It all started with a side room in a little shop in Mahone Bay, NS. We had a
family day out and were browsing around and there they wereโฆracks of vintage
clothes. We saw shoes, coats, dressesโฆ and while my husband wasnโt particularly
keen on the clothing, my daughters and I were in heaven. We ooohed and aaaahed
over several items, and in particular, a beautiful wedding dress.
It was way too small for any of us, and my daughters were wayyy too young to
think about wedding dresses (and still are!) but I took a picture of it anyway,
that doesnโt do it justice. The ivory satin and the lace were just stunning. I
knew then that someday it would make its way into a book. But I didnโt know
when, or how.
But I finally found the right moment. Itโs
Abbyโs
wedding dress in
TREASURE ON LILAC LANE (Oct 28). And it started my
fascination with searching for vintage clothing for my characters to wear for
her big day, including the heroine, Jess, who is Abbyโs Maid of Honor. After
all, in
THE
HOUSE ON BLACKBERRY HILL, Abby inherits her great-auntโs house and with it a
treasure trove of antique clothing. It only made sense for her big day to take
advantage of that.
It was so much fun looking at all the pretty things!
I have a real love for the vintage look, and so does one of my girls. She loves
the flapper look from the 20โs, and has a black fringe dress that she wears with
heels. She also looks really great in 40โs and 50โs styles, with gathered skirts
and skinny waists and red lips. Me? Iโm particular to the early 1900โs, before
WWI, with the tucked blouses and long skirts. Season One of
Downton
Abbey had me in heaven!
All told, I came up with some really fun pics that gave me visual inspiration,
and pinned them on my Pinterest page. Click the links to check them out!
Hereโs a
40โs fancy dressโฆeven my husband thinks this one is pretty!
This one is what I chose for
Jessโs
bridesmaid dress. With her long, dark curls I figured sheโd be stunning.
Plus I love navy. I donโt know why, but I do.
But I think the favorite one is this
evening
dress. Maybe itโs because red is my favorite color, but this is just so
classy and glamorous! I also think the neckline is simply MADE for fabulous jewelry.
And letโs not forget jewelry!
This
was what I had in mind for Jess to wear with her dress.
What about you? Do you like the vintage look, and if so, what time period?
About the Author
A busy wife and mother of three (2 daughters and the family dog), Donna Alward
believes hers is the best job in the world: a combination of stay-at-home mom
and romance novelist.
An avid reader since childhood, Donna always made up her own stories. She
completed her Arts Degree in English Literature in 1994, but it wasn't until
2001 that she penned her first full-length novel, and found herself hooked on
writing romance. In 2006 she sold her first manuscript.
Donna loves being back on the East Coast of Canada after nearly 12 years in
Alberta where her Harlequin career began, writing about cowboys and the west.
Donna's debut Romance, Hired by the Cowboy, was awarded the Booksellers Best
Award in 2008 for Best Traditional Romance. Donna loves to hear from readers;
you can contact her through her website or visit her facebook page, or through
her publisher.
About TREASURE ON LILAC LANE
Sometimes the journey home is its own reward.
Once upon a time, Rick Sullivan had a promising future. One of Jewell Cove's
star athletes and reigning heartthrobs, he joined the Marines and had the world
in the palm of his hand...until it all came crashing down. His honorable
discharge doesn't make him the hometown hero everyone wants him to be, and
there's little reprieve from the demons that haunt him at night. Still, even
though it seems that all hope is gone, fate has something else in store...
Just hearing Rick's name is enough to give Jess Collins a headache. Years ago,
they'd been close. Now she barely knows the man Rick has become since his return
from service...then again, Jess isn't that same young, naรฏve girl anymore
either. And while there's a powerful attraction between them--one that yields a
greater passion than Jess could have ever imagined--both are wary about opening
their hearts to love...and loss.
But happy endings don't come easily when long-buried secrets insist on rising to
the surface. Will their pasts tear them apart--or can love find a way to heal
them both?
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