March 2013
The tea dress. The glorious tea dress. Queen of the vintage dress.
Today,
we've gone back to my favourite era; Wartime England. This floral dress,
combines the practical wartime dress with something a little more elegant. The
silk material certainly gives it a more glamorous touch, but it's conservative
length, practical shirt style and comfortable fit keep it in line with the
utility wear of the forties. It works with either sturdy brogues as day wear or
a pretty pair of heels for the perfect afternoon tea outfit.
This dress
belongs in the British countryside, with tea, scones, and homemade jam but this
image is, of course, an ideological one. Rationing and restrictions were the
harsh reality for those dreaming of sunny days filled with cream teas and Glenn
Miller. Air raids, food shortages, the loss of family, friends, and husbands
were a painful truth. But, as propaganda found in posters and songs tells us,
the good old British spirit of keeping one's head up and carrying on was
essential. This dress then belongs in the midst of that Wartime spirit,
spinning round the kitchen to the wireless and the hopeful sounds of "I
know we'll meet again some sunny day..."
This isn't a vintage buy - the dress is actually from Cath
Kidston. The print and cut of the dress are so spot on that you could be fooled
into thinking it was an original. These dresses are great for capturing that
day to day vintage look, and what's more you don't have to worry about your
unique, 40's dress getting ruined.
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