Do you feel drawn to the vintage lifestyle but don’t want to be a time-warped wife or trad wife? Learn more about how to embrace the good from the era and leaving the rest behind.
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 or a trad wife but I don’t like those terms. I don’t like them because I don’t want to live in the past and that shocks some people, maybe even you.
Why I’m Not a Time-Warped Wife or Trad Wife
I adore the 1940s and 1950s. 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 full-time homemaker or have a career. I’ve never been a fan of being told what to do.
My friend Jessica over at Chronically Vintage interviewed two other great vintage bloggers Laurence and Sylvain from the blog 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.”- 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.
Embracing a Retro Lifestyle Mindfully
Living a retro-inspired life can be a joyful journey when approached with mindfulness and a selective eye. Here are some tips to infuse the charm of a bygone era into your modern life without compromising on the progress and values we cherish today:
- Fashion with a Twist: Incorporate vintage-inspired fashion into your wardrobe, celebrating the timeless silhouettes and fabrics without adhering to the restrictive clothing norms of the past.
- Mid-Century Home Decor: Curate a home adorned with mid-century aesthetics by blending classic furniture pieces and decor items. Find pieces that work with your family and be mindful of things like lead that can be in true vintage pieces.
- Retro-Inspired Cooking: Explore classic recipes from the 1940s and 1950s and find ones your family enjoys. You can help your food budget by looking at recipes from the Great Depression and WW2 ration recipes.
- Mindful Family Values: Skip the “family values” that are very exclusive and often full of discrimination but keep the idea of having a close family that enjoys spending time together.
- Eco-Friendly Practices: Blend the sustainability practices of the past with modern eco-friendly living. Opt for reusable and eco-conscious products to reduce waste, preserving the planet without embracing outdated environmental practices.
- Vintage-Inspired Leisure: Enjoy leisure activities inspired by the past, such as picnics, board games, or crafty hobbies like crocheting or embroidery, while ensuring inclusivity and respect for diverse interests.
- Selective Technology Use: Integrate technology thoughtfully, using it to enhance convenience without forsaking the simplicity and intentionality of certain retro practices.
- Community Connection: Foster a sense of community reminiscent of the past, embracing neighborly bonds and shared experiences while recognizing the importance of inclusivity and diversity.
Remember, the key is to pick the elements of the retro lifestyle that align with your values, leaving behind the aspects that are better consigned to history. By doing so, you can create a lifestyle that marries the best of both worlds, the timeless charm of the past and the progressive ideals of the present.
Jen O says
It’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 says
I 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 says
Amen! 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 says
Aren’t indoor plumbing and hot running water wonderful? haha It’s great that we can mix what we love from each decade.
Sharon Heritch says
I enjoy reading about women who choose to modify their homes and lives to seem to live in different times as a permanent way of life. Their journeys are always fascinating. Reading about Tasha Tudor, for instance, was a treat.
But I’m with you; I feel blessed to be able to choose which aspects to use, and which to discard. Though I wouldn’t mind more neighbors who felt the same way!
Rachel G says
I 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 says
It is! And with the internet it’s even easier to enjoy the things we like from the past. 🙂
Deanna says
I 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 says
So true, there are too many great things in the past and present to not do some mixing.
Melanie says
I 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 says
Very true! It is great. Thanks for stopping by!
Shannon @ Of The Hearth says
I 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 says
There are so many great things in modern times. I sure do love my laptop and dishwasher! ha
Jennifer says
Thank 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!
Jean says
Lisa,
I have been enjoying your retro blog.
I have fond memories of the 50s. I was a 50s baby. Where I lived there were a lot of stay at home moms. Homemakers or housewives are what they were called back then. This was great for kids. We didn’t need play dates. Once our chores were done we headed outdoors to play with the neighborhood kids.
Marcy says
I just wanted to say thank you, here this last week while going thru my midlife crisis ( my husband changed jobs and I got fired from my job, first time ever!) So, I sat and meditated I told my husband I was going to be a house wife and he was going to deal with it. He will make money work, always does and his job pays enough for us to afford for me to do this. Wednesday 11-20-2019 is my “first day” … bless you
Miranda says
I agree, I’m actually a 90s baby but I also love lots of things from the 80s and earlier (even the 1890s…its portrayal in film, like Lady and the Tramp, had a lot to do with it). Mostly I love the toys, films, and books, but I also love a lot of the fashions and decor.
I’m even planning on introducing my future kids to lots of things from the past, such as books, theatrical cartoons, movies, and TV shows. I know they won’t enjoy everything I show them, but I’m hoping they’ll enjoy at least a lot of it.
I think it’s best to keep up with the times up to your comfort level (like I love having a laptop but will never get a smartphone), while continuing to enjoy things from the past.
Monica says
I love this article! It reminds me of Rachel Maksy, who on her YouTube channel declared, “vintage fashion, not vintage values”. While some vintage values can be good (e.g. children being outside more instead of on screens all the time), when you look at the history of these eras, you see that the rampant prosperity so many look to with fond nostalgia and are trying to “get back to” really only existed for a certain portion of the population. The rest experienced racism, misogyny, homophobia, poverty, a huge wage and gender gap in the workplace, etc. I’m Canadian, and my mother was born in a time when her mother couldn’t open her own bank account without her husband’s approval. We like to celebrate the anniversary of “women getting the vote” in Canada without considering that Indigenous women had to wait another 40 years to get the same opportunity. And of course you have to consider all the medical advancements that have been made in the last 70 years. The childhood diseases that kept parents up at night are hardly a concern for us nowadays. So yes, lets enjoy the fashion and the hair and the more vintage ways of running a home. It’s fun and often more healthy. But lets also enjoy the good things modernity provides. Modernity isn’t the enemy of balance!