~ Swingin at the Savoy: Book Review ~ by Tam Francis Lindy Circles If you’ve heard the name Norma Miller, you’re probably a Lindy Hopper. The mention of her name in Lindy Hop circles always spark discussion. Even if you’re not a swing dancer, read her book, Swingin at the Savoy. You’ll be invited on […more…]
A Vintage Visit Home-Adventures in Dance Longing for Lindy My navy 30’s lace-ups clicked on the sidewalk as I walked myself to the dance for my visit home. The school auditorium perched between two rows of classes, creating a U-shaped courtyard. A vendor displayed t-shirts, shoes, stickers, and Lindy paraphernalia. I stopped and fondled the Remix […more…]
~ Sole Entertainment: Vintage Shoes ~ Women love to buy shoes and nothing compliments an outfit better than the right shoes. Many shoes styles grace our stores and closets but my focus is on the popular styles of the 1930s and 1940s. One of the most popular basics for noon or moon fashion is the […more…]
~ Rock the Casbah: Lindy Hop Mosh ~ The night started out good. I fit into a vintage creation I hadn’t worn in years, a spicy little pant jumper sewn from a late 1930s pattern done in red and white gabardine with blue striped trim, very WWII. We arrived at the infamous Casbah Club early, […more…]
~ Lindy Hop at the Historical Chisholm Trail Ballroom ~ Remembering the Night Smelling of mango and mandarin, I arise from a steamy bath pink, glowing and inspired. The Belgium White Ale softens the edges of a long week, permitting my recall of the weekend’s frivolity: the grand opening of the Chisholm Trail Ballroom in […more…]
~ Vintage Patterns ~ My vintage patterns are organized by era and style, mixing the Hollywood and Butterick, McCalls with Vogue, and strange envelopes with New York returns: Ann Adams and Marian Martin. On rainy afternoons or cool winter mornings I peruse and dream of all the lovely dresses and outfits I will make. I […more…]
~ Dance Until You Drop ~ Recapturing the Past I tied a scarf around my wet-setted, perfect 1930’s coiffure. David in a fedora, vintage slacks and Ike jacket, stepped onto the deck of the ferry to Catalina Island. It was our first BIG dance camp since we’d started swing dancing. We’d gone to a couple […more…]
New? Start Here! Thank you for visiting my Vintage Living Blog. Inspired by my love of vintage living and my fictional writing. Most of my vintage living blog posts are micro stories with some how-tos, vintage living advice and writerly ramblings and book reviews. This blogging adventure began with my original writings– inspiration for the novels–interspersed with […more…]