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Mrs. Shortcake, Vancouver Age and Occupation: 24, Marketing Manager/Children's Lit Writer Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Master's Student/Personal Trainer Engagement Date: August 7, 2007 Wedding Date: October 2008 Blogging Since: Venue: Ceremony in a historic church, tented lawn reception at a golf and country club About Me: 1950's housewife sent to the future, reborn as crafting-obsessed, jill of all trades. I enjoy decorating, writing, baking sweet things, singing show tunes/dancing in public, wearing pearls, and knitting sweaters for my furbaby, Harvey, to chew upon. I heart pink, and believe that sparkles are the new black.
About Mrs. Shortcake

Modern-Day Beauties

January 25th, 2008 @ 12:35 pm by Mrs. Shortcake

Despite their frothy gloriousness, vintage dresses have several disadvantages. The most glaring one is that it is very difficult to match your bridesmaids if their dresses are all one-of-a-kind finds. Another downer is that vintage dresses come in vintage sizes - and despite the fact that my bridesmaids are all far from being “large”, they’re just too big for vintage sizes - I don’t know about yours, but none of my bridesmaids have a 21″ waist!

So, after many pleasant hours spent drooling over gowns at Vintageous and it’s kin, I decided to look for dresses that echoed that 1950’s, tiny waist, flared skirt silhouette. The contenders:


Siri

If I could choose any dress for my bridal posse, it would be this gorgeous wrap-top dress from Siri. I would even choose this colour, this delightful misty grey-green, over pink (!!), I love it so much. HOWEVER, for the life of me I couldn’t find this dress in Western Canada.

Did you hear that? That’s the sound of my dreams falling down from the sky :(


Watters

This floor length v-neck Watters caught the eye of my MOH, who fell in love with it and was very resistant to let go. I was reluctant to let it go as well, because it meant that my MOH/younger sister was distracted from her previous idea - “I know! Let’s both wear huge ballgowns!” erhm….no. :)


Watters

This Watters beauty was also an eye-catcher, but for me. I want this dress, and I want to wear it walking my poodle down the street. However, it is currently -37, and my puppy refuses to step outside. Boo! Rehearsal dress? I think so!


Jim Hjelm

I really want this dress, again, for myself. The way things are turning out, I will have multiple dress changes for my rehearsal dinner. Must. Focus.


Siri


Siri

Did I mention how my heart beats faster for Siri dresses? These two were also big hits, but again, and alas, we couldn’t get them in for love nor money nor “pretty, pretty, please?”-es.


House of Brides

This dress appeals to me/my motley crew (versus FI’s “motley CRUE”), because of its sweetheart neckline and simple A-line style. Simple, and charming, and a contender.

So, for now, the bridesmaid dress that will flatter, support, and be wearable more than once has yet to be discovered.

Forward march!

22 Responses to “Modern-Day Beauties”

1.
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Miss Dahlia says:

Word on the street (i.e.e indiebride forums about it) is that while Siri dresses are absolutely lovely and well made, that some of their styles are more matronly in fit- like the fabulous first one in your post. Just an FYI.

2.
Nathalie says:

Ms. Shortcake, I sooo enjoy reading your posts!! Thank you for all the information and the style you delivering it all. Keep it up!! :)

3.
Kami says:

I don’t know, Mrs. Dahlia. I tried on the first one - as did two other friends - and we loved it! The MOH wasn’t into it, however, so we went with a Melissa Sweet, but I think it’s awesome. Ms. Shortcake, just come visit NYC and you can order them! Easy peasy. ;-)

4.
wsukarebear says:

Kami has a point–can’t you come down to Seattle and order? Bellingham, even? I suppose you need a US address…but maybe not?

5.
wsukarebear says:

Kami has a point–can’t you come down to Seattle and order? Bellingham, even? I suppose you need a US address…but maybe not?

6.
wsukarebear says:

Kami has a point–can’t you come down to Seattle and order? Bellingham, even? I suppose you need a US address…but maybe not?

7.
wsukarebear says:

Kami has a point–can’t you come down to Seattle and order? Bellingham, even? I suppose you need a US address…but maybe not?

8.
wsukarebear says:

Kami has a point–can’t you come down to Seattle and order? Bellingham, even? I suppose you need a US address…but maybe not?

9.
wsukarebear says:

Kami has a point–can’t you come down to Seattle and order? Bellingham, even? I suppose you need a US address…but maybe not?

10.
wsukarebear says:

Kami has a point–can’t you come down to Seattle and order? Bellingham, even? I suppose you need a US address…but maybe not?

11.
wsukarebear says:

Kami has a point–can you come down to Seattle and order? Bellingham, even?

I suppose you need a US address…but maybe not?

12.
Jasmine says:

Siri’s store listings include Bisou Bridal in Vancouver - have you tried there? And I also ditto going down to Seattle to order.

13.
wsukarebear says:

OH my gosh–yikes! I think that while I was *supposed* to be tending to students I accidentally hit return forty billion times!?!?!? Sorry, everyone.

14.
beanchar says:

I think you are looking for pink dresses, right? Not sure what shade, but this Shoshanna one has a vintage-y feel and you could add a little crinoline under it to make it more so:

http://www.bluefly.com/pages/products/detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=2034388489&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1215&N=1123+4294967270&Ne=10&Ns=Popularity%7c0%7c%7cProduct%2bCode%7c1&Nu=Product+ID

15.
smartl says:

Holy wonder what happened with wsukarebear’s comment there! Anyway.

If you needed a US address for ordering in Seattle, I betcha there’s enough Seattle bees here that one of ‘em would let you ship to their house. Just a thought. Another suggestion - have you tried Frocks on Broadway & Vine in Vancouver? They have a bunch of dresses similar in style to the Siri ones.

16.
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Miss Hydrangea says:

The long dress you have from Watters was the very first dress I picked after we got engaged for the bridesmaids…I love it! I also like the other dresses too…you have great taste!

17.
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Miss Petunia says:

Ooh, two of those Watters dresses are my MOH’s dress and Mr. P’s “best woman” dress! =)

18.
Marianne says:

I’m sad to hear that the Siri dresses are impossible to find out here - I covet them!

19.
Weddingmuse says:

You may be able to have what you want made. Also, both Vogue and Butterick have re-issued some of their old dress patterns from the 50s, but with current sizing. Here are some dresses in similar styles:

http://www.butterick.com/item/B4915.htm

http://www.butterick.com/item/B5029.htm

http://www.butterick.com/item/B6582.htm

GL!

20.
missshortcake says:

thanks for all the feedback ladies…the problem with ordering the dresses in seattle is…I’m currently living in Winnipeg while Mr. Shortcake is finishing his masters. All my bridesmaids live in completely different cities in BC, and we won’t be able to go back to Vancouver till the summer - this wedding is being planned long distance! So a seatlle roadtrip between five girls who don’t know each other and without me will be HARD. :(

21.
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Miss Milkshake says:

did you see my post about Frocks in Vancouver? they have the most lovely vintage-esque dresses:
http://www.weddingbee.com/2007/12/19/frocks-and-august-08-brides/

22.
Nicole says:

Good heavens! -37! That is outrageous! Hang in there, Miss Shortcake.

P.S. I think the flower in that one model’s hair is totally fabulous. You should rock that scene!


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Mrs. Shortcake Mrs. Shortcake, Vancouver Age and Occupation: 24, Marketing Manager/Children's Lit Writer Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Master's Student/Personal Trainer Engagement Date: August 7, 2007 Wedding Date: October 2008 Blogging Since: Venue: Ceremony in a historic church, tented lawn reception at a golf and country club About Me: 1950's housewife sent to the future, reborn as crafting-obsessed, jill of all trades. I enjoy decorating, writing, baking sweet things, singing show tunes/dancing in public, wearing pearls, and knitting sweaters for my furbaby, Harvey, to chew upon. I heart pink, and believe that sparkles are the new black.