One of our local small towns in our new home state of Idaho is Emmett, so far my favorite town ever. It's the right size – not too large or too small – and so friendly. The main square has colorful false front buildings, like all western towns should have. One of their big yearly events is the Show 'n' Shine car show held in July. Of course we had to go!

 

And of course we girls couldn't resist the chance to dress up 1950s in order to pose with some of the cars. 

 

My two sisters attended in full-skirted 1950s outfits – one homemade, one vintage from 1958. So I decided to make a dress with the opposite silhouette of the era to diversify things a bit.

 

It was a "wearable muslin" and turned out very well, though I will change a few things when I make it again.

 

I liked it very much for a slender style of dress – not too tight, but tailored – with details like the hip gathers and yoke, the faux bolero, and the pleated neckline. I actually added two more pleats to raise the neckline, and was pleased with how well the change blended in.

 

I want to make it again in some stashed charcoal linen, with embroidery on the pleats, hip yoke, and sleeves, to wear with pearls for a classic 1950s dressy outfit.

 

I had a hard time deciding what to pair with it, but after studying vintage pattern illustrations to make sure that a bag and shoes could match, while contrasting with the hat and gloves, I ended up pairing it with a white vintage hat and cut-out gloves, a chunky 1950s necklace, and a non-vintage but vintage style "hatbox" purse that also had some lavender in it, and the brown of the bag tied in with my vintage heels.

 

We got a lot of compliments, especially from older folks who remember when everyone dressed like this.

 

It was a beautiful day – sunny and breezy and not too hot. There were around 1,000 cars and tons of people, but it was pleasant to stroll and comment and gasp. We left on overload – too much gorgeousness! 

 

The mid-1950s is one of my favorite eras for cars, especially when it's a Chevy Bel-Air. But then I'm a sucker for two-tone cars of any make. And to my brother's frustration, I care nothing for the internals as long as it's gorgeous on the outside!

 

If I use it for a photo prop, could buying an old car be a business investment?? 🙂

 

Some of them seated 4 on sofa-sized seats and were bigger than our 12 passenger van! I would not want to try parallel parking in some of these.

 

This one was for sale! We already have a long to-buy list of various old automobiles for when our ship comes in. This is Elsie, the younger sister, whom I am influencing in style, in case you can't tell. She recently started sewing and planned and made her own outfit, from some of my patterns, with only a little help. Didn't she do a good job?

 

When we have a ranch we have to have a ranch truck like one of these, right?

 

 I like this candid shot – I have no idea what we were talking about! But it also demonstrates the contrast in 1950s styles. And the primary colors in the background are kind of fun.

 

So many pretty details…car designers back then were anything but utilitarian. Why, oh why, can't they make 'em like this anymore?

  

 

The crowning moment was when we were admiring this beautiful 1954 Buick Skylark – one of only 850 made, and less than 100 left. Just my taste in color scheme, too!

 

Then a very kind gentleman opened the door and said, "Take pictures of her sitting in it. Want to sit in it?"

 

Did I!

 

Couldn't I please be transported to the 1950s for a leetle bit?

 

*Sigh!*

The day ended with an evening cruise where all the cars took a spin (or several) around the block. All those old engines throbbing, and so many beautiful cars in a row! Meanwhile the sun mellowed into evening light, shadows lengthened, and another perfect Idaho summer day drew to a close.

 

After the cruise the cars would scatter back to their homes all over several states, but a lot of them live close by! We never go to town without seeing a few old cars parked or being driven around. Someday we hope to be among them. But meanwhile we saw our fill for one day, and went home happy and just steeped in Americana.

 

 

Photo credit for this post goes to my 12-year-old brother, Bobby!