As I'm sitting here on hold with a Movie Company, the orchestrated tune of "Singing in the Rain" is filling my ears. Since I was a young girl I have been fascinated with the Glamorous, Simple eras of the 1920's, 1930's, 1940's and 1950's. I know that is a rather large time period but I LOVE IT. I often joke with others that I was born in the wrong decade :] I was born in 1986. Nuff said.
I wish I could have experienced some the changes that happened in our world in that time. If you think about it, 1900-1950 brought amazing technological, social and cultural changes. I am so captivated with these early American Eras.
1920's - 1930's: The era of silent films, flappers, the mob, the prohibition and the great depression. Even though not all these events were glamorous, they are extremely intriguing in their own right. As modern day Americans, we have never experienced the brokenness that was brought on by the great depression. Yes, we are currently in an economic downturn but I don't feel it reached the severness of that back in the 30's. We also take for granted the fact that we can buy and drink alcohol whenever we want. Though it was against the law, I would have loved to experience an underground speak easy and dabbled a little bit in the illegal partaking of alcohol. Organized crime back in the day is another thing that pulls me in. It is still to this day alive and well in many Hollwood productions as well as the lesser known gangs and mobs of the present. Flapper and cigarette girls adorned themselves with short hair and hats. They wore short skirts and sleeveless dresses, quite a drastic change from the modest apparel of the women a decade before. Fashion was born and women were ready to step out of the shadows.
1940's -1950's: This is the era where my heart truly lies. When this era began, America was in the midst of WWII. If you ever want to watch a
good GREAT depiction of what living during the war, as a soldier might have been like in Europe, you need to wach the TV miniseries "Band of Brothers". It is entirely informative, captivating and is based of a true company "The EZ Company", that served together in the war. (I digress) After the war came a booming economy, women in the workforce and my opinion, the best music, movies and television to ever hit the public. Lucille Ball, Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Bing Crosby, Audrey Hepburn, Bob etcetera etcetera. This post war era of Glamour is what I admire the most. Going to movies was glamourous, flying was glamorous and everyone dressed for life. Women didn't even own sweats let alone go grocery shopping in them. There is a style and grace about this period that will never be matched again.
Most recently, I have been hooked on a more gritty version of life in the late 50's early 60's. That would be called AMC's Mad Men. It is a show that follws Ad Executives in the heart of NYC. The Cigarette filled, Whiskey drinking and philandering characters in this show bring a more scandalous outlook on the seemingly innocent era. The women on this show are insanely gorgeous and their style is to die for.
With all of the above said, It brings me to one random point that was the point of this whole post. I want to learn how to sew.
One common thread of all these eras that I love so dearly is FASHION. I love the way women used to dress and I want to learn to sew so I can make myself some classic pieces that you just cant find anymore. The flowy dresses, tailored jackets and high-waisted pants are looks of the past that are slowly coming back. For me, I had always loved the things of the past but watching "Mad Men" brought it all back to the surface. I want to incorporate some of the old Fashioned Glamour into my own closet.
I asked for a sewing maching for Christmas... We will have to see what happens :]
