You can read it here.
It is about three women who eschew the modern world and live and dress and act completely within their preferred decade, the 30s, the 40s and the 50s.
The author of the article did a good job of not putting their own slant on it, but I really found the whole idea very distasteful. Now, I also think that it's weird that I have such a strong dislike for the concept these women live by. I like vintage things and clothes, I sew and wear them and I buy them at estate sales.
I guess it is the attitude of the women that I don't like. For one, it is very ingenuous and head-in-the-sand. Each of the women says something along the lines of: "the world is a dangerous and scary place that I want nothing to do with." and "I don't read the news." So they would rather live in a time warp?
Of course there was poverty then, and sadness, and crime, or a man abusing his wife, or a child going hungry; there has been and always will be sadness in the world. I don't think the wisest way to deal with it is to pretend it doesn't exist.
My analogy: New Orleans can be a very dangerous city- we often have the highest murder rate in the entire nation. I could say "that is a terrifying fact, so I will pretend not to know it" and live my life unwisely, riding my bike wherever I want, not paying attention to my surrounding, going in unsafe areas and generally being oblivious because I would rather not think about it. Or, I could be smart and realistic and say "this can be a very dangerous city, but only if you are unwise." So I avoid certain areas, and keep my eyes open and act smart- and never personally experience crime, while still enjoying my life.
The only other thing that annoyed me was how much time and money they spend keeping this lifestyle going. One of the women says she spends 50-150 pounds on each outfit. That is one of the principal reasons I started sewing vintage clothes- I simply don't have the money to buy them, especially as the vintage concept grows and prices go up.
The one thing I don't have a problem with is the relationship lifestyle choice. If they want to play subservient housewife, that's totally their business. Everyone's relationship has a balance of power; theirs is just very obvious to the world.
Anyways, it's an interesting article- go read it and tell me what you think!!
You have 99 followers...wish I could follow again and be your 100th...come on folks...she needs 100.
ReplyDeleteI guess I am number 100. :) As for the article ... I think these women have taken a hobby / obsession and gone hunting for a rationale to explain it. Nothing wrong with romanticizing an era for fun, but they're clearly only reading the parts of the history books that interest them!
ReplyDeleteI think it is sad that these women have to create a fantasyland to live in.
ReplyDeleteThey say they just like to live in their era but one has a dvd player underneath her modern tv in a 1950's cabinet, another uses the internet to find her vintage purchases and another likes a real 'lady' like Ava Gardner. Ava Gardner who had an affair with Frank Sinatra that ended his marriage?
Interesting story.
I actually spoke to one of the girls in the documentary and she was in tears over the way it was portrayed. She had received really awful comments from people who didn't know her.
ReplyDeleteShe has a job, yet was shown as a woman who stays in the household and tends for her husband's every whim.
By the way, just for context, the Daily Mail is a newspaper that is renowned in the UK for being an intolerant, scaremongering rag. Nobody over here takes it seriously.
Robin- I'm confused by your post. You condemn them for living in a "fantasyland" and then go on to slate them for owning modern conveniences.
I don't understand why people can't just accept that some people like to live in a different way. It might not be to your taste, but it makes them happy. Where is the harm in that?
Becky, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. No one said or implied that it is harmful- it's just weird. Everyone likes talking about interesting things, and they are certainly interesting women!
ReplyDeleteI 100% agree. This is just way too out there. Sure it's their lives to live but to take it so far as to ignore reality? Not to mention that they all contradict themselves at least once in their section of the article. The 50's lady says that she doesn't like materialism and yet her life is ALL about material things. Just because they are from a different decade doesn't make it non-materialistic! The 40's lady mentioned that she and her husband want to go back to when everyone was friendly and neighbors helped one another out- and then she says they don't know their neighbors and aren't friendly with anyone who doesn't love the 40's! How does THAT work? And lastly the 30's lady wants a more simplistic life and yet spends ages sourcing items on the internet for her lifestyle. I like the idea of life being more like it was in the past- modesty could use a revival for one, spending could reigned in more, etc but they don't do a very good job of portraying that in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you posted this though! Regardless of my opinions on some of the things said it was a really interesting read!