Outfits of the Season: Fancy Fall Fashion

With the holidays fast approaching, you may find yourself in need of a fancy new frock or two. Yes, I realize that technically, a frock is just a dress that buttons in the back. But let’s suspend that reality for the sake of my prose. Anyway. I have some spiffy suggestions for what to wear for your Christmas parties, New Year’s Eve shindigs, spruced-up goings-out, and maybe even a Thanksgiving dinner or two.

Pinup Couture’s satin Ava dress is perfect for everything from cocktails out to Christmas Day brunch. Its early 1960s tulip-skirt styling is reminiscent of Joan Holloway Harris’ wardrobe on Mad Men (indeed, the design is based on a dress worn by actress Christina Hendricks in a Mad Men publicity shot).

More, it comes in a veritable rainbow of colors.

This is the “jade” colorway, which actually shades more toward moss. The dress also comes in a blue-teal, black, true red, gold, plum, peach, white, brown, and blush, which makes it a great candidate for autumn-to-winter bridalwear. And since every Ava comes (or will soon come) in sizes XS-4x, there’s something here for most brides or bridesmaids.

I’ve also go the Ava in red, and I can say with all confidence that the weighty, vintage-look, nonstretch satin in both colors combines wonderfully with my vintage jewelry and other accessories. In fact, the jade colorway goes extremely well with the black vintage silk brocade duster I recently purchased for $23 at a local antique store!

The duster features custom-made decorative frog closures and a lovely orange-gold lining. The wear on the lining, the cut, and the lack of serging or label screams Hong Kong- or Korean-made from the 1960s!

Another festive frock option comes in the form of Heartbreaker Fashion’s Antoinette Dress. This satin-and-lace concoction comes with a sweet self-belt with a rhinestone buckle, and looks fabulous with Deadly Dames’ satin bolero. In black or red, this showcase piece from the “Heartbreaker Haute” line is demure enough for family holiday gatherings and sexy enough for a New Year’s Eve date!

If you’re looking for something on the “datier” side of things, Pinup Couture’s Masuimi Dress in plum with the matching Masuimi lace shrug is a great option. The dress is made from a comfortable stretch bengaline fabric and comes in three additional colors: black, red, and lavender.

Those wanting something a bit more casual will enjoy Bettie Page Clothing’s Alika swing dress in navy. You can dress it up for a family holiday gathering or dress it down a bit for an average workday. Here, I’ve combined it with my vintage lilac sweater and a crinoline petticoat:

And for those who love their vintage, never underestimate a 1960s wiggle! Here’s a vintage black and blue paisley print synthetic dress, complete with cutout detail and a little bow on the neckline from Relic Vintage in San Francisco. Pieces like this are great for work or for holiday occasions, especially when paired with a nifty sweater like this vintage cardigan from Hong Kong…