Affordable Wedding Dresses - 1950s

Sorry this is late but I felt rubbish yesterday. Plus, it was bank holiday so I couldn't be bothered.

This week I'm bringing you a collection of 1950s affordable wedding dresses. When you picture fifties dresses you immediately think of voluminous skirts with fitted bodices; like Jackie Kennedy's wedding dress at her wedding to JFK in 1953. This incredibly flattering style is very feminine and evokes a princess feeling, It's not for everyone but a lot of people are choosing fifties-style wedding dresses for their big day.

On the other hand, the fifties also saw the popularity of wiggle dresses sore. Marilyn Monroe was largely responsible for their popularity and she wore a tight fitted dress to her wedding to Arthur Miller in 1956. This style is less popular nowadays but it's a very chic look that can give the wow factor if you're brave enough to go for the shape showing style.

I've got a great selection of five affordable wedding dresses with a fifties feel.

Pearly Queen - Kitty and Dulcie

First up is a classic 1950s-style wedding dress from Kitty and Dulcie. It has a fitted bodice and a knee-length full circle skirt. The dress also features delicate beading on the top.

I love the way they've styled it with the hand gloves and the gorgeous emerald shoes.

Priced £350

Raw Silk Dupion and Lace Wedding Dress - Not On The High Street

This beautiful fifties-style wedding dress is handmade by Brighton based company Dig For Victory. They make lovely dresses with a fifties look. This wedding dress is a classic example. Again it has the typical fifties fitted bodice and circle skirt. This one has delicate lace sleeves which add interest to the plain silk dupion.

Such a pretty dress.


Priced £242.50

50s Satin French Lace Wiggle Dress - Etsy

This affordable wedding dress from Simplicityisbliss on Etsy has a different look to the previous two, it's a wiggle style dress that's beautifully fitted and features a scalloped lace top.

It's a real 1950s wedding dress that's beautifully crafted and apparently still in excellent condition. It'd make a really stylish wedding dress.

Priced £173.91

1950s Halterneck Ivory Duchess Dress - Vivien of Holloway

This is another classic fifties look. The halterneck wedding dress is extremely flattering on almost any figure. It has a supportive bodice that nips in and pushes out at all the right places.

The circle dress is crafted from plain ivory duchess satin, a simple but beautiful look for your big day.

Priced £89

1950s Vintage Wedding Gown - Etsy

Last but not least is this beautiful vintage wedding gown from Etsy shop FabGabs. Unlike the other dresses this one is full length, it has a similar feel to Jackie Kennedy's wedding dress with the nibbed in waist, large skirt and off the shoulder sleeves.

Normally I wouldn't usually go for a full skirted look but I'm in love with this wedding dress. It's got a beautiful cut and I particularly like the contrast of the plain gown with the pretty lace collar.

This is a real vintage 1950s wedding dress so you'd be wearing a part of history.

Priced £442.40


That's all for this week, check back next week for cheap 1960s wedding dresses.

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Affordable Wedding Dresses - 1940s

Following on from last week's affordable 1930s wedding dresses I've now got a collection of cheap 1940s wedding dresses.

The 40s is an era that tends to get overlooked when it comes to wedding style; brides tend to go for the glamourous 20s and thirties or skip to the ball gown skirts of the 1950s. But I love 1940s style; it's womanly but also practical, plus it makes for an elegant and stylish wedding look. Think Lauren Bacall in her tailored suit at her wedding to Humphrey Bogart.


1940s Wedding Dress - Etsy

This is a real 1940s wedding dress from Etsy shop simplicityisbliss. This is why I like 1940s style; it's simple and elegant but still feminine. I love the long sleeves with the draped collar.

The dress is made from satin with a subtle floral print. A total classic.


Priced £151.33

Vintage 1940s Suit - Etsy

Another Etsy find, all but one of these cheap 1940s wedding dresses are Etsy by the way, this is an original 1940s linen suit from FabGabs. You can really channel Lauren Bacall in this.

It has a nipped in waist that creates an hourglass figure and is very flattering.The cut combined with the soft cream colour make this suit ideal for a wedding. Plus, it makes a great alternative to a wedding dress, perfect for those brides who want to avoid the meringue look.

Priced £80.55

Off Shoulder Satin Evening Dress - Elliot Claire

OK, so this off the shoulder dress is black but you can get it made in an array of colours, including white, which would make an amazing Hollywood glamour-style wedding dress. Or go with black for a daring look, I've featured a few affordable black wedding dresses before.

This dress looks like it's straight out of the Hollywood Golden Era. It would make an amazingly dramatic wedding dress.

£365

Vintage 40s 50s Wedding Dress - Etsy

This genuine vintage wedding dress from DaintyRascal has a princess theme, but isn't overly frilly like some fairytale-style gowns. It's made from sheer silk and has a chantilly lace scoop neckline. It covers you up but is also feminine as it has a fitted bodice and a flattering neck.

Priced £88.48


Next week it's 1950s dresses, check back then.

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Retro Children's TV on Amazon Instant

Firstly, I'd just like to say that I'm not promoting Amazon Instant Video, or Prime or Lovefilm Instant or whatever the hell it's called now. In fact I've gone off it quite a lot since it's changed from Lovefilm as the new layout is rubbish. However, it does have an amazing selection of retro children's TV shows that have given me a huge dose of nostalgia.

I know this makes me sound really old, but they just don't make them like they used to. I don't have kids, but what I have seen of children's TV nowadays, Waybaloo and whatnot, makes me feel like I want to bang my head against a wall.

So when I discovered Amazon't selection of old TV shows I was in heaven. Here are a few of my favourites. If you don't have Amazon Prime I'm sure you'll be able to find them on YouTube somewhere.

Huxley Pig

I can't say Huxley Pig without saying oink oink straight afterwards. I love the cheerful narration by Martin Jarvis and the imaginative but simple adventures of Huxley Pig and Sam the Seagull.

Thomas and Friends

I never realised at the time that Ringo Starr narrates Thomas and Friends, a frigging Beatle! I don't really have to explain why Thomas the Tank Engine is a classic; the books were great and the TV show built on this. Every character is perfect, especially the Fat Controller.

The Wild Thornberrys

Speaking of not realising celebrities voiced characters, The Wild Thornberrys has loads of famous voices; Eliza is Lacey Chabert from Mean Girls (presumably before Mean Girls fame), the great Tim Curry voices Nigel Thornberry and, randomly, Flea from The Red Hot Chilli Peppers voices Donnie. Amazing TV programme, even if Eliza was a bit too much of a goody two shoes sometimes.

Rocko's Modern Life

I never actually realised that Rocko was a Wallaby, I thought he was some kind of dog. Rocko's Modern Life has got that simple but surreal comedy that always wins in kids shows. Especially love Heffer.

The Shoe People

I'm so glad I found this. The Shoe People was one of my favourite shows and I had a much watched video of it when I was younger. I just loved when all the dust cleared and the shoes started to come to life.

The Angry Beavers

I distinctly remember my dad laughing at this programme and saying that "somebody has a dirty sense of humour." Didn't get it at the time. Even though I do get it now Angry Beavers still reminds me of a more innocent age.

Charlie Chalk

I just love all the stop motion children's programmes; Postman Pat, Fireman Sam and more. Charlie Chalk was another great one about a clown who finds himself on a strange island.

Round The Twist

I don't think I ever worked out what Round The Twist was about, something to do with a lighthouse and a ghost? But it has the catchiest theme tune ever. Worth a watch just for the eighties/nineties fashions.

The Herbs

Finally I have The Herbs, this show is from the seventies and is one that my parents used to watch. The fact that it is still being watched shows how great the characters of Parsley the Lion and the other herbs are. I'm a very friendly lion called Parsley...


There are loads of other great old children's shows on Amazon but I can't be bothered to write any more. Instead I'm going to be a grown woman watching children's television on a Saturday night. I'm owning it.

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Affordable Wedding Dresses - 1930s

Following on from last week's 1920s affordable wedding dresses post, this week I've got 1930s wedding dresses with low price tags. They're inspired by the thirties era and especially the lovely wedding dress that Claudette Colbert wears in It Happened One Night, one of my all time favourite films.

The thirties is one of my favourite vintage eras and I particularly love the wedding dresses. They are usually bias cut so very flattering. Also, the thirties style is feminine but not weighed down with flounces and layers, so you won't feel like a meringue on your wedding day.

These dresses are all 1930s-themed and there are a couple of real vintage 1930s wedding dresses.

Vintage 1930s Wedding Dress - Etsy

I'll start with a real 1930s wedding dress. This gorgeous ivory silk wedding dress is from Etsy shop Simplicityisbliss, it's a U.S. shop but they ship to the UK.

It's got a high bias cut which is really flattering. I love the sleeves and the buttons down the back; small details that make this dress a classic.

Priced £517.09

Leyna Gown - BHLDN

This BHLDN dress is so unusual. It's not a classic 1930s dress as it also has a Grecian look, but it does have a thirties feel with the fit and the slight train.

The Grecian draping on the front manages to be flattering but also a little bit sexy. Similar to the back; the lace shows some skin but also keeps you covered.

Priced $400 - down from $600

Nina Bridal Dress - Monsoon

I've featured a few Monsoon dresses before on my Affordable Wedding Dresses posts, actually I've featured four; a lace wedding dress, a blue one, a black one and an embellished one. Monsoon is pretty damn good for cheap wedding dresses as the price tag is low but the quality is fairly high.
This week's dress, the Nina one, is very subtle, with a flattering soft cowl draped neckline and a low back.

It has a thirties feel but is not over the top. Plus, you could style this a number of ways; continue with the thirties theme, add a floral headpiece for a Boho look or just wear it by itself with a swept up hair do for a chic style.

Priced £229

Vintage 1930s Wedding Gown - Etsy

This is another real 1930s vintage dress from FabGabs on Etsy. It's made from ivory satin charmeuse and, of course, is bias cut. The fabric looks like it's been poured onto the model, like it's liquid.

I love long-sleeved wedding dresses, they have real class, and this one is a beautiful bridal gown.

Priced £517.88

Ariella Charlotte Satin Back Crepe Lace Dress in Champagne - John Lewis

Last but not least is this lovely champagne dress from John Lewis. It has a thirties feel but is also quite modern, so it's ideal if you want a touch of vintage but don't want to go overboard.

I love the mix of satin crepe and lace overlay. The lace is incredibly flattering on the arms.

The back is really simple and has a classic cut. Plus, I love the off-white colour.

Priced £186.75


That's all for this week. Next week it's 1940s affordable wedding dresses.

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Affordable Wedding Dresses - 1920s

So I've already done a Great Gatsby inspired Affordable Wedding Dresses post before but this is less flapper and more classic, long wedding dresses with a twenties feel, like Clara Bow's dress above.

1920s wedding dresses are very popular at the moment, partly due to the release of The Great Gatsby film but also because the decadence and style of the era is ideal for weddings. I've found a few lovely twenties-themed dresses, including a genuine vintage 1920s wedding dress, which are all affordable.

Vintage Ivory Cowl Wedding Dress - Elliot Claire

I featured an Elliot Claire dress last week on my affordable green wedding dresses post. I'd only seen the company on Not On The High Street before but I've now realised that they have a website with a lot more lovely dresses. If you want to waste an afternoon check it out. This dress is one of their wedding gowns. It has a twenties/thirties feel to it with the draped front and back.

It has a lovely A-line fit which is extremely flattering on most figures.

Priced £365

Vintage 1920s Wedding Dress - Etsy

This beautiful satin and lace dress is a genuine vintage 1920s wedding gown from Etsy Seller DaintyRascal. It's so lovely it makes my eyes hurt!

It's made from soft satin in a champagne colour and has an off the shoulder style with vintage lace filling the gap. This would be a dress that you'd feel really special in.

Priced £288.96

Margot Dress - Ruche

I had to include one short flapper-style dress on the list. This Ruche wedding dress has a Gatsby style that's mixed with the feel of a dainty tea dress. It's perfect for a garden or summer wedding.

It has a layered skirt which adds interest and pretty flared sleeves that make the arms look great. It's from Ruche's bridal range, which includes a lot of short and affordable wedding dresses.


Priced $128.99

Somerset by Alice Temperley Beaded Dress in Dove - John Lewis

This grey dress provides the chance to wear an Alice Temperley dress to your wedding without paying the huge price tag of a Temperley bridal gown. The Alice Temperley Somerset collection for John Lewis offers a more affordable selection of Temperley clothes, including this lovely grey dress.

Grey is a little unusual for a wedding but it's a really lovely, soft option. This dress is a long flapper style with beaded embellishments.

The dropped waist gown comes with a black sash that you can use to show off your curves or wear as a scarf.

Priced £299


That's all for this week, check back next Wednesday for 1930s-style affordable wedding gowns.

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