V134: That Vintage “New Look” Pink Dress

Okay, I’m back! I have more pictures to share of Lady Carolyn and my be-costumed cruise, though. 🙂  We had two formal dress dinners while on board, and for the second, Carolyn wore a gorgeous reproduction 1912 tea gown, and I wore a new-old dress I found at Haight and Ashbury, in San Francisco.

I had to bow down to the gods of vintage on this one.  It’s a silk taffeta party dress, with a fitted, drop-waist bodice that fits like a second skin, a bobbin-lace-over-velvet band at the hips, and a very full, pleated skirt.  It is my “once in a lifetime” dress, and my splurge of the trip (or of forever, lol).

I adored wearing it, and felt like a pretty, pretty princess, even though whoever designed this dress (it’s not labeled) clearly didn’t intend for anybody to actually have an easy time wearing it.  You can’t sit in it – it buckles at the waist very unattractively, and conveniently leaves a big crease there when you stand up again.  The shoulders fit a little too well, and while I was dancing with this wonderful gentleman, I ripped about an inch on the armscyes, both sides.  It was also meant to be worn with a full crinoline, which I didn’t have – the skirt has a built-in crin, super stiff and scratchy stuff, that turned my nylons to fuzz and chewed up the slip I wore beneath it something awful!

But this is one of those dresses that *must live on!* and *must be worn* no matter how challenging it is to wear … and also if you manage to spill lemonade all down the skirt at dinner… thanks Anonymous for the jinx!!

I will share photos from Victoria, BC in the next few days, and our last outfits of the cruise.  I’m back home now and getting everything ready for the Pompadour and ivory Kensington pre-order starting tonight at midnight.  Busy busy!!