“I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles”- Audrey Hepburn
Vintage has been a large part of my style since college. Wiggle dresses, swing dresses, wool skirt, sweaters, Malco Modes petticoats, pearls, and my trusty pair of Mary-Jane pumps are some of my favorite pieces. Most people would just say I’m quirky and want to stand out with my hair in victory curls and dressed to the nines.
There’s more to it than me just being quirky. Going through my closet and seeing my vintage Pendleton skirts amongst other items from so long ago, made me think about why it’s an important part of my wardrobe.
It reminds me of the pictures I found of my grandmothers from the 1950’s. It was connection with them in a world where there weren’t many things we could connect with. My grandma would tell me about how I reminded her of when she was my age (or younger) and she had a petticoat in every color. Papa would say “Young lady, you just gave me a flashback to when I was in high school and all the girls were dressed up”.
It’s a different world today than the world my grandparents, parents, or even I grew up in. It makes me wonder how different the world will be for any future children and grandchildren I may have. There are pros and cons to how the world, daily life, society, and mentality have evolved over the years. I’m a mid-twenties career woman with two cats, a 401k, Netflix, and an iPhone. I’m not a married, I don’t have 2.5 kids, a house with a white picket fence, and a dog; things that were expected of a woman at my age during the time these pieces in my wardrobe were made.
Amongst other progressions, I’m fortunate to live in a time where it’s acceptable for woman to carve a future, become educated, become C.E.O.s, and have their own money. I don’t want to rely on a man to pay for me. I don’t mind doing “wifey” stuff, but I don’t want a man to expect that of me or ever tell me to go make a sandwich. I’d never not want a job.
However, there’s something to be said about some of the lifestyle ideals of the past. The American Dream. A nuclear family, living close to extended relatives and taking care of one another, home cooked dinners together every night, conservative clothing, working hard, and going to church on Sunday. Many of those ideals, things my grandparents and parents grew up with just aren’t here anymore. With our busy schedules, traveling, Chinese take-out, and Instagram.
Would I want to live in the ’50s? No. I’m happy with who I am and where I am in life. Granted, one day I would like to be married if I find the right man and maybe even possibly have kids. But society has accepted that it’s ok to not settle, to get married in your late twenties or thirties or even not get married at all. Women are now encouraged to be independent and strong. Women are expected to go to college, not for an Mrs. degree, but for a career. We can now do jobs that used to be only available to men.
My mother and grandmothers were/are strong, independent women. I aspire to be even half of the women they were/are. Resilient, no matter how tough the times were without giving up on the hope that things would get better. And without letting the negative ruin their lives or their spirits. Without turning bitter, unable to love, or shutting the world away as so many people do. Women who chose happiness. Women who tried to teach me to do the same. For that, I’m forever grateful.
In many ways I’m happy with the way society has shaped our mentality toward lifestyles and what is acceptable. My life wouldn’t be possible without the changes in the past sixty years. But I can’t help but question, out of everything that our society and western culture has gained, what did we lose along the way? Can I pass down family traditions, like previous generations? Will any possible future children care to get to know and connect with me like I did with my parents and grandparents? Or will social media, future societal evolutions, ideas, and the pace of tomorrow’s world have the next generation too focused on themselves and what they can do for Instagram likes to realize what they can learn from my generation or my parents?
Until next time, Cheers. 🥂🍾
#marilynmonroevibes
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