My Style Heritage: Part 2 - Grandma Margaret

I recently inherited a boxful of old family photos. Being the nostalgia junkie that I am, I thought you might enjoy looking back with me at the women (and men) of my family, imagining what life was like for them, and admiring (maybe occasionally laughing) at the styles of the time.

In Part 1, I introduced my paternal grandmother, Frances.

Now, in Part 2, we move on to my maternal grandmother, Margaret.

We always lived much farther away from my mom’s family than my dad’s, and both of my mom’s parents died when I was a sophomore in high school. Sadly, I don’t know nearly as much about her history, nor do I have as many personal memories of her.

I always got the impression that she was very put together. Not just in her appearance, but that she had a sort of quiet strength that you need to have if you’re going to manage three children and the house of an Army Colonel. Not to mention that she had to do this all over the world. My uncle was born in Germany, my aunt in Hawaii, and my mom in Virginia. True Army Brats.

This photo is from her wedding day. I have her wedding dress hanging in my closet. It’s a gorgeous 1930s silk number that miraculously fits me. I hope I’ll be able to repurpose it someday.

Isn’t it gorgeous? (Also note how great is it that I happened to hang it right over a heat vent. So when the heat kicked in, the air filled the skirt out perfectly. It was a pleasant surprise.)

I found photos from a few different New Years Eve parties, my Grandfather always in his impeccable uniform, and my grandmother in various party dresses. I also love the woman on the far left in the photo above. Bedazzled cat-eyes, bold floral dress, deep nails and lips, and a cigarette. Fantastic.

It would appear that she moved into the 60s with ease. Check out that beehive, willya? I must also say, if I saw a young man wearing my grandfather’s ensemble above, I would marry him on the spot.

I hope you’re enjoying this series as much as I enjoy putting these posts together. Still to come:

Part 3 - My Mom
Part 4 - The Dudes
Part 5 - A Personal Style History