Girlhood dreams, dancing, thrifting glory

When I was young I loved watching old black and white movies, especially if they featured glamorous movie actresses and beautiful dresses, satiny robes and slippers with little feathery poufs.  Of course any movie with dreamy dance sequences by Fred and Ginger really captured my imagination.

I dreamed of wearing satiny dresses and romantic peignoirs, my hair shiny and beautifully curled while reclining on a big chaise.

That only happens in the movies.

BUT.....since I've been thrifting, I've been able to indulge in a few lovely romantic nighties and dresses.  Thrifting also allows me to indulge my greatest fantasy of all; Dancing.

I know that is not a surprise to any of you! 

I wore this simple and comfortable black wrap dress to my lesson today.

Its so plain, I dressed it up with this silk scarf....

and leopard shoes.

On the way there...we stopped at the old court house for a couple of pictures.

By then it was really hot...so I ditched the scarf!

This is courthouse is reminiscent of old Hollywood glamour..

It's in Crown Point, Indiana and it was the hot place to go to get married in the 20s and later.

Rudolph Valentino got married here.  Ronald Reagan got married here...and a number of other celebrities who's names escape me at the moment.

My Peyton is so patient with my photo requests.

When I dance, especially when I compete, I get to live a little bit of my girlhood dream.  When I find beautiful dresses and pretty lingerie at affordable thrift prices....I also get to live a little bit of my dream

This dress is a glorious find...it was marked $15.00 and I had a five dollar coupon.  I looked online for the dress but could not find the exact dress;  I did find the designer's glorious site!  I estimate this dress to have sold for around $150 to $170 based on the prices of other dresses on her site.  

Look at Adrianna Papell's lovely dresses here

I feel like I hit the jackpot!

The dress has a bit of a 20's flapper look but is still very current.  The beading, sequins and embroidery are beautiful and well done.  The under layer is lavender silk and the over layer is sheer chocolate polyester chiffon.  It fits perfectly except for the spaghetti straps which need to be shortened about a half inch.

Another super find..but not for me.  The dress was marked $10.00 at a church resale shop.  They were clearing old stock for new and clothing was $75% off.  Yeah....I paid $2.50 for this.  Its not my size and I knew that.  I went into the shop 15 minutes before closing time and had to make a snap decision.  It's a size 14...which is a perfect fit for my friend D (the one in the pin up photos that I posted previously).  I don't know if she needs a formal dress...but my theory is if you find one for a good price that fits...snap it up quick and save yourself the heartache of trying to find an appropriate dress at the last minute.

Did I mention the tags were still on the dress?  You can see the original price...the Carson's yellow dot price and the green tag with the resale shop price BEFORE the big discount.

Isn't this color lovely!

If D doesn't want the dress...I can keep it for future pin up photo session that I may do for other ladies.  It's a lovely dress and has that classic hollywood look.

I feel very Ginger in this robe.

$3.00....don't you just love the delicate blue flowers against the ivory satin?

This is prettier than the photograph...a pale buttery yellow slip nightgown.

Ivory slip with pretty, soft lace; $1.00

Lace detail at the bottom of the slip.

This black midi-length nightgown has enough heft to be worn as a dress.  The neckline is subtly draped.

Victoria's Secret short robe; $1.00 at another church resale shop.

I paid $2.50 for this sheer embroidered shortie robe.

The color and lace is really pretty on this little shift nightie.

Very vintage nightie...looks so 60's; it was a dollar, it was really PINK, it was soft and pretty.....I had to get it!

I really do wear all of this lingerie that I purchase.  I check a couple of things before I buy; I look for cleanliness, no stains, tears or holes, no funky smells.  I feel the lace and if its scratchy...I won't buy it no matter how beautiful it is.  I wash them all in the machine....in a lingerie bag and hang them to dry.  I hang them in my closet so I can see them all and am reminded to wear them often.

I love finding these treasures at giveaway prices.  I'll never be famous,  I'll never live like a movie star....but I can enjoy my tiny, affordable piece of thrifty glamour; a realistic way to fulfill my girlhood fantasy.