The Modern Vintage Muse

What is it about this “Modern Vintage Muse” that I adore so much? I have been so fixated on the idea of decade hopping between the stereotypical ladylikeness of the 50’s and the mystical spiritual exposure of the 60’s & 70’s. I feel so strongly about my place in both worlds, both of which I would never live to actually see, and are now simply fantasy worlds to the younger generations. 

I do not pretend that these times were perfect or that I know the struggles they faced. This goes hand in hand with the "Gay Nineties" or the 1890's, which was portrayed so beautifully but was filled with horrible living standards and disease, and yet we look back upon it as lovely. 

I wonder how people will look back at our lives. I am not ashamed to be living in my own fantasy-like world. After all, it's beautiful, positive, and pleasant most of the time!

There is a strong separation in my soul between a feeling of an unbreakable power in a learned properness and ladylikeness, and a wild need for freedom and chaos and going back to nature. I think we all have both sides inside of us, though are taught to be ashamed of one or the other. As humans with complex hearts and minds we are everything all at once and will only ever be at peace with ourselves and the world if we allow ourselves and others to embrace these things. 

Perhaps this is why I’ve grown so fond of weddings lately. Just the idea of being able to bring people together in a beautiful environment of your own making and dressing in your nicest clothes and expressing your heart through one of the only traditions many cultures still share is so exciting to me. I can make my world hippie heaven and be a proper doll at the same time.

Special mention goes to the incredible Frida Kahlo (who I wrote a twenty page biography paper about a few years ago and could talk about forever), who often wore traditional garb from Mexico in a time where most women wanted to wear their new slinky party dresses with heels and jewels. She was traditional and she embraced the nature around her and of herself. She broke boundaries and pushed limits all throughout her life while being inspired by the past and the mystical but harsh truths of the present to create a life that would influence the future. She was the ultimate warrior in so many ways, and significantly by embracing the elements of who she was and also who she wanted to be/portray, which honestly are both a part of your singular true identity.

Love her music (which I do) or not, Lana Del Rey embodies the concept as well. Her “All American Girl” look lends itself to the Kennedy era filled with class and scandal or the Neil Krug world of film photography and desert sunsets.  She's become the ultimate character muse of this ever changing world of glamour.

Wildfox’s lookbooks are filled to the brim with the chaos of girliness, from the idea of dressing up for tea parties to dressing down in the sun. They do a lovely job of making the old world feel fresh and the modern world feel historic.

I love when you almost can’t even tell which decade it is- it’s just so honest to human nature to embody both sides of the polar spectrum. Strong, free, sexy and ladylike (and in great clothes) all at the same time? I'll take it.