April 14, 2015

Meet a fellow vintage blogger: Helen Mae Green from the UK


In March we launched Chronically Vintage's exciting new blogger interview series when I chatted with CiCi's interview from CiCi Marie and the response to it was fabulous. This month I had the pleasure of (proverbially) sitting down with another marvelous lady from the UK, Helen Mae Green from the blog Love Birds Vintage.


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Helen is a sweet, lovely woman with a wide array of interests, a personal style filled with great mid-century fashions, a passion for etymology, and a flare for historical reenactments. Join me as we get to know Helen and her wonderful blog better today. I'm sure you'll feel, as I did, by the end, that you've just spent a wonderful afternoon sharing tea and gabbing with a dear fellow vintage loving friend.


♥ ♥ ♥



Can you please tell us a bit about your blog, Love Birds Vintage?

I started writing Lovebirds Vintage in 2012, a while after I got into dressing in a vintage style, as a way of connecting with other vintage lovers and documenting my personal style. I like to blog about vintage fashion, style and beauty, as well as occasional other posts about cooking, knitting, sewing, shopping and more.


Inquiring minds want to know, what inspired your blog's name?

Unfortunately there really isn’t an interesting story behind it! When I decided I wanted to try writing a blog, I brainstormed a list of potential names and Lovebirds Vintage was the one that felt like it fit me best at the time.


Have you been interested in vintage for a long time?

I've been dressing in a vintage style since around late 2011, but my interest in vintage in general began with music. My parents always played old music around the house when I was growing up, and I played clarinet and saxophone in two swing bands (amongst various other musical groups) for a lot of years. We also went to watch the Glenn Miller Orchestra for my dad’s birthday one year. The music of the 1940s-70s made a big impression on me, especially rock and roll. Eventually I realized there was a whole community of people who don’t just listen to the music but also wear the clothes, drive the cars and decorate their houses in the styles from past decades – I’m so glad I decided to be a part of it.


What do you cite as some of the key inspirations that lead you to start wearing vintage? Do they apply to your decision to blog on the subject as well?

Apart from the music having an early influence on me, I think the thing that really kick started my interest in wearing vintage was when I started university and was suddenly exposed to a much wider variety of people than I had been at school. There was no pressure to look the same as everyone else so there was really nothing stopping me changing up my style a bit and building up a vintage wardrobe like I’d seen other girls wearing online.


You're a big fan of 1940s fashion, do you dabble much in styles from other decades?

I often say that the fashions of the 1940s are my favourite – something about the shapes and detail of the clothing – but I am a huge fan of mixing things up. My wardrobe covers styles from approximately the 1920s to 1960s, and I just dress in a style which fits how I feel on any given day. Sometimes I like to dress top-to-toe in clothes from the same decade, other days I mix and match. I don’t like to feel too restricted because I feel like you should just dress however makes you happy. I usually describe my style as ‘vintage’ rather than citing a specific decade.



{Image © Steve Bond Images, hair by Jac at Tip Top Hair Design}



Five words that often/always spring to mind when you think about your vintage wardrobe?

Tough question! I'll go with: feminine, classic, blue, simple, and textured.


Aside from vintage, what are some of your biggest interests in life?

Of course like most people, my interests are many and varied! I love to bake, I often go walking, I love visiting museums, historic houses, beauty spots – I really enjoy photography as well so I always have my camera with me when I go.


You live in the UK and are fortunate to be able to take part in some historical reenactment events. How did you get into this exciting area? Are you taking part in many such events these days?

I started attending re-enactment because my area is pretty lacking when it comes to vintage events and I was keen to have something to go to where I might find other people with similar interests to me. Sadly I didn’t make it to any events last year as I was too busy working (I work weekends which unfortunately clashes with many events) or studying towards my Masters degree. I have plans to get to more events this year though, including some events that I haven’t been to before.




You've done some vintage modeling in recent years. Do you have any tips based on your own experience for those who may be starting out on this front themselves?

Make sure you’re safe at all times and don’t let anyone push you into doing anything you feel uncomfortable with. You will learn everything you need to know on the job, so make sure you pay attention to any tips that you get from photographers so you can use them in the future. You can also practise posing in front of a mirror to figure out how to pose in the most flattering way.




{Image © Steve Bond Images, hair by Jac at Tip Top Hair Design}



Do you feel that living in the UK, a country with one of the largest and most thriving vintage communities in the world, has helped you in your own vintage journey?

Personally I’d say it hasn't really made much difference. Although the UK does have a pretty decent vintage community, I live outside a small town and my area doesn't really have any alternative community. I actually don’t have any friends who dress vintage so I rely heavily on online resources for my research and inspiration.





Are you able to find much in the way of vintage fashion locally?

I used to be able to go vintage shopping regularly at a couple of big vintage fairs as well as two vintage shops which were in the town. Last year the venue that was being used to hold the vintage fairs suffered a fire and closed down, and then I found out that both of the vintage shops were closing their doors as well.

Fortunately I've recently discovered two other vintage shops nearby which I haven’t had the chance to visit yet, as well as an absolute goldmine of vintage and antique shops about an hour away. A lot of the shops locally tend to sell newer vintage items (think Doc Martin’s, ugly sweaters and shellsuits) which have their place but aren't my style, but these other shops I've discovered have an amazing range of clothing from the turn of the century onward. When I have some free time I plan to visit all of them and write some blog posts like I've done for other vintage shops I've visited.


In some of your posts, you've touched on the fact that you're keen on entomology. That's really fascinating! What lead you to develop an interest in the study of insects?

My undergraduate degree is in forensic science (the application of science to law). When I had to choose a topic for my final year project and thesis, I considered a few things but settled on forensic entomology, which is studying insects for use in legal cases. I also did some volunteering in the summer between my second and third years at a butterfly farm and at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History which were both great experiences.

I was lucky to have a very inspirational lecturer for entomology classes in my final year and I continued on to study entomology again for my Masters degree and to do some more volunteering at another museum. It’s funny because I used to be the sort of person who was squeamish of insects but they are so amazing and interesting once you start to study them. I can talk about insects for hours!




Have you found ways to translate this passion into the vintage side of your life?

I have a few pieces of jewellery in the shapes of insects and also have a growing collection of butterflies which I display at home. I’ll definitely continue to add to both those collections, and I’d like to include some more insect-themed things in my wardrobe. Perhaps an insect-themed novelty print skirt?


Are you also an animal lover? Do you have any pets at the moment?

I've actually never been able to keep pets in the traditional sense because anything furry causes my eczema to go haywire. I do like to appreciate animals from a distance though. I kept a praying mantis for some time last year which was very cute but of course not really the same thing as being able to cuddle a cat or dog.


What are some things you'd like to focus (even) more on when it comes to your vintage wardrobe?

Right now I’m in need of a lot more separates, mainly trousers and tops, and I could do with some more knitwear and clothing that’s warm enough for the winter. Something a bit more frivolous that I’d like to work on is my hat collection – I used to wear hats quite a bit but I've got out of the habit of wearing them often. I think a hat can really finish an outfit off nicely and add that extra level of style.





Are you a fan of vintage reproduction/vintage inspired clothing or do you generally prefer to stick with genuine yesteryear pieces?

While genuine vintage pieces are usually my favourite, I make full use of repro and modern vintage-appropriate clothing. I don’t live the sort of lifestyle where I am able to wear genuine vintage all the time – I do too many things where I’m worried about staining or tearing delicate items, so I love to have newer items that I can wear without having to be too careful and which I know I can throw in the washing machine at the end of the day. I also have a very small clothing budget and supplementing my vintage wardrobe with cheaper modern vintage-appropriate clothing really helps make my money go further.


Do you make any of your own clothing?

Yes, a small amount. I can knit and crochet, and I like to knit my own cardigans from time to time. I can also sew at a very basic level, but I’m working on improving my skills so hopefully I can sew more of my own clothing in the future.




Do you have any vintage fashion icons (famous folks from the past, fellow vintage bloggers, relatives, etc)?

I draw most of my inspiration from other bloggers and from old photos of ordinary people. Pictures of film stars and people like Dita Von Teese are always fun to look at, but they don’t really inspire my outfits in the same way because I’m just not that glamorous. I feel much more of a connection with everyday fashions and street style – fellow vintage bloggers are always a great inspiration because I love to see how vintage items are being worn by modern women.


If you could travel the world for a year, what are some of the places you'd most want to visit?

I always say I'm not much of a traveler – I've never been on a plane and I hate train travel, although I'm gradually getting more used to it. When I go on holiday I usually like to go to places with lots of history so I think it would be fun to visit places like Rome, Egypt or Peru where I could visit the ruins and remains of previous civilizations. I don't travel light though so I won’t be going backpacking anywhere!




And what vintage items would you make sure you packed in your suitcase for your adventure?

Visiting some warmer places would give me the perfect opportunity to get some more wear out of my vintage summer dresses. I have a vintage powder compact that belonged to my granddad's late first wife that I use on a daily basis so that would come with me as well.


Last, but not least, do you have any exciting plans in the works for Love Birds Vintage that's you'd care to share with us?

Over the last few months I've been focusing on trying to improve the quality of my photos and blog posts for Lovebirds Vintage – I’m not a professional photographer so it’s all a learning process. While I don’t have any specific plans at the moment, I’m looking forward to the summer so I can fit in a few more outfit posts without freezing or being rained on! Hopefully I’m managing to create content that people really enjoy.



♥ ♥ ♥



Thank you very much for the fantastic interview, Helen, I adored getting to know you better, as I'm sure my reader have as well.

This series - which I've decided to currently call "Meet a fellow vintage blogger" - is off to a roaring start thank to CiCi and Helen's interviews. Next up in the beautiful month of May, I'll chat with a talented vintage and historical loving sewer, piano player, and home skills fan who will knock your socks off with her amazing creations and passion for the past.

Until then, my lovelies, there are oodles of fun fashion, recipe, seasonal, and outfit posts like usual coming down the pipeline as we celebrate each wonderful day of April.

45 comments:

  1. I wondered when you said the next interview was with a UK lady if it might be Helen! It's great getting to see more of where her vintage inspiration comes from - her wardrobe is certainly enviable - and though it's completely different to mine as I'm much more repro as we know, I can certainly appreciate her fab sense of style! I've been to a couple of re-enactment events too, but I always get drawn to the medieval ones and haven't made it to a 40s one yet! This reminds me I really should do this some day soon...

    Great interview, by the way, Jessica! The questions are completely different to mine and still so varied and interesting. You're really fantastic at these! CC x

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    1. It really means a lot to me to hear you say that, CiCi, thank you so much!!! I realize that as time goes on, it might get trickier to come up with highly diverse questions, but I'll certainly give it a fighting chance and look forward to the challenge.

      How cool that you had a hunch the next interviewee was going to be Helen. Unless something changes, this series won't be back in the UK, so to speak, again for a while (simply based on the folks who emailed me expressing interest in being interviewed), so it's good that your wonderful country got some love right off the bat with this fun new series.

      Huge thanks again & have a marvelous Tuesday!
      ♥ Jessica

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  2. Another really superb interview Jessica! Some great questions and I feel I've learnt a lot more about the lovely Helen. Well done xx

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    1. Thank you very much, my dear. It's hard to believe how quickly the weeks have flown past since CiCi's interview kicked off this series. I already have my thinking cap on for the questions I'll be presenting to the next interviewee and am sure that post itself will get here in a flash, too.

      Have a fantastic Tuesday,
      ♥ Jessica

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  3. Great interview! I'm really loving this series and getting to know some familiar and, new faces better. Can't wait to see who comes up next.

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    1. Thank you sweetly! It's so much fun chatting with these inspiring, delightful ladies and I find myself already eager for each time I sit down to write their interview questions and then again when the post goes live. Next month's featured vintage blogger is fabulous, much like Helen, and will likely knock many people's socks off with her sewing skills (and other talents).

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  4. What a stunning and inspiring young lady, and a lovely interview aswell!

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    1. That's wonderfully sweet of you to say, lovely Lindsay, thank you so much!

      Oodles of hugs & happy Tuesday wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  5. Thanks for the intro, I really like this series. I love adding new blogs to my list and Helen has a lot going on. Can't wait for the next edition.

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  6. this series is just so much fun! I love it

    retro rover

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  7. Thanks for having me, Jessica! I had a lovely time answering your questions.

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    1. You're very welcome. Thank you again for a stellar interview. It was such a pleasure chatting with you, dear Helen.

      Have a marvelous week,
      ♥ Jessica

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  8. What a great interview and interesting read, lovely to learn more about Helen and her vintage style.

    www.pearlsandpurlsvintage.blogspot.com

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  9. Such a lovely interview - and really inspiring. But Helen is being too modest when she says she is not glamorous - there are some stunningly glamorous photos from shoots on her blog! Looking forward to more interviews! Karen x

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    1. Agreed completely - she loos like a leading Hollywood starlet from the golden days of cinema in some of these images and is always so well put together, stylish and lovely in all her photos.

      Thank you very much for your wonderful comment, Karen. I hope you're doing well and having a fantastic month!

      ♥ Jessica

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    2. Agreed completely - she loos like a leading Hollywood starlet from the golden days of cinema in some of these images and is always so well put together, stylish and lovely in all her photos.

      Thank you very much for your wonderful comment, Karen. I hope you're doing well and having a fantastic month!

      ♥ Jessica

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    3. You ladies are too kind! I suppose I scrub up well with help from a professional hairdresser and photographer haha.

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  10. Another vintage-lover called Helen from the UK? Excellent stuff! Lovely pics and really interesting questions/answers :)

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    1. Why, thank you, dear gal! And you know, to up the "Helen factor" further, that is actually one of my two middle names. :)

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  11. It really doesn't feel like a month ago I read the last interview, this year is just flying by! I'm really enjoying this series, you're questions are so provoking and well thought put!

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    1. Though April is bouncing along at the speed of light, it hasn't been a full month since CiCi's post, so that's part of the reason it feel like just yesterday when it appeared here. I'm aiming for one (or at most two) interview posts a month, but am not assigning a set date (or dates) to it/them each month, just whatever works best for both parties involved and to help keep things fresh here in terms of each new interview being a surprise for my wonderful readers. :)

      Big hugs & many thanks for your wonderfully nice comment,
      ♥ Jessica

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  12. Gorgeous feature! The images are great!
    http://inkandlacedesigns.blogspot.com.au/

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  13. Jessica... I enjoyed reading your interview with Mae. She is another girl like yourself that I want to be more like. I'm finding that dressing in Vintage styles and having my vintage makeup is very enjoyable for me too. I did buy MAC Russian Red lipstick like you wore in your Tug Boat pics. I love it. It makes such a statement on how I feel about becoming more of a Vintage Girl too.. Looking forward to reading more.

    Janet

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    1. That is fantastic to hear, Janet! I think that if a person has a calling, so to speak, to vintage the more then embrace, the more it brings them joy and stands to better their lives. This has rung true for me for many years now and I honestly couldn't picture my world without vintage at the heart of it at this point in the game.

      I'm delighted to know that you love Russian Red now, too. It is such a stellar shade! A lot of vintage gals like Ruby Woo from MAC, too, which is always great, but Russian Red looks better on me, so that's what I stick with for my go to crimson shade.

      Thank you very much for your comment, my dear. Have a fantastic week!
      ♥ Jessica

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  14. I love reading interviews. To get to know more the people behind the blogs I follow or simple to get to know more people. You had made many interesting questions here darling Jessica! Some of them I already wondered about Helen and now I know the answers ;-) Thanks!

    Congratulations to both inspiring ladies!
    Hugs from Beta

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Beta, that is so wonderfully nice of you to say. I'm really happy to have been able to chat with Helen and help the blogging community get to know this terrific lady even better.

      Oodles of hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  15. Another lovely, lovely interview, Jessica!! I am having so much fun discovering new-to-me bloggers! Your questions, once again are just perfect for her!!
    Thank you for hosting this lovely interview series! :)
    Have a lovely rest of the week!

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Esther. I really hope that I can introduce you to many more as this series fun interview progresses.

      Many thanks for your lovely comment. Have a beautiful week!
      ♥ Jessica

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  16. oh how i love Helen's blog! along with Chronically Vintage and a few others, it's one of the very first ones i started following a few years ago, before i even started blogging! Its so fun to see her outfits and photo shoots, which are always so inspiring, from across the pond. and even further interesting is her interest in insects. always great to see/prove that just because we wear old clothes doesn't mean we want the old days of no careers or college and such.

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    1. Absolutely, sweet Abigail. To help keep each new interview fresh and fun, I want to focus not only on vintage related questions, but on some of the other interesting and inspiring elements of the lives of those I (proverbially) sit down and chat with. I think that a lot of us have the vintage sides of our worlds enriched by our other interests and vice versa, so seeing the roll that one plays in the other will be a reoccurring them in this series.

      Thank you very much for your fantastic comment. Have a gorgeous Wednesday!
      ♥ Jessica

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  17. I love Helen's blog! It's always fun to read and see what she puts together with her outfits! And what a delight this interview was!

    xoxo
    -Janey

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    1. I adore her blog as well. It's always fun to see whereabouts in the UK she'll be visiting and doing a shot in next.

      Thank you very much for your lovely comment, sweet Janey.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  18. Great interview! It's always nice to read about my fellow vintage bloggers even if they aren't into the same "era" of vintage I'm into. I'm all about the 80s and 90s but really enjoyed this :)

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  19. This lady is both beautiful to look at and a very interesting person as well. I think she puts together her outfits perfectly, with real taste. Thank you Jessica for featuring her blog and style!

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    1. That is such a wonderfully spot on description of Helen and her style, dear Philippa. Thank you very much for your absolutely lovely comment.

      I hope that you're doing well and having a beautiful April. We finally have the first signs of spring here - yippee! :)

      Tons of hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  20. Nossa que mulher linda, ainda não conhecia.
    Amei a entrevista.
    Casa Cherry

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  21. Great questions again, leading to some interesting answers. I definitely feel like I learnt more about Helen, things I didn't know from reading her blog.

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  22. Thank you for sharing your blog finds with us :) She is not only pretty but, OMG etymology ?! that's something else.
    There is so much more than what we see!

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  23. What a charming interview. She's a cutie, which I will follow, and I am very picky on which blogs I follow, since I don't have time for reading more blogs than I have in my collection now. And we even share the same surname. ;)

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    1. That is wonderful to know - she's so sweet and posts the loveliest things, including lots of neat shoots from around the UK, from which I've definitely learned more about that beautiful country.

      It's really cool that you both share the same last name. I've never encountered another vintage person with my surname, but it's possible there's one out there (likely in Italy! :)).

      Have a fabulous week!
      ♥ Jessica

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