July
17th 1955, a park straight out of a fairytale opens up to the public and there
has never been anything else quite like it since. Life-size spinning tea cups,
frosted tip mountains, trains that take you back in time. A park for everyone
to enjoy, whether you were a child or just wanted to act like one. Walt Disney
had really outdone himself.
Disneyland;
the happiest place on earth, where kids come to hop a flying pirate ship to fly
around Neverland or soar on a sled through the great alps barely escaping the
clutches of the abominable snowman on Matterhorn. Disneyland is where memories
are made, money is spent, and children's tears are shed. When thinking of this
magical place many would think that is only for children, but you are wrong my
friend, Disneyland is far better as an adult. Staying in a hotel just walking
distance from the park, mid afternoon cocktails, and incredible food. It’s a
small town girls version of Vegas. Well sort of. It’s my much preferred version
of Vegas personally, not as many hooligans, at least the hooligans are more
incognito. What time is the best time to go to the happiest place on earth ,
you ask? Dapper Day Weekend, Obviously!
For
those of you who don’t know Dapper Day is the best event to attend if you are a
vintage lover. It is a convention/ expo and outing that is hosted within the
Disneyland Hotel and the two parks, in California at least. Dapper Day is
hosted not only in the Original Disneyland, it’s held in Walt Disney World and
Disneyland Paris. The event itself started in 2011 at the Original Disneyland
as a way to broadcast true and repro vintage
style. It was a way to bring back
the feeling or yesteryear in the park, with a quirky twist. The event at
Disneyland is currently occurring twice a year in spring and fall. They do host
other events at LA museums, to continue on the fun, and bringing our historic
style with a twist to the public. I recommend checking out their website for
more details about the outings themselves, cool merch, and what other events they
host.
Website link: http://dapperday.com/
I have been lucky enough to attend at least five of the
Disneyland events split between the spring and fall outing. I started going
back in spring of 2016, and after that first outing I was hooked. I honestly
couldn’t say I have ever been to anything that speaks to who I am so clearly.
It’s an event that combines me two favourite things, Disneyland and Vintage
clothing. How wonderful, right?!?! You
just feel like you take a step back into the past when Disneyland first opened
and everything was new and exciting. Woman in dresses and crinolines squeezing
into the cars for the rides and laughing trying to make sure their skirts don’t
fly up. Men wearing tailored pants , pressed shirts, and occasionally hats;
parading their dates around, or causing chaos with the gang. It seemed to be a
wonderful time in the parks; dapper day seems to recreate those moments for the
modern man and woman.
Flash
forward to Spring of 2018 and this bookworm was in my happy place parading
around the park. Sadly the worst happened, I got terrible ill with the flu. All
morning I spent getting ready in my first look, yellow tea length dress,
mustard polka dots, and a hat. Looked exactly how I wanted to look, down to the
very last detail, but on the inside the worse was setting in. Hoping in the
car, super excited to be headed to the happiest place on earth, the chills
kicked in, clammy hands and the tonsil growing in size; my body was slowly dwindling.
By the time we parked at the hotel the aches were on full force and I was
barely able to stop myself from crying. This is exactly what I didn’t want to
happen. Either way I was not missing my trip, after getting checked in we
hopped on the shuttle and made our way to the expo.
The
expo is amazing, shopping galore, from the Dapper Day merchandise to true
vintage booths, if didn’t pay attention you could easily spend all your money.
The difference between this year and many of the other trips was the fact that
I had friends. You are probably wondering, “ what do you mean you didn’t have
friends before?” Well honestly I didn’t know a lot of people in the vintage
scene until this year. Strange right? Considering I lived in Southern
California for the last six years. Since I have been back up in bay area I
finally found my niche, my hair game got better, my closet got larger and I
became the Miss Bettie Bookworm you see today. Social media helped me connect
with others in the world of vintage fashion, then after going to a few of the
dapper events I started to meet people. So when I attended this year I didn’t
just do a lot of shopping, I get a hell of a lot of hugs. Sorry if I ended up
getting anyone sick, so not my intention, but I should could wait to say hello.
My partner in crime and I decided to spend more time walking to all our vendor
friends, talking to fellow dapper attendees and listening to the wonderful
Dandy Wellington instead of spending all the money. Despite slowly dying inside
it was my the best expo event II have ever experienced, thanks to all my
fantastic friends.
After
a stop at Trader Sam’s for one drink, CVS( drug store) trip to pick up more
cold and flu meds, and a night in the bath trying to get my fever down; I
somehow made it to day two. Let’s just say I was feeling way way worse than the
day before, the flu hit me like a bag of bricks and I was barely standing up
straight. The world was a foggy mess of anything I could take to try to make
myself feel better. My best friend was the kindest woman and brought my some
breakfast in bed so I could try to get up and functioning. Let just say it was
pure will of force that I got my sick self up and put together for the day.
Somehow, by the grace of all those fashionable ladies that came before us we
looked fabulous. My bestie and I crushed it, out of the ballpark, into space
and beyond. Take in mind, this was after dealing with me being sick , hotel
issues, and completely forgetting all of our detail pieces for the day in
Ventura (1.5 hr north of Disneyland). Thanks to her wonderful daughter we were
able to get our accessories for the day. A huge thank you to theraflu for
giving me the strength to not only do my own hair and makeup, but also the hair
of my best friend. Let’s just say that the Tweedles from Alice and Wonderland
never looked so darn good. Down to the very last pin , we looked like Tweedle
Dee and Dum would have looked if they were fine, feminine 1940s woman.
Pinstripe pussy bow blouses, beaded vintage ties, fascinators, red suspender,
and black trousers made the look classy and very extra. What can I say, when we
have an image of a look in our head we sure as hell make it happen.
Sunday
was a haze to be honest. In most of the photos I either took or had taken of me
I looked alright, but my eyes were glossy, and my demeanour wasn’t the most
approachable. I tried my hardest to not have resting B***h face I promise. I
ended up getting really sick in one of the bathrooms at the park, and losing
one of my pins in the toilet. Luckily I had just flushed and was pulling myself
together before I had to fish it out. Yes people I wasn’t going to lose that
vintage pin in the toilet forever, don’t worry I washed and sanitised myself
and the pin. After that it was kind of a series of unfortunate events, Indiana
Jones broke down, I could eat any of the Disney snacks I wanted, and the dinner
I had in the park I couldn’t stomach. But a huge plus was that I had the
chance to spend time with my favourite cook
Miss Semi Sweet. my friend worked her magic and was able to add Miss Semi to
our dinner reservations, and despite me not being able to eat anything I felt
full of joy.
When
I caught my second wind I powered through the rest of the day, hoping on the
rides that I love, attempting to sing along to the songs and staying upright. I
even faced the crowd to watch the Pixar Fest fireworks and dance along to COCO.
No matter how sick I am Disneyland and its magic will always make it better. I
was happy to see all my favourite people, even making new friends along the way.
I got to spend a couple bucks on some gifts for myself at the park and that was
the end of the Dapper Day adventure. I somehow got myself unpinned, and pack in
bed. I successfully made it to the end. I even woke up the next day, without a
voice, trying to go back to the park. I didn’t want to leave thinking I missed
out on anything because I was sick. Well, I didn't make it back to the park but
I sure tried to convince my best friend that I was OK enough to go back.
I
honestly suggest that if you are in California and you have the opportunity to
attend the Dapper Day events you should. Even if you don’t dress up, or dress
vintage. You will love just being apart of the fun. I for one plan on going for
more, I’ll probably even be there in Fall 2018, new outfits, details and hair.
I really hope to see everyone there, and if you see me don’t hesitate to say
hello. Let's hope next time I won’t be sick. Oh, by the way, my friend and I
have been featured in some of the Official Dapper Day events photos! Go check
them out! The photographers attend the event are fabulous, and you will get a
chance to more of the wonderful looks. Maybe it will spark inspiration for you
for when you attend. I can not wait for the next time I am down at the event
and seeing huge smiles in the happiest place on earth.
Much Love
Stephanie - Miss Bettie Bookworm
Instagram: @missbettiebookworm
Blog: Miss Bettie Bookworm
Facebook: Miss Bettie Bookworm
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