Tuesday, February 3, 2015

my vintage 'phase'


Before I get to this post, I just want to thank my friend, Brenda over at Cozy Little House for making my new banner. Things have changed since the last time I had to do things like that, so she went and did it for me.
Thank you so much, Brenda! You're the best! I love it :)
xoxo


Now onto the post.....


I hate having my picture taken.

HATE it.

Even worse for me is posting pictures of myself. So, when I had to choose a profile picture I went by an old standby:


It was taken 3 years ago.

The picture below was the profile picture I used on my old blog and I think it stayed there for about 4 years.


See what I mean? 

I will find a picture that I don't completely dislike and there it will stay for years.

It's like time stood still, which obviously it hasn't.

Anyway, my point is not about how much I hate pictures of myself, but more about what I look like now.

By looking at my profile picture that I have on here and the fact that my blog is called An Old-Fashioned World,  you might think that I dress vintage all the time.

Well, that's not entirely true.

It was for awhile though.

 I went through a 'phase' (as my mother likes to call it) where I woke up one day and said "I'm going to not only live a vintage lifestyle, but I'm also going to dress like it every. single. day." 

And I did, for about 5 years.


I did my hair every day in a 1940s style.

I wore a girdle almost all the time.

I wore seamed stockings when I went out at night and bobbie socks with saddle shoes during the day.

My closet is full of vintage dresses that I still lovingly repair as they wear out.

"Make do and mend" was my go to slogan and honestly, it still is.

You see, the problem with dressing like that every day, isn't what you might think, which probably has to do with the question that I got asked the most: 

"Doesn't it take forever to get ready every morning?"

Nope. 

It actually took me less time than wearing modern clothes, because you don't have to play the games.... 
Does this go with that? 
or 
Will my jeans fit this week? 
or 
Is this still in style? 
etc, etc, etc....

I just threw my hair up in curlers, brushed it out, put on my makeup and threw on my dress.

Easy peasy.

Actually, the problem was that, for whatever reason, a great majority of people are offended by things that are different and a lot of people had a HUGE problem with the way I looked.

I'd get questioned or commented on every time I left the house.

"Why do you dress like that?"
"Why would you wear those saddle shoes? I hated them growing up!"
"The 50s called and they want you back!"
"What's with your hair? Can I touch it?"
"You look like you're on the show Mad Men"
"Are you in a local play?"
"Are you going to a costume party?"

and on and on and on....

Can you imagine if, for example, I said back to them:

"Aren't you a little old for a mini-skirt?"
"Why do you feel the need to dress like your daughter?"
"The 1980s called and they want you back."
"What's with the pajamas? Did you forget to get dressed when you left the house?"
"What's with the messy bun? Did you lose your hair brush?

But that would be rude, wouldn't it?

Of course.

Which is why I'd politely answer them or keep quiet and skedaddle out of there as quick as I could.

So, I stopped dressing vintage all the time.

Not to say that I never do (I'm dressed vintage today), but it's just not all the time.

I went out and bought some modern clothes (I had purged my closet of anything modern when I went vintage), so that when I felt like blending in, I could.

This is basically what I look like when I'm not wearing vintage:






All those pictures were taken in the last 6 months, so now you know what I look like on an average day, this year and not three years ago.

Will I change my profile?

I dunno.

We'll see if I can find a picture of myself that I don't hate, that will work for a profile picture.

It could be awhile ;)

xo,
rue



43 comments:

  1. Hi Ru, Vintage, modern and everything in between you are gorgeous. Just be happy!!
    Hugs

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    Replies
    1. Aww... thank you, Celestina. I really am happy! I promise :)

      xo

      Delete
  2. Well, you're gorgeous so I don't think anyone's going to mind pictures of you...but I hate myself in pictures, so I get it. Ps...LOVE your answers and wish I had the guts to say them sometimes myself. I like to dress and people always ask, "What are you so dressed up for?"

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Kim :) I wish I could say them sometimes myself, but I never can. Plus the fact that I usually think of them after the fact lol

      I hate the question "What are you so dressed up for?" I always want to say "What are you so dressed down for?" lol

      Delete
  3. I say wear what you want and have fun! I agree with Kim. . .you're gorgeous. Beautiful eyes. I don't like photos of myself, so when I get one I actually can stand it stays on my profile foh - evah! I'm due for a change though. Look out! LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you!

      "Look out!" That cracked me up!

      Delete
  4. Our mother always hated to get her picture taken and we could never understand why. She was a beautiful woman. Well the apple(s) don't fall far from the tree. Twin and I HATE to get our picture taken and our kids get so mad at us. We give a million excuses why we don't want our picture taken (we don't have any make up on, we are having a bad hair day, we are in our grubby clothes). When my son was little it was easy because I was the one behind the camera and would take the picture of him and dad. I think you might find 2 or 3 with me in them. I do feel bad now thinking that when he gets married and has kids there won't be too many picture of me to show his children. I wonder why we feel this way? You are a beautiful woman and you take great pictures. As far as the way you dress or how you decorate your home I believe you have to true to yourself. Your home is a reflection of yourself and that is how it should be. You live there and if it makes you happy that is all that matters. You look very happy and that spills over to others. That is what is important. The Twins

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    1. Thank you!

      I think it is genetics as far as the photo phobia. My grandfather hated it, my mom hates it, I hate it and my daughter hates it. Very odd.

      I try to let people take my picture when I'm pretending I'm not paying attention, but until it's been a few years, I think they're awful. I realized that after I got older I appreciated how I looked back when the picture was taken, so that's why I usually let it go. Posed pictures are another story.

      I really am true to myself. In my own home, I don't have any issues, but when I leave the security of it, I sometimes just want to blend in. It makes life so much easier.

      xo



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  5. I think you are beautiful Rue...no matter how you are dressed! I don't understand how or why people think they can get by saying mean, hateful things to someone else because they perceive them as "different"....I'm sure they were just jealous because I love your vintage look. I love this quote from Dr. Suess: "Be yourself because the people that mind don’t matter and the people that matter dont mind! "

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Judy :)

      I think it's odd too. Why anyone would feel like it's okay to say the things to me that they have is just unbelievable. I would never in a million years be that rude.

      I love that quote :)

      Delete
  6. I think your beautiful..put on a grundy sack and your still the bomb..Rue I just read the post on your home..and let me tell you anyone that knows you knows you are a young soul with an old inner self..you and your home are a match made in heaven..love ya my dear friend..so glad to see you back..hugs Gloria

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  7. I love that you enjoy dressing in vintage clothes. That's really neat! You are beautiful in all your photos, vintage or not. And...I'm with you on wanting to ask some of the questions you mentioned above....especially the one about dressing like their daughters....lol! Hope you're having a lovely week!

    Blessings, Vicky

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Vicky :)

      I hope you have a great week too!

      Delete
  8. Rue, you should be a model! Not kidding in the least! So, if you want to 'give up your day job', I'm sure you would make it in the vintage-model world!!

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    Replies
    1. You're so sweet, Deb! Thank you :) I don't think anyone wants to see a 45 year old model though lol

      Delete
  9. My daughter a newish teen was writing about this subject the other day. Unfortunately it does not change as we grow up. Great photos and thought provoking.

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    1. No, sadly it doesn't. I think that as we get older the bullying gets worse, because people think they can say whatever they want. I hope your daughter isn't getting bullied. I went through that with my kids and it's horrible.

      Thank you.

      xo

      Delete
  10. I've wondered about that profile photo of beautiful you. Now we know the rest of the story. Very interesting and wonderful that your guy doesn't mind one bit what you wear.

    No matter what you are wearing, you are lovely, inside and out.

    FlowerLady

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    Replies
    1. Thank you :)

      He really doesn't. In fact he wishes I would wear dresses more. The problem is I've been on a painting binge that doesn't call for them lol

      Delete
  11. I love your photo and dressing vintage - I think about all the cool dresses and fabrics at that time. I love old movies and dresses from that error. Brenda is a dear blogger friend of mine and love your bannere.

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    1. Thank you! Not only were they cool, but also well made. I have dresses that are over 80 years old that are in perfect condition.

      She's great, isn't she? :)

      Delete
  12. Hi Rue! Honey, you are just a beautiful lady no matter what clothes you wear. You have the most beautiful eyes and your hair is lovely, not to mention you have the figure for any kind of clothes. You just be you and shame on those folks saying those kinds of things. I guess their mothers didn't teach them to have manners! I maybe shouldn't say this but that looks like another honey?
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aww.... thank you, Shelia :)

      Honestly, I think you're right. Hardly anyone seems to have manners theses days. It's sad.

      Yes, that's a new honey ;)

      xo

      Delete
  13. I like the "vintage" photo. Fits your blog perfectly. You look like a 40s actress. A beautiful one!
    Brenda

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  14. I like you do not like seeing myself in pictures either. I think I look terrible! I can't believe the questions some people had the nerve to ask? I love your photo too and vintage or not I like you too! Individuality is something we should all strive to make. Your hair is also very pretty, as I've gotten older my has thinned out, but I remember when it was full and long. The bullying does get worse, but we should become stronger within ourselves and not give them to much control over our self worth. You are a very lovely lady!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Oh, I've had some other doozies as well LOL I think the thing that bothers me the most, is when they want to touch me. I would never just touch someone. Very odd.

      You're very sweet, thank you. I like you too :)

      Delete
  15. I love you vintage and also today....I would have felt it a compliment if someone said I looked like I was from Mad Men! I loved that era!

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    1. I love you too, Penny :)

      It was the way they said it. If someone said it nicely, I would have taken it as a compliment. I love that show.

      Delete
  16. You are beautiful, in all your photos but that first picture says so much about you that I hope you keep it until you are completely satisfied with a replacement.

    I wish so much that your old blog was still available too where I could see more but thank goodness you're writing now!

    Don't ever try to blend in too much in this present age.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I never thought about it saying something about me, but I guess it does.

      I wish I could bring that old blog back. At least to get the pictures off of it.

      Whether I wear vintage or not, I have never really blended in. I'm sort of an odd duck lol But I promise I won't :)

      Delete
  17. Great to see so many pictures of you in all your different looks! As long as you are happy and like what you are wearing that is all that matters I think! xx

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  18. Hi, I think that it is beautiful to see women in dresses looking like women instead of a thoughtlessly put together person going to work in the garden or looks like maybe their headed to a football game. We've become such a unisex society. And I for one hate it. You of course are a beautiful woman no matter how you choose to dress. And I am enjoying your blog. Barbara

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    Replies
    1. Well, thank you so much, Barbara! I think the same way that you do. I miss even back 20 years ago, when people still tried to look nice. Sadly, most people don't seem to care anymore.

      Delete
  19. I hate having my picture made too! My older two boys also hate having their pic taken which is why I have so many more of baby boy than the other two. Pull out a camera and baby boy puts on that charming smile. (he is an actor so photos are part of his job)
    You look beautiful in all those pictures - and you look happy!

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  20. Such fun photos! You are beautiful! I hate having my photo taken, too...my profile pic is a selfie taken out in my porch lol.

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  21. I never understood why people care so much about what others wear. Anyway, you do vintage so well, and your profile picture is really a reflection of who you are and not many pictures do that, so stick with it until you're at least 85 and simply can't pull it off any longer :). Or...you could switch to the second from the last one. Love that one!

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  22. You're so sweet :) Thank you!

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