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Bewitched by a Vintage Dress

TV Guide Collage where Sherry Dryja of Petite Over 40 emulates a TV Guide cover from the 1970s of Elizabeth Montgomery in her role as Samantha from Bewitched. Both are wearing bright-patterned 60s/70s style dresses with blue-colored tights and bright-colored shoes.

Who watched Elizabeth Montgomery play Samantha Stephens on Bewitched? Anybody else watch reruns of that show even today? (I do! I do!)

Oh, how I dreamed of being a witch when I was a kid! I mean, who wouldn’t want to be able to clean their house with a twitch of the nose? Plus, the style of the show–both the costumes and the stage sets–are from a design era that I love to this day.

This week’s outfit is inspired by that beloved show and its bewitching main character.

TV Guide Collage where Sherry Dryja of Petite Over 40 emulates a TV Guide cover from the 1970s of Elizabeth Montgomery in her role as Samantha from Bewitched. Both are wearing bright-patterned 60s/70s style dresses with blue-colored tights and bright-colored shoes.

I just can’t get enough of the vintage dress I call Sunshine because of its sunny design. I got it from Suzanne Carillo’s Etsy shop and I wear it at least once a week from spring to fall. It reminds me so much of Samantha’s style that my nose starts twitching and–what was that? Did the couch just move?

No–it was just me changing styles with a snap of my fingers.
Have a look!

Pay no attention to the penguin in the background of that video.
He was just there to provide style input.
He said he liked the last outfit best.

In case the video moved a little too quickly, below are some photos I took in my sunshine dress while visiting Samantha at her home in the 1960s. The bow on the front and the rickrack on the neckline and shoulders are enchanting touches.

Sunshine with Blue Tights and a Matching Toucan

When in Rome…. If you’re in Samantha Stephens’ house, you know something wacky is bound to happen. Why not conjure up a wacky cartoon toucan that happens to match my outfit?

Vintage 1960s dress styled with teal tights, vegan shoes, and a matching cartoon toucan. The background photo is a still of Samantha Stephens' living room from the show Bewitched.

My orange and teal sneakers are pretty magical all on their own. They’re vegan and eco, made from PET fabric from recycled plastic bottles. I bought them last year at Seattle’s own eco-boutique, Drizzle & Shine. You can get them online here if you don’t live in Seattle.

Do Witches Get Hot Flashes?

All that magic was making me steamy! So I changed out of the leggings, added some sandals and held my hair up until the hot flash subsided.

Vintage 1960s dress styled with black Dansko sandals. The background photo is a still of Samantha Stephens' living room from the show Bewitched.
Our penguin friend thought it was too hot too. He is a penguin, after all! He should be at the South Pole, not in a fake house in California!

Sunshine Under a Denim Jacket

On days when the sun is hiding behind clouds, I layer this dress with tights and a denim jacket. You can see in the photo below how I styled it for a cool, cloudy day of thrift shopping with my blogger buds in Vancouver last month.

A group of over-40 fashion bloggers pose for a photo together.
The Fab Five Fashion Bloggers from left to right: Suzanne, Mel, yours truly, Sue, and Patti.

And, in case you didn’t see it last week, here’s the dress in thrift shopping action:

Below might give you a better look at how I layer this dress for cooler days. I’m standing still and there’s no (adorable) crossbody purse to cover up half the design.

Vintage 1960s dress styled with black leggings, flats, and a denim jacket.

The green screen behind me in the picture above had a role in transporting me to the Bewitched house in the quick-change video. I didn’t edit the green screen out of that photo so you could get a sneak peek into some of my wily…er, magical…ways.

I Dream of…Cute Dresses

Finally, one last pic before I do some magic and return to the present day.

Hey, wait! What am I doing with my arms!
And where’d that genie cat come from???
Oops! Wrong show!

Vintage 1960s dress styled with black Dansko sandals and a cartoon cat. The background photo is a still of Samantha Stephens' living room from the show Bewitched.

Outfit Details

Vintage Sunshine Dress from Suzanne Carillo’s Etsy shop.
Visit her shop for more bewitching vintage finds here.

Teal tights from Amazon. Available here.

Nae Re-Bottle orange and teal vegan sneakers.
Available at Drizzle & Shine in Seattle or online here.

Black Dansko sandals from last summer. Similar here.

Black leggings by American Apparel. Similar here.

Black Geox flats from last summer. Similar here.

Vegan black crossbody purse by Crystalynkae.
Available at Drizzle & Shine in Seattle or online here.


Linking up to the lovely Patti’s Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style.


Affiliate link disclaimer: Please note, some of the items linked above may be affiliated with companies I am associated with. By purchasing from these stores, I receive a small commission and you support the work I do here. Thank you for your support! 

About Author

Freelance writer about food and fashion. Obsessed genealogist and history nerd. New to sewing. Love all dogs and one hubby. Seattle

(18) Comments

  1. […] Dryja, also known as Petite Over 40, was thought missing from the blogosphere. Readers last saw her travel through time to practice outfit magic with a glittery puffin and a renegade penguin on the set of the 1960s hit tv show Bewitched. With […]

  2. Isn’t that Serena, Samantha’s wilder twin sister?

  3. Lovely wear, Sherry!
    The design looks simply wow 🙂
    xo
    https://www.thestylease.com/

  4. AH, hahahahaha. I loved I Dream of Jeannie too. BUT…Bewitched was my favourite. I think I actually thought I could get the hang of making magic just by wiggling my nose!

    Super fun post Sherry! I know these are a ton of work, but I hope you keep them coming!

  5. loved the post. so cute and very creative!

    Rena
    http://www.finewhateverblog.com

    1. Thank you, Rena! That means a lot to me!

  6. Marilee Gramith says:

    You are so darn cute in the video!! The dress honestly looks like an item you bought recently from a lovely friend and designer, at a favorite Seattle boutique!! Suzanne really knows what kinds of items will catch the creative eye. That print is all at once a colorful graphic and what used to be referred to as Op Art. Wait a minute is this the Marimeko print you referred to in an email???
    The location of the video has me pondering what crazy old design photo you ferreted out. What the heck is that little cage on the coffee table? Is it a dog kennel? Bravo for a great little production and YES!! , a nose twitch cleaning would be quite lovely!

    1. Jude, you’re right that Suzanne knows how to pick vintage pieces. Having shopped with her at thrift shops, sometimes I think those pieces just jump into her hands! She’s like a vintage magnet!

      This dress isn’t a Marimekko, though I do love that brand and their colorful patterns. There’s a shop in Pike Place Market–I think you and I went there when you visited?–that sells all Marimekko stuff, even fabric! I may have to stop in to buy fabric for a sewing project. It’s such a fun place!

      You’re going to giggle when I tell you where I filmed my video. I did it right here in the condo! But I used a still photo from the Bewitched house as the backdrop when I edited the video. That’s why you see a cage on the coffee table. And, if you look just behind my legs, there’s a penguin running toward the dining room! There must have been an episode where a penguin popped into the Stephens’ living room in a cage and he somehow got loose!

      Let’s work on figuring out how to twitch our noses and make the house get clean. I could really use that right now as I get ready for my in-laws to visit! Ha ha!

      Hugs,
      Sherry

  7. You are so dang cute and creative! I used to love watching Bewitched when I was a kid. I still wish I could just wiggle my nose and have the house clean! Ha, ha. Love the dress and all the ways you styled it. Love your video! – Amy
    http://stylingrannymama.com/

    1. Wouldn’t that be the best, Amy? To wiggle your nose and the house is cleaned? I’d even take the ability to speed it up so it gets done more quickly. In some ways, it just goes to show how much work a housewife has to do!

      Thank you for your kind comments! I hope to continue being inspired on the video front and to get better at making them!

      – Sherry

  8. What a fun post!

    Your photoshopping and video skills are very impressive. I had to watch the video again it is so well done.

    I watched both I Dream of Jeannie and Bewitched non-stop when I was a kid. Life was so much simpler then.

    Thanks for the shout-outs : P

    Suzanne
    http://www.suzannecarillo.com

    1. Thanks, Suzanne! There will be more shout-outs in the future as I continue wearing the clothes and shoes I’ve gotten from you and come up with fun ways to talk about them. And since the clothes you offer are so fun themselves, there will ALWAYS be fun ways to talk about them. 🙂

      – Sherry

  9. sandypatti says:

    What a brilliant post, Sherry! Your production skills are top-notch, and your nostalgia for those great 60’s dresses is shared. Love the toucan – a new daily accessory I think. Thanks for linking a pic of your blogger buds, it’s lovely to see. xox

    -Patti
    http://notdeadyetstyle.com

    1. Thank you, Patti! I do think toucans are ready to make a fashion statement. 😀

      My apologies for not adding the link-up link until just a few minutes ago. It’s been a hectic day but now it’s all set!

      Hugs,
      Sherry

  10. That is an adorable dress. I love it with the tights and sneakers.
    P.S. I loved Samantha much more then Jeannie:)

    1. Thank you, Susan! I’m with you on the Samantha/Jeannie debate. Of course, we can love both, but I always thought Bewitched was just better somehow.

  11. Sherry, this post is a scream! Your video is amazing – from the story to the technique. I loved Bewitched too, and I Dream of Jeanie, so I really appreciate this remake. The dress is pretty fantastic – count on Suzanne to have all the treasures. Thanks for this smile to start my day!

    1. It gives me smiles to know this post gave you smiles, Mel! ❤️

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