Retro Floral Revival

Vintage verdant

March 1, 2021

Styled and Photographed by Drewe and Kate, Intro by Nina Bays Cournoyer,

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It’s not often that we look into our kitchen cupboards for style advice, but this month that’s exactly what we did. Pushing aside those Le Creuset collections and various Williams Sonoma gadgets, we come upon America’s grandmama of cookware, CorningWare.

Best known for its floral patterns (namely the cornflower blue-and-white motif), these staple serving dishes came into popularity in the late 1960s and could very well have been the inspiration for that big-blossom wallpaper that overtook your grandparents’ kitchen.

But don’t worry, you don’t have to go that far to bring the retro garden vibe to your wardrobe. Instead, look for delicate patterns in muted shades of blue (see the beloved cornflower!), plus pops of yellow (insider tip – This jives nicely with Pantone’s 2021 color of the year: Illuminating). Early spring hemlines are demure and echo petal-like sentiments of ruffles or pleats.

A darling of the pantry, vintage CorningWare pieces remind us that be it food or fashion, there is always elegance in simplicity. World, take note.

1950s pale yellow tulle DRESS, 1950s CHOKER with flowers, lavender HEADPIECE, and lavender CLUTCH, all available from Jess James + Co.

1950s baby-blue strapless prom DRESS, leather mesh GLOVES, 1950s floral rhinestone NECKLACE, and 1950s oversized flower earrings, all available from Jess James + Co.