I FOUND A POSTCARD FROM A HOLIDAY YEARS AGO. THEN I REALISED HOW MUCH COLOUR HAD DISAPPEARED FROM MY WARDROBE.
Six little things about a colourful, vintage-inspired dress that reminded me of the way I used to enjoy getting dressed.
I am 67, I live in Sydney, and one Saturday this spring I was looking for an old address book when I found a postcard wedged between two cookbooks. It was from a holiday I took years ago: turquoise water, sun-warmed buildings, brilliant flowers and a little market stall full of patterned fabrics. I had kept it because the colours made me happy.
I stood at the kitchen bench looking at it for quite a while. Then I went upstairs to get dressed, opened my wardrobe and saw almost nothing but navy, cream and charcoal. There were sensible tops, sensible trousers and perfectly nice dresses in shades I never had to think about.
The strange thing was, I still loved colour. I chose it for flowers, cushions and the little paintings around the house. But whenever I was choosing something to wear, I acted as though the safest answer was always the right one. I could not remember when that had begun.
My sister rang that afternoon to ask if I wanted to join her at the spring markets the following weekend. I told her I had nothing interesting to wear. She laughed and said, “Maggie, it’s a market, not an examination. Wear something you actually like.” That was rather good advice.
That evening I found Perth Boutique’s Vintage Summer Dresses collection. One design caught my eye immediately. It had a richly coloured print with teal, rust, berry red and purple, large ornamental flowers and patterned borders. At the bottom was a dark contrasting hem that gave all that colour a lovely finished edge.
It reminded me of that postcard. Not because the dress was from the same place or time, but because looking at it made me want to go somewhere, see something and enjoy being out in the sunshine. The V-shaped neckline, easy sleeves and long, softly gathered skirt made it feel wearable rather than theatrical.
When it arrived, I laid it across the bed and looked at the details properly. The colours were the sort I usually admired on a scarf or a piece of art, and yet there they were on a dress I could imagine wearing with my ordinary sandals.
I had not stopped loving colour. I had simply stopped giving myself permission to wear it.
I began to think about why this particular dress had caught my attention, when so many others had gone straight past me. It came down to six small things, none complicated, but together they made all the difference.
1THE PRINT HAS THE CHARM OF SOMETHING FOUND, NOT SOMETHING TRENDY
The pattern is wonderfully detailed: scrolling shapes, big floral motifs, warm terracotta and jewel-like turquoise sitting beside deeper purple and red. It feels almost like a vintage textile I might have admired in a little shop on holiday. That is what I like most about it. It has character, rather than looking like another dress chosen to be safe.
There is enough happening in the print that I would not need to add a statement necklace or a bright scarf. The dress itself brings the colour.
I would rather wear one interesting thing than spend an hour trying to make a plain outfit interesting.
2THE DARK HEM MAKES ALL THE COLOURS FEEL BALANCED
The border around the lower skirt is what makes the print feel finished to me. The darker hem gives the colourful pattern somewhere to settle, instead of having every shade compete right down to the floor.
It is a small design detail, but one I noticed when I held the dress up. I could imagine pairing it with black sandals or my old tan flats, leaving the pattern to do the rest.
I love a bold print, especially when one quiet detail pulls it all together.
3THE V-NECKLINE LETS THE PATTERN SPEAK FOR ITSELF
The neckline on the pictured dress is a simple V shape. I appreciate that because the print is already full of lovely detail; it does not need complicated frills at the neck as well.
With an ordinary pair of earrings, I could picture it looking complete enough for lunch or a little outing. I no longer want an outfit that requires me to empty the jewellery drawer before leaving home.
A straightforward neckline is often the nicest frame for a beautiful pattern.
4THE SLEEVES AND GATHERED SKIRT LOOK EASY FOR A SPRING DAY
The dress has loose sleeves and a long, gently gathered skirt. In the photographs, the shape looks relaxed rather than tightly tailored. That matters to me when the plan is to stroll around market stalls, stop for a coffee and perhaps stay out longer than expected.
It is spring in Sydney; some days are bright and warm, and the afternoons can stretch out beautifully. I wanted a dress that looked as though it belonged to those days instead of waiting in a wardrobe for a special invitation.
There is nothing wrong with getting dressed up. I just like clothes that can come along for an ordinary day.
5IT GOES WITH THE SHOES AND BAG I ALREADY OWN
I have bought outfits in the past that led to another shopping trip because suddenly none of my shoes seemed quite right. This one gave me the opposite feeling. With so much colour in the pattern, I could wear my simple tan sandals, a small neutral bag and be ready.
I rather liked the idea of taking it to the spring markets with my sister, then wearing it again for coffee the following week. An outfit does not need to be complicated to look as though you chose it with care.
The loveliest new addition to a wardrobe is one that makes the old favourites useful, too.
6THE COLLECTION OFFERS MORE THAN ONE KIND OF VINTAGE PRINT
Perth Boutique’s Vintage Summer Dresses collection has several different floral and printed styles. Some are richly coloured like the one in these photographs; others have different patterns and silhouettes. The collection currently lists designs at A$69.99, with size options varying by the particular dress.
I would choose the print you genuinely love first, then open that dress’s product page to check the measurements and size guide. That matters more than assuming every vintage-style dress will fit in exactly the same way.
Choose the pattern that makes you stop scrolling. Then check the details for that exact design.
THE VINTAGE PRINT, AGAINST THE CLOTHES I KEPT CHOOSING AUTOMATICALLY
I had not been unhappy with my wardrobe. It had simply become so predictable that I rarely thought about what I actually liked. Here is what felt different about this dress.
ABOUT THE PRICE
Perth Boutique’s Vintage Summer Dresses collection currently lists featured dresses at A$69.99, reduced from A$229.00. The collection contains several designs, so check the particular dress you choose for the latest price, available sizes and colours.
I have bought sensible dresses over the years that never made me want to go anywhere. What appealed to me about this vintage-style print was quite different: the thought of opening the wardrobe on a spring morning and choosing something simply because I loved looking at it.
Perth Boutique advertises free Australia-wide delivery and publishes its delivery and returns details on the website. It is worth checking those details and the size chart before placing an order.
The postcard is back between the cookbooks now. But I am glad I found it. It reminded me that a little colour can make an ordinary afternoon feel worth looking forward to—and that enjoying what I wear is not something I need to grow out of.
Maggie
