A real estate agent has revealed how he amassed a $10,000 vintage clothing collection because he was obsessed with living the way he was in the 1940s.
Gwendolyn Erin Patterson, 25, from Dallas, Texas, says she’s so obsessed with wearing combat gear that she refuses to leave her home unless she’s wearing eye-catching WWII outfits.
The 25-year-old even married her fiancee Sam, who was a huge 1940s fan, in a WWII-style wedding, but she admits that sometimes people underestimate her wearing a beautiful dress.
The vintage fashion fan admits that her unique style attracts the occasional weird look, but she says her wartime glamor also gets a lot of compliments.
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Gwendolyn Erin Patterson’s obsession with clothes from a bygone era like the 1930s and 1940s caused the Dallas native to stop wearing modern fashion.
V for Victory: Texas real estate agent now only wears clothes from the 1930s and 1940s and poses regularly for photos that mimic the spirit of war
Kindred Spirits: Gwendolyn had a war-themed wedding with her 29-year-old husband, Sam, whom she met in a WWII reenactment eight years ago – they had an authentic GI Army car on hand for their big day
With a wardrobe straight out of a 1940s fashion magazine, the broker says his obsession with all things vintage has become more pronounced in recent years, shifting traditional fashion stores in favor of more tailored retro stores.
In 2020, the real estate agent married 29-year-old Sam, whom she bonded with and fell in love with during the WWII reenactment in 2014.
He explains: “Vintage is connected to my whole life: I wear vintage clothes every day and everything I own is from the 30s and 40s”.
Gwendolyn says that people often mix up her outfits with costumes and ask her if she’s acted in a comedy, but her look seems like a perfect fashion fit.
“I’m really drawn to this moment: the lifestyle seems normal and good to me. “Although it was a tougher lifestyle, it was also simpler,” he said.
GI: The couple says people find their retro lifestyle odd, but they prefer to live their lives as if they were in a bygone era.
The couple says they love the idea of living in a simpler time, which has made their lives messy.
A dress for every season: Gwendolyn says her vintage clothing collection is so big she doesn’t need or want to wear modern clothes anymore.
“Everything is made and built to last: people have always admired the style of everything.
Her shopping habits now lead her to buy classic clothes: “I always shopped in second-hand stores, but about ten years ago I started buying really old clothes: I liked the way they looked and fit. “.
Putting her old “trendy” style aside, Gwendolyn now owns a historic wardrobe worth over $10,000, including over 50 vintage hats, 60 bags, 75 dresses and even a bespoke suit designed by the original Costume Wizard stylist.
Gwendolyn said: “It was a gradual transformation – once you pick up a few pieces it all starts to come together.
The colorful blue-beamed house the couple is renovating – they plan to live in the house used when it was first built in 1910.
The broker also runs a 1940s-inspired radio show called The Swing Sisters Show, where he can share his passion with listeners.
Gwendolyn says that people often change her outfits for costumes and ask her if she’s cast in a play, but her looks feel like her perfect trendy cut.
The couple is pictured on their wedding day – Sam wore an old blue dress, while Gwendolyn was dressed as a bride during WWII
‘I now own the ultimate vintage wardrobe for any season. I’ve always been a little different with my style.
“Before I started doing this, I was following everything trendy on the runways, but it’s just a style that works for me and I feel more comfortable.”
Not only does Gwendolyn live in the old fantasy world, but her husband Sam is obsessed with the age of war.
Playing alongside Gwendolyn on The Swing Sisters Show, a 1940s-inspired radio show, her best friend Jamie is equally obsessed with vintage fashion.
The couple says their love is based on a shared fascination for American history and they look forward to living a lifetime together.
Gwendolyn, who was once a follower of the latest catwalk trends, says her passion for new trends has been replaced by her love for the trends of another era.
The former real estate agent and Sam met at a WWII reenactment event eight years ago and were instantly impressed. The couple’s shared fascination with all things 1940s sparked their romance, and they even celebrated a 1940s-themed wedding two years ago, complete with a vintage U.S. Army car.
Gwendolyn said: “We both have a shared love of history and I was at the right event at the right time.
‘We are currently restoring an old house from 1910.
Summing up his passions, he says: “We’re crazy people living this weird lifestyle: ordinary people probably think we’re crazy, but we love it.”
Source: Daily Mail
