My 1970s Maxi Style
This was the second dress I nabbed at my most recent estate sale.
This dress, like the others I scored at this sale were all in perfect condition. There were only about ten dresses in total at the sale. I think it is interesting to note that the woman chose to keep one from the 1960’s, two from the 70’s and then the rest from the 80’s. The dresses from the 60’s and 70’s must have had some special meaning or sentimental value.
I love clothing with history.
Often when you put a vintage piece on it feels like you are stepping into someone else’s memories. It felt like that when I put on this dress, suddenly I had an overwhelming urge to pick up a tennis racquet but then gave my head a good shake and ordered a Tom Collins instead with “extra” Tom and no cherry s’il vous plaît. Yes, it was only ten in the morning but when you look this boss no one questions you. Besides, isn’t that the correct time for a Stepford Wife to start drinking? The addition of the headscarf made me feel like a serious contender as a Stepford Wife.
And just to be clear I am joking. I don’t start drinking at ten in the morning. I like to wait till after noon like any respectable woman.
Actually if you really must know I can no longer drink any alcohol thanks to my sinusitis. I hate you sinuses!
The dress is a titch big again on me, but nothing that the belt can’t handle.
The colour isn’t great in the photo above. When I take indoor photos trying to correct the lighting is always a challenge and often distorts or fades the colour.
Isn’t the design of this dress fab? It’s very simple but the pattern and unique detailing make it special. It is made in Canada by Charm Fashions in Toronto and the first and only time in my life that I am wearing a size 16. No, that is not a typo. Check it out…
There was no vanity sizing back then people.
The sizing was straight up meant to mess with your mind. I wonder what the person wearing a size four looked like back then.
Invisible?
And apparently Fortrel was an extra special type of polyester which will last for ten million years but please do not put it next to any source of flame.
A little tidbit I learned when I was training to be a flight attendant, do not wear rayon, nylon or polyester under any circumstances while travelling via air. In a cabin fire they will melt onto your body. And no hair spray either unless you want your whole head to spontaneously burst into flames.
A joke we had at the time was if there is a fire in the cabin don’t panic, just take a deep breath, bend over and kiss your ass goodbye. Nothing good happens when you have fire in a pressurized cabin. Am I freaking you out yet? ; )
Okay…slightly off topic now. Didn’t mean to scare you off of polyester, the magic fabric of the 1970’s and beyond.
What do you think of this vintage maxi?
I love it.
I will never come across anyone else wearing the same dress.
Weird little details like that excite me.
That and Cheezies (mmm…Cheezies!), but that is a whole other story.
What gets you excited about clothing?
Linking up with Turning Heads Tuesday, I Will Wear What I Like, Throw Back Thursdays, What I Wore, My Girlish Whims
Really cute dress. Like you, I adore clothing with a past. Those items have such significance from their history.
And I’m leaping at your anecdotes about being a flight attendant! Although I know, because of your tender age, that you weren’t one back in the Sixties, I’m imagining you as a sexy Mad Men-type stewardess whom all the men can’t stop ogling. Sorry, mental detour!
Ha! Nope. The rest of the story is that I went through all the training and then the airline went bust.
They were quite picky about the dress code and appearance though. We had to have our lipstick the same colour as our nails and we actually had our manicures checked!
Probably the only time in my life you would have seen me with nail polish. Manicures last an hour on me, if I’m lucky.
What a fabulous vintage piece!! And I love the hair scarf to add to the charm!!
jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Thanks Jodie : )
What a fabulous find! You look amazing in the dress!
And, yes, you totally freaked me out with the cabin fire, etc. One thing is for sure, I’ll never wear rayon, nylon or polyester on an airplane (not that I wear them a lot anyway, but I’ll triple check all my clothes before our next trip….).
Happy Wednesday, Suzanne!
Andrea
Andrea’s Wellness Notes
It’s the little things they don’t tell you about on the planes right?
Also…another added tip, bring along hand sanitizer and wipe down your tray table, arm rests and TV. They aren’t cleaned often.
Brown, maxi length and chevron-striped – that’s 1970s perfection in my eyes. I love it. The headscarf looks brilliant with your curls, too.
That lady had spectacular taste. The label is brilliant, I’m a sucker for a vintage label.
I’m always telling customers to disregard the size label inside vintage clothes, they bear no resemblance to contemporary sizes and its daft to get hung up on a number nobody else can see (but so many women do.)
Funnily enough I was watching a documentary last week on the dangers in Mid-Century homes, including how combustible the clothing was! I do worry when I’m swanning around a festival and there’s a campfire. With my massive false eyelashes and hairspray I’d be gone in seconds. xxx
Yes! You truly need to consider yourself highly flammable!
Oh I am loving this maxi on you! I, like you, love clothing with a past. I love looking at a piece and imagining all the great stories it could tell. Knowing that someone else was drawn to it like I, makes me feel a connection with the past!
Beautiful post and styling as always!
XO
Suzanne
http://www.AskSuzanneBell.com
I agree the connection with the past makes vintage extra special.
We had a little lovely vintage store in a town nearby and they would often include a written history on the garments they sold. It was so interesting! I’m so sad they are no longer in business. I adored shopping there.
I’ve heard that before about flying and polyester, and have always been mindful since to only wear natural fibers when flying. Your styling of this dress is on point!
Thanks Susan : ) I really feel “at home” in this dress and it shows.
Fabulous find! I especially love the red polka dot headscarf against the shades of brown. It keeps the look fun and fresh. And you know I need a pop of color that isn’t a neutral! I’m a big believer in the power of belts too. Silhouette too boxy? Elastic waist too big? Pop on a belt, and problem solved!
<3 Liz
http://www.withwonderandwhimsy.com
I’m happy this one came with a belt because I’m not sure a more contemporary one would have worked as well.
Your use of belts is always an inspiration. I bet you have quite the collection!
My mom had several dresses that she wore to work that were short versions of this. Polyester was a sort of “wonder fabric” in the 60’s because it didn’t have to be pressed in order to look good. I’m guessing that this beauty is a nice beefy poly knit fabric?
You’re a knockout in this dress Suzanne! You have the panache to work it too!
You got it! The fabric is quite thick.
I thought it was going to make the dress too warm for summer but because the bottom of the dress is so massive and open it isn’t overly hot.
You look ten feet tall and so slender in this dress! Love the color and the chevron pattern. Absolutely gorgeous on you.
As soon as I saw this dress I knew it was going to make me look taller, and I need all the help I can get!
You look tall and slender in this dress, with just a hint of Stepford Wife. But we all have those moments, and sometimes that’s exactly what we need ( with a drink, please). And you were a flight attendant, too?!? How many jobs /careers have you had?
Lots. Ha ha! That is what happens though when you travel around Europe for years and are willing to pick up and work at whatever. Plus the fact that I’ve worked since I was 11 in my parents ice cream shop and restaurants was good training for picking up strange jobs no matter where I found myself.
I’ve always been the type of person to “fall into” something rather than have a set goal and seek it out.
Completely unique dresses excite me as well. A big part of the reason why I enjoy sewing and customizing so much! i really like this–like you say, it’s simple, but the length and diagonal lines create a cool statement.
Why be the same when you can be different right?
The headscarf just finishes this off perfectly!
Gah, cabin fires?! I am a bit scared now. I tend to avoid polyester anyway, it irritates my skin, but I have some viscose, does that melt onto your body too?! Wait, I think viscose is what us Brits call Rayon. Not sure. Will make sure I am in cotton next time I fly…
x
Yeah, viscose is manmade. Anything that has a plastic base is a big no-no.
I was more worried about the hair catching on fire. We saw a film during our training where the woman’s head just spontaneously combusted because of her hair spray. Mind you, the film was old, maybe from the 1970’s. Scared me silly.
Deliciously retro. Totally diggin’ that print. You wear this dress really well. Not everyone could!
– Anna
http://www.melodicthriftychic.com
Like you, people often do a double take when I’m out, but I don’t mind. I don’t need to fit in, but I don’t need to tell you about that. You wrote the book.
Ah Yes, good old Fortrel – one of the members of the 1970’s flammable polyester family! It is always nice to find stuff that was made in Canada though. I find that with clothing from that era I usually wear a size 14 so you definitely have to disregard the label and try stuff on.
The colour of the dress goes beautifully with your hair, and I’m with Vix in her feelings about a Chevron stripe.
I think you are right about the sizing. All of these dresses I got at this estate sale are slightly large on me. I would have done better with a size below.
I honestly don’t often look at sizing. I just hold the item up and can usually eyeball it.
Hello lovely!
This dress is a knock out.
I laughed at your size 16 label…Yep, I am a UK 8 and my vintage size is a UK 12-14. So when people say Marilyn Monroe was a 16 she was actually a modern day 10….so it’s all a load of nonsense really.
Women had waists, and pinching an inch was classed as too much.
Embrace your vintage 16….you are in good company with a certain a Miss Monroe!
XXX
Great look.
Sam
Yes, I’ve read before she was a size 16.
UK sizing is a bit of a wake up call for me as well. I’m a size 12 UK but a size 4-6 here.
I think it looks good on you. Your headscarf is the right piece of accessory and the shoes are spot on. The fact that the dres is a bit big is indeed not an issue. Which is fortunate as I don’t think you could take it in.
Greetje
No, you are right, this would be a nightmare to take in.
“I wonder what a person wearing a size four looked like back then. Invisible?” HAHAHAHA! That totally cracked me up! Thank you for the laugh. But on a more serious note, um…fabulous dress. And that head scarf….I’m swooning. You might be my new blogger crush now! Which only means that I will stalk your blog posts (a.k.a. regularly read them). Absolutely fabulous!
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
Well it does make you wonder right?
Even today when I look at a 00 on the rack I wonder how many people want to even be considered a double zero. Like being a zero isn’t bad enough.
Truly then need to go back to actual measured waist sizes. It would be so much easier.
I can imagine you being so happy with this gorgeous and retro maxi!!!
Come check out the 3rd installment of my latest collab with Los Angeles-based TOBI – I’m sure you’ll love it as much as I do!
Happy weekend!
Rebecca
http://www.redtagchiclosangeles.com
Maybe I’ll have to eat my words here Suzanne. The ones where I declare “Let’s bin the beige..” because this doesn’t deserve anything other than the wonderful styling you’ve given it. I think the chevron pattern is great for making you look 6 foot tall. What a fantastic buy!
Anna x
http://www.annasislandstyle.com
I know! I’m normally screaming how anything remotely greige is off limits. The addition of the darker brown saved this dress I think.
I think you would also look great in this dress. Good thing you and I don’t shop together ; P Could get nasty!
First time to your site (via StumbleUpon). I love this dress, and I really want to wear it! Natural/Earthy colors aren’t used as often as they should be. This is a perfect demonstration of it. It looks fantastic on you! Also, I really really want to steal your flower-butterfly corner.
What get’s me excited about clothing? Knowing it will fit!
I get excited over all the little details and unique patterns. Oh, and if it’s made in Spain or Italy and in my size, it’s mine! lol
Question : I have gotten some vintage clothing lately that is 100% Polyester. Will that shrink in the dryer?
http://whosaprettygirl.com
Polyester won’t shrink or loose its shape. Be sure to check the label for drying instructions as some polyester has been treated to look shiny and may lose that if you dry it on too high of a setting.
I remember polyester from the 70s/80s and it was horrible. I think it’s come a long way in that sometimes it almost feel silk like. That is until it’s 100 degrees out! I do buy a bit of items with polyester and keep telling myself to stop but many of the stores are carrying it more then every.
I like this dress and that you belted to show off your waist.
Thank you for being a part of TBT Fashion link up and hope to see you soon!
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
Totally agreed with another commenter, this makes you look so tall and svelte .
It’s an amazing dress, love its shape and cute simple design, and you look gorgeous wearing it, comfy&cool!
Even if I’m not a polyester huge fan, as it’s not sensible to wear it in our long summer, I love old fabrics!, they were so well made!
besos