah Coventry brooch-Hand-Me-Ups
Hair flowers-Tiff and Tam
Fragrance-Vintage formulation Geminesse
In other news, Walgreen's is selling Wonder Woman lippy. It is very sheer-almost a gloss in weight, but I was surprised how good it was for practically pocket change. I went back to purchase a few more and they were nearly sold out. I should be embarrassed buying this at my age, but I'm not. I wasn't embarrassed buying the Star Wars makeup either-that Dark Side mascara was actually good stuff!

Someone is having fun with the garden signs at the library.


If you look closely you can see my photographer reflected in the door's glass. I wish the Cubs would start winning a few games-the photos look so much better with a WIN flag hanging as a backdrop. Come on Cubbies, win some games.,
Hope your weekend was nice.





14 comments:

Arlene from NJ said...

Hi! I have been reading your blog for awhile but have never posted anything. I love your blog! I also like your sense of humor which on occasion, makes me laugh which is a good thing! That is a very pretty dress so I hope the zipper keeps working. Arlene from NJ (where it is 90 degrees today).

Goody said...

Hi Arlene, welcome to the blog.
Thank you! I'm glad I can bring you a laugh now and then. I hope you cool off out there.

ThriftyParka said...

Go Cubbies!!! Sadly, Wonder Woman lipstick hasn't made it north of the border.

Oooh, that dress is pretty. Thanks for showing the, er, hairy neck. It gives a nice view (well, of your neck, and) that pretty scalloped neckline!!!

Hee! Funny library signs!

Happy thrifting ;)

Bibi Maizoon said...

Geishas paint their hairline in exactly that W shape. Some people & their asinine hidden agendas.
Love that dress & those gold wedges.
Danny's using a tripod? I really need to invest in one for my blog. (But I'm still shooting with my phone.)

Mim said...

That's such a pretty, summery look - summer hair FTW.

Wonder Woman lippie looks ace. I'd buy it, if they had it over here.

Melanie Folly Bird said...

Such a pretty dress! I love the colours and your description of the gauziness, just makes it all the better. But the zip thing, that makes me anxious. I hate, hate, hate inserting zips, I am absolutely rubbish at doing so. I wouldn't like to put one in such fabric, I still think back with horror at trying to put a zip in a georgette dress.

I love how you have your hair, it looks really lovely. I was only saying to Andy last night, that I evidently wasn't in the queue when they handed out hair styling ability! But then, having curls such as I do, it likely wasn't thought necessary.

Vix said...

I've seen that WW lipstick in Poundland, I liked the packaging but wasn't sure if it was any good. I might have to splash out!
Lovely dress. I hope you manage to find a solution to it's woes. In the meantime the turquoise bag is doing a brilliant job to detract from any issues.
Hairy neck? That's a man destined to spend the rest of his life single. Tosser. xxx

Vronni's Style Meanderings said...

Goody, you look gorgeous! I love your hair and the flowers in the comb look so nice. I love the turquoise belt and bag with the dress and from what I could see of the shoes they look fab, too. I do hope the dress holds out for you.

Advice from my hairdresser - never shave your hair line.

I flogged my wedding ring!

The people at your library have a sense of humour...

Have a great week.

Miss Magpie said...

I love the dress but boy do I have serious bag envy!!! What a beauty. I have a low hairline at the back too, when I had my hair short the sister in law used to razor the back!?!

Polyester Princess said...

What a lovely dress that is! It's a good thing it's big enough to pull over your head, so that the zipper can be left as it is. I have a dress I'm always pulling over my head, as the zipper is stuck. I'm swooning over that blue straw handbag, and I wish my hair was long enough for an updo involving combs and flowers ... I'll be checking out that lippie when I'm in Wales, as I read Vix's comment that it's available in Poundland. xxx

Beth Waltz said...

Shall give the WW lippy a try -- sometimes it's difficult to find my pet red Cover Girl gloss at Big Lot's bargain bin. (I do, however, have occasional good luck in uncovering hair gizmos to keep the mane off my hairy neck.)

What a very pretty gauzy dress! Vix is also wearing a floral two-piece. Clearly, I'm out of step in my mono-color coolie-pants and sleeved tunic top, but give me credit for adding an straw hat for shade.

Must confess I sniggered at the wedding ring remark, Goody. Plumbers in my family ALWAYS check the U-bend in toilets and sinks when making repairs and replacements. They call it the "treasure trove."

Goody said...

@Thrifty Parka
I'd post you some but they'd probably melt in-transit. I guess that means shopping trip to the U.S.

@Bibi
Poor kid has such shaky hands from all the asthma medicine he can't take a decent photo without the tripod. This is the second one-it is lightweight and portable.

@Mim
I've given up the hairdryer until autumn.

@Melanie
I always wanted nice curls like yours but even after a perm, it wasn't happening. I really like the way you pull your hair up in a bow.

@Vix
Ha! Tosser is about the nicest thing that could be said about him.

@Veronica
I wish someone had warned me about the hairline-such a lot of work for nothing. I hope you got some good cash for the ring ;)

@Miss Magpie
Thank you. It is a strangely hard bag to wear-the shade is hard to match.

@Ann
Some of the smaller flower clips can be worn behind your ear with shorter hair-it would look cute with your hair.

@Beth
That sounds like a stylish look-wide trousers and tunics always look cool and elegant to me (unless you're wearing an actual Mao suit).

Radostin said...

This outfit is exquisite! Your neck is most elegant. Love your accessorisation.

Goody said...

@Radostin
You are the first person to ever call my neck elegant. You've made my day! Thank you.