Question: Did your parents teach you anything about clothing, dressing or style?
My parents never talked about dressing or style. Fashion wasn't a priority in our family. I had a very basic school wardrobe and was allowed to select one new outfit for each school year and one new pair of shoes. I distinctly remember wearing the same outfit- a rust colored corduroy wrap skirt and mustard yellow button down blouse multiple times during the week in elementary school. I really liked that outfit. My mother sewed a lot of my clothes. She was a good seamstress and sometimes she would let me choose the fabrics. I particularly loved a floral voile sundress- sleeveless with a little swooping back neckline trimmed in pink piping. (See photo below) We also received a lot of hand me downs from people at our church. Most of the clothes didn't fit but I do remember a pretty blue cotton sleeveless dress with embroidery at the bodice. I was always really interested in clothes and accessories- especially purses. It was what motivated me to start babysitting and earning my own money.
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I wore my favorite sundress in my 5th grade class photo |
Question: Can you say a bit about how your mother's body and style have been passed down to you, or not?
My mother has always struggled with weight. As a child, I remember her always being overweight. When I see pictures of her mother I see that they had similar body styles. Short- 5'1" (four generations of women have maintained that same height) with a large bust, slimmer hips and sort of a stocky body frame. I have a painful memory of a camping trip when I befriended a girl from a nearby campsite. When I was visiting with her family, the girl referred to my mom as "the fat lady that we see carrying the water." It still hurts to think about that. I do remember her joining Weight Watchers and getting down to a size 10 or 12 and she began having some fun with fashion. Her female fashion icon was Katherine Hepburn. My body type is more like my father- leaner, more muscular but with my mom's boobs. To this day at age 87 she still weighs herself every day.
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Saime Laine Bjorkman- My maternal grandmother |
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My mom visiting after the birth of my daughter, Jessica |
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