I’ve said it before, but I’m saying it again- this is by far my favorite outfit post yet. I think I really mean it this time. This sweet little handmade vintage dress was made by my momma, in- wait for it– SIXTH GRADE. She’s told me several stories about how awesome she was in her home ec classes, and how the other girls in her class were mean to her because she was the teachers pet. Ha. If the teacher had to step out of the room while they were working she would tell the class to, “Just go ask Karen if you have any questions.”, so the other girls would tease her and mock the teacher, “Go ask Karen, go ask Karen!” when she’d leave. Poor mom, she couldn’t help that she’d been learning to sew her whole life! Girls can be so rude!
Anyway, when I went home to Florida in September she dug out a space bag from underneath my bed to show me this dress and a few others that she’d made in her twenties. I had never seen them before, but I guess I just never showed much interest in old things like that when I was younger. When I saw the dresses, I literally jumped up and down and couldn’t wait to put them on. They’re in such perfect condition and just so pretty! But to my horror – I couldn’t fit in any of them. My waist was just a tad to big for the others, and my chest was the issue in this one! But, um, I tried this one on again and was able to zip it this time (guess I lost some boob weight? Not sure!). I couldn’t wait to take photos in it! I guess I shouldn’t feel super awesome about having the chest of a sixth grader.. but I kind of don’t care. That’s how much I love it!
I was so lucky because the temperature warmed up just enough to make it the perfect weather to be outside in this dress. It was like a last little tribute to the end of Summer, or one of the last.. it’s still warming up into the 80’s! Pretty crazy considering I was thinking my bare legs wouldn’t be seeing the outdoors for a while! I kind of took a lot of pictures, and I’m posting most of them because I just loved this shoot more than normal. I always take quite a bit of photos when I take outfit pictures, but I usually only like a few. I make a lot of weird faces and do strange poses and then look back at them like, “I thought that was going to be cute? Um, what?” But most of these turned out and I didn’t know how to choose! So here’s your overload of my face and poses!
Outfit Details
Dress: Vintage and handmade by my mom!
Shoes: Old Navy
Headband: Wet Seal
Necklace: Vintage via my mom’s jewelry
Earrings: Betsey Johnson
Is that a zipper in front?? I'm super impressed not only by the dress because it's SO CUTE, but also that your mom could do a zipper that well in 6th grade! I've been sewing for years and STILL can't do a zipper that well!
Yes, yes it is! I'm amazed too because I know several people who've said the same thing about zippers. But she's always put them in like it was nothin!
The shoes are adorable, from what I can see of them lol
Thanks! Ha I didn’t focus in on them much because I was so in love with the dress and I’ve worn them a lot! Oops!
I love this dress!!
I wish I that good when I was in Home Ec all those years ago!! I was awful!
But this dress is just beautiful and I love the shoes you paired it with!!
Thank you! I just wish I had gotten the chance to take Home Ec! I never did. But I’m learning to sew now and I make pretty good food so I think I did alright! Haha.
I love this dress and love that she saved it! I also really like your hair up with it, I don't see you wear your hair up a lot in pictures but it looks really nice. 🙂
I actually wear it up a lot! That’s how I stretch having to wash it out a little longer. Heh. 🙂 I love that she saved it too! I get all of my nostalgic hoarding tendencies from her, haha!
I positively love this dress!! I can’t believe your mom was so young when she made it! I wouldn’t have thought about pairing it with red shoes but with your hair it almost makes any other shoe choice seem silly!
If you saw it in person you would have. There are tiny little red hearts in the pattern! 🙂
Ah, I see now that I've zoomed in!
what a perfect outfit…LOVE!
Thank you, Carrie!
This made me so happy! That dress looks so adorable on you!!!
There is something so special about having items that were our Momma's that we can then wear.
I recently got to try on my Momma's high-school letter-man jacket. it was special to wear something that she wore when she was about my age. =)
i like your blog banner! your outfit photos are very cute, too. 🙂
I love the back! it looks like little angel wings 🙂
This dress is too cute, I can't believe your mom made in 6th grade! You look great in it 🙂
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That dress is so perfect! Your mom sounds like my mom– sewing whiz! I, on the other hand, am not very good at sewing. I think it has to do with my patience level.
I also really love your shoes! They’re so cute!
The “boobs of a sixth grader” comment made me laugh. Happy weekend!
I love the blue of your dress with your vibrant red hair! You look absolutely gorgeous 🙂
Aya ♥ Strawberry Koi
It's so amazing that your mom made that dress in 6th grade. You look absolutely adorable in it! I also really like how your shoes match your red hair. 🙂
red hair, blue dress = perfect match! and love the cute necklace 🙂