Monday, 20 February 2012

The 1950s Cocktail Dress Gets An Outing



It's no secret that I'm not a big fan of Fifties fashion but as so many of you loved the 20p cocktail frock I scored at Friday night's jumble sale I thought I'd better give it a whirl.

Bendy arm haters look away now.

A 1950s loving chick would probably team this with an elegant French pleat, dainty pearls, elbow length gloves and pointy shoes but that'd be one step too far from my comfort zone. I'm more Grace Slick than Grace Kelly.


Antique cloth bag (£4, car boot sale), Urban Outfitters neon and perspex belt (Xmas present), Barry M Cyan Blue nail varnish and a heap of tribal jewellery (including a carnelian ring from my beloved Krista)

Instead I threw on heaps of jewellery, a hint of psychedelia and my favourite platform boots and felt ready to face the supermarket.

Contemporary neon choker, 1960s psychedelic scarf (both car boot sale buys)

I'm still working on Jon modelling his new frock coat for the blog. He never used to mind posing for the camera back in the old days.


Don't tell him I've posted this, he'll kill me.


Happy Monday!
See you soon.

88 comments:

  1. What a beautiful dress! It really suits you xx

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  2. I love the 50s, and I adore you, your style and your clear mind.
    Love you!!!
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  3. I love, love, love the way you've made this dress look bloody amazing. The belt is perfect and the jewellery...well we know how I feel about that!
    Haha! Jon isn't going to be happy.
    xx

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  4. Fantastic, love it! And I just can't wait to see the frock coat on Jon hee hee. That poster is something!

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  5. As you know I wear everything from the 20s to the 70s, but if there's one thing I can't stand it's bloody pearls!! Vomit!! And slap me if I ever mention getting my hair cut short, one might as well die, I say.

    the pink you've added is a nice touch. Jon's old photo is very cute too.xx.

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  6. aha - I am not comment 354!!! For a change lol!

    Frock looks brilliant - fablasly accessorised too. And I love how you just snuck that image in lol! He will kill you - but what a fringe that man possessed!!!

    Ali x

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  7. blimey, Jon and co are looking very Stone Roses circa 1991. Love that dress! Have you added a new belt?

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  8. I love 50's fashion and I LOVE your spin on it! Also - this was 20p?!! In London this would cost like £40 at least :|

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  9. Oh the shoe-gazing cuteness of those boys - great photo (I'm sure he won't kill you really)

    The dress is great - I think it's quite futuristic looking actually, there's a tiny bit of a Star Trek vibe with the silver and those shoulders.

    x

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  10. Love it!! also really love your make-up today...

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  11. Happy Monday! You look amazing, it can't believe vintage treasures like this can still be found and for 20p!xx

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  12. Well that dress looked beautiful on the hanger but it's WAY more wonderful with you in it! I know 50s isn't your thing, but you look seriously great, Vix, perhaps you should consider a wee change of heart...? With all the Vix-iness going on in the accessories, it looks much less typical 50s. In fact, the sparkly silveriness and the little stand-up epaulette shoulders almost give it a space age feel.
    I love it, bet your fellow supermarket shoppers did too!
    Tell Jon he needs to get his posing mojo back, we need to see that coat! xxxx

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  13. Good Lord! I love the way you mixed this dress- 50's fabulous for the space age! Ah, this is why breaking rules or dressing outside of the box is better than any staid fashion formula...this is so fresh and new and wonderful- I can appreciate the clean lines of the dress in how it plays with your wonderful layers of bright and baubly. Seriously wonderful!

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  14. Ooh pretty dress, loving it with the boots! I'd totally be embracing the 50s style tho, pearls all the way! :)

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  15. I loooove your boots! Very Stevie Nicks!

    Nicola
    x

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  16. I love how you take something from an era that you dont find you and make it into you! The dress looks fab and I would not immediately think 50's at all! Amazing and creative.

    Wow love the poster your Jon should be rather proud of it I think! Hope he gets his posing mojo back that frock coat looks rather fab not to be posed in!


    MBB x

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  17. Wow, great look! Love the dress!! :))

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  18. Its great to see you wearing that jumble dress and putting your own spin on it. It really goes with that perspex belt; I've never seen one like that - definitely a cool Xmas present.
    xxx

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  19. The keks, the shoes, the hair. Fantastic. And your outfit, too of course. :)
    Love from Mum
    xx

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  20. omg, is that jon?!?!

    blimey!!!

    loving your dress though, it's gorgeous!! :)

    xo

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  21. awwww beautiful you, beautiful dress <3

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  23. Totally prefer how you rocked up this outfit! I could never get away with pearls because at university they were always for the posh girls so that ruled me out!

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  24. I can't imagine you with a french pleat and dainty pearl earrings, my dear - maybe you'll suprise me one day! It's a lovely dress and I like how you've given it your own flavour. Jon is on the far left, am I right?

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  25. You're looking very cute in that dress Vix, although the bendy arms are slightly creepy! Haha!

    Love that bag and massive metal bangle! xxx

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  26. oooh I love it! No pearls and gloves for this 50s chick, rhinestones all the way honey!

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  27. Looking gorgeous! Love the band pic too x

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  28. ahahha, i won't tell!

    love the 50's dress on you. i think it flatters your figure. but everything does so you are lucky!

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  29. I love that dress; I'd quite like something similar for my friend's wedding I think.

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  30. I love how you've accessorised so the dress doesn’t look too ‘cutesy’ and Stepford Wives. I love 50s clothes myself but always feel more comfortable in clothes from other eras but maybe this will inspire me.

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  31. Love that dress on you,especially the shoulders. That purse is amazing!!

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  32. OMG look at Jon I'm so telling him .....shhh I won't he looks adorable with his long hair and all! You my dear have given this dress a new shot at life and I love that you are more like Grace Slick than Grace Kelly. The headband, and cool ass belt along with all your signature bling makes this outfit so VIX! I love your bendy arms and I can't wait until they are around me me. Is it too early to start the countdown?!?! Wonderful to see and talk with you yesterday.
    Iloveyouasmuchassunshine!
    Krista

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  33. Only YOU could pull off a boho Grace Kelly look. Sigh. Perfection.

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  34. Its such a great dress, totally love your Vix stamp on the look - beautiful :o) Scarlett x

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  35. Perhaps you could get a doll made of you with bendy arms! A bit like Barbie but oh so much better than her! (I was a Sindy girl meself, even had a Tressy, not many people remember her!) And now you have me all intrigued about Jon, go on Jon put on the coat...dare ya! If my Joe can dance naked in the rain then you can model the coat! :D

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  36. love how you wear that fifties dress and make it work with your own style and fabulous accessories!!, and you look gorgeous!
    besos

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  37. Im so pleased to see you wearing that gorgeous dress and in your own unique style to you look fab and so does Jon ;-) dee x

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  38. It works! You've Space-Age-Rock-Chick-Ethnic'd up that 50s-full-skirt look brilliantly - and love the plastic you've added. Did you get tempted to twirl, just a little bit, round the supermarket aisles? Has Jon found out about the photo yet? ;) xx

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  39. Is that The Charlatans? I'd always wondered which band Jon was in. Cool! That dress looks so good on you. You actually really suit the 50's look. I really love the perspex belt too xx

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  40. Great styling of your 50's frock and accessories Vix and loving the touches of pink, espesh your perspex belt.
    x

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  41. hey Vix, loving the 50's boho mash up, you rock it in a way only you can!

    Loving the pic of Jon too doesn't he look fantastic. What a very fabulous couple you make xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  42. what a gorgous dress and i love love love that you wear a pink belt, necklace, headband and lips with it so it looks twice as fabulous! and whhat an amazing shot of jon, these were the rockstar days right?;)
    love and kiss,mary

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  43. Bloody HELL you are working this 50's frock a TREAT! I reckon 50's frocks are rather versatile,and you are totally proving it!AND proving that you can wear 50's!!! You look fabulous in it,and I'm adoring all the divine bling!
    ROCK ON!
    Love you more than cocktails!
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  44. 20p?! That is amazing, it looks great on you!

    Catherine, XO.

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  45. hahahaha, i won't tell him ... but he looked pretty cool on this photo! wow. so he was playing in a punk band?!
    (no, actually he looked like a member of the charlatans. manchester rave. jajajajaaaaa.)

    http://wardrobexperience.blogspot.com

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  46. Gorgeous dress, and I love how you've made it completely *you*! It almost looks a wee bit space age :)

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  47. Ah great rule breaking of that old 50s styling!! Mind you the dress looks good on you and it is a beautiful number xx

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  48. Not a big fan of the 50s either, but this dress is beautiful - the way you wear it gives it a great futuristic touch. Startreck ahoi! xoxo

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  49. Btw Vix, hope you don't mind I've nominated you for a blog award over at my house! xx

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  50. You've made it completely your own look, fabulous :-)
    Intrigued by the pic of Jon...

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  51. I LOVE 50s style dresses! I LOVE how you accessorized this piece and made it your own.

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  52. I love it, but as you know I'm a mega fan of 1950s. I cannot believe you got it for 20p though. You manage to work everything you put on into you own unique style, so you don't look at all out of your comfort zone... just eternally stylish and funky. xx

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  53. "JON,JON"! look Vix put a pic up of you lol
    Love the way you did that dress with your special flair.

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  54. It's so pretty on you! And John! Mhwa ha ha!!!!! Brilliant!

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  55. and I think my boyfriend may just kill me when he notices I have put up a photo with a his pants on the radiator in the background if he looks at it!!!!

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  56. Ooh you look AMAZING in that fab frock! I love the little space-age pointy bits on the shoulders and that belt is frickin FABULOUS and I love all of your details... as always. You know I absolutely cannot resist a 50s frock - ever! Is that Jon at the front left? What a bunch of spunks!! Loveyou! Sarah xxx

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  57. love those pointy shoulders, like a chrysler - or whatever.

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  58. Amor,
    I love how you styled this frock up in your own hiptastic way.
    your looking like the Star Trek gorgeous ladies.all you need is a space age gun.
    Jon is so cool!! he must pose for us in Vintage coat.
    besios

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  59. Wowza! You look fab in that 50's frock! It looks a bit "star wars" to me with the sticky outy shoulder thingys! Lovin your accessories too! He he - Jon looks a bit cool too in that photo!

    Lovin it all x

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  60. I'm still really enamored of the dress. I like the cut of it...and I like how you've styled it. Would it matter to John if I could convince my guy to model his frock coat?

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  61. Looking gorgeous :)Wow look at that pic of Jon!

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  62. You look fantastic!
    I totally adore the dress. I cannot believe you paid such a teeny price for it.

    Jon lost his modeling mojo?? Oh no!! Just give him some drinks and get him in the thing and start snapping the pictures!

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  63. you look fab in that gorgeous dress.Just love that beauty.Cool pic of jon.yes get a pic of him in his new coat.

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  64. I KNEW that you would rock that dress! I lovelove how you styled it; absolutely stunning.

    I didn't know that Jon is a musician; love his band photo! Bob is a guitarist, and I have similar photos of him from back in the day.

    xo, Anita

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  65. This is a fabulous "Vixification"! I love how you add the essential 70's elements. I can't do the 50's either, and need my hippy/boho elements. Fabulous as always.

    Love, Jean
    www.drossintogold.com

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  66. That pic of Jon is utter gold! You look fab, as always. That frock is utter gorgeousness.

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  67. ....absolutely gorgeous....i wish i could find 50s dresses as cheap as you do...

    http://farahs-bubble.blogspot.com/

    <3 x x

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  68. You look so modern in a 50's frock.....love it! Totally cool photo of you other half....dont worry you secret is safe with me!

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  69. I love the way you rock this 1950's frock and make it your own - I do like the general 1950's style but I will never be polished with the fancy pearls and gloves:P

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  70. I Love it!! Even though your not a fan of 50's style you've put your on little spin on it to make it you! he he love the sneaky pic. xx

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  71. Stunning dress and 20p?????? Wow!

    Sal

    xXx

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  72. The dress looks lovely on you...and heres hoping Jon gets camera friendly soon

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  73. Oh jesuz fecking kerist ... you have styled this sweet little number to abso-frickin-lute perfection darling Vix!! I say no to pearls and Grace Kelly and yes to amping up the psychedelia!!! Thank you:))) xoxoxo

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  74. You look awesome!! I LOVE those boots! I just ordered a new pair myself-can't wait for them to get here!!

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  75. very gorgeous.....loving the boots too and that belt is immense ... thought it was part of the dress at first which i did think was a bold move for that period!!x

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  76. Did you make the belt? Can't imagine that buckle was the original!

    Cheers,
    Rosemary www.foreveronthecatwalkoflife.com

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  77. I think the dress is very Blakes Seven! It looks ace the way you wear it.

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  78. I'm not all that fond of 50's style--it requires more curves than I've got--but you have made this dress work for you with your marvy accessories. Thanks for sneaking in that pic of Jon from the old band days!

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  79. That dress is soooo cute! I love 50s fashion. I learned the hard way that it doesn't suit me, but it's such amazing stuff. Especially the crazy novelty prints and party dresses such as this one. Can't go wrong w/ vntage metallics in general.

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  80. Such a beautiful dress teamed with the most enchanting of accessories. As always you've made it completely your own xxx

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  81. God you're so inspiring! I'd love to raid your closet! You have such unique pieces and are so great at pairing everything together, such an icon! :)

    Beneath the Glass

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  82. Love the styling of this! And that belt is rocking! xxxxx

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  83. Wow Vix, what a change! I love this on you and agree with Lakota - you look like a space cadet! :) xx

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  84. Only you can mix it up creating a Grace Kelly/Grace Slick combo! You're amazing. I think you might be underestimating the potential of 1950s designs given your interpretive approach :).

    Is that your man on the far left? He's beautiful.

    Actually I like the more recent photos of him better. In the Kerala photos he looks peaceful and happy.

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  85. I love the way you have totally pulled this off and made it your own despite it being 50s. Thats what i always feel about vintage, it gives you a great opportunity to create your own unique look. For example i'm a total 50s girl, but sometimes i just find the glamour anf drama of 70s (particularly eveningwear) can do it for me!

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Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix