50's Fashion and Beauty

True Vintage Fashion Finds: Betty Barclay

Bon jour, mes amis! I’m Retro Dee and Welcome to True Vintage Fashion Finds!

In this section, I’ll be sharing some of my true vintage fashion finds from my closet. Whether you’re a fellow vintage clothing enthusiast or not, I hope you enjoy them.

I’ve been shopping for vintage 1950’s era clothing for about 3 years now. There’s a lot more to it than meets the eye. There are literally thousands of shops to choose from online that offer authentic vintage clothing in various conditions and prices. It’s definitely an on-going search, but it’s fun.

Today I’ll be showing off one of my favorite dresses. It’s a red and white gingham button-up dress by Betty Barclay. I estimate this dress to be from the late 1950’s, possibly early 60’s by the design of the label.

I’ve worn this dress twice now. The first time was at Peggy Sue’s Cruise in 2019 where I got tons of compliments, all day long.

In my circa 1950’s Betty Barclay dress after Peggy Sue’s Cruise 2019 (Too bad the car behind me isn’t classic. Boo.) Shoes are by Chase and Chloe, my favorite retro-inspired shoe brand.

The second time I wore it was this past 4th of July. It was the perfect dress for a Summer’s day. I never left our property, but wearing this dress made our family cookout and sitting on the porch swing that day all that more festive.

I was happy to wear my vintage ca. 1950’s Betty Barclay gingham dress again this Summer.

The perfect dress for a porch swing!

What makes this dress so special are several things. The classic red and white gingham print, yes… but also the red and white buttons, the collar, the drop waist, and the just-full-enough skirt as well. But what I like the best about it is the way it fits me, almost like it was made for me. Finding a true vintage dress like this at a good price, in excellent condition is truly a great find!

L: Betty Barclay dress label. R: Close up of the red and white buttons.

Betty Barclay goes as far back as the 1940’s and was popular with young ladies back in the Best Era Ever. With all the cute styles that are so indicative to the 1950’s and 60’s era, it’s not hard to see why this label is so popular with vintage clothing collectors today. Personally, I can’t wait to find another Betty Barclay to add to my collection. Here are a couple of the many vintage ads you’ll find on the internet featuring Betty Barclay dresses.

Betty Barclay ad, 1955.

Betty Barclay ad, 1956.

Thank you for reading this post! For more true vintage dresses and outfits, stay tuned and please follow Retro Dee’s Guide to the Best Era Ever here on WordPress.

You can also follow Retro Dee on Twitter @RealRetroDee and Instagram @mariepascal82


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