Vintage Fashion and Accessories

Subject: Re: Vintage Fashion and Accessories Sat Feb 10, 2007 9:42 pm

I dress in vintage some of the time. Now that I work from home, I'm a lot more casual, but I used to wear full vintage (40s or 50s) every day! It was so much fun!

Subject: Re: Vintage Fashion and Accessories Thu Aug 02, 2007 5:24 pm

I dress extremely casual and boring these days. I would like to change that. I used to wear vintage touches ~ mostly in the way of jewelry. Maybe sometimes a scarf. But now I am too casual to do even that. I do wish for a re-vamp of my wardrobe (and figure - lol!) in the near future.

I like the idea of having clothes made in vintage style. I don't want to look like I rummaged through a thrift store, wearing a mis-matched 20's pin, with a fifties skirt, and a 40's hat, you know what I mean? I like a look that all matches. And it's hard to collect odd pieces here and there to make a complete outfit (but can find odd pieces to add as an accessory to a new outfit easier, I think). I love how every now and then I see an outfit that you can tell the designer was inspired by older fashion. I like that. New clotehs, but vintage inspired. I wish there would be more like that.

I would love to be a housekeeper wearing pearls. I have my grandmother's pearls but they are 30" long. I think of maybe someday having it turned into a shorter strand and a bracelet.

But still, I'd not want to be wearing jeans and a tee. I'd want to be wearing something a little dressier to wear the pearls with. I dunno. ???

Subject: Re: Vintage Fashion and Accessories Thu Aug 02, 2007 9:47 pm

Oh I dunno - what about that classic 50s look? Blue jeans, tight and turned-up, capri-pant style; flat ballet-pump shoes; a 3/4-sleeve fitted t-shirt, or if you're conscious of your waist (or in my case lack of!) then a wrap-around ballet-cardigan top in t-shirt material, which gives you a lovely un-tarty feminine plunge-V-neck as well. Snazzy sunglasses and lipstick (red, naturally!) and your hair tied up in a coloured bandana - pearls would go with that and it's STILL only really "jeans and a tee", isn't it?
Or well-fitting ordinary jeans (shop til you find the shape for you - no jeans suit everyone), with a fitted t-shirt tucked in, a leather belt and a big cotton shirt UNdone over the top, a chiffon scarf round your neck, tied at the side, colourful sneakers and a pretty headscarf to match the chiffon.
For colder weather, what about black stretch-needlecord jeans, the fine stuff? With a waist-length fitted polo-neck in fluffy white wool and little dinky Doris Day ankle-boots - add a fluffy white trimming at the ankle to give them that White Christmas touch! Pop out to the shops without a coat in sunny winter weather, with a scarlet hat and scarf and mitts!

One thing I learnt in France is that EVERY woman there has a defined waist in her clothing even if she has no waist at all buried in rolls of fat (yes there are fat Frenchwomen - you just don't notice because they look wonderful) - so tops are tucked into trousers, jeans, skirts, and dresses have a belt. When I came back to the UK everyone looked so shapeless, even the slim women looked like they were wearing sacks! Me, I'll never ever again wear a loose hip-length top to "hide" my spare tyre - who are we kidding??? It just shouts "I've no confidence! I'm frightened someone might think I'm attractive! I value myself so little I couldn't care less that I look like I'm wearing my teenage son's music-festival tent, a huge draping sheet of mud-coloured synthetic cloth with splodges of colour that I like to think are showing originality!"

Ahem... maybe that last bit was a little carried away... ;-)

laura

Subject: Re: Vintage Fashion and Accessories Fri Aug 03, 2007 1:44 pm

lol! I NEVER show my waist. EVER. NEVER, ever, never. lol!

It all started as a kid with my mother constantly reminding me that I was short waisted and had no "bottom" just like on my dad's side of the family. I have like no waist. Very, very short waisted, mixed with a totally flat bottom ~ not a good look at all. I am big in the bossom department and then it's all straight from there down. But these days it's straight and wide ~ e'hem.

For a short time I did wear some belts that looked good. But that was just for a very short time. Somehow I lost my confidence once again.

I think what is holding me back is I picture that 50's style on very thin women. Capri style looks horrible on me as I am short and fat. And tucked in shirts look horrible too. Bossoms, and no waist ~ it goes right into my pants and leg lines - lol.

How interesting in France they show it all off. But you know, that probably does look nice. I wonder if they have cheap and crapp clothing for people without much money? Or if everyone, even those on the low end of the budget still have nice clothes?

Maybe a tucked in shirt with the oxford style or cotton shirt over it, unctucked, and unbuttoned...lik eyou mentioned...that could word. I never wear my hair up these days either, which I miss. But with the double chin, I hate the look of that.

Oh Calgon, take me away!!! (Anyone get that commercial back in the day, outside of the US?)

You've given me some good ideas though. Even the flat ballet type shoes. I usually think of flat shoes as making me look even shorter, but I see now really it's all about having a certain, pulled together look. But I have to find shoes that are comfortable to walk around in now for my job. Something that won't bother my arthritis. Oh, have times have changed. I miss being thin and pain-free. But darn, I'd still like to look good.

Subject: Re: Vintage Fashion and Accessories Fri Aug 03, 2007 2:24 pm

Ooookay, Miss Determined To Put Herself Down!

Let's see... short... a little overweight... double-chin with your hair hanging loose... no waist... flat bottom...

Right... If I were dressing you for casual comfortable everyday no-fuss prettiness... heh heh heh, I love this game!!!!

Okay starting from the feet: flat ballet pumps in black leather - plain, won't scuff badly, comfy, flexible, etc.
Tights, I mean pantyhose (hey, I'm bilingual!) - give black fishnets a try for daytime - they don't look tarty unless the rest of you is done up to match; they flatter everyone's ankles and calves, lengthening your legs; they don't ladder as easily as ordinary pantyhose; they make you feel old-fashioned glamour!

Now then, this waistless bumless wonder you insist on describing (sounds to me like a normal female shape much like mine, oi who are you down-playing, chum?!)
Add curves by wearing a knee-length or high-calf-length full skirt. Have black as the main colour because it goes with tanned summer legs and pale winter legs alike, and one solid colour helps pull the line of your figure together. Lighten the funereal look by having a coloured print fabric with a black background or one of the full skirts with coloured embroidery round the bottom extending up the skirt. Think of those 50s skirts with embroidered motifs. I wear neon-pink homemade net petticoats under my plain black skirt because I like the occasional flash of bright pink!
Wear a plain black wrap-around top or t-shirt, fitted, snugly - oh and go and get yourself measured for a bra - they reckon three-quarters of womenn in the UK wear the wrong size! My shape changed dramatically when I bought new bras in France, OhhLaLa!
Add a wide black belt in soft leather, gleaming not shining, AT the waist, not vaguely near it.

Now your hair... if you try to hide a double-chin with loose hair it can sometimes drag your whole face visually downwards, making you look mournful (I can do a great impressionn of a bloodhound if I wear my hair loose!) - try leaving the back loose but putting the front up with combs or slides and having tendrils loose around your face which is far more flattering than all of it loose - it makes the onlooker focus in on your eyes and mouth, with which of course you'll be smiling!

Go on... put your hair up, wear the shoes and pantyhose and go window-shopping and try on lots of full skirts and fitted tops and see what you think! Go alone if you;re shy but take a good HONEST friend if you can.
PLAY with clothes - it's the best way to learn to love them and you once more (types someone who arrived in France as a dowdy frumpy old 60-yr-old and left 3 months later as a laughing lively 30-something in chic clothes, elegant or fun but always far better suited to her shape!)

I'm thinking of you as a more petite version of curvy lively vivacious 50s pin-up girls!!!!

laura
p.s. examples - I've put a space-asterisk-space in the middle of the links as they made the page go all superwide!
So cut and paste and take out the " * "

skirt
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-FULL-CIRCLE-POODLE-DANCE-SKIRT-LONGER-LENGTH_W0QQ * itemZ190136030283QQihZ009QQcategoryZ314QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
and
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Beautiful-PRE-UNA-Full-Circle-Chocolate-Hobo-Skirt-8-10_W0QQ * itemZ280138390967QQihZ018QQcategoryZ314QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
and for wrap-tops
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BLACK-WHITE-MOCK-WRAP-TOP_W0QQ * itemZ230156939978QQihZ013QQcategoryZ314QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Marks-and-Spencers-Size-22-Black-Wrap-Top_W0QQ * itemZ120146005229QQihZ002QQcategoryZ314QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
and especially pretty polka-dotty
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-Gorgeous-Black-Polka-Dot-2in1-Wrap-top-size-16-NWOT_W0QQ * itemZ130137342832QQihZ003QQcategoryZ314QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Subject: Re: Vintage Fashion and Accessories Thu Aug 09, 2007 3:46 pm

Thanks for all the tips. The links are saying the items from ebay have been removed. But it did remind me I can try shopping there for some clothes. I often forget about ebay.

School will be starting soon so I'll be needing casual clothes for that, which I prefer pants because I am often up and down off the floor and such. But I am totally going to look for some nice ballerina flats. I used to worry about looking too short in them because I am short, but now will embrace my "petiteness" I always love the looks of those flats when I see them in catalogs and forgot how vintagey 50's they can look.

I like black a lot, but am thinking some colorful scarfs would be nice to add to my wardrobe. I started looking last year for some, but sort of forgot and gave up the hunt - for nice vintagey ones. I am starting to get into blues too which I never have before. I like soft, slate blues, or darker ones that are something a little nicer than navy. For some reason I always disliked navy and also that bright blue that is so often seen. But lately I've been seeing shades of blue that are nice, and make my eyes pop a bit. And I like burgandy and dark greens for fall and winter too. And I used to hate "brown" but now am noticing some "chocolate" clothing that is nice for fall and winter too. So, something nice instead of black. I do ocassionally wear a fuscia (sp?) pink sweater. It's not a favorite color on me at all, I just got it because it was on sale and the right size. But when I wear it people like it. Probably just because they aren't used to seeing me in bright colors.

Well, I feel inspired a bit more now. So now if I can save up some money to shop. The budget it more than tight right now. I still am not so sure about a belt around my waist......well, unless I then had like an unbuttoned cardigan or oxford or cotton shirt over it....maybe....to "test the waters..." :p

Subject: Re: Vintage Fashion and Accessories Fri Aug 17, 2007 3:25 pm

Oh, GIRLS! You are in for a TREAT!
http://www.pinupgirlclothing.com/maredrbypinu.html

My heavens, this is a fun site. They are a fabulous resource for pretty and fun ballet flats. All right, some of the stuff is downright trashy, but it's good, campy 1950s fluff!!!

Oh, Miss Elsewhere!

What a lovely amount of effort you put into those fashion
posts...thanks!

I have 2 or 3 dress patterns I loves, and want to make them over and over in different, seasonal patterns. That way, I am confident that I have a flattering, fitting outfit, and can make the dress quickly. BUT---it's so much fun to make them all look different with changing sleeves, trims, accessories, etc.

Bye ladies!
OohLaLaura

Subject: Re: Vintage Fashion and Accessories Sat Oct 06, 2007 2:48 pm

I love vintage handbags, and I adore oldfashioned nightgowns, I have 3 from the victorian era which I wear in the winter with the black shawl my nanna crocheted.
I have bidded on and won a beautiful vintage bedjacket off ebay. all frills, lace and broderie anglais, also, this morning I bidded on and won a full length vintage nightgown, divine.
I tend to wear jeans and trousers alsmost every day as I feel strange in a skirt, but I am going to try my best to wear skirts as they are just so pretty, plus, women from a hundred years ago would never have worn trousers, and they would be shocked to see so many women today wearing them, so if I want to be truly vintage, I guess I will have to get used to skirts!

Subject: Re: Vintage Fashion and Accessories Mon Nov 26, 2007 1:55 pm

I love fashion from the 40s and 50s, and if I was thinner (being a plus-sized vintage fan is not easy!), I´d wear nothing but. I have a tiny collection, since when I worked with sorting second hand clothes (how I miss those days!), and buys whenever I find something, in the hope that someday I might fit into the clothes. I have some accessories as well, I really should use it more often, but in many ways I´m a very modern woman, meaning I carry lots of stuff in big bags, and I like my shoes to be comfy and flat. I do wear skirts though, so much, that I get comments when I wear trousers/jeans. Hmmm... perhaps I should make more vintage-y skirts, so I can get a bit of the "dress-vintage-feeling"...
Oh, and something I really want to try, is this vintage shop in Stockholm (40s-50s, very rockabilly), where they have a hairdresser, who can cut your hair, or make a very 50s do. I just cut off most of my hair, but when it´s longer again, I have to go there!

Subject: Re: Vintage Fashion and Accessories Mon Nov 26, 2007 7:23 pm

I sometimes dream of how I'd look in a full skirt and turtleneck or the 3/4 sleeved full dresses like from the Lucille Ball or June Cleaver days in the 50's. I'd love to try making one. I just have to find the right pattern. My family might look at me like I fell off the padded wagon but eh... nothing new there!

Subject: Re: Vintage Fashion and Accessories Tue Nov 27, 2007 1:20 pm

I just placed a bid on a pair of 50s cat´s eyes glasses - if I win the auction, and if they work on me, I will have a wonderful vintage feeling to my everyday look! Fingers crossed!

UPDATE: I won my auction on these, I hope they work out!