factory girl: my love for the 1960's

"I'm an old soul. I'm pretty much convinced I'm reincarnated from the 1960's."

This is something I say quite a lot when describing myself to someone I am meeting for the first time (which is usually a guy I am on a date with, and probably explains why I'm still single...)

By now, it's probably no secret to you that I have a soft spot for anything 1960's related. I love everything about the decade, from the fashion, music, movies, history and everything else in between. I'm not sure how it's possible to feel so nostalgic for a time you've never actually known, but sometimes I find myself feeling downright sad that I'll never be able to experience the culture of the sixties first hand.

When I discover something new that is 1960's related, I instantly feel inspired, and that's exactly the way I felt when I discovered Grunten Mode. Grunten Mode is designed by Sara Boyd, a fellow sixties lover like myself. All of the pieces are handmade by Sara herself, and she is an absolute sweetheart. She sews everything in her atelier in the alps of Germany. Her craftsmanship is beautiful, everything from the fabric to the construction of the garments. Since I am a fashion designer myself, I love supporting independent designers, so I am so happy we got the opportunity to collaborate.

I often wonder where my love of the sixties originated from. My parents were babies in the 1960's, so they didn't fully experience the decade themselves, which means their tastes definitely didn't influence my interest for this time period. I didn't grow up listening to The Beatles or playing dress up in vintage shift dresses, but even from a young age I remember being passionate about the 1960's.  

I know there are a lot of other girls out there that share this same feeling of nostalgia. So, I'm curious to know, where do you think your love for this decade (or any past decade) came from? Is it something you learned to love because of what you were surrounded by, or is it something that has always just been embedded inside you? I'd love to hear your comments and feedback!

Dress & Bag: C/O Grunten Mode 
(http://www.gruenten-mode.de)
Tights: H&M; Shoes: Steve Madden; Bracelet: By Malene Birger
Photos: Max Spitzenberger (www.maxspitz.com)
Location: Paula Cooper Gallery (Chelsea, New York City)