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Monday, September 3, 2012

Back in the day: Mimi glam

My maternal grandmother, whom we called Mimi, was a liberated woman for the 1950s. In a time when most women were stay-at-home housewives or worked with their husbands at a family business, my grandmother wanted to do neither. She took night classes in shorthand and typing and went to work as a doctor's secretary.

My grandfather owned a successful drugstore and was an ample provider, but Mimi was a fashionista before we even knew what the term meant, and she wanted to buy her clothes and accessories with her own money. Neiman Marcus, A. Harris, Sanger Bros., Titche-Goettinger...all were names on the boxes and bags she brought home from shopping trips to Dallas.

Beautiful kid gloves, gorgeous pumps made of alligator or crocodile, exquisite matching handbags, amazing  hats of every hue (and a memorable bucket hat made of pheasant feathers)...there were so many things to fascinate a young girl.

I particularly loved her rhinestone jewelry, and every time I visited, the first thing I asked to do was play dress up in her sparkly necklaces and earrings. Mimi has been gone since 1986, but I've kept my favorite pieces all these years. They're over 60 years old, and a couple are missing rhinestones here and there, but I still love them.

I don't know where she went in a rural East Texas town of 1200 to wear her glamorous jewelry. I'd like to think that perhaps she and my grandfather slipped away for a romantic weekend in the city now and again, where she dressed to rival Grace Kelly and felt like a movie star-turned-princess.






12 comments:

  1. Precious! Your grandma seemed fascinating, wish you had a photo of her.

    And she could type, ( :

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    1. She was quite an interesting lady. In addition to her typing skills, she painted beautiful landscapes, she traveled all over the U.S. and Europe and Asia by herself, she had the eye of a professional decorator (and was the buyer for the gift department at the drugstore), and she always drove a snazzy car (a salmon-colored Mercury comes to mind).

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  2. So sweet. I love tributes to grandparents. My kids have a "Mimi" (my husband's mom) but she's more of a Birkenstock and LL Bean type. :)

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    1. It takes all kinds of Mimis to make the world go 'round. :)

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  3. Viva La Mimis of the World! What lovely jewelry. I have been thinking often lately of our old neighbor in Sherman Texas - Miss Jess - and how she always looked like she'd just stepped out of a magazine ad. Your post makes me miss all the Jess-es and Mimis!

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    1. Gotta love those old gals with style...as opposed to me, sitting here barefoot, in jeans and with my hair in a ponytail. LOL

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  4. Beautiful jewelry and memories.xx

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    1. It's amazing how pulling this jewelry out of a drawer triggered memories...not just mine, but my daughter's too. My SIL thought my daughter looked hot when she tried on the necklace and earrings. And the grandsons were fascinated by the sparkly things too. :)

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  5. Was just talking to a friend the other day about heirlooms etc. and we were discussing whether it's best to use/wear the heirloom and let it be admired or save it and keep it wrapped up safe from harm. Guess it depends on the item and it's use. Nice to see your Mimi's jewelry being featured here.x

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    1. Over the years, I have worn most of my great-grandmother's, grandmothers' and mother's jewelry on special occasions. I lean more toward the belief that things should be enjoyed, not locked away.

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  6. Replies
    1. Yep, she liked to glam it up, that's for sure! :)

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