Chronically Vintage is a fashion and lifestyle blog with just over 2000 followers. The blog has been going for over five years and which has been featured in Her vintage Life and voted top vintage blog. The face behind the blog is Jessica Cangiano, she is a full time blogger, photographer, freelance writer as well as an online shop owner. Jessica's blog posts vary from recipes to must see places to factual historical features. Her interests lay in early/mid twentieth century fashion, beauty and lifestyle (1920’s -1950’s) which she certainly shows in her blog. Chronically Vintage is a great place to get inspiration to learn tips and tricks to having iconic beauty and hairstyles.
Jessica's inspiration for starting a blog came about in April 2009, she was unfortunately having a rough spell with numerous health issues, so to take her mind off her condition Jessica decided to setup a vintage blog (and we are grateful that she did). Speaking with Jessica she shares her love for vintage and explains what it takes to be a fashion blogger.
What is it
about vintage fashion do you love the most?
My initial
gut response is to say, quite frankly, "everything", but that may be
oversimplifying things a tad. I'm drawn to vintage fashion, history, home
decor, movies, music, and myriad other things because I've always, no joke, as
far back as I have memories, felt a tremendously deep and powerful - one might
even say intrinsic - pull towards periods in time that came before me. I love
the present world for so many things and am a million miles away from being a
Luddite, but I also appreciate and strive to surround myself with elements of
the past, such as vintage fashion from the 1940s and 50s, that brings me an
unending amount of joy and a sense of connection with those who came before me.
What is your
favourite vintage item?
Unquestionably
the small number of late 1930s through to early 1960s vintage clothing and
accessory items that I received from a relative which have all been in our
family since those very years. They're the only vintage clothing that has been
handed down to me (and possibly the only, baring the items at my house that
exists amongst my relatives these days) and are all invaluably important
heirlooms to me.
Why did you
setup a vintage blog?
My blog, Chronically Vintage, came about in April
2009, more than five years ago now, because at the time I was going through a
horrendously rough spell on the health front (I'm severely chronically ill with
a multitude of different conditions) and needed something to focus (at least
some of) my thoughts and attention on other than my health. I'd had a
longstanding love of history, mid-century fashion, and the vintage scene since
I was a young child, and had already been following some of the early vintage
blogs, so I knew in my heart of heart that was what I wanted to launch a site
devoted to. Little did I know back then, though I will freely admit to hoping
as much, that it would grow into the world famous site (amongst the vintage
community) that is is today, in addition to transforming into my full-time
career and an immensely important and much loved part of my life. I'm so
grateful for my blog and adore seeing it continue to grow, transform and become
even more enjoyable for me - and I very much for hope for my readers, too - as
time goes on.
What is
your favourite era?
My
favourite decades, though I'm the first to readily acknowledge that they were
fraught with all kinds of problems on social, political, civil rights, etc
fronts and I have no desire to revive those negative elements of them, are the
1940s and 1950s. In particular, due largely to the fact that I flat out adore
the clothing and accessories of that era, I especially love the years spanning
1947 (which ushered in Dior's now wildly iconic New Look) and 1957.
Is it
difficult being a full time blogger?
It is time
consuming often, yes, but blogging - now coupled with running an online vintage
store (https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChronicallyVintage)
that I just opened earlier this month - is my full time job, so it's only
natural that it takes up several (or more) hours of my workdays. In terms of
coming up with post ideas, that's rarely been an issue for me as I find
creativity begets creativity and in my case that usually means that for every
post I write, I come up with two or more further ideas for future ones (I have
a hefty Word document chalked full of nothing but possible future ideas that I
turn, and add, to often). I find that inspiration really is everywhere and I
never know what, be it vintage related or otherwise, is going to light that
distinct fuse in my soul and set me practically running to write a new post.
Has
blogging helped your writing career in terms of doing freelance writing for
magazines and showing off your tips and tricks?
Interestingly,
while I did do some freelance and ghost writing in my early 20s, I've not opted
to use my blog as a catalyst for such types of writing so far. It (my blog) is
my focus most days when it comes to writing and as touched on above, as it's my
job, too, I don't have a lot of time to devote to pursuing other writing
avenues. Though, that said, I would truly love to write a book (vintage related
or otherwise) one day and am sure that the many years of blogging writing
experience I now have under my belt will come in handy when that awesome dream
materializes one day.
Living
in Canada are there many vintage communities and events? Or do you find the internet is the best place for vintage recipes, fashion and lifestyle tips?
Generally
speaking, no, there are not a lot of vintage related events of communities of likeminded
folks in this country. Those of us with a passion for the past seem too often
be spread out and the lone wolves, so to speak, or very nearly so, in our
respective corners of Canada. There are, in some of the largest cities (such as
Vancouver, Toronto, and Edmonton) groups of vintage lovers that get together
throughout the year and Toronto has it's lovely Vintage Society, but again, by
and large, compared to other similar countries like the UK and US, there aren't
a lot of vintage events, people, shops or the like in this vast, beautiful
country of mine. I find that I use both real world and online resources to
further my knowledge of the past and to garner inspiration from on the wardrobe
front. Old photos, library books and books I've purchased over the years,
discussions with elderly people, watching old movies, hunting for vintage
clothes, etc mingle marvellously with the resources that are available for one
and all to avail of online. It's not an all or nothing situation for me, but
rather a wonderful blend of the two awesome sources of vintage related
information.
Would
you say blogging is a good way to socialize with other writers that love
vintage?
Massively,
yes! Assuming of course that one opts to interact with fellow vintage bloggers,
which is most commonly done through blog comments and on various social media
sites. For many of us, myself included, our online vintage friends are the only
ones (vintage friends that is) that we may have, if we live in an area where
we're the sole vintage wearing/blogging person. I've made some amazing online
friendships with fellow vintage fans online over the years and cherish those
relationships as much as though I knew those folks in person. I find that, by
and large, the vintage community (online and off) is a warm, welcoming,
friendly place and I feel very fortunate to be a part of it via my blog, social
media accounts, and most recently my brand new Etsy shop.
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