Vintage Bib Dresses are one of my ultimate fashion faves. These playful polyester pieces have been in my wardrobe for years, and I never get bored of mixing and matching them with different tights, leggings, and skirts. I love the look of the bib dress- it became popular in the 1960's during the edwardian revival (they were originally from the Edwardian time-period) they flowed into the 70s and even made a few appearances in the 80s. Sometimes the bib dress came in the classic babydoll shape (like in the green and blue dresses above) with a sash to tie around the empire waist. Other times it came adorned with lace, cameos or buttons. Whatever your style- you can cater the bib dress look to you. Make it a little edgier by pairing it with a leather belt, jacket and studded jewelry (a cool juxtaposition), or soften up further with floral tights, candy colored necklaces and a lace headband. Although bib dresses are by their nature very feminine, there are tons of different ways to dress them up! And the funny thing is- I have seen bibs cropping up in different modern styles, just like other fashion trends in history- the bib is cyclical, and they are making their comeback!
Blue bib dress- Etsy.com, Owl necklace- Nicole Rae Styer, Bow- Clothes in the Past Lane, Leggings- Imyourpresent, Shoes- Irregular choice
Dress- Etsy, headband- Clothes in the Past Lane, Necklace and ring- forever21, Tights- Urbanoutfitters
This bib dress is one of my favorites. It was upcycled by a girl on etsy who added the word "Kiss" on the skirt, along with a little heart on the back left shoulder and "Love" across the empire waist. The mint color and lace pairing make it a really romantic piece that goes great with a pair of floral tights.
Dress: Goodwill, Hair Wreath: Etsy, Belt: Francesca's, Tights: JCPenny
This pink bib dress was a great find at Goodwill! I cut up the sleeves and the hem to make it a little more modern and flattering- it's not perfect, but works just fine for me! :)
Hat-H&M, Dress- Etsy, Tights- Welovecolors.com
You've probably noticed that in general, I like to pair pastel colored bib dresses with floral tights or leggings on the bottom. Solid colored bib dresses however, I love to color block and match with contrasting colors. I loved doing the "not quite primary colors" with this outfit. Yellow, orange, and green coordinate with each other similar to red, yellow, and blue. They are different hues but are in similar position to each other on the color wheel so both sets of colors contrast nicely!
I love the over-the-top laciness (basically tackiness) of this bib dress. And how better to pair it then with blue and mustard for a full set of primary colors?! <3
I hope you enjoyed one of crazy fashion favorites! Have I inspired you to try out the bib style for yourself? It's so fun and versatile, you won't regret it! Another great thing about these dresses is that the high neck makes them comfy and cozy for cooler temperatures (so there is an upside to the "unbreathable" nature of polyester??) So I know I'll be bringing mine out more as the winter approaches!
xo