After dropping Clover off at pre-school this morning, I pulled up to one of my favorite thrift stores to find a dress on display in the front window that is nothing short of an absolute dream vintage wedding dress. One of the ladies working saw me taking pictures and came out to tell me about it.
Apparently, a woman in her 70’s brought it in. It was her mother’s wedding dress in 1930. She also brought in the golden yellow one on display with it, the dress she herself got married in, in Vegas in the 1950’s.
Inside was this dress, from 1960, which was worn by the woman’s daughter to her prom… three generations of dresses!
Oh, but it was this beauty that stole my heart. She let me have a better look at it once we were inside and it appeared to be in wonderful condition. So simple and elegant but with such sweet details…
The peek-a-boo shoulders were my favorite, lined with little flowers that are hard to see in the pics, and the ruffles, oh the ruffles… *sigh*.
I didn‘t try it on, but it looks like it just might be a perfect fit, which is kind of killing me, being that I’m already happily married, and can’t for the life of me imagine when I would ever have the opportunity to wear such a dress, obviously not to someone else’s wedding! The price tag is $85, which seems like an amazing deal, but not really something I can justify for wearing around the house to play dress up. Any vintage sellers out there have an idea of what this dress might actually be worth?
I did find a few little goodies to take home though: a 70’s hippie top with quilted bib detailing, a vintage 70’s I. Magnin pale pink nightgown with crochet lace trim (which I plan to wear as a dress), $4 each, and a box of 50 vintage Audubon Western Birds of North America cards for $2, which helped, but I’m still kinda pining over that dress, ah well…
36 comments:
Oh wow, it's a beauty! I say buy it as a piece of art and hang it on the wall!
(And obviously take it down every now and then to swish about it!)
I really really hate beautiful dress woes! It's gonna eat away at you I tell you! I'd buy the yellow one too - it looks pretty special
What a gorgeous dress! and the story behind it. I can see why you like it. I'm not likely to be having a wedding anytime soon either, but this dress would be awesome for someone who was :) Glad you found a bargain as well. I've seen vintage wedding dresses sell for around $200NZ - what's that in US? Get out the XE currency converter - it says $140US. I imagine it could be worth a bit more.
Gosh, how wonderful to see three generations of beautiful dresses in one place!
The wedding dress and the yellow dress next to it make me want to get married right now!
the yellow one... oh my!
What gorgeousness...I would want it too. But the yellow one I would really snap up, that's perfect every day wear!
Marie @ Lemondrop ViNtAge
what an amazing day at the "thrift shop"! I'd venture to guess that a dress like could sell for well over $300 on etsy given its age & condition. How much was the yellow one? I'm in love with it! I think if I were to have had a real wedding I would definitely go for a bright & fun 50s dress like that too :)
i love the pieces you did score though, you have amazing thrift eyes if I do say so myself! The bird cards are the best though :)
wow, both dresses are an absolute dream...perhaps you could renew your vows and have an excuse to wear it!? :) hehe, just a thought!
xo,
claire
Mamushka Marie
I'd get that wedding dress and either a) commit sacrilege and get it dyed or b) invent an occasion to wear it or c) lovingly gift it to a bride who would wear/love it. Or hang it on the wall as art/decor (most likely, since it wouldn't fit me!).
the ruffles, peekaboo shoulders, the excellent condition...oh. my. i totally sympathize with with your predicament, it is gorgeous and covet-able, but hard to justify when you have any sort of budget to consider. i could imagine it being worn as something other than a wedding gown...though even those "other" kinds of occasions would be rare for most of us. beautiful as art on the wall, indeed, if you have the right space and can afford to take the plunge.
the dress would surely be worth a couple hundred dollars on etsy, though it might sit for a while (i.e. not a quick flip). off to the shop to dream of ruffled peekaboo shoulders....
I love hearing stories about vintage pieces, that sounds like such a fun thrfting day. That dress is amazing, the shoulders, the ruffles, WOW!
My boyfriend's family has a dress from the 20's that belonged to the great grandmother. It was made in paris and is couture. All the ladies wear it for the weddings in the family, it's the most beautiful dress I have ever seen so I know what you are feeling. I have to find a link so you can see it..........All handmade lace! I want a dress just like it when I marry, but I can;t even imagine what that would cost these days!
Here is a pic....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/loewenherz/1400671350/in/set-72157602222422119/
There is a another photo of the whole dress (from farther away) if you feel like poking around the set. That was such a pretty wedding.
I found the dress I have been searching for, for months, this week too! It's a week for pretty dresses!!
oh, i wouldn't have had the will power to leave it there... you are strong! i was thinking that the "renew your vows" idea was a good one or buy it and sell it on etsy/ebay and know that whomever buys it will cherish it and you will be doing them a service by putting in in their hands!
(plus, you could go on a fun little getaway with the $!)
i want the yellow one for myself!
Oh Missa! Thank you so much, this is so exciting! Would you like me to send you some money for postage?
Such lovely dresses, wow!! I wonder what other treasures that 70 yr old woman has lurking in her home, she obviously knows how to store her vintage!
That dress is so perfect. Gosh! Maybe you could justify it somehow, like is there a shindig you're going this summer. Like a tulip festival, or a cheese tasting at the local supermarket? I mean you obviously have to have it.
I love those 70s tops they're absolutely perfect. The red and white one reminds me of the beautiful dress you sent me. I can't wait to see you wear them.
Charlie got a set of audubon cards too at the dump. He's planning a display of the birds we have here at the park.
oh poo!! The stories behind our things make us clutch onto them more, right? If i could only keep everything. Such a gorgeous dress, and knowing a bit of the history makes it just that much better. I hope someone nice buys it and does it up well.
i love that you found a family of dresses! that's making my head spin with the possibilities of clothing relatives, what an endearing and wondrous thought. i already personify inanimate objects constantly, guess i'm turning more and more into a crazy person. you have such a great eye for thrifty finds! do you get more and more picky as time goes on and your house gets fuller? or do you just occasionally do a major overhaul of household goods? i feel guilty when i pick up things at the thrift store because my house is bursting at the seams!
also, i wanted to ask if you'd like a copy of Ceremony, that book I wrote about on my blog. I have an extra and would love to send it to you. i'm heather at moonshinejunkyard@gmail.com, just let me know and i'll pop it in the post!
Oh Missa, that dress is so super beautfiful! But the yellow one really caught my eye, I am loving that one!
I think it was fated for you, it's simply too beautiful to pass up. And that yellow one too, oh my!
my heart just jumped! wow. i don't know what to love more, that fantastic white dress or her hat!
Ah! All the dresses are amazing! I esp like the prom dress, wow.
I want to be near this thrift store, or one like it!
Your finds are absolutely lovely...but...how much was the prom dress? lol
xo
love your blog!
Ah! All the dresses are amazing! I esp like the prom dress, wow.
I want to be near this thrift store, or one like it!
Your finds are absolutely lovely...but...how much was the prom dress? lol
xo
love your blog!
How cool that you got the history of the dresses! Normally one is just left to guess!!!
I love your finds and can't wait to see you model them! :)
Vintage shopping is the absolute best! I love that dress and I also love when clothes have a back story to them ;)
oh, we totally brought the jawbone home. i want to use it as home decor, my son wants to take it for show and tell. i just feel a need to somehow clean it before either of these things occur, so it's living in the trunk of my car in the meantime...
wishing you all a sweet and magical easter!
genius scores.
Wow. Just wow.
You can't let that yellow one get away! Too divine!
Happy Easter, my dear!
http://girlwhimsy.blogspot.com
http://closetfullofgoodies.blogspot.com
the dress is gorgeous!
i love the blouse and dress you did buy...super cute!
i also wanted to let you know that you are the lucky winner of my giveaway! my husband pulled your name out the hat this morning! :D congratulations!
Goodness, that dress is stunning!
That dress really is beautiful, renew your vows ;-)
I am head over heels about the two clothing items you were actually able to take home! Serious swooooon!
That wedding dress is unbelievable! The tiered skirt portion is my favorite part. And how lovely that you were able to get some of the history about it and it's kins-dresses.
I love the stories behind these dresses. There's so much love and history behind each vintage piece. Thanks for sharing these wonderful finds with us!!
Where is this shop? I am totally in love with the stuff they have!
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