July 29, 2015

Meet two fellow bloggers: Vintage power couple Laurence & Sylvain from Lost in the 50s


Every interview that is a part of this delightful ongoing monthly series is equally near and dear to my heart, but I'd be lying if I said that there aren't certain bloggers in particular whom I secretly hoped would volunteer to take part in it, simply because I'd admire and have been inspired by them so incredibly much for years now.

Absolutely, bar none, hands down one - or, I should say, two - of those people are none other than the dynamic European vintage loving couple that is Laurence and Sylvain. Chances are, if you've been a part of the vintage blogging scene for any length of time, you will have discovered their fantastic vintage fashion filled blog, Lost in the 50s and have come to know these two friendly, stylish, travel loving people who call France home.




Not only are Laurence and her husband Sylvain incredible dressers and passionate fans of the vintage lifestyle, but one has only to spend a little time watching them (online) to instantly recognize just how truly in love and devoted to one another they are. As a lifelong romantic, this has always made me adore the two of them all the more and was part of the reason why I was so keen to involve them in this interview series.

Recently I chatted via email with Laurence, who answered the slew of questions (it was tricky not to ask her and Sylvain dozens more, as I find them to be such immensely interesting people!) on behalf of her and husband. Though the answers are all hers, she speaks of Sylvain's tastes, interests, wardrobe, etc often throughout this exciting interview and one really senses both of their presence in these awesome answers.

If, like me, you've always wanted to know more about Laurence and Sylvain - or if you're meeting them for the first time here today - settle into a cozy seat and read on. I promise you, you'll be as enthralled with the details of their huge wardrobe, their time warp home, their vintage cars, and their joie de vivre as I am!



You guys are arguably the best know vintage lifestyle couple on the planet and it is a sincere honour to chat with both of you today. For those who may not yet have discovered your wonderful blog and social media accounts, could you please share a bit about yourselves?

I'm Laurence, a French woman in her mid-thirties. I’ve been a vintage addict for 15 years  now and am married to an other crazy addict, Sylvain. We live in France a few miles from Luxembourg, Belgium, and Germany, where we live a mid-century retro life in the heart of Europe.




What drew you to vintage fashions?

We have always loved vintage movies and old music. Perhaps it also came from our childhoods, when I was a huge fan of Back to Future and Sylvain never missed an episode Happy Days on TV. When I met my husband, he already had a vintage car, and we started going together to flea markets in our area. One day I found a box full of vintage ELLE magazines from the 50’s and really fell in love with all those glamorous models! I bought my first vintage dress a week after that and I was hooked. Sylvain followed me immediately in the quest for more vintage treasures!



In particular, what are some of the elements of the decade(s) that you each prefer that really adhere you those years and their wonderful fashions?

1945-1955 is my favorite era. I like most of the things from this time period: clothes, music, cars, decoration, movies. That was a joyful era just after the war. I’m a huge fan of Dior’s New Look, when women really dressed like women, complete with hats, petticoats, nice accessories, and great make-up! I also like the 30’s, but art deco era fashion doesn’t suit my curvy body.

My husband really likes to wear 1930s styles though and he can switch easily from a 30’s suit to a early 60’s Hawaiian shirt. Ultimately, he is a crazy vintage car lover at heart, preferring US cars from the late 50’s.




How has the vintage lifestyle scene changed since you both began taking part in it?

When we started dressing in the old fashioned way, we didn’t even know what the word "vintage" meant. I didn’t have any friends or relatives who liked old stuff and the internet was not what it is today. There was no social networks, almost no blogs yet, and so we had to learn for ourselves how to be able to recognized original items of clothing, as well as furniture, home decor pieces, dishware, etc.


In the beginning, I bought all the vintage clothes that I could find in thrift stores from the era that I love, even if they weren’t actually my size.  A few months later I discovered eBay and as if you imagine it, back then a lot of auctions still didn’t have photos!


The vintage scene didn’t exist either where we lived, but the rock’n roll scene had been around since the late 70’s, so some events like Hemsby, the Rockabilly Rave, or Rhythm Riot in England were already popular. Our first vintage event was the Rhythm Riot in 2003, what a nice souvenir!!!

Kustom culture quickly became more and more popular, with a lot of pin-up girls, a lot of tattoos and custom cars emerging. It’s not the style that I personally like, but a lot of new events were created because of that and so I can certainly appreciate it all the more because of that fact.


I can honestly say that it’s easier to dress in a vintage wear now than it was twenty years ago, as there are a lot of repro brands out there these days, and with the internet, it’s so easy to buy vintage from all around the world at the click of a mouse!




What have some of the biggest perks and/or highlights of living a vintage filled life been for you?

I think that it’s the fact that you can choose the best parts of the era you like. Some people ask me if I would want to live in the 50’s. No, it’s great to live now and having the best of a modern life and the best of the 50’s.

I’m well aware that life back then was not always a bed of roses. There were bad conditions still for many women, racism, poverty, and many other serious social concerns. Today we can live now a 50’s life, but with the advantages of a modern world. I think it’s important to be aware of history in order to have a better life in the present (Jessica’s note: I agree with you completely!).


It must be incredible to each be married to someone who is as in love with vintage as you are! Do you have any advice for new couples who are both into vintage and just starting out their life together?

It’s really nice to share the same interests. I cannot imagine living with someone who didn’t like vintage. We discovered so many things together and I love that fact. Even in the context of vintage, you can have your own interests. For example, we usually don’t buy the same things as one another at flea markets.

My husband became interested in vintage clothes because of me and I in turn bought a 50’s car because of him. It gives you a great deal of motivation to have a fellow vintage lover right there with you as you go through life. I’m sure that we would have never have come far on our own.




In addition to wearing vintage, you also live in a mid-century vintage filled home and drive vintage cars, which is awesome! Are there certain areas of your life that you've intentionally chosen to keep modern and others that you couldn't fathom not being vintage?


Yes, our house is fully furnished with vintage items and we own four vintage American cars from the 50s. I'm not personally fond of repro/modern clothes (except for some shoes and a few accessories), as I find that I'm always disappointed with quality, cut or fabric, so for me vintage cannot be compared to modern designs. But of course we use some actual commodities like computers and a modern car.

We cannot drive all year long with a vintage car due to our cold snowy/rainy winter and the price of gasoline. Moreover, I really cannot live without internet! But those kinds of items where there is not a big difference between vintage and modern (one being far superior to the other, I mean), we turn to the vintage choice with great pleasure. Some of these things include dishes, lamps, small appliances, for example.


You each have wardrobes that are flat out incredible! What are some of the main sources that you acquire your vintage fashions (and household items) from?

We have 3 main sources:

-Internet: chiefly sites like Etsy or eBay.


-Flea markets: where we mostly find accessories, as vintage clothes from the 40’s-50’s are quite rare at most European flea markets.


-Vintage shops: we like to travel a lot and we always visit some vintage stores in the main cities that we’re staying in.



How large, roughly, would you say that your wardrobe is at this point?

It’s a big problem, when you are addicted (to vintage), you cannot stop buying more! :) It’s becoming harder and harder to store our collection of vintage clothes. I believe that at this point, I would be able to dress for a full year without wearing the the same outfit twice. My wardrobe in about 5 times bigger than than Sylvain’s!





Do you ever sell or giveaway pieces that you don't wear/don't like/don't fit you well anymore?

Yes, we try to sell on our Facebook page at least twice a year, but it’s a lot of work because I want to take nice pictures to present each item at its best. I try to sell at the price I paid for items myself. I have a few suitcases full of clothes (men and women) for sale, just ready and waiting for my next sale.



Have you two ever thought about opening up a vintage shop of your own?

An online shop, I would say yes, but not a real shop because you need to live in a large city to be able to open such a business in Europe. But it’s so much work and as pre-60s vintage is so hard to find in Europe, I would want to 80’s stuff just in order to keep my business going. I think that I like to work outside of vintage and be able to enjoy it all the more on weekends and vacations because its not my day job.




You've travelled for the sake of vintage many times, including to Viva Las Vegas in America. What has been your favourite vintage related trip so far?

About all our travels were related to vintage… not only for vintage, but if we are planning a trip in a city, we always search for flea markets or vintage shops before we leave. It's also a good way to discover a city, and meet local people – plus in looking for those shops, you can discoverer some non-touristy areas, which is one of the best sides to traveling!


For vintage, the best destination is of course the USA, the heaven for all vintage addicts! A lot of shops are way cheaper than  here in Europe and as such we make a point to go to the US at least once a year. My best memory of our trips there so far has been when we were part of two different vintage style weddings in California a few years ago. But I also remember those road trips we made with our ’59 Cadillac to England for events like the Rockabilly Rave or the Rhythm Riot, which were a lot of fun as well.


Our next trip will be to Bavaria, Austria, and Hungary… vintage is not our main goal for this road trip, but of course we’ve already looked into all the flea markets and vintage shops there!



Are there any cool vintage related events that you'd like to attend, anywhere in the whole wide world, that you haven't been to yet?

I would like to England for the GOODWOOD Revival. The best vintage events take place in the UK for sure and I think this one is quite unique, even there. Sylvain would love to be able to go with one of his cars to the Power Big Meet in Sweden for the biggest US classic car show in the world!

Two other destinations that I would really like to visit one day are Japan and Australia.




Do you enjoy cooking vintage recipes as well? And if so, do you collect vintage cookbooks and recipe booklets?

My husband collects vintage cookbooks, even if he doesn’t know how to cook! :) I must say though, that he loves to collect almost anything from his favourite decades. For me, I can cook some nice French recipes, but never from vintage books. If you are reading a few vintage recipes, they can sometimes be quite funny. For example, I read one a few days ago about how to make a MONSTER egg with 16 classic eggs.



You are both master accessorizers, do you have any styling tips to share when it comes to adding those perfect finishing (or in some cases, starting) touches to an outfit?

For me colors are really important in an outfit. So I choose my accessories mainly because of their colors and also perhaps their era. I would not wear a 40’s hat with a 50’s dress.


For jewels, I usually wear a watch, earrings and bracelets. I love to wear brooches, but most of the time no necklace. If you are wearing both, I think it’s too much. I don’t know why but I feel naked without anything on my head: snood, flowers, hats, scarves.

My husband is sometimes more bold and mixes unexpected colors! For him, the border between very good taste and bad taste is really thin and he wants to get close as possible to it without cross over to the other side.




What are your very favourite kinds of accessories?

My husband would definitely say 1940s ties and vintage tie bars for him, whereas with me, it’s more complicated. I LOVE accessories: hats, purses, shoes, jewels, umbrellas, gloves, eyeglasses. I think that even with more basic outfits, you can look like a real princess if you chose the perfect accessories! So if I must pick, I would say brooches and purses.


When I first start wearing vintage, I was focused on clothes and I was often disappointed with some outfits, than I came to understand the importance of accessories! Moreover, they have a huge advantage compared to vintage clothes: they always fit!!! (Except for shoes, of course.)



With such great wardrobes, successful storage must come into play for you guys. Do you have any great tips for storing large vintage collections?

Of course having a dedicated room for your clothes is a must have, but it’s hard for us to give advice because storage is really one of our biggest problem. I would say that you will have three enemies when you are collecting vintage clothes: light, dust, and moths!!! So you must protect your wardrobe from all of them as much as you possibly can.



Do you have any so-called holy grail/unicorn vintage items that you've been hunting for now for many years, but haven't yet found?

Hard to say! What is good about the hunt for vintage is that you never know what you will find next. In many cases, you don’t even know that an item ever existed until you find it in a local flea market for next to nothing and it become like a real treasure to you. Really, again, you never know with vintage hunting and that’s where so much of its appeal lies.



Are there elements, even if you don't usually wear them yourselves, that you like of modern fashion?

The only advantage of modern clothes for me is their ease of care. You can usually wash them without worrying about if they’ll hold up in washing machine, and thus you don’t fear if something gets a stain or if laundering them will damage them, as you need to keep in mind with vintage. Some are more comfortable for sure, but that’s it. Modern clothes are not our cup of tea!





I'm sure that the safe answer to this question, would be a resounding "yes", but do you see yourself wearing vintage and living a vintage filled life for the rest of your lives?

I would say "yes", but we never know. I have seen so many people (friends, bloggers…) leaving the world of vintage lately, even if they wore vintage clothes on an everyday basis previously. I feel quite sad about that, but life changes: a new baby, a divorce, a new job, a change of interests… you cannot be sure of what life will be made of!



What are some things aside from vintage that you're both passionate about?

I would say animals. We don’t have pets anymore because of our full time jobs and the fact that we travel a lot. But I would love to adopt a puppy! In particular, I would like a cute “wiener” dog one day. We are not big cat people, but we do love various types of rodents cats but we are also fan of rodents, from guinea pigs to capybaras!


What inspired you to launch your fantastic blog, Lost in the 50s?

A lot of people asked me but why don’t share your unusual everyday vintage life with others? We were interviewed for a French vintage car magazine called POWERGLIDE (where we now write two articles for each issue) and the article was called “Lost in the 50’s”. The feedback that get received from it was really amazing and it was clear that people were keen to learn more about Sylvain and I.

So as I was already following a few blogs I said to myself, ‘You know, why not?” Moreover, I wanted to have more contact with people from all around the world in our vintage scene, and that’s why I chose to write the blog in English, even if it’s not my mother tongue. I also wanted be able to help people who were just entering the vintage world first time, while also creating a diary of our daily lives.



You're active on social media. What is your favourite social media site and why (is it such)?

My favorite social media site to stay in touch with my friends from all around the world is Facebook, but for being in touch with the vintage scene in genereal, I prefer Instagram. I have a page for the blog on Facebook but I don’t like their policies, they want you to pay for everything there.


I discovered Instagram less than a year ago and I feel that it's the future, as it’s so mush easier to use than a blog. In only a few seconds you can share what you like with thousands people. Unfortunately, I think that because of the rise of social media, less and less people are taking the time to read blogs any more. 



What are some things that you wish your readers and fans knew about you, that they likely don't already?

There is one thing that I have almost never spoken about my blog and that’s our jobs, which are not vintage related. Sylvain is a real estate seller and I'm engineer. Nothing glamorous in that, but it helps us to make our dream life come true!




And last, but certainly not least, where do you guys see the future of the vintage lifestyle community and the wearing of vintage going?

I think that less and less people will wear true vintage (as in pre-70’s styles) as time goes on.  It’s becoming harder to find and much more expensive when you do. In the last 15 years, prices have more than double. In addition, as repro is so easy to find and a lot easier to care for usually, a lot of people choose to wear vintage inspired clothes instead of genuine vintage - even if repro is sometimes more expensive than the real thing.

Often young people are more interested with 80’s funky clothes than girly 50’s fashion. Soon looks from the 90’s will become vintage. I think that designers will always be inspired by the past and as such vintage will never be outdated. The 50’s were themselves inspired by the XIXth century, the 70’s had a 30’s touch, the 80’s highlighted the 50’s, and so things will likely continue in much the same way as time goes on.



Connect with Laurence and Sylvain:

Their blog: Lost in the 50s







♥ ♥ ♥


Thank you so very, very much for your marvelous, thorough, informative answers, Laurence, and for speaking on behalf of both you and Sylvain. It was truly an honour to chat with you and to have the chance to share so much about you guys with my lovely readers.

You are unequivocally one of the best known and most inspiring vintage lifestyle couples of all time and I am certain that there are countless old school fans around the planet who look up to, and delight in knowing, you (through your blog and social media).

Next up for August's exciting vintage blogger post, we'll be waltzing our way back to North America to talk with a stylish vintage and rockabilly loving makeup artist from the Eastern shores of the good old USA of A, who has lead, and continues to lead, a full life that will touch and inspire big time. I can hardly wait to chat with her!

51 comments:

  1. Amazing interview again, Jessica! What an inspiring couple - I kind of can't believe I've been part of the same interview series; I feel like such an amateur in comparison! I love that shot of their home - complete envy... I find it really interesting that they don't want to mix vintage with their working lives - I've always felt similarly about keeping my work and play quite separate. Hence I work at a publisher but not on books I'd ever read myself; and I like it that way! It's particularly interesting to see this kind of similar mindset when a lot of people are setting up shops now - I'm not alone! I often wonder if I'd lose enthusiasm for blogging if it became my full-time job, for example... Anyway, I digress, great questions again :) x

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    1. You're entirely too kind, sweet CiCi, thank you very much. This series is not about the featuring (just) the biggest and most famous vintage/rockabilly/pinup folks in the slightest. In fact, so much of what spurred me on to start is was the desire to help new, up and coming, or lesser known blogs connect with a wider audience (though, completely honestly, I would definitely put your awesome blog in the well known camp). We're all peers and it's just so great when we can connect and help support one another's sites. It's my sincere hope that this post series is doing its own wee part on that front.

      It would be fascinating to take a poll, if such were possible, of the whole vintage community and find out how many folks keep their vintage life largely (or entirely) separate from their day job.

      Thank you very much for your great comment and for your awesome support of this post series since day one, my dear friend.

      Tons of hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  2. I have discovered the blog of this wonderful guys before, their wardrobe and their style is adorable! Reading their blog is like going with them on their trips.

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    1. That is so fabulously true, Doris, I couldn't agree more - they're the virtual vintage travel guides for all of us around the world and we're very fortunate to have them in our community. They both enrich it immensely with their presence.

      Big hugs & happy Wednesday wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  3. These two are just my all time favorite vintage couple ever, and I think it is so wonderful that they found each other - the true meaning of soulmates! I always enjoy their blog posts and Instagram posts immensely and it was wonderful to find out more about them :D

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    1. So do I, big time! You can just tell instantly that they're incredibly close and so wonderfully in love with each other. It's flat out refreshing in this day and age and something that an ol' romantic like me never gets tired of seeing.

      Many thanks for your terrific comment, lovely Harlow - big hugs!
      ♥ Jessica

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  4. Great couple! Great interview. Now I know why I don't think I've ever seen her wear the same thing twice. Would love to see that wardrobe.

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    1. Thank you very much, dear Debra. They really are a stellar, inspiring, delightful couple and some of the best dressed folks on the planet, to boot!

      Big hugs & happy Wednesday wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  5. Wowee! I was hoping you'd interview this fab couple, and I feel like I'm getting two for the price of one. I heartily see myself and my fiancee in some of the comments that Laurence made about shared interests and how that grows and develops and you each end up 'specialising' in various aspects. They seem incredibly authentic, both in terms of the kind of vintage lifestyle they lead, but also as people. I was fascinated to hear that Laurence is an engineer! That's brilliant. I definitely like to hear about vintage loving women who have rather modern jobs.

    Hope you're having a tip-top week! It's descended rather into chaos here with me in the run up to the wedding, so if I'm a bit quiet over the next month and don't pop by to comment on your blog as often, you know why!!

    xx

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    1. Thank you very much for your awesome excitement - I share in it completely and am still smiling with joy over the fact that these two wonderful folks are the stars of this new blogger interview post. They're both so cool, stylish, and inspiring - it's an honour to feature them here.

      Many thanks, too, for your thoughtful head's up about possibly being a bit MIA in the near future. That's so thoughtful of you to mention. Please don't worry for a moment. It's beyond okay and I totally understand. This is such an incredible, happy, exciting time for you and you should definitely focus on your wedding as much as your heart desires. I'm so happy for you and your finance and wish you both a lifetime of wedded bliss.

      Tons of hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  6. I love both your blogs Laurence and Jessica. I think one of the things I've learned from following Lost in the 50s is about consistency, of knowing what you like and keeping on with that which I think leads to Laurence and Sylvain being so polished and together. Also it's so interesting to see how dressing for very different seasons can be done. I also appreciate Laurence's shoes. I have to wear braces and orthopedic boots so have a vicarious interest in seeing Miss L Fire shoes out there in the world.

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    1. Hi Merrian, thank you very much for your lovely comment and for letting me know that you're such a big fan of my blog. That is always truly touching to hear. I completely agree with you regarding the fact that Laurence and Sylvain both have such a great sense of their own personal styles and that they're not afraid to rock their vintage looks with pride and happiness alike. We could all take a page from their books there.

      Many hugs & happy end of July wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

      *PS* Are you familiar with the blog "A Vintage Nerd"? The absolutely terrific lady, Daffny, who runs that blog is an orthopedic leg brace (and vintage) wearer herself. Here's her site: http://www.avintagenerd.net

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    2. Thanks for sharing Daffny's blog, Jessica. I have added it to my blog list. I am not strictly vintage in my styling. I have too many body problems to find vintage I can wear. I do take a lot of inspiration from the thought you and everyone in the vintage blog world puts into their outfits and presentation and use that for inspiration e.g. I decided to lay out a day's outfit the night before so that I can put thought into it.

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    3. You're very welcome, Merrian. I fully understand. Please always remember that one's love of vintage resides in their heart above all else, including their closet, and I can tell that your passion runs thoroughly deep.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  7. This is by far the most adorable couple I have ever seen. it is so cool that they actually live the vintage lifestyle too.I remember seeing a special on TV about it a couple years back and I was totally fascinated by the idea. Thanks for featuring them :)

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    1. Thank you very much, dear Sylvie. They truly are an awesome, inspiring couple - with wardrobes that make one swoon with delight at the mere thought. I really appreciate that Laurence answered all my questions and put so much time and thought into her responses. I think we're all delighting in learning more about her and her stylish husband.

      Many thanks for your lovely comment - big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  8. What an amazing interview! I have been a long time fan of Laurence & Sylvain for a few years now and 2 years ago at Viva I went up to Laurence to say that I liked her blog and then practically ran away in shyness and never said anything else (good one liz lol).

    Every time I open up their blog I'm BLOWN away by how amazing their wardrobe is and this interview also blew me away.

    Excellent Job!

    Liz :)

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    1. Huge thanks, lovely Liz. It's so cool that you got a chance to meet Laurence, even if it was just for a few moments. Hopefully your paths will get to cross in person again one day.

      Me too! They are both so incredibly stylish and inspiring. Getting to learn more about this fantastic couple via this interview felt akin being invited into their beautiful vintage home.

      Big hugs & happy Wednesday wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  9. They have such amazing and inspiring style. I love the quirky and kitschy details in their wardrobes. I definitely think they are the most fashionable couple Ive ever seen.

    retro rover

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  10. Jessica, thanks a lot for this interview and for all your kind words!!!
    You always give so much of your time to others, I really like that!

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    1. Hello dear Laurence, you are sincerely welcome. It was a genuine joy to chat with you and it's a blast seeing everyone's comments pour in on this post. You guys are so adored and treasured in the community, and I think I speak for all of us when I say thank you for being the wonderful, inspiring, endlessly stylish couple that you are.

      Tons of hugs & thanks from Canada,
      ♥ Jessica

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  11. It was amazing to know about them and I love the pictures - the wedding dress is the way I would have chosen a dress for a special occasion! And the house! Well, it's true, not possible to drive the whole year long with a classic car, but the Tv was brilliant! I used to have classic cars and they consume a lot of fuel, bu they are amazing! The 1945-55s era is really the best, in my opinion! I will surely visit their blog!
    DenisesPlanet.com

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    1. I'm delighted to have been able to introduce you to this fabulous vintage loving couple and hope that you enjoy their blog every bit as much as I do. It's really cool that you used to have classic cars - that's awesome! We've never had one, but it sure would be a dream of mine - especially a pink or aqua hued 1957 Chevy convertible (my fantasy car!).

      Many thanks for your great comment - have a beautiful Thursday,
      ♥ Jessica

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  12. What a beautiful couple, great interview! ^^

    Hugs, Pri
    http://vintagepri.blogspot.com

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  13. I love Laurence and Sylvain and this was a wonderful interview. I'm pretty new to the vintage world so this was fun to read. I will say until I lose some weight I've been mostly buying repo because I feel less scared altering it than true vintage. And it's hard to find vintage around here.

    The thing that really rang true for me in this was "today we can live now a 50’s life, but with the advantages of a modern world. I think it’s important to be aware of history in order to have a better life in the present" I totally agree! I concern myself a feminist so I know the 50's would have been tough but happy to be able to take the good and leave the bad. :)

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    1. Absolutely! There are countless elements of the past that I embrace and enjoy weaving into my daily life, but I try never to look at it with rose coloured glasses and there are lots of things that would have been a substantial problem for me back in the day - very much including even getting diagnoses or help with some of my chronic illnesses (let alone having the broad range of foods available now to safely eat for/around those that involve a special diet). I'd happy take a trip back in time (and go on a shopping spree then), but I wouldn't actually want to live long term in the past.

      Many thanks for your great comment on this post, dear Lisa. Have a beautiful last week of July!
      ♥ Jessica

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  14. Oh I love reading your interviews, Jessica! These two are the cutest couple ever, and I love their blog! I think I should bite the bullet and request an interview with you one day soon, ahaha!

    Carla, TinyAngryCrafts

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Carla. I adore this series, too - though it's always a little unnerving to realize how quickly time passes between each post. I try to space them out about 3 to 5 weeks apart, to ensure each person (or couple, in this case) has the spotlight rightfully shone on them in the moment, and it always boggles my mind how quickly time flies between each new entry in this fun ongoing series.

      It would be a joy and an honour to interview you one day, my friend. Please feel free to email or FM PM me anytime if you'd like to discuss a possible post month for such. Right now I'm booking for next year (even that that fast pace of interviews, dates filled up super quickly when my call for interviewees went out earlier this year).

      Tons of hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  15. such a cool couple! love the last photo in the snow (of cause) :-)
    <3

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    1. They really and truly are! I love that photo of them as well. I often like to cap off my own outfit posts with photos taken from the back (if we did some for a given shoot). I didn't ask Laurence for a photo like that of them, she just included it with her interview answers and I beamed when I saw that she did, because it was seriously the perfect image to wrap up this delightful interview post with.

      Many hugs & happy Thursday wishes, my sweet friend!
      ♥ Jessica

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  16. Hello and thanks for this interview! Just love the blog 'Lost in the 50s'! Easily my favorite vintage blog :)

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    1. A warm hello to you as well. Thank you very much for your comment. Lost in the 50s is definitely one of my favourite vintage blogs ever, too. I hope that they keep it going for many more years to come.

      Have a beautiful day,
      ♥ Jessica

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  17. I just adore Laurence and Sylvain! They are so perfect together. I love how each loved vintage things to begin with and how it all just grew once they got together.

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    1. I really admire that about both of them as well. They've got such a strong, inspiring dynamic to their personal relationship as well as to the one that they share with vintage. It was such a joy and honour to get to chat in such an in-depth manner with them and to learn more about this awesome European couple that inspire countless vintage lovers the world over every day.

      Thank you very much for your great comment - big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  18. Can we just take a moment and GUSH ABOUT HOW AMAZING THIS IS. LIKE TOTALLY.
    I love these people. I'm probably their newest biggest fan. The answers to these questions are spot on, especially the one about loving history making us more aware of the present. That really jumped out at me. Another stellar and inspiring interview that makes me happy to be alive NOW, but wearing fashions of yesteryear.

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    1. We can - and should - gush and squeal and thoroughly delight in the amazingness that is Laurence and Sylvain. They're stylish, wonderfully in love with each other, creative, passionate, and endlessly inspiring.

      Many thanks for your wonderful comment, dear Abigail. I hope that you've having a lovely week and sunny, enjoyable final day of July.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  19. Hip-hip.. three times "cheer" for them!
    I have been following their outings and going-ons for quite some time, and they are such an inspiration. The blog they run features some amazing photos, and they are so proud of their vintage flee market finds (here's the thing; once you see the pride they have with having found an item on the market, you get the boost of energy and a push of enthusiasm for doing so yourself).
    Mind me saying: they are (and deserve to be) so house proud.. have you seen what energy have they put in finding that "fashionable" TV set, an original.. I call that a true vintage calling.

    ..
    As for you, my dear:
    How are you?
    How's Tony doing? Anything interesting happening in US?


    Have a great Friday, darling... and, please DO keep these interviews coming our way.
    Marija

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    1. Hello sweet Marija, thank you very much for your terrific comment regarding Laurence & Sylvain, and for so sweetly asking how Tony and I are each doing. We're both well, though very busy with work (as per usual) and delighted by the fact that there's now less time left until he gets home than when he embarked for the States (there's about five more weeks to go until he gets home). The pets are well, too, as is my family, I"m very happy to report. How is everything on your end as we rush headfirst in the eighth month of the year?

      Your wish is my command regarding more interviews. When I put out my initial call for participants, even at the speedy rate of one post roughly every three to four weeks, I booked slots up clear to mid-2016, so I won't be running out of interviewees anytime soon (which is great!).

      Many thanks again & have a stellar weekend!
      ♥ Jessica

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  20. I do love their blog. Their posts are always so inspiring - Laurence is such a well-dressed lady, and Sylvain never looks less than dapper.

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    1. I completely agree! They could easily pen a book, if so desired, on how to look impeccably well dressed and put together.

      Many thanks for your great blog comments this week, Mim. I hope that you're doing splendidly and having a lovely Friday.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  21. What an interesting read!! Thanks for sharing this on your blog.

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  22. They are so cute! Love their authentic style

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    1. As do I. Their look is so polished, poised, and timelessly beautiful/handsome. I don't know of a more stylish couple anywhere in the world and was so thrilled when Laurence answered my call for interviewees earlier this year. Chatting with them was a total blast!

      Big hugs & happy Sunday wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  23. Another fab interview! I am always inspired by their outfits on the blog and instagram, and they always come across as so sweet together and so fun. I loved reading more of their story here. And maybe this is weird (and I am aware that I have a bit of an obsession with career paths) but I loved finding out what they do for a living! It seems like there are a lot of vintage-loving women in engineering and science, but maybe I'm imagining that just because I notice them the most!

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Tanith. I'm the same way, too. I can't think of a single time that I wasn't inspired (and entertained) by their great blog posts. I really like the fact that they usually share such a wealth of photos in each outfit post. I know that doing so isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I adore it - especially since it often helps us to get a 360 degree view of their amazing ensembles.

      I don't think that's weird at all (I like finding that out about folks I know online, too). That is such a good point and one that I've noticed before, too. It's awesome how many vintage lovers are into STEM related careers. I went through a period as a child when I wanted to be a scientist (either a marine biologist or an astronomer) myself and though life didn't end up going down that career path for me, I've always maintained a massive love for science and related fields, reading many books (and online articles, etc) pertaining to such each year.

      Thank you very much for your terrific comment. Have a beautiful first week of August!
      ♥ Jessica

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  24. These two are my favorites!!! I lost the link to their blog a while ago but I'm so thankful for this post because now I've found it again :D They have such style and though I don't see myself going quite into the vintage as they are (as in house, car, etc.) they are very inspiring and I loved to read this interview :) Excellent :)
    ~Theresa

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    1. Yippee! I'm really happy to have been able to reunite you with their fantastic blog. They're total faves of mine too and getting a chance to chat with Laurence like this was such a joy and honour. I hope that they both keep blogging and sharing their passion for the past with us for many more years to come.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  25. What a lovely interview, you always do such a great job. I have followed L&S for years and adore them, they are the cutest couple and the most stylish vintage loving people I've ever known. What I really love about them is that they are so genuine. They always look like they are taken out of the fifties, no over done pinup/rockabilly style for them. Wishing you a lovely day, dear. :)

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    1. Thank you so much, lovely Sanne. Don't they though? You can tell that a passion for vintage is interwoven into their souls and that they're absolutely at home in their mid-century filled world and when wearing vintage in public. They're such an inspiration and truly two of the most stylish people on the planet!

      Wishing you a sunny, fantastic day as well!

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  26. Great interview, I enjoyed finding out more about them both. I really enjoy their blog, Laurence has such great outfits and accessorises so well. Looking forward to your next interview post!

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    1. Thank you very much, dear Kate! They really are some of the coolest, most fashionable people on the planet and I was giddy as a schoolgirl when they offered to be interviewed. :)

      Hard as it to believe that almost a month has passed since Laurecen's interview, that it has, and the next entry in this series should be coming down the pipeline later this very week if all goes to plan. :)

      Big hugs & happy Tuesday wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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