Wearing the Crinoline

A year ago this month, I purchased a vintage crinoline for $40 to wear under a 1950s silk party dress.  It was a great evening, dressed to the nines for a charity ball, but alas, my crinoline has lived in its bag ever since.

My friend also called it a "can can!"

Until I stopped by a thrift store and bought this circle skirt for $2.50.  (My husband said bemusedly, "I never thought I'd be married to a woman who wears sequins."  The sequins are there, a little subdued in the photo  - thank goodness, because I intend this skirt to be daytime wear!) 

Somehow I remembered my bagged up crinoline and looky, it goes under my skirt and makes it so deliciously swishy and wide!

When my dear friend Rebecca bought me the white flower brooch, I had no idea what I would wear it with, but it was selected under the principle that "if you gather things you love, they will play together nicely."  

I love how all the elements of this get-up go together, but I don't feel matchy-matchy or costumey. I wore the outfit again today to substitute teach, minus the crinoline and the brooch, with more casual black shoes.

Now, this has been a bright spot in a week of slightly insane preserving.  I did not intend to can and freeze all week long, but thanks to the tyrrany of the produce, that is what happened.  I'll be leaving for a little vacation with some dear girlfriends - maybe one more post before then if the consarned tomatoes will only get done.