Grace in a Golden Dress

Ceil Chapman dress from Etsy store BabesinVintageland One of my long-time favourite Hitchcock movies is Rear Window. I have always found it so fascinating, watching with James Stewart the minutiae of all his neighbour’s lives, and the fact that all the action takes place in Stewart’s apartment. Of course Grace Kelly is also mesmerising.

Out of all her costumes in the film, I particularly love the golden yellow flower print dress. It reminds me of the golden wattle blossom, Australia’s official national floral emblem, and of glorious spring and summer days when the trees blooms.

Grace Kelly’s costumes were designed by the wonderfully talented Edith Head. Last year some of the original sketches, including one of this very dress, were sold at auction at Christie’s. The sketch (right) shows her carrying a straw sunhat, although it is not seen in the film. The expected price was £5,000–£7,000!

I often search on Etsy for vintage dresses like it, and was thrilled one day to actually find one. But my hopes were dashed when I saw that the dress was much tinier than I am (sans squishifying elastic girdles!). Someone else has since purchased this gorgeous 1950s Ceil Chapman dress. As for me, I must dream of finding another bigger one.