May 2, 2015

The Story of an Item Tumblr project is flat out brilliant


There is something incredibly fascinating about the lives of vintage items before they reach us (a topic I chatted about here back in 2011), as well as and how they came to be a part of our own worlds. Add in what they mean to a vintage lover once they're in our closets, shelves, bookcases, you name it, and I can scarcely think of more enjoyable reading for a fan of days long past, yet perpetually dear to our hearts in the here and now.

Very recently I was contacted by a lovely lady named Zohar from Israel who had launched a Tumblr blog called Story of an Item. The premise behind this blogging project is that Zohar contacts vintage loving folks and asks them to share about one of their favourite vintage items or one that is otherwise of importance and/or substantial interest to that individual. It could be a piece from their shop (if they're a seller), a once in a lifetime find, a beloved family heirloom, a stellar flea market score - anything at all. Where the item came from matters less than what it means to that person.

In their own words entirely (aka, she does not, at present, interview them in the traditional interview sense), Zohar encourages folks to share about this piece and their love of the past in general. She then couples that text with one or more photographs of the item and weaves together beautiful posts for her newly launched Tumblr project.




{One of the photos of me sporting the item that I chatted about in my Story of an Item project post. This piece will always be as near and dear to my heart as any vintage item could possibly be.}


I was flat out honoured to be amongst the first people to appear on Zohar’s Tumblr blog, with the post about one of my absolute most treasured vintage items ever - and why it holds such a poignant place in my heart - appearing there last weekend. You can check out that post here.

There is such a deeply rooted sense of beauty to letting someone describe why a certain matters to them in the ways that it does, in their own words and I am nothing short of enamored with this project. Tumblr is the one uber big mainstream social media site that I've never joined (in part because there are already far too few hours in the day to be as active as I might usually like on the ones that I am on), but I tell you, her project is making me give serious thought to doing just that for the first time ever.

In addition to shining the spotlight on me, my blog, and my Etsy shop in that lovely post, Zohar has also featured two other well known vintage aficionados so far (Solanah from Vixen Vintage and Jamie Lee from Chatter Blossom). I'm nothing short of enthralled by this project and can hardly wait to see who she shines the spotlight on next. Whether I join Tumblr or not, you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be following this project closely and reading each new entry in it with the deepest of interest.

If you would like to take part yourself, please contact Zohar by email. She's looking to focus solely on vintage clothing and accessories at this point in time, so please keep that in mind if you want to take part in this great project.

Thank you so much for involving me with Story of an Item, Zohar. I am touched through and through that you did. Keep up the great work. You've really hit on something memorably fantastic here!

41 comments:

  1. Wow, congrats on the feature! This dress is an absolute stunner ... so is the whole outfit!!! I rembermber when you posted about it the first time.

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  2. Wow, you look stunning in that red dress!

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  3. What a lovely concept for a blog. I have one vintage item that I've had for a while that has an interesting story, but it's not something I'd feel comfortable publickly with photos. But I love the story of that fabulous dress. Red really is your color!

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    1. Hey there, if there's a story you want to share please contact me and we'll figure out the photo issues ;) Zohar

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  4. What a great project! And you're the perfect choice for a participant. I've always been intrigued by the "lives" of vintage items before they came to me. For example, I bought an old rotary telephone in an antique store two years ago and brought it to use as a prop in Michi's recent photoshoot. (You can see it in the fourth picture.) The phone still has its original telephone number embedded in the center of the dial. The area code is "212" so we know it was used in Manhattan. I'm tempted to trace the number to find its original owner. Beloved clothes give us the same impulse.

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    1. Ooohh, you really should! The amateur detective in me adores that I idea. Anytime I acquire a vintage item, be it for my own collection or the shop, that even a speck of possible background information with it, I go into full bloodhound mode! :)

      Thank you very much for your wonderfully nice comment, Ally. I hope that you're having a terrific first weekend of May!

      ♥ Jessica

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  5. How much fun to be featured in this project. I remember your post about this dress but had forgotten how marvellous it was.

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    1. Thank you very much, my sweet friend. I knew the moment that Zohar tapped for this project, I wanted to talk about this dress. It's my favourite piece from amongst those my relative passed on to me and is by far one of my most treasured vintage items. I could happily wear it everyday, too, as it's surprisingly comfy. I once did one day road trip to Kamloops (a city that's nearly 3 hours away from us) in it and was as at ease in it as if I'd been sporting pajamas. I so love that about vintage crepe dresses (ditto for rayons, most cottons, some silks, etc).

      Thank you very much for all of your great comments this weekend. I hope that you're having a terrific one!

      ♥ Jessica

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  6. This is such a lovely idea. Your whole outfit and the fact that you having clothing items from somewhere in your family is fantastic. My grandma did not keep anything at all lives a very sparse life that is good a trait but sad for me whole loves vintage and would have loved it if she kept things:P

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    1. It really is - I doff my vintage hat to Zohar big time for coming up with it.

      So true!!! That seems to be surprisingly common. I've seen it in my own family, with neighbours, with folks I encounter in the vintage selling scene, and so on. It seems that for every "hoarder" or, more commonly, collector, out there, a lot of folks did not hang on to older pieces in recent decades (of course some did, but I routinely chat with locals in the 65 - 85 age range who say things like that save perhaps for a few family heirlooms like old bibles and marriage certificates, they've long since "gotten rid of it all" - which always makes me cringe, as I picture vintage being tossed in a landfill somewhere).

      Thank you for your comment, lovely lady. Have a beautiful first Sunday of May!
      ♥ Jessica

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  7. Lovely! One of the reasons I love vintage and thrifted items so much is because they carry stories in their fibers.

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    1. They truly do. Many, I find, have a certain energy to them as well. It can be positive, negative, neutral or handful of other things. This may be entirely my perception of course, but still, it has helped me find vintage piece amongst mountains of modern-y junk many times (having a keen eye helps there too, naturally).

      Thank you very much for your lovely comment. Have a beautiful Sunday!
      ♥ Jessica

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  8. Thank you for sharing this project! I totally agree, often it is the story behind an item that makes it special! I don't know about you but with the items in my collection that have no story I often find myself wondering "who wore you, why, where have you been, what have you seen?" Yes I often treat my collection like a much loved aunt :) I think I will have to follow this project!

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    1. It's my sincere pleasure, Wendy. Many thanks in turn for your wonderful comment. Yes, ma'am, I really don't think, no matter how small and seemingly mundane (to some!) it may seem, that I've brought a single vintage item into my home that I didn't at least momentarily stop to think about the history it secretly housed/houses. With some items that have become key parts of my wardrobe or home, but for which I know nothing beyond what their appearance tells me, I've ever created imaginary back stories for them in my head sometimes just for the sheer fun of it.

      Wishing you a splendid Sunday,
      ♥ Jessica

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  9. What a wonderful idea for a Tumbler, I'm going to have to remember to keep checking back!
    I love how you paired that beyond gorgeous dress with the mustard colored gloves, you look amazing in it!

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    1. Aww, why thank you, sweet dear! I could happily wear mustard yellow (much like red) everyday and love it when I get a chance to sport this earthy yet vibrant hue.

      Tons of hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  10. Wow what a gorgeous look, that dress is so stunning on you! x

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Kayla. Beyond the importance of this dress to me from a family history standpoint, it's one of my all-time favourites. I'd clone it in a rainbow of colours, if I could.

      Happy start of May!
      ♥ Jessica

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  11. Such a beautiful dress, and the meaning behind it makes the piece all the more special. Such a sweet story.

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  12. That sounds like a fantastic idea! I love Tumblr, ill be sure to check it out. Looking beautiful as always by the way Jessica x

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  13. What a fantastic idea! I wonder why anybody hasn't thought of this before. I will read your story soonest, son will be here shortly and I have to help him sorting his gardening education papers. Order is not one of his forces, ha. :) I'm not on Tumblr either, I try to be picky on what I join, because I don't have time for it all, and think it ends up being a little overwhelming, but I do follow a good handfull of lovely Tumblr blogs. Wishing you a lovely Sunday, dear. :)

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    1. Great minds, I swear, that was my first thought as well. I told Tony about it right away and he echoed our (mine and your) feelings entirely. Zohar has really struck on something fantastic here and I hope that lots of folks come forward to take part in it and that it can really snowball in the online vintage community the world over.

      Thank you very much for your terrific comment - huge hugs!
      ♥ Jessica

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  14. Such a lovely story and a great idea for a Tumblr! I don't have anything like this I could share, having had nothing handed down like this from relatives, but I love hearing about it when others do! And that dress is absolutely stunning on you - it's like it was made for you! With the fur and the yellow accessories it's just perfection in an outfit. One of my favourites of yours I've seen :) red really is your colour! CC x

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    1. It really is a brilliant idea. I think that Zohar had a major "light bulb" moment, so to speak when she came up with this project and I feel so honoured to be amongst the first to take part in it.

      If you have any vintage fashion related item that's near and dear to your heart that you'd like to share about publicly, that's all it takes for possible inclusion in this project. I'm sure Zohar would love to hear from you anytime, if you'd enjoy being featured.

      You're such a dear. Thank you very much! I love this dress so, sooo much! If I could clone it in a rainbow of hues, I would do so instantly. It's comfy, classic, alluring, and so much fun to wear.

      Big hugs!
      ♥ Jessica

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  15. That is such a beautiful idea! There are so many special pieces out there, and it's lovely that she's putting the spotlight on such lovely and unique items.
    Love this outfit, by the way. The dress is stunning on you, and really show off your curves. The pops of yellow look so gorgeous with this deep, rich pink as well. Amazing job, as usual.

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    1. It really is a stellar, creative idea and one that, I find at least, the moment you read about it, you wonder how the vintage world was devoid of it before. Of course many of us have blogged about items that are near and dear to our hearts, but we didn't have a collective spot for all intents to come together and share stories in a public forum like this and really commend Zohar for opening one up with this excellent project.

      Thank you sweetly, lovely lady. I could pretty much live in this c. early 40s frock. It's comfortable as the day is long and sooo alluring pretty. Whichever of my relatives (I don't know who it was) owned this originally had fantastic taste!

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  16. What a lovely idea. I love hearing the story behind vintage. The dress is gorgeous and so wonderful that it has a special connection to you
    Retro rover

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Tami. It was fun to revisit this outfit + photo shoot again. Here's the post where it first appeared last year (I didn't share it in this post as I really wanted the focus to remain on Zohar's awesome Tumblr project): http://www.chronicallyvintage.com/2014/03/modeling-my-gorgeous-new-custom-made.html

      Happy start of May!
      ♥ Jessica

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  18. Ah, this dress! i think you need a tumblr yourself, just so you can reblog older outfits to remind us, because i had forgotten about this one. SO STUNNING. i now everyone else is saying that right now but seriously. Who thinks of putting mustard tones with bright red?

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    1. You're making me blush a deeper shade of red than this fab 40s frock, thank you so much for your immensely nice comment + compliment, sweet dear.

      Tons of hugs & happy wishes for this new week,
      ♥ Jessica

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  19. Oh wow, I can relate to Zohar's idea of connecting the old with the present through out own personal story.
    AND you know you look spectacular in that red dress.

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    1. Thank you very much, lovely Lorena. I really can as well. For as far back as I can recall, I've referred to myself as a "preserver of the past" and that definitely includes the memories, even if they're unknown to me personally, of the vintage items that come into my life.

      Thank you very much for your wonderful comment,
      ♥ Jessica

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    2. You know I just realised that like you … my grandmother has 8 siblings. It was 8 women and one man. Of them there are 7 alive, my grandmother is the youngest at 85 and the eldest is 99 and counting!

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    3. Oh my word, someone should seriously contact Guinness as that could be a record for the number siblings above the age of 80 or 85 in the same family who are still alive. I'm thrilled for your family and love that you still have so many elderly relatives to enrich your life with. My grandma is also the youngest, but she's the only one of her siblings that's still alive (and it's actually been that way for a while now, which always seriously breaks my heart to think about).

      I truly hope that you're able to follow in the footsteps of these venerable relatives and make it to 85, 90, or more yourself, dear Lorena.

      ♥ Jessica

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  20. What an amazing and thoughtful project indeed! I love that there is someone out there collecting the stories behind these magnificent vintage pieces.

    Cheers!

    Brigid
    the Middle Sister and Singer

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    1. As do I! It's really one of those ideas that when you hear about it, you say to yourself "My word, how has no one done this before? It's genuine!" And that it is! I'm sure that Zohar would love to feature you and your sisters, if you ladies are interested.

      Thank you very much for your wonderful comment,
      ♥ Jessica

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet dear.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  22. I loved reading your story and have already followed Zohar's blog. I'm rather active on tumblr, but I go through my phases when I'm not, and hope to go through her archive and read some of the other posts from featured bloggers.

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    1. That's really cool! If I could go back in time a few years, I think I'd hop on the Tumblr train, so to speak, big time, too, but at present, I can't squeeze in much time for new social media accounts, so I've held off from joining. Perhaps one day! :)

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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