Interview with Kimi: Kimono & Vintage

I am SO excited to share this interview with all of you today!  I "met" Kimi on Instagram when I discovered her feed full of beautiful kimono and cloche photos.  I am intrigued by the way she mixes traditional Japanese kimono with vintage Western pieces--such as 1920s hats, shoes, and necklaces--for a really unique personal look.

Decorating a Renter's Kitchen on a Budget, Vintage Style

As many of you have read on Instagram and other places, my husband and I just moved from a house into a new flat.  I won't go into all the details of the jankiness we dealt with in our previous home in the "Springfield slums," but I will say the straw that broke the camel's back was

The Lost Art of Housewarming Gifts

Where has the housewarming party gone?!  I don't know about you guys, but I love the idea of housewarming parties.  In fact, my husband and I just moved into a new flat, and I'll be darned if I won't be having a party when we're a bit more unpacked!

6/6 What Fashion Tells You - an Interview with Christian Dior: How to Wear Clothes

This is the last in the interview series with Christian Dior!  This section is mostly about general advice, the value of fashion, and the importance of authenticity.  Disclaimer, he has some words that may come off as a bit harsh or vaguely sexist to us modern readers, but I think his overall message is that any woman has the ability to be and feel truly beautiful through a combination of style skills, body acceptance,  grooming, and authenticity.  

5/6 What Fashion Tells You - an Interview with Christian Dior: Dressing for the Season & Occasion

"Wearing the correct dress for any occasion is a matter of good manners."  - Loretta Young

With the growth of fast fashion and perhaps influenced by the feminist movement, we've really moved away from occasional dressing and somewhat away from even seasonal dressing.  There are people wearing pajama pants to Walmart, and few ladies these days own a "winter dress" or "spring hat."  

4/6 What Fashion Tells You - an Interview with Christian Dior: On Budget & Aging

This is by far one of my favorite sections in this article by Dior.  I won't spoil it for you, but I was quite surprised at the modernity of his statements, and he said this in 1953!  I think I had the idea that Dior was a snob, that he would want women to drop lots of money on the latest fashions and to attempt to stay forever young, corseted, and trendy.... but that's not what he believed at all!

3/6 What Fashion Tells You - an Interview with Christian Dior: for the Tall Lady

Here's the third in the series of styling advice from the Christian Dior, today focusing on the tall ladies!  Dior has talked to short ladies, curvy ladies, and now he's got some great tips to emphasize the "grace and dignity that must go with height."  

2/6 What Fashion Tells You - an Interview with Christian Dior: for the Large Lady

In my last post, I shared the first part of this 1953 interview with Christian Dior that focused on tips for petite ladies.  Many of you loved the insight he shared in the introduction as well, with fashion-wisdom such as, "Good taste is to resemble oneself."  I'm excited to share the next section in the series that is tailored for the voluptuous ladies among us!

1/6 What Fashion Tells You - an Interview with Christian Dior: for the Short Lady

For the past week I've been moving and flailing and unpacking, hence the lack of posts.  Hopefully my sewing room and closet will be organized soon, and then I'll be back up and running!  Until then, though, I'm sharing one of my favorite vintage articles I've run across, from the January 1953 issue of "Women's Home Companion."  It's a bit lengthy, so I've broken it up into the different body types Dior addresses: short, tall, plump, as well as other posts for aging, seasonal clothing, and general tips.  Today is the section for short ladies!