20 September 2011

The Valerie Dress

Anytime I wear this dress my Grandma Val says to me, "Hey, I know that dress!" She should considering it was hers, then it was my mom's, and now its mine.Three generations of the Valerie Dress.
The first time I wore it was at my high school graduation in 2005.Our school colors were red and black and I was dying to wear something red but also vintage. It was about 98 degrees in the gym and there I was in a wool dress under my cap and gown. When I took off the gown my grandma was stunned that I had chosen that dress for the event.
As soon as the weather even hints at fall I pull this to the front of the closet or hang it on my bedroom door and get ready to wear it. When I read the weather report for last Friday I knew this was the perfect dress for the days activities, including work and happy hour with Michal from North Country Girl. She took my picture on 33rd and Madison near Rattle N Hum where we went to for far longer than happy hour. I'm actually holding her camera in the photos!
The Valerie Dress vintage, Jeffrey Campell oxfords, H&M trench, Goody headband
Share this post Posted by at
Labels: , , , ,

42 comments

  1. geeSeptember 20, 2011 at 1:15 PM

    that dress is amazing.
    i have never seen a collar like that. i love when things are passed down. 
    my grandmother just told my father that she has some lucite purses to pass down to me..
    thank goodness for stylish women.
    hope you and michal had a fabulous time. you look beautiful. 

    ReplyDelete
  2. PharaSeptember 20, 2011 at 1:22 PM

    Such a beautiful dress, and love that it's from yr grandma ^^
    X

    ReplyDelete
  3. RebeccaSeptember 20, 2011 at 1:42 PM

    This it such an awesome dress. The collar is so unusual. At first I thought it was a waistcoat, then a scarf. Garments with a bit of history are so the best.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Heather DavisSeptember 20, 2011 at 1:49 PM

    It's so cool that your mom and grandma both had this dress before you! It is adorable and appears to have held up amazingly through the years. I really like it with the headband and oxfords.

    ReplyDelete
  5. caitlinSeptember 20, 2011 at 2:04 PM

    what an amazing dress!! i have a few hand-me-downs from my grandmother, but nothing this fantastic.  she's probably still hoarding all the best stuff ;)

    ReplyDelete
  6. AuroraSeptember 20, 2011 at 3:07 PM

    Sweet! I love a good hand-me-down with a story! I have a few pieces like that - my favorite being a Marimekko dress from the 60's that my mom used to run around the streets of Manhattan in. Now, I do the same!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Kallie, Happy Honey & LarkSeptember 20, 2011 at 3:13 PM

    PICTURES PLEASE!

    ReplyDelete
  8. CosmiaSeptember 20, 2011 at 3:14 PM

    So pretty, this dress is the cutest! You look like a pixie!

    ReplyDelete
  9. TheheadlessmannequinblogSeptember 20, 2011 at 4:23 PM

    Oh wow..this dress is so unusual! The collar is amazing as is the colour. And I love the trench coat over it...keeps it within the retro theme :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. LuanSeptember 20, 2011 at 5:12 PM

    Perfect dress and even more perfect cause it's got a beautiful story to go with it.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Bad JoanSeptember 20, 2011 at 5:48 PM

    It's fabulous!



    GTBB,


    http://badjoan.blogspot.com


    http://cookingjoan.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. ShybikerSeptember 20, 2011 at 6:07 PM

    OMG!  What a pretty dress!  I'd never guess it has such history.

    ReplyDelete
  13. KaileySeptember 20, 2011 at 8:53 PM

    Oh my, I am absolutely in love with that dress! The details are stunning, and it looks gorgeous on you!

    ReplyDelete
  14. MeaganSeptember 20, 2011 at 9:54 PM

    I love this dress so much! YOu styled it wonderfully too!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Nicole, Coco MariaSeptember 20, 2011 at 10:31 PM

    THAT DRESS. It may be the most perfect dress ever, just so you know. And it looks fantastic on you, to top it off!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Michal, North Country GirlSeptember 20, 2011 at 10:45 PM

    Eeeee yay!  You already know how I feel about this dress.  And those shoes.  Pretty nice camera you've got there too.  ^_^

    ReplyDelete
  17. CatiebeattySeptember 20, 2011 at 10:49 PM

    Thank you for letting me know about the magazine! What a way to start my day :D It's not in the stores here yet, but hopefully my issue will come in the mail soon.

    The dress is cute, but you make it completely adorable! You remind me of Alexa Chung but with prettier eyes :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. TamraSanfordSeptember 20, 2011 at 11:41 PM

    How sweet!! Love that it was passed down through the generations.  Such a classic.  x

    ReplyDelete
  19. AprilSeptember 20, 2011 at 11:48 PM

    You are so cute! I love this photo of you one the street! And I love that you wore this to your graduation. I always end up in an inappropriate outfit at things like that because I'm so stubborn haha

    ReplyDelete
  20. StephanieSeptember 20, 2011 at 11:55 PM

    I love how the dress has been passed down from your grandmother, mother, and you. It looks like something I can buy right now.

    ReplyDelete
  21. AdaisychaindreamSeptember 21, 2011 at 2:00 AM

    that is SUCH an incredible dress!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Emily, Ruby Slipper JourneysSeptember 21, 2011 at 3:04 AM

    That is officially the most amazing dress ever, Kallie, and it's even better with all the family history.  Also, more NY blogger meet-ups... I'm sad I missed Michal when she was in London!

    ReplyDelete
  23. opportunityknitsSeptember 21, 2011 at 3:46 AM

    No wonder this dress has been in your family for 3 generations, it's amazing! Your grandmother has great taste :) And you are definitely her grandaughter with impeccable style too - love how you styled it, especially the hairband!

    ReplyDelete
  24. isla bellSeptember 21, 2011 at 4:46 AM

    AHHHHH! my face is going to explode or something....you look f****** awesome dude. For real, this dress is perfection, i mean look at that collar....and the story behind it woooweee not to mention how darn rad you look in the photos. So inlove with this post seriously. 
    p.s. totally running on no sleep and lots of coffee so i sound crazy

    ReplyDelete
  25. Vanessa, Take only MemoriesSeptember 21, 2011 at 7:03 AM

    Wow, that dress is amazing! Your granny has style! 

    ReplyDelete
  26. Alison CzinkotaSeptember 21, 2011 at 7:17 AM

    Aw I love the dress, and how it was passed down! It definitely makes it all the more special to wear. Great shoes too! And b.t.w. the pictures were taken in New Paltz, it's where I grew up!

    http://plastikneon.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Stefanie KuncmanSeptember 21, 2011 at 9:28 AM

    ah can i be 4th generation for that dress? its so cute!















    <3 steffy

    Steffys Pros and Cons

    ReplyDelete
  28. LauraSeptember 21, 2011 at 9:40 AM

    This is a gorgeous outfit and I love that there is a story behind the dress!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Dresses for Dinner .September 21, 2011 at 1:55 PM

    Oh, you are the cutest.

    ReplyDelete
  30. JusticePirateSeptember 21, 2011 at 4:10 PM

    How amazing that the dress has been passed through your generations and worn by so many in which are all related. That's special!!!!! It looks beautiful on you and I love the shoes with it too! I especially adore that collar!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  31. giedreSeptember 21, 2011 at 4:32 PM

    That is so special - having a dress that all three of you have worn! There's no way that would ever have worked within my family because all of us are such different shapes, but it's a very awesome idea. :)
    -giedre

    ReplyDelete
  32. She is SaraSeptember 21, 2011 at 5:52 PM

    Kallie that dress is amazing! I love it on you, and I think it is so sweet that it was your grandmas and your moms too :) :) ) 

    ReplyDelete
  33. Kallie, Happy Honey & LarkSeptember 21, 2011 at 11:01 PM

    Thanks! This dress has certainly seen a lot (and held up well too) :)

    ReplyDelete
  34. Kallie, Happy Honey & LarkSeptember 21, 2011 at 11:02 PM

    Thank you! I just hope I take as good care of it as my mom and grandma did!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Alyssa rSeptember 22, 2011 at 2:47 AM

    woah woah woah. this dress is just woah. i love it so much! you look freaking amazing in it! and i LOVE that it's like a family heirloom! it makes it even more special!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Kallie, Happy Honey & LarkSeptember 22, 2011 at 6:21 AM

    thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  37. AnonymousSeptember 22, 2011 at 10:30 PM

    That is one of the most beautiful dresses I have ever seen. WOW at the collar!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Amber RoseSeptember 24, 2011 at 1:52 PM

    That has to be the sweetest thing ever.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Georgia RoseSeptember 24, 2011 at 11:35 PM

    That is the loveliest story about your dress! I really wish my grandma had kept clothes from her youth, she was gorgeous and stylish and had the best clothes- and we were the same size! She met my grandad at tennis, and I wish she still had the little white pleated dresses she used to wear. Unfortunately, the hoarding gene skipped a generation. :(
    But seriously, you look gorgeous, and that dress fits you SO well.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Jamie RoseSeptember 25, 2011 at 10:40 PM

    Your vintage dress is awesome! I just love that it was your grandma's and your mom's and now it's yours. The collar on it is amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Kallie, Happy Honey & LarkSeptember 26, 2011 at 11:10 AM

    I knew it was New Paltz!!! That's so crazy. I was born there. The sushi place on the end of Main St. used to be the restaurant my family owned. <3

    ReplyDelete
  42. MoniqueSeptember 26, 2011 at 7:42 PM

    That Valerie dress is amaaazing! 

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by!

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
happy, honey & lark. All rights reserved. © Maira Gall.