I know this is a theme I keep coming back to over and over again but it is an important one:  People judge us . . . → Read More: Wise Words of the Day: Clothes]]>

Always dress neatly, taking care to have good materials.  It is astonishing how much people judge by dress.  ~ John Lubbock

Source: myvintagevogue.com via Julie-Ann on Pinterest

I know this is a theme I keep coming back to over and over again but it is an important one:  People judge us by our clothes.

It may not be fair.  It may not be right.  But I’m just reporting the facts to you.  What we wear telegraphs to other people how we think about ourselves and how we expect to be treated by others.  That doesn’t mean we have to wear haute couture all of the time and spend a lot of money.  But we should look nice, even when we are being casual (for example, the two sweater dresses above are comfy, casual, warm, and perfect for running errands and meeting a friend for lunch…apparently lunch was a bit more than Blue Dress expected because she is checking out the change in her wallet).

When I started the “Only Own Beautiful Clothes in 2012 Challenge,” I had no idea that it would touch women so deeply.  I’ve already scheduled a second retreat for this month and third retreat for March to help women clarify their own personal style and create a wardrobe plan.

One of the things that differentiates modern retro women is that we believe in the importance of getting “dressed”–whether we wear retro/vintage inspired clothes or modern clothes.  Because we know that when we are dressed we have more confidence and are treated with more respect by others.

Spam advertisement courtesy of Jello Kitty on Flickr.com

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You’d think he’d rush down to breakfast knowing this is waiting for him!

Spam advertisement courtesy of Jello Kitty on Flickr.com

Image courtesy of . . . → Read More: Friday Photo Fun #3: Because Sometimes You Just Have to Wonder…. The Helmet]]>

This is our third affectionate look at “found photos.” Found photos are the ones that are either sold at garage sales or are found in an attic and no one knows anything about the people or what is happening. They also offer us a peek into mid-century everyday life.

Image courtesy of ATypicalArt on Flickr.com

Add a caption in the comments section related to the photo. There’s no prize for having the best caption except for the bragging rights in knowing you’ve made us all laugh!

I’ll admit that I’m a bit of . . . → Read More: 1950s Red Carpet Worthy Evening Gowns]]>

It is that time of year again: Red Carpet Season!  Back when I was a little girl, it was called Awards Season.  But in the past 10-15 years, or so, the actual awards seem to be less important than what the stars are wearing on the red carpet.

I’ll admit that I’m a bit of a snob.  I look at a lot of the modern clothes coming down the red carpet and wonder if the starlet even bothered to look in the mirror before she left the house.  But then, she’s usually getting a couture gown to wear for free, so mirrors aren’t needed.

Naturally, I prefer the “Old Hollywood” type of gowns.  In that spirit, here are five gowns I found while searching Pinterest and the Internet:

Prelude To Conquest, 1938 ad for the March of Time newsreels; Image courtesy of Paul Malon on Flickr.com

In 1897, The New York Times adopted the motto, “All The News That’s Fit to Print.”  It was a jab at . . . → Read More: Wise Words of the Day: Climbing Molehills]]>

One can get ulcers by climbing mountains that are molehills.  ~ Unknown

Prelude To Conquest, 1938 ad for the March of Time newsreels; Image courtesy of Paul Malon on Flickr.com

In 1897, The New York Times adopted the motto, “All The News That’s Fit to Print.”  It was a jab at other newspapers who traded in “yellow” or sensational journalism.  Yellow journalism is known for its lack of legitimately researched stories, fear or scandal mongering, and gross exaggerations of the truth.

Sound familiar?

The twenty-four hour news cycle is yellow journalism on steroids.

Network, cable, radio, and Internet outlets are competing for your advertising dollars.  Headlines and sound bites are designed to draw you in.  The more lurid and sensational (and accusatory) the story, the higher the ratings and the higher the profits.

Mountains are made out of molehills because air time must be filled.

I remember a “breaking story” about five years ago on all of the major news outlets about an airplane carrying several hundred passengers with stuck landing gear.  The plane was going to have to make a “belly landing.”  For 20 some minutes or so, the reporters whipped themselves into hysteria as the plane went through emergency landing precautions and the runway was sprayed with foam.  The plane was able to land without exploding or breaking apart.  The emergency chutes opened and passengers started sliding safely down them.  Within seconds of the (relatively) safe landing, the stations broke away and I could literally hear the disappointment in the reporters’ voices that a tragedy was averted.

In our modern times, we are suffering from information overload.  Just out of curiosity, I did a quick and dirty review of the headlines and stories on the three Internet news sources that I frequent.  According to my unscientific research, 98% of the stuff would be considered “molehills.”  Yet people were spewing toxic comments and calling each other horrible things about stuff that really shouldn’t matter (and half of the time, it was obvious that the person hadn’t even bothered reading the story).

And I think this mountain-out-of-molehill-making helps fuel divisive rhetoric that keeps people from coming to the table to actually solve our national problems.

Our mid-century role models weren’t inundated with news 24-hours a day.  They obtained most of their news via newspapers and news magazines that researched their stories.  They were encouraged to get their news from sources across the political and social spectrum so that they could be better informed on the issues.   Perhaps we, as modern retro women, should emulated them and leave sound bite journalism to others.

You can be the most . . . → Read More: 1950s Charm School: Model Posture]]>

This post is part of a series examining 1950s era charm, poise, and beauty using  Secrets of Poise, Personality, and Model Beauty written by modeling agency and schools icon John Robert Powers and published by Prentiss-Hall in 1960.

Posture can make or break a beauty ~ John Robert Powers

You can be the most beautiful woman on earth but poor posture can destroy your appearance.  Our mid-century beauty mentor, Mr. Powers, dedicates an entire chapter to the importance of good posture.  But before we examine his lessons, let’s take a few minutes to discuss the impact of poor posture on our health.  The truth of the matter is that our posture is indicative of our body’s core strength.

Without proper alignment and strength in our core, our diaphragm is unable to do its job and our lungs are unable to fully expand so that our bodies and brains get the oxygen they need to fully function.  If you’re feeling foggy-brained, your posture may be the culprit.

If our upper back isn’t strong to counteract the constant forward motion of our arms (we don’t type or chop food behind us, after all), our shoulders slump forward and our chin starts to jut out.  Our breasts sag and hang down by our waists instead of our chest where they belong.  Sometimes it isn’t the bra but rather the posture that needs adjusting…

A swayback (my own nemesis), encouraged by weak abdominal muscles, gives the illusion of a poochy stomach while also causing all sorts of low back problems.  “Lose” five pounds instantly by tilting the hips under where they belong.

My favorite description for proper posture and body alignment is to imagine that there is a string that is pulling through the top of your head.  There should be a straight line going from your ears through the shoulders, down to the center of the hips, through the center of your knees and ending at the center of your foot.  This gives us effortless posture…after all, we don’t want the exaggerated posture of a Marine who just finished Basic Training!  You know you have it right if your hips are “tucked under,” your chin is parallel to the floor, and you will be able to wiggle your toes around.

Many readers have joined me in the “Only Own Beautiful Clothes in 2012 Challenge” (see the calendar for the date of the next virtual retreat so that you can join in, too).  But owning clothes that reflect our own personal styles can only go “so far.”  If we have poor posture, we are going to look and be unhealthy.  Even a $10,000 dress can’t counteract that!

 I’ve come a long way in the years since that photo was taken.  My life has been a glorious . . . → Read More: Wise Words of the Day: (My) Birthday]]>

Time is not measured by the passing of years, but by what one does, what one feels, and what one achieves. ~ Nehru

My second birthday party, 1963, at my grandparent's house.

 I’ve come a long way in the years since that photo was taken.  My life has been a glorious adventure.  Sometimes painful but always triumphant in the end to make that pain worthwhile.  And I get to share that adventure with The Mister, friends and family, and with you, my dear Modern Retro Woman readers.

I want to express my profound gratitude to my fellow modern retro women.  It is because of you that I continue to write this blog and share what I’m learning on this journey called “life.”  Thank you!

Coca Cola Ad from 1944; Image courtesy of Paul Malon on Flickr.com

Instead of worrying about what other people are or aren’t doing, we need to . . . → Read More: Wise Words of the Day: Citizen]]>

The first requisite of a good citizen in this Republic of ours is that he shall be able and willing to pull his weight.  ~ T. Roosevelt

Coca Cola Ad from 1944; Image courtesy of Paul Malon on Flickr.com

Instead of worrying about what other people are or aren’t doing, we need to look in the mirror and make sure we are doing everything we can be doing to be good citizens.  This includes being informed about the candidates and policies by getting our news from a variety of sources and not just relying on SuperPac-funded commercials, voting (are we going to let a minority of eligible voters decide the fate of the nation??), and actually being involved in change instead of just complaining about what we don’t like.

When was the last time you contacted your representatives?

As modern retro women, we know that inaction and infighting won’t bring back post-war prosperity and values.  We have to fight for it…by looking within, first.

Gas Cooking Ad "Better Homes and Gardens" September 1961; Image courtesy of SaltyCotton on Flickr.com

I get so annoyed when I read comments about homemakers being subjugated and reduced to second . . . → Read More: From the Archives: Partners in Mutual Success]]>

I am still under the weather but feeling much better. While I am on the mend, enjoy this post from May of 2010.

Gas Cooking Ad "Better Homes and Gardens" September 1961; Image courtesy of SaltyCotton on Flickr.com

I get so annoyed when I read comments about homemakers being subjugated and reduced to second class citizens. To be sure, in the past (and, unfortunately, in many ways still) women were treated like second class citizens–we didn’t have the right to vote, own property, or even hold credit in our own names. But there is absolutely no reason why homemakers should feel inferior because “they aren’t contributing to the household income.”

Bullpucky, I say, to the idea of not being contributors! We are full partners in the money-making endeavor. We are just the “silent partner” that works magic behind the scenes. Kathy Brown, of Wingspouse.com, has coined (and trademarked) the term “wingspouse” to describe the executive wife who partners with her husband for mutual success. A wingspouse(TM) is her husband’s confidante, helps him analyze a situation, brainstorms with him, and helps work the room at professional events. In essence, like the fighter pilot’s wingman, the wingspouse has her husband’s back. I like the imagery that the term elicits but I don’t think the idea has to be limited to the executive spouse, You see, in my mind, those things are simply part of the job description of a homemaker.

For example, when we watch old movies and television shows, the wife wants everything to be perfect when the boss and his wife are invited to dinner. The work going into such meals isn’t subjugation; it is an opportunity for the partners to work in tandem for their mutual success. You might say all of those dinners and cocktail parties that epitomized the post-war period were really a form of networking. How much more relaxing it is to get to know each other over a delicious meal rather than those sterile and awkward “networking events” that those climbing the career ladder are forced to attend.

Your home is your family business. What can you do to ensure the business runs smoothly for your mutual benefit?