Recession Proof Glamour

In 1933, in the midst of the Great Depression, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers took the world by storm. Through their grace and elegance, they elevated a nation’s spirit and became two of the most popular entertainers of their time.  The basic feeling was that, though even a loaf of bread was dear, dancing was free.

Regardless of background, race or class, nearly anyone could learn to dance, and for a brief moment, immerse themselves in the pure joy of movement – and, for that moment, leave their troubles behind.  For a struggling country, Fred and Ginger served as models for attainable, recession proof glamour.

This is actually leading somewhere.  Today after we filmed a few videos for Thrift Store Confidential at Goodwill, I took an hour to browse through the racks and I stumbled on something I couldn’t believe, and prayed would fit.

This is an Alberta Ferretti gown, with hand-sewn beads of jet and rhinestones, and it fits me like a glove.  It was $12.99, the little green Goodwill barb shining proudly against the bias-cut black fabric.

I brought it home and steamed it, mixing a dry martini while the water heated up (thrifted glass, thrifted shaker).  Afterwards, I threw on my (thrifted) heels, and put on West End Blues by Louis Armstrong.  Jazz, with its inherent rebellion inside a given structure, seemed appropriate.  I paraded around my little apartment feeling as though I were a Rockefeller.  I will find somewhere else to wear this dress, and I will feel just as beautiful, joyful and, honestly, as damned smart as I did tonight.

I heard an alert on my e-mail as I pranced about, and lo and behold, these gorgeous photos of Fred & Ginger came from Richard & Ellen DeFeo, owners of DeFeo’s Manor, Trip Advisor’s #1 B&B in Jim Thorpe, PA and also owners of The Selective Eye, a wonderful shop full of truly inspired curiosities from their travels over a lifetime together.  You’ll hear more about them soon.  They just acquired a couple dozen original photos from the start of Fred & Ginger’s time together, and thought I’d enjoy seeing them.  Their eye, and timing, is beyond compare.

I can’t believe my luck.  To be sitting in a beautiful gown, looking at beautiful photos from an age when people were also suffering, sent to me by wonderful, curious souls I’ve had the pleasure to get to know while Papa scats his way around my tiny rented apartment.  Glamour is what you make, not what you can afford.

The moral of this story is that even if you’re dead broke and life doesn’t seem to be giving you any leeway, take whatever glamorous moments you can.  I may not be able to dance like Ginger Rogers, but I can still enjoy the uplifting sense of freedom of choosing, at least for a time, not to be bogged down by my worries.  As often as I can, I choose the liberty that living in the margins affords me.

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