I love being called a retro housewife but I don’t like the term, time-warped wife. I like a lot of things about modern times, I don’t want to live in the past.
As I’m writing this post I’m wearing a vintage-inspired purple polka dress, my water is sitting on a metal coaster from the 1950s, and a vintage apron is draped on the back of my chair ready to be worn when I start on housework. I even live in a home built in the early 1960s. I call myself a retro housewife for a reason.
Some people call women like myself time-warped wives but I don’t like that term. I don’t like it because I don’t want to live in the past and that shocks some people, maybe even you.
I adore the 1940’s and 1950’s. The fashion, the movies, the music, the homes… However, I do not want to live in either time. Sure I wish I could still go to a drug store on the main street and have a milkshake. And I’d love to go to a drive-in movie on date night. I’d love to bring back somethings but not everything.
I know some people think that all of us who dress vintage and enjoy things from the past are naive about the eras we love. The 40s gave us some amazing music and fashion but it also came with war, poverty and in my state of Oklahoma, they were still dealing with the lasting effects from the Dust Bowl. And both the 40s and 50s came with so many social injustices.
Plus I really like the internet, my cell phone, modern appliances, and many other modern things. And I really love the fact that I have the right to choose if I want to be a homemaker or have a career. I’ve never been a fan of being told what to do.
Recently Jessica over at Chronically Vintage interviewed two other great vintage bloggers Laurence and Sylvain of Lost in the 50s. Jessica asked what the biggest perks of living a vintage filled life had been for Laurence and Sylvain and I truly loved their answer.
“I think that it’s the fact that you can choose the best parts of the era you like. Some people ask me if I would want to live in the 50’s. No, it’s great to live now and having the best of a modern life and the best of the 50’s.
I’m well aware that life back then was not always a bed of roses. There were bad conditions still for many women, racism, poverty, and many other serious social concerns. Today we can live now a 50’s life, but with the advantages of a modern world. I think it’s important to be aware of history in order to have a better life in the present.”- Click here to read the full interview
And that’s just what I do, I pick my favorite parts of the eras and add them into my life. It’s easy to glamorize the 40s and 50s but it’s important to remember the ways we have it better now.
Do you agree? Or do you feel like it still glamorizes the past too much to live a vintage lifestyle? Share your thoughts in the comments, I’d love to hear what you think!
Jen O
August 10, 2015 at 11:40 amIt’s such an individual thing that I don’t think anyone should be able to judge how and why anyone wears and/or lives with vintage. Yes, we are lucky today to have amazing technology, but to enjoy something from the past is a welcome option for many. Making an effort to learn about that past era should be part of the mix too. Let’s celebrate the difference and enjoy both to the best of our ability!
Lisa Sharp
August 10, 2015 at 12:05 pmI agree. Assuming there is not abusing and the person isn’t being forced to live a way they don’t want to live, I don’t see an issue.
I think learning history is important for so many reasons. It’s a great way to relate with other generations, to prevent repeating past mistakes, and I think it just makes us an overall more well rounded person.
Thanks, Jen for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!
Deb Wolf
August 10, 2015 at 3:12 pmAmen! I love decor from the late 1700’s, but I love indoor plumbing and hot running water. There are things I’ve loved about each of the most recent decades and things I’d say absolutely not. And I’d hate to give up my iPad and iPhone. Embrace what you love and praise God for options. For me that’s living with gratitude and joy! Blessings to you!
Lisa Sharp
August 13, 2015 at 9:09 amAren’t indoor plumbing and hot running water wonderful? haha It’s great that we can mix what we love from each decade.
Rachel G
August 10, 2015 at 3:36 pmI think it’s cool that we have the option these days to choose to enjoy different decades’ worth of fashion and decor and customs (and TV–some 50s and 60s shows are among my perennial favorites!). Just because something is ‘old’ doesn’t mean we have to live in the past to enjoy it.
Lisa Sharp
August 13, 2015 at 9:07 amIt is! And with the internet it’s even easier to enjoy the things we like from the past. 🙂
Deanna
August 11, 2015 at 11:41 amI absolutely agree! There are things I love about various eras and other cultures, as well. I think it’s wonderful that we can choose which of these we want to incorporate into our own lives.
Lisa Sharp
August 13, 2015 at 9:07 amSo true, there are too many great things in the past and present to not do some mixing.
Melanie
August 11, 2015 at 7:01 pmI think it’s wonderful that we live in a country and in a time where we can basically live any way we want. I don’t dress in any vintage clothing, but I love vintage furniture and decor I wouldn’t want to live back in the 40’s or 50’s either.
Lisa Sharp
August 13, 2015 at 9:06 amVery true! It is great. Thanks for stopping by!
Shannon @ Of The Hearth
August 18, 2015 at 11:07 amI like the idea of being able to take what we like from past eras, but still embracing modern life. We can learn so much from the past, but I am glad I live today!
Lisa Sharp
August 19, 2015 at 11:59 amThere are so many great things in modern times. I sure do love my laptop and dishwasher! ha
Jennifer
November 18, 2015 at 9:47 amThank you for putting into words what I’ve always felt in my heart! I never knew how to properly explain it to others but you just did, so perfectly!