CURATOR HIGHLIGHT - INTERVIEW W/ CHRISTIANA OF BUM-CAKE VINTAGE
Today we’ll take an inside look at the thoughts of Christiana Greene, curator and owner of Bum-Cake Vintage. I discovered Christiana on Instagram a couple years ago, and have followed her journey into the vintage world. I myself am a big lover of vintage lingerie. I love silky sets and slips. I think it is empowering for a woman to dress sexy and be adorned around her home, even on occasions that aren't necessarily “special”. With my transition to womanhood, I realized I felt more celebrated, and fulfilled in queenly loungewear. My favorite kind of lingerie is the old gold label Victoria’s Secret, from back in the day when the brand was more exclusive and intentional.
Bum-Cake Vintage sells the exact kind of lingerie a woman needs while tending to her household, her children, her cooking, her plants, her anything. Christiana also sells some homegoods ! I can’t wait to get my hands on one of her sea-shell candles. This brand is so feminine forward and I love it. Another thing I admire about Christiana is her online presence, she remains unique and untainted by mainstream retail concepts. Bum-Cake Vintage is charming, and feels really natural to support. It is so important for the brown woman to feel sexy and empowered, that is why Bum-Cake Vintage is the highlight this week. Let’s get into her interview !
LadyFox -When did you fall in love with vintage lingerie ?
Christiana -I first fell in love with vintage years ago when I used to sell regular vintage for women and men. I've always been attracted to really frilly, girly things... you know, like ruffles, silk, and satin. I'm a girly girl for sure.
LadyFox - What are your thoughts on womanhood and femininity ?
Christiana -Womanhood and femininity are sources of life. I believe in the whole concept of "divine femininity." The importance of womanhood is often underrated, but I think that's changing--I see women coming together now more than ever before and it's a beautiful thing to observe and be a part of because we are creators of community, love, creation, sensuality... everything. When women come together, amazing things happen. This has been shown throughout history over and over again.
LadyFox - Where are you based ?
Christiana -I currently live in Ridgewood, NY, which is on the border of Queens and Brooklyn--it's very close to Bushwick and Bedstuy.
LadyFox- I can see you’ve been traveling ! What are some of your favorite places you've visited ?
Christiana -I really enjoyed London and would love to live there for a year, nothing permanent, but it would be cool. I also really enjoyed visiting Milan and Paris. While in Paris, I spent a great deal of time shopping for beauty products... actually, correction: MOST of my time in Paris was spent shopping for beauty products. I loved it.
LadyFox -What other areas of arts are you interested in besides fashion ?
Christiana - I'm really interested in dabbling into home goods. I currently make and sell candles that are biodegradable and reusable, but I want to get into making incense and pottery a bit. We'll see where my heart takes me, haha.
LadyFox -Describe a perfect day in your world ?
Christiana - Waking up around 6am when the neighborhood is still quiet, making myself tea while getting myself ready for the day. Reading a few poems or chapters from a book before heading to a pilates or meditation class. Lunch in a park with my partner before heading to an art show or gallery. Dinner and drinks at a fave restaurant or local spot. Then heading home to relax and reflect on my day before watching a movie or show while eating ice cream or creme brulee. I love eating ice cream/creme brulee in bed while watching a movie/show or listening to music. I really appreciate the simple things these days. Nothing fancy, just peaceful simplicity.
LadyFox -What message do you want to give others about sustainable living ?
Christiana -I keep reading articles about scientists saying that we only have somewhere between 10-15 years before global warming is irreversible. That being said, we all need to be more mindful about conserving energy, resources, and even making better choices when it comes to what brands we support and what products we use. Try to use products that are reusable and be sure to recycle. When it comes to clothing, support indie brands and try to not support fast fashion retailers. Also, wear more vintage when you can. We can all be more mindful with these things. The information is out there, just google it.
LadyFox - What is your current experience like being a woman of color in the present day ?
Christiana -I feel like it's an exciting time. I feel like the opportunities available to us are finally becoming endless... like the world certainly has a way to go as far as seeing our worth, but we are building our own businesses and there are so many of us who are entrepreneurs across all industries these days that we're doing well on our own. Us women of color are supporting each other and building our own communities, so we're really flourishing. It's pretty amazing.
LadyFox -What things do you find romantic ?
Christiana -I find romance in so many things, it's kind of silly lol. For starters, long, intimate, deep discussions about life and other random things that leave me feeling pensive are romantic.
LadyFox -What is your zodiac sign ?
Christiana - I'm a Capricorn. All day.
LadyFox - How do you like your coffee?
Christiana -I rarely drink coffee, but when I do, I like an espresso. Also, when I was in Milan, I really enjoyed the caffe ginseng, which is just an espresso with ginseng extract. So good! Normally, I'm an avid tea drinker though. I love tea--I drink it morning, noon, and night. I love rose earl grey or this reishi matcha mix in the morning and then chai with oat or almond milk midday and a non-caffeinated herbal tea at night.
LadyFox -What is your BEST vintage find so far ?
Christiana -Well, it's not really a find, but more of a gift from my late great grandmother... I have this beautiful Delill lucite beaded purse that was handmade in Italy from her. It's gorgeous and I'll cherish it forever.
LadyFox -How did you come up with the name BUM-CAKE VINTAGE, (which is so cute by the way) ?
Christiana - Thank you, it was a term of endearment for an ex-lover and then, it became the name of this blog my college friends and I tried to start years ago. Now, it's the name of my brand. It's weird, but I like it.
I really hope you guys enjoyed this interview. I am really proud of what Christiana does for the community. Look below on how to find/support her business.
Personal Instagram : @bum_cake
Bumcake Vintage Instagram : @bumcakev
Website : www.bum-cake.com