Sunday in the Park with George

We have Sondheim on the brain these days as my fiancé is preparing a role in A Little Night Music with Hartford Opera Theater. Today, Spring has finally arrived in New England and there is no better way to spend the day than at the park! Every spring and summer, many would take part in a mass exodus from the indoors to the outdoors, and any given city's public park used to be thee gathering place for families and friends to meet with one another for an afternoon of sport or leisure. It's easy in today's ever-connected digital world to allow these fleeting beautiful afternoons pass us by as we sit indoors on our computers or in front of our televisions. Thus, in honor of this fading pastime we packed up an afghan, our puppies, a lighthearted novel, and a little something to whet our whistles with and we set out for Fernridge Park in West Hartford, CT.

I threw on what I lovingly call my "Arizona" dress, a 1950s handmade patio or squaw dress with a wonderful novelty print of pink and green cacti, most likely leftover fabric from the 1940s that would have been used to make table clothes or curtains! (Stay tuned for a more detailed discussion on the history of the squaw dress.) This dress was a gift from Yesterday's Lady when I first moved to Phoenix for graduate school. Since then, it has traveled from Phoenix to Germany, Luxembourg, and now Connecticut. The dress has a full circle skirt and the material is gathered and fitted around the waist, a design popular in mid-century dresses for its flattering shape and character. Its characteristic puff sleeves help balance the gathered material around the waist. However, the neckline came up a little too high for my taste, so we brought it into our favorite tailor back in Phoenix and had him update instead with a sweetheart neckline.

It's important for any vintage dress to be adorned with the perfect accessories. In keeping with my Springtime mood, simple but colorful earrings such as these emerald and gold vintage earrings will draw people's attention towards your eyes and face, creating a lovely shimmer in the sunlight. And of course, don't forget your sunnies! I found my vintage inspired glasses online at ModCloth.com.

However, not every accessory has to be vintage. I also found this cute little belt from ModCloth. It actually was a part of an entirely different dress, but it nicely compliments the colors in the Cacti and helps add a little extra shape to the waist.

Don't forget, makeup can be as good of an accessory as any piece of jewelry! Women in the 1950s did not shy away from wearing bright lipstick. You will find that this helps work in tandem with rather than in competition against the other bright colors in your outfit; it's all about balance! 

For him, don't shy away from bright colors. Spring's color palate is flooded with bright colors that we assume would never work together in an outfit. Be more wary of patterns that might clash, than bright colors! A nice pair of shorts that stop just above the knee or a pair of lightweight pants, a bright short-sleeve button shirt and crisp clean boats shoes can never lead him astray in warm weather.  Lastly, for men, a classic leather band timepiece is not just an accessory; it's also a very good excuse to ditch that cellphone for a couple of hours!

Most importantly, don't forget your favorite book! We are currently working our way through A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Hartford's own Mark Twain.

The one 21st-century creature comfort we allowed ourselves was our sunny weather playlist! If you're looking for the perfect track to kickoff your season of sun, we recommend Dave Brubeck's "Take Five!" Brubeck's smooth and carefree West Coast jazz will put you in the mood to lay back, relax, and daydream while watching the clouds morph slowly above your head.

We hope these suggestions help make for a beautiful and memorable Sunday outing with you and yours. If you're looking the perfect drink to fill your flask, check out our recipe for crisp and refreshing Sidecars!

Until next time, salut!

The Vintage Chanteuse