thevintageconnection

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How to Start Your Vintage Hobby

Hey, guys!

Starting a hobby can be exciting, but also very daunting for some reason. You don’t always know exactly how to start.

I’ve heard and seen a lot of people saying they want to watch more old movies, listen to more vintage artists, wear more vintage fashion, but they don’t know where to begin. The vintage community is full of recommendations, but everything can seem overwhelming. It may seem like you’ll never remember movie titles or musicians’ names.

Sometimes I still get overwhelmed, and I remember how confused I was when I first started. I grew up with a lot of vintage influences from my parents and grandparents. As I got older, I started to explore on my own and figure out what my favorites were.

To help any newbies out there, I decided to make a little guide on how to start your vintage hobby.

Let’s get started.

Step One: Follow vintage accounts on social media

Following other vintage accounts will give you inspiration and recommendations! It can also connect you with lots of other vintage lovers. I often look to others to dive deeper into the vintage world. Here are some accounts I love.

Tumblr

This account posts media all the way from the 1870s to the WWII era:

Vintage everyday

This blog post old printed media (mostly clips from newspaper ads and comics):

Yesterday’s Print

Instagram

These accounts post old media, like pictures/clips of old movies, tv shows, actors, and musicians:

Velvet Coke

This Was Hollywood

This is the Instagram account for an online vintage clothing store, Unique Vintage:

Unique Vintage

This account posts media of my favorite actress, Audrey Hepburn:

Audrey Hepburn

Here are two modern women who post vintage fashion and other vintage content. I thought about including a section on vintage fashion, but I’m not an expert in that at all, so I’ll let these ladies introduce you to it:

Monica Danae

(She’s also a party princess, and I used to do that, so I love her even more)

Vintage Style Guide

Screenshot of her account

The aesthetic of her entire accounts has me in love. I adore her sense of fashion, how she incorporates styles from multiple decades. She recently went to Paris and the pictures she posted are breathtaking.

Twitter

These accounts also post throwbacks of old media:

50s and 60s

Vintage Ads

Notable History

Step Two: Listen to old music

This is an easy step because you don’t have to spend much time on it! You can start by playing music in the background of your day. Pretty soon, you’ll find yourself singing along to some of the words.

Start with some premade playlists or stations on Spotify or Pandora.

I have a few different vintage Spotify playlists:

This playlist is based on my first two posts that list and explain my top vintage favorite tracks:

Top Vintage Faves

A longer list of songs from mainly the 1940s to 60s:

Darling

More songs from mainly the 1970s to 80s:

Oldies

Step Three: Watch Old Movies & TV Shows

Movies

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Cinderella (1950)

Roman Holiday (1953)

Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)

Audrey Hepburn for a Breakfast at Tiffany’s photoshoot.

Image by skeeze on Pixabay

West Side Story (1961)

Mary Poppins (1964)

The Sound of Music (1965)

Karate Kid (1984)

The Goonies (1985)

The Princess Bride (1987)

I have so many more favorites, but I’ll stop there!

TV Shows

I watch more vintage movies than TV shows, but here are some that I’ve at least watched a couple episodes of or are on my watch list!  

I Love Lucy (1951-1957)

Bewitched (1964-1972)

The Addams Family (1964-1977)

The Brady Bunch (1969-1974)

M*A*S*H (1972-1983)

The cast of M*A*S*H.

Image by skeeze on Pixabay

Golden Girls (1985-1992)

Married… With Children (1987-1997)

Step Four: Go Shopping!

Visit any local thrift stores or antique shops Here in Storm Lake, Iowa, my college town, we have the cutest antique store, Celia’s Antiques.

Photo by me. The music section is my favorite part of Celia’s Antiques. This wall is my header on Tumblr and Twitter!

As vintage trends come back into style, more everyday stores and boutiques will have more vintage products!

Check out my post of vintage finds at Walmart!

Keep your eye out for even the smallest of finds, like this cute lip balm I found at a local gift shop, The Sugar Bowl!

Photo by me

Connections to Today

It’s obvious that people still want to share history, and in the case of some of the accounts I shared, they want to incorporate aspects of history into their everyday lives! Vintage social media accounts and consumer products keep history alive!

But we don’t need to keep the intense sexism, racism, homophobia, etc. alive. This leads us to...

Step Five: Research More!

It doesn’t escape my mind that most of the celebrities mentioned in most vintage accounts and discussions are white. Many white artists and actors created and starred in iconic media from the past, but there are so many wonderful and iconic creations from artists of color that need to be recognized as well!

Once you have discovered the basic vintage favorites that most of the community talks about, then investigate more to see who isn’t as appreciated or discussed, who actually started trends that white people adopted and made popular.

Here’s an interesting article on Slate that could be a good intro: “How Rock and Roll Became White”

I know this guide has a lot of information, but it is hopefully a good starting point for any vintage newbies. You don’t have to check out absolutely everything on this list, but at least pick a few movies, songs, accounts that sound interesting!

Any questions? Don’t be afraid to send them my way!

Thanks for reading,

Morgan ♥️

Share any recommendations with me and/or join the vintage community by following me on this blog, or on:

Twitter: @connect_vintage

Instagram: @connect_vintage

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Vintage Walmart Finds

Hey, guys! 

Today we’re going to talk about something I haven’t seen discussed much in the online vintage world. 

Loving all things vintage can be an expensive hobby. Depending on the store, new vinyl albums can be over $30 apiece, vintage fashion outside of thrift stores can be upwards of $50. Even some antique stores can have ridiculously high prices. 

I’m a broke college student who often doesn’t have that extra money to spend, so I look wherever I can for affordable options. Walmart is one of the stores we have in my small college town. I go there often, and recently, I have noticed their collection of vintage-related items increasing!

There are definitely more products out there that are not on this list, but this is what I have found recently! 

Vinyl Records

Photo by me

Average price: $15-25

The records available at Walmart can still be on the higher side compared to secondhand ones at antique stores, but Walmart’s are definitely cheaper than what I’ve seen at stores like Barnes and Noble. I’ve noticed some of my favorite music on the shelves, like Stevie Nicks and the soundtrack to the movie Dirty Dancing. There are more options online, but nothing beats the feeling of physically flipping through records. 

Record Players

Screenshot of Walmart.com

Price for this color: $39.96

I have a different record player that was a Christmas gift, but this is a cheaper option that I’ve always wanted, especially in this color! Since it is cheaper, it might not have the best sound quality, but there are lots of positive reviews! 

Get this record player here.

Greeting Cards

Pictures by me

Price: $4.98

Someone I know recently got married, so I needed to find a card. I’m super picky when it comes to cards and could honestly spend hours picking the right one. I happened upon this one at Walmart one day and fell in love with its vintage look! 

Elvis Poster 

Photos by me

Price: $4.98 (includes two posters)

I was on the lookout for more vintage decor and was so excited when I found these posters! They’re decently sized and a great price for both! 

Photo by me

Elvis definitely makes my wall look beautiful and makes my dorm look less depressing.

Elvis 2020 Calendar

Photos by me

Price: $4.97

What better way to spend your 2020 calendar year other than staring at Elvis every day?

70s Flare Jeans

Screenshot of Walmart.com

Price Range: $27.99-29.99

I haven’t ever tried flare jeans on, but now that they’re making a comeback, I just might try some! I have long legs so hopefully they wouldn’t look too terrible on me. 

Connections to Today

This entire list shows how much the past is connected to today! When I first started to get into my vintage hobby several years ago, there weren’t many vintage items in stores around me, or even online. Today, more vintage trends are making a comeback, and stores’ collections of vintage-related products keep growing. I am LIVING for these trends.

As always, if you have recommendations for anything vintage, especially affordable items, hit me up!

Until next time,

Morgan 💕

Twitter: @connect_vintage

Insta: @connect_vintage

[thevintageconnection]

My Favorite Vintage Music: Part II

All graphics created with Canva

Hey, guys! Welcome to Part II of My Favorite Vintage Music! Today, we're continuing with the 1970s and 1980s. Let's jump right in! 

So… I tried to narrow this list down. I really did. But the 70s has some of my favorite music ever, and it would be an absolute CRIME to not share all of these songs with you. You’re welcome. 

Fleetwood Mac - “Landslide”, “Dreams”, and “Go Your Own Way”

What better way to begin the list than with one of the most iconic bands ever. Listening to any of their music, but especially these songs, makes me want to dress like a hippie/flower child and run through a field of flowers. And run around in a thunderstorm. And also close my eyes and sway to the music forever. 

Stevie Nicks remains one of the queens of the world who we do not deserve. 

I love how all of these tracks sound so different from each other. “Landslide” puts you in your sad and reflective feelings, “Dreams” makes you want to start swaying and levitating, and “Go Your Own Way” makes you want to find someone from your past to scream the lyrics to.

Eagles - “Take It Easy”

Definitely a wanderlust type of song. This one never fails to make me smile and feel lighter. I loooove listening to this when I’m on a long drive. It definitely makes my driving anxiety a little better. 

Queen - “Fat Bottomed Girls”, “Don’t Stop Me Now”, “Killer Queen”, “Bohemian Rhapsody”

Alright, don’t judge me for picking so many. I could have included more. These are straight-up JAMS. I didn’t mean to put them in a particular order, but Bohemian Rhapsody is definitely at the bottom of my list right now. I used to adore the song and thought I could never get tired of it, but then I had to edit videos of two dance routines to this song this summer. So I heard it probably 50 times. I’m giving it a break and hopefully when I come back to it, I’ll love it again! The song is revolutionary and so genius and it deserves all the respect. The other tracks are so fun and make me feel empowered.

Don McLean - “Vincent”

I don’t know how I can effectively describe how much I love this song. I just heard it for the first time earlier this year, but it has become one of my top favorites of all time. Vincent Van Gogh is one of my favorite painters, with Starry Night being my favorite painting ever. Before I heard this song, I only knew Don McLean for “American Pie”. “Vincent” is underappreciated and seems to fit with the slow and calming style on the album that features those two songs. Some of my favorite music includes songs that feel like pure magic, and that is definitely the most fitting word for this piece. It sounds like a lullaby. It paints vivid pictures in your mind. I love “Vincent” for not only its stunning lyrics and imagery but also the sweet and calming guitar that accompanies the entire track. 

Van Morrison - “Into the Mystic”

Keeping this talk of magic going, next up is Van Morrison! This song is the epitome of my Flower Child playlist on Spotify. I was so excited to get the Moondance album on vinyl specifically to see how this song sounded on it. The result? It sounds gorgeous. 

James Taylor - “Fire and Rain”

I guess I’m often a simple girl when it comes to music. Sometimes I can’t resist a slow and peaceful song with a guitar and some piano. Listening to this while it’s raining is always a beautiful idea. This is another piece that I can listen to nonstop and I always sing along.

Billy Joel - “She’s Always a Woman” and “Vienna”

Sometimes, you need some moody and sad songs. I have a bad habit of listening to this kind of music when I’m down. However, you don’t have to be in a bad mood to love these tracks! 

John Denver - “The Music Is You” 

Okay, so my overused word for my previous post was “dreamy”. Now it’s “magic”. How can you listen to this song and not feel so e n c h a n t e d? This is another piece that makes me want to run through a field of flowers.

Tanya Tucker - “Delta Dawn”

This one might seem a little different from my other favorites, but at least going from John Denver to this created was a fairly smooth transition. While our mom often played her favorite 80s music for my sister and me, our dad loved playing his old country favorites. 

I love the story behind the lyrics. Listening to this song is almost like reading a book, so it’s perfect for this bookworm right here. Tanya Tucker’s voice is so unique and always made my sister and I sing along. My favorite part of “Delta Dawn” is definitely the beginning with the chorus of voices. So powerful. So transcendent.

Commodores - “Easy”

What a fluid and breeeeeeezy song. It’s actually on my playlist called “Sunday Morning”. The name was obviously inspired by the lyrics of this song and is full of similar light tracks from all decades. 

Most of my favorite vintage music comes from the 1940s to the 1970s, but I grew up listening to my mom’s favorites hits from the 80s. I do have my own favorites as well, so I had to include this decade! I’m not a huge fan of a lot of the synth-pop music that dominated the decade, but here are some of my favorites! 

Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes - (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life

I think we all know what movie scene this song is from, so you should know why this track makes me so happy. Dirty Dancing is one of my favorite movies and this song always puts me in a good, dancing mood. I can’t help but picture the final scene of the movie, so I can’t help but smile.

Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) 

Like I said, I’m not a huge fan of music with a lot of synth, but I’m totally on board with this song. It’s so mysterious and catchy.

Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart 

This is one of my mom’s favorites, so my sister and I grew up jamming to this song. The emotion and power behind Bonnie Tyler’s voice amaze me every time. Another great number to yell the lyrics to.

Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight

A MASTERPIECE. A POWERFUL, ANSTY MASTERPIECE.

I don’t love a ton of angry songs, but this one is so good. I love acting so dramatic while singing along to this one, especially with my mom. This is our song. She’s not super emotional and touchy-feely, but listening to this song is one way that we can bond and have a good time together. Our favorite part is the iconic drums at around 3:16 (in the music video above). We always play the air drums and headbang.

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - I Love Rock ‘n Roll 

I don’t listen to a lot of the same music that other people my age listen to, so when there’s a song that most people know, it makes listening to music in a public environment so much more fun! Most people I know also know this song. I love it. In contrast with my hippie and flower child songs, this track makes me want to dress in all black, maybe even some (faux) leather.

I grew up with a lot of this music, so I love how some of these artists are still popular today. I’ve noticed that more people my age are beginning to become huge fans of artists like Fleetwood Mac and Queen. That makes me so excited! Sometimes I tend to love the more popular tracks that I grew up listening to, like the ones I chose for this list. Those are the songs that still stick with people today. If you have any suggestions for underappreciated songs by any of the artists on the lists, don’t be afraid to send them my way! I live for music recommendations. 

While writing down some of these songs, I thought of covers done by current artists who I love. Isaac Waddington has done great covers of “She’s Always a Woman” that I will listen to on repeat. 

He first performed it in 2015 for an audition on Britain’s Got Talent. Here’s his 2019 cover! I’m so obsessed.

Ansel Elgort’s voice is so. smooth. in his cover of “Easy” that he performed in a Riff-Off on an episode of The Late Late Show with James Corden and Jamie Foxx in 2017.

*Breaks replay button*

The only acceptable reaction to have to this video is James’ reaction.

I actually found “The Music Is You” from seeing Greta Van Fleet cover it on YouTube! When I got to see them live in September in Kansas City, I was one of the only people around me who knew the lyrics, and that made me sad. I love the love that Greta Van Fleet has for John Denver, and how much they share his music. 

They sing “The Music Is You” as an intro to their original song “You’re the One”. So angelic.

I have updated my Spotify playlist, “Top Vintage Favs”, with the songs I mentioned in this post. Feel free to play it in order to go throughout the decades, or have some fun with playing it on shuffle and travel back and forth through time! 

Thanks for reading, 

Morgan ♥️

Twitter: @connect_vintage

Insta: @connect_vintage

(Personal) Spotify: Morgan Krull

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My Favorite Vintage Music: Part I

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Hey, guys! Before we get into some of my favorite vintage music, I want to introduce myself and this blog!

Welcome to The Vintage Connection! I’m Morgan, a college student studying Digital Media and Spanish, who loves vintage aesthetics and content. After helping my grandma at my hometown’s historical society since I was ten, as well as growing up influenced by my grandparents’ and parents’ tastes, I developed my own interests in old music, movies, fashion, and more. 

I am often known for recommending old artists like Fleetwood Mac and Sinatra over most current popular music and am ready to share some of my vintage favorites from the 1940s and on to a wider and younger audience via this blog, The Vintage Connection! The blog introduces audiences––anywhere from vintage novices to diehard vintage fans––to my favorites, and how to incorporate history and vintage aesthetics into the modern-day. 

As an advocate for equality and activism, I also analyze the relationships between my vintage favorites and similar things today. What does it teach us in the present day? How do we feel about it now? How can we access or incorporate this content into our lives today?

The Vintage Connection is all about the various ways that we are still connected to the past, and how we can ensure that connection remains strong.

If you’re a newbie to the vintage world, or you’re a huge fan, or you are older and actually lived through some of these times, welcome! There’s room for everyone here.

Alright, let’s get into some of my favorite music from each decade, beginning with the 1940s, and how these connect to today!

While I’m not well-versed in much music from the 1940s, I couldn’t leave out some of my favorite pieces of all time!

Billie Holiday - “I’ll Be Seeing You”

What an absolutely gorgeous song to begin the list. It makes me feel a certain nostalgia for a time and a love I’ve never experienced. The piano, the trumpets, her melancholy tone, and the crackle of the old recording all produce such a calming and languid sound that makes you melt into your seat.

Édith Piaf - “La Vie en Rose”

Even though I’ve never been to Paris, I have an enormous adoration for that city. It’s at the top of my travel bucket list. This song makes me feel as if I’m strolling down the cobblestone streets of Paris at night, cafés glowing around me, while the Eiffel Tower shimmers in the distance.

Frank Sinatra - “I Fall in Love Too Easily”

I have no clue how many times I’ve listened to this song. Whenever it pops up on my playlists, I’ll repeat it over and over and over again. Sometimes when I think of it, I’ll search on YouTube for the clip of him singing it in the movie Anchors Aweigh. I had to link it for you guys so you don’t live any longer without seeing this gorgeous scene. What a beautiful soul. I have a soft spot for young Sinatra, especially in this song.

Ugh. So many favorite songs and artists from this decade! 50s music is often so dreamy. 

(Be prepared to read “dreamy” a lot from now on in this post and on the rest of my blog and other social media. It’s one of my favorite words, and I love dreamy content!)

Billie Holiday - “Blue Moon”

Here Billie appears again with another song! I have a particular fondness for the moon, and this song also makes me feel like I’m daydreaming when I listen to it, so it will always be one of my favorites.

Ella Fitzgerald - “Dream a Little Dream of Me”, “I’ve Got a Crush on You”, and “These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)”

I meant to choose just one to share, but I love Ella too much. Her music is always so dreamy and wistful. I can listen to it when I’m doing homework, just hanging out, or doing literally anything.

Paul Anka - “Put Your Head on My Shoulder”

THE EPITOME OF DREAMINESS. This song makes you reminisce of young love, even if you’ve never experienced it. My favorite version of this track is the 1959 version, which features a young Anka. He definitely maintained a beautiful voice in the years following, and still maintains it today, but there’s just something about the original version that is so endearing and calming. Just like with Sinatra, young Anka holds a special place in my heart.

The linked video above is a live performance from 1962, a few years later than the 1959 recording, but it perfectly captures just how people––not just women––were so enamored of him.

Elvis - “Love Me Tender”, “Are You Lonesome Tonight”, “Can’t Help Falling in Love”, and “Suspicious Minds”

Okay, here I ran into the same issue as I did with Ella Fitzgerald. I tried to not list too many tracks in one decade, especially several from each artist, but I couldn’t help myself with these. And of course, some of my favorites of Elvis’ are his sad songs. I have a weird obsession with sad songs, and even have a Spotify playlist full of sad music. My love for Elvis definitely comes from my dad, who loves him so much. Thanks, dad! ♥

What a beautiful time for music. I have waaaaay too many favorites from this decade, but I managed to narrow it down to a few!

The Beatles - “Here Comes the Sun”

Do I even have to explain why I love this one? This song always gives me that euphoric feeling of that first day in spring where it’s finally sunny again, you don’t need a winter coat, and the snow is mostly melted. 

The Drifters - “This Magic Moment”

As expected from the title, this track is pure magic. The swirling instrumental at the beginning before the vocals come in, and that repeats often during much of the number, reminds me of a Disney movie. This is one of those songs that I would love to twirl around to in a 1950s a-line dress until I fell over from getting too dizzy.

Frank Sinatra - “My Way”

Sinatra appears again, this time with one of his more well-known songs. If this music doesn’t make you want to get up and scream the words, I don’t know what to tell you. This track was an original power anthem.

Etta James - “At Last”

Ah, everyone’s favorite wedding song, even to this day. I love how timeless it is. Even if you’re single this song will make you feel like you’re in love. 

Ben E. King - “Stand By Me”

To end the first part of this list here is one of my absolute favorite songs of all time. I don’t know exactly what it is about this piece, but it is one of my favorites of all time. This is another one I can play on repeat nonstop for an hour. Hearing this song always puts a smile on my face, no matter how I’m feeling.

This is a section that I will feature on most, if not all, of my posts, that connects my vintage favorites to today!

I think when people look back on old songs, they tend to focus on the popular white artists of the time and forget about the minorities who often paved the way for various styles of music. I’m always looking for different music to listen to, especially by lesser-known artists and minorities, so if you have any suggestions––and not for just songs––send them my way!

When I listen to some of these songs, especially “This Magic Moment”, I always picture a 1960s dance floor filled with dancing couples. Images like these from movies and old photographs make people of younger generations wish dating, and sometimes life in general, was still like how it used to be back in the day. I do still sometimes yearn to be at a 1950s/60s dance, wearing a gorgeous a-line dress, but I try to not hop on the bandwagon of “I was born in the wrong generation”. I think most of this wish comes from the want to experience a time without modern technology, so I can kind of understand where people are coming from. I never sympathize too much, though, as society is still full of issues today, and I could do without the extra racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. of the past.

Thankfully, all of these classics are fairly easy to find online today: on YouTube, Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, etc. 

For convenience, here’s a link to my Spotify playlist of these songs!

If you are looking for a more comprehensive list of vintage music from the 1940s to 1960s, check out this other playlist of mine, called “Darling”, that features almost 100 vintage tracks. I add to this playlist all the time!

I absolutely adore creating playlists for different moods and situations. Follow me on Spotify (it’s on my personal account for now) and check out any of my 50+ playlists!

Stay tuned for Part II of my favorite vintage music, which will continue from the 1970s to 1980s! I’ll update the Top Vintage Favs playlist when I post Part II!

Thanks for reading!

Until next time,

Morgan 💕

Social Media Links!

Twitter: @connect_vintage

Instagram: @connect_vintage

(Personal) Spotify: Morgan Krull