Meet Emily from Emily's Vintage Visions - one of the most talented vintage historical sewers around!

Tomorrow Tony and I will be making our way back home from our lovely time spent over the past few days in Vancouver, but first, I wanted to share this month's exciting new "Meet a Fellow Vintage Blogger" interview post with you.

For November's one-on-one chat, I had the immense pleasure of discussing vintage, historical reenactments, sewing, her wedding, when she'd go back in time to, and oodles more with a woman that, really, needs to no introduction to many of us in the vintage and/or sewing spheres, but whom I am beyond honoured to introduce to all of you here today: Emily from the site Emily's Vintage Visions.




Emily is not only an incredibly talented seamstress, great blogger, and sweet-as-all-get-out lady, but she also shares my passion for launching innovative ways to bringing the online vintage community together, such as the two fabulous vintage fashion contests that she held on her blog this year (you may recall my post from October about the fall one).

As a relatively small (in the grander scope of the blogging universe) group of people, most of whom live in different corners of the world, I think its of the utmost importance that some of our members take the initiative and start/organize events that see some of the community's members come together like this and absolutely doff my hat to Emily for doing just that.

A creative, smart, terrific person, you never know what Emily is going to show us or come up with next, and that is a big part of the appeal of her beautiful blog, as well as why I was all but hopping up and down with excitement over the fact that I got the chance to interview her her this month.

Join me, won't you as we get to know this stellar lady and her immeasurable passion for sewing and historical costuming even better!




In your blog's sidebar "About" write up, you mention that you're always game for any excuse to dress up (same here!). How would you say that your desire to dress in vintage and/or historical costumes has shaped the kind of topics that you share on Emily's Vintage Visions?

Hello, Jessica! Thank you for this interview, it's something I have really been looking forward to! I have always had a keen interest in history and beautiful old clothing so starting a vintage/sewing blog made a lot of sense. When I first started blogging, I looked at it as a way to share and keep track of my various sewing projects. Sort of an online sewing diary if you will. Many of my posts are inspired by the vintage/historical or special events I go to.

As you've said, I love dressing up in both historical and vintage fashions and as my blog as grown I have found different ways to share my outfits and related topics of interest. My spring and fall vintage photo contests are good examples of how my love of research and dressing up turned into blog posts! It was so much fun planning not only my own outfits but the blog posts to go with them.




You began your blog in 2012 and it has flourished into one of the most beloved in the vintage and historical sewing world. Did you set out with any specific goals in mind when you launched your site?

It's been really exciting to see my blog change and grow over the last three years. It took some time to get into a blogging groove. As I said, when I first started blogging it was just a way to keep track of projects.

I had, and still have, the goal of sharing what I have learned by studying and recreating historic/vintage clothing and to show a few items in my own collection. But I've found my blog has become so much more! When I started I didn't really expect to have many followers. But now I have close to 200 followers on my blog and nearly 1,000 on Facebook! I have "met" so many great people in the vintage and historical sewing world from all over the globe! It's amazing!




You're an incredible and very talented sewer. When did your passion for sewing first take root?

Thank you! My mom taught me how to sew when I was younger, she's an avid quilter and made a lot of different things for my siblings and I when we were growing up. I've always had an interest in history. It was in high school (that seems like ages ago!) when I really got interested in historical sewing and joined my first reenacting group.

I had a student internship with my local historical society where I had my first opportunity to examine antique clothing up close. I was hooked and started collecting antique garments of my own. I think it was around that same time that I really started sewing for myself.




Does your day job involve your love of sewing as part of it?

I wish it did! My day job involves ZERO sewing. But I can't complain because my day job is pretty cool and allows me to actually use my history degree! I work as a writer and content specialist (oooh, fancy title! haha!) for a company that digitizes historical documents and newspapers and markets them in a fully text searchable data base for libraries, schools and universities around the globe. (I'm sure many people are familiar with America's Historic Newspapers and the Archives of Americana.) My day is split between researching and writing about historical topics and posting current news stories on a special website.


What's your favourite (or top three, if it's hard to narrow it down to just one) thing that you've ever sewn to date?

Oooh, that is hard to narrow down. I think my favorite historical projects so far are my 1750s green silk sacque back gown and my 1770s stays. Both projects are entirely hand sew and although they required a lot of work, were not as difficult as I feared they would be. I don't get to wear the silk gown very often but my stays get a lot of use!

My favorite vintage sewing project? That's much harder! It's a toss up between my 1940s brown linen slacks and my 1940s plaid hoodie. Although I would have to say my Red Birds Dress is hot in the running too. It was my first project using all new to me vintage materials, including the pattern. (You can find these projects and more through my Portfolio page.)




And do you have a favourite type of garment (i.e., dresses or blouses) to sew?

Although not always the most practical, I enjoy sewing dresses the most. I like seeing a length of fabric morph into something beautiful and fun the wear.


Do you tend to have a lot of WIPs on the go at once, or do you prefer to try and work on a project from start to finish before moving on to the next one?

I tend to have more then one project in the works. Sometimes I get into a groove and cut several projects out in one evening that way I always have something to work on. It also depends on what events (historical and vintage) I know will be coming up and how much I "need" something new to wear. I like to have a couple hand sewing projects going because they tend to travel well and can easily be worked on while watching a good movie. Plus, I find hand sewing weirdly relaxing.




Would you say that you sew more historical costume/reenactment outfits or vintage garments, or is it a fairly even mix of the two?

At one point the easy answer was mostly historical clothing. But in the last few years I've been making more vintage inspired and vintage reproduction garments. The line between what I make for living history and everyday use has been blurred as I try and work more vintage into my everyday wardrobe. While I don't dress in vintage every day it's not uncommon to see me wearing my 40s slacks and a vintage sweater or me made 30s/40s blouse to work.




What is some advice that you give to a sewer (of any skill level) who is looking to get into historical costuming and/or vintage sewing?

Don't be afraid! Historical and vintage sewing is not as scary as it may seem, I promise! I learned soooo much in my first few years of historical/vintage sewing and I fully admit I made lots of mistakes.

Many vintage patterns are easy to follow once you learn a few basic skills. My advice is to ask LOTS of questions! There are tons of great blogs, website, and Facebook pages with people willing to share their knowledge and sewing experiences. Oh, and you don't need to spend a ton of money on costume books either if you have a library card! Inter-library loan rocks!




Who and/or what are some of your key sources of sewing inspiration?

Original garments for sure, nothing beats the real thing! And let's not forget old Hollywood movies! (I love anything with Deanna Durbin!) But old photos, newspapers and sources like vintage patterns are key for me too.

When I make an item of clothing that I plan to use for living history I don't think of it as a costume. Because it's purpose is in part educational, historical accuracy is important to me so I go the extra step with my research and source appropriate materials and if needed (depending on the time period) hand sew the entire thing. Another huge source of inspiration for me are other bloggers. :) I love seeing other peoples' outfits and sewing project come to life!




What are some of your favourite online sources for historical and/or vintage sewing related items (fabric, notions, patterns, etc)?

My favorite places for historical fabrics and notions are Burnely and Trowbridge, Wm. Booth Draper, and Sign of the Golden Scissors. I know the owners of these shops personally. They are friendly, very knowledgeable and offer some of the best products. Etsy are Ebay are great sources too for vintage sewing patterns and extras like buttons and buckles. I highly recommend Duchess Trading and Vintage4me2.


Is there much in the way of a vintage community and/or vintage/antique shops where you live?

Here in New England we have lots of antique shops! Like covered bridges and fall foliage, it's one of the things we are known for! There are a few places that carry antique and vintage clothing but it's hit or miss. You never know what you are going to find which is part of the fun in visiting them. There is a HUGH week-long antique/flea market in Brimfield, Mass each year that is always worth the drive. As far as a vintage community there isn't a whole lot in my immediate area.

I don't know of anyone who wears vintage in my town. Boston has a pretty active vintage scene. The Great Boston Vintage Society was formed about three years ago and hosts fantastic events, such as the 1920s beach and lawn parties I have blogged about. Sadly, Boston is still over 2 hours away so it's not always possible to attend their events. Sometimes Cori and I will make our own "events." Dressing in vintage attire to go out for lunch and visit our favorite antique shop has been come a birthday tradition. :)




In addition to blogging, you also have a lovely Etsy shop - also called Emily's Vintage Visions - where you stock a delightful assortment of vintage items. I understand that you're looking to expand into carrying vintage reproduction pieces that you make yourself, too. Could you please share more with us about your exciting plans on that front?

Of course! My long term sewing goal is to offer a variety of ready made vintage reproduction and vintage style garments. I only have a few items in the Made by Me section of my shop right now but I will be updating that soon.

It's been a much slower process then I had hoped getting everything in order. In preparation I created two online surveys (which can be found in the upper right hand corner of my blog), and a couple blog posts, to help determine what people want to see offered for sale. Feedback so far has been great but more is always welcome! I wanted to have a section of blouses and dresses ready to list this fall but it looks like that listing will be pushed back until late winter or early spring. Be sure to check my blog and FB page for updates.

Jessica's note: Emily has very kindly offered all Chronically Vintage readers 15% off on everything in her Etsy shop between today and December 10, 2015, when you use the coupon code EMILYSVINTAGE15 at checkout.




You set the vintage blogging world on fire last year when you debuted photos of the stunning mid-century style wedding dress that you made for yourself. Did you know from the get-go that you wanted to make your own dress or did that come about as the search progressed and you weren't finding your ideal gown?

I was really surprised by the amount of feedback I received on my dress and vintage themed wedding! It's still among my most viewed posts. I think in the back of my mind I always knew I would end up making my wedding dress. I did go to a couple shops to try on dresses and get an idea of the styles available. It was a fun experience shopping for such a special dress with friends but also very frustrating.

I found that most of the dresses I really liked were way more then I was comfortable spending on something I knew I would only wear once. My husband and I planned to pay for most of the wedding ourselves so staying within our comfortable budget was key. (Believe it or not, the lady at a high end shop where I tried a few dresses actually told my mom if we cut back on food I could buy a more expensive dress!! Seriously?!?!!) Once we settled on having a 1930s/40s themed wedding, making my dress just made the most sense. I did look for a vintage dress but again price, condition and size never worked in my favor.


Any tips for others who might be thinking about sewing their own wedding dress?

Make sure you give yourself plenty of time! Take lots of breaks and don't forget to breath! Oh, and buy more material then you think you will need. ;) It never hurts to have a little extra. (We used some of my leftover lace for bunting!) Also if you have someone who can help you with fitting your life will be much easier.




Did you sew/make many other elements of your wedding day as well?

A big part of our vintage themed wedding was DIY. Along with my wedding dress, I made a shorter dress to wear for the reception. All the bouquets for the girls and myself I made out of wool felt and vintage notions. The boutonnieres for the guys were special ordered from a vintage blogger and etsy shop owner in England. The bunting we used was made with the help of some friends and all our center pieces were put together using various items that Cori and I have collected over the years.


You and your husband, Cori, are both avid fans of historical reenactments. Do you have a specific favourite type of reenactment (e.g., Civil War, WW2, etc)?

Although we don't get to go to as many events as we would like, 18th century reenactments will always be very special for us because that was how we first met. Cori and I were friends for about 2 years before we started dating. It only took us 9 years to finally tie the note! Lol! Lately our favorite reenactments have centered around WWII, especially those were we have the chance to meet and interact with veterans.




What have been some of your favourite aspects of being involved with historical reenactments?

The history for sure! It's really an amazing and unique experience to travel to some of these historic sites. One of the highlights of my reenacting "career" was attending the 250th anniversary of the Siege of Louisburgh in Nova Scotia and standing in the spot where General Wolf's army came ashore under heavy French fire.

The other aspect that I truly enjoy are the people! I have many friends that I only see a few times a year but they have become like a second family. It's similar to the vintage community in many ways, its very close knit and we all look out for one another. And it's tons of fun to geek out with people who share such similar interests. ;)




When not busy sewing, blogging, running your Etsy shop, or taking part in reenactments, what are some of your favourite ways to spend your time?

I like to curl up on the couch with a cup of tea and/or a cat (I have two, Miss Rita and Miss Ava) and watch a good movie or read a book. If the weather is nice I much prefer to be outside working in the garden or just soaking up the sunshine! I also enjoy hiking and running, I ran track and cross-country all through high school and college.




If you could back in time and spend a year living in any point in history, what year would you pick and why?

Goodness, that's a tough question! I would love to travel back to a time right before the American Revolution because I think it's such a fascinating period of history. Plus when I came back I would, hopefully, be able to answer some of the tough historical costuming questions! Though I'm not sure about spending a whole year, things like modern medicine and plumbing have their perks after all! If I could spend a whole year in a past time I pick a year during WWII. I think it would be great to witness a time when the our country really pulled together to fight for a common cause.


Do you collect any types of vintage items aside from clothing/jewelry/accessories?

I love antique books and have a small collection of them including a set of British theater books from the 1770s. I like to look for vintage magazines, patterns and sewing notions of course but also enjoy useful and colorful household items like Pyrex dishes and tea cups.




And last, but not least, as we look towards 2016, do you have any specific vintage and/or historical costuming related goals or plans that you can share with us?

This year I started a series of Behind the Seams posts showing some of my vintage and antique garments so I want to continue with those. I want to work in a few book reviews and tutorials too. Updating my Etsy shop with ready made clothing will be a big focus. As for personal sewing, I have two new 18th century gowns and a few vintage separates planned out. Thanks to you and Lauren of Wearing History, my fall vintage photo contest was a smashing success. I will be hosting another one some time next year for sure!

You can connect with Emily on the following sites:

Her blog: Emily's Vintage Visions

Her Etsy shop: Emily's Vintage Visions 

Facebook 

Pinterest

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What an enjoyable, thoroughly lovely interview, Emily. Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with all of us here today and for sharing some of historical, vintage, and creative related things that bring your heart the most happiness.

If you're not already doing so, I can't urge you highly enough to follow Emily's blog, as well as her social media accounts. Whether you love sewing, history, vintage, or all three, this fabulous lady will be sure to deliver plenty of fun and inspiration your way through her sites!

After two back-to-back months of visiting fabulous women in the States, come December, for the final Vintage Blogger Interview of the year (but certainly not of all time!), we'll be popping our winter boot clad selves back across the freezing cold Atlantic Ocean.

Once there, we'll be talking with a vintage fashion, travel, and literary loving lady who, much like Emily herself, is a new bride (who shared all about her big day and ensuing honeymoon on her dynamic blog). It's going to be great!

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

Facebook

Instagram

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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!

Meet a Fellow Vintage Blogger: Esther Wagner, vintage sewer extraordinaire

This month, with spring out in full force, I'm pleased as punch to bring you the third post in my recently launched vintage interview series. Today I have the great joy of sharing about Miss Esther Wagner with all of you.




If you don't know about Esther, if you're in for a wonderfully lovely treat, and if you do, you're sure to find even more to adore about this accomplished, kindhearted, incredibly talented young woman from the blog Dolly Creates.

Esther excels on the vintage sewing front, creating amazing, timelessly beautiful garment after garment using old school patterns and a gifted seamstress' eye for knowing what fabrics and embellishments to pair with what silhouettes.

I've had the pleasure of knowing Esther online for a while now and am sincerely honoured that she wanted to take part in this series. Join me, won't you, while I ask her about her blog, sewing, vintage fashion, music, cooking, her hobbies, and so much more!



For those who are new to your wonderful blog, could you please share a bit more about it with us?

Sure! I'm a Christian young lady with a passion for home skills. I love sewing, especially when I'm making a vintage or historical garment. I blog about mine (and my lovely mother's) vintage sewing creations, vintage magazines, and an occasional knit or crocheted project.




What inspired your site's charming name?

I'm so glad you asked! When I was little, I loved dolls, and had so many of them that I gained the nickname "Dolly" from my family! The name just seemed to stick all of these years, so when I started my blog a few years ago, that seemed like an appropriate title.



Whenever I visit your blog (which is often! :)), I am struck by a sense of two things first and foremost: serenity and old-fashionedness, and I say that as a wholly positive thing. What are some of the ways that you most enjoy currently bringing the past into your daily life?

Enjoying the simple things in life! Things like a walk in the garden (we call it the tour de fleur) ;), having tea-time, and playing a game together. Family has always been very important to us. Being homeschooled and having a dad who worked from the home, we have always been a very close family. We also enjoy old movies (pre-1950) and movies set in those eras.




What are some things (that you're 100% comfortable sharing) about yourself that your readers might not know yet?

I am 6' tall, the youngest of 4 siblings, and I really really don't like eggs. ;)



What is/are your favourite decades of all time from a fashion stand point?

I would have to say the 1940s are my absolute favorite. The styles are so very interesting and detailed that they have gained first place with me! I just can't get over the fact that although fabric supplies were very limited, ladies still managed to make the most gorgeous, ornate dresses! The 1930s and 1950s are both very close runners-up, however with their equally-as-gorgeous styles.




How often do you wear vintage styles?

Every day, actually! I used to love the modern fashions (chevron, infinity scarves, maxi skirts, etc), but once I discovered vintage fashions, they became my one-and-only favorite.


You are an accomplished and very creative sewer, what are some of your favourite projects that you've shared on your blog to date?

• 1950s "Redo" Dress


• Pleated 1950s Dress


• Little Black 1940s Dress


• Calico Regency Gown

(Jessica's note: a photo from each of these marvelous projects appears throughout this interview post.)


When did your love of sewing take root? Did you have sewing mentors or are you self-taught?

Last March is when my love of sewing started. I discovered a couple of ladies' blogs (Lily's and Tara's) that featured vintage-style garments that they had made, and I was just in love with the styles! I made my first vintage dress that same month, which got me "hooked" on sewing for good. As for how I was taught, my mother (very patiently) taught me how to sew! She has been sewing since grade school, so she is a very amazing seamstress. I am so thankful for her, and that she was able to teach me everything I know about it!!



What advice would you give to a novice sewer who is just starting out?

Don't let the seeming difficulty of pattern-reading, zipper-installing and buttonholing overwhelm you! They're all very easy once you have had a little bit of practice! Find an easy pattern such as Vogue V9000 (you could easily put a simple gathered skirt on it for a more '40s-inspired look) or Simplicity 1692, or an easy modern pattern of your liking.

Take it one step at a time, Google the pattern you are making to find a tutorial or sew-along on someone's blog, and have fun! You will be impressed by your own skills when you're done!




You make a lot of your own clothing. What percentage (roughly) of your closet at this point in time would you say you created with your own hands?

Approximately 96%, with the other 4% being store-bought sweaters and a couple of t-shirts and old skirts for exceedingly dirty jobs (tree-felling, painting...you get the drift.). My goal when I first started sewing garments was to have a completely handmade wardrobe, and I have finally reached that point!



What are some of the benefits that you find sewing enriches your life with?

•The ability to make my garments exactly as I want them. Being 6' tall, it wasn't an easy thing to find clothing that fit the way I wanted it to! Sewing allows me to personalize every little detail, making the whole experience quite enjoyable!

•That same aspect runs into many different areas as well; I can make clothing for my future children, linens and household items all in a specific way!




Your top five favourite sewing notions, tools and/or types of fabric would be?

•My very favorite sewing tool is the Pilot Frixion Erasable Marking Pen. I used to use the water-soluble markers, but then I would always have to either spritz or wash each garment after completion before I could wear it. With these pens, the marks iron out instantly!

•I also find the Nancy Zieman Sliding Gauge to be very helpful! It is a very useful tool for measuring with that long, straight edge.

•Cotton fabric! Probably 95% of my garments are made from cotton, and I just love it! Yes, it does mean a lot of ironing, but it is the most widely available, quality fabric in my area, and it usually works quite well for most patterns.

•A serger. We are fortunate enough as to have a serger, and it is just wonderful. It's so nice to have all of your raw edges taken care of - no worries!!


•Other ladies' sewing blogs. It is immensely helpful to be able to look at what other ladies have sewn for inspiration, directions, and encouragement!




Any exciting WIP's on the go right now that you can share with us?

I am in the middle of a late 1840s-early 1850s summer day dress right now. I took a short break from it in the last week or two, but I am looking forward to finishing it! Another 1950s blouse (Simplicity 1278) out of excess fabric from a previous project. I just love that pattern!

We just got an original '30s pattern last week which I am about to start making out of a gorgeous fabric inspired by that era. I'm very excited about it!



Please tell us more about the area where you live. It always looks so tranquil and beautiful in your photos.

We live in the Midwest, in a rural area surrounded by fields, woods, and a lovely little creek. It's a very lovely area; we're away from the hustle and bustle of town, but near enough to it to shop, eat, and all that good stuff! I've lived here all my life, and I definitely love it.




Do you currently live in a vintage/heritage home? (And if not, would you like to one day?)

No, our home was built in the '70s. I would love to live in a "vintage" home, although the idea of the upkeep that comes with such a house is a little daunting! Even so, I would like to one day!



When not sewing or blogging, what are some of your favourite things to do?

Playing the piano, gardening, baking, cooking, and fishing! The county we live in is just full of lakes, so we have plenty of opportunities to fish. There's just nothing like sight-fishing some panfish on a bright, warm spring day!




Like myself, you're a big fan of cooking. Do you enjoy making vintage recipes?



Surprisingly enough, I've never made any particular vintage recipe! (Shocking!) Some of the recipes I make are from my grandmas, so they may actually qualify as "vintage," but I have yet to delve into the realm of vintage cooking. Now I'm eager to try it!



What are some of your favourite dishes (vintage or contemporary) to whip up?

Oooh, hard question! It's hard to limit it to "some." ;) Anything chocolate, whether it be cookies, cakes, pies, candies or anything! Bread. There's something about making it that is quite satisfying! Spaghetti, plus steak and onions (with mushrooms).


Music is another big passion of yours, can you tell us more about which types and/or artists speak most deeply to your soul these days?

My favorite types of music are old-fashioned hymns, classical music, and Deanna Durbin songs. Chopin is definitely my favorite classical composer; nocturnes and waltzes are my favorite pieces. They are packed with so much emotion and feeling!!



I certainly see you as such, but I'm curious, do you consider yourself to be a highly creative person?

Well, to a certain extent, yes! I am not creative in the area of art (drawing, painting); I never have been. I have absolutely no talent in that realm! It's rather amazing, especially since all of my siblings are wonderful artists! Apparently I missed inheriting that trait! But I do consider myself to be quite creative in the area of sewing and handwork.




What's one crafty/creative thing you'd like to try that you've never delved into before?

Bobbin lace. It looks immensely difficult, but I like a challenge once in a while! And the lace that you can make is stunningly gorgeous.


And last, but certainly not least, what are some of your dreams/goals - sewing, blogging or otherwise related - for the future?

•Working on my Etsy shop (also called Dolly Creates), which I just launched this month. It is devoted to handmade vintage and historical fashions for women and children.

•After I get more of an "established" wardrobe built up, I would like to focus on some sewing for my hope chest. I would love to make table linens, curtains, pillowcases, aprons, and other things for my (Lord-willing) future home. I also want to sew many more children's clothes in order that I can someday clothe my children almost entirely in handmade clothing.

•I look forward also to (Lord-willing) getting married one day, having children, and serving the Lord in whatever way He directs!

Jessica's note ~ You can also connect with Esther on Pinterest.

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I have nothing but the deepest respect for Esther and her passion for sewing, the past, domestic arts, music, and blogging. On top of being a gifted lady, she is also a truly sweet, caring, giving, smart, lovely individual and someone for whom all of our feed readers will be/are bettered by following, no matter if you're a sewer or not.

As you can see from this bevy of photos, Esther has a great knack for putting together period appropriate looks that are sure to inspire one and all, on top of sharing many helpful how-tos, ideas, resources and other can't-miss features on her fantastic blog.

Thank you so much for the beautiful interview, Esther. I truly adored getting to know you and Dolly Creates better, as I'm sure my readers did as well.

Next month, for June's vintage blogger interview, we'll be jetting back across the Atlantic to talk to one of the most stylish old school loving gals in Germany. I can hardly wait! :)