My desire to escape to the past could be due to the news. Or maybe I just need a different creative outlet than writing. Whatever the case, I’ve been leaning in on retro clothing choices. Okay, so I’ve always had a penchant to dress in period pieces (hello, poodle skirt for Halloween!). And I admit to having gone in themed outfits to match musicals (see example below):
Now, I’m actually wearing vintage attire on regular days. I’ve been enjoying a hand-me-down pair of flared pants (not quite bell bottoms-width but wider than I’m used to). And I’m happy to again own a corduroy jacket courtesy of a local shop. Plus, this vintage-inspired dress still has me smiling (thanks for convincing me to get it, El!):
Recently, I also discovered there are a bunch of vintage stores in the SoCal area (see lavintagemap.com for more details). I kinda love it when I find clothes separated by era. Actually, I scored this from the freebie rack at one such shop!
And my younger kiddo truly enjoys thrifting, always asking me to go to various stores and pop-up events. (Of course, now that there’s this thing called Y2K vintage, I feel really old.)
In what ways do you escape to the past?
Chicks on the Case 
I was with you when you bought the dress! It looks so cute on you!
LOVE 20s headpiece. And purple jacket is awesome. If you want to go full hey remember the 80s, I recommend leggings, leg warmers and a headband worn Olivia Newton style in her song, “Let’s Get Physical.”
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Haha! Gotta look up that song! Definitely have leggings and maybe a headband. Gladly, I don’t have any leg warmers around.
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It’s hard enough to stay in the present.
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So true!
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Yep!
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I love the past. The Gatsby band is fabulous.
I’m more of a 40s style, when I can find something in my size. And I kind of prefer the “guy” look. Me and heels and dresses are not a pretty thing.
hence the fedora affixiation. Did you know fedoras were originally a female accessory? It took the male species about 30 years to figure out it was a cool Tb ing to wear.
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Wow, I did not know that about fedoras! And Hestia, you look wonderful in ALL festive attire!
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What a fun fact! My older kiddo loves wearing a fedora, especially when doing jazz gigs.
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Love this post, Jennifer! Fun! Music is my gateway to the past. I pulled out my 5th Dimension cassette the other day. Yes. Cassette. Up, up and away. Ha!
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Thanks, Patricia! Oh my goodness, I’ve still got a few boxes of cassettes. And my younger one now has a modern record player; it still plays LPs but also has Bluetooth capability.
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Y2K vintage? I was pregnant with my first at that time. It can’t be vintage yet!
Like Patricia, music is generally my escape to the past. There’s a local station that plays all the music I remember from my teens and college years.
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Right about Y2K?!
That’s so great about your local station. We used to have one that played 50s and 60s tunes, and I miss it.
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Love your Gatsby headband! If they fit, I think I could dress from my closet for the 70’s and 80s! Since I quit trying to be fashionable some 30 years ago, I must finally be back! Much like Patricia I use music to return to “the good old days”!
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Music is the best! (But maybe you could make a fortune out of those clothes in your closet. 😉 )
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What cute pix, Jen–I recognize that black dress. Adorable! I’m our family historian, which means I keep tons of photo boxes and old-school albums, going back to the late 1800s (they used black paper with white ink captions). And…slides. So. Many. Slides. Clothes-wise, my mom was quite a collector, so I have vintage pieces from several eras. The issue is staying small enough to squeeze into them (retro base garments are a no-go for me)!
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Thanks, Lisa! I think it’s so cool that you have the photo boxes and albums. Wow, the 1800s! And, oh, those slides!!
You could have a museum exhibit, what with all those photos and vintage attire.
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Historical mysteries are about my only regular escape into the past.
Actually, I guess you could add my watching/rewatching of some old sitcoms as an escape into the past, too.
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I was wondering when someone would bring up historical mysteries! Yay for reading!
Hmm, maybe I should rewatch a sitcom or two? It’d be great to get some laughter in the day.
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Love the vintage looks, Jennifer!
This winter when it’s cold and things get a little overwhelming (I live in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area) I dig out my mom’s old Officers’ Wives Cookbooks and make recipes from my childhood, like beef stroganoff, chicken cordon blue, meatloaf, and angel food cake.
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Thanks, Robin!
Mmm, that’s the best way to escape into the past! I have several cookbooks that have been passed down to me, by family or friends. Whenever I cook or bake one of those recipes, it’s like a little hug from them.
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I had a friend back in the ’70s who used to joke about being a member of the group, “People for a Bell Bottom-Free Future.” I did wear them in the late ’60s, I’ll admit, but quickly moved on to courduroys and straight-leg Levis. And then in the early ’80s I went full-on New Wave, with pegged black slacks and short spiked hair.
Like Hestia, I’m a fan of ’30s and ’40s fashion, especially vests. But for escaping to the past, I go to historical fiction far more than fashion.
Love the headband, Jen!
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