Featured Victorian Lady	www.recollections.biz 1-800-452-5925
Editor’s Note:  Gretchen is just like us!  She enjoys all things beautiful, romantic, and reminiscent of simpler times – times when women wore elegant hats, lacy gloves, feminine jewelry, and carried colorful beaded handbags.  Gretchen’s business, Lady Dress Up, caters to the girl inside of each woman who loves to dress up in flowing gowns, join groups of friends for dinner parties, dances, teas, and just likes to have plain fun. Gretchen inspires each of us to follow our hearts, do what we love, surround ourselves with what makes us happy, and enjoy life each day.   We at Recollections are privileged to know Gretchen as a customer and a true-to-heart Victorian friend. Cathy Gretchen Gross When Gretchen was a very small girl, her mother instilled in her an appreciation for all things vintage, Victorian, and pertaining to family heirlooms. As she grew up, it was natural for Gretchen to love all things with a past – ones that had a story to tell. She began decorating her own home with antique items and was excited to begin collecting memories for her own family. As a self-confessed true hopeless romantic, Gretchen says that she always felt she was born in the wrong time and place. It was never more evident, though, when she toured a variety of magnificent plantations while on vacation in New Orleans with her husband, Larry. She was then certain that she should have been born into that era. She was captivated with the beautiful antiques, china, silver plateaus, and especially the Southern belle dresses! Over the years, she has been the owner of several stores featuring antiques, collectibles, gifts, and now, Lady Dress Up. Lady Dress Up is not only her business, but it is her passion. Gretchen is also a member of the Red Hat Society and started a chapter in Vancouver, WA in 2001 called the Vancouver Belles – a true sisterhood of friends who like to dress with the style, grace, and elegance of days-gone-by. They love to go to Sunday brunch, high tea, and luncheons where they continue to build and nurture their friendships and sisterhood! Gretchen enjoys making and wearing all kinds of hats and any opportunity to wear Victorian and other period clothing. She says that is why Recollections is so perfect for her and those who love to play Lady Dress Up. She still daydreams of gentler times of beauty, grace, elegance, and tranquility. When adorned in Victorian gowns, hats, gloves, and the proper jewelry, she feels transported to that time she longs for. Gretchen confesses that she is a hopeless romantic and that it was inevitable that she would become Lady Dress Up. She is living her dream and offers that dream to fellow companions who desire the same. We are, really, never too grown up to dress up! Thank you for reminding us of that, Gretchen!	Gretchen Gross Gretchen’s Flower Garden A Favorite Gown Gretchen’s 31′ Ford Phateon Replicar Ten Years of Fun Hatters	Lady Dress Up Boutique Featuring: Romantic Victorian Gifts Pink Hats Red Hats Purple Hats Casual and Dress Hats Jewelry Purses and Handbags Kirks Folly Clothing Crowns and Tiaras Accessories Girls Dressing Up
Recollections, Inc. 7956 County Road 451 Hawks, Michigan 49473 © 2001-2009 Recollections, Inc.	If you know someone that has taken their love of Victoriana and made it into an interesting business or hobby, and you think they should be featured in our Victorian Lady pages, please email or call us and let us know! sales@recollections.biz www.recollections.biz 1-800-452-5925

Hats, Hats, all those beautiful hats!

Every generation has its own fashion trends and hats have certainly had an influence on these styles.

The Roaring twenties: The first image that comes to mind is a picture of a Flapper in a Cloche hat. Ladies wore their hair short and their dress was the “no curves” look. Women could often make their own dresses as the style of this era was straight up and down. You didn’t need to be an accomplished seamstress or buy a complicated pattern to make a “shift” dress.

During the thirties money was certainly scarce and the country was whirling from the “crash” of ’29.
The depression era was having an impact on style as well. As the flapper hats of the twenties were being replaced with less boyish hats, women were re-making their old hats by adding new trim and embellishments of their own.

The beginning of World War II once again, brought change. Hats were quickly replaced with more practical items. Homemade knitted and crocheted hats, turbans and scarves were quickly becoming part of the more sensible…. make do and mend times.

Curves and the hour-glass figure were back in vogue and dresses had more flowing skirts and the hats were changing accordingly. The hair styles were getting fuller and the cloche was replaced by hats with wider brims and flatter crowns that were often worn in an asymmetrical fashion…. Or, pancake style.

We have all browsed through the family photograph album viewing pictures of our loved ones and friends sporting their Sunday’s finest which often included pictures of women and men alike, wearing their favorite hats.

I think we have all heard the stories from our Mother’s, Grandmother’s or Aunts, about how, “in their day”, they dressed to the nines, and wouldn’t dream of leaving the house without a hat, a pair of gloves and a matching handbag. Indeed, it did seem like a more quiet time. At least, in terms of the busy lives we lead today. Just think about having time to dress up and go out to a leisurely lunch or tea with our friends – No fast food….No cell phones, no computers, or Face book or twitter (whatever that is).

Yes. Indeed, we women have come a long way….broken down many barriers, accomplished anything we set our minds to; we have careers, families, own businesses, run corporations, hold public office…..But I think….once-in-a-while, it’s just nice to daydream….

To be continued……

From the desk of: Gretchen

As I sit at my writing desk, I find myself once again, daydreaming of a much gentler time ~ an era of beauty, grace, elegance & tranquility.

I am transported back to the days that have been so perfectly pictured in my minds eye since I was a small child. The visions are as clear as if I were watching a film.

I am sipping tea from my favorite porcelain teacup and my thoughts turn to a beautiful Victorian cottage, where I am in the garden that is blooming with all my favorite flowers.

The yard is circled with a white fence that is bejeweled with beautiful foxglove, delphinium, and hollyhocks…..all of which are standing proudly at attention…….as if they know the beauty they instill.

Of course, my roses are at their peak and their fragrance permeates the yard and brings delight to all who are near. What it must have been like.

How much fun it would be to dress in a beautiful gown with swirls of satin & lace that flowed with each step as I venture out to tea with my favorite friends.… Of course, there would be hats, gloves, and beaded handbags to match…along with exquisite, albeit proper, jewels for the flirtatious finishing touch.

Oh, yes. With out question…~ I am a hopeless Romantic…..So you see it was inevitable that I become Lady G. I am living my dream.I hope you enjoy our extensive selection of hats, accessories; gloves, boas, parasols, shawls, lace collars, velvet capes, velvet gowns, bejeweled jackets, handbags and more

~all to awaken the dreams in you.