Oh, what a wonderful post! Happy Birthday, and thank you so much for sharing your memories and your pictures. My mum is 82, but doesn't like to recall her youth, although I try to get her to tell me more. This is an important occasion, so let me consider a bit on what to wear, but I will bring the creamiest, most irresistible tiramisu!

Style Fan You are welcome. Let us know what you decide to wear!

Yes Cardiff girl, it's definitely a global party! I would never have imagined such a celebration, and having friends all over the world help celebrate is great. A few years ago this would have been science fiction, which I loved to read as a girl. None of those stories and books came close to imagining our networks today.

Kathie, I love your red twirly dress. If it's a wraparound, it is similar to dresses I wore back in the 80s. Loved to wear them then.

Kkards I love chocolate and caramel together. Can't wait to try this cake. Don't tell anyone, but I have a secret stash of Ghirardell's milk chocolate and caramel pieces.

Yes Sloper, definitely bright colors are in order. Can't wait to try the cookies. Brings back memories of baking them with my boys.

And tiramisu! Echo I can't remember the last time I had some. With Mr. M on a diet (lost 70 pounds, gained back 10 Covid pounds, now wants to lose them) we haven't had many goodies around.

Lately I wish I had pestered my grandparents and great-aunts and uncles to tell me their stories. I was too young when they were still here.

Happy Birthday Ms Maven! Wonderful to read your post and see your pictures!
Would love to come as well to your party - probably with coffee cake ( with apples and some apricot jam - shutdown favorite ).
I’d definitely wear my black moto jacket with something more colorful as celebration demands it !

Happy Birthday Ms. Maven!

I would love to come to your party. Turning 80 is a big milestone and I ought to know because you are exactly 3 months older than I am. I loved reading your story and we share many of the same memories. Not sure what to bring, maybe a case of California wine for the crowd that's sure to come. I'll wear my festive star tulle skirt and wedding white pearls.

Beautiful skirt, Bonnie. I wouldn’t have guessed you are only 3 months behind me. Since the lockdown I’ve forgotten to look online for Anthropology unless mentioned here. And yes, I think a case of wine will be taken care over the next few days!

Happy Birthday Ms Maven! Thanks for the invite and sharing your memories with us.

Happy belated birthday MM! Sorry I missed your party, I’m sure it was fab and so are you! Thanks for sharing your wonderful memories with us.

Happy, Happy Birthday, Ms. Maven! I'm bringing homemade arancini and mio sposo and I are toasting your birthday and wishing you many happy returns of the day!!

MsMaven, thank you for your awfully kind words, and for being a very long and loyal member of 14 years! I look forward to seeing your outfit!

Don't worry Irina, you haven't missed the party yet. This will go on for days. It's going to be a big one! And thanks Jules. Wonderful to see you Ms. Mary. You and the Mr. look great.

I've been collecting some photos. Not sure I'd call all of them fashion, some are just fun.

Happy Birthday, MsMaven ! Thank you for sharing your memories and looking forward to more photos

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY MsMaven! Thank you for the invite to the party and for the wonderful post.

Today’s the day! I wish you all the best today, surrounded by love and happiness, in person, on line, and in your memories, as well as a year of more of the same. Thanks for the wonderful series of posts you’ve begun of fashion & life in each decade of your life. The fashions are fun, the vibrancy bursting through the pictures even better.

Today is the big day! Happy Birthday!

I am going with a classic outfit that I have worn for many special occasions. Jackie Kennedy did this outfit so well.

I am wearing a white shirt and blue jeans.

Happy Birthday! A great milestone. I would probably wear a long skirt and boots. For the savoury lovers, I would bring a cheese platter.

Thanks Inge. I suddenly find I'm craving a dark green knit dress and some chocolate mousse, another desert I haven't had in ages because we haven't been going out.

Happy happy belated birthday. I’ve been reading through your posts and looking at your wonderful photos. Such a generosity in your story telling and sharing of your family photos. They have brought me great joy!

Oh dear -- I am too late for the party I fear, but I do want to wish you a very happy belated birthday!! (and many more in good health and grand style!)

Happy belated birthday, Ms Maven. What a way to celebrate your milestone! Those photos are fantastic. They capture a moment. I am about a decade and a half behind you. Grateful for your inspiration.

Happy happy belated birthday, MsMaven!
Thank you for the pictures, they are so beautiful and interesting. You have always looked Fab.

Oh I missed this. Happy Birthday! I am happy that you are one of my YFL friends. I hope your day was special and you have a fabulous year!

Happy Birthday, I am right behind you as I was 75 in August.
we went out to eat, a rare thing these days. And were supposed to take a cruise, which was cancelled. We are trying again next year in the summer, but it does not look promising. Many of your memories I can identify with. I was born in 1946 in the middle of a huge baby boom. I was put in a drawer for a crib in a hospital hallway as their were too many babies for the hospital nursery. I have early memories, lying in a crib by the window watching birds line up on a wire outside, the night I first walked, and the night my little sister was born and I was trying to make a bird with TinkerToys wearing a pair of new red boots. I hope you day was wonderful. Buy yourself something special, eat cake, drink wine, dance in the rain. Have a wonderful new year..

I'm late to this party, but.. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I love love love your stories and photos!

I grew up in 1970s Central Florida. We rode our bikes everywhere. We trick-or-treated after dark. We never missed a Saturday morning cartoon lineup, culminating with the Bugs Bunny/Roadrunner Show. Cereal boxes still had pretty good prizes. We saved our allowance to buy our favorite hit songs on 45s before they all sold out. Big Bird, Mickey Mouse, Barbie, Milton Bradley, and Parker Brothers were all key players. When we weren't hanging on Sesame Street, we were roaming Mr. Roger's Neighborhood or partying at The Mickey Mouse Club. There were four channels on UHF, two on VHF, and if you wanted to watch a movie, you got in your car and drove somewhere. Florida was hanging on to her elegant-yet-campy graciousness that had peaked in the 60s, but was just starting to fade around the edges. But the lush orange groves and reflective lakes were still full, glorious and omni-present. A day at Disney World was organic, spontaneous, absolutely thrilling and didn't have to be planned ahead like a royal wedding.

And The Cold War was the silent and ever-present third person in the room.

For your birthday, what am I wearing?? I can't decide! But it begins and ends with a 1960s-does-1920s, turban-style ladies' hat, adorned with a giant sparkly brooch and a peacock feather. I am bringing homemade guacamole made with limes from my tree, and just enough serrano to give it a little kick. A bag of XOCHiTL chips to scoop it up with. And for dessert, dark chocolate-orange fudge, with pistachios and rainbow mini-marshmallows.

Thank You Debbie, Joy, and Mary Beth! I do share a lot of your memories. My schools were crowded because of the large number of baby boomers coming along right behind. Yes, watching TV was so much simpler then, although somebody did have to get up and change the channel. I still miss going to the public library.

I'm working on the 60's, which I am combining with the 70s. There are lots more photos to page through. To me it's a worthwhile activity. So many important decisions were made in those years. Decisions with life long consequences.

Oh Ms Maven — I’m so sorry to have missed this when first posted. Warmest wishes for a beautiful week after your 80th. You’ll never know how much your posts about clothing styles across the decades have been brightening my week. You’ve lived a rich, full life with joy and sorrow too and above all wonderful family. Thank you for gracing us with your memories. ~ avicennia

I am so late but a very happy birthday to you! I hope you had the best day ever. Thank you for sharing your life with us, I loved reading your story.