February 4, 2014

To parents of little girls who love wearing poodle skirts


Please always ensure that you encourage and support them in doing so, because...


Halloween 1991, wearing my pink poodle skirt for the second year in a row


Little girls (and boys) who show an interest in old school clothing as a child sometimes grow up to be vintage fashionistas (or fashionistos) with an unending love of, and appreciation for, the history of the decades they adore sporting the clothing of, and who...



{You may remember this poodle skirt filled photo from last December, when it first appeared here in this post.}


Find, as I do everyday of my life, that they feel more comfortable, confident, beautiful, and happy in clothing styles from decades long gone.

They are not odd for wanting to eschew some or all modern fashions, or for embracing elements of the past. Children, as with adults, often have very distinct sartorial voices of their own, and these should never be silenced.

While some kids may just want to emulate the cast of Grease, West Side Story, Dancing in the Rain, or any number of other classic Hollywood films that we show to children once they're old enough, and thus may lose interest in vintage fashions as quickly as they do the hit pop song of the week, there is a handful out there who will not – particularly if you help make their decision to wear yesteryear styles a completely positive one.

Like many skills and traits, I believe that a passion for vintage fashion often begins very early on in life, and should be nurtured if spotted. As a little girl, I asked her if she could and my mother very sweetly sewed me the adorable pink and white gingham poodle skirt pictured above for Halloween, which  I wore around the house after school most days for at least three years straight after that night back in 1991.

My mom never said anything against me doing so, and I cannot begin to thank her enough for this (one harsh word from anybody in my life back then, as I was an incredibly sensitive child, could potentially have discouraged me to the point where, unthinkably now, I abandoned this important love).

As the years passed and I read every historical fashion centred book having to do with early and mid-twentieth century in both my school and town's public library, my passion for vintage fashion only intensified. By the time I hit high school, though I did sometimes wear modern fashions, my heart lay on the side of my closet which was slowly amassing a collection of 1940s and 50s pieces culled (back in those days usually just for a few dollars at most) from local second hand shops and yard sales.

Then, as now, my mother says that she thinks it's awesome that I wear vintage and don't look, from a wardrobe standpoint, like most people you see everyday. As with many of us, I don't dress the way I do to intentionally stand out, it's simply a by-product of appearing so different from the vast majority of folks in today's society. In dressing as I do, I bring an immeasurable amount of happiness into my life (a point I talked in much greater detail about in this post).

The clothing that I don has a soul. It tells a story, not only of my own wardrobe choices, but of a very different, yet not actually all that distant, time in our shared human past. I cannot fathom at this point my life, a world in which I didn't wear vintage (or repro or vintage appropriate clothing) nearly all the time.

It is so much a part of who I am, and how I see myself. It bolsters my self-confidence (which I see as being very important for someone like me who is incredibly shy, introverted, and has some self-esteem issues), makes getting dressed a phenomenal joy, and doesn't harm a fly. There is nothing wrong with anybody of any age wanting to, and actually, wearing vintage styles or adding elements of the past to their modern day world.

I've always considered myself very lucky actually. The universe does not tap everyone to be a vintage lover, yet it did so with me, and I don't take that honour lightly. I cherish the fact that I wear, try to preserve (a point that Hannah from Just Peachy, Darling is very actively engaged in as well, and which this post was written in part to help celebrate), and get to share my passion for the past with other, be they cut from the same (vintage) cloth or otherwise.

So mothers and fathers of the world, if you child - whether they're a girl or a boy - seems interested in wearing and/or studying the fashions of the past, pat them on back, tell them you love what they're wearing, and sew them some repro or take them to your newest vintage store on the double.

I promise you, they'll grow up to thank you for it - especially if they're part of the next generation of full-time vintage clothing wearers for whom collecting, preserving and sporting yesteryear fashions is as natural as drawing breath.

54 comments:

  1. Aww Jessica, what a lovely post! I had no idea you used to be blonde, how cute you looked in your pink and white skirt! You are spot on with taste sometimes coming fully formed. My middle daughter would NOT wear dungarees without a massive fight and always favoured pink and dresses. She rarely wears trousers even now!

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    1. Hi sweet Philippa, I was the same way - pink, dresses, skirts, anything girly-girl and that really hasn't changed for me since I was little. Yeppers, I was Nordic blonde (this image is a scan of a faded film photo from an old family album and it makes my hair look even darker than it was back then) until about puberty, then my natural coloured turned a terribly dull "dishwater" blonde-brown and didn't do me any favours so I started colouring it (I tried many shades, but always returned to a red or warm auburn, as I just love colours in that family so much and really feel like they're "me").

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  2. Hi Jessica. What an adorable post and, yes, you too look adorable in a poodle skirt. I grew up with parents who favoured beautiful clothes for life, not just for the season, so we spent many a happy day finding gems made of gorgeous silks, wools and tweeds. As a teenager, I went off track a little and hit the high street for cheap and cheerful rags made in China. However, I only felt like me if something old and beautiful was somewhere on my body. Now I buy mainly vintage or amazingly crafted classics. Just like you, I derive a huge amount of pleasure from this and looove getting dressed. My little 6 year old loves my dresses and is beginning to design her own dresses made out of vintage fabrics. I so hope that she will keep appreciating clothes with a story, a heart and with fabulous craftsmanship. I dread the thought of sinking my money into sweatshop trash when she is a teenager. No doubt there will be some of it, but I hope she will have the confidence to turn up in an amazing vintage number when all her friends go dancing in bodycon Lycra.

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    1. Hi Sascha, thank you very much for your wonderful comment. It is so encouraging to know that your sweet little daughter is already developing a passion for dresses, designing her own clothes (very impressive for someone so young), and vintage fabrics. History relies on each new generation to keep its memory, importance and artifacts (and styles) alive, and I sense that your daughter will definitely be a custodian and curator of the past throughout her life.

      ♥ Jessica

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  3. How lovely that your mum made you the poodle skirt. I agree that it is important to encourage children to express themselves and one way to do it is through clothes. This was an interesting read.

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  4. Hey Jessica -- long time lurker. I just wanted to add a comment about your blog makeover. I love it, and it's very well put together and spacious, but I am not a fan of only one blog post on the front page. I often don't check blogs every day, and can't tell if I'm caught up to date without a quick glance at the next post. But my computer's slow enough (and hate graphics the stupid thing) that it's not worth my while to click on to the next page just to find out that I've read it.

    I could be the only person having problems with this, but I figured I'd give you the feedback, so that you can see what other people think.

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    1. Hi Dea, thank you very much for your commend and feedback about CV's new design. I'm head-over-heels about it and really happy to know it's finding favour with my wonderful readers as well. I sincerely appreciate your feedback and certainly understand where you're coming from. I wanted to streamline my blog's appearance and felt that having multiple posts detracted from that effort, which is why I set it as one post per page.

      I'm going to ask several fellow blogging friends what they think regarding the number of posts on the front page, as I do want to make sure that most people at least are happy with the number.

      Some things can help you stay abreast of all of Chronically Vintage's new posts are:

      -Follow CV by email (the signup box to do so is on the right hand sidebar here) so that each new post gets delivered to your email inbox.

      -Follow CV with Bloglovin' or your favourite feedreader. Here's the the link to follow CV with Bloglovin' http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/905834/chronically-vintage-blog

      -Follow CV on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ChronicallyVintage and/or Twitter https://twitter.com/JessicaCangiano, where I nearly always post an announcement of each new blog post.

      -Check the archives here on the lower right hand sidebar, where you'll see all the posts listed for the month that we're currently in (just click on any other month to see previous posts for it).

      Again, I'll pole some folks as see how they feel about the number of posts on each page. You're the first to mention this so far, but others might be thinking the same and I'd certainly like to know and take action if such is the case.

      Thank you again & have a terrific day,
      ♥ Jessica

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    2. I never thought about following by email! I will do so -- thanks!

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    3. You're very welcome, Dea. I use Bloglovin' myself, but husband is very fond of following blogs by email, as he finds it helps ensure that he's reminded to read each new post because it's sitting right there in his inbox.

      Thank you very much for wanting to stay abreast of all the fun vintage happenings here, I sincerely appreciate it.

      ♥ Jessica

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  5. I am a firm believer in allowing your kids to express themselves creatively, period. My little girl has never dressed like everyone else since she was about two and could dress herself. I hope she always stays unique. Our only rules are that it cover what should be covered and be appropriate (no shorts with bare legs in January, lol), but anything that fits she can wear and does. I have to say that she's surprised us more than once, but it's usually in a good way.

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  6. oh jessica! what a heartwarming, lovely post!
    and this cute childhood photo of you and your siblings is sooo adorable. tons of hugs for you my dear <3

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  7. I didnt start really wearing vintage until this year at the relatively late age of 35. I did wear it in high school when it was cheap option but I wore a lot of 60s hippie stuff and not hte 1930s looks I love today BUT I do think my late father instilled my vintage love. He introduced me to Fred Astaire and he had a love of kitschy collectables that I definitely have inherited
    retro rover

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  8. Wonderful post Jessica! I dressed like a "greaser" in high school. That's what we called it before rockabilly became very popular in our area. My mom encouraged and helped me make many a skirt. She liked that I liked dressing modest and wasn't wearing what everyone else was. I have always loved fashions of yesteryear. The 1950s appealed to me because of the beautiful full skirted outfits, the decor and the music.

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Mariela. I loved that you mom encouraged you as you developed your greaser/rockabilly sense of style. You raise an excellent point too, by default many vintage and rockabilly styles do have more of a conservative air to them than scores of modern fashions, a point which is sure to please many parents.

      Big hugs!
      ♥ Jessica

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  9. And infinitely agracezco your mother she encouraged this choice of dress on you! You are an endless source of inspiration for many women like me, dear Lady. You forgive me not sending kisses to you .... Today, I send a thousand kisses to your mother!

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  10. Aw Jessica, I felt really touched by the sentiment in this post! Too often a throwaway comment as a child has a lasting impact. Any appreciation of history has to be encouraged, whether it's through fashion, architecture or whatever else. I used to dreamily watch the fashions in old films of my mother's but never thought I could wear them too - unfortunately my childhood fashion is best forgotten! If I ever have children you can bet I'll be encouraging poodle skirts, cravates and old-fashioned manners!
    P x

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Porcelina, I'm very happy to know that you were touched by the sentiment of this post. I was such a sensitive child (I'm still a sensitive person - always will be), and can think of scores of comments that were said to me about my fashion sense and appearance as a youngster that have left lasting scars to this day. I am truly grateful that none of them were about my early love of vintage clothing - I shudder to think that this blog might not be here had they been (and I opted not to follow my heart when it came to vintage fashion).

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  11. Oh, how cute. Thank you for sharing the photo and the lovely story. I feel the same way, wearing vintage makes me happy. I feel beautiful and confident, although I know that I look very different than others, but I don't care. I am who I am, and I dare wearing a petticoat under my fifties dress to my job, if it makes me happier. But I don't understand why you should have self-esteem issues, dear. You always look fabulous and have a lot of fans, so what's the problem? I think you have to learn to see yourself the way we, your fans, see you. You are such a great inspiration to me, take it to your heart. :)

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    1. Thank you very much for your kind and thoughtful comment, dear Sanne. I hope that I didn't come across as doubting myself or my style in this post, as neither could be further from the truth. I adore my look, am getting better at seeing my own beauty everyday, and love that the universe decided to tap me to be a preserver of the past. It's an incredible honour that folks like you and I have, and which I wouldn't trade for the world.

      ♥ Jessica

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    2. No doubts about your style, dear. :) It just makes me sad if you don't see yourself as I, and supposedly many other readers, see you. You are a vintage hero and the most thoughtful and kind person I've ever met. :) And I loved seeing you as a little girl.

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  12. Hear hear! Growing up, I was lucky myself to have a mother who was always very supportive of my own individual fashion choices (my father, though I love him, is a different story--even today he speaks rather disdainfully of my "June Cleaver clothes"). But not every budding vintage-lover has that support, and that saddens me. In all arenas, we should encourage creativity and passion, not simply in clothing.

    Your point about preserving the past is a very valid one, and it does excite me to see a lot of young people taking an interest in that. My mother is a high school teacher and she tells me all the time stories of her students wearing vintage or shopping for old records, and that's awesome! More power to them! But who knows if they would be if their parents had told them early on that it wasn't appropriate or "normal." Wonderful post!

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  13. What a lovely post and really touches my heart, because the very same thing happened to me! I went as a "Sock Hop Girl" for my third grade Halloween, and then begged for one to wear every day when I got into high school, which my mother made for me for my 15th birthday!

    Thank you for such a wonderful, supportive and encouraging post.

    xoxo
    -Janey

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    1. It warms my heart to know that you and I have walked such similar paths when it comes to our relationship with vintage and history, dear Janey. I bet you looked super cute in your third grade Sock Hop Girl costume. It's interesting you know, for all the times I wore the gingham poodle skirt pictured here, in family photos that I have scanned copies of at least, this was the only one I could find of me wearing it.

      You're very welcome. Many sweet and sincere thanks for your lovely comment as well.
      ♥ Jessica

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  14. Aw! what a sweet post. You're so adorable, yesterday and today, and I wholeheartedly agreed with every thing you wrote. I don't dress in vintage clothing (or sew it) just because I want to stand out, but because i can't help it. It's in my soul. I love to read things from other ladies who feel the same :)

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  15. I think I just loved clothes in general. Clothes I saw in the movies, clthes, clothes, clothes...
    I always had a soft spot for the 40s, but later in life with uniqueness.
    Love and sunshine always, my dea Jessica.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  16. Oh god, that photo is giving me the cute overload-love it!

    My now 9 year old son has always done his own thing, and I've let him. He spent the first 8 years on a farm, but insisted on a proper shirt (with a collar) and in cool weather a knit vest and sportcoat. There's almost always a hat as well. There's no reason for him to dress so nicely each day as he's homeschooled, but he insists he cannot, "think" if he's not dressed. Who can argue with that?

    I always loved vintage clothing, and being the youngest of siblings and cousins by at least a decade, I had a steady supply of vintage hand-me-downs.

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    1. Aww, thank you very much! Perhaps I should post more photos of me from my earliest childhood years here from time-to-time? (I have shared at least a couple others over the years, but not many yet.)

      It's flat out awesome that your young son is so passionate about being well dressed and looking like a dapper gent, even at hope. Please let him know that he's not alone in feeling like he can't think quite right is not properly attired. I was precisely the same way as a student and still often feel that way if I'm out and about in the world today.

      Lucky you!!! I got some fab hand-me-downs when I was growing up from one of my mom's dearest girlfriends who had two daughters who were slightly older than me, but they weren't vintage (I loved them a ton all the same though).

      Big hugs & many thanks for your great comment,
      ♥ Jessica

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  17. This is beautiful, Jessica! Thanks so much for participating in this with me. :)

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  18. So true! I loved running around the house in all sorts of get-ups when I was little. A favorite thing of mine to do was pin a doily on my head. Like a head covering. I don't know why, but I loved doing it and my mom even let me wear it to church once!

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    1. That's really darling! I have so great photos of my siblings and I playing dress up in various homemade/pieced together costumes over the years that are both adorable and laugh out loud funny. Sometimes you can't even tell now as an adult what we going for. I started playing dress up just about as soon as I could dress myself and have never stopped - I think the same rings true for many of us in the vintage world.

      Big hugs & many thanks for your lovely comment,
      ♥ Jessica

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  19. What a very lovely post so heartfelt. I love how you gave us a glimpse back in time at the little Jessica:) You are so cute in your picture. This is a great post and so many ideas to think about. Although, I don't dress in vintage all the time ( I need to work on everyday vintage clothing) I think partly because I do think of the clothing as so special and with the two kids and running about today's clothing sometimes wins out. I wanted to remark about your poodle skirt because it is so similar to a personal experience of mine. When I took a Home Economics class in the seventh grade, one of the requirements was to sew from a pattern (could be just about anything) and guess what I choose? Yep, a 50's poodle skirt (although I didn't put a poodle on it). I was very proud of sewing this pattern and wore it proudly. I still remember the fabric I selected even though the skirt is long gone. I often also put connections to the past and think yes, this makes sense, this is why I am linked to the particular time period (late 30s to mid 50s). I do wish I would have realized how wonderful vintage fashion was back then and even in the 90s as it would have been quite cheap to buy back then!

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    1. Hello darling Joanna, thank you very much for your absolutely lovely comment. This post got me thinking that I should bust out the ol' childhood photos here a little more often (I don't have many originals, but I do have scans that my mom very sweetly created for me of several albums from my earliest years).

      I understand where you're coming from entirely. Genuine vintage is something I'm always mindful of wearing in potentially hazardous situations, too (be around kids, dogs, other animals, dirty jobs, extremely foul weather, etc). In such cases, I tend to turn to repro, 1980s does 40s/50s, and vintage appropriate pieces instead (perhaps just using genuine vintage in the form of my jewelry and other accessories). One still looks the part, but they don't have to worry nearly as much about it a muddy, super rambunctious 65lb dog jumps up on them! :)

      Aww, I love that you opted to create a poodles skirt for your first home ec sewing project (I remember mine as well; we didn't get to pick though, the project was to make a pair of boxer shorts which the teacher called "sleep shorts" for the girls).

      Hindsight is always 20/20, but I'm a firm believer in their being no time like the present and think it's fantastic that you developed an especially strong passion for vintage clothing point blank, no matter at what age you started sporting yesteryear styles. And, just think, imagine if you hadn't started buying when you did, but in another decade from now, when I'm absolutely certain today's prices will all but seem like bargains by comparison to what vintage clothing and accessories will be going for then.

      Tons of hugs, my fellow childhood poodle skirt wearing gal!
      ♥ Jessica

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  20. You're very welcome, sweet Hannah. Thank you so much for tapping me to do so. Beyond the scope of this post, I've been reflecting a lot on how very much I treasure preserving the past and sharing the undying passion with the world, and am sure that these thoughts (and reading the posts of others who you've asked to write about this topic) will spur on other related posts in the future.

    Here's to preserving the past in as many ways as we each can!
    ♥ Jessica

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  21. What a lovely post. I'm pleased and impressed you include boys. When I was young, I longed for the feminine clothes of my mother's generation (Fifties). That longing never left.

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    1. Thank you very much, Ally. Absolutely! Though more women favour sporting vintage fashions than men in today's world, it's every bit as important to encourage children of both genders if they show a love of the past at an early (and by the same token, to encourage them to dress however they please, as long as its age appropriate, all through their early years).

      ♥ Jessica

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  22. I love this post...let them dress as they wish and who knows where it will lead them. Clothes are one of the few ways of expressing yourself in the young and adolescent years. BTW I'm just adoring you in that poodle skirt! I have wanted one for many a year, but can't decide if it looks cute or sad on a bigger hipped gal like myself. You wear it so well. xx Shauna

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    1. Hello sweet Shauna, thank you very much for your lovely comment. IMO, poodle and circle skirts in general are flat out fabulous for those who feel they're "hippy", as one's shape gets lost under the wide expanse of the fabric, especially if you partner your skirt with crinoline/pettiskirt. I don't have particularly slim hips by any means (hourglass that I am) myself and have never felt like a skirt of this nature highlighted that point in a negative way. I'm sure you would look trim and gorgeous in a poodle skirt, too (a great cinch belt like the one I'm wearing here can also really help your hips look smaller because all eyes will be on how narrow your waist appears).

      Big hugs from snowy Canada,
      ♥ Jessica

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  23. I completely agree! Encourage individuality at all times. The photos of you are wonderful - I see you had a matching hair ribbon too? I used to prefer wearing 'jazzy' fabrics when I was little and as my mum sewed a lot of my clothes, she was happy to oblige when she could and I loved the dresses and clothes I wore. I'm still the same now - generally quiet but with a few show-off tendencies! If a child wants to wear something different then what is the harm in that? They're just clothes but they can truly be such a part of us, as they've become for you and many other vintage lovers!

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    1. You have such an eagle eye, my dear friend, I did indeed having a matching hair ribbon and, if memory serves me right, there was some kind of lettering (my initial perhaps?) or other design that my mom cut out of that fabric and sewed or pinned onto the white knit cardigan I was wearing there (I wish I had a better photo of it - I'll have to ask my mom if she remembers what it said, as I no longer do).

      It's truly awesome that your mom was happy to oblige your creative, fabulous fashion sense when you were younger. I bet you were a super adorable little girl (and that we would have been fast friends had we gone to school together).

      ♥ Jessica

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  24. Lovely photos and what a wonderful post to read!! :D

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  25. Beautifully written!! :D I completely agree with you! :D That was so wonderful for your mother to make you that adorible skirt, and to stand behind you on your journey of personal style and taste. I am really glad that no one was rude about it (as we know how some people can be!), because you continued to blossom into the vintage queen you are, and it is so important to be yourself. :)

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  26. Heart-warming, inspiring, emotional and joyful post.. just what I needed on this bleak week. When the weather is bad, it falls heavy on my heart, and then I need a boost; but not any boost - I need an insert of something lovely, gracious and emotional.. this post was quite effective.
    So, thank you for brightening up my day.

    Hugs
    Marija

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  27. Very true, I remember my self as a child - I loved to wear my one pink old dress my mom found on a flea market the dress looked like from the 1700 <3 I still remember how i felt that the dress changed my life.. I felt so inspired & started to have dreams about a beautiful life. Sometimes we just connect with things that are from ''old times'' .. and I believe there will always be children who will have a special love for that.. old cartoons & movies are also very inspiring. <3 :) warmed regards from snowy Sweden /Sabina

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  28. My goodness, this post is so good! How important that is when you raise a child. Having a little boy, almost 2 years old now, I've been thinking a lot about this subject lately. And how cool it was to read this post about this very same subject. I can't wait to see if my little boy will develop a taste for vintage and history like me. If yes, I will help him in everything! How much fun! That's quite exciting! This post helped me a lot :-)

    You look a cute sweet little girl in child! So blond! ;-)
    Congratulations for a wonderful job.

    Hugs,
    Miss Beta

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    1. Aww, thank you very much for each and every heartwarmingly lovely point you made, dear Beta. I was sooo blonde! This photo, darkened by age and being stored in an old (probably not acid-free) album over the years don't completely convey just how pale blonde I was as a youngster. I'll have to include a photo that shows that better in another post one day.

      I love that you're thinking about what your son's personal sense of style might develop into already. I fee the same way (regarding if I ever have kids). No matter what, I'll be there to cheer on my child's fashion choices, no matter if they'd be ones that I myself would make or not. It's truly, I believe, one of the kindest and most beneficial things any parents can do for their child(ren).

      Tons of hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  29. I love both of your poodle skirts! My mom once made me a prairie skirt when they were in during the early '80s. The poodle is just classic in a way that I'm afraid the prairie will never be.

    I agree that the fondness for vintage begins at an early age. For me it was all the antiques my father collected. They were just a part of our lives so I grew up thinking that "new" was just "new" while old was better. I'm lucky to have inherited some of these beautiful antique pieces. Each one has a story and I share the stories with my kids. I even had a few of my grandmother's flapper dresses but the silk has sadly fallen apart. I've kept the crumbling material nonetheless.

    Lovely post!

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  30. What a sweet photo!

    This is an absolutely lovely post in all points made. I agree entirely that children should be encouraged to be themselves and dress the way they like (age appropriate, of course), after all, how boring would the world be if we all dressed the same? :)

    (Sorry if this is the second comment from me; my computer was being super slow yesterday and it didn't look like my comment made it through.)

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  31. Huzzah to this! Children should be encouraged to be whoever they darn well want to be! I come from a family where I was never discouraged from sewing, knitting and crochet just because I was a boy and I am so grateful! If I didn't have that creative outlet now, I'd probably be rocking a straitjacket in the funny farm by now! Vive la difference!

    Ben
    Bandthemoon.wordpress.com

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  32. I have always been so thankful that my parents, even my dad who couldn't care less about fashion, encouraged my love of vintage. I started at a very young age, probably 13 or so and I actually wore vintage inspired pieces more than I do now. Certainly they were 70s 80s pieces I picked up at goodwill, but I loved them and wore them till they fell apart. I curled my hair in rollers, although I didn't know I was doing it wrong and have MANY, MANY bad hair days, LOL! Experimenting with your fashion and hair is half the fun in developing a love of vintage.

    There are so many worse things your children could be doing and if they want to wear circle skirts and motorcycle jackets with duck tale hair or pin curls for the ladies, let them.

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    1. That is so profoundly true, dear Sean, especially in today's world where it seems that children turn into mini adults long before they've even hit high school.

      Thank you for your terrific and insightful comment,
      ♥ Jessica

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  33. What a cute little girl that is at the top of the post! ;) It makes me so happy to read that your mother did not fuss over your "unconventional" dress and even encouraged it! I was always a girly-girl myself and also loved the styles of the past—something fed, no doubt, by all of the old movies Dad and I watched together and my love for "I Love Lucy". You are so right in encouraging parents to let their children indulge in their sartorial loves, even just a little bit, particularly when they are gentle-hearted and thus sometimes easily-bruised children! Lovely post, and as always, very lovely photos!

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  34. This post was lovely and truly touched my heart. I'm not quite 18, but growing up on 1930s-60s musicals, playing dress-up in my aunt's old poodle skirts, and spending my weekends dancing the twist to my grandma's high school records probably meant I was destined to be a lover of vintage. I had a passion for the past before I even knew what that meant! When I got older, vintage style also completely transformed my self-image and helped me discover myself as a person.

    Unlike most of the other comments, my parents have not been supportive or encouraging of my interest in the past. I genuinely care about history, historical fashion, and vintage/retro inspired personal style, enough for it to be a career option. But my family roll their eyes, shake their heads, and laugh like it's an absurd school-girl "phase". I love my family but it breaks my heart.

    I have started to find some encouragement in the world of vintage/style blogging because I see all of you and feel that, though I might still be considered the oddball in the room most of the time, I'm not so alone after all. It's inspiring and means a lot to me. Thanks, Jessica.

    xoxo, Alesha
    www.oldfashionedwhimsy.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. Dear Alesha, thank you very much for sharing some of the struggles you've gone through regarding your family and your deeply rooted passion for the past. I'm sincerely sorry that most of the folks in your life don't understand your love for all things vintage. Please try never (hard as it may be) to let their negatively bring you down or deter you from pursing any and all vintage related interests that you may have.

      It is their loss, not yours, that they fail to understand and see why vintage means so very much to you and your sense of identity. Keep on rocking vintage, being proud of what you love, and living your life precisely the way you want, honey, and one day (if not already!) I'm sure you'll inspire and help encourage others who come in contact with you to do the same.

      ♥ Jessica

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  35. I wanted to wear a poodle skirt when I was young. The bigger problem, my parents explained, wasn't that its style was old-fashioned...

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