Nightie Night

* 1940s Elegant Evenings Nightgown *

* 1950s Ambrosia Nightgown *

* 1950s Sultry Raven Negligee *

* 1950s Iconic Rose Slip *

* 1950s Mint Julep Robe Set *

Tonight is the night...When these vintage intimates go into the shop! If you like what you see, feel free to email me at my fancy new email: leslie@dalenavintage.com I'm thinking the 1950s Mint Julep Robe Set would make for an elated bride-to-be!

A Family Affair: Granny Ward

My blog has been on the back burner for quite some time now. It hasn't been intentional by any means. I've just been unbelievably busy and at a loss with what direction I want to go. Now, in looking back at what I've written in the past, I've decided a couple of things. The first being that I don't really need a direction! I've always just really enjoyed having an outlet to post interesting tidbits, simple recipes, shop updates and bits and pieces of my family history. The second being that I would like to bring back a couple of features including A Family Affair, a series I started about the women in my family. So here's a bit on the wedding of my great grandmother, Ivy Deoma Glover Ward (Granny Ward).

It was the evening of Wednesday, November 6, 1912 just around 8 o'clock in the evening. Buggies came in from all around the Rocky area which was near the old Fairfield church and Little Brazos school. These days and even growing up, old stories are often told in around wheres and over nears. So many of the places in those stories have since fallen down, been torn down or communities simply dissolved.

The wedding itself took place on the front porch of Granny Ward's parents house. It was built by my great great grandfather and according to my great aunt had a huge wrap around porch as many old Texas houses do. I would love to see these photos of the home but I don't know that any exist.

We do, however, have pieces from Granny Ward's dress, her cameo necklace and wedding bracelet, the vest Grandaddy Ward wore, a newspaper clipping and several portraits taken on their wedding day. That said, I guess I'm pretty lucky to have that much!

The above is Granny Ward on her wedding day. I wore the cameo in these Edwardian Love photos taken last year, and will definitely find a way to incorporate it into my wedding. On a side note, photos should still double as postcards! Don't you think?

The best part of that clipping has to be the description of Granny Ward, "...one of the fairest flowers of this community." Such decadent description for a newspaper! The fabric and lace pieces on the right are what remain of her dress.

Sneak Peek (For the Feet)

What started out Friday as a slow going vintage hunt turned into a goldmine of goodies. By the end of the day, I was headed home in a car filled with vintage shoes, dresses, jewelry and nighties. Although most of yesterday was spent hand washing dresses, I had just enough time to photograph a few pairs of shoes. Here's a tiny sneak peek.

I've been wanting to branch into the world of vintage shoes but I'm just so darn selective when it comes to quality. As luck would have it, Friday's find came straight from the original owner meaning amazing quality. In fact, several of the pairs have never even been worn!

McCall's Magazine

Those places you just stumble upon unexpectedly, the ones you just catch out of the corner of your eye as you're driving past, those are always the best. Several weeks ago on the final leg home of our vintage road trip, my mom and I came across just that. In fact, we almost didn't go in. I mean, really, a taxidermy raccoon in a bird cage? No, thank you. Wait, a taxidermy raccon in a bird cage? Okay, I'm intrigued.

Inside we went. Rooms and rooms filled with everything imaginable. Walls of old records. Shelves of antique kitchen ware. Rows of jukeboxes. Piles of turn-of-the-century sewing machines. I could write a short story on everything housed in that place. And I could have spent a small fortune. Alas, I was good, walking out with a modest stack of 1930s McCall's magazines.



Naturally, I was captured by the dreamy illustrations on the first two covers. But what really surprised me was seeing F. Scott Fitzgerald listed as a contributor. I had no idea McCall's had published the works so many well-known writers. John Steinbeck and Kurt Vonnegut, to name a few. Each copy is filled with a variety of fashion from the day, short stories and articles on 'modern' domestic life. They've been an interesting read to say the least!

Edwardian Whites

Each of these white cotton Edwardian beauties (and one 1940s!) will be up in the shop over the next two days. Stay tuned!