Day #18
“Plan to have an ordered, well-cooked meal. For this, immaculate linens and sparkling glass and silver are imperative.”
The Joy of Cooking, 1943
I can no longer call myself the modern day 1950’s wife. I will now refer to myself as a 1950’s Wife Wannabe.
Yesterday, I met the REAL modern day 1950’s Wife.
Her name is Paige Dorsey, and from the moment she walked in the door, I knew I had been outdone. She was wearing a gorgeous yellow dress, cinched at the waist, and shoes with higher heels than any I’ve ever owned. When I asked her where she was going that day, she said, “I’m not going anywhere special. I always dress like this!”
My sister-in-law, Gina, has been itching to introduce me to Paige since the beginning of this project, and I was so glad she did. Paige gave me a new vision and a higher standard for what I should be doing this summer. I have been trying to figure out how to mesh the attitude and style of the 1950’s with the fast-paced life of this decade, and Paige showed me how it can be done.
Here are seven quotes from Paige along with seven lessons she taught me. I am actually nervous about even posting this because it means I need to step up my game a little bit!
1. “I have a huge skirt problem. I own over seventy fitted skirts.”
Inspired by the beautiful clothes in her grandmother’s closet, Paige has been collecting retro clothing since she was sixteen years old. She gave me a few pointers about looking for authentic clothes from that time period. “You will have to dig, but usually the most authentic clothes will be the cheapest. I bought this skirt for fifty cents,” she said holding up a precious black pleated skirt. “Also, look in ‘Unsized’ Area of the thrift store. A lot of the clothing from the 50’s was handmade so it doesn’t have a tag or a size.”
2. “I always vacuum in high heels. It just makes you feel better about yourself.”
I have been trying to avoid this one since this project began. I asked my grandmothers if they ALWAYS cleaned in their heels. Paige gave me a new perspective about this standard. She said that when you see yourself in the mirror, you’ll look great and you will never feel like a maid. Plus, you will want to finish faster!
3. “I wear a broach almost everyday.”
While I have been wearing skirts and more feminine clothing since the 50 days started, I had given very little thought to the accessories women used to wear. Paige does not just wear a broach on her sweater, she might use it on a hat or a lamp.
4. “My grandmother was given a new pair of white gloves every year at Easter.”
I think I wore white gloves one year at Easter, and that was because my Mother wanted to snap a quick picture of me in white gloves, but women in the ‘50’s wore gloves on a regular basis. Paige recently purchased three pair of beautifully crafted gloves for $3.50 on Ebay. This is a trend she and I will be reviving! It’s cheap; it’s cute; and it changes the overall appearance of any outfit.
5. “I hosted a Hat and Heels Party for my bridesmaids luncheon.”
Oh yes, girls. We have GOT to do this! I will check my calendar for a date to host a Hat and Heels Party! That is just plain fun.
6. “I use our china on a regular basis.”
Isn’t it crazy that our friends and family spend hundreds of dollars to buy us gorgeous china and silver and it sits in a china cabinet or special box for the majority of the year? Paige is a proponent of using her finest tableware often. Handwashing is a small price to pay for the memories and beauty of a gorgeous table.
7. “I think about food all day.”
This has been my complaint since the project began. I used to think about food only when my stomach growled. Paige is teaching me to enjoy thinking about food! A self-proclaimed “foodie,” she goes above and beyond in the preparation of each homemade meal. Even the meal she created for Scott and Gina as new parents was complete with roasted chicken pot pie and a delicious kale salad (yes, she roasted the chicken herself).
While I have prepared more meals for new Mommies than I can count, I usually make a simple lasagna and throw in a bag of salad. But not Paige. Paige really put her entire heart and mind into the event. Cooking for her friend was not an afterthought, not one thing on a long To Do List. Preparing this meal for them was about a memorable experience for everyone involved. She spent all day in the kitchen, and she loved it!
Thank you, Paige, for inspiring me to step up my game. I might be calling you for additional pointers. Do any of you have ideas for ways to kick this project up a notch?