Bombshell of the Month: Christina Hendricks

                         

Where do you begin when describing perfection?  If ever anyone embodied the feminine archetype that Marilyn Monroe represented, it would be Ms. Hendricks. From the way she walks across the room as Joan on "Mad Men," to her breathy, kittenish voice, she is Venus incarnate. 

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Decades

One of my favorite things to do with my mad money is to take a Saturday afternoon and spend it with Jina at Decades Boutique; playing dress-up and coming home with at least one new favorite to add to my wardrobe. I recently interviewed Jina for Zaftig, and had an opportunity to photograph Alex in one of the fabulous dresses that Jina has in stock. One of the best things about shopping at Decades is Jina's encyclopedic knowledge of vintage fashion, as well as her perfect instincts about what will look best on her customers!  Here is our Q&A with one of our favorite Zaftig girls!

                                                                                                                                           

What made you decide to open Decades?

"From childhood I quickly discovered an appreciation for the art, design and textiles of vintage clothing. More than that I realized the therapy- in the form of fashion -that this world of historic beauty offered me. I learned, unlike new clothing, that I could not put on a piece of vintage clothing without smiling. I was a piece of history revived. This, in and of itself, was attractive to me. This business is in my blood. And when I discovered, at age 24, that I could do what I love and offer a house of vintage treasures to Springfield, I had to jump on the opportunity. The miracle of it all was I did it all without having to accumulate any debt. I literally felt like God led me to the right place, at the right time, and all I had to do was show up. It really was one of the miracles of my life, and I can't explain in short what the experience of opening Decades was like for me - from the very start."                                        

  When did you first discover your love of vintage clothing?

"Simply stated, always. I have memories, being super young - I'm talking 5 years old at best,  collecting vintage clutches, hats, and gloves. By age 9 or 10 I had a a fine collection of these items as well as a turquoise 1950s ballerina costume: sequin, tulle and all the layers... it was the most exquisite thing I had laid eyes on, and it was all mine. You can imagine the innocence of a child adoring and admiring such an item. I was never like 'a kid in a candy store,'  rather, a kid in an antique store, for eye-candy of the vintage and antique world fascinated me - far beyond sweets of any kind."

On Alex:

Dress: "Tasty Sherbet"

Decades Boutique

Hair and Makeup: Alchemy...a Salon

 Which era or genre of vintage do you love the most?

"Naturally, I love all of the 'Decades'. There is beauty to be found in each one. It seems every time I pick up a piece of clothing from my endless piles of back-stock, I fall in love with each decade all over again. My most current love is the 20s and 30s art deco movement. I am absolutely moved with the glamour and grace of each piece."

What is your favorite part of the day at Decades? 

"Honestly, there is nothing in the world as fulfilling as knowing you're helping a woman feel beautiful..and not just on the outside. To me, fashion is there to enhance and accentuate what a woman already has, and THAT is what shines through her eyes from within. The best part of my job is making each woman feel the worth that she has and leave Decades feeling like a princess!"

Look how much fun vintage can be!

Which piece of clothing should EVERY curvy woman have in her closet?

"Absolutely the silhouette of the late 40s through the 50s is amazing. With the fullness of the skirt, the hips, thighs and lower abdomen are all made to appear beautiful. I'd say, grab a circular skirt and tuck in a blouse, and voila! Dress it down with cute flats, or dress it up with a pair of heels. Make clothing work for you and your lifestyle."

Do you believe in fashion “rules," or are rules made to be broken?

"Rules are guidelines for the conservative.. at least when considering fashion. Knowing your body and how to flatter your figure is where the real focus should be.  To me every woman is a canvas and how she styles her body is a reflection of who she is inside. 'Rules' are something that are put into place to keep us 'safe'. A woman who knows herself, and her limits, doesn't have to play it safe with fashion.  Fashion is fun, and always flexible!"  

                                        

***

"I would just add that I would love to meet some of the curvy women who are directed to, or stumble upon this blog. For everyone that visits the blog and is inspired to visit Decades, I will give them 25% off any purchase from now until the end of July." - Jina

It was a fantastic day of fashion, beauty, and glamour with Jina and Decades! Look for future blog posts featuring the fashion expertise of Jina, along with photos of REAL vintage on our Zaftig girls! Happy shopping!

  *All photos: Paulette Hughes, Canon EOS on Historic Commercial Street

  *Makeup: Sa'dia Luallen, Alchemy...a Salon

  *Hair: Paulette Hughes, Alchemy...a Salon

  *All featured clothing and shoes from Decades Boutique, 213 West Commercial, Springfield MO

  *Model: Alex

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Vintage Style Vixens

It's no secret that there is love here for the beautiful ladies of the silver screen. Here are some of our favorite vamps from the past - and some of the iconic styles they were famous for.

Theda Bara

This woman is terrific. She was the first true femme fatale in film history. And just look at these clothes, if you can tear yourself away from her eyes!  Erte was inspired by her, and the entire Orientalist movement that Paul Poiret and many other designers from the early 20th century pulled from was influenced by this silent film star.  From flowing evening gowns on the runway, and the long maxi dresses that are so in fashion -  modern silhouettes were impacted by this era. Intense! 

Mae West

You have no idea how much I love this woman. She was "sass" personified! From one-line zingers -  "I was Snow White...but I drifted" to that perfect hourglass figure, you just can't deny that Mae was one of the first curvy icons. She climbed to the top of an industry that celebrated the lean and sylph-like flapper body, and made history.  She is the poster-child for what a corset can do for you.

Rita Hayworth

So...do you want to know what the perfect Little Black Dress looks like? Do you want to know the heady power of something left to the imagination? Go HERE.  It's what every burlesque dancer is going for when she does a glove-peel.   Proof that restraint in dressing isn't always a bad thing. ;)

Jane Russell

How do I describe Jane Russell without sounding like a teenage boy? Her scandalous image for "The Outlaw" fueled more controversy and raised more eyebrows than almost any movie star in history. She would only be outdone by Farrah Fawcett and her famous shag and um...other attributes, over 30 years later. In fact, Ms. Russell deserves another image:

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This swimsuit is the perfect cut for a curvy girl, especially if she is busty, like Jane, who was a 38D! I have one very similar, in red, that I purchased HERE. I feel much more fetching in that suit than any bikini!

Marilyn

Simply Sublime.

Goodnight, vintage vixens! Plan your outfits with intention. Whether it means getting up a half-hour earlier, or planning your look the night before, you will feel so much more confident and poised if you put some thought into your dressing! 

PS - I just discovered the Brazilian group, Ceu. I am enjoying Malemolencia. I think our ladies would approve. 

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