Today, meet Laurence and her portrait of an inspiring woman. Creator of the instagram account @Lost_in_the_1950s, she shares a vintage and colourful universe with Sylvain, her vintage husband too!
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
First of all, who are you, where did you grow up, what is your background?
Hello, my name is Laurence, in my forties. I grew up between Lorraine and Alsace and studied in Canada. Even if my style and my passion for vintage do not suggest it, I am an engineer, director of a company in Luxembourg.
How did you come up with the idea of this account dedicated solely to 40s-50s fashion?
Actually, this Instagram account simply reflects my life, a passion for vintage fashion and the 50s. I’ve been lucky enough to share this passion with the man in my life for over 20 years. It’s a love of old things with a history, a technicolour life away from our modern times which can sometimes seem a bit dull. But beware, the past doesn’t only have positive values and the present has negative values! Living a vintage life today allows you to take the best from each era!
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
What do you like most about this activity?
I don’t see it as an activity, but simply as my life from day to day, a passion that is sometimes a bit all-consuming… My husband and I live it on a daily basis, our interior is entirely furnished with period furniture, mostly pieces from the 1950s. We own 5 vintage cars: Simca Aronde 1954, Chevrolet Bel Air 1954, Lincoln Continental 1958, Cadillac 1959, Buick 1959. We also collect and wear fashion from the 30s to the early 60s.
We love to travel, especially to North America. Every trip is an opportunity to hunt for something and also to meet people who share the same interests as us. Vintage fashion is much more developed in the Anglo-Saxon countries, many festivals are organised for example in the USA or in the UK.
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
What are your inspirations?
They are quite varied: old photographs, old magazines, Internet…
It was buying a batch of ELLE magazines from 1955 at a flea market that triggered my passion for the 50’s over 20 years ago.
Your icon? Your muse?
I can’t say that I really have a muse or an icon, but I admire certain women like Josephine Baker, Carmen Miranda, Grace Kelly, Gene Tierney…
Your colour?
Without hesitation, red!
What is your favourite object?
Brooches! I’ve been collecting them avidly for years.
Your favourite flower?
The hydrangea
Your totem animal?
I would say the rabbit and the dog
What is your favourite book?
Gone with the wind
How did you pass the time during this year of confinement?
I was lucky enough to be able to continue my professional activity during this rather special year. Living in the countryside, we were only slightly affected, we learned to rediscover the simple things: cooking, gardening, walking in nature… No big trip, we rediscovered our beautiful country!
Your fashion essentials?
The brooch, I rarely go out without carrying one or even several. You can also think of wearing them differently on a beret, a bag, a scarf…
Hats have fallen out of favour since the 1970s, but I personally feel quite naked without a hat!
The umbrella, I have quite a collection of vintage umbrellas… we live in regions where the rain is sometimes more present than the sun, so pretty and colourful umbrellas are a must for me!
The handbag, life is too short to wear uninspired things, I like colourful and sometimes a bit kitschy bags like animal baskets, embroidered bags, with beads, sequins…
To sum up, accessories are for me what can completely transform an outfit, a simple cotton dress but with the right accessories it can look totally different! Many times people ask me if I’m going to a wedding when I’m wearing a very simple dress I found for a few euros!
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
Any addresses, good plans to recommend?
Of course the mythical St Ouen flea market! You are sure to find some real treasures there! Decoration, clothes, accessories… the assurance of spending a good day with a very Old Paris atmosphere, and a special place for the Vernaison market.
And in Paris some vintage shops like 20 sur 20, Mam’zelle Swing, Mamie Blue, Chez Poupoule, Falballas…
Also the American Antiques mall if you are planning a trip to the USA, real vintage supermarkets with incredible sales areas!
What are your buying criteria during your shopping sessions?
I mostly buy vintage items, my criteria are above all the style and condition of the objects or clothes. Antique does not mean in bad condition or having lived too long!
There are also quite a few retro brands that make reproductions locally, respecting old methods and materials.
Do you think Made in France is a guarantee of quality?
I like to promote and support small designers, and if they are French, it’s even better! Cocorico 😊 The handmade gives a unique character that I really like.
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
What do you like about Ciléa jewellery?
For me, Ciléa is in the direct vein of 1930-1960 costume jewellery: bakelite, celluloid, plastic… Your jewellery brings the touch of colour and cheerfulness that I need. I love their shiny side, one could take them for glass. They are still very classy with a touch of colour and fantasy!
The 3 jewels you can’t live without?
My combo is brooch, earrings and bracelet. I rarely wear necklaces unless I’m wearing a large neckline, if I do wear a necklace I don’t usually wear a brooch.
I tend to wear too much… but life is too short not to get fancy and wear what you want! Let’s wear what makes us happy without worrying about what other people think and what trends the industry tries to impose on us! Yes, I’m quirky, you have to be strong enough to deal with other people’s looks but in the end it’s 99% smiles and compliments!
Any instagram accounts to recommend?
Here are a few examples:
@missgolden_lady
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
@_charlesphoenix
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
@the_glambassador
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
@falbalaspucesfalbalas (shopping)
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
@chez_poupoule (shopping)
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
@lydia1940s
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
@dandywellington
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
@mitch.tornade
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
@odemoncheri
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
@sarahulrike
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
@pin_up_curl (shopping)
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
@mamzelleswing (shopping)
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
@vintage_egyptologist
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
@violette_vogh
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
@wardrobe_experience
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
@dollykitten_marion
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
@emmydesignsweden (shopping)
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
@iddavanmunster
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
And many more!!! So many inspiring accounts in the vintage field!