Do you realize that "fast fashion" puts you on a treadmill? No, not a real treadmill, maybe I should have said hamster wheel, anything but a stair climber. Anyway, for those of you not familiar with the term fast fashion let me explain. Shops like Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, and H&M are considered fast fashion, cheaply made and not meant to last or be worn past the current season.
We are currently in that annoying limbo between the end of winter and the beginning of spring, the past few days have been particularly Sybil like but it's still not time to tear out your spring gear. Weather and displays in these fast fashion shops do not match up. How many times have you gone shopping right after Christmas only to see the bathing suits out? Doesn't it make you feel like you're on a consumption treadmill?
Shops used to operate on a two season shopping schedule especially since shops had to get their inventory from an outside source. Now with shops like H&M they control the manufacturing of their products they can make them cheap and fast allowing for a constant slew of trendy clothing. This also creates a constant need to keep up with the ever changing inventory, constantly shopping and creating more unwanted clothing.
Think about your vintage garments and how well they're made, they may be over 50 years old. Your Forever 21 dress is not something that will survive for the next generation. Get off the treadmill and do your own thing. Don't contribute to the waste and go thrifting or buy quality clothes that were meant to last.
Do you even want this hanging around for 50 years? (from Forever 21)
Today I was in an ABBA mood so I chose to write about their music and specifically the style of Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. I became an ABBA fan in 2000 when I was 10 years old and in the fifth grade. Not only was I a fan of their music but I was extremely fond of how the women of the group dressed and their intoxicating beauty. I immersed myself in 70s style and my mother even feathered my hair each day before I went to school. Their music was very refreshing to me since the popular culture of the time was drenched in late 90s pop music made for teens and in turn that was all my peers could talk about, while I was looking for something more. Don't get me wrong, I was and still am a fan of 90s pop but as a 10 year old and now I was always looking for something more. What luck that the A*Teens released their album "The ABBA Generation" at the same time I was searching musically!
How many of you remember this?
As much as the A*Teens put their own spin on ABBA's music I'm happy they put out this album since if they didn't I would never appreciate the pure pop perfection that is ABBA. I have read hat Frida ( Anni-Frid) after hearing the demo of "Dancing Queen" wept since it was so beautiful. As a child I fell in love with their music and also with the fashion of their leading ladies.
One of my favorite looks for Frida and Agnetha, mini dresses and tall white boots!
Look at these women! They are a vision in white
My favorite is Agnetha's white dress but Anni-Frid's print dress and boots are breathtaking as well. Anni-Frid demonstrates a perfect winter to spring transition outfit in this photo.
My first introduction to ABBA was through an A*Teens album, after that I purchased a copy of "ABBA Gold" and became a lifelong ABBA fan. The appreciation of their music came first and a love the their style came after and both have stuck.
It's another Tuesday music post and this weeks post focuses on dance crazes of the 60s. There were so many great dances that originated in the 60s and I wish some of them would come back, I bet dances were much more fun. Let's start with a great one.
The Twist
I am really bad at learning dances but even I can do the twist. It's like a little workout and it's fun to do. Can you believe that at one time this was considered a provocative dance?
The Watusi
This is such a catchy song! The watusi became one of the most popular dances among teens and the surfer/beach crowd. Even Batman got in on the action with the Batusi.
The Jerk
You can also dance The Jerk to the song Cool Jerk by the Capitols.
These are only a small selection of 60s dances, there were many more and some dances changed based on the region where you lived. Does anyone have a favorite 60s dance?
I was never a fan of Valentine's day really. I'm not one of those bitter single types that wishes the worst for every loving couple they see nor have I ever been a saucer eyed romantic type. Really, I'm just excited for the candy. I do enjoy celebrating love on Valentine's day, Jeremy proposed to me in 2010 on February 14th, but I've never bought in to the whole idea that Valentine's day has to be over the top.
As Frank Sinatra once sang, "Love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage". Your valentine might already be your spouse or your soon to be spouse. Why not read this informative article from Collectors Weekly (http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/how-romance-wrecked-traditional-marriage/) all about "traditional" marriage. The history of marriage is very fascinating , it wasn't always about marrying the person you loved it was a business transaction and the entire institution was extremely misogynistic. I'm not trying to bring anyone down, I'm just realistic.
I am a homebody and while I like to go out to a nice restaurant to celebrate Valentine's Day, I also like to celebrate at home. Another article from Collectors Weekly (http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/vintage-romance-valentine’s-day-at-home/) gives some great ideas for couples to have a blast in their own home. One of my favorite things to do while spending a special occasion at home is dress up. Dressing up really does make all the difference on a special day at home, sweat pants do not a special occasion make. We're opting to have a Valentine's party at home on the 15th so Mommom can be with us. Every great party must have food and music, so here are some snack and music ideas for your valentines celebration, however you like to celebrate the holiday. Let's start with music.
I like songs that celebrate the entire spectrum of love, not just the highs. I will always be this way even though I'm satisfied with my love life now. That being said, none of these songs are overly shmaltzy.
For those of you that have been scorned one too many times here is a great Bobby Darin tune. For being so cynical it has such a jazzy beat.
Down with Love-Bobby Darin
For the odd couple, this Peter Sellers as Dr. Strangelove cover of "She Loves You" is the perfect thing to play for your valentine.
Who can resist the charms of Peter Sellers.
For the loving couple, why not listen to "Lovers Rock" by The Clash from their fantastic album London Calling.
The last and most beautiful love song from the 20th century is "Something" by The Beatles
For our little celebration, we have decided to have a popcorn bar. It was an idea that I found on Pinterest. You can have a big bowl of air popped popcorn and little bowls of add ins like m&m's, parmesan cheese, peanuts, rasins or whatever else you could think up.
So, what do you all have planned for Valentine's day? Do you have any special traditions?
I hope you've all been enjoying February so far! I've been trying to branch out more and get out of my comfort zone, it was one of my goals for the new year.
I found out about the website "Thrift Store Runway" when I went on the thrift crawl last month. There are some great articles all about thrifting but the highlight of the site is the outfit contest. Each month you can submit a photo of yourself in an outfit that is made from thrifted pieces following a $50 budget. Four winners are selected each month and they receive a cash prize. I submitted my outfit photo last night.
I got this awesome mini dress at the Glassboro Goodwill Thursday. I believe it's from the late 60s or the early to mid 70s.
Yesterday, my Mommom took my sister and I to the Vineland Public Library to see the Beatles exhibit that will be there all month. It's completely free to go and view the exhibit and every Beatles fan in Vineland, NJ should go see it. For more information visit: http://www.vinelandlibrary.org/pr/February_2014_Beatles_Display.htm
I had to take these shots with my phone so they're not so great. The wire art didn't show up so well.
The exhibit celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Beatles appearance on the Ed Sullivan show. I love that their music is still celebrated today. When I was a teenager I was obsessed with the Beatles and now my sister is too, she is currently borrowing all of my Beatles records.
Can you imagine how exciting it must have been to see this when it aired! Music has the power to change lives and The Beatles performances on the Ed Sullivan show changed a lot of lives. Tomorrow, CBS will air a special to celebrate The Beatles. For more information visit: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cbs-news-marking-beatles-anniversary-with-live-multimedia-event/
It bothers me that The Carpenters get dismissed as a soft white bread type band without a thought. These people are really missing out on the beautiful voice and drumming talents of Karen Carpenter.
Karen Carpenter died 31 years ago today from heart failure due to her struggle with anorexia. When I was little my mother had "The Karen Carpenter Story" with Cynthia Gibb taped and saved it in a box where she kept all the movies that she had taped off the television. I watched this movie more times than was probably healthy but it did get me interested in The Carpenters at the age of four. I wanted to play the drums and the piano but my parents enrolled me in piano lessons and I didn't start playing drums until I was 13.
People tend to forget that Karen was an amazing drummer especially during a time when it wasn't seen as the womanly thing to do to play drums.
Jumping from instrument to instrument, amazing!
Not only could she play the drums but she could sing beautifully as well. I dare you to listen to her sing and not be moved, you won't be able to.
"A Song for You"
I encourage all of you, especially if you are in that group of people that think The Carpenters are soft muzak, to explore their music. There are too many people that dismiss this great band. Disturbingly there are also a lot of people that regard Karen Carpenter's death with great disdain as if her illness ,which is something easy to trap yourself in, negates her immense talent and the impact she left on the world. So, go put your favorite Carpenters album on and remember this amazing woman.
