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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What is Zaftig?

zaf·tig

 

adjective Slang .

1.

(of a woman) having a pleasantly plump figure.

2.

full-bodied; well-proportioned.

Also, zoftig.

Origin: 
1935–40;  < Yiddish zaftik  literally, juicy, succulent

I first became acquainted with this word while reading a book on American opera singers. I was a little strange as a teen, and enjoyed reading biographies about luminous ladies from bygone eras. One of these ladies was Beverly Sills - or "Bubbles" as her peers fondly called her. Ms. Sills described herself as a "rather zaftig redhead." Hmm. I recall looking down at my rounded limbs and little potbelly and thinking I was rather zaftig myself.  But Ms. Sills wasn't necessarily fat -  She was pleasingly soft in all the right places, with hills and valleys in her figure. Her costumes and characters celebrated these assets. I thought that it wasn't such a bad thing. She looked happy; like she could have a piece of cheesecake and not feel bad. During the height of the heroin-chic late 80s, this was a big deal for me.


Throughout my life, my weight has been a fluctuating melodrama. I have been everywhere on the size chart from a size 4 to a size 18. Finally, my weight seems to have stabilized right in the middle - a size 8 to 10. I'm ok with that, as long as I am healthy and fit and my favorite jeans still make my butt look good.  I have slender friends, and I have plus-size friends, and all of them are gorgeous. What's right for me isn't necessarily right for everyone, and I can appreciate that. But, this blog is about those of us in the middle - the size mediums to larges (when we're on our periods!)

Here, you'll find tips for dressing that luscious body of yours in clothing that suits your curves. You'll find tips on makeup, hairstyles (with the help of my business partner, Sa'dia), and just general celebrations of your womanly figure. There are plenty of blogs out there for ladies who are above a size 16, and below a size 8. I noticed a real dearth of fashion advice for us so-called "normal" sized women - thus the blog.





The fashion focus will be mostly on vintage 
and vintage-inspired clothing  - a mutual love that I share with many of my friends. My friend Jina, herself a curvy beauty and vintage boutique owner, will be an occasional co-conspirator and expert fashion advisor. Keep your eyes peeled for posts involving her store, Decades. It can be tricky to find clothing in modern medium and large sizes within the vintage realm, so we will be showing you creative ways to incorporate pieces into your wardrobe with a fresh spin.  Also, we will be showing you how to dress UNDER your clothes - an often overlooked facet of a pulled-together outfit, especially for women whose thighs touch.

From the perfect LBD, to the benefits of corset-training and finding the best-fitting bra for your buxom bosom, you will learn tricks and tips that will help you feel confident and sexy. Glamour is back. Let's throw it a big welcome-home party. 

Photo of Decades courtesy of Jina Gorham

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