12 rapid fire questions with, and a CD Giveaway from, the wonderful Boyer Sisters

Over the years, I've had the immense pleasure of chatting many individuals and even one fabulous couple here on my blog, but today is the first time I've sat down with not one, not two, but three fantastic individuals for an people for the same interview post.

Specifically, I'm talking about none other than the dynamic, inspiring and very lovely Boyer Sisters, who many of you may be acquainted with through their stellar vintage fashion, sewing and lifestyle site, The Boyer Family Singers Blog.




Whether you're just meeting this trio of talented ladies for the the first time right this very moment or have been firm fans of theirs for some time now, I'm sure that you'll adore today's rapid fire style interview with these three delightful women.

Gift vocalists each, the Boyer Sisters - a swing era style musical harmony group comprised of three actual sisters, Jessica, Charlotte and Brigid, respectively - have been preforming together since 2008 (when they were all still young children spanning in age from 9 - 13) and have developed a distinct and deeply lovely sound that channels the the spirit of the big band days to no end.

The Sisters perform at many events and venues around America, including some involving WWII veterans, and just released their first ever, eponymously named, full length album last year (to learn more about the Boyer Sisters music, be sure to check out their website devoted to such).

As if that wasn't enough to keep anyone on their toes, the Sisters also run a frequently updated and immensely lovely blog, which includes a vast array of posts spanning topics as diverse as sewing projects to their faith, birthday celebrations to "what I wore" style outfit entries.

I've had the pleasure of knowing and working with the Brigid, Jessica and Charlotte in various capacities for a few years now and can honestly say that they are some of the sweetest, nicest, and most kind hearted folks I've ever encountered online or off.

These passionate young ladies bring grace, elegance, and a deep reverence to the past in all that they say and do online and with their music, and I feel truly honoured to have the opportunity to not only interview them, but to offer one lucky Chronically Vintage reader the chance to win their very own copy of the Boyer Sister's CD, here today.

Read on to learn more about the Boyer Sisters (who are each referred to by their first initial throughout this interview), their music, vintage wardrobes, dreams for the future, and so much more - then enter, below the interview, for you chance to win a copy of their toe tappingly fantastic CD.



1. What was the driving force behind the creation of your blog?


All: The driving force behind starting our blog was the inspiration that we gathered from other vintage, sewing and fashion bloggers, such as you, Jessica, and the realization that we had thoughts and opinions of our own that we wanted to share. So really it started as a blog for "us" in a way, and grew into something that was a way for us to minister to, and encourage, others.




2. Fashion, chiefly vintage fashion, is a key element of your website. How important is it to you to balance outfit/wardrobe related posts with other types of entries? Do you try to portion things out in a fairly set way (e.g., 50% fashion related posts, 50% other types of posts) or just let things flow organically there?

C: Overall, we schedule out our posts two weeks in advance and try and have at least one type of post out of each category that we blog about; Fashion, Creativity, Lifestyle, and Beauty, in each week. What we post is very organic in content, and we will trade off who will write up a fashion post each week. If it comes to me to do a fashion related post, typically I will do an outfit post, unless I have a fun, creative fashion idea that I want to share.


B: I am "the seamstress" of the blog, so I find it harder to balance fashion related posts with "What I Made" posts, since, for me, the creativity of sewing is inseparably linked to fashion. Generally what ends up happening is I will share an outfit post, unless I have something new that I have made, in which case any typical outfit post for me is thrown out the window in favor of sharing my latest creation.


J: I will say that if I don't have anything new to share, be it a new outfit combination, something I have bought that I love and want to share, or something that I have made, I will typically opt for a post that is more uplifting and encouraging to our readers. I try to be more sensitive, thoughtful, and encouraging, making sure that my life isn't always represented by fashion, but is represented by the fact that I care about other people and want to minister to, and uplift them, in any way I can.



3. What has been one or two of the best/most rewarding things about blogging for each of you?

J: For me, it would definitely be gaining a host of new friends from all over the country (and the world) who, if they are not so completely similar in their thinking, are encouraged to try new things through our example.


B: The most rewarding thing for me has been connecting with our readers, and gaining encouragement from the community that has grown up around our blog. It always brings a smile to my face when I receive a comment on a post, whether it be sewing or fashion related, saying that I have inspired someone to try something new, or revived an old dream that they forgot they ever had. Being able to encourage others touches me in a way that nothing else can.


C: My answer is very similar to my sisters. Just receiving comments, letters, and emails, hearing from our readers that we have touched them and inspired them to do things they were unsure of, or try new hobbies and new pursuits, that has been the most rewarding part of blogging.



4. Would you say that it's easier, harder or about the same to have three people run one blog than it is for just a single individual to do so?

B: I would definitely say it is easier to have three people running a blog. While we don't always get along and agree on everything, we each have different talents and gifts that we can use to help one another, and we can depend on each other to fill in the gaps when life and the blog become too much to handle collectively.


J: It is easier for a person like me, who is not remotely interested in coding, to have someone like Charlotte who can provide such a wonderful platform to work on. And it is hard trying to keep up with my sisters' creativity, while not always being able to do so.


C: It is easier in the respect that you have three people who think quite similarly coming up with content, so we don't have too hard of a time sticking with our blog vision. And also, we are able to blog frequently because we have three people working together to make things happen. It is harder in the sense that each of us do have to get along with two other people, and we have to work in harmony to make our goals possible, as opposed to just dealing with yourself. It is always more of a hassle dealing with other people than just being responsible to yourself.




5. What are each of your favourite time periods and why?

C: My favorite time period would be WW2. Nothing was perfect back in that era, nothing ever has been perfect! But the courage and valiance that the men and women showed back in that time is something to be admired, and from which I think we can find much to emulate. Besides the graver side of things, the fashions and music of that era were pretty spot on. ;)


B: There are several different eras in history that I admire, but the time period that I connect with the most is definitely the era surrounding WW2. As Charlotte said, the folks in that time had to have so much courage and tenacity to make it through those years, and I think we had a better sense of community then, than we do now. And I will just echo what Charlotte said, and say that the music and fashions were pretty swell too.


J: Laura Ingalls’ time when everyone was settling "out west" holds a special place in my heart, because we are from the western coast of the United States. If those folks had never ventured forth into the great unknown, we would never have had our home in the beautiful state of Washington (though we now live in the great Midwest in the state of Ohio), and their courage and fortitude were the inspiration that led to some of my favorite books that I have read.



6. In a few words (or lines), how would you each define your current styles?

J: Sturdy and reliable, natural, and tasteful.


C: Vintage-meets-modern, eclectic, with pops of color and a minimalist twist.


B: Authentic, ladylike, and eccentric.



7. What are some of each of your dreams and goals for the next five years of your life?

C: I've always had a dream of sharing my photography skills & web/graphic design know-how with a broader audience than just our blog, so starting a business with one (or both) of those hobbies is definitely a goal of mine. I would love to further pursue singing opera/Broadway style music outside of our girls' current career as 1940s-style performers, and I have always had the desire of becoming a wife and mother, so we'll see what happens with that :)


J: Oh, ho ho! You're talking to the girl who very much dislikes to plan for things, and rather likes to "go with the flow", if you will, of life and whatever it will bring. Having said that though, I have just picked up drawing again, so I hope to infuse that creative pursuit more heavily with the work I do on the blog. Besides this, I have begun to thoroughly enjoy the sport of running, and by the time the next five years is over I hope to have run a couple 5ks in the least. I have also just picked up a new Frank Sinatra book to study for voice, and I hope to incorporate those classic bluesy songs in with the shows the girls and I do already, if not to go out and do some solo work on my own. And to parrot Charlotte, I too greatly desire to be a wife and a mother, and pray fervently that that desire will be answered by the Lord someday soon.


B: To get married is definitely top of the list for me in the way of hopes and dreams. :) Aside from that dream of being a wife and mother, growing my ePattern business, Brijee Patterns, is going to be a focal point for me for the next few years. I always dreamed of having my own dressmaking business, but after realizing I am not cut out for the high-stress demands of that line of work, creating sewing patterns for other people to make clothing from has become a dream and passion of mine. We will see where I go in the days ahead.



8. You've grown a wonderful and impressive blog following. Do you have any tips in regard for those who may just be starting out or who are looking to grow the reach of their own blogs?

All: Connect with your readers! Open up just enough for them to really get to know you and feel like they are reading the blog of a friend, not just "a blogger". Be personal, but be tasteful about it (as another blogger, Elsie of A Beautiful Mess, put it: your blog is not your best friend).

Create a blog vision and stick to it, and always try to keep quality over quantity. People are attracted to bloggers that take time and energy to post and curate their content.




9. What are five things that bring you each joy?

C: Music (Frank Sinatra all day, every day :); creating something unique and beautiful; a sunny, blue sky; singing anything from Phantom of the Opera; performing in front of crowds, and bringing them joy.


B: Making music: Whether it be playing the piano and letting the tunes flow from my head to my fingers, or singing a tune as I go through my day; Sewing: watching a garment grow with every stitch; Cooking and baking: being able to experience that sense of satisfaction when you have made something delicious for everyone to enjoy; Learning something new: Whether it be history or homemaking related, I love discovering new things; Watching a child learn and the light that comes into their eyes when they understand something for the first time.


J: Being outside doing some recreational activities like walking, running, badminton, and bird watching, or doing something useful like gardening; drawing; singing with my sisters; having a heart to heart chat with somebody I love, be it a family member or friend.



10. Sewing is an integral part of your blog. How did you each get into this timeless art and what are some of your favourite types of garments to create?

B: When I was seven years old I asked my Mom to teach me what she knew about sewing. It started with making doll clothes, and after my skill grew from attending two summer sewing camps, I started making dolls as well. It was actually doll-making that drew me into the world of fashion history, which in turn prompted me to start sewing my own clothes in the styles that I couldn't find anywhere else.

My favorite type of garment to make... Oh, that is so hard to decide because I don't like making the same thing twice, and I enjoy the challenge each type of garment brings with it. The choice would probably be between skirts and dresses. Skirts because they are so simple and quick to make, and dresses because there are so many details that you can put into them.


C: I got into sewing through my Mom & sister Brigid :) One day I decided that it was something I wanted to learn, and the rest is history! I love sewing dresses, mostly. With the perfect fabric & design, it is such a joy to put in hours on a single dress, finishing each seam, fitting it just perfectly, and adding those bits and pieces that make it something special and magical to wear.


J: Like Charlotte, I too was encouraged and influenced by Brigi and Mom to sew, though I hopped on the bandwagon last. Before I made the commitment to learn the art, Mom was always the one to sew my clothes. After a while though, I began to realize that Mom and I did not share the same standards of perfection when it came to making a garment, and so I finally committed to making my own clothes so that they would be made exactly the way I wanted them, without any short cuts.

Don't take me wrong, Mom has always done a fine job of sewing for my sisters and I, but she isn't one for detail work like I am. And for me, if I have the time, making sure that even the smallest of details is done to perfection is one of my greatest joys in sewing. You could call me a snail when it comes to making up my own garments and I would agree with you. ;)



11. Can you each please share a hidden talent with us (aka, something that you haven't really discussed on your blog and that it might surprise people to learn about you)?

C: I love singing Broadway and opera music! I'm a bit of an actress at heart, so expressing emotion through song is a huge passion of mine, and the operatic Broadway style has a special place in my heart.


J: My "hidden talent" is derived from being able to look at something and then translate it onto paper or a 3d medium (such as clay) and make an exact copy of the object I am looking at. I mentioned above that one of my joys in life is drawing, and after recently having picked up that art form after neglecting it through high school, I am more inclined to say that art done with a pencil and paper, brush and paint, clay and tools resonates more with me than sewing ever will. As the months go on, I hope to share this talent on the blog, and reveal a side of Jessica Boyer that most people didn't know before.


B: I mentioned above that I love to play the piano. I have been studying the art since I was six years old, and I find such great joy in being able to just sit down at that instrument and make music go floating through the air. The moods that you can express and create are as limitless as the feelings that you have everyday, and, being an introvert, being able to "have a discussion" with myself, or praying through music, by playing the piano has helped me to work through many problems and conundrums.



12. And last, but certainly not least, what is it like having not one, but two other sisters who each share your passion for the past, sewing, and numerous other elements of life?

C: Not to sound cliché, but it's a true blessing in every sense of the word. We have our days when we just want to pull each other's hair out, but that's life. Having two other people who you've grown up with, share similar passions with, and just be best-friends with is a gift that I don't deserve, but am so grateful for.


B: It is nothing but a joy. We may get on each other's nerves at times, but I couldn't imagine life without Jessica and Charlotte. We pull each other up when we our down, and push each other off of the volcanoes of conceit that we inevitably find ourselves walking on at times. It is especially a blessing for me because I have two people to sound off my creative ideas with.

Sharing a passion for the past has led to interesting discoveries because we come at a subject from three different angles, and my sisters will think of things that I never would have myself. "A threefold cord is not easily broken" is our blog verse, and there never could be a saying that was more true. I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for the blessing of my two sisters, and I know they would say the same of me.


J: I couldn't have asked for better sisters than what the Lord has so graciously given to me. Being the eldest it is natural to take the leading stance, but as time has gone on, our age difference has all but disappeared in my mind, and I view my sisters as my equals whereas I used to not in my younger years. Truth to tell, it has been amazing to watch my sisters come into their own persons, albeit we all influence each other, but we still have very different personalities and characters that clash just as much as they compliment.

For everything I am so grateful, especially for our parent's stressing the need for us to work together. If it weren't for this, we would never be where we are today, singing and blogging three people strong.

♥ ♥ ♥

Giveaway Details:
This giveaway is for one physical copy of the Boyer Sisters CD, which will be mailed to you directly from the Sisters themselves. It starts today (May 16th) and runs until 11:59 PST on Monday May 23rd.

It open to participants from around the world and you are welcome to enter using as many of the following twelve different methods as you desire. The only one of which is mandatory to take part in this giveaway is that you leave a comment on this post telling me about your favourite type of vintage music.

If you have any questions about this giveaway, please don't hesitate to contact me via email.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

♥ ♥ ♥

From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank Jessica, Charlotte and Brigid for this fabulous interview, as well as for generously offering one lucky Chronically Vintage reader the chance to win a copy of their truly excellent CD.

Best of luck to all those who enter - and to the Boyer Sisters themselves, with their music, blog and all other areas of their lives.

You ladies are an inspiration on so many fronts, a breath of fresh air in today's world, gifted musicians, and an absolutely sincere pleasure to know.

Meet Kate Dutcher: The stylish jazz age wearing, passionate pet mama behind the blog Retro Rover

When this month began and my laptop died on the first of the month, I feared (especially once I knew that my new one would need to be ordered online and that it wouldn't arrive until around the end of February) that my usual monthly "Meet a Fellow Vintage Blogger" interview post might not happen.

Thankfully, this month's interviewee was very understanding about the whole situation, especially since she herself is presently making due without a working computer or iPad.

Between our respective cell phones, we were able to swap questions back and forth and I'm delighted to report that even with all of the unforeseen bumps in the road this month, I was still able to carry on as planned and interview none other than Katherine (aka, Kate) Dutcher from the marvelous blog Retro Rover.

Kate is one of those highly cool people whose interests span a diverse and engaging spectrum of different areas. Not only is she a passionate 1920s - 1960s vintage wearer, but she and her husband are awesome parents to a number pets, including several adorable dogs (so hence the "rover" part of her blog's name), plus she adores classic cinema, Star Trek, kitschy collectibles, and oodles more, all while holding down a career in the highly commendable field of special needs education.

As well, Kate is an active blogger and blog commenter alike, the latter of which I always admire so much in my fellow vintage bloggers.

She's kind, sweet, passionate, loads of fun, stylish, and a supporter of my Etsy shop to boot, so it was with no small amount of joy that I posed the following selection of questions to Kate this month and then lapped up her terrific answers!

Read on to find out (p)oodles more about this fabulous vintage sporting, critter adoring, kitsch collecting lady behind Retro Rover.

Your blog is a wonderful marriage of two of the most important elements of your life: your dogs and your love of vintage. Was it a conscious decision to combine the two or did it come about more organically? 

It was definitely a conscious decision. In 2011 I started a dog blog, Urban Hounds, about my pets. As time went on and I blogged more and more, I started to like the idea of blogging about one of my other obsessions, vintage clothing. In May of 2013, I started a second blog about my love of vintage, that I originally called 'The Old Fashioned Way'. I kept up both blogs for about five months, but it was tough maintaining two blogs. In December of 2013, I decided to combine them both and I created Retro Rover. 

What are some of the elements of vintage that really draw you to it? 

I’ve always liked images, objects, and clothing with an element of whimsy and fun, most utilitarian modern clothing is totally lacking this. However, vintage clothing, as well as vintage reproductions, has it in spades. I’m also a sucker for details, like a pretty button or a bow at the neck of a dress.  I find that these sorts of flourishes are prevalent in vintage styles. 

When did you first begin wearing vintage styles? 

I’ve had elements of vintage style in my wardrobe since I attended high school in the early 1990s.  I used to love shopping in thrift stores for vintage bits and bobs that I’d work into my wardrobe.  Occasionally  I even wore full-on vintage. For example, I wore a 1940s dress to my high school graduation. When I got married at age 23, I wore a 1920s style veil and the wedding definitely had a vintage feel. In my 20s and early 30s, I continued to have vintage elements in my wardrobe, but I didn’t really embrace full on vintage until I turned 34. 

That was when I discovered vintage style blogs, including yours, plus Etsy and various repro companies. I realized there where lots of people dressing just like I had always wanted to. I decided that I wasn’t getting any younger and it was now or never. I made a vow that from them on I’d dress only to please myself and I set about creating a vintage wardrobe.

I’m nearly 38 now, quite a bit older then most vintage bloggers, but I think my age has given me the confidence I lacked when I was younger to wear more "out there" styles. For example, in my 20s and early 30s, I would have been embarrassed to wear a giant 1940s hat. It also helps that my finances are better now and I have more funds to spend on my hobby.

How has your personal fashion sense changed/evolved since then?

When I first got really into vintage I was pretty much all about the 1920s and 1930s. I was really inspired by images and films from the era. As time went on, I became more interested in the 1940s, mostly because the hats are so incredibly fabulous! Lately, I’ve been dipping into the 1950s and 60s, as well, and I’m particularly drawn to the kitschy accessories from this era such as novelty offerings. 

You're a big fan of ordering from independent seamstresses on sites like Etsy. What are some of your favorite such sources for old school style clothing?  

I have some gorgeous custom things from Sew Vintage Seamstress. I also love Swell Dame, Jitterbuggin, and Nudee Dudee who are all on Etsy. I have some things from Time Machine Vintage on Facebook, as well as Girl in a Whirl, who is on Facebook and Etsy. She makes amazing 1950s style novelty skirts! 

Any advice you wish someone would have told you about doing so before you started shopping from indie repro brands?

Of course it varies by the seller but it can take a long time to have something custom made.  I’ve waited up to 6 months for a custom dress.  So its very important to plan ahead if you need something for a special event.  Its also a good idea to make sure the seller is totally established and reputable.  I’ve been burned once by a seller who never sent my custom sweater order.  

Another huge love of yours is old movies, which also feature heavily on your blog. What are five vintage movies that you could watch over and over again a hundred times and never get tired of?  Oh my gosh its so hard for me to narrow it down to just five, but here it goes.

1)  It, 1927, with Clara Bow. I think this is a great silent movie for beginners to silent film. It's very entertaining and easy to follow and Clara lights up the screen.

2)   Dracula, 1931, with Bela Lugosi. I’m a big Lugosi fan and this is of course his best film.  

3)   It’s A Gift, 1934, with WC Fields. This is the one of the funniest movies I have ever seen and it manages to hold up wonderfully even 80 years after it was made.

4)   Top Hat, 1935, with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. I love all of the Astaire and Rogers films, and this is probably the definitive one. 

5)   Star Trek II - The Wrath of Khan. I suppose 1982 is vintage enough. I’m a huge trekkie and this is my favorite Star Trek film.  I love that Ricardo Montalban is in it. 

Are there any points that strike you as being much better about vintage movies than modern day ones? And vice verce,  to your mind, do 21st century movies beat those from past eras on any fronts?

I’m a big science fiction, fantasy, and horror fan and one thing I notice is that while modern films have amazing special effects, it is sometimes at the expense of the story. 

I really love the ingenuity of classic science fiction in regards to special effects and make up, they made do with what they had and came up with incredible things. The best example I can think of in this regard is Boris Karlof’s iconic make up in the 1931 classic, Frankenstein. 

You also adore many different TV shows. What are some of your all-time favourites?  

My all time favorite show is definitely Star Trek.  I love all of the Trek series but my favorite is the 1960s original.  I love everything about it from the costumes and sets to the story telling and philosophy. I also love the Twilight Zones. Most of the other shows I love are from the 1990s or early 2000s, such as Mystery Science Theatre 3000, Twin Peaks, The X Files, and Futurama. 

Any series that you've discovered in the past couple of years that you've really connected with?  

Well its been on for 11 years now so its not quite new but I love Supernatural. I also like the Miss Fisher Mysteries a lot and I think the new Muppet show is wonderful, too. 

When it comes to vintage fashion, you often gravitate towards the 1920s, 30s and early 40s. Are there any particular reasons why this time frame speaks so deeply to you?  

My late dad was a huge fan of Fred Astaire so I grew up watching the Astaire and Rogers films as well as lots of other musicals and films. He also introduced me to the comic author PG Wodehouse.  Wodehouse’s stories are all set during the 1920s and 30s. So I think it was being exposed to stories and films from that era at an early age that drew me to the styles of those periods. 

Who are some of your favourite style icons from that era?

From the 1920s, I adore Clara Bow. She has such a fun, exuberant, and approachable style and she always looked comfortable with herself.  It also helps that she was born in Bay Ridge Brooklyn, which is where my husband is from. 

From the 1930s, I love Ginger Rogers. She always had amazing outfits and she wore a wide range of styles, and of course Fred Astaire always looked amazing.  Esther Williams is my favorite from the 1940s.  I think her 1949 film Neptune’s Daughter with Ricardo Montalban is one of the most stylish films ever made. 

If you could only wear the fashions of one continuous five years period (e.g., 1930 - 1935) for the rest of your life, what would you pick and why?

I had to get out my 1930s Style Sourcebook to answer this question and I choose 1930-1935.  I love the day wear from this period, beach pajamas and simple bias cut dresses.  I think such looks were flattering and comfortable. 

Are you a big fan of accessorizing and if so, what are some of your favourite types of accessories (including jewelry)?

I’m definitely a huge fan of accessorizing. In fact, it is my love of hats that first really drew me to vintage. I think the right accessories absolutely make the outfit. Of course I love all types of hats and I’m a big fan of fun novelty purses. 

As far as jewelry goes, I quite like Bakelite bangles and vintage brooches. I’m a sucker for any accessory with a dog or cat on it.  One thing I have no interest in is precious jewels - I’d take Bakelite over diamonds any day!

Have you had many opportunities to interact with others in the vintage/rockabilly subculture where you live?

Unfortunately not at all. The only people I know who are into the vintage scene are people I know through social media. I am a homebody though, so I don’t go out that much and while I love to watch dancing, I don’t dance myself.

Your husband doesn't wear vintage. However, are there other other elements of the past that he particularly enjoys?

When  I first met my husband twenty years ago, I was much less into vintage then I am today, my obsession has definitely grown! We do share a mutual fondness for old movies.  For example, we named our first pet, our cat, Baby, who is now 16 years old, after the leopard in 1938’s Bringing Up Baby.

What are some of your favourite things (vintage or otherwise) to collect?

I love to collect kitschy vintage novelty purses, I have about ten now and I display them in my home, as well as use them. I have a collection books from the Victorian Era through the 1950s that I also display. 

I don’t do it often as there are not many affordable ones in my area, but I love going to thrift stores and looking for pyrex and kitschy vintage bits and bobs.  I’d love to collect more vintage Star Trek stuff, but its hard to come by and can be pricey.

For those who aren't familiar with your blog, please tell us how many pets you currently have.

We have 9! 5 dogs: Ping a 12 year old female pug, Bob an 8 year old English bulldog, Weasley a 3 year old male pug, Philip J. Fry (called Fry) a  1 year old pug, and Mr. Tuvok a 1 year old toy poodle. Our four cats are 16 year old Baby, a female, 14 year old Scooter, a male, 12 year old Ernie, and one year old Spot.

Are there any types of animals that you'd like to keep as a pet, but which you've not yet had the chance to do so?

Our current cats are all rescues or foundlings so they are American Short hairs, but I definitely plan on owning a hairless Sphynx cat one day as well as an Exotic short hair cat. I’d love an Angora rabbit, but I don’t think  I could convince my husband or the cats! 

What is your day job and does it allow you to wear vintage while at work?

I’m a high school special education teacher. I work with students with significant intellectual disabilities in a self contained classroom, which means I have the same 12 students all day long. I do wear vintage or vintage inspired looks to work every day. 

I might not wear my most elaborate hats or delicate dresses, but I regularly wear things like a simple 1930s style dress or 1940s style slacks and a sweater.  My eccentric sense of style is well known around the school and often commented on by staff and students. 

Can you share five cool things about yourself that most of your blog readers wouldn't know about you?  

This is a little hard because I’m kind of an open book but  here we go:

1) I love vintage style  but I don’t consider myself old fashioned by any means. I wouldn’t want to travel back in time to a past era and I try not to over romanticize the past. I’m pretty happy in 2016, we have our problems but they did in earlier eras, too.

2) I’ve been married for 14 years and together with my husband for 19 years - he was my first boyfriend. I’m certainly beyond lucky to have found him and have him put up with me! 

3) My blog is somewhat inspired by my late dad.  He passed away four years ago and he really instilled in me my love of vintage because of his passion for old movies.  He always encouraged all of my interests and in some ways my blog is a supplement for the conversations we used to have.

4) I’m pretty shy and not very social, and despite my "out there" vintage outfits, I don’t really like to attract attention. I’m very much a homebody and I’m often more comfortable interacting with people through social media then I am face-to-face. On Saturday night you will always find me at home on the couch with my dogs and my husband watching TV, eating pizza and drinking wine. You’ll never see me at a party.

5) I’m the most scatter brained person on earth and would easily lose my head if it wasn’t attached!

What are you looking forward to on the vintage front for 2016? 

Well I’m not planning on going to any events or anything, but I am planning on adding some things to my wardrobe.  I’m getting more into 1950s and 60s looks and I’m planning on adding some fun pieces from this era to my treasure trove.

And, last but certainly not least, what would your "holy grail" of vintage items be?  

Oh my , so many things! 1) I'd love an authentic pair of 1930s beach pajamas; I already have some reproductions.  2) Something from the 1920s Egyptian revival like a dress or jewelry. 3) A 1940s 1950s high school or college pennant sweater. 4)  A 1930s, 40s, or 50s coolie hat.  5) Something with an atomic print from the 1950s.

Connect with Kate on: 

Her blog

Facebook

Instagram

Pinterest

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Meet the past interviewees who have taken part in this delightful ongoing post series:

February 2015: Emileigh | March 2015: CiCi | April 2015: Helen Mae | May 2015: Esther | June 2015: Ms. Falcon |July 2015: Jessie, and Laurence & Sylvain | August 2015: Holly | September 2015: Rhia | October 2015: Franny | November 2015: Emily | December 2015: Porcelina | January 2016: Nora

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Thank you very much for the great interview, Kate. I adored getting to know you - and your precious pets - even better and really appreciate that even with your own computer related issues, we were still able to make this post happen.

Delightfully, next month will see - on paper at least - the return of spring and with it will come another exciting installment in the fun Meet a Fellow Vintage Blogger post series.

Due to unexpectedly being computer-less this month, I've had to shift lot of my posts for February and March around and rejig some blogging plans, so I'm not a million percent certain yet who next month's interviewee will be, but I'm sure that they'll be be inspiring, fashionable, and a blast to chat with, too! :)

Meet a fellow vintage blogger: Old school fashionista Holly Brolsma-Colón

Much as in the offline world, there are certain folks that you meet online and after so many years have passed, you're hard pressed to remember when your paths first crossed. You know that you had an instant connection with that person though and that a bond was formed from the word "go". That sums up things perfectly when it comes to me and my very stylish friend Holly Brolsma-Colón from Long Island, New York.

Many of you may also know Holly from her delightful vintage lifestyle blog Veronica Vintage. She and I have been online friends for a number of years now and share quite a few points in common, but by the same token there are many interesting and inspiring aspects of Holly's life that differ from mine.

It is a tapestry of both that I wanted to delve into as soon as Holly very sweetly answered by call earlier this year for participants to be interviewed as part of this series.

Holly has faced a lot of challenges in her life and met them all with grace and unflappable strength. She is a beautiful woman not only on the outside, but very much on the inside as well. She's fun, sweet, smart, and super stylish. I highly suspect, if this your first time meeting Holly, that you'll quickly find yourself as drawn to her as I was (and am!).


The instantly eye-catching tagline on your blog, Veronica Vintage, is "One woman's trip from Modern Monotony to Vintage Vixen", can you please expand on this and share with us a bit about how you came to adore vintage and live an old school filled life?

I found myself always drawn to the days of old. My grandmother (pictured below) would tell me stories of when she was younger and show me her photos and I just felt at home. I had no idea there was a culture that embraced this until October of 2011, when I visited the Bettie Page store at the Miracle Mile Shops in Las Vegas. That was it! I was set. I found my home.



I used that tag line because I felt what I was living was indeed "modern monotony" - the same drab clothing everyone else was wearing that was supposed to be "fashionable". Nothing unique about it. Then I found the vintage lifestyle. I have never gotten more compliments and good responses since! I have never felt more confident either.


Do you find that your drawn more towards genuine vintage pieces, vintage reproduction styles, pinup/rockabilly looks or a combo of two or more of those things?

I am drawn to all of it. I find I wear a lot of vintage repro/pinup for casual day looks, and genuine vintage for outings or when I want to look just a little more "put together", if you will. It all depends on my mood! I have never been a vintage purist. Wear what makes you feel good and what you like! This is your style, your life - so live it!




You currently live in Long Island, New York. How have you found the vintage shopping scene to be there? Are there many other people in your area with a passion for the vintage lifestyle?

I am a bit of an odd duck out here when it comes to my style. But I love that! I love being unique and standing out. I am only a few minutes from NYC, so everyone around likes to wear the latest fashion trends. Everyone just ends up looking the same! I can safely say I am not like that. The shopping here for vintage however, leaves much to be desired. I much more often than not buy online. You would think there would be great vintage here, but it all seems to be in the Midwest!


Like so many of us, do you often buy more of your vintage/repro clothing online? What are some of your favourite sites for such?

I overwhelmingly buy online, due to the lack of good vintage around here mentioned above, and also because I'm not a petite gal! I buy on eBay quite often, and from Etsy sellers I have gotten a rapport with. I am also on several Facebook groups, one in particular called the Hefty Hideaway. It's hard but not impossible to find good vintage for those with waists over 30"!




When not filling your days with vintage awesomeness, what do you for a living? Does your job overlap with your passion for the past at all?

As of the moment, I am working for a lawyer and work on tort & insurance cases. But I am finally working on getting into the field I am really passionate in, and that's medicine. I am working towards becoming a physician assistant and getting into the orthopaedic specialty, since I have so much knowledge and [first hand] experience in it!


You launched your blog in October 2011 and have kept it going for nearly four years now. What drives/motivates you to keep blogging?

I love to share what I am passionate about. I love to teach and let others know about the things I come across. I find there are very few things for which I am truly passionate and actively have an ongoing love affair with; one of those things happens to be all things vintage (the others are medicine, the military, and animals). If I can help just one person, whether it be enlightening them, making them feel welcome to this community, or just making them laugh, that makes it all worth it to me.


Have you made many new friends, online or off, through your blog and/or love of vintage in general?

I've met you! :-) (Jessica's note: Aww, thank you!!!) I have met so many people and made so many connections, it's amazing. This community is so supportive and we all just want to lift each other up (while wearing fabulous vintage!). I've met fellow bloggers, musicians, makeup artists, photographers, and fellow enthusiasts just from our shared passion for vintage.



You're a devoted animal lover, like myself, and have three super cute pets. Can you tell us about them?

We actually just recently added a puppy to our little fur family! His name is Waffles, and he's a Shichi (Shih Tzu/Chihuahua mix) and he's the cutest puppy this side of the Mason-Dixon. He's only 6 months old. We have three cats too: Blankie, 10 months; Gustavo (after Gus Fring from Breaking Bad), 2 years; and Stinky (a nickname that stuck!), 3 years.

My husband and I are passionate animal lovers. We have talked about opening our own animal rescue after he retires from the police department so we can help as many animals as we can!


You got married last year and shared about your special day on your blog when you did (which was so lovely to see!). Did you know the moment you got engaged (or even before then!) that you wanted to wear a vintage style wedding dress?




I knew even before the question was popped! I knew I wanted a completely vintage affair. Unfortunately, it wasn't able to be that way exactly due to his job, but I still got my vintage themed dress and I helped him pick out his tux in a vintage style.

We got married on a yacht and then took a cruise around Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. It was a small wedding, but we aren't flashy "look at us" types. Smaller affairs are much more intimate and fun, and that's just what it was!


Does your husband (pictured above and below) share in your love of vintage?




I would say he tolerates it, but doesn't share my love for it, hahah. He appreciates the old cars and some of the styles, but he's a typical man and wants the latest and greatest. He knows how much I love my vintage, so he is fine with me having the vintage decor all over like I do, and also the fact that I have taken over all of the closets with my clothing!


What are five of your favourite types of vintage/repro garments?

I love a good novelty print dress. I'm a sucker for them. I also love waist cinchers - nothing gives you a more fabulous wasp waist and gives you a real hourglass figure like they do. They also flatten out any bulges, which is also a plus! And high waist capris/pedal pushers - I would wear them every single day all year-round if I could! I adore my vintage jewelry - Bakelite, brooches, confetti lucite...I could go on! And what kind of vintage dame would I be without my requisite red lipstick?


Do you have any fabulous vintage hairstyling and/or wardrobe tips that you'd like to share with us?

Don't be afraid to experiment! Some of my most fabulous looks have spawned from, "Ooh, this might look great!" Find what colours flatter you - I have a post about finding what colours match your skin tone, hair colour, and eye colour, and it has been my most popular to date (Link: http://veronicavintageblog.com/2012/08/30/dressing-for-your-skintone/). You can really notice a difference when you wear those colours that just work for you.

For hair styling, my best kept secret is dry shampoo. It works wonders for volume, teasing your hair, and for those days when you need to liven up those strands.


And last, but certainly not least, what are some of the ways that vintage enriches your life and inspires your world on a daily basis?

It inspires me to always be myself. I feel I have really come into my own and have gained immeasurable self confidence from vintage style and living.

I also find inspiration from those from the past, such as Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth, Myrna Loy, and even Franklin D. Roosevelt, of whom I am related to! I see their trials and tribulations and how they triumphed yet maintained their dignity and grace, and it inspires me so. I aspire to live every day to the fullest, appreciate what I have, and always be my most genuine self.

Connect with Holly on:

Veronica Vintage Facebook

Instagram

Pinterest

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To date, I've never meet Holly in person, but I truly hope that we get a chance to hang out face-to-face one day. Though just when just exactly, down to the day, we first crossed paths online is lost in the ether of time now (chances are it was through one of our blogs), we've remained close ever since and have one of those awesome friendships where you can always pick up right where you left off, even if it's been several months since your last heart-to-heart.

I really want to thank Holly for being August's vintage blogger interviewee and also for being such a lovely face, force, and inspiration to all of us in the vintage blogging world. It was a true pleasure chatting with, and getting to know you even better, my dear friend!

If you're not already following Holly's blog, make sure you pop on over to Veronica Vintage and do so right now.

Next up, well, that remains to be seen as I request to move someone's post a couple months down the road, so I'm in the midst of rejigging my autumn interviewee schedule, but whomever it is, I promise you that they're be inspiring, tons of fun to talk to, and endlessly passionate about vintage! :)

Seven rapid fire questions with blogger + sewer Aimee Cook from Inside Aimee's Victorian Armoire

This month I had the great pleasure of welcoming blogger, vintage loving lady, sewer, and all around wonderfully nice person, Aimee Cook and her incredibly charming blog Inside Aimee's Victorian Armoire, as one of Chronically Vintage's newest sponsors.

Aimee's blog - a truly lovely blend of old and modern, creativity and inspiration - was new to me, so I wanted to get to know both it and Aimee herself better, while also sharing more about both with all of you here as well.




{The thoroughly beautiful Aimee herself}

Hence today's fun post, in which I pose seven questions to Aimee that are designed specifically to quickly learn more about her and her beautiful blog.


This isn't a full length interview, just a quick, delightful way to get acquainted with one of my new favourite bloggers. I hope that you'll all enjoy learning more about Aimee, too!

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1. Your blog is a beautifully woven tapestry of many of your diverse interests, quite a few of which we both share in common. Can you please tell us more about the topics you cover and what they mean to you?


I focus on lifestyle topics: fashion, crafting, sewing, beauty, relationships, etc... just with a historical twist. An overview of an 1830's weekly cleaning schedule, how to plant a flower box from the 1920's, or learning the proper 1850's way to fold a gown for traveling, are just a sampling of the topics I focus on in my blog.

I have always loved reading books and articles written by women from the past and the way they viewed their life and interacted with the world around them. This connection, in its various forms, is what I love to share most with all my readers.








2. What are five things that you'd like first time visitors to know about you and/or your blog right off the bat?


That I'm passionate about life, both modern and historical, that I wish to share something beautiful each time I post, that womanhood is timeless and universal, that I have an odd sense of humor which may occasionally show up in my writing, and that I wish to inspire my readers to live creative and wonderful lives.

3. You're an avid sewer and historical fashion fan. How do you marry these two loves?

They truly go hand in hand. I have always loved historical clothing and in high school I decided that I wanted to make some of my own for fun. So I just started sewing and through a lot of time, effort, patience (which usually meant chucking the project across the room in frustration), and mistakes (again, I did a lot of throwing), I was able to develop a skill that allows me to create anything I find that may inspire me.

While I do not wear the clothing I make a lot, or attend events, I thoroughly enjoy the process and find such satisfaction in completing a gown in the same method that women would have done during that particular time period.






4. What would be your dream historical outfit from any era?

This is such a hard choice, as my tastes change all the time! Right now I am obsessed with anything 1920's or 1930's....including my recent project of an 1920's kimono. But my ultimate love would probably have to be the Regency era...I mean who doesn't love a little Jane Austen fashion!!








5. There is a deeply rooted sense of beauty and soul in your blog, which is definitely reflected in the fact that you enjoy sharing poetry there. Could you tell us more about why you involve poetry on a historical lifestyle blog?
I have always loved poetry ever since I was a little girl. The verbal imagery and emotion that poets can convey is a skill I have longed envied. Poetry used to be included in many women's magazines from the 18th and 19th century, which I just love, and therefore wish to share that same experience with my readers. Whether about the weather, love, relationships, or personal discovery, poetry is a beautiful way of expressing one's thoughts.




6. What are some of your favourite sources of inspiration when it comes to sewing and blogging alike?
For sewing it would have to be past gowns either through photographs, paintings, or descriptions in period books or magazines. I could spend hours just drooling over online exhibits or Pinterest boards getting ideas and drafting patterns. For blogging, anything and everything is inspiration. But the best place I have found to be inspired is in a public place, like a coffee shop, park, or my front porch. I find that by people watching and allowing the buzz of daily life to exist around me, I get a flood of ideas.

{Please click on the image to be taken to this lovely tutorial}

7. Can you share a bit about what you led to you start blogging, when you blog launched, and the direction you'd like to see it go in, in the future?

I am a completely self-taught sewer, so I started blogging three years ago to meet other sewers and historical fashion enthusiasts. It was simply an online diary of my sewing adventures. However, after a few years, I began to realize that parts of my life seemed empty and void. I began to explore my passions and allowed myself to go through a mini self-discovery/ mid-life crisis to see how it is I really wanted live my life. I began to voluntarily take myself out of the rat race I was running and began to climb a different direction. My blog then became my collection of topics and things that inspired me on this new journey. Sewing, crafting, and writing has taken me to a beautiful place in my life that brought with it a connection to the past: something that had always been there, but I kept close to my heart.




Now, I have discovered the gift of sharing. And my goal is to continue on this journey wherever it takes me....including a book that I hope to be completing before the end of year. But as for my blog specifically, I wish it to become a positive part of the internet where women can be inspired to live in a modern world with a touch of the past here and there.

{All images via Aimee and her blog, Inside Aimee's Victorian Armoire.}

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That is a fantastic approach to blogging and what one hopes to achieve, and I think Aimee is already off to a flying start there.

I'm delighted to have Aimee as a blog sponsor, and also to get to know her better. I'm a firm fan of her site and plan to follow it from her on out. I really admire her talents, her drive, and fantastic sewing skills - plus she's as super sweet person and pleasure to know, so how could one not eagerly look forward to her posts in their feed reader or inbox?

Thank you very much for everything, Aimee. I wish you and your delightful blog (and forthcoming book) nothing but the best and brightest and can't wait to see what you'll share there with us next!

Embracing controversy, getting real about blogging, and tons on vintage fashion: an interview with Emileigh from Flashback Summer

One of my favourite types of posts to share with all of you here, and one that I know many of you enjoy a great deal as well (the results of last year's Chronically Vintage reader's survey told me as much :)) is interviews with fellow members of the vintage community.
 
Today I'm elated to do just that in the form of a wonderful interview conducted via email that I recently had with Emileigh Rogers from the engaging and always enjoyable vintage fashion, crafting and lifestyle blog, Flashback Summer.





Emileigh is a passion young blogger from the States who loves the past, traveling, speaking her mind, her family, 1930s and 40s fashions (in particular), and never shying away from posting topics that act as springboards for some of the more controversial subjects in our vintage loving midst.


I've had the great pleasure of knowing her since her blog's earliest days and feel honoured that I got the opportunity to learn, and share, more about her with all of you today.


 
When you think of your blog, what are five adjectives about it that instantly spring to mind?


Intercultural – honest – worldview – vintage – conversation (These aren’t exactly adjectives… but they describe my blog still!)



You've been blogging since 2012, what are some of the most unexpected things you've learned over the course of that time?

Quite honestly, I only started blogging to drive sales to my Etsy shop, and it's still a dream of mine to be able to make some decent money from blogging and writing. However, I’ve been surprised at how much I actually love blogging itself and the community around it. I don’t even have an Etsy shop now, but I still have a blog! Although some moolah to support my vintage habit is a motivator, the fact that I have enjoyed getting to know other vintage wearers, learn a lot, and get to express myself is the motivation that gets me through the difficult blogging times.



If you could go back in time and give yourself just one piece of advice that you (now) wish you'd known as a novice blogger, what would it be?

I would tell myself not to try to be Solanah (from Vixen Vintage and American Threads), or any other blogger. I love Solanah’s blogs, but I’m not her! I first attempted to recreate such a blog and realized I was miserably short on vintage clothes… kinda a staple for a vintage blog. So I stopped and regrouped for a while, thinking about what MY blog would really be about, one that filled a gap in the vintage blog world. I then relaunched my blog later into what is now Flashback Summer!




On Flashback Summer, you never shy away from discussing topics that might stir up some friendly debate (such as whether or not to alter/remake genuine vintage garments, as well as numerous posts pertaining to different potentially culture sensitive topics including racism in vintage prints and jewelry, what drives your desire to get people thinking and talking about subjects that might, so to speak, rock the boat?

I love deep conversations and hearing different viewpoints, if it’s done in a constructive and respectful way. I sometimes feel like the vintage world can be very 2D and superficial, and I wanted to bring the depth to the blog world that I know exists in vintage wearers’ real lives. We’re from all over the world, and working through tough subjects with each other can open our minds to new lines of thought and celebrate the diversity that is the vintage community. I love that!



What are some of the posts that you've most enjoyed sharing on your blog to date?

I have really enjoyed the controversial posts. Like I said before, I love hearing others’ viewpoints. I also really like the Intercultural Vintage posts. I adore studying the traditional clothing of other countries, and when it dawned on me that, technically, traditional equals vintage oftentimes, I knew I had to include it! Cultures have borrowed bits of fashion from each other since the beginning of time, and I like tracking down where certain style influences have come from and the effect of cultures on each other.




Do you feel like your online self and your offline self are quite similar or are there elements of your offline self that rarely appear on your blog? (I find this to be true for myself big time!)
I think my online self and offline self are pretty similar. I’m a fact-loving, culture-studying vintager in real life, too, so my blog expresses some of my biggest passions in life. I think the only things that are different are that I’m more sarcastic and dry-humored offline simply because that doesn’t translate as well to the written word.

I’m also more controversial offline, but I only become more blunt and bring up very difficult topics in the context of relationships where I feel I’ve earned the right to speak. It’s too easy to be completely misunderstood online for me to feel comfortable sharing some of my opinions on very difficult subjects on my blog. Relationship creates a lot of grace and benefit of the doubt in times of disagreement that the internet doesn’t always provide.


For those who may be new(ish) to vintage, what are some of your top tips for sporting old school styles?

I would definitely start with classic pieces like a button down and high waisted pencil skirt. I tried to add in a bunch of vintage clothing all at the beginning, and it was expensive and frustrating as I tried to figure out the trends of decades, bought wrong sizes, etc. Start with a button down and pencil skirt and change your hair, makeup, and accessories to suit different decades. This is a low-cost way to experiment with your style to find something you love. Then you can invest in those statement pieces you know you’ll like longer term. I wish I had done this!




What decades in time are you currently finding your wardrobe most pulled towards?


The 1930s and 40s are what it’s about right now! I have pretty much always been drawn to these, though I’m exploring the 1930s more than I used to. I also have a weakness for a nipped-waist 50s suit that gets thrown in every once in a while, too!



Is there one or more decade that you love the fashions (et al) from but don't often, if ever wear?

I adore the 10s and 20s, but I hardly ever wear them. They tend to be the rarer, more expensive pieces or completely impractical for modern life. I LOVE the Gibson girl look, but it’s a bit much for the modern-day office!






Where are some of your favourite sources (online or off) from which to source vintage fashions and accessories?

Around my area there are two vintage stores, one of which doesn’t sell anything earlier than 1960, and the other is a bit expensive and mostly newer things as well. Because of this, I find a LOT of my clothes at flea markets/antique malls. EVERY Missouri/Arkansas town has at least one flea market, so I go on the hunt and see what I can find!



Are you a vintage purist in terms of preferring to only wear genuine vintage pieces or do you like to mix things up and wear repro, vintage inspired and similar classic pieces as well?

I would love to wear only vintage pieces, but my budget doesn’t allow it. To wear vintage every day you really have to have a lot of vintage so as not to damage things with overuse, and I just can’t swing that! Almost my whole wardrobe is now made of authentic vintage and pieces I have made myself from vintage patterns. Making things myself has proven to be cost-effective and lets me wear custom designs I love!




You recently got married (happy congrats again!) with a vintage themed wedding and shared some of the wonderful highlights of your special day on your blog. Did you find the online world to be helpful to you in planning your big day? If so, what sites in particular did you turn to often for inspiration, help, etc?

Thank you, Jessica! I found the online world a bit helpful in planning my wedding, but mostly for tracking down musicians, venues, etc. that were available in my area. I kind of looked at Pinterest, but I hate the idea of simply copying things I find off of there, so I really tried to use my own brain and creativity to come up with original, unique things that would work. I also asked my creative friends to help with different pieces of it, so they each brought their own skills to the table!



Have you found that anything on your blog or your approach to blogging has changed since you tied the knot?

I do know that my husband helps me take a lot more pictures now! It’s much handier photo-wise to live in the same house with him! Other than that, I don’t think my blogging has changed very much. Jacob is very understanding about my blog ambitions and very supportive.




What do you wish people knew about you and/or your blog (that's you're comfortable sharing publicly, naturally) that they don't already?

I know that other bloggers probably understand this, but I don't think people realize how much work it is to keep a blog up! I'm working on learning to balance the different areas of my life a little better right now, and while I'm trying to be intentional about creating good content, sometimes it's a struggle in the midst of responsibilities. But I do really enjoy it, so I want to keep at it!



Thinking ahead to the future, what would be your ultimate dream/goal for your blog?

I have other life ambitions, but if those for some reason fell through, I'd love to blog as my "day job." For me it's really not about making lots of money, it's about being freed up to do the things I love all the time... because what I love to do generates income! However, I'm thinking that other life events are going to take precedence eventually, so I'd like to work my hardest to create a great blog that I can be proud of until that time.




What kinds of things (topics, types of outfit or how-to posts, etc) are you looking forward to posting about on Flashback Summer this year?

I am really excited that my sister is contributing to the blog this year with holistic health types of posts. She will be talking about physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. I thoroughly enjoy her writing and I know she has so much wisdom, especially at only 21 years old, to share with the world. I’d describe her as a hippie Yoda because of that.

(Jessica's note) You can also connect with Emileigh on the following sites:

Facebook

Instagram

Pinterest

Twitter

{All images care of Flashback Summer}

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Thank you very much for this stellar interview, Emileigh. I really appreciate that you wanted to chat with me and must say again how lovely it was to get to know you and your blog even better through this fun Q&A session.

If you're not following Flashback Summer (how charming is that name, BTW!) already, I can't recommend doing so highly enough. Emileigh has a wonderful vision for her site, posts often and on a diverse range of subjects, and is a truly lovely person.

You'll adore her blog, her candor, her gorgeous vintage outfits, her whit and her instantly recognizable passion for the past, and quickly find yourself looking forward to each her new posts as much as I, and her ever growing throngs of readers, do.