Dresses are and quite possibly always will be my favorite garment to wear - I dream of a closet full of dresses in every possible color, hue or shade ... some day. This wrap dress in the 1950s style with dainty flowers all over it was a Spring find earlier this year and became a very welcomed addition to my growing dress collection. It's made of lightweight breathable cambric, with a lightweight breathable cotton voile lining - perfect for hot days! In fact, so perfect that I got a little lost waiting for the hot weather to arrive, and when I realized that it's already mid-July, I put the dress on without hesitation, even though it wasn't a hot day, but rather cool and breezy. But I thought I'd wear it anyway, before the Summer is over.
I love everything about this dress, the only issue I have is the super low neckline - but it's easy to fix with a new-to-me vintage pin. To add to the retro flair, I also wore a hat and vintage clip-on earrings (boy those metal clips can pinch! how do you, ladies, deal with them? I could only wear this particular pair briefly). To me, this dress looks as if it just walked out of Father Brown, a cozy British mystery series set in the 1950s. Almost all female characters wore or could wear something like it.
As often on weekends, Justin and I went for a walk along the shoreline, admiring Puget Sound, Tacoma Port, gorgeous views, blooming shrubs and flower pots, and then...
...and then we found this! This cute little seal, painted on a rock, was sitting on a bridge in the Chinese Reconciliation Park and calling my name... I noticed, but didn't pay much attention at first (from my angle, I could only see a little fish), but Justin made sure I took a closer look. And that's when it hit me! Are you ready for THE BIG REVEAL?
Tacoma has this wonderful, heartwarming and whimsical tradition of painted rocks with all sorts of cute images and/or uplifting short messages. Artists leave them around town for a random passerby to find - for keeping, re-hiding or gifting it to someone else. This adorable seal was my very first found rock, and it was absolutely perfect for me! Not only do I love seals and appreciate the design, but (and here is THE BIG REVEAL)
Andrei and I are working on our new book that is coming up later this year, and the main character of our new story is... a SEAL!
I will reveal more details later, but for now I'll just admit that it's most adorable, it makes me smile just to think about Andrei's amazing new illustrations. And now you understand of course that finding this little rock was absolutely perfect for me!
UPDATE / CLARIFICATION:
Dear friends and readers, my writing news are very important to me, as writing is a huge part of who I am. The big reveal was the announcement of my NEW BOOK on which Andrei and I have been working for a long time. It was NOT inspired by the rock... the inspiration came a long time ago, and it is the whole another story. The adorable little seal rock was just found this past Saturday, and it was perfect for me as a reminder that
Life is Beautiful,
All is Well,
I am on the right-for-me Path,
and my book will arrive just on time for the readers who need it.
P.S. There will be more Tacoma Rock stories in my posts soon...
You can find out more about our books and where to find them HERE.
Dress - eShakti
Hat - Old Navy (old)
Shoes - Sanita (old)
Bag - via TJ MAXX (old)
Jewelry - thrifted or gifts from friends
Linking up with Visible Monday
Find my books at
in Seattle, Tacoma, Federal Way, Washington
NEW BOOK is coming in 2017!
Connect on
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Inspiration always comes in the least expected form. How cute...I love seals and their adorable faces.
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DeleteThank you for stopping by, Glenda! Seals are wonderful, we used to live on the beach and had all sorts of close encounters with them.
I guess I haven't expressed myself clearly. My new book wasn't inspired by this cute rock, but the rock "came" to me in just the right moment, when we are putting the book together (my story was written a while ago, and Andrei has been working on illustrations for a long time).
What's inspiring to me is that people are longing for such unexpected and uplifting connections! They paint and leave their art around town, for others to be surprised, to share joy! To me, it's a perfect reminder that life is beautiful and everything is well, and my beloved book will arrive to the audience who will love it, just on time. :)
That dress is gorgeous, you do look like you've stepped out from an English period drama. I adore those summery blooms and the gorgeous backdrop, too.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting, to be inspired by that sweet little seal rock. Inspiration indeed!
I've sent you a link via Facebook of comfort pads for clip-on earrings. I didn't get my ears pierced until I was 25, they're brilliant. xxx
Thank you, Vix! I will definitely check out the link! I have some vintage earrings that don't pinch my ears, but these were brutal. Pads will help, I am sure!
DeleteI guess I haven't expressed myself clearly. My new book wasn't inspired by this cute rock, but the rock "came" to me in just the right moment, when we are putting the book together (my story was written a while ago, and Andrei has been working on illustrations for a long time).
What's inspiring to me is that people are longing for such unexpected and uplifting connections! They paint and leave their art around town, for others to be surprised, to share joy! To me, it's a perfect reminder that life is beautiful and everything is well, and my beloved book will arrive to the audience who will love it, just on time. :)
totally "father brown" - indeed!
ReplyDeleteand - *shame on the english readers** ;-) - even i realized, without the edit, that not the little rock inspired your story writing. instead it was a and cool coincidence find for you - just like a sign that you´r on the right way already!
maybe one needs such a "romantic" mindset like you and me to understand that :-D
speaking of romantic - back to your dress!
looove it. it is such a wonderful piece of clothes making art. o.k. - that neckline - but thats always the case with wrap designs. and you solved it clever with the sweet little amor brooch! your accessories are perfection! and yep - that clips are torture - i have only one, vintage pair which are ok. for a while - but after a few hours my ears need a long rest from them. i think fashionable 50s women were very tough - did you ever wore original 50s high heels? boy!! and all that stiff undergarments!
by all my love for the designs of that era - the whole package would kill me ;-D
sending you lots of love an good vibrations for that little seal to come!!! hugest hugses! xxxxx
Thank you, Beate! You do get me! Haha, romantic mindset! It's more about sensitivity and perception - reading the fine signs that are all around us... I was so excited to share that feeling of joyful harmony! I was so excited to announce the main character of my story! They are alive to me, just like people that I know... I love the little rock, but really, it has nothing to do with the inspiration for my character - it's a long a wonderful story in its own right, which I would love to share, but not now.
DeleteI knew you'd appreciate the dress! I wasn't a big fan of 1950s fashion (glad I don't live in that era :), but lately I am drawn to this style... perhaps your influence, my dear! :)
I will take the advice Vix gave me on the pads for vintage clip-ons, they should help. This is the first such a "teethy" pair, to be honest.
Lots of love!
such a lovely dress and you look adorable wearing it!, lovely accessorizing too!, you really created a retro vibe, very 'Father Brown' style! (I loved the tv series, and obviously, I love the books!, Chesterton is one of my favorites!)
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely to see all those flowers blooming, the landscapes, and the amazing find of that cute painted rock!, really cute!
besos
Thank you, dear Monica! I almost did not post these photos, even though Justin did such a wonderful job on these...but I felt I under-accessorized the dress, and I had many other ideas, but at the end I decided to go with it, because not everything has to be "staged" - there is beauty in more casual approach too! I will wear it differently later and if I take photos, I'll share them too. <3
DeleteHow wonderful to be inspired by everything around you! This dress is simply lovely, love the blooming flowers. Thanks for linking up, xox
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http://notdeadyetstyle.com
Thank you, Patti! <3
DeleteNatalia I am in love with you in this dress! So cute, stunning and adorable. I love the collar and this floral print.
ReplyDeleteI understand what it mean to you finding this little rock ;) I found a rock a time ago in Heidelberg castle. https://tinaspinkfriday.blogspot.de/2016/05/love-pass-it-on-gib-liebe-weiter.html
This pictures are so amazing, Justin did a very good job.
Send much love and a very big hug to you my friend Natalia, Tina
<3 <3 <3
DeleteThank you for your kind words, Tina! I am happy that you understood!! I will go read your rock story too! Much love!
Wow! I hardly know what to comment on first! Well, let me say, your photos are just lovely! I wish I had the ability/equipment to do such wonderful shots! Second, I also am a huge lover of dresses! And how can you not love a dress so beautifully reminiscent of the 40s and 50s...such a marvelously feminine time in fashion! Finally, the seal rock! That is so amazing! I love that artists do such an incredible thing, and that you found it at just this most appripo time... It warms my heart!😊
ReplyDeleteThank you for your warm comment, Rhona!! I am glad that you like this dress and this period of fashion - yes, so feminine! The little rock was just a perfect serendipity moment... I shared this story with a FB group and got (and continue getting) so many likes and loves - people love a good "first rock story"!
DeleteI hope you will be able to get the photos that you are aiming for! It'll take some practicing, but I'm sure you'll get a hold of it! Thank you for the compliments to Justin, he'll be happy to read them. <3
That's exciting news about the book! Yay!! And your dress is so pretty and suits you so well. The entire outfit is just lovely and I keep staring at you. :-) Love the lip colour too! The photos are gorgeous and the painted rock is so sweet. This is a post to gush over! xoxo Hugses, my friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting, Shawna, you are a rare guest these days! I am glad that you like staring :) at this outfit, it felt so lovely to wear it for my evening stroll.
DeleteThere is still lots of work to do, but I the little seal rock whispered in my ear that it's time to share with the world what's coming! I'm nonsense at all this "marketing/promoting" stuff - I treat everyone as a friend, not as "follower" and a target for advertising, so I am always hesitant and shy to even mention my writing news. But it is such a HUGE part of me, and of course Andrei's and Justin's life too - and I think I will start sharing more and being just more open about all of it.
Lots of love!
What a sweet dress, Natalia. It's definitely got an English period drama feel to it. You are looking absolutely gorgeous in the photos. Dresses are my favourite garments too, and your dress would fit perfectly in my collection. Somehow, I feel I'm not getting the most out of my summer wardrobe, though, as for some of my favourite dresses, it has been either too hot or too cold ... As for your big reveal, I perfectly understood what you meant from the start. How exciting, and how fitting too that you then found the painted rock with the seal. What a wonderful tradition these painted rocks are! Huge hug, and have a great week! xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, my dear!! Your collection of dresses is among the most gorgeous ones I've ever seen! I would LOVE to be able to wear your dresses. :) I am still building my collection, gathering pieces that touch me. I was always a big fan of 1960s/1970s, as well as 1930s/1940s, but it is fairly new to me to like 1950s fashion. But I absolutely get why women are drawn to these shapes - they feel so feminine, romantic, almost princess-like to wear.
DeleteI am glad you understood what I meant by sharing my first rock story! It's important to me!
I hope you'll get a chance to wear all your wonderful dresses this Summer - many happy warm days to you!
Not inspiration, but coincidence! How very apt.
ReplyDeleteThose painted rocks are such a lovely tradition I want to replicate it over here. Will see if I can persuade my kids!
Have already commented how gorgeous you look, but it bears repeating...you are a beautiful blossoming flower.
Much love and best wishes for the waiting-to-share-your-story time. Xo Jazzy Jack
Serendipity - that's the word! Thank you, my dear friend! I think it'll be so much fun to paint and hide such rocks. They say it's addictive! And I am sure very relaxing/therapeutic, not only exciting, which is a great mix! On the bottom of these rocks, there are a few words about sharing on FB (there are groups for that), keeping or re-hiding the rock. Just so you know how to introduce this tradition to your town. :)
DeleteLove the dress! The floral pattern is lovely an dying fixed it perfectly with the brooch! I love the flowers along the shore, in their boxes, against the water... so,pretty.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the new book !!!
Xx, Elle
http://www.theellediaries.com/
Thank you, Elle! Glad you like the dress! The book is a work in progress. It is always very sensitive for artists what part of their work to share and when (you have to be ready for it!), and I thought the adorable seal rock was a perfect point when I could start sharing my writing news with my friends and readers. Much love!
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