For the last week of our 40s Month, leading up to the WAVE 40s Themed ‘Fun Forties Fete’, (this Saturday 31st at The Guildhall, Worcester) we’ve interviewed Second Hand Rose regular and 40s lover Georgie Lander.
How long have you been wearing and collecting 1940s clothes and memorabilia?
I’ve only been dressing in 40’s clothes full time for about 3 years now but have been collecting related all sorts since I was sixteen, so it’s been 5 years in all.
What is it about the 40s that particularly appeals to you?
I love it all, the design, music, the social history and of course the fashion. I’m fascinated at how there was still a want / need to look your best and fashionable through times of danger and uncertainty. With restrictions on practically everything people had to make the most of the old and find nifty ways of making new. Also the time put into doing this. Who nowadays would take the time or even bother to re-knit a jumper or re-fashion one of your fellas suits into a sporting little number for yourself?
Can you talk us through some of your collection?
Originally I started collecting costume jewellery, but this soon branched out into clothing and accessories and now I collect anything that appeals to me from the 20’s through to the 50’s, focusing mainly on the 30’s and 40’s. This includes packaging, magazines, knitting and sewing patterns, furniture, kitchen / home ware and wartime memorabilia.
Can you tell us a few of your favourite pieces, clothing and/or objects?
Blimey these are tricky questions. I’m a sentimental old fool who gets attached to the silliest of things so it’s really hard to choose.
Firstly I would have to say my Evacuees. They are life size child mannequins from the 1950’s (or earlier) called Edmund Arthur Askey, Trudy May Trinder and Baby Peggy Lee. At the moment they are all dressed in a mix of original 40’s and homemade clothes that Ma and I have made for them.
Secondly my green Tala meat safe filled to the brim with my beloved knitting pattern collection. And lastly an outfit made up of an early 40’s green woollen suit with an military air, a late 30’s / early 40’s brown straw tilt hat (my very first tilt), a white pair of utility peep toe platforms and last but not least my favourite pair of white 1930’s sunglasses- I love them to bits but unfortunately one day I’m sure they will end up in bits!
See the rest of the interview by clicking ‘Read More’ below!
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