My name is Elizabeth. I am so thrilled to be learning how to write a blog about my adventures collecting vintage treasures. This new adventure is to mark my 60th Birthday this February in 2016 and to start this decade with something fresh and personally challenging.
Taken on my 60th Birthday
I have been collecting Powder compacts; 1950’s costume jewellery, vintage handbags, silk scarves, vintage umbrellas and hats for over five years now. I try to wear and use as much of my collections as possible. This has added great enjoyment to my life! Hunting for vintage treasures is fun and I am lucky to be able to share this passion with my husband, Glenn. He is supporting me so much in my blogging, and takes my photographs for me. I am very grateful for this help and to be able to share this new venture with him.
As a child my “best game” was always dressing up. I kept all my dressing up clothes in a large wooden banded trunk in the spare bedroom -the third bedroom. Creating outfits and characters, wearing jewellery always with a handbag and a powder compact I would play on my own for hours. Most of my treasures then came from jumble sales and bric a brac shops browsed with my parents on holiday. Life has a way of coming round full circle.
A lifelong interest in fashion and make up now finds expression in wearing vintage style clothes, jewellery and accessories. I source all my “top clothes” from Oxfam on line and charity shops Mixing new tops, shoes and sometimes handbags with my vintage accessories has given me a signature style that is unique. I have always tried to be an individual and not follow the crowd.
In my fifties I found increasing joy in being able to just be myself and adopt the hairstyle I wanted and the vintage look that suited me. Styling each outfit in my wardrobe is fun and I love how my collections just link into the tops, skirts and jackets I particularly love to wear.
I find most of my collections at vintage fairs, charity shops and going to Antiques for Everyone at the NEC has been a marvellous time for hunting out treasures and learning more about the things that have sparked real passion for me.
A primary teacher by background who has always loved history, I had my own business teaching English as a Foreign Language to Japanese executives and their families while my children were growing up. I then worked as an administrator for a number of years before deciding again to have my own business. Since November 2007 I have worked as a professional housekeeper under the banner Glorious Life Housekeeping Services, bringing order to the homes I work in. I also organise the care for my mother who is going to be 92 years old this August.
You can see now why I had to call my blog, Gloriously Vintage! I know life can be glorious when you are happy and engaged and passionate about what you do! Wearing a practical uniform for work with flat shoes means I cannot wait to look as glamorous as possible at the weekends in high heels and vintage style, fitting in as many outfits as I can!
2016 is a special year because not only am I 60 years old, but also Glenn and I are celebrating our 15th Wedding Anniversary in May.
Taken on our weekend in Stratford upon Avon to celebrate our 15th Wedding anniversary
It is a second marriage for us both. We have 5 grown up children between us, on Glenn’s side, 3 of whom are married with their own families, wonderful grandchildren, and a great grandson too. We feel so blessed to have a second chance to be happy together and are very proud of our family. How quickly the 15 years have passed.
I am writing about my collections, vintage style, vintage fashion from the 1920’s to the 1950’s, and the influences that have brought me to this new adventure. The learning curve is very steep at present but I hope you will join me in this project as I learn about links, putting captions on Glenn’s photographs and all the ins and outs of posting on Gloriously Vintage.
My outfit from the Summer wedding last year
Gloriously Vintage 