Take a walk around Victoria, British Columbia, on any given Tuesday, and you might stumble on a cheery woman donning attire from the 1950s.
Although she has a bright smile and a pep in her step, 55-year-old Mollie Kaye dresses with flare for a reason—emphasizing the need for social interaction through the power of fashion.
The Journey to ‘Turned-out Tuesdays’
“As a young person, I would say from age 12 and on, I started to really get excited about experimenting with my clothes,” said Ms. Kaye, who was born in Columbus, Ohio.Her “wild, eclectic style of dressing” carried on through her teenage years and into early adulthood, when she studied at the Rhode Island School of Design, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts.
“When I dressed in that joyful way, I had more connection with my community and with people around me,” she said.
However, as an adult, Ms. Kaye strived to blend into the crowd and conform to mainstream fashions.
“And in those decades ... I had some issues with depression and anxiety,” she said, “and so I can see the way I was dressing myself actually did have an impact on whether I felt lonely or connected.”
In her 40s, the graphic designer joined an a capella group called The Millies that sang 1950s music. She and the other two members wore matching dresses with small waists and big skirts along with white gloves, which people really liked.
Shopping at the grocery store after her performance, Ms. Kaye would be stopped by shoppers who admired her outfit.
“People were like, ‘Oh you look just like my mother looked back then,‘ or ’I remember wearing those white gloves,’ and it would connect me to people in a way that if I was wearing jeans and a blouse never would have happened,” she said.
This gave Ms. Kaye an idea—what if she dressed this way on purpose, but just for the fun of it?
Arriving at this decision involved battling against her own mind, as she had long been used to clothing conformity and had forgotten the free spirit of her youth.
However, what persuaded her were the many positive reactions she received whenever she wore a 1950s outfit. Five years ago, she knew she had to take the leap—and that’s when “Turned Up Tuesday” was born.
Initially, walking out of her door, she’d feel self-conscious and wonder whether people thought it was “weird.” But her doubts soon evaporated.
“It’s five years now of Tuesdays, not one person has come up to me angry,” Ms. Kaye said.
Reflecting on 1950s Fashion
Noting that many now associate the fashion of the ‘50s with “repression,” Ms. Kaye explained how modern clothing is the style that she believes actually fits the epitome of “repressed.”“When I talk to people who are in their 90s now, the people who actually lived as adults in the 1950s, and they miss it,“ she said. ”They miss the days when leaving the house was an occasion that you got dressed for.”
She said no one would leave the house wearing the same outfit they wore to scrub the floor in their house or clean their garage.
People wore different clothing styles as they knew they would meet and interact with people, and dressing up was a show of respect for oneself and the community.
“When I dress in those 1950s middle-aged woman outfits, I’m not dressing like a teenager from the ‘50s anymore. I’m dressing like a grown woman from the 1950s, it is true to my role in this community,” she said.
Ms. Kaye has noticed that on Tuesdays she gives more people more compliments, is generous, and her posture is upright. She naturally acts differently when she’s dressed up.
“Clothes help me ground into those aspects of my character,” she said.
A typical Tuesday for Ms. Kaye would involve frequenting a shop that sells old things, visiting the dentist, and grocery shopping.
“I can get a little bit stuck in my places, always go grocery shopping at this store, and then people are accustomed to seeing me, and they already know about me and my project,” she said. “I try to discipline myself to go somewhere else, a different part of town, and meet people.”
Ms. Kaye sources her clothing from places like consignment shops and vintage stores. Her hat collection, in particular, is very extensive—and she has now collected over one hundred, including some from thrift stores that she has restored, as well as hats that people have given her over the years.
Many of her hats look like “parade floats” extravagantly decorated with flowers. When Ms. Kaye puts one of these hats on, she says she feels different.
“It’s like you put on that hat, and you have to hold your head up. You can’t lean over and slump in a hat like that. You have to carry it with dignity and intention,” she said, adding that hats are “essential” to her project.
“Socially, neurophysiologically, you can’t not notice the hat, and then, automatically, if someone looks at the hat, they’re looking at my face. And then there’s eye contact and then there’s a smile,” she said.
This often leads to conversations—or, as Ms. Kaye calls them, “hat chats.”
Through her project, Ms. Kaye has lifted the spirits of those who were grieving the loss of a loved one or were going through a challenging time.
“It’s great that just putting on this outfit led us to connect and be supportive to each other as strangers in this moment,” she said.
As well as receiving many compliments on her style of dress, she has even been thanked by passersby for wearing those beautiful dresses.
Social health has been a crucial part of Ms. Kaye’s fashion philosophy.
“The thriving of our minds and bodies depends on social interaction,” she said.
In her experience, Ms. Kaye has seen that those who dress elegantly have a difference in energy around them.
“It’s like they’re honoring me when they’re dressed that way,” she said.
Ms. Kaye has amped up the social aspect of Turned Up Tuesday at different times of the year through her “festooning days.” She makes corsages and walks around town, handing them out to people.
“I say, ‘May I festoon you? Would you like it?’” she said.
“I say, ‘Just pin it anywhere. Pin it in your hair, pin it on your hat, pin it on your lapel, pin it on your backpack strap, just pin it to yourself,’” she said.
And sometimes, she might meet someone months later who will show her the corsage, which she says ends up becoming a great conversation starter.
For those who'd like to emulate her philosophy, Ms. Kaye suggests starting by wearing a scarf. She believes, they’re an easy way to add vintage flair to a wardrobe and can be a great way to start a conversation.
A Sneak Peek Into Ms. Kaye’s Tuesday Outfits
