Repro Roundup: Bernie Dexter

My first introduction to the world of reproduction vintage clothing was with Bernie Dexter.  At the time, I curated a massive true vintage closet but had the constant fear of wearing my pretties out and ruining them.  Vintage was getting expensive (especially if you live in a large city like Los Angeles) and I wanted to get more bang for my buck.  Bernie Dexter really spoke to my sense of style because the cuts of her dresses really flattered my frame, she offered a wide range of cute and romantic prints, and her clothing was made here in the USA.  I've been one of her biggest fans for several years and my love has stayed true!  Here's a roundup of some of my favorite Bernie Dexter pieces and some fun facts about her brand:


Open Book

Bernie Dexter is a pinup model turned fashion designer.  Much like most ladies who turn to reproduction vintage styles, she was looking for alternatives to wearing true vintage.  She offers her wide range of styles in sizes XS-4X.


Like A Fox
All of Bernie's dresses are made from 100% quilting cotton.  It's a breathable but sturdy cotton that holds its integrity over the years.  Almost all of her swing skirt styles come complete with side pockets too!


Kelly  

A few of her newer styles (Kelly, Lauren, Nicole) have zip front features.  This means you can wear a shirtwaist dress without worrying about button gaping.  I'm not the bustiest person, but I've always had problems with wearing anything with a button front.  Without a doubt, this is one of the biggest reasons why I keep buying these styles!

Deck The Halls

Bernie also offers holiday inspired prints.  One of my favorite dresses is her Winter Wonderland Jubilee dress (seen above) and it's available in a few different styles.  I just happen to own three... Oops!  She also has a New Year's Eve print and has offered a 4th of July inspired print as well.  I can't wait to see what she has in store for 2017!

Three Roses  

Bernie's dresses are great for everyday wear.  I wore them when Bianca was a newborn, I wear them to work, and they're even great for date night!  While I choose to dry clean my Bernie dresses, I know many ladies who either hand wash or machine wash on delicate cycles, and hang dry their dresses without incident.

Nothing Like A Saturday Night

Inspired by dresses of the mid-century era, Bernie's classic styles give you that perfect pinup/rockabilly look for the modern woman.  She also offers skirts, a line of denim, tops, matching men's clothing, and outerwear too.  I'm dying to own her new Kitten jacket... It's seriously cute!

Mine This Time

Bernie's website always has the largest selection of her dresses, but you can also find exclusive styles at Unique Vintage.  Her line can also be found at Pinup Girl Clothing, Retro Glam, That Shop, and if you're on a budget, you can find a select amount of styles for a discounted price on Zulily!

Hide In The Hydrangeas

Because I've been wearing Bernie Dexter dresses for years, you can find the entire archive of my closet HERE.  Have any questions about certain styles or fit?  Do you have a Bernie Dexter collecion of your own?  Let me know in the comments below!

xoxo

Ashley

Pumpkin Queen

Halloween is just around the corner and I have so many outfits I haven't featured here yet!  Unfortunately, I can't get out for pictures everyday so I've narrowed them down as much as I can.  Like I've mentioned before, Pinup Girl Clothing's collection this year has been downright dreamy.  Stephanie Buscema and her lovely prints have highlighted this collection and I've tried to convince myself not to wear them every single day.  So far it hasn't really worked...













Top- Bernie Dexter
Skirt- Pinup Girl Clothing
Shoes- c/o Bettie Page Shoes
Brooch- Luxulite
Petticoat- Malco Modes

I have over thirty Jenny skirts (I prefer the word collector over hoarder) and I almost always fit into an XS.  These Halloween skirts seem to run a bit larger than my liking, but I'd still consider them wearable.  If you're between sizes I'd highly recommend sizing down.  The fabric of this Jenny is stiff but comfortable, definitely looks great with or without a petticoat.  As always, it's finished with massive side pockets (which are currently carrying my phone, keys, and a snack for Bianca).  I paired it with my favorite striped top from Bernie Dexter.  I almost exclusively purchase dresses from her but her knit separates are amazing!  If you have yet to give them a try, go for it.  You won't have any regrets!

Pinup Parade in the Park is on Sunday and I seriously cannot wait!  I've had a few snags with my Disneybound but it's all come together.  I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's outfits, playing some Disney trivia, and exploring the park with my fellow ladies.  If you're planning on coming let me know in the comments below!

xoxo

Ashley

Fall For You

Finally, we've had one weekend where it actually felt like fall!  I couldn't wait to put on this Bernie Dexter dress for the occasion, it's simply perfect for the transition of seasons.  She's released a new cut called the Lauren and it's probably the most comfortable piece in my closet.  Read all about the fit and features of this new style below!













Dress- Bernie Dexter
Shoes- Pinup Girl Clothing
Underskirt- Pinup Girl Clothing
Earrings- Sparkle Lux

The Lauren is much like the famed Kelly dress with the zip front detail.  If you've never owned a dress with zip (instead of the dreadful button front) you just haven't lived!  The zipper is long enough that you can step into this dress with ease.  The sleeves are a little longer than the Kelly and the collar is much wider.  The Lauren also features a fabric tie waist (which isn't removable).  While I can jump between an XS and a S in the Kelly, the Lauren runs much larger.  I only take an XS in the Lauren, and it's even a bit roomy in the waist.  As always, Bernie's dresses are made here in the USA with 100% cotton.  While I find all of her dresses to be incredibly comfortable, the fact that I can wear a regular bra in this cut definitely makes this one my favorite.  The Lauren also comes in four other fun prints, so you can find one for every occasion!

xoxo

Ashley

Read My Lips

Since cutting my hair off last week I've had a hard time feeling comfortable in my own skin.  I know this sounds stupid but everything in my closet looks different now.  I guess I was kind of used to hiding behind my hair, which is not something I'd normally do.  I've always been a confident "lone wolf" kind of person, so the fact that I would even feel like less of myself without it is out of character.  But I'm determined to feel confident no matter what I look like, because that's exactly what confidence is.  I'm actually kind of excited to re-learn how to style myself to my liking.  And let me tell you, getting ready in the morning literally takes half the time now!











Dress- Bernie Dexter
Shoes- Modcloth
Petticoat- Malco Modes
Belt- From another dress
Bangles- Splendette

Since I've been a customer of Bernie's for years, I've come to realize what styles work for me and what don't.  The Chelsea dress is one of those styles that doesn't always work out, but this lipstick print was too cute to pass up!  The print is vibrant and the gold on the dress really shimmers.  It's a casual dress but the print really classes it up.  As always, Bernie's dresses are made from a breathable cotton, which is important for someone who lives in a constant heat.  While the straps aren't adjustable, they were the perfect length for me.  The skirt is incredibly full and has hidden side pockets.  While I normally take a size small in her dresses, I always need an extra small in the Chelsea cut.  If you're not super busty, I'd highly recommend sizing down in this dress.

Well, our house has been on the market for a little over a day and three people have already come by to see it.  It's definitely more popular than I was expecting, and I'm hoping this is a good sign to a quick sale!  We already have an amazing home in mind, so fingers crossed that everything works out like we want it to.

xoxo

Ashley

Daffodil

There's nothing like a cute outfit to cure a stressful day.  I'm currently on vacation (woohoo!) but I was in the midst of pre-vacation anxiety when I took these photos.  I like to pack waaaay ahead of time but hadn't done it yet and still had to tie other loose ends at home.  Basically, I was a mess!  So I zipped up this Bernie Dexter beauty and strapped on these Restricted Daffodil heels and instantly felt like a new woman.  I may have felt like a hot mess on the inside, but catching my reflection in this outfit relieved my irrational stress.  Next time I'm feeling stressed or anxious, I'm just going to run to my closet for a remedy!











Dress- Bernie Dexter
Shoes- c/o Restricted Shoes
Petticoat- Malco Modes
Belt- From another dress

I can't say enough wonderful things about these Daffodil shoes from Restricted.  They're cute, I can wear them all day without them hurting my feet, and the low, wide heel is ideal for a vintage inspired look.  The scalloped detail is incredibly feminine but subtle at the same time.  I love that they come in three different colors, so you can pretty much match them to any outfit.  I'm definitely eyeing the whiskey colored ones, they're the perfect neutral shoe!  Want to grab a pair of your own?  Get 25% off any of Restricted Shoes regular priced styles with my coupon code SOCALBELLE25!

xoxo

Ashley

Hide in the Hydrangeas

I've been dying to wear this dress again for ages!  This Bernie Dexter dream was the very dress that made me fall in love with her feminine designs.  I missed it in my size when it initially released, but I got my hands on one about two and a half years ago.  The only problem?  I had just given birth to Bianca and it wouldn't zip up!  Once I lost the baby weight I had it professionally altered from a halter dress to a convertible dress with straps.  It's been a long road, but I can finally wear this out.  It's perfect!











Dress- Bernie Dexter
Shoes- Chelsea Crew (similar)
Petticoat- Malco Modes
Belt- From another dress
Bracelet- Old
Lipstick- c/o Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick in Sugar Plum

This weekend was quite a whirlwind.  Friday was an unexpected date night with Kevin.  We had a nice dinner and a romantic walk to the Disney Store.  I was surprised to see their massive Beauty and the Beast section (thanks to the movie's 25th anniversary/impending live action movie) and I took advantage.  Saturday was a nice day of work, and yesterday I spent the day with my family at the pool.  Oh, I also had the pleasure of shaving Kevin's head.  He's never EVER had a shaved head so I was honored to do the deed.  It was exciting, and you know what?  He looks so good bald!  It's like I have a whole new husband, haha!

xoxo

Ashley

Kelly

Sometimes I get so caught up in my favorite dress styles that I forget to try something new.  As a longtime Bernie Dexter fan, I know which cuts work for me and which don't.  She's recently released a Kelly style, which is essentially a classic shirtwaist dress.  I've never been a fan of anything that didn't have a full back zip, so I was hesitant to try one on.  I'm glad I did though, this dress is such a winner!











Dress- Bernie Dexter (available at Unique Vintage and Pinup Girl Clothing)
Shoes- c/o Bettie Page Shoes
Brooch- Luxulite
Petticoat- Malco Modes
Hair scarf- Vintage

The best feature to the Kelly dress is the zip front.  Because of the zipper, you don't have to worry about gaping in the chest.  Buttons are a busty girl's worst enemy and this dress eliminates that problem entirely.  It's a ridiculously comfortable dress that you can zip into and go!  Like all of Bernie's other swing dresses, it's made of 100% breathable cotton and has side pockets to accompany the full gathered skirt.  I'm dying to add the Beauty Mark Kelly dress to my collection now.  I feel like this is a start to another Bernie dress obsession...

This week already feels like the start of a vacation.  I had a very busy weekend at work, so I've been taking full advantage and bumming it up here at home.  While I'm not completely off this weekend, I only work one day.  Which means I get to spend some extra time with Kevin and Bianca.  I'm super excited about it!

I wanted to just take a minute to say thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway!  I've been working tirelessly to add in all these extra Instagram entries (I have to do them one by one) so I can choose a winner.  I'm gearing up to pick one on Friday, but it may have to be Monday in case I run out of time.  Either way, I'll be announcing the winner here very soon!

xoxo

Ashley

Daisy Meadow

Since today is St. Partick's Day, I figured this would be the best time to debut this gorgeous dress!  Bernie Dexter is the queen of mid-century style and I've praised her designs (especially her Paris dress) for years.  Unique Vintage always has the best selection of her products and they seem to get them before anyone else.  This is important information because you know you want to be the first one with the pretty dress!











Dress- c/o Unique Vintage
Shoes- c/o Bettie Page
Petticoat- Malco Modes
Bracelet- Swarovski
Lipstick- c/o Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick in Soft Lilac

I have about seven or eight of these Paris dresses, but I can tell you that this one is different.  The fabric is nice and heavy but smooth and comfortable.  As someone who is constantly between sizes, I tend to size up in this style for the bust.  I'm glad I did because this dress fits like a glove!  The gathered bust also has elastic at the top so it can accommodate a range of sizes.  The skirt is super full (definitely twirl-worthy) and has side pockets.  It's the perfect statement piece for this fun holiday and the spring season ahead!

This weekend is suprisingly work-free so I'm trying to figure out something fun to do with the family.  I've been dying to go to the San Diego Wild Animal Park because Bianca loves all the animals.  I could go to the Los Angeles or Santa Barbara Zoo, but I'm strongly against keeping wild animals in captivity and I want to teach Bianca to respect them.  San Diego is a good 2-4 hours away (depending on traffic) so it's definitely a trip!  I don't know if we'll be able to make it this weekend, but fingers crossed we can.  I just can't wait to see Bianca's face when she sees an elephant in real life!

xoxo

Ashley