a personal style blog by Lauren Pfieffer

Monday, January 11, 2016

Dilapidated Daze.


Cream Sweater (very similar): Thrifted.
Plaid School Girl Skirt (similar): Thrifted.
Vintage Salvatore Ferragamos (similar from Ferragamo): Thrifted.
Navy Miniture Backpack (similar high end/similar low end): Thrifted.
Pearl Drop Earrings (similar & only $15!): Thrifted.

My home town is not the most sparkling of towns. It's rather dilapidated, poverty stricken, and exhausted to put it kindly. It was once a beautiful, effervescent diamond in the heart of Ohio (often it's nickname), and I've seen images of it in the early first parts of the 20th century looking radiant. It seems sometimes it's not even my town. The old diner on the corner still looks the same from the 1925 photo, but around it time has worn down and weathered this incredible city where its people once thrived. Part of the reason is because we are located in the rust belt where this part of Ohio was the great industrialized machinery producing items for the nation's population. Industry thrived and hopeful people set out for this town in droves to work in the beating heart of the nation's production facilities. Automotives, appliances, metals, and more were produced in such quantities I don't even think most of us could comprehend the efficiency. 

However, times change and in the 50's we started into our decline as a city trapped in the rust belt. Industries that were once so greatly in demand declined and labor force moved to the south where the labor was willing to work for less. This left towns like mine desolate and desperate, declinging even into the 2000's and resting at a haunting standstill of desperation today.

I used to resent my town greatly growing up because I don't think I understood it. All I saw was the brokenness of this place and how it ensnared me in its grasp. Like all broken things, there is a reason for the brokeness, and once you understand it, you may see the beauty underneath. I enjoy coming back to my home lately because as I've grown older, the once depressing scenes of a fragmented, eccentric city bring me comfort like my favorite vintage dress does. It has  lived, it has been loved, and it has a story. Every story deserves to be heard and it helps reveal to us perhaps even things didn't know about ourselves. x

With much love, Lauren.
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7 comments

Sammi said...

That house is amazing - I wish someone would fix it up! I know what you mean about appreciating your hometown once you gain a little more understanding about yourself and the world. These photos are so editorial and gorgeous, Lauren!

xox Sammi

Kezzie said...

I miss my home town! It has changed from what it was when I was a kid- it was lovely with local shops and clean. Now it is dirty and full of fried chicken shops and shops with tacky bright signs- I miss its more simple past!

Katie Selt said...

I understand how you feel about resenting your hometown--I harbor a lot of hatred for Indy, because it's boring and it lacks the appeal of other large Midwest cities. Everything is franchised and corporate, and all the good independent places are more northern.
Maybe when I move away, I'll appreciate this city more, but for now, I struggle.

You look gorgeous!

Katie | katielikeme.com

birdywordy said...

These photos (with your style and the rundown house combined) have a very edgy look, which I love, and reminds me of a WSJ Mag shoot or something like that. I love that you take the time to think about why the buildings are dilapidated, and that you care. My hometown is one of the fastest growing cities in the nation, so it's been interesting to see the way it changes. I don't really think about how "fastest growing" means that the people coming are actually leaving somewhere else. Maybe it's time for me to think more about my own city! :)

Unknown said...

Love the setting you chose to take the photos.

SB said...

This resonated so much with me. When I moved from the city I was born in to it's rival, I thought it was a dump to be honest. It used to be a mining and industrial region but those jobs have long since gone and we're left with the remnants; broken buildings, high unemployment etc. But what was hidden from me when I first moved here and saw how run down the city was, was the real sense of community. People are so supportive here even though it is a city we still know our neighbours and talk to them and to me there is beauty in that. There are areas where to look at there is nothing nice yet when you look there is beauty here. Whether that be at the cliffs watching the sea, or watching the ducklings at the 'lack' less than 5 mins from my home or just the way that people come together and help.
I agree so much that we need to look past the brokenness on the surface and often times we will see beauty underneath.

Anonymous said...

I love that skirt! Same outfit with cream tights to pick up the color of the sweater would be perfect!

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