What is "Slutty Italian Summer" and how has it influenced Gertie and the patterns at Charm? Listen in as Gretchen and Andrea talk about the vintage and modern inspiration behind this catch phrase, and how it has impacted the Charm summer collections for the past few years.

Links & Images

• Charm Patterns mentioned include:
  • The Lisa Bodice
  • The Gina Bustier
  • The Sophia Dress
  • The Elsa Culottes
  • The Vargas Panties
• White Lotus (particularly Season Two)
• Dolce & Gabbana’s Spring 1992 collection
• Vanity Fair cover with k.d. lang and Cindy Crawford
• The Merry Widow film from 1952 with Lana Turner
• Camila Cabello 2017 Guess ads
• More Camila Cabello from 2018 in The Edit
• Charm's Vintage by Gertie magazine (Summer 2025 issue) heavily inspired by the Slutty Italian Summer aesthetic 

For more vintage-inspired sewing patterns in sizes 2-34 (with A-H bust cups), check out us out at Charm Patterns.

Welcome to the first real episode of Talk Gertie To Me! Come get to know Andrea and Gertie as they talk about who they are, how they've come together, and why they're excited to be doing this podcast.

Links & Images

• Maintenance Phase podcast - What's Our Deal? episode
• Gertie's 2020 daily livestreams on YouTube
• Gertie's Blog for Better Sewing (2009-2017)
• Vanity Fair magazine cover with k.d. lang and Cindy Crawford
• "Vintage style, not vintage values" - Dandy Wellington

For vintage-inspired sewing patterns in sizes 2-34 (with A-H bust cups), check out us out at Charm Patterns.

Season One of Talk Gertie to Me will begin on July 11, so subscribe to be the first to hear the new episodes!

Step into the wildly creative, deeply personal world of Charm Patterns with Gertie as she stitches together vintage glamour, pop culture obsessions, body positivity, and unapologetic queerness.

From behind-the-scenes design inspo like Slutty Italian Summer to candid conversations on beauty, Broadway, and the messiness of creative life, this podcast is part sewing salon, part slumber party, and always ridiculously fun.