With vintage and retro styles at the peak of a resurgence in popular culture, and with so many fashion blogs to follow, it can be hard to know where to start. Brittany at Va-Voom Vintage has a distinct voice among many vintage bloggers, and her blog is a wonderful source of content for ones just starting out in vintage or those who have been collecting it for years. She is a seamstress, a stylish housewife, and is always eager to both learn and teach about vintage fashion and lifestyles. She graciously took the time out of her busy life to talk to me a little about her inspirations, the amazing women in her family's history, and her plans for the next year.
Thanks so much for taking the time to talk! First off, tell us a little bit about yourself.
Thanks for having me! I'm Brittany, I'm 30 and I'm a housewife and mom from the suburbs of St Louis. I'm raising my little boy, Rhys, and my girl, Olivia, in a little 1930s house near the Missouri River. I wear vintage style clothes almost every day and I love to sew, garden and do crafty things.
How did you originally discover vintage clothing?
My first vintage piece was a lavender winter coat from the 1960s. I bought it at a shop in the city while I was shopping with my aunt. I didn't start wearing vintage full-time until I was much older. After my daughter was born and I became a housewife, my grandma and I were talking about what housewives were like when she was a girl. The things they did, the things they wore and how they lived. I had been sitting around in pajamas, basically all day, which is no way for a girl to live! I decided to try to do things the old fashioned way. My husband drove me to the city one afternoon and I bought my first few vintage hats and dresses. I looked for comfortable things that I could wear while I was home cleaning house and taking care of my 3 month old baby girl. Once I realized how easy and comfortable it was to wear vintage, I started wearing it every day. I started my blog within weeks, to document my love of vintage fashion.
Were you influenced by any particular classic films or icons?
I get a ton of hair and accessory inspiration from old movies. I think Betty Grable is my #1 hair style icon. I love her iconic poodle curls, perfectly placed victory rolls- oh and she's a Missouri girl too! I love to recreate looks from old films and get inspiration for my sewing projects. I often sit and watch old movies and just watch the background extras! There are so many fantastic outfits and hairstyles that have been overlooked but they're there, just past the starlets!
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