‘My vintage memory’ is a regular series here at Bess Georgette and I’d love to share yours. Email me your vintage memory (attach photos if you have them) to info@bessgeorgette.com and I’ll share it here. This week’s vintage memory is by Emily from ‘Good Things’.
In deciding what to write about for ‘my vintage memory’ lots of ideas flitted through my head. There was the brooch from my recently departed Grandma, the purple paisley shirt I used to pinch out of my sisters wardrobe as a teen, the wonderful green satin bamboo print cheongsam I can’t fit into but can’t stand to part with.
But in the end I realised that the piece of vintage clothing that I adore, and that has so many memories for me is, well, a bit boring in the end. It’s a bright red, 70s ski jumper made by Innsbruck. I found it in an op-shop just around the corner from my parents house in Melbourne, many many years ago, and I’ve worn it every time I’ve gone skiing ever since.
I love to ski. My step-dad is from Austria and is a lover of all things snowy, so from a very young age I was hitting the slopes. When I was a kid I used to complain about the cold, a lot. But now I’m older and wiser (stop laughing) I am so glad that my parents went through the expense and hassle and tears of teaching my sister and I how to ski. So many wonderful experiences!
These days I’m married to an avid skier, and this jumper has travelled with us to Thredbo, Australia; Andorra, Europe; Hakuba, Japan; and all over the mountains of South Korea. I adore the pop of the bright red and the super-retro sleeve stripe. Plus, it keeps me unbelievably, toast-ily, snug-as-a-bug warm.
I guess this jumper holds a special place in my heart because it’s useful, it’s a part of my life and it battles against the style vacuum that ski gear so often is – and what’s not to love about that?
Emily is an Australia crafter, blogger and dachshund wrangler who currently lives in Seoul with her ace husband, two long dogs, occasional step-sons, many tea pots and possibly even more owls. She is currently drowning in paper, photos and travel documents – find out more at her blog, Good Things.
That is absolutely gorgeous & so very, very true. It’s often not the coolest, prettiest or even most interesting things that gives us so much joy and comfort! Here’s to the red ski jumper!
Oh what gorgeous memories, Emily! So wonderful you are still using it, just a bit special.
Thanks to you both, and thanks to the lady behind Bess Georgette for this wonderful series! I’m really loving reading everyone’s vintage memories :)