Happy New Year!

I hope that you are all well, happy, and cozy in this first month of the new year. I had a busier than usual fall and early winter with traveling and presentations, which is great! The only downside is that I never got to my December Newsletter, so my apologies.

We have snow on the ground here in Vermont which, of course, is not unusual for this time of year. I am only hoping that the weather doesen't impede my traveling for my presentations! We'll keep our fingers crossed...

I've been posting some fun Instagram reels (videos) on how to make a flannel shirt look glamorous. People seem to like the ideas I've been giving them, and it's really fun for me to do. Check them out on my Instagram page @spiritsoffashionpassion.

My pictures below include one of me in a crazy outfit with the statement piece being a 1980s very colorful sequin tunic. I wore this while presenting "Styling with Vintage & Thrifted Items." I am always stressing that one statement piece can change an entire outfit and make it more unique and special. Try it - it's fun! I also included a picture of 3 friends at our first Meetup held at our favorite coffeehouse. The theme was 1920s, and I included a few pieces from my collection. We had loads of fun and plenty of interesting conversation! Following that, we walked through a nearby fabulous antiques shop and saw a case of mourning jewelry. In the Victoian period, people often made jewelry from a loved one's hair. This was practiced both as love tokens and memory pieces of those who had passed. Morbid, yes, but that was the custom.

Finally, feel free to reach out to me anytime with questions or ideas for new presentations. I am always willing to come up with something new! Here is what's coming up:

Wednesday, January 21 at 12:30 PM: The Golden Age of Hollywood, The Groton Center, Groton, MA

Monday, January 28 at 6:00 PM: The History of Undergarments, North Kingstown Library, N. Kingstown, RI

Sunday, February 1 at !:15 PM: Pride & Prejudice: Styles of the Jane Austen Era, Village @ Kensington Palace, Meriden, CT

Saturday, February 7 at 1:30 PM: The Fashions of Downton Abbey, Saugus Public Library, Saugus, MA

Saturday, March 21 at 2:00 PM: The Gilded Age, Wellesley Library, MA

Wednesday, April 1 at 1:00 PM: The Golden Age of Hollywood, North Kingstown Women's Club, Quonset Club, N. Kingstown, RI

Tuesday, April 14 at 1:00 PM: Virtual Presentation: Fashions Aboard the Titanic, Hopkinton Senior Center, MA

Thursday, April 16 at 1:00 PM: Fashions Aboard the Titanic, Middleborough COA, Middleborough, MA

Wednesday, May 6 at 10:30 AM: The Roaring Twenties, Springfield, VT Garden Club, Springfield, VT

Tuesday, June 30 at 4:00 PM: Colonial Fashion, Attleboro COA, Attleboro, MA

Friday, September 18 at 1:00 PM: Boho to Disco: The 1970s, Marion COA, Marion, MA

Saturday, October 10 at 12:30 PM: Colonial Fashion, Putnam Library, Putnam, CT

Also, 2026 marks the 250th Anniversary of America's Founding! I have a new presentation entitled "Colonial Fashion," that is not yet on my website's presentation list, but it's a fun event and can be booked for 2026!

DID YOU KNOW??

Historically, purple clothes were worn only by magistrates, emperors, and other aristocrats in Rome, Italy.