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What looks to some as being stuck in a time warp, people who live a vintage lifestyle wear vintage on an almost daily basis, live in homes furnished and decorated with iconic pieces from decades past, and surround themselves in work and hobbies reminiscent of days gone by.  Solanah Hernandez is a vintage dealer from Vancouver, Wash. who sells her wares on Etsy.com. She has been wearing vintage since high school, but got serious about vintage as a business just two years ago. She brings her personal style and flair to her merchandise because she is also the model. Hernandez is so entrenched in the vintage lifestyle that she wore a vintage wedding gown, complete with authentic undergarments for her recent wedding. Hernandez evokes a vintage pin-up model in the park. Hernandez's love for vintage also spills into her home, which is decorated with a mix of furnishings from the 1920s through the 1950s. Her vintage hat collection has grown to the point that her dining room has been turned into a "hat room" with examples on every wall and shelf. Along with dressing vintage, Hernandez also enjoys activities from the past, such as embroidery and letter writing. "In this era, everything seems so fast and rushed," She complained. "Doing things with elegance and appreciation teaches so much patience. Life just seems more enjoyable when you slow down and have fun instead of just getting from one point to another." Check out Solanah Hernandez's website at www.etsy.com under the username Solanah. One of the most recognized faces in vintage fashion is that of pin up model Bernie Dexter. With an uncanny resemblance to the late Bettie Page, Mrs. Dexter is the epitome of retro glamour. Her mother is from Oklahoma City and her father is from the Philippine Islands - she is convinced this is where she gets her curvy shape. They met when her father was on leave from the U.S. Navy in the 1960s at a club where her mom danced.  After two careers in hair styling and make up artistry, Dexter decided to freelance. With her glamorous good looks, and her make up and hair skills, she began doing pin-up modeling. But Dexter is more than just a glamour puss. In her everyday life, she enjoys mixing vintage with retro reproduction clothing. "I have been wearing vintage clothing since I was 12 years old," she explained. "My mom always used to take us to thrift shops and I would buy cat eye classes, party dresses and play clothes." Dexter is most at home in 50s era style. Animal print is a favorite. Mrs. Dexter is also a businesswoman and fashion designer. She has launched a line of vintage reproduction clothing, and recently added shoe design to her vintage inspired line - Bernie Dexter for Elite shoes is a line of sexy heels inspired by 1950s mules. If model, designer and business owner weren't enough, she is also the wife of legendary rockabilly rocker Levi Dexter. This rockabilly Mr. and Mrs. have just purchased a 1959 ranch style home on the West Coast. She will most likely furnish the mid-century home with her prized Heywood Wakefield dining table, chairs, and coffee table.   Dexter's style and business sense have helped her become a successful pin-up model. When the couple isn't busy running their equally successful business and careers, the lovebirds are listening to rockabilly music or attending rockabilly weekenders and dancing all night long. You can view Bernie Dexter's latest pin up pictures and merchandise at www.berniedexter.com. Sandra Mendoza-Daly is a vintage fashion expert. She owns a vintage clothing shop and writes for her blog at www.debutanteclothing.com. |
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